Authors: Sheri L. Swift
“I gladly accept your service Tristan; you may help us a great deal.”
“I shall do all that is
with
in my power to help you and your people.”
“Prince Titus, will you see to it that Tristan has a place to call home and rest,” said King Titan knowing it would not be easy for Titus.
“As you wish my King
.
”
Titus
bowed
.
Makoa opened up the jail with a glance to Titus to be careful.
Titus looked to Tristan and said, “This way
.
”
H
e led him to one of the many homes that were empty. He chose one that was in the furthest part of the city where it would not be easy for him, should he choose to try and escape.
“I know
that
it must be hard for you to trust me,” said Tristan.
“Yes, it is,” said Titus sternly.
“I am not sure that I would have trusted you in my city either,” said Tristan
with a grin
.
“We have long been enemies; trust is not easily gained
.
”
“I am sorry if my people have hurt you, it was not always like that when Tiberius was King. Only when he began to age, did his son take charge and begin to change our Kingdom. We have always had those we could not control, but the citizens of the city tried to live with some sort of order. However, there was never any love between us. Only the strongest among us were given privileges, the others had no say,” said Tristan deep in thought.
“That is a sad way to live,” said Titus, glad that it was not so for his people.
“Yes, that is why I could not believe that there was such a place where all the mer live in peace with one another and that all are as one family,” said Tristan still surprised by it.
“Yes, that is our way, you will come to know it too,” said Titus as he began to understand that Tristan was truly grateful to be among the mer of Tullius.
~~~
Later that night, after Titus had his turn on patrol, he joined Lana at home with their daughter. Lana was unable to sleep until she saw that he was safe, “I’m so glad you’re home, I’ve worried so much that the others might attack,” she said kissing him.
“I have tripled the guard around the city, everyone is ready should an attack come. We will meet with Tristan tomorrow and hopefully gain more knowledge of what we will face,” said Titus as he
hel
d Lana.
“Is it true that he’
s no longer a Prince?”
“He is not from the royal line of King Titan and in our Kingdom he is not,” Titus said sadly.
“He made such a sacrifice to be here.”
“Yes, but he will gain a much better life
.
”
S
miled Titus as he
brush
ed his fingers beneath Lana’s chin and kissed her once more.
“Yeah, that he will. Did you send word to Micah and Tarra?”
“Yes, Tempest took the red flag. Tarra is staying with my parents and Micah has taken Talei to
Kaloki
Island
to be with his parents. He is preparing the men for what they might have to face themselves.”
“It must be so hard for Tarra to be separate
d
from Micah and Talei.”
“I am sure that it is, I pray that it will not last long and that we will have the advantage
.
”
“Titus
I can’t believe this is happening, it’s all so horrible,” said Lana as she began to cry into Titus’ shoulder.
“We shall get through this and we will be stronger for it. One thing I have
seen
is that their mer
do not have our strength
. I think that they have become sick living so closely to the Bermuda Rise.”
“I just can’t believe that Damon may be coming here again,” said Lana with a shudder.
“I promise you Lana, h
e will never touch you or Rose;
I will protect you both.”
“Titus, I’m afraid of what might happen to you,” she cried once more.
Titus
gently ran his fingers through Lana’s
her hair with his fingers and said in a soothing voice, “I will do my best to win this battle for us; for all of my people. I think I have always known that this day would come. I believe that King Titan knew it as well. We can only pray that Arius will give us the victory. Our way of life is worth fighting for; you and Rose are worth fighting for
.
”
T
hen Titus kissed the top of her head.
~~~
In the
morning, Lana took Sirene to the home where Tristan was staying and where she knew that Titus would also be.
Tristan was getting ready to go before King Titan once more in the Hall.
“Hello my love,” said Sirene as she went to him and embraced him. She kissed him tenderly on the lips.
“Hello my heart,” he said smiling as he looked into her eyes. “We were just getting ready to leave for the Hall to meet with the King.”
“You cannot go like that
.
”
Sirene smiled.
Titus looked to Lana and neither of them, nor Tristan, knew of what she was speaking.
Sirene
went behind him and broke the band that had held his braid and she began to loose
n
his hair.
Titus and Lana smiled to each other as they realized that he was becoming one of them.
Then Sirene lovingly combed his hair and braided his bangs behind his ears and bound them. “There, now you may go
.
”
S
he kissed him once more.
“Thank you my heart, I will speak to the King about our joining today,” said Tristan as he kissed her on
ce more and embrace
d her.
T
hen he
swam
out the door with Prince Titus.
“That was
nice of you to do that for him,” said Lana
with a grin
.
“He deserves to live here among our people
.
”
Sirene smiled.
When Titus and Tristan arrived in the Hall, all of the guard
had
already gathered before the King with Makoa at the head.
King Titan rose from his throne and began to speak to all present, “I wish it to be known this day, that I have chosen a successor for the possibility that I may be killed in battle,” he looked to Titus and lifted his forked staff and pointed
it towards him. “I choose my g
randson
Prince
Titus!” King Titan shouted and all of the guard cheered loudly.
Titus came forward and bowed his head and
humbly
said, “Mighty King Titan, I am honored that you have chosen me. I have but one request of you
.
”
“What is it, speak?” said the King.
“I also wish to choose a successor should I too be killed in battle. I know of only one that has been so brave and loyal to our people and would rule them well,” said Titus sincerely.
“You may so choose, for it may be that we both die in battle.”
“If you would allow it; I choose Makoa,” said Titus boldly and there were gasps from all the guard present, for never before had any of the dark ones been chosen for a Prince, let alone a King.
“I see your reasoning; however, Makoa cannot be a King because he is not a Prince. Makoa, come before me,” said the King.
Makoa was taken aback by all of it. He never expected Prince Titus to name him, much less the King to acknowledge him. Makoa swam before the King.
“Let it not be said that King Titan does not recognize a Prince among his people, bow before me Makoa
.
”
Makoa dropped to the mid joint of his tail and bowed his head
.
King Titan placed his forked staff upon his shoulder and said, “From this day forward, you shall be known as Prince Makoa,” proclaimed the King aloud
.
Princess Rema brought forth the go
lden tray with a strand of shells
and the King took it up and went and tied it around Makoa’s head. Then shouts of all the guard went up for the joy they all felt.
“Prince Terrance will be named Regent until Prince Makoa comes of age, should both Prince Titus and I fall in battle,” said King Titan boldly.
Tristan looked to Prince Titus and said, “Now I know that King Titan is just and that there is hope of gaining my crown once more.”
“Yes, I believe that there is hope
.
”
S
miled Titus to Tristan. Then Titus went to Makoa and said, “I cannot believe that they chose a large enough strand of shells to fit that head of yours!”
Makoa grabbed him and gave him a firm hug and said, “Never did I desire or ask for such a thing, but I thank you Prince Titus.”
“You are quite welcome Prince Makoa.”
Lana and Sirene had been watching from the back and Lana could no longer contain herself and she swam to Makoa, “Congratulations Prince Makoa, you know that Titus and I have decided against naming an intended for our daughter Princess Rose. I want her to have the freedom to choose for herself one day who she’ll join in union with. I’m also not so sure that it was fair to bind Titus for so long to me. But, if we had to choose a future husband for our daughter, then I’d have cho
sen you Prince Makoa. Because you’re everything I hope she’
ll find in a husband one day
.
”
Lana
smiled
.