Chapter Six- A Ball and a Ruby
Serenity announced the ball after Mina and Malachite took naps and once they all had dinner. The entire kingdom talked excitedly about the ball the following day as they put on their best jewelry and generally made themselves look their best.
Mina was whisked off by two mermaid servants to get ready for the ball and Malachite watched her go before two mermen servants came up to him and led him to another chamber.
"What's going on?" he asked as the door closed.
One of the mermen bowed. "Queen Serenity wished for us to assist you in getting ready for the ball, milord."
Malachite was then guided to a chair and the servants started to work on his hair. They brushed it, applied different things that Malachite wasn't familiar with, and finished with tying it back. They proceeded to polish his tail and finished with putting a sash over his chest and placing a princely crown on his head. They moved back so that he could see his reflection better.
His hair looked like it would if he were attending a ball on land. His tail had never looked better; it had been polished to a high gleam. The sash was appropriate for a lord to wear but the crown, a circlet really, seemed inappropriate. Yes, he was engaged to a princess, but he didn't think it was right for him to wear a crown.
There was a knock before the door opened and Mina said, "It's almost time, Malachite."
He turned around and gaped at his fiancée. Her hair had been brushed, braided, and wound into an elegant bun. Her tail had also been polished, an assortment of pearls and shells on twine adorned her tail and hair, and a beautiful tiara of ivory and mother-of-pearl gleamed on her head.
"Oh, Malachite, you look really handsome," Mina sighed happily as she swam forward and clasped his hands.
"And you look gorgeous," he replied. "But I don't think I should be wearing a crown. I'm a lord, not a prince."
"Hmm." Mina tapped her lips as she gave Malachite a second look. She then removed his crown and tilted her head. "You know, you look better without it, but I think a sea star on you sash would be the perfect touch."
As the mermen put the crown away and applied a sea star to the center of the sash, Mina added, "I should say that at the wedding, you will be crowned once we've been declared husband and wife."
"That's acceptable because I'll be a prince then." Malachite held out his arm and Mina looped her arm through his before the couple swam out of the room.
There was a low rumble of noise as they approached the ballroom. The double doors were opened by a pair of guards and the crowd turned as Mina and Malachite swam in. The princess led Malachite to the front of the room where a trio of thrones sat with the queen sitting in one. A pedestal beside her had a sponge cushion on it and lying on top of it was The True Hearts Scepter. Mina took the seat next to her mother while Malachite, reluctantly, sat on the other throne. The crowd continued to talk, softly now, until Serenity rose from her seat.
"My people, one day, my daughter, will be your queen. Each queen or king of our kingdom requires a scepter as a symbol of their rule and to pair humans and merpeople together. Princess Mina, come forward."
Mina swam next to her mother who lifted the jeweled scepter from the pedestal. "You proved yourself able to rule by retrieving a scepter made by humans to give to us that was stolen by robbers centuries ago." She passed it to Mina who raised it over her head.
"I, Princess Mina, present to you the symbol of my rule: The True Hearts Scepter."
There were sounds of admiration amidst the sound of applause. Mina placed the scepter in a holder on the right side of her throne before hold a hand out to Malachite as the band struck up a song.
Malachite was interested in learning to dance as a merman and knew he would teach Mina to dance for The Winter Ball. Mina interlaced her fingers with Malachite's and pressed herself up against him and flicked her fins and lower tail slowly and gently. The result was a gentle, swaying motion.
"We have a similar motion on land," he said. "Except we hold hands instead of interlacing fingers."
"Mmm. Sounds romantic," Mina said softly. "I can hardly wait to learn your ways.
"Speaking of ways, I've noticed you seemed…I don't know. Nervous, uncertain, awkward?"
"It's just I'm uncertain about all the royal trappings being presented to me. I understand that I'll be a prince in the summer, but I'm not comfortable with having them yet. As a lord, I don't wear crowns or sit on thrones."
"I…guess I can see what you're saying. As a princess, I'm used to all this. So, it's the crown and throne you're uncomfortable about?"
"That's all. So, what other dances do you know?"
Mina smiled. "Hang on, dear. Here's a dance you'll need to know for our reception after the wedding."
Raye swam to the surface, her money bag in one hand. It was finally her turn again to visit Jedite and she was glad; for one thing she would get her dance lessons and second of all, giving Jedite The Royal Ruby so he could give it to Darien.
She sighed. Serena was lucky to get someone like Darien. He's kind, gentle, and quite handsome. He would have made a good merman; of all times he came to visit, I should know. However, Jedite is handsome too and he'll definitely make a good merman priest.
I wonder if I could persuade him to stay longer than a week at a time. After all, Malachite's been a merman all summer and so far most of autumn and Jedite will be a merman permanently next summer.
But, then again, I should let him spend as much time as he wants on land because after we're married, he won't be able to live on land and do all those human activities he loves to do. Raye bit her lip. She was coming across, to her mind, as a bit selfish. She wanted Jedite to spend more time as a merman when he should spend more time as a human.
She broke the surface and swam to the shallows where Jedite waited on dry land with a dress and shoes for her. She put her bag down, pulled on the dress, and changed to human. She stood, slipped on the shoes, and picked up the bag. Jedite noticed that it seemed heavier and fuller than the last time he saw it. He also noticed something else as they walked and cleared his throat.
"Raye, is something wrong? You seem rather quiet."
"Oh, Jedite," she sighed. "I've been having a selfish thought."
"Selfish? You? Raye you are the most selfless mermaid I've ever met."
"I was reflecting on your visits and considered persuading you to visit for more than just a week at a time. But then I realized that I shouldn't ask you to give up the limited time you have as a human."
"And that proves my point. You love my company and want me to spend more time with you, but you realize I need time to enjoy my remaining months as a human. You are selfless, Raye and that's one of things I love about you."
Raye blushed. "Well, uh, thank you."
"My pleasure. By the way, I noticed your bag seems a little heavier and fuller today."
"Right. Well, Mina and Malachite came home the day after you left and there was a ball the day after they got home. The ball celebrated Mina finding her scepter. The place they found the scepter in was a treasure chest and this was also in the chest." She reached in the bag and pulled the jewel out.
Jedite gasped. "The Royal Ruby! It's been lost for centuries!"
"Malachite was hoping you could bring it to Darien, but you had already left so I volunteered to hold on to it so that I could deliver it."
"Yes, that was a good idea." Jedite accepted the ruby and put it in one hand which he put behind his back as the couple entered the castle and headed for the Throne Room. Jedite knocked and they heard Darien say, "Enter."
Jedite and Ray entered, strode down the carpet, and knelt at the thrones' steps. "My prince, Mina and Malachite have found your family's jewel." He brought his hand from behind his back and held it up.
"Oh, my," Darien gasped as he descended the steps. "The Royal Ruby! After all this time, it's been returned."
"Returned?" Serena inquired. "What do you mean, Darien?"
"The Royal Ruby is a jewel that belonged to the royal family for generations until 250 years ago when a band of pirates pillaged our kingdom. In addition to the ruby, they stole coins, other jewels, and a golden scepter that was supposed to go to the royal family of the sea."
"Well, they found the scepter too," Raye said. "It belongs to Mina now and she's named it The True Hearts Scepter."
"That's great. I am curious, though. Why does the royal family want a new scepter for every heir?" Darien asked.
"It's a tradition," Serena answered. "Every ruler needs their own symbol of their rule. During the coronation ceremony, the former ruler transfers all the power of their scepter to the new one. That includes the power to change humans to merpeople and vice versa."
"Ah. So a new scepter is needed for transfer of power."
"Right. So, one day Mina will be queen and she'll do the duties that Mother does."
"If you'll excuse us, Prince Darien, I owe Raye dance lessons so that she'll be ready for The Winter Ball."
"You're excused and thank you for The Royal Ruby."
"You're welcome." Jedite and Raye bowed and curtsied before heading to the ballroom for the dance lessons.