The court of Aeson was buzzing with life. The Queen's ladies filled the corridors, soldiers and the King's foster sons took up the courtyard and servants filed to and fro, balancing silver trays laden with quality wine and the juiciest fruit. And this was a normal day. Well normal as in King Aeson was holding his fortnightly banquet, used to honour soldiers and make announcements.

Adelphi dodged her way across the portico to the throne room, having been summoned. She wondered what the matter could be. She sincerely hoped it had nothing to do with the urn she had painted for a joke. It depicted the previous king disguised as a lady in order to infiltrate the enemy, along with other funny scenes. She had put it away out of sight, but nothing could be kept a secret from Pasiphae. As she reached the door, she had failed to think of one valid excuse for her painting and was preparing herself for a scolding. The heavy wooden doors were pulled open and Aeson and Pasiphae were sat at the head of the throne room, majestic and slightly aloof.

"Daughter" said Aeson smiling. Adelphi gave a low curtsey to her father, then to her mother.

"Adelphi" said Pasiphae standing. "We have a matter of great importance, which we must discuss". Her tone was serious. Adelphi gulped.

"Mother…I can explain-"her mother cut her off.

"As you know, you came of age three years ago"

"yes" was Adelphi's feeble reply. She looked expectantly at the king and queen. She thought she now knew what they were getting at. At least they didn't know about the painted urn, she thought. The room went silent and Pasiphae looked at Aeson as if to prompt him to speak.

"As you know, one day you must choose a husband or we don't mind choosing a suitable one for you, we need to make allies…" Aeson trailed off as Pasiphae glared at him for his poorly delivered speech. Adelphi was in shock. Well, not so much shocked, she knew she would have to marry anyway, but her parents had never mentioned it before. The queen cleared her throat.

"Shortly we will be receiving many visitors, some of whom will be your suitors" Adelphi sensed that she was expected to make a response. But what should she say.

"w-what will you have me do, I mean… How shall I –" she stuttered, losing her composure.

"We do not yet know who our strongest ally is, when they arrive, with treaties, we will speak more of it. But for now, do not offend anyone, but do not give anyone special favour."

"Yes mother" So she was essentially to keep everyone happy, well that wasn't possible at all. That means she would have to hold back some of her jokes which had often got her into trouble.

"Thank you, mother, and father" Adelphi bowed as if to leave and turned to go when her mother's throat clearing stopped her again. But her father spoke this time.

"You might want to lay off painting our guests in compromising situations on urns and vases for a while" he said looking serious but smiling from the corner of his mouth. She too smiled. "I promise". Pasiphae looked at them both disapprovingly, and waved her hand in dismissal.

Out of the throne room, she laughed at her father's response to her painting, and her mother's. But then she remembered the matter to which she was called attention. She was going to marry. Obviously someone of her parents choosing, at this she sighed. She was thinking about this, not knowing where she was walking to, when she felt something tug at her gown.

"Heptarian!" she ruffled the hair of her little cousin.

"Can you play?" he said in a whining tone, characteristic of all children under the age on ten. Adelphi did a mock annoyed expression, trying to hide her smile.

"pleeaaase!" he whined.

"Fine. What will you have me do?"

"You have to be a monster which I have to slay" he said mischievously.

"A monster? Really? Is that how you see your cousin?" she looked away, pretending to cry, when in fact she was actually laughing. She heard him shuffle nervously on his feet.

"D-Delphi-"

"Rwwaajahhaar!" shouted Adelphi. At first Heptarian was terrified, then realised that she was playing and screamed in glee as he ran down the corridor brandishing his sword after Adelphi.

Pasiphae watched from a balcony as her daughter and nephew were play fighting each other, and sighed. She wanted them to be always happy like that, but she had seen too much and known so many to know that that could never be achieved. Subconsciously, her nails started to scrape the stone. In anger? Frustration? Despair? Only she could know, yet all she saw in her mind's eye was something dark, for her husband, her family and for Atlantis. She saw guests arriving in the courtyard and soon the three of them would have to become monuments, un- real and powerful, showing them what they wanted to see.