Ursula's Beginning

Pt. IV--35. Repented, Seen the Light, and Made a Switch

The royal wedding between Triton and Athena Marielle was a beautiful affair. Ursula made no attempt to spy on it, much less disrupt it. She felt Triton's anxiety dissipate the very next day, and a deep happiness took its place. Knowing what the happiness was about, Ursula found it irksome within her own body.

A few months later, Ursula's twentieth birthday came and went quietly. This was a great relief to Triton but moreso to Ephram, who knew the terms of her apprenticeship. She asked Siddikah to let her stay awhile longer, until the timing was just right for returning to Atlantica. Siddikah wanted her to remain indefinitely and was pleased to grant her birthday wish.

Urusla was calm. She had accepted that Triton was beyond her reach now. What occupied her at this point was returning to Atlantica with her head held high and creating a life on her own terms. After a year with Siddikah, she still didn't understand what made her evil, exactly. Merfolk came to her with their whiny requests; she never sought anyone out for her own purposes. Yet the life of a sorceress was a lonely one. No one came to the Leviathan unless they wanted something, and Ursula hated that garden of doomed souls, even if she kept it quiet.

If her options in this life were feared sorceress or beloved leader of the Tentacled Folk, as Ephram had said, Ursula now knew she'd rather lead her own kind as High Priestess. Dwelling in the shadows of the Uncivilized Waters was tiresome, and the thought of making Triton and his wife live and contend with her daily was a delicious one.

Another three months passed. Then Ursula learned that King Triton and his bride were expecting. She knew her route back to the palace had been cleared.

***

There was commotion as Ursula emerged out of the Uncivilized Waters in the middle of an ordinary day and crossed into Atlantica for the first time in over a year. A crowd gathered and--a credit to their bravery-pushed her back to the border while guards were retrieved. The guards arrived, wild-eyed, to find a serene Ursula with straight, snowy, shoulder length hair. The two midnight streaks remained, and she wore a simple black top that showed half her breasts and all of the nautilus just below her throat. The rings and bracelets and tangle of necklaces were gone--her look was stark and conveyed she was not to be trifled with; she was no longer a girl.

Prince Ganeon arrived a beat behind the guards and before they could do anything besides point their spears at her, he had dismissed them.

"You are all dismissed," he said severely to the crowd of onlookers.

They retreated too slowly for the prince's taste.

"Must I repeat myself?" he said a touch louder.

Seconds later, they were alone, suspended face to face. Ganeon took in her hair, then drank in the rest of her silently. His eyes found hers and bore into them. He said nothing.

Ursula's heart galloped. "I want to speak to Ephram," she said softly.

Prince Ganeon backed up ever so slightly. His face was severe and his heavy beard gave him an imposing air. He was no longer a boy, either.

After an excruciating silence, he extended his arm toward her. Ursula smiled regally and bowed her head in thanks and she entwined her arm around his. He did not return her smile. They set off for the temple side by side, drawing gasps and stares as they came upon the citizens of the kingdom, who had heard and spread a variety of tales about Ursula's disappearance.

As the buzz around them grew, Ganeon pulled his arm from hers, only to throw it around her back, run his hand down the side of her, and plant it firmly at her waist. He pulled her closer to him, squeezed the flesh in his grip. The chatter grew louder. Ursula wanted to laugh wildly. She couldn't believe this was the same merman who had irritated her terribly just a couple of years ago, that first time he escorted her somewhere: home from the temple, during his father's illness.