Edith leaned against one of the smooth marble walls and stared at one of the many tapestries that lined the opposite wall. The tapestry depicting early sirens with scaley legs, ending in webbed feet at the top.
Further down, it depicted the sirens role in the first great war. Artisit decades before had stitched early sirens fighting the old sea gods, and then the Golden era took place. Every tapestry after showed different folk tales and historical events of the Atlantic Kingdom.
As she examined the last tapestry, in which was halfway done, she sat on the floor, her iridescent fins catching the sun rays that had broke the surface.
As her eyes roved over the scene of her coronation, she thought about how just three days after Artemis arrived.
Before, Edith had been lonely without any friends. She went to private lessons within the kingdom, and rarely had time to hang out with other kids. When she turned twelve, her father died of gill cancer. A few months later, her mother had been speared by fisherman. And at ripe age of thirteen, she was crowned ruler. And despite her being the ruler, she was still considered a princess. Now at the age of 17, she had successfully ruled for four years.
"Damn," she muttered out of boredom. David was gone and Artemis wasn't due back till tomorrow night. "Damn damn damn ."
Being alone made her think of dark days right after her father had died. Her mother was devestaed for months and locked her away into her room, leaving Edith alone.
Friendless and as good as orphaned, she began losing hope in things. Constantly lonely and without anyone to confide in, she began spending her days with Neptune.
Although she never met the god, she would spend hours in the temple to him, talking to the grand statues of the dreamy god.
Then one day, her mother came out and she insisted on teaching Edith to sing. And so they went to the surface every morning and sang songs of the sea, messing with the sailors, and leaving when they got close.
Until one day, they had thrown caution to the wind and stayed longer than usual. And then a man who was immune to the song sent a spear towards them. The sharp bronze point piercing her mothers abdomen, and then she disintegrated into seafoam. Edith swam down into the sea, but not before the spear tip found its way into her tail fins.
Now as she sat there, flipping her tail casually, she could see where the skin was thinner than the rest of it.
Then her mind drifted off to after coronation, when three days later she met Artemis.
Edith had finally found a day to herself, and intended to visit Neptune. Everything was normal until she got to the temple. Inside, the floor was embedded with sea shells creating a magnificent trident pattern, in the entrance. Two large marble statues of early sirens, with extremely detailed scaley legs, stood on either side of the enterance. And from where she was, she could see something red.
Edith cautiously approached the doorway and saw another siren. But she wasn't a siren.
Her tail was a vibrant red while citizens of the Atlantic Kingdom generally had tails that varied in shades of greens and blues. Her tail ended in two fins, unlike hers which ended in large fan like fin.
Her hair was short and shaggy and from behind a she could see wore a silver circlet.
"Dad," the strange siren spoke quietly, she sat down at the feet of the large human statue that was Neptune. "I've arrived safely. Thank you for blessing me."
And then she placed something down on the marble pedestal.
Edith had approached her slowly, and immediately the stranger tore off her circlet and it turned into a large silver recurve bow. A beautifully crafted silver arrow was already knocked into place.
"I'm sorry to intrude." Edith said quickly. And she watched as the other mermaid lowered her weapon half way. "May I ask who you are?"
"Artemis. I have been sent here to bring the people of the Atlantic Kingdom the teachings of the Artemis." She said quickly, lowering he weapon fully. "I am her ambassador, and my father Poseidon has given me his blessing to come here."
"Well welcome to my kingdom," Edith replied curtly.
From then on, the two became close friends. And with Artemis, she wasn't lonely. She had her first real friend.
"Julius!" Edith screamed, getting up. Immediately, Julius came to the hallway.
"Yes Princess?" He asked eagerly.
Edith glanced at the tapestry. "Please commission the best weavers in the kingdom to add a new scene to the tapestry."
"Ah, what will be added? Possibly someone moving up in rank?" Julius asked eagerly.
"Oh no, I just want the future generations to know of my closest friend."
