Missmonkey
Wife of TrashPanda. Queen of Monkeys.
Inner Sanctum Nobility
♔ Champion ♔
There was no time to waste… she needed to be well beyond the reach of her father's guards before everyone in the castle awoke for breakfast…
A beautiful mermaid zoomed across the expanse of her personal chambers, her long cotton candy pink hair flowing behind her… her heart thumped wildly in her chest with fear and anxiety, fear of being caught and all her efforts being in vain.
It was with a heavy heart that Marina, daughter of Poseidon, was hastily throwing any of her treasures she thought could have potential value into a satchel woven from strong seaweed… she didn't know what to expect where she was headed, but she had to imagine that one could not get by without some form of currency in the above world, the same as it was in the oceanic economy.
As it was, her bag was starting to become rather weighty with the pearls and glittering stones she had been collecting throughout her life… she could only look over at the chest she had in the corner of her room with a pouty expression… Marina knew she wouldn't be able to lug that chest of gold coins even if she abandoned her satchel. Least of in the quiet and stealthy fashion that was going to be of critical importance.
"I'll have to leave it behind…" Marina lamented sadly "Such a pity, I worked all day to bring it here by satchel full after satchel full when I found that sunken human vessel… it cannot be helped though, some sacrifices will have to be made in the name of freedom"
Stopping by the coral vanity, sadness filled Marina's eyes as she picked up the beautiful comb made of abalone shell decorated with tiny white and soft pink pearls… this comb had been one of her mother's favorite pieces… the day Amphitrite was lost to the cephalopod merfolk attack… It was the saddest day of Marina's life.
Marina had managed to snag the comb from her mother's belongings before her elder sister Beryl seized everything as she believed was her right as the 'eldest daughter' and all… the twit never even noticed, Marina doubted her selfish sister even remembered the comb or how their mother used to gently comb their hair with it.
Bringing it to her lips, Marina lightly kissed the comb "Be with me tonight, mother… and please forgive me for running away… but they have gotten even worse since your passing… everything you ever tried to teach them about gentleness and forgiveness was upon deaf ears… they have killed so many humans lately, mother and now… and now… they want me to…"
Marina's eyes shut tight as she forced back tears…
She always knew she wasn't going to be worth much to her father as the fifth oldest of his children… he had his crown heir and his male spares… she and her sister Beryl would merely tools for alliances, not that Beryl minded… she was totally fine with being married off to a prince of another stretch of ocean and being queen there.
Marina on the other hand… she dreamed of love, she dreamed of a bond that would stand the test of time…
It was three days ago however that her father had called her into the throne room to discuss an 'important matter' with her… he informed her that she would be marrying Prince Nautilus of the south sea in one week time, securing for her father an alliance that would bring fabulous wealth in pearls and jewels to their kingdom.
Perhaps she could have been determined to make the marriage work… if the husband-to-be was anyone but Prince Nautilus…
She knew quite well just how cruel and vicious a merman Nautilus was… the way he laughed when he sank ships filled with frightened families was one thing on it's own, but to top it all off, she had seen first hand how he abused his servants and citizens that were unfortunate enough to be forced into close proximity with him for however long. She doubted if that horrible selfish whale turd of a male even knew how to utter a kind word to anyone.
What's more… there were rumors… that Nautilus had been betrothed before, but the betrothal had been short lived when the bride-to-be had been found strangled to death not far from the castle…
There were whispers that the prince himself had done it because she had displeased him…
"I will not marry that monster" Marina whispered fiercely as she placed her mother's comb into her satchel before swimming towards the window, pushing aside her curtain of woven brightly colored seagrass and swimming out downward along the length of the castle…
She was going to need to be careful about this… if any guards of duty happened to spot her, she would be dragged back to her chambers and kept under watch until her wedding day arrived, as her father vaguely threatened would happen if she tried to disobey his orders.
Her heart was pounding even louder in her ears as she reached the ocean floor and began to swim quietly towards a kelp bed she hoped to use for cover, all the while her widened aqua green eyes were glued to the two guards she saw leaning against the side of the castle… they seemed far too engrossed in some kind of discussion to notice the way the kelp gently swayed as the mer princess slipped inside their dense cover.
The kelp went on long enough to carry Marina unseen at least half a mile away from the castle… she briefly paused to glance back as she exited the tall dense kelp forest… this was the last time she would ever see her home again… and she really wasn't all that sad, her mother had been the only thing to make home special.
She wasn't going to miss her oppressive and thoughtless father… her vain selfish older sister… nor her brothers too busy scheming and conniving for the throne, that is when they weren't looking for ships to sink, evil bastards…
No… this moment marked the beginning of when Marina would start to live for herself, the way she wanted to live… and love who her heart chose to love…
Swallowing hard and mustering up the rest of her courage, Marina sped off into the deep blue of the ocean… she swam as if the kraken itself were on her fins! She refused to allow for the chance that she might be found and dragged back.
If she could make it to land though and turn her tail into humanoid legs… she knew her family and their guards would not follow her there, they hated humanity and everything to do with it, they would write her off as a lost cause before they would go there.
It felt as though hours had passed before Marina found herself swimming in shallow waters… and her tail… oh how her poor fins were so exhausted… she needed to rest soon, but she couldn't stop until she was on land… only on land could she be certain of her safety…
She was close now… she could see where waves lapped at a sandy beach… her eyes went wide with hope, her heart thundering in her chest with anticipation… freedom was right there!
Raising her head up above the water… It was early morning now and there was not a single human in sight, it was the perfect opportunity to get onto the beach and turn her tail into legs.
Fortune surely was smiling upon Marina this day, as if some deity or higher power saw fit to envelope her in safety and deliver her to freedom. Whatever or whomever that might be, Marina would be eternally grateful.
Tired… so weary… her entire tail ached and her eyes were heavy with her fatigue… but she couldn't give up, not now, not when freedom was literally within sight!
When she hit the wet sand of the shore, Marina used her arms to pull herself up onto dry sand… where she eventually collapsed in exhaustion…
She could feel a hand gently caressing hair away from her forehead, such a kind touch… who was that?
"Are you waking up, child?" a female voice asked "Do not be afraid, my dear. We will not harm you"
Groaning, Marina's eyelids lifted slowly… her aqua green eyes took in the sight of a beautiful woman with long dark brown hair and long pointed ears looking down onto her, the woman's smile was gentle and reassuring… it was then that Marina noticed her head was resting upon the woman's lap.
Sitting on the sand not far from her was a handsome young male with long dark brown hair pulled back into a loose braid, he too had the strange long and pointed ears… how odd, last she knew, humans did not have ears like this… human ears would be rounded, not pointy…
"Who… who are you?" Marina murmured, slowly lifted her head from the woman's lap as she sat up, she looked back and forth between the two "Are you humans?"
"Mother… it would appear the mermaid has never seen an elf before" the young male said, a gentle slightly teasing smile curving his lips "We're not humans, mermaid… we're elves… elves who are quite curious what a mermaid is doing passed out on our shores… with humanoid legs at that… we might have thought you human or elf if not for the fins adorning the edges of your ears…"
"Questions like that can wait for later! This young lady is clearly in distress! Honestly Ryvin, I have taught you better!" the woman chided her son before turning soft eyes on Marina "I am Franella, dear girl… and this rude boy is my son, Ryvin… let us help you to our home where you can rest and have some food…"
Marina clutched her satchel close to her as she looked back and forth between the two, trying to decide what she should do… she was alone in this world and these two did seem very kind and trustworthy…
"Alright…" Marina replied "My name is Marina. Thank you very much for your generous kindness, I shall try not to be a burden upon you for too long"
"Nonsense, dear, you are a young lady in need, not a burden" Franella insisted, looking then at her son "Ryvin, pick up Marina into your arms, dear… the poor darling looks positively exhausted… and I would bet, not yet accustomed to having legs…"
Marina smiled guiltily "You would be correct… on all accounts"
Ryvin nodded and looked at Marina "I was only teasing before. I'll be happy to be of help to you, Lady Marina"
Ryvin carefully gathered Marina into his arms as he and his mother rose to their feet.
"You will like our home during your stay with us" Franella replied sweetly as they walked towards the treeline shortly in the distance "It's quite cozy… and then perhaps… you might tell us what happened to you… but only when you are ready, dear"
"Go ahead and sleep" Ryvin soothed her, giving her warm kind smile "You look like you need it. I promise you, you are safe now… whatever you were running from, it cannot hurt you now"
Weariness setting upon her once more, Marina nodded at Ryvin's words and allowed her head to rest against his shoulder as she allowed sleep to claim her.
A beautiful mermaid zoomed across the expanse of her personal chambers, her long cotton candy pink hair flowing behind her… her heart thumped wildly in her chest with fear and anxiety, fear of being caught and all her efforts being in vain.It was with a heavy heart that Marina, daughter of Poseidon, was hastily throwing any of her treasures she thought could have potential value into a satchel woven from strong seaweed… she didn't know what to expect where she was headed, but she had to imagine that one could not get by without some form of currency in the above world, the same as it was in the oceanic economy.
As it was, her bag was starting to become rather weighty with the pearls and glittering stones she had been collecting throughout her life… she could only look over at the chest she had in the corner of her room with a pouty expression… Marina knew she wouldn't be able to lug that chest of gold coins even if she abandoned her satchel. Least of in the quiet and stealthy fashion that was going to be of critical importance.
"I'll have to leave it behind…" Marina lamented sadly "Such a pity, I worked all day to bring it here by satchel full after satchel full when I found that sunken human vessel… it cannot be helped though, some sacrifices will have to be made in the name of freedom"
Stopping by the coral vanity, sadness filled Marina's eyes as she picked up the beautiful comb made of abalone shell decorated with tiny white and soft pink pearls… this comb had been one of her mother's favorite pieces… the day Amphitrite was lost to the cephalopod merfolk attack… It was the saddest day of Marina's life.
Marina had managed to snag the comb from her mother's belongings before her elder sister Beryl seized everything as she believed was her right as the 'eldest daughter' and all… the twit never even noticed, Marina doubted her selfish sister even remembered the comb or how their mother used to gently comb their hair with it.
Bringing it to her lips, Marina lightly kissed the comb "Be with me tonight, mother… and please forgive me for running away… but they have gotten even worse since your passing… everything you ever tried to teach them about gentleness and forgiveness was upon deaf ears… they have killed so many humans lately, mother and now… and now… they want me to…"
Marina's eyes shut tight as she forced back tears…
She always knew she wasn't going to be worth much to her father as the fifth oldest of his children… he had his crown heir and his male spares… she and her sister Beryl would merely tools for alliances, not that Beryl minded… she was totally fine with being married off to a prince of another stretch of ocean and being queen there.
Marina on the other hand… she dreamed of love, she dreamed of a bond that would stand the test of time…
It was three days ago however that her father had called her into the throne room to discuss an 'important matter' with her… he informed her that she would be marrying Prince Nautilus of the south sea in one week time, securing for her father an alliance that would bring fabulous wealth in pearls and jewels to their kingdom.
Perhaps she could have been determined to make the marriage work… if the husband-to-be was anyone but Prince Nautilus…
She knew quite well just how cruel and vicious a merman Nautilus was… the way he laughed when he sank ships filled with frightened families was one thing on it's own, but to top it all off, she had seen first hand how he abused his servants and citizens that were unfortunate enough to be forced into close proximity with him for however long. She doubted if that horrible selfish whale turd of a male even knew how to utter a kind word to anyone.
What's more… there were rumors… that Nautilus had been betrothed before, but the betrothal had been short lived when the bride-to-be had been found strangled to death not far from the castle…
There were whispers that the prince himself had done it because she had displeased him…
"I will not marry that monster" Marina whispered fiercely as she placed her mother's comb into her satchel before swimming towards the window, pushing aside her curtain of woven brightly colored seagrass and swimming out downward along the length of the castle…
She was going to need to be careful about this… if any guards of duty happened to spot her, she would be dragged back to her chambers and kept under watch until her wedding day arrived, as her father vaguely threatened would happen if she tried to disobey his orders.
Her heart was pounding even louder in her ears as she reached the ocean floor and began to swim quietly towards a kelp bed she hoped to use for cover, all the while her widened aqua green eyes were glued to the two guards she saw leaning against the side of the castle… they seemed far too engrossed in some kind of discussion to notice the way the kelp gently swayed as the mer princess slipped inside their dense cover.
The kelp went on long enough to carry Marina unseen at least half a mile away from the castle… she briefly paused to glance back as she exited the tall dense kelp forest… this was the last time she would ever see her home again… and she really wasn't all that sad, her mother had been the only thing to make home special.
She wasn't going to miss her oppressive and thoughtless father… her vain selfish older sister… nor her brothers too busy scheming and conniving for the throne, that is when they weren't looking for ships to sink, evil bastards…
No… this moment marked the beginning of when Marina would start to live for herself, the way she wanted to live… and love who her heart chose to love…
Swallowing hard and mustering up the rest of her courage, Marina sped off into the deep blue of the ocean… she swam as if the kraken itself were on her fins! She refused to allow for the chance that she might be found and dragged back.
If she could make it to land though and turn her tail into humanoid legs… she knew her family and their guards would not follow her there, they hated humanity and everything to do with it, they would write her off as a lost cause before they would go there.
It felt as though hours had passed before Marina found herself swimming in shallow waters… and her tail… oh how her poor fins were so exhausted… she needed to rest soon, but she couldn't stop until she was on land… only on land could she be certain of her safety…
She was close now… she could see where waves lapped at a sandy beach… her eyes went wide with hope, her heart thundering in her chest with anticipation… freedom was right there!
Raising her head up above the water… It was early morning now and there was not a single human in sight, it was the perfect opportunity to get onto the beach and turn her tail into legs.
Fortune surely was smiling upon Marina this day, as if some deity or higher power saw fit to envelope her in safety and deliver her to freedom. Whatever or whomever that might be, Marina would be eternally grateful.
Tired… so weary… her entire tail ached and her eyes were heavy with her fatigue… but she couldn't give up, not now, not when freedom was literally within sight!
When she hit the wet sand of the shore, Marina used her arms to pull herself up onto dry sand… where she eventually collapsed in exhaustion…
She could feel a hand gently caressing hair away from her forehead, such a kind touch… who was that?
"Are you waking up, child?" a female voice asked "Do not be afraid, my dear. We will not harm you"
Groaning, Marina's eyelids lifted slowly… her aqua green eyes took in the sight of a beautiful woman with long dark brown hair and long pointed ears looking down onto her, the woman's smile was gentle and reassuring… it was then that Marina noticed her head was resting upon the woman's lap.
Sitting on the sand not far from her was a handsome young male with long dark brown hair pulled back into a loose braid, he too had the strange long and pointed ears… how odd, last she knew, humans did not have ears like this… human ears would be rounded, not pointy…
"Who… who are you?" Marina murmured, slowly lifted her head from the woman's lap as she sat up, she looked back and forth between the two "Are you humans?"
"Mother… it would appear the mermaid has never seen an elf before" the young male said, a gentle slightly teasing smile curving his lips "We're not humans, mermaid… we're elves… elves who are quite curious what a mermaid is doing passed out on our shores… with humanoid legs at that… we might have thought you human or elf if not for the fins adorning the edges of your ears…"
"Questions like that can wait for later! This young lady is clearly in distress! Honestly Ryvin, I have taught you better!" the woman chided her son before turning soft eyes on Marina "I am Franella, dear girl… and this rude boy is my son, Ryvin… let us help you to our home where you can rest and have some food…"
Marina clutched her satchel close to her as she looked back and forth between the two, trying to decide what she should do… she was alone in this world and these two did seem very kind and trustworthy…
"Alright…" Marina replied "My name is Marina. Thank you very much for your generous kindness, I shall try not to be a burden upon you for too long"
"Nonsense, dear, you are a young lady in need, not a burden" Franella insisted, looking then at her son "Ryvin, pick up Marina into your arms, dear… the poor darling looks positively exhausted… and I would bet, not yet accustomed to having legs…"
Marina smiled guiltily "You would be correct… on all accounts"
Ryvin nodded and looked at Marina "I was only teasing before. I'll be happy to be of help to you, Lady Marina"
Ryvin carefully gathered Marina into his arms as he and his mother rose to their feet.
"You will like our home during your stay with us" Franella replied sweetly as they walked towards the treeline shortly in the distance "It's quite cozy… and then perhaps… you might tell us what happened to you… but only when you are ready, dear"
"Go ahead and sleep" Ryvin soothed her, giving her warm kind smile "You look like you need it. I promise you, you are safe now… whatever you were running from, it cannot hurt you now"
Weariness setting upon her once more, Marina nodded at Ryvin's words and allowed her head to rest against his shoulder as she allowed sleep to claim her.