A/N: A lot of you have asked to see Percy in his royal duties, exploring his powers, and one person suggested an argument between Percy and Poseidon and how both handle it. I can promise to do that to the best of my ability in the next few chapters, as they will explore what life is like in the Kingdom Beneath the Sea and just how the political system works.
I took some liberty with the medieval feudal system but I like to think that mermen would prefer a lifestyle more like the Dark Ages since computers don't work underwater and the avoid the surface world like the plague and basically loathe the human race in its entirety. What I'm trying to say is that I had immense fun with this chapter.
Forgive me for the slow updates, but I'm a junior in college, guys. Spare time isn't a luxury I am lucky enough to have.
Disclaimer: Same as the previous sixteen chapters.
Chapter Seventeen
Duties, a Royal Ball, and an Adventure
"You are eight summers now, young prince, and it is high time that you started to get more involved in the politics of your father's kingdom," Carthos informed his young charge one bright and warm morning in the middle of August.
"I can hardly contain my excitement," Percy deadpanned, smirking up at his teacher. "What lessons are we to go over today, Carthos? You keep promising we will go over the Trojan War, but you always find something else to distract me with."
Carthos' lips twitched into a part-smile. "I think today's lesson is one you will enjoy," he said mildly.
"Please spare me," the young prince begged, forehead thumping to his desk. "If I have to sit through a lecture on politics for four hours, I am gonna fall asleep, Carthos."
"Then perhaps we can discuss something else first," the merman said mildly, "such as the humans' legends about your brother and how my race came to be."
That got Percy's attention. "Triton?" he said, surprised. "What does he have to do with me learning politics?"
"Have you ever wondered what your brother's duties are, ever questioned why he spends so much time with my people?"
Percy opened his mouth to say something but couldn't find the words, because to be honest, he hadn't considered it. His brother was always at the breakfast table, but he knew Triton rose earlier than that, and he was always at dinner, too. Most days he could spare an hour on the training fields before duty called him away. A flush crept up his neck when he realized he actually had no idea what his brothers' duties were or what he did with his father.
"No need to be ashamed, Perseus," Carthos soothed gently. "You, too, have been busy. There is much for you still to learn, and your parents were very firm in their orders to allow you to have as normal of a childhood as possible."
"I should still know," said Percy miserably. "He is my big brother. It is my job to know."
"After today, you will know everything. Tell me, do you know what my race is called?"
Giving Carthos a look that suggested he thought the merman had gone daft, Percy arched an eyebrow and stated, "Mermaids."
"Indeed. But did you know there is another, less common name for us?"
Percy's expression clearly conveyed no, but you're about to tell me what it is so I'm not going to bother guessing.
"Some surface world scholars have referred to us as the Tritons."
"The . . . Tritons," he repeated, incredulous. "As in my brother, Triton?"
Carthos made an affirmative noise in the back of his throat. "Some believe that we are descendants of your brother, and that we are a race of gods and goddesses born in his image."
Despite all his training on proper manners, Percy couldn't help the laugh that burst out of him. He muffled it quickly with both hands over his mouth, mortified, but was still laughing uncontrollably. Carthos patiently waited for his fit to be over, and he managed to choke out, "They think that Triton is the father of the Mermaid race?"
"Indeed," said Carthos with a smile. "Ridiculous, I know, but it is a common misconception. We are widely considered the aquatic versions of satyrs, in case you were unaware, same as the surface world Centaurs are cousins to the Ichthyocentaurs, though to many the Ichthyocentaurs are called Triton-Centaurs. Of course, the Ichthyocentaurs get angry if they are referred to as such, but surface scholars such as Homer had hardly met one before and thus the ignorance was passed down through generations of humans."
Percy sobered at that, wiping his hands down his pants and solemnly saying, "Forgive me for laughing, Carthos. I meant no disrespect to your race or your lesson."
"I know, young one," the merman assured him calmly. "And I agree there is much humor to be had in this situation. Now, tell me, what is your brother's preferred weapon?"
"Triton carries a trident that is much like the one carried by Father in size an appearance, though slightly smaller."
"Correct. Do you know of any other object he is often seen carrying?"
Percy's brow furrowed. He pictured his brother in his usual armor, and the strange shell horn he usually had at his hip. "The shell," he said slowly. "He carries it often. I have never seen him use it."
"It is a conch shell," Carthos explained, his tail swooshing idly in the water as he crossed his arms and idly tapped his fingers against his elbows. "Your brother blows it much like a trumpet, and at the order of your father, uses it to calm or raise the waves. Your father has ultimate control over the waves, of course, and can call them at his will, but it takes a great weight off of his shoulders to trust your brother with it. In turn, it also gives your brother a place at this court, and endears him to the mermen as their entire existence relies on the sea."
"Mother does say that Triton would be insufferable if he had nothing to do with his time," the prince said cheekily.
Carthos chuckled. "Indeed." He moved to the board behind him and with his back to Percy started to rapidly write. Percy leaned out of his desk to try and see, but the merman was blocking his view.
Still with his back to the prince, Carthos said, "Tell me, what is your relationship with the creatures of the sea?"
"They are my subjects," Percy said immediately. "And I am responsible for their health and wellbeing."
"This is true," the merman agreed, folding his arms behind his back as he turned. "But there is one important thing you are forgetting."
Frowning, Percy racked his brains for what he may have forgotten, but came up with nothing. With an apologetic shrug, he looked up at his teacher.
"You are responsible for them, yes, but it is more than that," the merman said sagely. "They protect you also. It is a give and take. If you are willing to lay down your life in defense of theirs, so too will they be willing to lay down their lives for you. This is the first tenant of leadership."
"I understand," Percy said with just as much seriousness. This was not a time for jesting.
"Your father thinks of the creatures of the sea as his family," Carthos went on. "The creatures of the sea choose to live under his reign because he has given them no reason not to. Your father is a fair king, not always kind, but he is fierce in his protection and terrifying in his wrath. My people follow him because he is a good leader and has never abused his power over us. The Ichthyocentaurs stand behind him for the same reason. Your father understands that without his subjects, there is no kingdom. Do you understand?"
It was a test, and the teacher was watching him keenly for his answer. Percy chewed his lip, considering the question for a long moment. The politics under the sea were complicated, but the people had nothing but love for his father. "My father puts their needs first," he concluded.
"As any proper king should, young prince. You are half-human and thus you are mortal, but you are second in line for your father's throne. Though we do not like to think about it, things happen and cannot oft be predicted. Gods willing you will never lose your father and brother, but if you do, the throne will fall to you."
Eyes widening in horror, Percy stared up at his teacher.
Carthos took pity on him and smiled softly, reaching down to gently cup his chin. "Fear not, young prince," he said gently. "Your father is a mighty warrior and your brother just as mighty."
Suitably soothed, Percy smiled up at his teacher.
"Since my papa calls the creatures of the sea his family, does that make them my cousins?"
Thrown off guard, the merman blinked and drew back, dropping his hand as he considered the question. "Aye, I suppose it does," he said thoughtfully. He looked down at the prince with fondness. "I cannot imaging calling them thus will offend them."
"Then I shall call them my cousins," Percy beamed.
"Now," the merman said with a twinkle in his dark eyes, "Shall we discuss the Battle of Carthage?"
Later, on the practice fields, Percy was bouncing with energy. Triton completed his sparring with an Ichthyocentaur knight and hurried over to greet his young sibling.
"You are full of energy today," he informed the eight-year-old.
"I am always full of energy," Percy responded with a cheeky grin, swinging his practice sword experimentally. "Carthos finally got into some battle histories and it was interesting."
"Oh?" the crown prince said, raising an eyebrow. "And what battle did you discuss?"
"The Battle of Carthage!" Percy cheered, throwing his hands in the air and nearly thumping his brother with his practice sword.
Triton dodged it easily, rolling his eyes at his younger brother's boundless energy. The boy smiled apologetically and immediately started to babble.
"Well, really it was a siege that turned into a battle, and the Romans had to fight through the city of Carthage house-by-house until the Carthaginians surrendered because the Carthaginians were bitterly opposed to being conquered by the Romans, and then the Romans leveled the entire city."
"I see," he said easily, ruffling his brother's hair. "Do you remember what war the Battle of Carthage ended?"
Percy squinted his eyes in thought before hesitantly saying, "The Second Punic War?"
"The Third," Triton corrected him gently.
"Oh, right. The Second was the one with Cannibal."
"Hannibal," he corrected again, grinning.
Percy grinned back bashfully. "I was close," he said in defense of himself.
"That you were, brother. Who were the generals in the Battle of Carthage on the Roman side?"
"Manius Manilius was one of them, was he not?"
Triton nodded, "Scipio Aemilianus was the other."
Pulling a face, Percy muttered, "The Romans had strange names that are hard to pronounce. I like Greek history better, Triton."
"As do I," Triton grinned. "Father felt you needed a comprehensive education."
"Well most of it is boring, I would much rather swing my sword," Percy declared, brandishing said weapon in demonstration.
"Come on then, Bill is not going to spar himself," Triton chided, cuffing him lightly upside the head.
Percy charged towards the field where Bill was waiting for him, wooden practice sword in hand and with a loud cry of, "Bill, guess what I learned in my history lessons today!"
Many days later, the entire palace was in an uproar.
"It is the anniversary of the defeat of the Titans," Delphin scolded Percy, herding him up from the practice fields around midday. "You must be presentable, Prince Perseus."
Percy groaned loudly, still in his armor and grasping his practice sword in his right hand. "Delphin, I had almost mastered the disarming technique Sir Anthric was showing me," he complained, stumbling up the hill towards the palace as the dolphin gave him the occasional nudge in the back with the end of his long nose.
"Move along, Prince," the dolphin said firmly, giving him another nudge between the shoulder blades.
"I am perfectly capable of walking myself, Delphin."
"Nonsense. Your mother sent me to ensure you arrived to your rooms with no distractions."
Groaning dramatically, he allowed the dolphin to prod him up the hill and through the palace, where everyone was rushing about like it was the end of the world. There was a reason he and Triton had fled to the practice fields that morning, as the palace had been in an uproar for the past week in preparation for the celebration. Their mother had been fussing over menus and seating arrangements for days. That morning, she had nearly had a breakdown because the pastry chefs — of whom there were ten — had each baked a cake for the celebration and were demanding each be used lest they be mortally offended and leave the palace service. Of the cakes the smallest had ten tiers.
They were going to be eating stale cake for the next two turns at least.
He and Triton had fled at the earliest opportunity and their father had discreetly vanished to supposedly "check up on the western borders", when in reality he was likely off frolicking through kelp fields with the mermen again.
"I hate balls," Percy said mournfully as he arrived at his rooms.
There was a merman there, wringing his hands in anxiety. He was lithe and smaller than most of the mermen Percy had met in his lifetime, and there was another merman who looked very similar next to the bathtub in the corner of the room.
"Good afternoon," he greeted the nervous mermen hesitantly.
"Good afternoon," the merman closest to him returned in a voice higher-pitched for a merman than he was used to. Seeming to sense his confusion, he cleared his throat and declared, "I am Baric, majesty, and this is my brother, Noric. We are your new valets."
Incredulous, he turned to Delphin, who merely grinned in the way of the dolphins and fled out the door with an amused chirp, abandoning him to his fate.
"Traitor," Percy muttered under his breath, before fixing a smile on his face. "Pleased to meet you, Baric, Noric, and I humbly thank you for your service."
Baric beamed and his brother Noric did the same. "The honor is ours," he assured the young prince happily, before giving his sweaty, rumpled appearance a critical once-over.
"Oh my. It appears we have much work to do to get you ready, highness," Noric said seriously, his dismay clearly evident in his expression.
Before long he was stripped of his armor, dumped unceremoniously into the tub, and scrubbed within an inch of his life. Suitably cleaned and deemed presentable, he was dragged from the tub, vigorously dried, and then the valets helped him to dress.
"I can put on my own shirt," he protested, but Baric was having none of it and shoved a tunic down over his head, briefly swathing his vision in green. Noric was scrubbing his hair with a towel with such energy the prince's black hair was sticking up in every direction.
Head reeling from this attention, Percy merely blinked when the torture was done and he was deemed presentable. He was in dark brown leggings and a deep green tunic embroidered with small, intricate black tridents.
"Your boots," Noric said, holding them out to him. They were black and gleamed in the light of the room.
Percy obediently sat to don the footwear, and when he stood again, Baric was holding out his sword belt that he buckled on without comment.
"You may wear a sword, highness," the merman told him formally.
"Thank you, Baric," he said in a slight daze, choosing his ceremonial sword off of his weapons rack and buckling it to his sword belt on his left hip.
Noric reached behind him for a simple white pillow, upon which rested his crown, a simple silver circlet with tridents fashioned upon it with small emeralds worked into the delicate metal. He reverently set it upon his head, and Percy studied himself in the mirror.
"I look ridiculous," he said, staring at the reflection he hardly recognized: hair combed into order, clothes clean and free of dirt and sweat, and with a silver circlet perched upon his head.
"You look like a prince," Baric corrected, and ushered him out the door.
Triton was waiting, and it was clear he had received the same treatment for he was visibly cross. "My valet tried to get me to wear a hat that looked like an overstuffed mushroom, utter ridiculousness," he growled.
"She assigned me two," he growled back, grasping his sword hilt tightly in his left hand. "What has gotten into her?"
"Celebrations," Triton said mournfully. He was dressed near-identically, but for the fact he was adorned in blue and gold. There was a golden circlet upon his head, and instantly Percy felt slightly less ridiculous. Unlike his crown, his brother's had diamonds.
"I dislike balls," Percy told him as they strolled down the hall to their parent's chambers.
Amphitrite emerged, dressed in a regal gown with a silver crown upon hear head inset with pearls. Their father was ready as well, dressed in royal finery and with a golden crown resting upon his head as well.
"You both look handsome," she told them warmly, kissing both of their brows before she hurried off for last-minute preparations, fussing about the overabundance of cake. The three royal males watched her go with bemusement.
"I see you were likewise attacked," Poseidon said in lieu of greeting, grinning at his visibly cross offspring.
"I do not see the point of valets," Triton informed him grumpily. "I am perfectly capable of dressing myself."
Percy glared up at his brother. "At least she did not assign you two," he pointed out.
"Two valets?" Poseidon said, his eyebrows rising. "Why on earth do you need two valets?"
"I know not, father, but my skull is still throbbing from their enthusiastic attentions."
The king and the crown prince laughed at that, and Percy glared at the both of them, pointedly looking off down the corridor.
Not too long after, trumpets sounded and they knew that was the signal. Sighing in resignation, the three royals trudged off to the ballroom, where a herald was waiting with Amphitrite. The door guards grasped the handles at the queen's nod and drew the ballroom doors open.
"Must we?" Poseidon complained under his breath, shooting his wife a pleading look.
"It is tradition, my lord," she reminded him tartly, one eyebrow arched as the herald drew in a deep breath and slammed his staff three times on the tiles, immediately gaining the attention of the entirety of the ballroom as it fell silent.
"Announcing His Majesty King Poseidon, Lord of Atlantis, Emperor of the Seven Seas, Master of the Trident and his wife Her Majesty Queen Amphitrite, Lady of Atlantis, Empress of the Seven Seas," the herald said in a loud, clear, carrying voice, as Amphitrite tucked her arm into Poseidon's and they glided into the ballroom to smatterings of applause.
Triton nudged Percy to get him moving forward, and the herald — an aging merman called Severus — side eyed them and smiled slightly, taking in another deep breath and banging thrice on the floor a second time.
"Announcing His Royal Highness Crown Prince Triton, Heir Apparent, Master of the Tides, Duke of the North Sea, and A Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Trident; and his younger brother, His Royal Highness Prince Perseus, Duke of the Southern Sea," the herald boomed.
Face flaming in acute embarrassment at all the attention, he strode beside his brother into the ballroom. The applause grew as he and his brother followed their parents to their thrones. Triton broke off to sit to his father's right, and he to the throne on his mother's left. They sat in unison while Poseidon remained standing.
Poseidon held his arms out and smiled widely, his trident grasped in his left hand. "Greetings, my loyal subjects and my dear friends," he greeted them as silence fell. "I am honored that you have joined us on this day of wondrous celebration. Today is the anniversary of the day my siblings and I bested our parents and freed the world of their tyranny."
A great cheer rose at that, and he beamed, allowing the noise to echo all the way to the ceiling before raising a hand for silence once again. "The celebration today is about triumph and the bonds of friendship forged in battle. Sing, dance, and feast to your heart's content. And do not forget to eat the cake, we have ten of them!" he said, gesturing at the band, which quickly began to play to the delight of the crowd.
Percy sighed inwardly, slightly overwhelmed by the sheer amount of people dressed in all kinds of finery and the massive numbers of sea creatures intermingling. The royal family was expected to mingle, and so he set off to find Bill, whose family he had not yet had the honor of meeting. Off in the corner he could see his father enthusiastically speaking with one of the Merman generals, a fellow called Athius, and two Ichthyocentaurs that were massive even by Ichthyocentaur standards. He had a fork in one hand and they were most likely discussing strategy, he wagered it was only a matter of time before they were mapping out one battle or another using pieces of silverware and food items.
His mother was surrounded by a large group of ladies, all of them dressed in brightly toned outfits that made his eyes hurt. There were multiple Nereids speaking to her as well, elegant creatures dressed in all matters of things; one was wearing an intricate gown of seaweed, another a dress that appeared to be made of sea foam. Not wishing to be swept up in their feminine ridiculousness (last time three of the Nereids had pinched his cheeks; he was a prince, not a toddler), he steered clear of that area altogether.
Triton was over with some other mermen and a few Ichthyocentaurs, as well as Delphin and one of the dolphin king's sons; they all looked alike and were near impossible to tell apart. There was a great white shark swimming lazy circles around them, as sharks could not stay still and conversation with them was usually an exhausting and dizzying endeavor.
"Percy," a familiar voice called, and he headed towards that voice gratefully. He found Bill near the refreshments table, dressed in his best clothing and smiling wildly. There was a merman and a mermaid with him, as well as two young merchildren and an infant who looked at him with frank curiosity. The merman was huge even by mermen standards, easily twice the size of Carthos. He bowed slightly and Percy nodded in acknowledgement as he approached.
"Bill, thank the Gods," he said with an answering grin as he stopped before his friend. "You have saved me of a fate of Nereids pinching my cheeks for the entire evening."
"Good thing I spotted you," Bill said easily, slinging an arm over his shoulder. "Father, Mother, this is Prince Perseus. Percy, this is my father, Sir Naphos of the Northern Sea and my mother, Nadai Longfin, my younger sisters Nadene and Miriana, and my baby brother, Hathon."
Percy bowed to them respectfully and said, "I am honored to make your acquaintance, Sir Naphos, Lady Nadai, young ladies Nadene and Miriana and young lord Hathon."
Naphos beamed at him then. "A Demigod I can stomach the presence of, today is a good day," the general said warmly, patting him on the shoulder. "The honor is ours, highness. Your father and brother speak very fondly of you."
"And I of them," Percy agreed with a small smile. "I am curious as to how you found the name Bill for your son, who has been my greatest friend these past turns."
The lady grinned in amusement as Bill made a sound of protest. "His full name is Billius, highness," she admitted, as Percy hid a laugh behind his hand.
"You promised, mother!" Bill accused in great offense.
"Oh, hush. You are named for your grandfather, who as a great warrior," the lady said easily, rocking the infant in her arms.
"A grandfather who hated his name so much he changed it to Hadrian," Bill muttered, rolling his eyes in exasperation. "Come, Percy, before they fill your head with embarrassing stories to taunt me with."
Laughing, Percy bowed to them in farewell and allowed the young merman to drag him off.
The night dragged on. He ate three slices of cake and was so nauseous could stomach no more. There was dancing, merriment, warriors challenging each other to duels of knife throwing, and his father and a few of his generals commandeered a table and discussed at length multiple battles they had fought over the centuries, moving the pieces around as the different forces like an elaborate chess game with pieces of kelp and grapes as battle forces. Despite his best efforts, he was accosted by Nereids three separate times, his cheeks stinging by the time he managed to escape, much to Bill's amusement.
To get some fresh air, he headed out onto one of the balconies and was astonished to find and enormous animal hovering over the city. Glancing over his shoulder, he spotted his parents and brother deep in conversation and knew there was no threat, otherwise his father would have noticed by now.
Curious, he jumped upwards and swam towards the shadowed hulking shape, reaching out with his mind in greeting.
Good eve, young prince, a great voice said in return, his skull all but rattling at the volume.
"What are you?" he wondered aloud, spotting a mind-bogglingly massive fluke and skimming over the top of it, the shape of the creature below him so massive in dimension he could hardly fathom it. Spotting a fin, he swam down along the side, searching for an eye.
I am a blue whale, the creature told him with great amusement. We migrate most of the year, and have not had chance to come and visit.
"I have always dreamed of meeting a blue whale. You are the largest animal I have ever seen, good sir," he said aloud, finally finding an eye that was almost as big as he was. The creature blinked, and he sensed great amusement. "Meaning no offense," he added hastily. "My tutor Carthos says you are the largest animal ever to have lived on Earth."
There is none taken, young prince, the whale assured him. I am Orenius.
"I am Perseus," he told the blue whale. "Do you not have to breathe?" he inquired curiously, glancing up towards the surface, somewhere high above them.
We can hold our breaths for quite some time, but I will need to surface soon, the whale admitted, shifting the fin nearest Percy and upending him with the movement of water.
"Cool," he beamed, now upside down in the water. "Can you travel very large distances?"
I can, yes. We spend our days hunting krill.
"I find you quite majestic, good cousin," he told the whale honestly, grinning in awe at the enormous creature.
And I find you quite small, young prince, and yet powerful.
Percy grimaced. "You have heard of the current debacle then," he said in a tone of resignation.
It amuses my kind greatly, the whale admitted, shifting his flukes again and moving upwards several feet.
"May I accompany you to the surface, good sir?" he inquired.
The great whale seemed to hesitate. You must not breach the surface by your father's decree, he reminded the child.
"Then may I accompany you nearly to the surface? I will not break it, I promise. I have always dreamed of swimming with a blue whale," he said with a note of pleading.
Very well, young one. Come up by my head. There is a ridge before my blowholes that you may grasp. Hold tightly.
Percy did as the whale commanded, finding the ridge the great creature was talking about and grasping on tightly. "Ready," he proclaimed with great excitement, hugging the creature's body tightly with hands and feet alike.
And then they were moving, the water rushing over them both. He let out a whoop, feeling the rush of the power around him, the great power in the body of the whale as he surged for the surface, gliding through the water. The ocean floor vanished into the gloom below, and it was just the two of them in a vast expanse of endless blue. He should have been afraid, but he was not — this was his home, and the ocean he would never fear nor the creatures that inhabited his father's kingdom.
It was exhilarating and unlike anything he had ever experienced, and a laugh of joy escaped him, the pressure of the water lessening the closer they got to the surface world. His ears were popping and he moved his jaw in an effort to lessen the uncomfortable feeling.
Let go now, the whale told him, and he obeyed, pushing off and to the side, watching as the whale surged the last hundred or so feet to the surface and arched his body, diving back down and doing an elegant move much like a dolphin to return to him.
Beaming, Percy watched him approach and was not afraid despite the whale's daunting size. Easily the largest thing he had ever seen, he was amazed by the whale's very existence, his noble bearing and his kindness. "Thank you, good cousin," he told him happily. "That was amazing. How many feet did we move?"
Several hundred, highness, the whale informed him, catching him with his nose and pushing him gently downward, back towards Atlantis. There was another great shadow off to their left, and out of the gloom materialized another blue whale, smaller than Orenius, and then a third and a fourth.
"Wow," he breathed in astonishment, watching them as they called out to each other in their native tongue, his ears echoing from the volume when Orenius answered them. And then there were more, and more still, some with young calves that greeted him with enthusiastic noises, others old and scarred from a lifetime in the ocean's depths.
We come to honor your father, he told the boy gently. Grasp on, young one, so that we may return.
Percy obeyed. "Thank you, Orenius. I am honored that you allowed me to accompany you," he told the whale.
I assure you, Prince Perseus, the honor is mine.
"Please, call me Percy," he begged. "I hate Perseus."
Very well, but you must call me Orenius.
"As you wish, Orenius," he grinned, hugging the whale as much as he was able considering the girth of him.
Grab on, Orenius reminded him. Your father will kill me himself should I lose you.
Spreading his arms wide and hooking his feet securely to the whale, he sat up and concentrated so that he submerged fully, the water moving through his fingers, hair flying back off his head as a laugh escaped again. There in the endless deep with Orenius, he felt truly free.
E/N: Hope you guys enjoyed. Took some liberties with medieval court structure, as I explain at the top. Also, blue whales are my favorite. They are awesome.