Ch 2. Roll with the Tide
The Curries lived on Sweet Water Lake for five years by now. Young Arthur was eight years old and learning about Atlantis' great history. He sat on the board walk with his mother as she told about King Atlan, " You come a regal line of scholars, engineers and philosophers. Startling from King Atlan, the founder of Atlantis. He wielded the most power Triton but it was lost to the depths when Atlantis fell to the sea. But legend has it that someday the true king will find it and lead Atlantis into a reign like never before."
"Do you think I can find it Mommy?" Arthur asked with his feet splashing in the warm water.
"Yes, my little king. You are of two worlds and have a heart that's true," she said kissing his head.
Arthurs dark brown wavy hair blew in the wind as he looked into the water and sent pulsations to the bass and minnows looking for food from the dock. "Can we go swimming now?"
"Yes love," Atlanna said before bearing her Atlantean wetsuit with her triton in hand.
Arthur stripped off his Power Rangers t-shirt and dove in, racing his mother to the beds of seaweed below. He coasted through the warm mossy water sending pulses to schools of minnows that gathered around him as he went.
"Your father said he's making fish and chips tonight, he'll need your help drawing the fish to the nets," Atlanna said underwater.
" Yum. I like the pollack and perch the best."
" Well, looks like we're in luck because they've been breeding like seahorses."
Arthur looked though the murky bluish green water and strands of flowing seaweed and asked, " Does Atlantis look like a tower of the rocks down here?"
Atlanna stopped swimming and sat on the tide. " Atlantis is far more glorious. The kingdom glows brighter than the fireflies on summer nights."
"Like fireworks?"
"Nearly as bright if not brighter."
"Oh wow! I can't wait until we go someday!"
"Me neither son. A king's welcome is waiting for you," Atlanna said smiling. She secretly knew that their people would have a hard time accepting a king who was part "surface dweller". The heart of a mother wouldn't allow her to be discouraged by centuries of intolerance and hatred.
"Mom?"
"Yes?"
"When I turn nine at the end of the month, can I have some friends over? Like a birthday party?"
"Arthur, you know that we have to be careful about who comes to the house."
"I know. Can we go to the bowling alley with some of my friends?"
" I don't know Arthur we have to keep a low profile. Remember what happened at the Aquarium?"
" I was defending myself. Dad saw it during his lunch break."
" Yes, but you defended yourself by communicating with the sharks, not combat," Atlanna said firmly.
"Please Mom. I want to have a birthday like everyone else."
"You're not like all the other boys. You're a future king."
" I thought being king meant getting your way, at least half the time," Arthur sulked.
"I talk about it with your father later. Vulco is coming to train you. Don't sulk, it's not becoming," she said with her long wavy blonde hair undulating around her face.
Sure enough, Vulco appeared on a current. "Hello your majesties."
"Hello Vulco," Atlanna answered with a regal nod.
"Sire, are you ready for your daily combat training?" Vulco asked the sulking Arthur.
"Yeah," Arthur mumbled as he took his mother's triton in his hand.
"I'll see you at home son. Don't forget; your father is counting on your help later," she said nodding and then swimming up to the lake's surface.
"Why do you look so sorrowful?" Vulco asked as he faced Arthur with his trusty triton.
"All my friends get to have birthday parties at their house and do cool stuff, but I never get to have my friends over."
"You get to have me over."
"Yeah for training and you're not my age. Mom says I'm a king but being like the other kids seems more fun."
"Your majesty I've been a royal vizier for years. It's my experience that being a king means foregoing certain pleasures for duty and responsibility."
"But I'm only a kid."
"You're much more than that. You have a great destiny and powerful enemies."
"I know. It's just one day though."
"Well in the meantime you can't be a nine-year old king in training and not have mastered the whirlpool shield," Vulco said lifting his triton in both hands.
"You're on!" Arthur said jumping up in a spiral and gripping his trident.
Meanwhile Atlanna was speaking with Tom about Arthur's upcoming birthday and the conversation she had with her son. The two sat on their bed with the noon sky beaming through the blinds.
"I get how he feels Atlanna. He's a boy. He wants to play with his friends and get into trouble."
"Most boys don't have a nemesis who would kill them and their fathers before taking their mothers off to be their queen."
"You got a point hun but this is really about him feeling like he belongs, like he has people."
"Oh, he has a people waiting for him someday and he has us."
"Yes, but he's from two worlds. He can't go to the one of his mother, he's here on the surface but it's like he can't touch it either. A small party at Enchanted Bowling Alley might not attract attention."
"I want our little boy to be happy. He can have the party but Vulco will be there just in case we need reinforcements."
"I love you Atlanna of Atlantis,"
"I love you too Tom Keeper of the Aquarium," Atlanna said before giving him a kiss. Her golden mane draped over his shoulders.
Later, when Arthur came in from training to help fish on the lake, he found both his mom and dad dressed to go out on the boat.
"Mom, you're coming with?" Arthur asked.
"Yes love. Your father and I have news for you."
Arthur looked from his mom to his dad.
"You can have you're ninth birthday at Enchanted bowling, Champ!"
"Really?! Awesome! Thanks Mom and Dad," Arthur said giving them a hug.
"You're welcome darling, now go change your clothes," his mother said pointing up the stairs.
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