The Pearl In The Atlantic

Chapter 3

I was sitting in the dining hall drinking a cup of tea when I heard one of the east doors to the room open, I turned to see it was my father with his usual cold and serious expression. I set my cup onto the saucer and greeted him "Morning Father, did you sleep well?" I brought my cup back up to my lips again and that's when I heard him speak "Good, but I wanted to talk to you on the matter of your crews catching depletion and that it was brought to my attention that you've come across a mermaid. Is that correct?" I choked on my tea at the subject and quickly excused myself. When I was able to talk, I said warily "From where did you hear the matter?" He spoke not seconds later "From your equerry, Sir Nathan", I mentally cursed Nathan and tried to explain to my Father "But Father, mermaids are mythical creatures and only exist in myths and fairy tales ." My Father raised his voice "Do not lie to me Adrien, you were there with him and Sir Nathan claimed that the mermaid tried to steal your net multiple times. Is that correct?" I didn't answer and tried to avoid the question, but he repeated his question in a louder voice "I said, is that correct Adrien?" I only nodded in return and stay silent until my Father got up and walked to the door and tried one last time "Father, I know what you're thinking, so please reconsider, we should stay away from that area if such a creature lurks there. We need to leave it alone!"

My Father only turned his head and said over his shoulder "I will request a crew to go back to that area and you will bring that mermaid back to me, alive... do I make myself clear Adrien?" I didn't answer, all I did was stand up and walk out of the dining hall and to my room deeper into the castle. I slumped down on my bed and ran my fingers through my caramel hair with a long sigh. I sat back up on my bed, "I need to warn that mermaid, they're endanger if I don't do something" I whispered to myself. I then came up with an idea and ran back to my Father who was in his throne room at the moment, I walked up to him and said "Very well, when would you like me to leave Father?" My Father only smirked and replied "At dusk, that's where the other encounters took place, I will inform your crew and you will leave then. Now, you might want to prepare a little and make sure to bring a harpoon with you as well" I gaped my mouth in shock and said "I thought you said you wanted the mermaid alive", he chuckled darkly and said "You will shoot the mermaid in their tail so they won't get far if they try to escape. Now, you are free to go and don't disappoint me when the time comes."

I stared blankly at the floor while I walked out of the throne room and to the front gates of the palace. I proceeded into the carriage that was awaiting me and soon headed off into town to purchase a harpoon for the 'mission'. The carriage stopped in front of a small bait shop and I soon got out of the carriage and walked inside to greet the owner of the store, he stopped what he was doing and turned when he saw me and cheerfully called out "Prince Adrien! How are you doing? I haven't seen you since you were about this ya high" he moved his hand close to ground and finished his greeting with a hug. We walked to the counter and when he was behind it he said "So, what'll it be Adrien?" I said that I was requested to get a harpoon making the owner smile devilishly "Oh, catching a big one ey?" I winced and said in a strained voice "It's actually a... mermaid" he stared at me for a few seconds then yelled "Son, are you crazy?" I tried explaining the situation but he cut me off by saying "You're gonna need way more than just one harpoon son, they're harder catch than you think. They might just seem like half person and fish but they sure as hell put up a good fight. I mean how do you think I lost me arm, not by a boring shark attack like some people", I stared at his left arm that wasn't there and said in shock "A mermaid did that?" He brushed it off and said "More of a merman but sure, now hold on" he went into the back and came back with about three to four harpoons in hand, winked at me and said "This ones on the house son and good luck." I only nodded and exited the shop and stepped back into the carriage.

By the time I got back to the palace it was already 6:00 p.m because I ate dinner in town and I didn't even realize how long I've been out until I saw the sun slightly going down in the distance. The harpoons were being taken to the dock behind the castle and I walked back inside to meet my Father, when I was back in the throne room I bumped into Nathan and my first reaction when I saw him was mix of disgust and anger. I met him in the eyes and said coldly "Nathan, may I ask why you mentioned the mermaid to my Father?" He answered hesitantly and finally said "The king asked me to report on the fishing missions which I tried to say nothing about the mermaid and I guess something might have slipped. I'm sorry dude, I didn't mean or ask to put the mermaid in the position" I sighed, calmed down and quickly apologized for my tone. Nathan smirked and said "Why do you seem so protective of the mermaid anyway?" I stared at him confusingly and waved off the face he was giving me and told him how my Father wanted us to go back to the same spot and bring back the same mermaid. He stared in horror and asked why my Father wanted that, I only shrugged and replied that I had no clue what his motives were either, but I told him how I was going to try and warn the mermaid.