Chapter 3:
"So those guys are soldiers?" I ask.
"Yes, they are also part of the Atlantean Guard. I don't know why they would be here to attack you, unless- ", she is interrupted by one of the bound soldiers.
"What in blazes is going on here?". We turn and see him struggling; Mera approaches him slowly.
"Why is the Atlantean Guard attacking prince Arthur Curry?", she asks creeping towards him, her eyes beginning to glow. "Answer me! Or you will be committing treason against our Queen. Why?". She creates about a dozen long spikes out of the water around her and points them at him.
"Our Queen", he laughs. "Your Queen is dead; our true leader has taken the throne". The spikes fall into a puddle on the ground as an expression of uneasiness sweeps over Mera. The soldier laughs even louder in her face.
"What's the matter? Are you and your 'Prince' all alone? Boohoo, go and cry to your bitch of a queen - oh wait". Mera's eyes turn a bright, electric blue as the water spikes reform and instantly pierce the soldiers body. Her eyes return to normal as she turns towards me.
"I'm so sorry, we can't go to Atlantis", she says; her head hanging in misery.
"W-why not? Are we just going to trust what this guy says?" I ask her.
"Listen to me Arthur, I was instructed to keep you out of harm's way, no matter the consequences; the Queen's death changes none of that. Going to Atlantis now would be suicide"
"Am I now allowed a say in any of this?!" I yell suddenly. She looks at me and I sigh. "Can I at least go to Orin and tell him I don't want to cause trouble?"
"Arthur, you do not understand. There is a reason Queen Atlanna didn't what Orin to take the throne. He will be the worst king to ever rule over Atlantis. We can either flee or you can claim the throne, which we have already decided is a bad idea. There is no negotiating with him. He knows you are the rightful heir, that's why he has been sending the Atlantean Guard to try and remove you from the equation", she lets out a long, sad sigh before continuing. "I'm sorry; I have to keep you safe, even if it means means letting Orin be king."
"Why don't you- "
"No Arthur, there is no discussion here. I was ordered to protect you"
"If you have to protect me, then why don't you come with me?" I ask.
"If that is an offer, I would have to politely refuse your highness"
"It's not an offer", I say as I reach for her hands. "This is an order"
"I am under oath to follow the command of Atlantean royalty", she says looking me in the eyes placing her hands in mine. "I will follow you to whatever end. King Arthur". Hearing the passion in her voice, I can tell this is more than just an obligation to her.
"So which way to Atlantis?" I ask eagerly.
We swim through beautiful coral reefs on our long journey to the city of Atlantis. Mera is swimming closer to me, with a water construct ready. When we make it to the outer most parts of the city, I could barely believe my eyes. It was magnificent, shimmering in the light like a polished gem. I look to Mera pointing towards an old stone structure. We swim towards the structure and enter what looks like an ancient temple; we enter and Mera closes the door behind us. I look around the seemingly empty room as Mera lifts a floor tile and pulls out a scale armour chest piece.
"You really are fond of these hidey holes" I say jokingly. She smiles and hands me the garb.
"This belonged to the very first King of Atlantis. Now it belongs to you, King Arthur". It's scaled and sort of lustrous like Mera's armour. I bring it towards me and it looks like it would fit perfectly. I put it on and Mera hands me another pair of gloves.
"Put these on too, they will help you harness your abilities", she says.
"How do you know if I'll make a good king or not?" I ask putting on the new pair of gloves.
"Arthur, I have watched you, and you are honest, trustworthy, confident, compassionate and inspiring. I would gladly put my fate into your hands", she replies inches away from me, looking me in the eyes, grasping my hands. She snaps out of this trance like behaviour and turns away embarrassed.
"My apologies my King, forgive me for I am sorry". I pull her in for a long, wistful embrace. When we let go of one other our eyes meet.
"Now let's go and get my throne back"
We enter the city to see no guards at all, Mera seems suspicious of how quiet it is. As we approach the throne room an entire squadron quickly surround us. Mera turn back to back, ready to fight.
"Mera, you are harbouring a criminal under the suspicion of treason against our king. We suggest you step away from the offender so we may spare your life". Mera's eyes begin to glow as a strong current radiates from her body knocking the men down.
"Go Arthur, find Orin and take back what is rightfully yours"
"What about you- ". She cuts me off.
"Just go! They won't kill me" she shouts, unsure of her own words. Before I could even think I pulled her in and we kissed for a second, before she used a current of water to push me away. I see her defending herself with no trouble as I am pushed through the water. I turn to the large doors of the throne room and take a deep breath before I open them. I see Orin sitting on the throne at the end of the room with a silver staff in hand. He is wearing scale armour much like my own, but purple and black instead. As I approach, he stands.
"You must be Arthur then", I nod as he speaks. "And you have come back to take my place on the throne? What a foolish decision"
"Yes, I am the rightful heir and I will- ". He raises his hand and lifts me by the throat with water.
"So you think just because you are the son of my whore sister – it disgusts me to even call her my relative – Just because you were her son, you think that you should be the ruler of the seven seas you half breed scum?". I can feel surges of after anger every word he says. "So you were just living your worthless human life and all of a sudden some bitch comes along and tells you some fantasy stories, and now you want take my throne? I don't think so". He releases me and I fall to the floor.
"How dear you say that about my mother, and Mera"
"You never even knew her, why is it that you all of a sudden care about that bitch?". I launch myself towards the throne, but he moves out of the way. He raises the silver staff and a strong current of electricity surges through the water and knocks me to the ground. With faded vision I see him standing over me.
"So predictable", he says as he points the staff at me and shocks me unconscious.
"Arthur… Arthur… Arthur!" I hear a voice crying out to me. I open my eyes and blink rapidly at the brightness. My eyes adjust and I look around what looks like a prison cell. The air is dry and there is no water in sight. "Arthur!" I hear Mera's voice from across the room. Her scale armour is torn, she has multiple cuts and bruises.
"Mera! Are you alright?", I yell to her. She looks extremely fatigued, but a small grin appears on her face.
"Well I'm better now, knowing you are okay", she croaks.
"Are you sure, you look extremely unwell"
"They've drained all of the water from this room, I've spent the past hour trying to construct a key out of my body water". She is looks sickly and pale.
"You didn't have to do that", I say. "Save your energy, when they give us a meal eat yours and I will save mine, okay?". She nods and lies on her side, struggling to breathe. Hours pass, and Mera doesn't seem to be getting any better, before a guard comes in with a meal. He places a tray in front of both of us and waits. I see Mera devouring her food and regaining energy, I eat all I can and hold a small cup or water in my mouth.
"Are you not eating this?", the guard asks. I shake my head. "Alright then, suit yourself". He collects the trays and leaves the room, the door locking behind him. I look at Mera and see she is getting better. She stands and recuperates before nodding at me. I spit the water out of my mouth, Mera holds it in place and forms a key to unlock our cells. When I get out and she unlocks the exit door she falls faint and lands in my arms. I pick her up and sneak out of the cell area. As I reach the door to outside, a guard spots me; he sounds the alarm. I escape to find the compound is on an island in the middle of the ocean. I dive into the water, with Mera in arm and swim until we are well away from the prison; I lay Mera on a bed of coral and take a moment to think. We survived, but where do we go from here?