New Story? Yes
Why? I was bored.
Ever get finished? Probably not.
Will I enjoy it? HOPE SO!

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~ Chapter One ~

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Prince Earin opened the doors to one of his many chambers following the trace of little trips of water on the ground. Exiting out of his sleeping chambers without a glace of the room, just the floor in which was still portraying a path of slippery water. He was pretty sure that this had something to do with his mother.

He walked into his little chamber which consisted of old books, (he liked to read) he followed the trail of water to the end of the bookshelf. He finally looked up with a frown tangling over his lips.

Someone knew about the little passage way to his bathing chambers, a mere shortcut differ to going the other way, crossing two other chambers of his. He removed four think, old books that needed a good dusting, and his eyes were shown the door knob. The bookshelf was just a door masquerading itself. He was not surprised when he pushed the door forward the path of water went right to his bathing chamber.

He felt as though he had to rush over to his bath, for he first thought a servant had just filled it too full. But he wasn't ready to bathe; he had just two hours ago. He stopped in a pause to see if there was movement of the water, just to make sure. There was! The water splashed out as if boiling; and for a moment Earin thought he had a huge tub of boiling water like some kind of witch's brew. Then he came to reason, realizing that if the water was boiling, steam would have emerged from the air, therefore giving the room more of a misty, humid aroma, which was not happening.

Pressed with puzzlement, he walked further, still following the trail of water. His boots clinking and clanking on the marble floor, getting closer and closer to is tub. This tub was of a hard limestone, very rare in the Alerion parts lately, therefore very valuable. Many years ago that limestone had been shaped into a bathing tub by a human magician who had been saved by Earin's father.

Three small stairs came across his path, and he notice he was so close to his tub he could just reach out to touch it, but the stairs served a purpose, because Prince Earin was not normal peasant height; he wasn't peasant, which was good, but he hated that he was shorter than average.

He took each step carefully, in fear of slipping. Earin took the last step and looked into the tub. He almost slipped backwards as he realized what was in there, making an "Aaeh!" sound.

A mermaid, laying on it's stomach had been waiting for him. Suddenly he knew exactly what was going on.

He shouted "MOTHER!" with as much force he would, knowing that the emptiness in most chambers of the castle could carry out his message through the echoing .

The mermaid sat up. "What are you doing?"

He ignored her and stalked out of his bathing chambers. It only took a minute for him to get out of all his chambers and enter the great hall. He turned to the right, leaving the hall, as he went down the long, and wide stairs. He found his target and stopped her before she started to act busy, as she always did.

"MOTHER! I need to talk to you about that mermaid in my bathtub!" he shouted, still quickly getting down the stairs. The sentence was so ridiculous coming from him, he wondered what the maids and servants thought about him now.

Some servants stared, while others continued with their work.

The queen turned around. "Oh, my son, Earin! I thought you were going to bathe!"

He was down the stairs now.

"Bathe?! Bathe?! What the hell did you think I would do?! You had no right to put a mermaid in my—" he knew now the servants' ears were perking up for gossiping reasons.

"In the meeting chamber, please." his mother's tone darkened a little bit. They quickly entered into the meeting chamber. To Earin's own dread, his step-father was there.

"What is going on?" he asked. Earin's stepfather was very educated. He had blue eyes with brown orange hair, plus a mustache. Earin got why his mother would have married right after her grieving for his father was done; she could not had manage the whole kingdom alone.

"Did you have something to do with that surprise in my bathing chambers?" Earin asked, already accusing his step-father in his mind.

"Well, yes Earin. We decided it is finally time for yo to find your mate." his step-father said. As he said it he held onto Earin's mother lovingly.

A sting of shock made Earin freeze. He didn't want a mate, as he had said years ago. All of his step-brothers had either been courting or already married at his age. I was Alerion tradition and law that the youths should marry at the age of sixteen and seventeen, meaning before it is the time to get a full paying job. But the law was meant for peasant youths.

"Why now?" he asked.

"Because you are of age." said his step-father.

"but does it matter, if I am not of heart?" this question Earin had always had on his mind, but not until now was he angry enough to say it aloud.

"Don't be silly, Earin! Everyone has the heart to love! What else is a heart to do?" his mother laughed.

"Pump blood." came Earin's response. "I insist that you take that mermaid out of my bathing chamber." he said, slowly, trying not to be too loud. "I will NOT see any female at all, in the intention of courting!"

"Earin; As prince, and heir to the throne, you need to marry as soon as possible." Earin's step-father said. "You have no choice."

"I have a choice! You cannot tell me that I am constrained to marry so I may get the crown. If that's what it takes; Screw the crown!"

His mother gasped.

And he walked away.