Disclaimer: I own all. I was advised by a reviewer to include here that I do happen to use elements of the original Little Mermaid story so they do not belong to me no matter how much fun they are to use, but I own everything else.

Author's note: Well, here we learn a little more about Prince Julian but not much. He acted like a brat the last chapter when being interrupted because I felt like he should. That's how I am when people interrupt me. (I'm nice most of the time though!)

Robert may show his nasty little face in chapter thirteen, but I'm not sure. If he does, you will learn more about his true self. There will however be a new character added next chapter so you can tell me what you think of him.

This chapter repeats itself a little. Mostly from the different points of view. I know that it's a little boring like that but if I didn't I don't think there would be another chapter for a long time and I wanted to get this one out as soon as possible. This chapter is the longest one so far too. (I didn't have any coffee. I'm sorry!!)

Thanks to everyone who reviewed. Your constructive criticism will be considered and thanks to first time reviewers too. Thanks to Ashy for the beta. And special thanks to fiera007 for her review/flame/thingy. It made me laugh, I don't know if that is how it was intended but it did.

Reminders:

It has only been about four weeks since Melena became human.

"/Words/" = Common/ English.

"Words" = Melena's home language - Athenian

{Words} = Written words in Athenian

{Words} = Written common/English.

~Princes and blackouts~

"/Tigress? I can only wonder what would warrant that name./" Julian looked slightly amused, raising one eyebrow and flicking his wrist slightly.

"/We met under less than friendly terms sire./" Her voice was soft and light.

"/He did not kidnap you did he? That would be unforgivable./" He sat forward in his chair listening intently.

"/Nay, I would not label it kidnapping. He held my son hostage forcing me to come quietly, though once I agreed the men were very kind to the both of us./" She shifted uncomfortably not knowing what the commander had told this prince.

"/And where is this son now?/" He seemed concerned.

"/Asleep, sire./" She began swaying slightly though Julian hardly noticed. He was too enthralled by her voice.

"/Where do you come from, Eloren? I am curious as to your accent./"

"/I'm sorry milord. This is how I was taught to speak. We come from a small fishing village though I am not sure where it is from here./"

"/That is alright. You are a harpist you say? Play something./" He changed the subject and watched her bring the harp up and begin. A haunting melody filled the room while Julian sat transfixed, watching her fingers fly at the strings.

When she was finished Eloren stood where she was letting the arm that held the harp drop. "/Come here,/" Julian frowned and stood signaling the pretty woman to come forward. She took a few steps before she collapsed.

The harp hit the floor with a loud clang and her arm which had been flung out close to her ear from the sudden brush with gravity was the only thing that stopped her head from hitting the floor. She did not even make an attempt to get up as Julian rushed to her side. He gently helped her to her feet and retrieved the harp what was largely undamaged.

"/Are you quite alright Miss Eloren?/" he asked worriedly. He helped her to his chair and crouched beside it watching her.

After she had regained her breath she replied, "/Yes, your highness. I will be alright in a moment./"

"/Is there anything I can do to help?/" he asked slightly miffed that she was being evasive.

"/Nay, there is not much you can do to help one who had been poisoned with fever-vain. I will only need a few moments to collect myself and then I will play more if you wish./" She said with her eyes closed and one hand came to rest over her right eye.

"/Fever-vain! How were you poisoned with fever-vain? Why did you not tell the guards?/"

"/They were not interested and I felt alright then. My, niece slipped it into my food a few days ago. My son and I were leaving as soon as I was well anyway. Your soldiers only shortened the time./"

Belatedly realizing her earlier offer to play more he quickly stopped that though. "/Nay, you will not play any more tonight, or tomorrow. You will rest./" He helped her to her feet. "/Come, I will help you to your room./"

"/Why do you care so much when we have only just met?/" She asked snapping her head to look at him as he slipped an arm around her waist.

"/You intrigue me./" He answered simply.

"/I am intriguing? Is that the only reason?/" She was suspicious.

"/Well, yes. You are a beautiful woman and an amazing harpist. You have a son though you never spoke of a husband. You survived fever-vain poisoning and you are a kind spirit. I can tell./"

"/You know, your highness? They only told me your name once. I can not even remember it./"

He leaned in close to answer her and noticed that her ears were not the same shape as a normal human's. They were pointed; like the leaves of the trees that lined the palace walk. "/You are not human are you Eloren?/"

"/Nay, Prince, I am not./"

"/If you are not human then what are you?/" his voice was still kind but Eloren could tell that he was very suspicious.

"/I am from Athenia. I am a mermaid./" She looked away from him very aware that his arm was still around her waist.

Suddenly, his arm tightened around her waist as he swung her around with him in his delight, bringing his other arm around her waist as well. She let out a small shriek at being swept off her feet but it was quelled quickly with laughter. After a few revolutions he put her back on her feet.

"/Why? What was that for?/" she gasped between giggles. It was so much -fun-! Now she knew how Rowan felt when she spun him around.

"/I like you and I felt like it. We were made to learn the language of Athenia as children and I never understood why. Now I have a reason to use it. You will converse in it with me, will you not?/" he sounded apprehensive.

"If you are not too rusty yes I will." She replied in her own language.

"I should hope I am not. My tutor would kill me." He replied and seeing her yawn, "I should get you back to your room. You just got to the castle and you must be exhausted."

"I am, my prince." She murmured bowing her head.

"Please stop calling me prince. My name will do just fine." Sighing he lifted her face to look at him.

"As I mentioned earlier, I do not know your name sire." She smiled at him.

He leaned in and whispered, "Julian," before quickly kissing her cheek and leaving her outside her door. Briefly she wondered how he knew where her room was but then she realized that it was his castle he probably had these special for guests.

*~

She was nervous. The servant that had taken her to her room and instructed her to wear this black dress had led her here, knocked on the door and left pushing her inside after a second. Once inside the room she was confronted with the sight of a very tall slightly annoyed prince getting up from his chair.

The prince's long brown hair was loose and came to his chin. It fell messily into his warm gray eyes and shielded his features. His skin was pale though not as pale as her own. His eyes held a certain sparkle that she had never seen before. He was beautiful.

He asked her name which she answered him in a trance. He asked her to play a song for him. Without thought she strummed a nonsense tune but it seemed to appease him. When she was finished she felt light headed and before she knew it the harp was on the ground and she was headed towards it as well.

She was exhausted and wasn't sure if she could actually lift herself from the floor when strong arms encircled her waist, hauled her up and placed her in a chair. She closed her eyes too tired to look at the hansom prince before her.

"/Are you quite alright, Miss Eloren?/" his melodic voice cut through her dizzy spell.

She sighed and answered, "/Yes, your highness. I will be alright in a moment./"

She did not look up. She put a hand over one eye and slumped in the chair slightly. "/Is there anything I can do to help?/" he sounded hopeful and slightly miffed.

"/Nay./" She heard herself telling him about the fever-vain and she thanked Maritime, goddess of the tides, for the quick moving part of her brain that allowed the rest of her mind to remain detached.

She sat, the greater part of her mind in reverie until the prince's voice penetrated the fog that had encircled her mind and she felt one of his hands clasp hers and the other behind her back. He proceeded to lift her and help her walk again. He led her away from his room and continued talking to her.

Noticing the decoration on the walls she was shocked. There were small, 'Lancet Arches' hovering over each doorway with large 'Tudor Arches' covering the entrances to large hallways they passed. In small alcoves sat pictures of the royal family, some landscapes, a horse or two and some a few portraits of non-family members.

She lost track of the answers for a while and was surprised when she heard one question softly in her ear. "/You are not human are you Eloren?/"

She was jerked from her musing by this question. "/Nay, I am not Prince./"

Shocked by what her own mouth had murmured she could only stand and wait for his condemning answer.

"/If you are not human than what are you?/"

"/ I am from Athenia. I am a mermaid./" She was quiet and shifted feeling his arm still around her waist.

The rest of the walk was just a blur after he began spinning her. He did so and then continued walking as though they had never been stopped. When they reached her door he leaned in a whispered his name in her ear before kissing her cheek and all but disappearing down the corridor.

Dazedly Melena made her way to her bed and then collapsed into it, hardly stopping to remove the heavy dress she had been forced to wear. Sighing she fell asleep before blowing out the candles that lit the large room. There would be plenty of time to explore in the morning.

~*

Sorry about the notes being so long. I just wanted to let everyone know that if you have emailed me anything in the last month or so, I didn't get it. I haven't been very good about checking my mail. Sorry, sorry, sorry!