The High Seas Queen

Chapter Three: Pact

“Wren?”

Shaking, I was shaking and cold in the warm ocean water. “There’s no way, you... I thought you were above the waves. Are the whispers true? You're a siren now?” I couldn't believe the words that came out of my own mouth as I looked at him, taking in the change. No longer was his tail a coppery color, but now it was an abyssal black. The memories of our childhood flashed through my mind with violence that started to cause a migraine.

“It’s me, Ash,” his smile softened, covering his sharp teeth, as though he was concerned about my well-being and cared whether I was scared of him or not. “It's me. I know it has been a long time since I looked upon our city, but I need to speak with the Queen urgently. There is a war happening on land, and it will likely not stop at the waves.” I recentered myself, taking note that he called me princess, and that could mean that he didn't know my coronation was today. While I listened to his plea, I worked on fixing my spine into a straight line, calling upon the strength of the killer whale within me. I needed a moment to think, to regain some composure after the shock, I replied slowly.

“Okay Wren,” looking around to my companions, “I just need to talk about the best way to do this with the generals. This is unprecedented territory, and you did try to break in. Just…” Turning back to look into his glowing eyes, it felt dangerous. Somewhere behind the toxic green glow was my childhood best friend and the young monarch I cared for before he had to leave to be ruler of his small village. “Just give us a little time, please.”

Nodding, he put a hand up and waved it around in a circular motion, and his band of warriors went back onto the warship. “Take your time, Princess. I'll be patient for you.” He didn't move, just floated there and watched. I could feel his eyes on my exposed back as I was still wearing the glass top from the ceremony.

“Why didn't you tell him you were the Queen now?” Leon asked quietly, and I didn't have a very good answer for him as he came close and put a hand on my shoulder. Leon was my betrothed and my second in command. We had been courting for a while, and he was perfect in both positions of my life. At seven feet from the end of his dark blue tail to the top of his head, he was easily the tallest of my advisors. With shoulder-length black hair and bright blue eyes, he was quite beautiful for a male merfolk, and he had the body of a warrior. I could get lost there looking at him, but I needed to stay strong and respond like his Queen, their Queen.

“That might not be the most important thing that needs to be discussed here. The ocean barrier seemed to see them as a threat, or else he and his small army would have floated right into the city with their warship. That being said, if the land is really at war, and it somehow could make its way down, that should be something we hear about. Right?” I was calm. No turbulence resided in my heart, a ruler’s heart. I had to be ready for anything.

Gale shook her head, looking over at the black siren and then looking back at me. She was shorter than me and had gorgeous blonde hair, gray eyes, and a beautiful tail that shimmered turquoise. She knew me. She had been there the night Wren left the city, left me behind. “What are we to do, Ashera, you are the Queen now, and it is ultimately up to you whether we override the barrier and bring him in or turn him away and see what happens next.” I was glad to see that even in this difficult situation, my friend trusted me as her Queen.

“We bring him in, only him, and go straight to the palace through the city tunnels. We are not to tell him that I have succeeded my grandmother until we are there, understood generals?” There were nods and slight grunting from them as their eyes turned back from concern to a firm concentration as we turned to present a united front. “Well Wren, Ruler of Octopoda and the like, we have decided that you may enter, but you must leave your entourage and war ship here. You must agree to a pact that you will not harm anyone within the barriers, and you will listen to every command given to you by anyone of the five in front of you.” I addressed him formally, trying to present more of a political meeting than one of old friends, even so my heart and voice softened when I continued. “You think you can do that, Wren? Can you listen to us and play nice with the other merfolk?” I probably shouldn't have jabbed at him, I just couldn't help myself.

The playful smirk he gave me back only melted me even more, and he approached the very edge of the barrier and held out his hand. “Anything for you, Princess.” It sounded a bit like he was declaring a challenge. The chances of this meeting going poorly were probably pretty high, but if there really was a war headed our way, we may need all the advantages we could get. I swam over to where he was waiting on the border and reached my hand out to embrace him. When our hands folded together and the pact was made, a seismic shock went through the water, sealing the temporary alliance.

I pulled him through the barrier to our side and let go of his hand. Behind me, the generals waited. I turned my back on the old friend and made my way towards the city. Leon and Gale accompanied me while Korrin and Sebastian waited for Wren to move. “The Queen won't wait for you, hurry now.” Sebastian goaded the black-tailed ruler, but all Wren did was chuckle darkly and start to follow me. The distant sound turned my skin into goose bumps. I refused to turn around as we swam swiftly to Oki. Many things ran through my mind. Most of my thoughts were 'how this could possibly go wrong?'

We entered the city through the secluded tunnel, making our way to the palace where the meeting would take place. The closer we got, the stronger I felt. I was surrounded by people, and my family was nearby. Stopping in front of the throne door, I asked the guard that stood there to send word to my grandmother and let her know that her presence was needed in the throne room. Leon gave me quite the side eye when he heard me say that.

“We’ll wait for her here if you don't mind.” I didn't think he’d really mind, so I didn't wait for an answer and proceeded to walk in, straight to the throne where I took my seat. If Wren noticed or had anything to say about it, he didn’t reveal any thoughts on the matter. The throne room was a well-sized room, gold framed the painted ceilings,and there were beautiful green arches on all the walls showcasing the murals there. The room drained and created a bubble, and we all shifted to our ocean forms, tails being replaced with garments and scale-covered legs. I wasn't sure if Wren could shift to anything but his current merfolk like form, but he managed. The coppery scales that used to spread across his body are now black like his tail, his golden hair now a stark white, and he stands before me.

As we waited, I thought about what would happen when my grandmother got there. As a child, she doted on Wren. He was her favorite of my friends, and part of me worried she’d be heartbroken by the sight. A noise drew our attention to a side door as my grandmother came rushing in. I am not sure if I've ever seen her rush anywhere. She looked through the room, not stopping until her eyes were on the black siren. She ran to him and tossed her arms around him.

“What have you done now, troubled boy? Where have you been?” She had tears in her eyes as she pulled away, looking him over thoroughly before pulling him in again and softly saying, “I am so sorry, little one.” This time, Wren looked up at me, sitting up on my throne. His eyes shone with held back tears, and he was wearing a soft smile.