The Little Mermaid

Chapter One.

She moved swiftly and silently.

Slipping out of her sleeping pallet and out the door of the richly decorated room, she took careful measures to make as little noise as possible. She peeked around the doorway, waiting for the guard posted there to finish his round and turn his back before speeding across the hallway. Dodging the rest of the guards and keeping to the walls, she used the darkness and shadows for cover as best she could.

Out of the room, down the hall, through the court, up the stairs, through the back door; she'd been to there so many times the path was embedded in her memory. This came in handy now that there was little light to be had. When she finally made it to the edge of the court, she clung to the pillar she was using for protection and tried to catch a glimpse of the last obstacle between her and her goal. One more soldier stood guarding the entrance. She returned to her hidden position and thought quickly. If she could simply make it past the last one of the king's henchmen unnoticed, she'd be right there; she could see the throne room from where she was standing. The girl peeked around the edge of the pillar she was lurking behind once more, defense techniques and extraction plan already forming in case things took a dark turn.

She was lucky. Turns out, the guard wasn't one of the best or brightest; he soon became bored and left his post to apply himself elsewhere. Most likely to the neck of some young, eager maid. Still, she was surprised. The girl snorted softly. The irresponsibility and flightiness of men usually irritated her, except now as it suited her needs.

Feeling a sudden surge of confidence now that she was completely alone, she moved straight from behind the pillar and to the entrance of the room. She slipped around the corner, moving to the back entrance she had used so many times before. Music and laughter spilled out of the grand ballroom, and her excitement grew as she entered the server's quarters directly behind the throne room. She flitted to her hiding spot, an old empty cabinet on the bottom corner of the room with a small hole in the back she'd made over time with the sharp end of a shell. She settled in the cramped space, pulled the door shut behind her and moved the piece of kelp hiding the hole to the side. The girl peered through the hole and exhaled. She'd made it.

The party was in full swing. Through her limited vision she could clearly see the hustle and bustle of the gala. At the other end of the room were the enormous pure aquamarine thrones, encrusted with gems and crystals. The king and queen perched on them, looking upon their numerous guests benevolently. One of the guards inside the room approached King Triton, whispering something in his ear that made him smile. But since she didn't come to see them, she moved on quickly. In one corner there was a long table, piled with delicacies only ordered for the most special of occasions. Bordering the throne room were tables and rocks of shining pearl, and people resting on them, eating and laughing in lighthearted conversation. In the opposite corner, the musicians played a lively song that reverberated throughout the entire room and reached the corners of the castle. She could feel the vibrations in her chest and she reveled in the sensation. But the main attraction, the reason she came, were the people that took up almost the entirety of the space. In the center of the room, moving joyously to the song, were the dancers. They created a spectacular scene and caught her full attention. Soaring to the beat of the music, they met and separated, then spun and met with another. The couples turned gracefully on the floor, using the lightest of touches to hold each other and moving in perfect beat with the harps and singers.

Try as she might, she couldn't help it; she twitched. With what little breathing room she had, she closed her eyes and began to move to the hum of the music. She let the cacophony fill her ears and senses. Softly, she began to sing. She relaxed into the music, eventually gaining volume as she did. Once the song ended she opened her eyes to resume spying on the party. She loved watching them; loved witnessing the gaiety, grandeur, and general beauty of balls. she opened her eyes again to watch the people. Out of the corner of her eye she saw the king's throne was now empty, but thought nothing of it when distracted by one of the couples executing a breathtaking twirl on the dance floor. How she wished she could learn those dances! She vowed to practice as soon as she--