Ursula

Chapter 1 The Eastern Reef

Ursula

Waiting by the reef on the outskirts of the kingdom has be utterly bored. I've tossed and turned over the same rock for what felt like hours but has most likely been mere minutes. I can't help my mind to wonder what is taking my prince so long to meet with me, this was after all, his idea to meet.
Ah, Prince Triton... the only merman I could imagine seeing myself with. Other suitors dont come close in comparison to the Prince himself. I deserved more than a simpleton merman, I deserved the best and Triton? Well, how could there be anyone better?
Of course, Triton hadn't viewed it the same way. Merwomen would line up outside the palace to catch a glimpse of him. He'd pay them attention as he would any serious prospect. As the son of Poseidon, he was sought after by every female who lived under the sea and his time had become quite a commodity. Time that I struggled to share in much anymore. I knew as long as I maintained our friendship, I might have a chance at winning his heart.
We had grown up together in the underwater palace of Atlantica since our birth. I spent my whole childhood pining after the young prince, son of Poseidon, God of the sea. It wasn't until our late childhood, when Triton grew taller and I grew wiser that my seemingly innocent crush developed into this unrelenting love. The idea of ruling beside him peaked my interest of course. If I could only have the prince as my husband, I could have him and Atlantica. All my dreams would come true. What young girl doesn't dream of marrying a prince? I was no exception.
I was grateful that I grew up in the palace. My mother had eagerly pushed us together when we were too young to remember anything else, and I couldn't be more thankful for it. Triton didn't always appear to like me, but we developed a friendship, and dare I say, we became the best of friends.
I spent too many hours praying for Triton to wake up and see me as a woman to love and more than a friend. Those days are behind me now. Thanks to my mother's efforts with Poseidon and the rest of his counsel, convincing them that I, Ursula, was the best choice to marry the prince. And now, I am destined to marry him. Who else would be a better choice as his bride than the daughter of the most powerful sea witch in the ocean? There was my younger sister Morgana, but she was much too young for a prince such as he. Mother always praises my magical abilities, more so anyway. I am always more vigorous and ever continuing to grow and thrive with each lesson of spells and potions. My sister could hardly generate as much as a spark of magic. No, I was the solid choice for the young Prince. The two most powerful families in the ocean joined together. Our children would grow to become the most powerful beings anyone had ever seen. Our families worked side by side, ruling the seven seas. My mother had done more for Atlantica than anyone, except for maybe the god of the ocean himself. She held a high seat on King Poseidon's council as his Chief of Staff, and everyone knew not to cross my mother if they did not want to be turned into tuna. She was a caring and kind witch for the most part, but you wouldn't dare make her upset or cross her family lest she lose her temper. She liked to have things in a particular way, and when they didn't go that way, her wrath could pave trenches.
As the story goes, many years ago, before my birth and Tritons, my mother cast a marvelous spell on the citizens of Atlantica with the aid of Poseidon. The new god took to the seas and chose our city as his homestead. My mother made a deal with Poseidon, one that granted him merpeople to rule over and awarding the people of Atlantica new life. A spell was cast on our whole city. Blessing its people an aquatic form allowed them to breathe and live underwater. Most had their legs and feet exchanged with tails in the likeness of fish.
As for my family, we grew tentacles. Our lower half became that of an octopus, making us a special breed of octopids. My mother says we were blessed to have the most useful bodies. With our many tentacles, making potions and spells becomes as easy as blinking. My mother told me I learned at a rate eight times faster than she had with only two arms she had to learn with in her beginnings. I have my doubts, but I accept the praise nonetheless. Having tentacles did make it easier to mix brews and potions; I wouldn't know any difference, though, as I was born this way. I can imagine if I only had my hands to use, it would be very troublesome. Why anyone would want to be human is dumfounding to me. Yet, there are still times I wish I had a fin over tentacles.
Prince Triton and I were both born under the sea and have no recollection of what life was like above. We didn't care much about what occurred above us. Just that we must stay away if we are to continue thriving as we are. Of course, this didn't stop us when we were young. Triton and I used to sneak peeks at passing ships that sailed far from our palace that lay fathoms below the sea. We were curious about how our elders once looked and lived at first. We eventually grew tired of watching and decided to start causing mischief whenever we could get away with it. Hardly any merfolk dared to swim out as far as us. The past few years, we seemed to have made our outings relatively rare, much to my disappointment. Though, every once in a while, we stole a moment together to swim close to the surface, but it had been too long since our last rendezvous. Back then, we would always meet at a nearby reef beforehand to hatch our plans to escape the kingdom briefly. Of course, at that age, I was willing to do anything to impress my prince.
Yet, last night, Triton had sent word to me asking me to meet him by the eastern reef of the kingdom. So, here I waited. I was early, and as the time kept ticking by, I regretted my excitement. My mother only recently told me the news of our families planning to join our houses in marriage. I would eventually be Queen of Atlantica, of the seven seas. Prince Triton and Atlantica were my destiny, and I was more eager than ever to start my future.
I couldn't help but fidget with the sand and rocks on the seabed with my tentacles. I ached for something more to do than just lay here in waiting. I needed to know his thoughts on our marriage, and I was getting antsy.
"Ursula, ever the punctual. Trying to get our time together over with as soon as possible, hmm?" his voice said behind me.
"I'm a very busy woman, my prince, and I haven't got all day," I replied as I spun around to see him. He stole the salt water from my lungs with the smirk he gave me. His strong jaw, covered in generous stubble and long ginger hair, floated carelessly around his head, neck, and shoulders. He liked to keep his hair longer, and so I kept my white hair long for him. However, having my hair floating into my face half the time from changing currents or passing sea life annoyed me to no end. Triton seemed to enjoy it, and I'd do anything to please him.
"Father is planning another one of his big feasts again," the prince told me, looking off into the dark, watery distance, hands folded behind his back.
"Is he now? What is the reason this time?" I scolded. He looks at me as if I'm already in the know about our engagement. "It wouldn't happen to be about certain... marriage plans, would it?" I grinned.
He turned away as he replied, "My father and your mother seem to be dead set on joining our houses. My father, King Poseidon, and your mother, the acclaimed sea witch and Chief of Staff in my father's court. A position I thought you may someday hold whenever my father passed the throne to me."
"You act as if my future position is now compromised; I would be your Queen. To rule with you over our kingdom. Is that not more valuable than a spot in your court?"
"It's just not what I imagined, Ursula," Triton said solemnly. It seems he isn't as enthused about this arrangement as I am.
"Your excitement is astounding, my prince; please, contain yourself," I deadpan.
He looks up at me then and frowns, "You mean you are pleased by this marriage arrangement?"
"Triton, have I not made my intentions of you clear before? This is all I've ever dreamed of, what I live for!" I push myself against the sand towards him, grasping his arms, only meeting hard metal bands instead of skin.
"Ursula..." he seems to plead. "I must admit I had never seen you in such an... intimate way before."
"Triton, do you know what this could mean for us? For our future? Our children would be the most powerful beings in the ocean. Dare I say surpass your father Poseidon in power!" I exclaim.
"No one could surpass my father, you know that; he is a god after all." He grabs my wrists, and we idle in the water.
"Yes, but you are a demigod, and I a sea witch. Could that not create a powerful son or daughter?" I pleaded with him.
I watched Triton have his fair share of lovers, all while I stayed in the shallow water, waiting idly for my chance. No one could keep Triton entertained for long. It did not help that every merwoman in the ocean had their eyes and hearts set on their Prince. No one could make him laugh like I could, make him smile like I could. I was the one who held the key to his heart; Triton and all the other merfolk didn't know it yet. Soon, I would shine in the light of Prince Triton's eyes. He would come to me for the warmth and comfort needed from more than just a friend. I would be the one.
We stayed holding each other for a moment longer. I held onto him tightly, too afraid to let him go. I tried to give him a soft smile, and his blue eyes softened. We stayed like this, no more words passing between us. I didn't dare speak to ruin this intimate scene.
Not a moment too soon does he speak again, "remember when we used to go to the surface?" Triton says, looking up. "Catch glances of the fisherman passing by?"
"A shame when all their lines were cut, and they lost all those fish they spent all day trying to catch," I smirked.
"Or when a storm would just come out of nowhere and chase them off," he teased back.
I enjoyed this game with him. Always causing trouble with humans. It's one of my favorite pastimes and always better spent with my prince at my side. Nowadays, I conduct most of my mischievous acts alone.
"We should go see if any ships are nearby now," I offered, pulling him closer.
He pulled away then, "Another time, perhaps. I have plenty of work to prepare this feast my father plans to have."
"Ah yes, a prince's job is never done." I employ a smile of sympathy for him then. All I can do is hide my disappointment.
"I will be grateful to one day be king so we may never have these silly feasts like this again."
"Oh, but my prince! However, will we entertain the masses?" I rebuke, trying to move closer.
"There are other ways to entertain oneself than just eating." He doesn't move back but seems distant at my forwardness.
"What would you have us do? Make a performance of songs and dances?" I laugh.
"Doesn't sound so bad to me," he smiles softly, the coldness draining from his face. "I do enjoy listening to music and singing time and again."