Disclaimer: I own all.

Notes: Thanks to those who reviewed. See no old mermaid this time! I still don't have a beta reader and I'm sorry if this chapter is not as good as the others. I know it's also kinda boring but all this stuff needs to be said. Also there may be a few differences in Elesea's speech pattern but I tried my best to keep it together.

IMPORTANT: School is kinda stressful right now, even though it's just started so there may not be any chapters for a while. Sorry everyone!

"/Words/" = common/ English.

"Words" = Melena's home language. To be explained later.

{Words} = Written words.

~I can stay? ~

She returned shortly with a blanket that she helped Melena wrap around herself before she helped her into the main part of the house. She took Melena to a room with a large pool set into the ground filled with steaming water. Here she took the blanket from Melena and helped her into the pool where she was instructed to bathe and thump the wall then she was finished. "Ah'll bring ya some clothes when ya're finished. Then Ah'll introduce ya to the family. By the way can ya write?"

Melena nodded. "Then Ah'll bring you some paper ta write for me when ya're done. By the way my name is Elesea."

Melena sunk into the water with a happy yet surprised sigh. In her underwater country bathing was virtually impossible as was hot water. Oh you got it sometimes but that was only if you swam past a vent. She splashed around in the water for quite a while before she felt content and climbed out of the pool and took the blanket she had previously worn wrapping it around herself as she walked to the wall. There she pounded twice and stepped back.

Moments later the Elesea came in carrying a pile of cloth and parchment and ink in the other. She set the ink and parchment down on a table in the corner before giving Melena the clothes she had brought; Melena now wore a dark brown skirt and darker brown bodice in much the same style as the other woman's, the outfit was complete with undergarments and sensible shoes.

Elesea brought Melena out of the bathing room and into the main house carrying the parchment and ink with her. She led her to a table in the middle of the house. "Here sit down. Ah want ta ask ya some questions. You can write yar answers on this parchment. Here's the quill."

Melena took the quill and to her surprise as well as Elesea's she knew how to use it. "Ta answer write in Athenian for now. Ah'll start ta teach ya common tomorrow. Alright?" she waited for Melena's nod before starting.

"What's yar name?"

Melena wrote her answer. {Melena}

"What a pretty name. How did you get onto our beach?"

{Great-grandmother brought me here. I swam.}

"I see. Who is your grandmother?"

{The sea nymph Kalypso.}

"So ya are the one she said she would be bringing up."

{I don't think so. She didn't know she was going to send me here.}

"What makes ya say that?"

{I was in danger and she just took the potion and me to the beach at the surface. It was not planned.}

"Oh. Ah'll have to be lookin' out for another one then. How old are you?"

{Seventeen}

"Wonderful That's all for now. Would ya like ta meet the rest of the family?"

{You're letting me stay?}

"Of course."

{Thank you! Yes, I would love to meet the rest of your family.}

"C'mon then." Elesea led Melena to another room. This one was furnished with plush couches and chairs in different colors and patterns. There were several people seated on the couches talking amongst themselves though they grew quiet when they saw Melena and Elesea.

"/Everyone, as no doubt Rowan has told ya'll, we have a guest. Her name is Melena and she will be staying with us for some time. She canna speak but she can hear. We will be teachin' her the language here so be nice. Go ahead and introduce yerselves. /" Elesea repeated what she had just said quickly for Melena in Athenian.

The others in the room just stared for a few moments as if they were afraid of Melena. Then the little boy she had seen on the beach came forward. He was small, around the age of ten or so. His brown hair flopped as he bounced over and his blue eyes shown as he looked up at her. "/I'm Rowan!/" He said happily and then he threw his arms around her waist in a hug before running back to his place on one of the couches between two older boys.

Melena laughed, surprised at his antics before turning to Elesea for translations.

One of the older boys came forward next. He was taller than Melena but he looked to be her age. His brown hair was long and caught in a horse tail that trailed to his hips. Light green eyes danced in his tan face. "I am pleased to meet you Miss Melena." He said taking her hands in his. "I am called Robert."

Melena's eyes widened. He was speaking Athenian! Elesea tapped her arm just then and handed her a small black board and a large chunk of white chalk. Melena smiled a thank you and began to write.

{Just Melena please. Thank you Robert. It is a pleasure to meet you as well.} She showed him the board.

"Good day Melena." He smiled again and walked back to his place on the couch next to Rowan.

Next came one of the girls from the other couch. Shorter than Melena and maybe two years younger, her name was Tianine. She looked much like Elesea though her eyes held an angry glint. After her the two other girls from that couch came over. They were twins called Ilane and Yvenne. They two looked like Elesea but their green eyes and black hair made them look like the man still seated on the couch next to Rowan.

The next person to come forward was about Elesea's age. He introduced himself as Deacon and Elesea's husband. Deacon had the look of a man who worked hard yet his smile was warm and gentle. His green eyes and black hair matched that of the twins and it was not hard to tell that they were his favorites.

Elesea led Melena to a chair near the couches and told the others that they were allowed to ask questions about Melena's home city and suchlike. While they asked their questions Elesea translated for both parties and for the most part they got along fine.

Tianine was the only one not participating in the questioning and spent the entire time glaring at Melena though no one noticed aside from Melena herself. She cast it off as jealousy and ignored the other girl. There was nothing she could do anyway if the other girl was upset with her.