Crystal City was massive. It rounded towers and city platforms stood along the coastline between the Land of Hobbits and Dwarves and out to Sea in the Land of Merfolk and Sirens. Crystal City was known as a port city, bringing in fresh fish and shrimp wherever they could be found.

Sea life hung around Crystal City, welcoming newcomers and travelers to its retreat whenever they wanted fish to eat. The locals didn't mind the fishing, for it was well and ripe for the harvest during the spring and summer times, with fall and winter providing local crops, as well as crops from the Sea.

This was the Merfolk and Sirens' home away from home. This was King Rupert's land.

.

Andalas swam towards shore, spotting the white sandy beach he was about to set foot on. Andalas resembled Frodo Baggins and the light red dragonoid, Parker Dooley, when Parker was in his human-hobbit form. Andalas had bright blue eyes, a cleft in his chin, pale skin, fair elvish features, short pointy ears, and soft, thick, curly dark brown hair on his head and the tops of his feet. As a merman—or rather a mer-hobbit—Andalas had a smooth, scaly blue tail. He was bare chested in his merman form.

He looked at his new mermaid friend Rosetta. She had a smooth, scaly salmon colored tail, flaming red hair, pale skin, and was donned in a red seashell mermaid bra. Just looking at her fair features, Andalas was in love. However, he knew he would have to prove himself to her, if he wanted to get anywhere in this life.

He was a prince, Prince of the Merfolk and Sirens. It was his duty to seize the throne, before someone took it. But who would take the throne from him?

"Andalas," Rosetta got his attention, "there's something you should know. Your Aunt Sera already has a champion, a knight of this realm, the Land of Merfolk and Sirens, to challenge you. He's not destined for the crown."

"Then why is he taking on this responsibility?" Andalas asked, seriously. "If he's not taking my throne, then—"

"It's a standard procedure. King Rupert had to go through this trial when he took the throne. All princes must take this vow in our realm, before they earn their status. Don't worry. Sera's knight won't pommel you too badly," Rosetta said, as she swam towards shore.

"I don't know," Andalas said, following Rosetta towards the surface.

As soon as they breached the water's surface, Andalas' tail turned to legs. His clothes returned, but his breeches were a dark green color and his tunic was as white as the white sandy beach. He looked at Rosetta, finding she wore a bright red dress and was smiling at him. The merman soldiers that followed them were donned in gold-plated and silver-plated armor. Rosetta and these soldiers, King Rupert's guards, also had legs instead of tails.

Andalas looked ahead with a grin. He hadn't known merfolk were capable of transitioning between the Land and the Sea. It was pretty cool. He looked on as they climbed up the flight of wooden stairs. It was miraculous he and the others were dry, while their legs dried off faster than he thought. He looked at Rosetta in amazement, stunned when he looked ahead and spotted an elderly man with pale skin that was slightly tanned and a white beard, staring at them from his throne. The way this elderly man, wearing his golden crown on his head, grinned mischievously at Andalas made the poor gentle-hobbit nervous.

What did this man want from him? Wait. Was this elderly man the Merfolk King?

"Greetings Andalas!" the Merfolk King announced, intrigued by him. "I am King Rupert. Welcome to my realm."

Andalas stopped and looked at him. Yes, there was something not right with this king. Still, Andalas wanted to please him. It was about the only thing he could do.

"Your mother Mara speaks much about you, and how you look like Parker Dooley and that Halfling Frodo Baggins," King Rupert said, interested.

"She did?" Andalas asked, confused. "Well, I'll try to be a good king."

"Try. You do it! You have to prove yourself to me that you will be a good king," King Rupert said, clicking his fingers as a man with pale skin, blond hair, blue eyes, and donned in silver armor, approached him.

"Who is this?" Andalas asked, nervously.

"I am Orm, the Current King of Atlantis in the Third Age," Orm said, causing Andalas to chuckle.

"This is who I'm facing?" Andalas asked, jokingly.

"Do you judge me? You'd be surprised," Orm said with confidence. "I am going to take you down and show you what it takes to become the ruler of your kingdom."

"You're not going to take my crown, are you Orm?" Andalas asked, warily.

"Oh, I'm going to do much more than take your crown. For you see, my people are no threat to your kind, but you may push my buttons. I'll see you in the ring," Orm said, walking away with his intentions held high.

Andalas watched Orm leave, his confidence draining. He really was fighting this guy? Surely, this must be a joke. Why did he have to face Orm?

"Oh, don't worry, Andalas. He could very well beat you down," Rosetta said, standing next to him.

Andalas raised an eyebrow in her direction. "So, what weapon do I use? A triton?"

"Don't underestimate the merfolk," Rosetta said, calmly. "You're your mother's son. Surely, some of her talents, that Aslan gave to her, reside in you. That is, if you're bold enough to figure out your talents firsthand, while in the ring." She walked into the city, hardly looking back at him.

Andalas shrugged, not knowing what else to say. He turned his gaze to King Rupert, who smiled at him, as his throne was carried by four muscular men. Great. Andalas wondered if there was any hope for him.

*.*.*

References:

Orm is the Sea King of Atlantis in the DC movie "Aquaman".