Norman kicked his boots into the sand as roughly as he could. Maybe they'd scuff if he kept it up. Although ruining his princely boots would not be a very effective retaliation against his father. His gaze swept over the tumbling waves as he walked down the rocky beach beneath the royal castle. He knew somewhere up there, his father and mother were probably holding some important meeting with important diplomats who had come offering princesses hands, smoothing their ruffled feathers after his rude, abrupt exit. It seemed they didn't understand there was only so much stupidity he could handle in one day. "I'm sure they are lovely girls" he thought, "But it would be a lot easier to make some INFORMED decision if I actually KNEW, hell, MET them."

He picked up a rock and aimlessly tried to skip it across the surging waves. "Of course, I should never imagine father would trust me with such a monumental decision as picking my own bride. I mean, look at how well HIS father picked out a girl for him." He smiled wryly. Father and mother loved each other, he could tell that at least, but nevertheless, they usually got on together like cats and dogs. He dropped a second rock at his feet, and sat thumped down beside it with a sigh.

Why couldn't they concentrate on getting Courtney married first? She loved drooling over pictures of foreign princesses, even enjoyed listening to the exaggerated blabber of the diplomats about their royal's heroic deeds. But no, Norman was the prince, and the prince needs to find a nice girl and have a nice marriage and have nice baby princes so the kingdom stays forever in the family name. "Let's face it," he thought glumly, "I'm going to be saddled with whoever is chosen for me, and never find any re-"

"TRITONS TRIDENT!"

Norman jumped, whipping his head around towards the craggy rocks behind him. There was silence for a few seconds, then loud shuffling followed by muttered curses. He slowly drew his dagger, folding up into a crouch and quietly sneaking towards the noises, thanking his father inwardly for the stealth and battle training his father had considered essential. ("Sandra, for God's sake, he needs to learn some man activities, all these lute and etiquette lessons are going to make him soft in the head!"). As he finally sidled up to the rock behind which the sounds were emanating, he stopped to take a few breaths, gulping silently at what sounded like a huge snake slipping against the bare rock. His grip on the dagger tightened, and he squared his shoulders bravely before peeking around the edge.

It was a mermaid.

He jerked his head back, blinking a few times and shaking himself before looking back again.

Yup, still a mermaid. Well, merman.

He'd never thought they were real. Just another interesting fantasy creature to be found in the many fairytale books he devoured in the library. Yet here he was, staring one straight in the face.

Well, back.

He could tell by the shape that it was definitely a boy, at least from the waist up. Everything below was a long, orange tail, which elegantly narrowed before fanning wide into a huge scoop at the bottom. His whole body was wet, except his hair, which poofed out in large curls, and repelled water in a way very reminiscent of a duck. The merman had flopped his way into a small tidal pool, and was busy splashing himself with the water, before his roaming eyes caught onto Norman's.

They both froze, and Norman wondered briefly if mer-people were friendly or dangerous (his books had described both) before the boy broke into a large grin.

"Hey! Where'd you come from?"

Struck dumb, Norman simply pointed up. The merman craned his head back to see the castle on the cliff above them. "Oh! You're a land-dweller then?" he beckoned excitedly. "Can I see your feet?!"

Norman cautiously came around the rock, kicking off his boots and wiggling his toes for the amazed merman.

"That. Is so. Cool."

"You're pretty amazing yourself." Norman replied weakly, looking towards the swishing tail between them. "Um…I don't mean to be rude, but, why are you here? On shore?"

"Me? Oh, well…" The boy looked rather embarrassed, twisting his fingers together in front of him. "My sister said that any true adventurer can go right up by the shore and collect barnacles from the rocks, so I came to get some and surprise her, by being so cool, but I got distracted looking up at your town, and the tide went out, so I got stuck behind these rocks, and couldn't get out." He looked worriedly up at the sky. "I was going to wait until the next tide came in, but I'm running out of pools to keep myself wet."

"Oh…" Norman glanced out towards the bay. The tide definitely wouldn't be coming in anytime soon. "Do you, uhh…need to stay wet?"

"Yeah, I can't breathe very well without water." He lifted his arm from his side, and Norman could see some gills opening and closing underneath the shallow water. "I have some in my neck too." The boy tilted his head slightly and smaller gills opened up there. "But they aren't as important."

"I see. If you need, I could probably give you a hand into the water. I mean, carry you there, and stuff." Norman rubber his neck awkwardly, glancing towards the merman.

"Really?" The hope and relief in the boy's gaze made Norman blush slightly. "Thank you, very much!"

Norman nodded, then hurriedly tugged his boots back on as the merman slipped out of the pool. He bent his arms under him and lifted, grunting a little. The boy's upper body was pretty light, but the tail was far heavier, draping out over his left arm.

Norman picked his way over the rocks carefully, concentrated as best as he could on not slipping and falling. It was difficult, considering the merman in his arms was staring quite deeply at his face as they slowly made their way towards the shore.

As Norman took a short break at the top of one rise, he finally met the guys eyes. They stared at each other for a few seconds, before the merman broke into a large grin.

"What?"

"Golly," The merman wrapped his arms around Norman's neck gently. "You're so handsome!"

"I-I am?" Norman felt a blush rise up on his cheeks at receiving such praise. "No one has ever called me that before."

"Well it's true!"

Norman swallowed, nodding awkwardly as he began walking again. "Thanks."

They soon reached the shoreline, and Norman laid the boy down as gently as he could next to the lapping waves. "Um…what's your name?" Norman blurted out suddenly.

The merman looked up at him, a softer smile gracing his features. "My name is Dipper." He pointed upwards. "Like the star one. And how about you?"

"Um, Norman. Nice to, uhh…meet you."

Dipper laughed loudly, and shook Norman's hand. "Indeed" he said, trying to sound formal, but failing miserably, as they both lapsed into chuckles. "Hey, come down by the beach more often. I would really like to talk with you more. It's nice to get away from my sister once and awhile."

"You're telling me." Norman waved slightly as he backed away a bit. "I'll come whenever I can, when the tide is down, like now."

Dipper nodded and waved back, then with a flip of his tail and a splash disappeared from sight. Norman stood for a few seconds, and saw a head pop out of the water offshore. They waved to each other again, then Dipper disappeared once more. As Norman walked back towards the castle, he felt better than he had in ages, and was certain that things would only get better as time went on.