Melody finished packing her bags, letting out an exasperated huff as she flopped onto her bed.
"Tell me again why I agreed to this?" she asked her mother, who sat nearby in a plush chair.
"Because, my dear, you are eighteen now, and it's time to consider suitors who express interest," Ariel replied with a smirk, a knowing glint in her eyes.
Melody rolled her eyes. "If this duke is so interested in me, then why does he not come here? Why do I have to sail all the way to his kingdom?"
"He wants to impress you, show you his palace and kingdom. There's even a ball in your honor. Who knows, you might like him!" Ariel suggested.
"And what if I don't?" Melody crossed her arms.
"Then you thank him for his hospitality and come straight home. There will be plenty of suitors. And if all else fails, your grandfather could find a suitable merman for you," Ariel teased.
Melody burst out laughing at the suggestion. The idea of the King of the Sea playing matchmaker was just too much. Although she had only known him for the past 6 years, it was long enough to know that he would not be very good at selecting a marriage mate for a headstrong princess.
"I suppose I can live with that," she finally replied. "But I wish you and Dad could come. This trip is going to be so long and boring by myself."
Ariel sighed, struggling to stand up due to her pregnancy. "I know, dear, but I can barely walk on the beach without getting nauseous. A month-long voyage at this point wouldn't be much fun for any of us. Besides, you won't be alone," she added cryptically.
Melody perked up. "What do you mean? Do I get to bring a friend?"
"Not exactly. We've hired a young officer from the naval academy to accompany you. He came highly recommended," Ariel explained.
"A babysitter, Mom? I'm eighteen!" Melody protested, feeling as though she were being treated like she was twelve again.
"Bodyguard, not a babysitter. We just want you to be safe. And he'll keep out of your hair," Ariel assured her.
Melody reluctantly agreed. "Alright, fine. When do I get to meet him?"
"Tomorrow morning when you board the ship." Ariel replied. She then mentioned that Melody's grandfather, King Triton, would be visiting that night at sunset for a farewell.
Melody's demeanor instantly improved. "I'll go meet him right now! The sun is already getting low!" She squealed happily. "Goodnight Mom!"
"Goodnight sweetie! Your father and I will see you in the morning before you take off!" Ariel waved at her daughter as she disappeared down the hallway.
Melody wasted no time running to the shoreline. She was already wearing a light camisole and breeches, which the royal tailor had custom made for her so she could go swimming. Dresses simply were not made for water. She waded out onto the coral reef, which extended a few dozen feet out from the sandy beach. As the reef dropped off and the water deepened, Melody dove underwater and relished the feel of the saltwater on her bare skin. She felt so alive out here!
She skimmed along just under the surface, easily holding her breath for the three minutes it took to reach the "rock" - a small formation of land jutting out of the ocean. Her mother had often met Scuttle the seagull here to bring new discoveries and discuss her human treasures. Now Melody sat on the edge of the rock, dangling her feet in the open water while she watched the sun begin to set. It wasn't long before the water began to bubble in front of her, and the sea king himself emerged from the crystal blue depths. Melody jumped into his arms and he embraced her tightly, a hearty chuckle emanating from deep within his chest.
"Now when did my granddaughter get so big?" he joked.
"Grandfather, it's only been a few months since I've last seen you!" Melody laughed.
"Of course, you are absolutely right! This is why you need to come visit me more often." The mighty king actually seemed to pout as he said this.
"You know that I would if I could! I wish I could visit you in Atlantica for the summer instead of sailing to meet that silly Duke of Arlington." She folded her arms in disgust at the mere thought of her suitor.
"I know," King Triton chuckled. "But as a princess, you must fulfill your royal obligations. No matter how silly they may seem." She scowled at him. He then softened his demeanor, remembering that she was his granddaughter, and he was not her parent.
"Did you bring your locket?" he asked with a glint of mischief in his eyes.
"Yes, always," she said, opening the golden clamshell. A bubble emerged, displaying an image of Atlantica. King Triton then produced a brilliant blue pearl from what seemed like thin air. It was every shade of blue all at once; its iridescence seemed to capture a small piece of the very ocean itself.
Melody openly admired the gift. "It's beautiful! I've never seen a pearl like this before."
"It's one of a kind, but you must be very careful not to lose it or let it fall into the wrong hands," he warned.
"Of course, you know I'm always careful. But what exactly is so special about this pearl?" Melody's curiosity was piqued now. The king just placed the pearl inside her locket and closed it.
"You will see in time. It will reveal its true nature to you, when you are ready," he replied cryptically.
"I don't understand…" Melody pressed him, but he cut her off.
"Now now, you have a very big day tomorrow and you need to get a full night's sleep, young lady." It was clear that she would get no further explanation of the pearl, so she hugged him tightly and bid him goodnight after thanking him for the beautiful, yet mysterious, gift.
The following morning bustled with preparations for Melody's impending departure. The Rising Tide, a reliable vessel from King Eric's royal fleet, was loaded with trundles of clothing, gifts for the kingdom of Arlington, and crates of provisions. Renowned for its resilience, the ship had weathered time admirably, making it the natural choice for ferrying the king's daughter across the sea.
Melody hastily brushed her hair, tying it into a practical ponytail. Adorned in a simple travel dress of pale coral and tan leather boots, she secured her locket around her neck. Grabbing her bag, she descended to join her parents.
"Melody, you look beautiful. How was your night's rest?" her father inquired.
"Thank you, Dad," she curtsied. "Slept decently enough, I suppose."
"Excited for this new voyage?" he exclaimed, embracing her. "Couldn't sleep a wink myself, and I'm not even going! You get all the fun!"
"Well, Dad, we could arrange for you to woo the Duke of Arlington. I'll stay home and take care of Mom," she teased, feigning setting down her bag.
He chuckled. "Nice try, but I wouldn't want to take this opportunity from you. You're going to have a great time!"
"Your father is just feeling deprived of the ocean and getting a bit stir-crazy, stuck at home with me for the past few months," Ariel joined in the laughter. "But come along, you don't want to be late!"
"Pretty sure I wouldn't mind missing the departure..." Melody muttered under her breath. Though her parents attempted to boost her spirits, the prospect of the journey's destination remained far from appealing.
"All aboard!" bellowed the captain, greeting the princess with a crisp salute. "Ahoy, Princess! Welcome aboard the Rising Tide! Captain Henley Howell at your service," he bowed.
"Thank you, Captain. I trust you'll provide a stable passage overseas," Melody replied, saluting back as she set down her parcels.
The captain smiled and gestured toward a young man on his left, adorned in a navy blue waistcoat with brass buttons and tan trousers. Melody deduced he was her appointed bodyguard.
"This is Lieutenant James Hawkins. He will act as your royal bodyguard both on this ship and upon docking in Arlington."
"How do you do, Mr. Hawkins?" she curtsied politely.
"Very well. Thank you, your majesty. May I assist you with your things?" he offered, reaching for one of her bags. Swiftly, she grabbed her smaller exploration bag.
"I've got this one—thank you," she hurriedly explained. She wanted to avoid him discovering the hunting knife tucked inside and questioning the tar-smeared interior. Some discussions were better left untouched.
"As you wish. Allow me to show you to your cabin," he gestured to the right. They navigated the ship in relative silence, with Melody not inclined to initiate conversation, a sentiment shared by the lieutenant. Finally, they reached her cabin—a decently sized room with a large porthole that offered a tantalizing view of the sea. Melody tossed her bag onto the bed while Mr. Hawkins placed her other bags near the door.
As Melody moved to settle into her cabin, Jim couldn't help but glance at the assortment of maps and navigation tools on a small table. His eyes lingered on her exploration bag, catching a glimpse of a finely crafted hunting knife glinting in the early morning sunlight. Melody noticed his curiosity.
"See something interesting, Lieutenant?" she quipped, daring him to question why a lady would be in possession of such a weapon.
"Always good to be prepared, Princess," Jim grinned. "I assume you'd prefer some rest. I'll leave you now, but I'll be next door if you need anything," he offered, turning to exit.
"Rest? Mr. Hawkins, do you think me to be so fragile as to require rest after just boarding the ship? We have not even set sail yet!" Melody protested.
He appeared slightly taken aback, possibly unaccustomed to looking after someone as outspoken as Melody. "Not at all, your majesty, please accept my humble apologies," he said.
"Mr. Hawkins, 'your majesty' is my mother. You may simply call me Melody, unless that would get you into trouble with the captain?" she ventured. To her surprise, he conceded.
"Very well, Melody. On one condition..." She regarded him with curiosity.
"And what might that condition be, Mr. Hawkins?"
"Just call me Jim." he winked at her. She smiled outwardly at his lapse in formalities. Perhaps they would get along alright after all.
As the ship set sail, Melody felt the gentle sway beneath her feet, the rhythmic sound of waves against the hull providing a soothing backdrop. She couldn't resist a smile, realizing that this adventure might just be more intriguing than she had initially thought.