CHAPTER 2
Adam wished he could say he overcame his fears quickly.
But he was really and truly wracked with nerves. It had been a week since Triton had adopted him and he'd caused quite the stir already. While their people had made peace with each other long ago, some had been rather... So to say, hesitant, about allowing a human to be a part of the royal family. Some even trying to remind Triton of his own past fears...
Triton, for his part, reminded them that Adam had saved his life. A debt which he could never truly repay, and as such in his mind the adoption was only a small token of his gratitude. Enough that the man could go to sleep at night knowing someone "so brave" would not be sleeping in the streets and stealing for his next meal.
For his part, Triton was a good and kind man. Given his daughters were, as he said, grown and living their own lives he was able to give ample attention to his new son. His majordomo, Sebastian the Crab had quietly argued that in his age it may have been hasty... But Adam was quick to learn most everyone ignored him anyway.
Adam meanwhile, tried to adjust. Learning to swim had been the easy part - but life under the sea was different. Inside the gorgeous palace, he had to learn a new diet - heck, he learned what real food tasted like. He learned how to sleep on the beds of which were reserved for royalty... And he had to learn to hide his blush whenever someone called him "Your highness."
He thought all of this over as he rested that morning. It was the weekend, so he found there were none of the many lessons he had to undertake. Which were numerous, and involved learning to read and write. Skills he never acquired on the surface. "Adam?" His head shot up at the sound of one of the many palace guards entering his room. "Your father requests your presence in the throne room."
His father. Two words he'd never get used to.
Yet he nodded his head and followed him through the halls and to Triton's mighty throne room. Each time he entered, he found himself awes by how beautiful it was - as he did each room in the beautiful palace. "You wanted to see me, sir?" Adam asked pulling Triton from his thoughts atop the throne.
The older merman simply smirked. "Still insisting on sir then. Very well I'm a patient man," He said with an amused tone. Though Adam was not sure he'd ever be comfortable enough to call him "father". "I have called you here to speak on your presentation."
Adam's eyes widened: his what now? "My presentation...?"
"Of course, lad! Normally, I'd be preparing this for the birth of a child. But these are new circumstances," Triton waited for Adam to take a seat, bewildered. "We have not properly presented you as one of my children. And this will not do. You deserve the same privilege my daughters have. And a party in your honor."
A party? A presentation? Adam's head spun as he took that in. He had never liked being the center of attention - and now he wanted Adam to be presented before the whole kingdom. "A presentation? Sir, I don't mean to sound ungrateful. Really I don't," he managed. "But I... I'm not blood it isn't..."
"Nonsense. You are a prince. Destined to one day take a bride in one of the seven seas and be a king yourself," Triton told him with a soft, but firm tone. "Don't be afraid, young one. It will be a wonderful time. You'll meet your sisters and most of our people."
Adam sputtered. King, him? No way. He was never... Would he? He didn't know but the thought had caught him off-guard. "Me? King? Aren't you king?"
"Yes, of the seven seas and of this kingdom. But we are far from the only underwater kingdom, son," Triton explained. "There are many kings among the seven seas who answer to me. Some of them have married your sisters."
Oh. Adam guessed that did make sense but he still felt nervous. "But you are young. It will be quite some time before we need to speak of that," Triton explained. "For now. Let's focus upon your presentation. The coral moon is in one month, it is a very special time for our people. As such, I will present you to the kingdom as their new prince then."
Taking a deep breath, Adam could only nod his head slowly, knowing there was no arguing. "I just... I thought being a Prince meant symbolically," Triton frowned. "You know you don't need to do all of this, right? I know I came from dirt. I could bring you shame."
There was a moment of silence as Triton approached him. His hand ran through his hair gently and he spoke. "Never speak so low of yourself again," he told him simply. "Someone who came from dirt would not have saved my life. Just because life gave you a cruel fate does not make you unworthy."
Adam wanted to argue, but he could see the honesty seeped in Triton's eyes. It was odd, but he understood that despite his own feelings, the monarch meant his words. "I'll do my best, sir," He nodded his head. "Was that... Uh, all?"
Triton stroked his beard. "I suppose so, but you haven't been out of your room today," Triton explained, putting an arm around his shoulders. "It will do you good to sit here with me and see my job. Get yourself acquainted with royal duties." He patted a smaller throne nearby he kept for his other children. "Have a seat, Adam."
With great reluctance, he did.
"Ya know, ye don't have to be so stubborn."
Adam made a face at the words of Sebastian, the king's majordomo. It wasn't that he was being stubborn, he wanted to counter. It was that he wasn't used to all the fuss. First thing today he'd been told he was being presented in a month. And now... Now he was being seen by the royal "dresser" whatever that was.
Adam didn't understand why he needed to start dressing more becoming of a boy of his station. They were under the sea, and Triton didn't even wear armor or a shirt. But when he'd asked Triton, he stated: "You must look more distinct and becoming of your station. My crown and trident make me stand out enough."
So he was left in a room with Sebastian as his "babysitter" and a young mermaid taking measurements. "We've never had a Prince before so this is very different for me. Be patient," she'd told him as she fidgeted, currently working on his unruly tangle of blonde hair. "I know it seems odd, but by the time I'm done you'll feel like a prince."
Adam was silent. The options he'd been brought were beautiful, made of sea shells and opals of a brilliant color but it all seemed so... New. Still, when she'd finished his hair she'd immediately gone to them. First bringing up a brilliant sleeveless "shirt" that shined a brilliant opal color.
"Magnificent, isn't it?" She asked curiously - gently placing it over his torso. The texture seemed more durable than it looked and looked more like armor when worn. "Your father had it commissioned by me. I made it from a beautiful clamshell we found."
It was beautiful indeed, too beautiful for someone like Adam he thought. But she didn't wait for an answer, simply attaching matching cuffs not unlike Triton's. "This is too much..." Adam managed. "I can't accept this... Do you know how much something like this would be on the surface?"
"Why do you think you're wearing it?"
As she left to grab something else, Adam stared at himself in the mirror, then Sebastian. "Is this really necessary? I don't... A week ago I was wearing rags," he managed. "Now I look like... Like..."
"A Prince. Yes, your highness, this be the idea," Sebastian replied with a smile. "Yer father has good taste in his gifts."
When the dresser had returned, she carried something in her arms. It resembled a cloak, made from... "Seaweed, we've noticed you've yet to acclimate to the oceans cold," She explained as he placed it over his shoulders. They draped to his waist. "No doubt this will help for the time being."
Adam swallowed, turning once in the mirror as he knew she was done. What would his parents think now if they could see him? It'd been so many years since they'd thrown him out and declared him trash. Now he dressed as if he were made of money... Would they laugh in his face? Tell him he was worthless?
Still, he could see the hopefulness in the mermaid's eyes and after thinking simply said. "It's beautiful, m'an, thank you," before taking a deep breath. "So I'm expected to wear this every day."
"The cloak may come off, the rest stays," She explained calmly.
Sebastian seemed relieved he didn't have to put up an argument. Whipping imaginary sweat from his brow before eyeing Adam. "Well then ya highness," he bowed respectfully. "I do believe ya ready fer ya first appearances."
Adam paused. "My first what? My presentation is next month!"
The crab chuckled in amusement, motioning with one of his claws. Adam carefully swam up and eyed him curiously. "What do you know that I don't?" He asked.
"Nothing, young one. Don't worry yaself," he teased. Then cheekily added. "But we'll soon be entertaining other guests."
Guests? Like people that Adam had to impress, and speak to with good graces? How could he do that? He barely knew what he was doing now! "What kind of guests?" He swallowed.
"The queen of da surface, lad," Sebastian replied. "She be quite eager to meet their new brother I hear."
Well, Adam thought there was the knot he was missing in his stomach.
