LEGEND OF THE MER (33 page)

“Oh how quickly he will change
.
”
S
miled Titus looking back to Lana.

“Yeah, I’ve noticed some of the young mermaids already flirting with him; although I don’t think he even notices them
.
”

“One day, he will meet the one that holds his heart
.
”
Titus winked back to her and Lana kissed his shoulder and laid down her head.  It was good to be
t
raveling
as a large family again.  There was so much excitement for everyone, especially the little ones.

~~~

Several days passed and Lana enjoyed her time getting to know Micah more.  He was such a good daddy to little Talei.  He hardly let Lana do the cooking; he seemed to enjoy it. 
He loved the yach
t and the life he was sharing with the mer.  Lana couldn’t help but think of how much her father had to have done for her at such an age.  “Talei, your daddy loves you very much,” said Lana to her.

“Daddy!” Talei said as she pointed to Micah.

“Yes, I am your daddy and I do love you very much
.
”
H
e pretended to nibble on her finger which only made her squeal with laughter.

“You and my father certainly have a lot in common Micah.”

“Yes, I believe that we do.  It will be good to meet with him and talk about his travels with the mer.”

“Believe me, he’ll love that.  You and Tarra will enjoy living in the cavern at
Gull
Island
.  That’s where my father and mother lived for a short while
.
”
Lana smiled to remember it.

“I am sure that we will like it.”

“You’ll also be able to visit with my dad on the island too.  He’ll love to show you his lighthouse.”

“I would also like to see it.  I have never been in one before”

“You know, that gives me an idea!  I might have you give me a cover story like I gave you!” Lana said excited by the idea.

“I do not understand,” said Micah confused.

“Remember how I pretended to be your wife; you can pretend to be my husband.  That
’
ll stop all of the island gossip about the mer.  The
y’
ll just hear that I married a Chief’s son from
Kaloki
Island
in the South Pacific.  Then we
’
ll be free to come and go from the island with little notice.”

“Yes, I can see where that might help us both; I do owe you that much.  You must firs
t get Titus to agree
.
”
H
e grinned
.

“Yeah, he’ll do it.  He knows h
ow important it is
.
”
S
he smiled
.

“I am sure that Tarra will agree also.”

~~~

Tempest
enj
oyed following the
Island Traveler
.  He was able to ge
t any of the fish scraps that Micah
discarded.  He was often seen jumping along as they traveled.  On a few occasions, all of the mer stopped and took time to visit with Micah.  They would wait until they were in an isolated body of water and then it turned into a vacation for all of them.

On one such
day, Lana went with Titus to help him gather some lobsters so that she and Micah could boil them.

Tarra was able to spend a little bit of time with Micah on his yacht; with his help.

Little Talei and Rose enjoyed swimming together with Uly and Makoa
, and of course
Tempest.  Titus made him stay with Rose and the others.

Titus and Lana found a similar grotto filled with lobsters like the one near
Safe
Harbor
.  There were such rich colors to the coral reefs all around.  Lana couldn’t help but take in all the sights.  It was like the coral reef gardens in Torbist and it made her remember the earlier days when she and Titus were falling in love with each other.  She saw one beautiful purple in particular and Lana went to get a closer look.

Just then, Titus pulled Lana back with his right hand and quickly grabbed a speckled moray eel with his left, as it darted out of the coral at her.  The eel hissed at Titus and he shook his finger at it, “Behave yourself, or you will end up as my next meal.”  Titus let it go and it hissed once more and quickly ducked back inside.

“Wow that was close; thanks,” Lana said wrapping both her arms around
the back of
Titus’ neck and kissing him.

“I am sure that I could do it again if it pleases you that much
.
”
H
e smiled.

“Ha, ha, very funny.”

“Lana, please do not get that close to the coral again in these open waters.  It is the favorite home of the eels,” he said seriously.

“Yeah, I think I’ve learned that lesson pretty well; thanks again
.
”
Lana smiled and kissed him once more.

“You are quite welcome; now let us bring these lobsters to Micah so that you can boil them alive,” he chuckled.

“You know we will,” she
giggl
e
d and went behind him and hel
d onto his neck.

Later that night, Micah even got Prince Tristan to try some of the boiled lobsters and he did not find it that bad.

Sirene onl
y shrugged her nose at the two
o
f
them.

“How is it that I am willing to try it, but not you?” Tristan asked Sirene.

“Because you are willing to try all new things; I am not so sure that I want to, at least not cooked lobster
.
”
 
Sirene
smil
ed.

“I do not blame you, yuk!” Uly said.

“I have to agree,” s
ai
d Makoa.

“It really is not that bad, I have tried it myself and I especially love it in the stew,” said Tarra trying to convince them all.

“That’s fine; that means there’s more for me,” Lana said as she filled her plate
again
.  She looked to Titus as he w
as grinning, “What?” Lana asked, with raised brows.

“I did not say a word
.
”
Titus smiled brightly.

~~~

The days were filled with such happy moments and Lana tried to keep her mind off of missing her father and the excitement that was building as they got nearer to her home.

King Titan and all of the guard were ever watchful as they neared the
Atlantic Ocean
.  They knew that Thaddaeus’ guard had been badly beaten and would most likely not challenge them, but they were cautious none the less.

When the mer finally arrived at
Gull
Island
, it was sometime in the night.  Micah had to anchor his yacht a ways out.  Tarra swam with little Talei on her back and Makoa brought Micah.

Micah
and Tarra were
looking forward to being together
again.  Talei had some time with Tarra and the mer, but mostly spent it on the yacht with Micah.

As soon as Titus and Tristan unsealed the cavern, Tarra went in and began to build up the fire.  Now she and Micah were able to be a family again with their little daughter and a home of their own.

The guard unsealed the city of
Torbist
and all were exhausted from their trip and each headed to their homes.

Sirene led Tristan to the home she had once shared with her parents.

Lana had to fight everything within her to not swim to the keeper’s house and see her father.  She knew that she wanted tomorrow to be perfect.  Not only was it the appointed time that her father set to meet once more, but she
also
knew that it would be her new mother Rose’s first time to ever see the mer.  She hoped that little Jedediah would be there to see them also.

Titus read her th
oughts and smiled as they three
and Tempest, entered their own home.  “It will be a mermaid day,” he said as he kissed her.

“Yeah it will
.
”
S
he smiled as she came in and saw the glass paperweight in the center of their floor next to the plant.  It still had the picture of Lana in it from the prom.  “Wow, my dad was right, this thing really is waterproof,” she had to laugh as she showed it to Titus.

“Yes, how I remember that night.  That boy had better not be anywhere around you.  I will not be so kind this time,” he teased as he kissed her once more.

“Don’t be silly; I doubt he even remembers me
.
”
S
he
grinn
ed.

“I do not think so; who could forget you Princess?” Titus said as he ran his fingers down her cheek and under her chin.

“You make me so happy Titus; I love you so much,” she said while giving hi
m a tender
kiss.

“And I love you.  I am most blessed among my people to have you for my mate; which reminds me, I am not so sure that I like Micah pretending to be your husband while you are on the island,” he said with a half grin and one raised brow.