Under The Sea

Chapter Fifteen - A Proper Welcome

"Please hold still, my lord," Squirt, the young merman assigned to tend to his needs, repeats for the sixth time in the last half hour.

When they had returned to the palace, Axel had dropped the bomb on him about Clara's intention to throw him a welcome celebration to welcome him as was customary for all royal visits to the Kingdom.

Samuel had attempted to convince Axel that it wasn't necessary, and despite Axel agreeing, it was Bast who insisted that Clara was dead set in moving forward with preparations and would not waver in her determination to welcome Samuel to Latistan, especially after his first impression.

Both Axel and Samuel had given in at his point, realizing the truth behind Clara's intentions to salvage their family's image in the eyes of what she believed to be a fellow mer-royal from across the seas. Following this, they were led to a dinner, where Clara welcomed them and advised of all the festivities the welcome celebration would hold.

Samuel had hardly paid her any attention as his focus was glued to Axel, who seemed uncomfortable the entire evening after asking about their father's absence and being dismissed by his elder sister. Samuel watched as he had barely touched his dinner and then excused hisself from the dinner, to both his and Clara's surprise. He had wanted to chase after him, to comfort him, but he didn't know if he should, and he did not want to seem rude before Clara, so he stayed behind.

Now, as Squirt attempted to wrap a chain of shells around his neck, he couldn't help but notice Axel had not burst into his room like before. As he stood before the mirror with only the young servant for company, all he longed to do was bolt out of the room and find Axel.

"Sire?" Squirt asked, drawing him from his lingering gaze on the door.

"What? Sorry," Samuel returned, looking back at the mirror and catching the servant eyeing him with a quirked eyebrow.

"I asked if you are all right, Sire?" Squirt returned, never halting his work as he spoke, "you seem lost in thought."

"Oh, no. I'm fine, Squirt, thank you for your concern."

The young man eyed him through their reflection in the mirror, his eyebrow raised as he conveyed his disbelief in the response. Yet, whether or not he believed Samuel, he continued his work with a sigh, "of course, my lord."

As Squirt finished preparing him for the celebration, Samuel thanked the young servant before speeding out of the room. He had spent the entire evening practicing, and he seemed to get a handle on using this tail, despite the occasional loss of balance. He raced down the passage, rounding a corner and slamming into another body before he could stop himself.

"Hey, watch wh-" Bast said as he collected himself off the floor, looking over to find Samuel doing the same, and changing his tone, "Apologies, Sire. I did not see you."

"No, please," Samuel begins, extending a hand to help him up, "it is I who owes you an apology. I slammed into you."

"well..." Bast coughs, in agreement with Samuel, but unable to say so because of his station, "no, uh, no apology necessary."

"Right..." Samuel returns, then remembers his original mission, "do you know where I can find Axel?"

"You're looking for his highness?" Bast returns, eyeing him with concern, "Why? Where's your attendant?"

"Oh, I... uh..." Samuel stutters under his questioning, but is saved from the interrogation as another body rounds from behind them.

"Sam!" Finn calls, coming up beside them and hooking her arm around Samuel's, eyeing Bast with a glare, "finally. We've been looking all over for you."