Phew! Just in time! Enjoy!
I don't own Hetalia!
Chapter 6 : Destiny
Princess Erica had been fidgety as the ship docked in the Altheian harbour, eager to be off the ship and on her way to the castle where, she was sure her prince was waiting for her. The gangplank came down and her manservant immediately went to hire a carriage for her use while she and her entourage waited on the dock, Princess Erica with ill-concealed impatience until the carriage arrived. It was not up to her standards but the best her manservant could procure on such short notice so it would have to do but she made her displeasure known throughout the journey to the castle.
Her manservant sighed. He really hated his mistress when she was in one of her 'everything must be just so' moods, she was impossible and, the servant had to admit, somewhat unstable. He pitied the Sea Prince of Altheia who was clearly in her sights. The manservant had liked the prince. Cheerful, friendly, a little loud and energetic at times but a pleasure to be around. Too good for the spoilt and, he suspected insane, Princess of Mertoris.
The carriage pulled into the courtyard, after being stopped by the guards but allowed through when the identity of its passenger was revealed, and they climbed down from the carriage to be greeted by the castle butler who had been informed of the Princess arrival by a guard who ridden ahead to warn the castle.
"Greetings, Your Royal Highness," the butler, a black-haired, middle-aged man with a no nonsense countenance greeted with a bow. "Your arrival is unexpected but welcome." A lie but he did not know that yet because he did not know her personality. He would soon learn that she was far from welcome.
"Yes, yes," she huffed. She had no time to dally with the servants, she had to find her prince. "Where is Prince Alfred? Take me to him immediately." The butler blinked at the Princess's bluntness.
"This way, Your Royal Highness," and they walked into the castle.
"If I may, Your Royal Highness," the butler said. "Perhaps I should show you to your rooms first? The prince is currently with the King, discussing an important family development which I'm sure the King would not wished to be disturbed. I'm sure the prince will be happy to meet with you after..."
"My good man," Princess Erica huffed, the word good said like she thought he was nothing of the sort. "I have journeyed across the sea to see Prince Alfred and I am impatience to do so. I will do nothing else until I do see him."
"Ah," the butler replied. "But you see, Your Royal Highness, the matter in question …."
"Does not matter," she interrupted. "And servants who disobey and argue with me are punished in Mertoris." The butler was highly tempted to say the they were not in Mertoris but he had to be diplomatic and he was wary of that gleam in her eyes and the way they widened, giving her a mad look.
"I'll will see if King Alex and Prince Alfred can see you, Your Royal Highness," he bowed. "In the meantime, the servants will see to your comfort." He indicated to the surrounding servants who jumped to attend the visiting royalty while he left to run his own errand. Princess Erica seethed at politely being told to wait and began to follow the butler.
Having no idea that the Princess was following him, the butler sighed. He did not want to disturb the royal family right now as they spent time with the newly found Prince Matthew. The news had swept the castle of the discovery of Prince Alfred's twin brother and everyone was in buoyant spirits and it was something that the butler did not want to bring down but he had the feeling that Princess Erica was about to sour the mood.
He stopped outside the King's Study, took a deep breath and knocked, entering when he heard the King shout 'Come in'. Reluctantly, the butler opened the door to see the royal family and Sir Artie standing together.
"Whatever it is, it will have to wait," King Alex said and the butler bowed in regret.
"My apologies," the butler replied, wishing he was not interrupting on behalf of this rude foreign royal. "But we have a guest ….." He was almost knocked to the floor as Princess Erica barged past him and rushed toward the Altheian Royals like an excited child.
"Prince Alfred," she exclaimed, heading for the blonde royal stood beside King Alex and an younger man resembling him, paying no attention to the other men in the room. "I made it here at last, now we can finally be married!" She swept Alfred up in her arms and hugged him tight, too tight.
"Er, I'm not Alfred," said 'Alfred'. Erica looked up at 'Alfred' to see violet eyes staring down at her with the curling hair strand between them and she pushed him away.
"Who are you?" she demanded. "How dare you impersonate Prince Alfred?" Matthew looked over at Alfred.
"Alfred," he said. "Who is this?"
"Princess Erica, what are you doing here?" Alfred asked, stunned to see her and she turned toward the other two men in the room. Arthur did not know this female nor what she was saying but she shocked him with the lack of respectful greeting shown to the royals of this kingdom, to say nothing of making him nervous and he laced his fingers between Alfred's. The moment she saw Alfred, she moved toward him but Arthur stepped in front.
"Who are you?" she demanded. "Step aside!" Arthur did not understand her but would have ignored her anyway and he looked over her shoulder at Matthew.
"Ma'ew, eek chirp 'peep'? (Matthew, who is this?)" Arthur asked.
"'Whistle' Erica ack-ack,(Princess Erica, apparently)," Matthew replied and turned to his uncle. "Who is Princess Erica?"
"Yes, perhaps it's time for proper introduction and greeting," Alex replied, looking pointedly at Princess Erica who did not seem to notice. "Princess Erica, I am King Alexander and this is my son, Crowned Prince Jason and this is Prince Matthew of Altheia, Prince Alfred's twin brother. Matthew, this, it would appear, is Princess Erica of Mertoris, sister of King Voss." Matthew and Jason bowed to the Princess and then Matthew translated for Arthur so he understood what was being said.
"An honour to meet you, Your Royal Highness," Matthew said and everyone waited for her response.
"Impossible," she snorted, making everyone's jaw drop with her bluntness. (except for Arthur who did not understand her because Matthew had been shocked into silence but understood that she had said something untoward by everyone else's reaction). "Alfred said his brother was dead."
"It appears we were wrong," Alex replied. "We were made aware of his still being alive by Sir Arthur. Sir Arthur also saved Prince Alfred from drowning when his ship floundered on the journey home from your kingdom."
"Yes, well," she replied, listening to Matthew translate to Arthur, spotting Arthur and Alfred's entwined fingers and looking like she would like to rip Arthur's fingers off. "I'm surprised he could do such a thing when he can't even talk properly." Both Alfred and Matthew stiffened and there was no way Matthew was going to tell Arthur what she said.
"Arthur can speak," Matthew replied, tersely. "He just doesn't speak in your tongue. And, just for the record, Arthur is Spadian Royalty." Everyone turned to look when Matthew said that and turned to look at Arthur.
"Artie's royal?!" Alfred was excited about that fact, If he had to marry, Alfred wanted it to be Arthur and the possibility of an alliance with another kingdom could make that happen but it could depend on whether or not Artie needed to produce an heir.
"Arthur's one of the four co-rulers of Spades," Matthew replied.
"Spades?" Jason asked. "I've never heard of it. Where is it?"
"It's not a kingdom that's easy to get to," Matthew replied. "And it's where I've been for the past sixteen years. In fact, we need to discuss that and it affects Alfred too." Arthur nudged Matthew and he realised that Arthur had been without translation for some time so Matthew brought him back up to speed.
"Very well," Alex said. "We will hear all about it in private. Your Royal Highness, I'm sure you'll forgive us for a while." King Alex nodded his head to the butler who had been standing patiently, waiting for instruction. "Please show Princess Erica to her rooms."
"But...," she began as the butler bowed to her.
"This way, Your Royal Highness," he said and, with ill-grace, she reluctantly followed the butler out of the room but Arthur did not miss the dark look she shot at him and realised that she was going to be a problem. When she was gone, everyone breathed a sign of relief.
"I'm sorry, Alfred," Alex said. "For even thinking of arranging a marriage between the two of you. Good Lord, her manners! I had no idea she was so rude."
"Neither did I," Alfred replied. "I wasn't left alone with her much when I was in Mertoris, her brother always seemed to be around chaperoning us. I just thought King Voss was protecting his sister, now I wonder." Matthew turned to his Uncle after translating for Arthur who did not look pleased at all.
"Did you say you were trying to arrange a marriage for Alfred with her. Uncle Alex?" Matthew asked.
"I though it would be a beneficial alliance," Alex replied and looked at the door. "Now I'm not so sure."
"You can't," Matthew said. "Alfred's destiny lies in another direction. Arthur came here looking for Alfred after he realised just who it was he had saved."
"What do you mean, who it was he saved," Jason asked.
"For some time we've been missing a member of our royal pod," Matthew replied. "Arthur was looking for Alfred because he's the next King of Spades."
Erica paced the bedchamber of the rooms she had been escorted to and fumed. It was not the chambers that she had issue with, she had been given the finest royal guest apartments in the castle. No, it was the fact that she had been dismissed from the King's Study, excluded from the discussion concerning Alfred. This was supposed to all about her and Alfred but Alfred was distracted by his twin returning from the dead and who exactly was this Sir Arthur? She had not like the way he and Alfred had been holding hands nor how the man had gotten between them when she tried to go to Alfred.
Was Sir Arthur after her Alfred? But their kingdoms were planning an alliance so Alfred would be hers . All Sir Arthur's efforts were doomed to failure but, nevertheless, she would keep an eye on Sir Arthur and act if she must.
Alfred would be hers!
Back in the study, Matthew was trying to think of how to tell his uncle, cousin and brother the truth about Alfred, Arthur and, indeed, himself. How to explain that Arthur was actually a merman, he had become a merman and Alfred was destined to be one. Merman and Mermaids were a myth on land, had been when Matthew became one and he was not sure he could convince his family that they were real.
"Okay, Matthew," Alex said. "What do you mean Alfred is the next King of Spades and where is this Spades? Why have we never heard of it?" After translating for Arthur, Matthew took a deep breath.
"Spades is one of the four kingdoms of Cards," he began. "The others are Diamonds, Hearts and Clubs and the royal positions are King, Queen, Jack and Ace. The positions are not hereditary, they're chosen by a mark the next royals are born with." Matthew told Arthur what he had said as Alfred put his hand over his heart and looked at Arthur and Matthew.
"We all have a mark," he said.
"What, Artie has a mark too?" Jason asked. Matthew translated for Arthur who nodded. "So if Alfred is the King of Spades, You, Matthew are …..?"
"The Ace," Matthew replied. "The Jack in still in Spades. Arthur is the Queen." Arthur found himself the focus of everyone's attention while Matthew translated into Mer.
"Arthur's a Queen?" Alfred asked. "But he's male!"
"The positions of King, Queen, Jack and Ace are not social positions," Matthew replied. "Each position has its own responsibilities for the running of the kingdom and can be any gender, nor do the King and Queen have to be married. The Queen of Hearts is male and the King of Hearts is betrothed to his Jack." Alfred was determined that he would be married to his Queen as he put his arm around Arthur and pulled him into his side but he had a question.
"Where actually is Spades?" he asked. Matthew braced himself.
"It's at the bottom of the ocean," he replied. Everyone just stared at Matthew.
"It's …...where?" King Alex was not sure he had heard that right.
"It's at the bottom of the ocean," Matthew repeated.
"Do you mean," Jason asked. "It's under the ocean floor?" Matthew pinched the bridge of his nose and took another deep breath.
"No, " he said. "It's on the sea bed."
"Sooo..," Alfred said, slowly, uncomfortable with where this was going and hoping Matthew was having him on. "You're saying that you've been underwater all this time and that Arthur is from there too. What, are you mermen or something?" Matthew translated to Arthur who nodded and said, "Ack, eek tch."
"Arthur said Yes, we are," Matthew translated. "Arthur was born a merman and I became one."
"Come on, Mattie," Jason laughed, thinking that Matthew was playing a joke. "The mer people are just legends. They're a myth." Matthew shook his head, translated to Arthur who clucked his tongue in a tone of annoyance.
"The mers are very real," Matthew said. "But we avoid land-dwellers as much as possible so you don't think we exist any more." King Alex had a look of realisation.
"That's why Sir...Queen Arthur kept pointing to the ocean on the map when we asked him to show us where he came from," he muttered.
"And why he had no idea fire could hurt him," Alfred replied, remembering how Arthur had reached for the fire in the fireplace. "He wouldn't know what fire was. I'm getting blown away by this!"
"I thought mer people had fish-like tails," Jason commented. "Or is that a myth?" Matthew repeated in Mer to Arthur who shook his head.
"It's not a myth," Matthew replied. "But there are two mers we call the Jokers who maintain the balance between the four kingdoms and they possessed the magic to change Arthur and I into land-dwellers. Arthur, so he could find Alfred and I came looking for Arthur. He came here without telling the rest of the pod and the Jokers sent me after him." He gave Arthur a disapproving look and told him in Mer speech that they would be having a talk about his sudden disappearance from the Coral Palace and Arthur had the decency to look sheepish.
"Did the Jokers turn you into a mer?" Alfred asked and Matthew shook his head.
"It's rare for land-dwellers to be chosen as royals," he said. "But when they do, there's only one way for them to become mers." Matthew looked like he was going to continued but then he looked uncomfortable.
"How?" Alfred asked, having a bad feeling about all this. Matthew bit his lip.
"They have to drown," he replied and Alfred went pale. "In the ocean. When they get to the point of death, the magic in the mark is awakened and the land-dweller becomes a mer." Arthur felt Alfred's arm fall from around his shoulders and Alfred moved away to look out of the window, Arthur watching him and Alfred looked as white as a sheet. Arthur did not like the look on Alfred's face either. It was the face of someone trying to hide abject terror.
"Ma'ew," he asked. "Ack chirp at Al?" Matthew turned to his Uncle and cousin.
"Arthur's asking what's wrong with Al?" he said. Alex gave a sigh but it was Jason who replied.
"Mattie," he replied. "Alfred's afraid of the ocean. What with the ship sinking when you were four and losing you and Uncle Allan and the more recent ship sinking from under him, Alfred's terrified of it." Matthew turned to look at his twin who had his back to everyone and was still staring out of the window, pondering the irony. The next King of Spades, an underwater kingdom, was afraid of the environment that surrounded what he was to rule. Matthew translated what Jason had told him to Arthur who's eyes widened in shock before going to Alfred, putting a comforting hand on Alfred's arm and emitting a sound that was somewhere between a chirp and a purr.
One good thing about Matthew's arrival was that Arthur now knew what was being said around him and everyone knew what he was saying. The bad thing was he knew there was going to be an argument later but he looked on the bright side. At least it was Matthew and not Yao, who could argue the fins off a shark, although that would come later when they returned to Spades.
But this latest revelation was a blow to their plans to bring Alfred back to Spades with them. That Alfred feared the ocean so much, that he might not even set a single foot in the sea was not a problem Arthur had anticipated. He went over to Alfred by the window and could see his pale face, unusual compared to his sun-kissed complexion and Arthur hated to see it, to see the distressed look on Alfred face and Arthur put his hand on Alfred's arm, emitting the soothing sound given to mers in distress. Alfred turned to look at him and gave him a forced smile.
"It's okay, Artie," he said. "I'm all right." Arthur did not know what he was saying but he knew that Alfred was not being truthful.
Alfred did not know what the sound was that Arthur was making but he suspected is was not a word but it was comforting. He knew that Arthur was distressed at his distress so he pushed a smile on to his face and told Arthur that he was all right but Arthur did not look convinced.
As fantastic as the story of Arthur being a merman was, it made sense with Arthur's behaviour. How everything seemed new to him, bathing, fire, horses, it was all things that Arthur had no idea about because he had never encountered them before because he lived underwater. And Matthew had lived underwater ever since the sinking that took their father's life and there was the crux of the matter. He was supposed to become the King of an underwater kingdom but he had sworn he would never go to sea again. Could not face the idea of setting out on to, or into, the salty brine, even though he had not lost his brother to it, like he thought he had. He had still lost his father and had almost drowned himself... twice and ….. the idea of the sea just made him shudder.
Then he realised that Arthur was still making that purr/chirp sound and now had his arms wrapped around his right arm in an effort to comfort him and he pulled Arthur into his embrace.
"There's something I don't understand," he said. "Why didn't Artie drag me back to the water when he knew who I was?" Matthew spoke to Arthur in a series of chirps, eeks, whistles and screeches and Arthur answered him in the same way.
"He said he remembered what it was like for me after they found me," Matthew replied. "I had a lot of nightmares about drowning and Arthur didn't want that to happen to you so he sang the healing song to save you and he was going to explain everything and convince you to come of your own free will."
"Good luck with that!" Jason muttered. "Wait, what do you mean the healing song?" Matthew shrugged.
"Alfred must have been badly hurt," he replied. "Mers have magic and it comes out in our singing. One of our most important songs is the song of healing."
"So that's why Arthur was singing when I woke up!" Alfred realised. "Wait a minute! Arthur was singing the healing song in the town, to a beggar woman and her baby. Why was he doing that?" Matthew chirped and squeaked at Arthur who replied.
"He said the woman and her child were sick," Matthew explained. "So he sang to heal them. He doesn't understand why the woman and child were in such a poor state." Alfred was a little embarrassed.
"No," he replied. "Arthur didn't seem to understand what poverty was. Money seemed to be particularly baffling to him."
"That's because mers had no monetary system," Matthew said. "Everyone has a task in the smoothing running of the kingdom. One of the tasks is the gathering of food and enough is gathered for everyone, in every city and settlement. Clothing is not an issue as we don't use them."
"Then why …..," Alfred stopped there, that seemed like a private issue.
"Why what?" Alex asked. He did not know about the bathing issues they had had with Arthur. Alfred sighed.
"When Artie first got here," he said. "And Toris took him to bathe, Arthur went a little crazy when Toris tried to removed his trousers so he could get into the bath, He refused to take them off until everyone was out of the room and he got into the bath but, if nobody wears clothes underwater …."
"While it's true that mers go about nude," Matthew explained. "There's one part of mer anatomy that stays hidden in the tail and to expose it to anyone except your mate in private is considered the height of indecency. Poor Arthur probably thought you were a bunch of perverts" Matthew said that with a grin and Alfred blushed. What a cultural mess-up!
"If every mer is nude," Jason smirked. "Imagine the mermaids"
"You are a pervert," Alex replied, smacking Jason on the back of the head. "The question is what to do now? Are you sure Alfred has to be the King of this Spades kingdom? Because that's asking me to give up my nephew and I lost one already, even if I did get him back." Matthew shook his head.
"There's no one else until the next king is chosen," he said. "But that won't be for a long time and we've been waiting for Alfred for too long already. Only he can be king."
"Ultimately, that will be Alfred's choice," Alex said as Matthew went back to muttering translations for Arthur. "He's the one who has to suffer that transformation and, for the time being, I don't think we should tell anyone about Spades or the mers. Who knows how people might react?"
"What about the alliance with Mertoris?" Jason asked. "And our royal pain of a guest... Princess Erica, not Artie."
"There was nothing concrete," Alex replied. "And, after meeting the girl, I'm not sure I want her in the family. Her manners are atrocious, even when Arthur was not sure of my status, he gave a respectful greeting and Princess Erica does not even have the excuse of not understanding our language. And the potential of an alliance with an Mer kingdom, possibly others, cannot be overlooked. Although, I'm still not happy about this idea of Alfred drowning and becoming a merman." Alex looked at Arthur and Alfred who were still embracing and, after the translation through Matthew, Arthur looked apologetic.
"Not to rain on the parade," Jason said. "But I don't think our precious princess out there is going to take kindly to that, she seemed pretty sure that she was going to be Mrs Prince Alfred."
"Well. She'll have to get unsure," Alex was adamant. "I made no promises to King Voss, we were only exploring the possibility. Anything he told his sister is his own problem and, after meeting her, he's welcome to it." More chirps and clicks from Matthew had Arthur smiling.
"And how do we tell Princess Charming that her future marriage is dead in the water?" Jason asked. "I can't wait to see her face when that piece of information is shared. And let's not forget that Alfred has to drown to transform for this, big thing to agree to, especially with his phobia."
"Ack eek squeal Al at eck chirp ick cherp erk at ell, (I won't force Al to do anything he doesn't want to do)," Arthur promised. Trying to force Alfred to do what Arthur wanted would only drive Alfred away, the last thing Arthur wanted to do but Alfred's fear of the sea would be a challenge to get over. He would have to take it slowly and Matthew told them what Arthur had said.
"It seems we have much to ponder," Alex replied. "I'll retire and think about all this and think of a way to break the news to Princess Erica. Jason, I want you to keep her occupied until I reach a decision." Jason groaned. He had not known Princess Erica long but he could tell she was high maintenance.
"In the meantime," Alex turned to Alfred. "I think you and Matthew have some catching up to do. Perhaps go walk and talk in the gardens and maybe take Queen Arthur with you. I think you'll need to talk to him too, about what's expected of you as the King of Spades ….. if that's what you choose."
It was warm in the garden and Matthew tried to remember if it had always looked like this but his memories were foggy as he walked beside Alfred and Arthur. He found himself having to drink before he went out and found Arthur doing that too. Drinking was unnecessary underwater and it felt strange for air to occupy his mouth and not fluid so thirst was a unfamiliar, and unpleasant, feeling and he missed the taste of sea salt.
He walked along the path, Alfred in the middle and Arthur on Alfred's right and, for a while nothing was said. Then Alfred suddenly asked...
"What happened to Dad?" It was something Matthew did remember to some degree and he wished he did not and he took a deep breath.
"Dad tried to hold me up, above the water," he said. "He held me up for as long as he could but eventually he ran out of strength." Matthew could remember the strong arms faltering and him sinking lower in the water and, eventually the arms were not there any more and he sank beneath the water, the salty brine filled his lungs and nostrils and his body screaming for air but there was none to be had. Just as his vision began to fade to black, his four year old body had begun to tingle in his legs, his hands and around his neck. Then, suddenly, the need for air vanished and the water became his air as the blackness in vision receded and he saw his father floating in the water and he moved his hands, which now had skin between the fingers that caught the water and he made his way to his father's body to hold on to. He wrapped his little arms around his father's waist and that was when he saw the tail. At first, he terrifyingly thought there was something in the water with them but when he realised that the tail was attached to him, he became even more scared and held on to his father's body tighter, calling for him and that was how the Spadian mers found him, clinging to his land-dweller father's corpse.
"The mers came," he continued. "They had to persuade me to let go of Dad and they took his body to the shore so he would be found and buried and they took me to the Coral Palace."
"The Coral Palace?" Alfred asked.
"Where the royal pod of Spades resides," Matthew replied. "Where you will live when …. if you decide to become king."
"And if I do," Alfred asked. "What exactly does the king do?"
"He's the main leader," Matthew replied. "But Arthur's been filling that role since we didn't know that you were the king or where you were. Or even that you were still alive. The king is also the head of the Spadian army." Alfred closed his eyes and tried to imagine the idea of deliberately drowning himself and he began to shake so he stopped.
"What happens if I don't?" he asked. Alfred hoped that Spades would not be left hanging if he could not bring himself to go through the transformation.
"I honestly don't know," Matthew said. "Land-dwellers being chosen as royals is rare but there's never been a king that failed to take his place. All eventually ended up the palace but I think this reign would be king-less, Arthur would have to hold both positions and we would have to wait for the next set of royals." Alfred looked at Arthur who looked back at him with a quizzical expression, as wondering what they were talking about but refrained from asking Matthew. He had only just got his brother back and they needed time to themselves.
"Would it be hard for Artie?" Alfred asked. "Doing the work of both?" Matthew sighed.
"He's done well so far," he said. "But that's because the kingdoms are in harmony right now. It would be better for us to have a king, in case things turn turbulent. Wars are rare between mers but they're brutal when they happen and it would be best with both a king and a queen." Alfred looked at Arthur again.
"Matthew, can you translate to Artie?" he asked.
"Of course, Al," Matthew replied. "What do you want to say to him?"
"Translate this," Alfred said. "Artie, I honestly don't know if I can face the thought of drowning, even with so much at stake. I need time, you understand that, don't you?" Matthew turned to Arthur and gave Alfred's speech in mer. Arthur looked at Alfred and put his hand on his cheek and smiled, a little sadly.
"Ack chirp at tch erk ich eek," Arthur replied. "ick ack akaka."
"Arthur said," Matthew told Alfred. "That he wants you to go with him but he'll wait." Alfred smiled at Arthur and hugged him, unaware that they had an audience and it was not Matthew. Matthew turned his head when Alfred pulled Arthur up his body to meet his lips. Despite the years apart, watching your brother make out with someone, especially with one of your best friends was a distinctly awkward past-time.
Princess Erica stood on the balcony of her chambers, looking down into the gardens in fury as she watched Prince Alfred kiss that...that...interloper...when he was supposed to be hers. He was even doing it in front of his...brother? Erica was still not convinced that Matthew was who he said he was. After nearly sixteen years, his dead brother shows up alive and well and seems to approve of that fiancé stealer who was the one who claimed that it was Prince Matthew but was it a ploy to get closer to Alfred? As if he stood a chance of taking Alfred from her! Theirs was a marriage of alliance as well as a meeting of souls so whatever that thief's goal was, it was doomed to failure.
She and Alfred would be married and then she would deal with Sir Arthur!
Can Alfred overcome his fear? Tough times ahead, I think. Especially with Princess Erica! Watch out for her.
So till next week (hopefully!),
Hasta la Pasta!