Disclaimer: I own all. 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: This chapter was actually written before chapter fifteen so there are no goddesses or anything else here. It picks up after chapter fourteen.

Due to lack of interest in this story I am going to stop writing unless someone wants me to continue. Just review and tell me if I should keep going or if I'm wasting my time. The truth please. My feelings won't be hurt if you say I should stop.

Thanks to Lellida for her review.

Reminders:

"/Words/" = Common/ English.

"Words" = Melena's home language - Athenian

{Words} = Written words in Athenian

{Words} = Written common/English.

~Old friends, old enemies~

Melena waved him away for a moment and hesitantly put her arms around the girl. The last time they had seen each other they had been less than friendly. She was surprised by the out burst but let the other girl hug her. She whispered in Tianine's ear as they hugged. "/Has Wilhelm met your family?/"

Tia nodded her head and Melena smiled. "/Good. They think I am your mother's sister. Keep it that way. They also think Rowan is my son./" She knew it could be unwise to tell Tianine these things but she had a feeling the girl had changed.

"/Oh, I am so glad to see you Mel. Ro will be so happy you've come back./" She said in a hushed tone as she released Melena and held her elbows.

"/No, Tianine. Rowan must not know. I don't want him to be in danger./" Melena said sternly locking gazes with Tianine.

"/Alright./" Tianine answered.

It was at that time Wilhelm got tired of being ignored and spoke up. "/Tia, my darling, why have you attached yourself to our king's new minstrel, and ignored our other guests?/"

"/My lord Wilhelm,/" Melena began, "/Your wife, is my sister's daughter. We have not seen each other for quite a long time./"

The king spoke up next. "/Tia, dear, did you call our guest Melena?/"

"/Of course I did Kieran. That is her name./" she addressed the king.

"/Tianine, why did you not tell me you were on such good terms with the king?/" Melena asked shocked.

"/I am sorry, dear aunt. You were with us for such a short time I completely forgot./"

"/My lord, I do think this is the first time I have ever heard your name./" Melena remarked jokingly.

"/And I have never heard someone speak so informally to our king./" Wilhelm muttered.

"/Ahh, Wil, it is quite alright. I like our new minstrel and you know I like your wife./" The king smiled and winked at the two girls.

Wilhelm's face reddened considerably and he looked very angry. "/Oh, Wil, you know I would never do that to your wife./" The king chuckled.

"/Yes, I do know. I would like to speak with you and your new minstrel alone if that is quite alright./" Wilhelm clapped and servants appeared to lead the party to their guest rooms and carry their luggage away.

"/My lord, is there something you wish to discuss?/" Melena asked as soon as the last of the party had been taken away.

"/I would like to apologize for my rude behavior when we first met lady. I would also like to ask about your name. My darling wife calls you Melena and you told us your name was Eloren./" Wilhelm answered gravely.

"/I accept your apology and I will explain about my name. I was kidnapped by Prince Julian's men and being afraid for my son's life and my own I changed the name and have been called nothing but it for the last year. It became second nature. I am sorry to have deceived you./"

"/Do not be sorry lady. You were protecting your self and your child. There is nothing bad in that./" Wilhelm answered.

"/I am sure you and Tia would love to talk alone lady. We will allow you to do so. Good night./"

The men left the two women alone and Tianine immediately dragged Melena off to a private chamber where they could speak.

"/Oh Mel!/" Tia cried a soon as the door was closed. "/I am so sorry about the way I acted when you came to us./"

"/What made you act that way then?/" Melena asked quietly.

"/I am ashamed to say that I was afraid. I was afraid that you would steal Wilhelm from me. I was engaged to him in secret and he was coming to talk to Deacon and it was better to let you think I was jealous about Robert than about Wil./" She sobbed.

"/It's alright Tia./" Melena assured the sobbing girl, tentatively using her nickname.

"/Where have you been for the last year? You and Ro vanished so quickly and then he returned with out you./" She asked anxiously.

"/I have been little more than a prisoner in the Carthan castle./" She answered without bitterness.

"/You must have met the princes. Are they as wonderful as they seem?/" Tia was excited now.

"/Hardly. I was held captive by them for a year and you know one better than you imagine./" Her tone was less than friendly.

"/What do you mean? Which prince?/" Tianine could barely control her excitement.

"/Cassius. He has stayed under your roof for many weeks. More than I had. I am sure he left after my capture though. He arrived only a day behind me./" She stood up from the formal couch she had seated herself on when they had arrived. She began to pace.

Noticing that Melena was not ready to talk, Tianine offered a distraction. "/Would you like to change into your night shirt? I am sure you would love to get out of those breeches./" The way she said it made Melena smile. Tianine had most likely never worn breeches in her life. Melena had been wearing them for days and was in love with the freedom they provided.

"/I brought no sleeping clothes thinking that I would be on the road for much longer than it seems I will be. I took only the essentials when we left./" She answered smiling at Tianine's scandalized look. "/My companion is blind Tia, it wouldn't matter if I walked around in ratty breeches or a dress made of the finest silk in the country./"

She laughed. "/Oh! I must make sure he is alright. He does not understand this language and he will be lost. Please excuse me. I will return and we will talk more./" 

Melena rushed down the hallway almost colliding with a servant. "/Please,/" she panted, "/Where can I find the party that just arrived?/"

The man looked at her oddly for a moment, then beckoned and began walking away from her down the hall. She followed closely as he led her down unfamiliar halls. When they reached the right hallway he asked which person she wanted.

"/There was a blind man with the party I need to speak with him. It is important./" The servant looked at her strangely.

"/There was no one with the party who was blind milady./" He answered clearly puzzled.

"/Oh dear,/" Melena bit her lip. "/Please take me to the hall where the guests were greeted./" He nodded and they started off again.

She searched the hall with hawk's eyes. In a dark corner something was huddled. The servant dismissed it as a fife cat but Melena wasn't sure a cat could be that big. She walked silently over to it and realized that her initial analysis was correct. It was a person.

With the speed of a hawk she was kneeling at the person's side and shaking their shoulder. The person lifted their head from their knees where it had rested and seemed to look for the person touching them.  Glazed green eyes searched for her light brown ones.

"/Oh Hartwin!/" She cried seeing him.