Ursula

Chapter 11 The Singer

Triton

I have fallen hopelessly in love with Athena. She consumes my thoughts whenever she isn't near me and when she is, I can't help but gaze at her with adoring eyes.
She is by far the most beautiful merwoman I have ever seen.
I look at her, singing up to the sky, playing music now as she does. She makes my soul feel lighter. As if all the weight set upon me as the son of Poseidon, were mere pebbles now. I have never been made so aware of the cumbersome responsibilities I carry with me. Ever since I first heard her, seen her, kissed her.
All of who I thought I was supposed to be, vanished.
She finishes her melody and looks down to meet my eyes which have been waiting for her gaze the entirety of her song. She smiles and I can't help but to be dumbstruck by her again.
By all the gods, she is breathtaking.
Her red hair whips in the salty sea winds. Her eyes alight with excitement.
"Triton..." she breathes.
"Athena," I say in a heady tone.
She looks down and her cheeks flush crimson.
"We've been meeting here for some time now," she says solemnly, breaking the light mood.
"We have," I confirm. "Is there something the matter with that?"
"It's just..." she pauses to look up at me. "We shouldn't—not as long as you are supposed to marry Ursula," she says her name with a bad taste in her mouth. "You cannot be caught spending all your time with me."
"I don't spend all my time with you."
She gives me a tight-lipped look, "all your other time is spent in your room, sleeping. You've told me as much."
"What am I supposed to do? You know I don't wish to marry her. I can't bring myself to stay away from you." I reach for her cheek, cradling her face in my palm. "I love you."
"Triton! If anyone were to hear—"
"They what? Would banish me for speaking such things? Let them go ahead and do it. It would only mean my future could be spent by your side instead of that sea witch's."
Athena sighs, "what are we to do, Triton?"
"I don't know," I tell her. It's the truth. I keep coming here—to her—as if seeing her would somehow give me answers. All our time together accomplishes to do is increase my love for her and my desire to run away from my duties as a prince of the sea.
"You should be getting back," she says, turning out of my hand to look at the sunset. The sun barely reaching over the edge of the world. "It's getting late. You've spent most of your day here, listening to my songs."
"And I would continue to listen, a thousand times over."
"We really should be getting back to the city though; I don't want to keep you away from your duties much longer than I have been."
We both take our time slipping back into the sea. I hold her hand as long as she lets me and watch her face.
As we near the ocean floor, her face grows stark and paler than I'd ever seen, releasing my hand in the same moment. I look to what faces us only to find a familiar body, staring at us with a pleased grin on their face.
Ursula.
Beside her, almost hiding amongst her tentacles, are two small eels. Their eyes appear to watch every movement, as we halt in place and I fail to continue breathing.
"Triton, how good it is to see you," Ursula calls out.
"Ursula, what—what brings you out this way?" I try to feign innocence.
"Oh, I was just taking an evening swim. Thought I might get some fresh air," she quips. "And you might this merwoman be?" She gestures towards a pale looking Athena.
Before I can answer her, the merwoman next to me provides an answer, "Athena, my lady."
"How sweet, Athena, what a lovely name," the witch looks back to me, meeting my eyes. If her look said anything, it's that she knew something. I knew I wouldn't be able to crawl myself out of this hole I've buried myself in. I can only hope the Ursula might take pity on Athena.
"Triton—or rather—Prince Triton was just listening to me sing, my lady. You do need a singer for your wedding, is that right?" Athena might have just saved us from whatever unknown horrors Ursula may have planned.
"Singing? Is that right, Triton dear?" Ursula looks back at me, an eyebrow raised and lips pursed.
"I'm, yes, a singer for our wedding. We do require one, don't we?" I add.
"I suppose we do," Ursula announces in a flat voice. "Well, I surmise that you have found one?"
"Well—" I start.
"Perfect," Ursula claps. "Athena, I am anticipating you must make a wonderful singer. It seems Triton has taken his time choosing."
"I may only hope that I meet your expectations, my lady," Athena nods.
"Triton, dear?" Ursula smiles at me. A mischievous grin grew on her face. "We should be getting back soon. My mother had hoped we could all have a family dinner together. Seeing as we will soon be a family."
"Of course, I was just heading back to the Palace."
"I actually forgot I had left something up there," Athena interjects. "My Prince," she bows. "My lady."
Athena hastily retreats from our group, swimming back up to the surface.
I look back at Ursula, her grin still shining.
"Shall we?" She gestures for us to continue back to the palace.
"Of course," I say, swimming up to her side. She takes my arm in hers and we make our way back to Atlantica's epicenter. The two small eels, trailing behind us. I look at them curiously, such strange creatures.
As we venture on, I only pray Ursula does not hear the fast beating of my heart caused by anxiety over what just took place. Athena was smart to think on her fins like that. I'll have to get her out of being our singer at the wedding. I don't think I could bear marrying Ursula while the true love of my life watches.
No, I would rather Athena be as far as possible. I don't trust myself to make the right decision if she were present. I very well might leave Ursula at the altar and run away with Athena. At least then I knew I would find happiness with her.