Ursula's Beginning

28. What would I give to live where you are

After barking questions at guards in the corridors, Ursula found Triton in a cavernous study. He was surrounded by unfamiliar mermen. A map was spread before them on an expansive table and Triton was pointing at something with the tip of his trident.

She tore through the room. Ganeon, who was reading in the rear corner, noticed her first. "Hey, look what the tide washed—"

"Not now, Ganeon," she snapped. The prince's smile died as everyone looked up from the map. Humiliated, Ganeon slouched behind his book.

"I need to talk to you now!" she addressed Triton.

Triton furrowed his brow.

"Your Majesty," she added hastily, dipping quickly downward.

"Has Ephram sent you?" asked Triton.

"I just spoke with him," she answered.

"Very well." He motioned to the door leading to an adjacent conference room. Ursula dashed inside and her eels followed. "No one is to disturb us," he instructed as he closed the door behind him.

Ursula pounced at once. "Why in Poseidon's name—oh!"

Triton had carefully but firmly taken a fistful of her hair, and was fast guiding her towards a wall. Pinning her there, he kissed her long and deep. He put everything he wanted to do the night before into it; she had looked more appetizing to him than anything else at the feast. Flotsam and Jetsam averted their eyes.

"Don't interrupt me like that again unless it's an emergency," he growled, planting kisses down the side of her neck.

"It...is...an emergency!" she panted.

"No, it's not," he countered. "I know why you're here."

She employed all her concentration and strength to push against his chest. "How could you do this to us? You promised me that as soon as you became king—"

He pressed a finger to her lips. "Not to us. For us."

Ursula jerked her head away.

"When Ephram told me of his wishes, I saw a wonderful opportunity in it."

"An opportunity to destroy our relationship, perhaps?" Ursula hissed.

"An opportunity to secure it," Triton admonished. "Ursula, I want peace in my palace. Since father died, there's been enough tension within these walls to last me a lifetime."

"I don't understand."

Triton took her hand and kissed her lavender palm. "I want you and my mother to have a better relationship before I tell her about us. You two haven't had a chance to get to know one another very well. There's been too much stress, too much heartache."

"Triton, your mother only supports me becoming High Priestess because she believes it will distance us! She's hoping the separation of powers will take care of the problem. The problem, of course, is me having a friendship—of any degree—with either one of her sons!"

"She simply needs to get to know you better. That's my point. And if you live here in the palace with us, and we all work together on the administration of the kingdom, and she sees how brilliant and dutiful you are on a daily basis, she'll come to love you. Just as I do." He kissed her forehead. "So you see how this will pay off? We will be rewarded for our patience with a peaceful home."

"No. She will just be angry six months from now because she will know we violated the separation of powers while I lived here."

"She's not going to know anything," he murmured in her ear. Ursula shivered with pleasure. "Mother will be made to believe that I fell in love with you during your time as High Priestess, and that we are seeking her blessing before acting on our feelings."

"Oh, what are the chances she'll—"

Triton interrupted her with a kiss.

"And this version of events will be better for the public eye, as well. We must consider that now." His voice was firm.

Ursula sighed. The king had obviously considered the matter from every angle. "Fine," she said petulantly. "At least we'll be somewhat closer if I move to the palace."

"Such a small consolation, is it? Being closer to me?" he teased as he caressed her.

She laughed and pulled him into her arms. "I guess I can live with this for now."

"Do you see how wise your new king is?" he smiled.

"Yes."

"Yes what?" he demanded.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

They both liked that. They liked it so much it delayed them another ten minutes. Then Triton insisted he couldn't make his advisors wait any longer. 

Ursula whistled to her familiars. They slunk out of their hiding spots among the chairs. Triton left the room first, followed by Ursula and then Flotsam and Jetsam. As they slithered into the study, Ursula felt relieved they couldn't talk.

She nodded curtly to the cluster of mermen waiting for the king. They were huddled more closely around the map than before, but not to discuss territories. Ursula moved past them towards Ganeon. He was still in the corner, pretending to read.

"I'm sorry about earlier. Some unexpected news had me in quite a state," she said.

Ganeon tossed his book aside and straightened in his seat. "Are you alright? What happened?"

Ursula smiled at his concern. "I'm fine, thank you. Nothing's happened yet, but...it seems I will be living here in the palace for the next six months or so. As High Priestess."

The prince shot up. "Tremendous! What an honor! We must celebrate! I'll call for some cordial. What was your favorite kind, again?"

"Ohhhh, no. No, no, no. Look at me. I'm not even recovered from last night. Besides, aren't you the one that schooled me on the separation of powers?" Ursula lowered her voice to a male register and frowned as she said the phrase—an impression of Ganeon. "So now that I'm to be High Priestess, there can be no more such nonsense."

Ganeon laughed. His hazel eyes were sparkling green and gold with excitement.

"Well, ah, you know," he shrugged. "The separation of powers. When you really dig into it, you find it's more custom than law."