Summary/disclaimer: Time for another chapter of Aquatic Attractions. Enjoy the 2000-word chapter. I don't own Aquaman DC and a few others do.
Atlanta looked up at the ceiling, the stone-grey confines of the cavern seemed as much of a prison as a throne room. She looked at the dimly lit torches which were each sparingly placed.
'It might as well have been a prison with how confining at the moment.' Atlanta thought as she put her hands on her knees.
She sighed, leaning back in her chair what happened when others came here? Would she fight? Yes, but it would just lead to war, and she doubted enough cared to fight for this kingdom of broken stone and even more broken people. Hell, if given the chance? She wouldn't blame them if they were willing to throw her out to save themselves.
"This kingdom belongs to those who earn their keep, even I must bow to that code. I built it, after all." Atlanna said, pausing to recline on her throne as she thought about how best to address her people.
Would they require another speech? Another broken record about how if they banded together, it would all just work out. No, she had gotten sick of it when even she pondered the issue.
"If we can't stand against the tide, who am I to be called the lady in charge of it?" Atlanna questioned herself as she slowly reclined her feet upon the cold stone steps of her throne.
There would be war, but she would be damned if she didn't go down fighting to the end of her ropes.
"My lady, we have new guests arriving at the main courtyard." Atlanna heard, making her look to see one of the many guards in the room.
She looked at the guard, the heavily armored warrior was quite ferocious looking compared to this dingy cavern. Atlanna slowly approached, leaping down from the shell-covered throne at the moment.
"There are new arrivals every single day when you come." Atlanta pointed out, gesturing around her with her armor clanking slightly. "Every single day, more and more people come to this place, all looking for freedom…. Anything of note?" Atlanta questioned, pausing to reflect.
If there were more new arrivals? Then it would only make the burden stronger. It meant more mouths to feed, and more people to shelter under her power. The ancient abode was home to anyone, but it still required servants even if they didn't understand it.
"A few, perhaps we should see for ourselves?" Atlanta questioned, raising an eyebrow under his armor.
Atlanna only chuckled, far more bemused than her stoic nature showed. If there was fresh meat on their shores? It would be best to greet them, reminding them they now owed their new home a boon if they were to earn their keep. There would always be worth to this as of the moment.
"Please tell me none of them are unaware of our rules?" Atlanna asked, amused at the gestures of the guard next to her. "Your well aware of how it went last time we had fresh recruits show up," Atlanta said, smirking as she did so.
"No, one of them is not from Atlantis at the moment… At least we claim to have heard it." The guard said to which Atlanta blinked, curious as to what she had just been reported.
"Are you sure it's what you mean?" Atlanta said, raising an eyebrow. "We get such reports constantly, there are very few warriors keeping up what they mean. The majority? They barely can claim to be true. This has to be a damned lie." Atlanta added, pointing her sword at the guard as she did so.
"No, I dare not lie that easily without proof, as I said? You will see best when we arrive." The guard pointed out, reaffirming his words carefully. "I speak only the truth, but I still question this plan. It is one born from the depths of the sea itself. I can only hope your vision is true." The guard said which earned him a frown from his other soldiers.
There was almost no reason for him to think of something else. He was well aware of what the queen was capable of doing. She was as much of a warrior as she was a ruler when it came down to it. There was nothing that came between her and her goals at the moment. She wanted nothing more than to be done with their goals at the moment.
Still? She was well aware of the best way to help her people. They had rules when the day ended and all was said and done.
She cleared her throat and tapped her side before she crossed her arms. She closed her eyes and waited for what possibly came next. They had plenty of time to experiment.
There was also the fact that more soldiers and people washed up in this place. Their shores constantly delivered what was becoming a full city which made her happy when it came down to it.
"The Lady of the Tides is something else." He stated before he frowned. "Don't disrespect her by acting as if we don't have any real reason to be here." He added before he crossed his arms his chest and started to look at his queen.
He was going to be rather off-put at the moment. This had been a rather odd thing to say and do. The woman who commanded this place? It had become harder at the second for him to question his argument and what he'd tell her at the second before he sighed and rolled his eyes.
"What do you think the woman of the tide would be like?" One of the soldiers questioned before the soldier happened when it came down to it. "There's a lot more to do when we settle in, setting the shop up, questioning trade deals." He stated before he shook his head as he tilted his head.
Many thoughts were bouncing through his mind. Many thoughts dominated his mind and thoughts. They would be walking into a hornet's nest as the humans called it. One which would not forgive them, that wouldn't wish to have them. They wanted out, wanted to be free. It almost terrified them more than they hadn't the ability to properly handle it. There was a lot more on his mind than simply tactics.
Simple tactics could have led to far more if they were properly applied at the end of the day. it all came down to it. He'd not once questioned the idea that this had been set in motion far beyond what he could accept. There was only so damn much that could be done at the end of the road.
This would be a lot more on this road than he accepted. More than he had bargained for at the end of the day. It'd be a lot to take in if not for the fact that all was put into motion already when it came down to it. There was so damn much that had to be done before this was all said and done.
Still? if that was how the ball was to bounce? It'd bounce that way with all of the grace he could muster for it at the end of the day. it'd be a lot worse either way if all was said and done.
He cracked his fingers, interested in how this ball could roll either way. It wasn't exactly something he ever once considered for the time being.
There was so much to be done either way. It wasn't as if he had much more on his mind when it came down to it. there was only so much that could be done either way.
Then again? Wasn't exactly the worst thing at the moment. It could only be done properly if they were around to say it.
There was a lot more to handle before all was handled when all of the questions pointed towards that view either way. It wasn't as if they had much more to say or do. Nothing at all could change that.
There was a lot more to question as of the time being when all was said and done. They had to speak to the woman who was in charge of the island and every single little piece of property here. It hadn't been more than a few seconds and yet he had been so confused as of the time being.
There was a lot more to see and do at the time when it came down to. He hadn't the skills to handle himself before he questioned what to do next.
This had been a lot more to question when the problem was to come down to it. There was a lot more to say and do before all of this was a lot more the mind. He questioned what to say to her before the day was said and done for the time being.
Still? if there was something to do next it was to find out what the hell they'd find here and what the woman in charge would wish for at the time being. This was fun.
He leaned against the wall to the side. There was so blasted much at stake. If he was entirely honest with himself? well, that'd be a nightmare to deal with before now.
He ran his hands across his helmeted scalp. There were a few many details to concern himself with for the time being. Who was his friend to make? Who were his allies?
Yet he didn't at all seem to be thrown off as of now while he had been a lot more curious for now for the time it seemed to be.
Yet? There had been a lot more to handle before it seemed when all of this was done and dusted.
He had more to do at the end of the day and this wasn't one of them. Their enemies would also probably eventually find them at the end of the day. It had been something when all of this was done and dusted. He was so tired in this form as to how this was done and dusted.
There was no doubt in how tired he was when all of it was decided. The simple fact that there was more to their fight made them laugh at how silly it all was when push came to shove when all of this was done and dusted for now. He had a lot more on his mind.
He rubbed at his nose, unsure of how this could end at the time of day.
Still? He had a lot more curiosity for now as of the time and being. He questioned how this would go if they dealt with problems the way this could have been when the day was over. There were more talks to have, unsure of what to do next when this came down to it.
He looked over at the rest of the soldiers who had been here before now. He tilted his head and questioned what to do next. It was all too bad as of the moment before now. All of it seemed to be worse and worse with enough effort… Yet? it needed to get off the ground sooner or later, all of it was said and done for now as he looked upwards.
Perhaps something else needed to come sooner or later… It needed to end and yet? well, it was a lot worse an issue, for now, a lot worse and a lot more annoying of an issue that needed to get it all done and dusted… Their questions were going to get to have to focus upon.
This kingdom was not his and it was not the people's either. Yet? it needed to be dealt with for the time being.
Author Notes
Phew. Another chapter is done! I want to point out that the next chapter will be delayed and will show more and more of the kingdom. Until the 900-6500 words in 2-10 months, Lighting Wolf out!