Hali had been to many a large banquet in her short life, but never had she sat at a table so large and so filled with people. All six of Hali aunts were seated at their respected places, except Adelaide who was still on a strict blended seaweed diet distributed by a bottle. Their husbands could be found on their left flanks. The royal grandchildren, filled the remaining seats at the table. But most impressive of all, King Triton was seated in an ornate chair at the head of the table. The King of Atlantica insisted on being present for Hali's first dinner with the family, during her visit. Tiamat was of course seated at his right hand.

Hali momentarily made eye contact with the queen, but shivered and looked away. It was unearthly to look at Tiamat. She had unusual, deep set amber eyes, hair the color of wet mud that fell down her neck like dead eels, and deathly pale skin. Granted, these were features that were common among merpeople with origins in Antarctic waters, but still, she made Hali's stomach queasy.

The queasy feeling in Hali's stomach would only make the dinner that much worse. The merpeople's diet is a required taste that Hali never did get quite used to. Platters of steamed coral were set before all the diners. There was also bounties of seaweed salad, and a mass of plankton pâté. Just as Hali and the other diners were about to dig into their delicious meal, soft, barely audible voice began to speak. Despite the low volume, all sitting at the table grew silent, barely daring to breathe.

"Tell us a poem, Hali," King Triton did beseech his seldom seen granddaughter.

Hali was caught off guard. She was much too intimidated to come up with an orginial poem on the spot, so she repeated the first thing that came to her pretty head.

In Xanadu did Kubla Khan
A stately pleasure-dome decree:
Where Alph, the sacred river, ran
Through caverns measureless to man
Down to a sunless sea.


So twice five miles of fertile ground
With walls and towers were girdled round:
And here were gardens bright with sinuous rills
Where blossomed many an incense-bearing tree;
And here were forests ancient as the hills, Enfolding sunny spots of greenery.
But oh! that deep romantic chasm which slanted


Down the green hill athwart a cedarn cover!
A savage place! as holy and enchanted
As e'er beneath a waning moon was haunted
By woman wailing for her demon-lover!

The poem Hali recited did remind her Atlantica. Certainly, it was an enchanting and stately place. There may not have been trees and greenery present in her grandfather's kingdom, but there definitely was bright coral and other colorful ocean plants.

Hali feared that the poem was lost on her non-human relatives, when finally, Tiamat started to applaud. One by one, all Hali's aunts, their husbands, and children also applauded. However, King Triton was much to weak for this sort of strenuous activity, so he simply gave Hali a proud smile. That simple gesture meant the world to Hali.

"A young girl who recites Coleridge," Tiamat's voice reminded Hali of ice, "is a girl after my own heart."

Hali was completely taken aback. She was shocked to see that the queen was familiar with a poem from the human world, but she dared not speak a word. Yes, Hali decided, Tiamat needed to be watched closely.

"Thank you, Your Majesty," Hali was more polite that she had ever been in her life.

"Please, call me Tiamat, dear."

"Thank, you Tiamat," Hali corrected herself.

Try as she might, Hali could not get to sleep, that first night. It was always difficult for her to sleep in strange surroundings. She looked over to her right, at the other clam bed. Serene was sleeping, well serenely, blowing tiny bubbles with every breath. Darwin was clutched loosely by his tail, and hanging over the side of the bed. Hali smiled at the sigh of the peaceful child, so few problems Serene must have.

Seeing that Hali couldn't sleep, she decided to take a mini, self-guided tour around King Triton's castle. Quietly, Hali swam around the corridors. She felt free as she glided through the water. The castle was dead silent, but as she passed one of the rooms, Hali thought she heard a voice. Turning back, Hali realized the voice came from her grandfather's room. It was Tiamat's voice for sure. Thinking it was only a private conversation, Hali began to swim off, but she stopped when she heard the word trident.

Miegs mans vīrs.
Es dzēriens jūsu pilnvaras.
Ātri, Trident,
un okeāna es rīcībā!

Hali did not understand a single word of whatever, Tiamat had just said, but it did not sound at all good. She repeated the phrase over and over in her head until she had it memorized.

'What are you up to, Tiamat?' Hali thought to herself.

Ultra Special Blah Blah Blah

The poem Hali recited is called Kubla Kahn, written by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. The poem was first published in 1816. Coleridge claimed it came to him in an opium induced dream.

Tiamat's mysterious words were in Turkish but I had to switch the language, because some people don't leave well enough alone. No, I don't speak the language, but I entered my words into the Google Translator. I won't tell you what I typed just yet. I don't want to ruin anything for you!