Neptune had a patience problem. Part of it from his upbringing, waiting for somethings irritated him. Poseidon was a patient merman as so was his mother and step-mother. He had his rounds or stealing treats from the kitchen, spoiling dinner feast. He also pushed past others his age and older, sister and cousins and his step-mother to some extent.
He was patient with Poseidon.
His father was lax in nature. He listened, he respected and he openly admitted he was still learning. The times his son yelled and screamed as a youth he would gently rub his head and tell him that he need not worry. "All of us, from the merpeople of the seas and the humes of the surface don't always get what they demand. The simple flounder doesn't ask to be eaten and doesn't expect not to be eaten when they are swallowed whole."
His father also gave terrible anecdotes, but he did understand what he meant...most of the time. He used his father's wisdom through his engagement and he continued to listen to his words following his coronation.
Neptune was still impatience. It was a thing he could not change.
Chapter 3: The Northern Seas Part 2
The guards exchanged looks and Ligea was hesitant. Neptune placed his strong arm around his wife before they ventured into this living quarters. Neptune had a sword and skilled enough to place a fatal hit on his opponent with one hit. The men behind him had enough experience to fight with spears, shields and swords. They will be safe.
The mysterious mermaid was beautiful and so was the other two that appeared: one with her long white hair suspended in the sea water and the other's white curls pinned up with brown and green seashells. They looked like wisp, alabaster skin nearly blend with their hair and grey eyes matching their scales.
"Are you three sisters?" Ligea tried to make small talk, albeit her nerves.
"Yes. We came here from the far seas. We took our stay here."
Neptune scoffed. "You stay here? I don't here often that merpeople willingly come here unless they are banished or poor." The "far seas" was another way to claim colonies of merpeople on Andros that were not a part of the Central and Southern seas. Still these colonies knew of the Northern seas and the stories behind them: forgotten lands, cursed and dangerous.
The mermaid with the curly hair smiled. " Me and my sisters are nomads. We also love to challenge mystery." The mermaid dipped her hand in the large caldron, green stream emitting from the broken instrument. "It also helps that-"
"Be off the small talk, simple mermaid." Neptune held up a bag of coins and jewels. "This is payment for the fortune. But will not get any if your performance is unsatisfactory."
The long-haired sister laughed. "We do not accept physical payments. We do not except any payments of the sort. Our fortunes will pay themselves."
Neptune huffed and ordered the mermaids to begin their business. The first mermaid now placed both hands in the caldron as the other two surround her sister. The guards lifted their shields, Ligea got closer to her husband and Neptune was unbothered. The mist lifted as she lifted her arms and it seeped and covered the room, swirling around the mermen and royalty. The first mermaid danced, her hair swirling around herself and the water around her and the second sister joined in the dance. The curly haired sister continued the chant as the other sisters laughed and moved closer to the Centralers. Neptune blocked them from coming any closer to his wife but they did dance around the party.
The second sister clapped her hands and swirled and the first yelled. Ligea released what was happening, the green smog covered her hands, head and body. The mist felt euphoric and she smiled. The first sister smiled with Ligea and grabbed her hands. Neptune forcefully broke their embrace. The fortune teller was pushed to the floor.
"I will not stand for this nonsense any longer!" He drew his sword and the knight surround the royals drew theirs. "This is no fortune, this is witchcraft!"
The females smile and chants ceased. "Oh King Neptune of Strength and Order!" The curly haired teller began.
"Man of impatience and internal strife!" The second sister yelled, then laughed.
"Bore heirs to the throne of Androsian seas! Welcome the twins of the seas!"
Ligea looked at her husband and cradled her stomach. Neptune floated back with his men.
"Son of gentle sprit will be born. Eyes of kindness will be destined to rule with a heart of fire." The curly haired teller chanted. "Son of passion will be born. Eyes of emotion will be destined to rule with a heart of history. All will be well..."
"All will be well," said the second teller.
"All might be well," the first sister muttered. Beginning quiet, an eruption of laughter bounced through the walls of the shelter from each female. "Lies will come to surface!" She pointed. "Faith will be broken!"
"Death will divide, death will warp!" The curly haired sister joined her sisters. "And jealously will come to bring! A curse will be fall this family as it is destined. One son will be King; another will become nightmare!"
"Only the strength of the light will break this curse! But the damage will be done!" Neptune struck the first witch as she spoke. She was startled first, then smiled and cackled as the impact area phased through the sword. "The curse will be your downfall!"
"Your downfall! Your downfall!" The witches came together with eyes lit of yellow. Youth washed from their faces and skin changed in color. Fingers grew in length and bodies concaved. And shadows build in depth, the silhouettes taking on their own lives.
Ligea screamed. The cauldron exploded in colors of red, green, grey and black as if fires from hell escaped to the surface. The witches screamed and stretched, clacked and sauntered. The guards jumped to protect their king and fighting the monsters and witches and suddenly everything stopped. Shadows disappeared, the colors dissipated, the cauldron shattered and the witches vanished without a trace.
Ligea laid on the ocean floor, the horror too much for her to take and putting his own distraught aside he lifted his pregnant wife and the men left back to the sea horses and back to the capital.
Sleep did not exist for three months. Holy mermen blessed Ligea and her pregnancy and the King. Since then, believing that they were lies helped them sleep.
Twins were born months afterward to the enjoyment of the kingdom. One, a prince with lavender locks named Nereus and the second with deep navy blue hair called Tritannus. Ligea hugged her children tightly and on their birth Neptune decreed all fortuneteller stop their practice, leave the kingdom or be executed for their practice. And Ligea seconded that decree.