I've always hated parties.
The crowds, mindless chatter, and endless dancing was not my idea of fun. Especially now, as I sat in our carriage waiting patiently as my men pulled us along towards my brother's kingdom, nestled deep within the Atlantic ocean. I hadn't seen him since I ascended the throne fifty years before, now I was 422 years old, and I still felt like I will never become the Queen my brother wants me to be or who our immortal Mother wishes me to be. I still believed I was just a guppy and knew that I didn't want to rule a kingdom, but I didn't want to let my family down.
"Seda?" Kai asked, turning to me, pulling me from my thoughts as I heard him say my nickname.
I turned to him, staring into his silver eyes as I admired the familiarity of his features and his presence. I smiled at him, hoping he wouldn't sense my discomfort as we entered Terenia, my eldest brother's kingdom, and the location of the week-long party that I was expected to attend. I looked down at my skirts, my webbed toes peeking through the fabric as if taunting me of differences as Kai's tail bumped my leg just as the carriage came to a complete stop.
"Sorry," He paused, looking over at me, his enchanting eyes filling with concern, "Are you alright?"
No, I'm not alright. I wanted to say. I don't want to be here. I just want to stay home and forget about my duty to marry and bear children.
"I'm fine, " I lied, gritting my teeth, "I'm just tired."
I watched as he nodded and got up, exiting the carriage so he could assist me. As I stood, my midnight-blue hair floated around the equally blue water, bubbles escaping around me as they tried to reach the surface. As I made my way towards the door, I gently placed my hand into Kai's large one, my light blue skin contrasting against his iridescent scales. I watched him smile, the guards standing tall and proud around us as we continued forward.
"Good evening your Majesty, welcome to Terenia." A stout woman said, her graying hair pulled back in a tight bun and her eyes a kind blue. "My name is Mrs. Berkeley."
I smiled, this time there was no falseness to it, "Thank you, madam, it is lovely to be back at my brother's kingdom. Has my room been prepared? I would like my men to be able to have their rest and a good meal before tonight's festivities."
"Yes, your Majesty, your room has been prepared and I will personally make sure your men get whatever they need." She paused to turn around, "Now, if you will please follow me, I will show you to your room and you may meet your attendants during your visit."
I grabbed Kai's arm, feeling comforted in his presence as we followed the woman along the winding hallways and towards a door at the end of the hall. She simply knocked and pulled the door open, motioning for me to go inside. The room was spacious, not as big as my room back home but indeed comfortable, not that I needed such extravagance.
I would have been fine with a simple guest room with a bed and a place that I could bathe in peace with no attendants gawking at my unique human legs instead of a large fishtail. Two women floated before me, one with deep chocolate skin and a bright pink tail and the other with pale skin and bright red and orange hair I had seen humans have as they pranced along the shoreline of Scotland. They curtsied, wishing me a good day as the stout woman from before gave me their names: Erika was the one with the pink tail, and Arista was the firey-haired one to the right.
"It is lovely to meet you both." I said, as formal as ever, "Will you help me put away my things for this week?"
"Yes, your majesty." They both clipped as the woman, Mrs. Berkeley, left with Kai saying he would be there if I needed anything before he kissed me softly on the cheek as he left. Turning back to my attendants, I watched as they both refused to make eye contact with me.
"Please, my name is Sedna. You may call me by my name in my company," I said calmly, trying to ease their worries as best I could, "And please, it is rude to not look someone in the eyes when you are speaking to them."
They both looked up, cautiously at first but then smiled. "Shall we help you with your things, Sedna?" Erika asked, pointing to three suitcases that magically appeared on my bed.
"Yes, that would be fine, Erika." I smiled, moving towards the unopened suitcases, "It would be faster if we all did it together don't you think?"
They both nodded as I opened the first case, unfolding each gown and hanging them up in my wardrobe. I hummed quietly as we worked, hoping that if we could get done quickly enough I could be left alone to mentally prepare for the evening I was entirely dreading. Once we were finished, Arista swam towards me, her eyes kind as she looked me over. "Your Majesty, I mean, Sedna, would you like us to help you get ready for tonight?"
"That won't be necessary. I want to spend some time alone before I go to tonight's festivities." I said, waving them off as they point towards my wardrobe where my dresses hung, swaying slightly in the current.
They both looked at each other, in bewilderment, no doubt this was the first time they have met someone of our kind who didn't want to spend hours on their appearance. I was looking forward to seeing at least two of my siblings this evening, my eldest brother Delmare, the wisest of us all, was always kind to me and I think without him I might not be the Symari I am today. I was the fourth born of my siblings, Oshun was born after Delmare and managed to get a new lover every week it seemed, not that I was judging, but I always wondered how that might make his son feel. Triton was next, as kind as ever, and the complete opposite of our youngest sister Avisa. I never understood why she insisted on being hateful, I suppose she might be jealous of my kingdom or that she didn't believe I was worthy of such a responsibility. I didn't look like my siblings, I didn't have a tail and I acted more human than I would care to admit, but I was still her sister. I just wished she wouldn't see me as an evil abomination to our kind and learn to accept me and others for their differences.
"Are you alright Sedna?" Arista inquired, "Are you well?"
"Yes, I'm sorry, I'm fine I was just thinking." I paused, "I suppose it would be a good idea to get ready for tonight."
Erika only nodded and swam to my wardrobe but Arista stayed, hesitating as she swam towards me, her red hair floating around her like a halo. "If you need anyone to talk to Your Majesty, I would gladly listen if you need a friend." Her eyes were kind and her face was sincere, with no notion of any ulterior motives, and I was glad.
I smiled, "Thank you Arista, I appreciate your honesty. I would like that very much."
By the time both of them have finished getting my ready for the party, I only had twenty minutes to find my way to the ballroom and sit through three hours of food, dancing, and the never-ending questions of why I haven't married. I just hoped that tonight would go smoothly and that no surprises interrupt my evening, or maybe I could slip away in hopes that they would forget about who I was.
And as the double doors opened and the guards announced my arrival, I had the gut feeling that I would not be the same queen after this week was over. I just hoped that I wouldn't become the evil my sister believed I was.
Within an instant my nieces Theodosia and Louisa came swimming towards me, ignoring the court's protests as the barrelled through dancing partners to get to me, grinning ear-to-ear as they wrapped their arms around my waist. Theodosia, the eldest daughter of my brother Triton wore her violet-colored hair in several braids around her skull, taking after her mother Atlanta while her younger sister Louisa matched her father with her silver hair and bright orange tail. Their eyes shown gold much like my own and I smiled kissing them both on the tops of their heads. Barely over fifty years old, the little guppies looked to be twelve and ten in human years. Just as I only looked to be twenty-five when in fact I had more than a century left to live, that was, if I lived that long.
Shaking my head at my giggling nieces, I pulled them close, "Theo! Lucie! What are you two doing bursting through the ballroom like a bunch of sharks!" I teased as they grinned, laughing as they pulled me further inside.
"Auntie Seda we missed you!" Lucie squealed, "Come on you're gonna miss the party!"
I shook my head as I let them lead me to the thick of the ballroom, where the chatter was louder and the dances more frequent. Just as I was going to ask the little ones where they were taking me, they stopped in front of a familiar figure. Golden eyes stared back at me, his silver hair floated around him while his bright orange tail shown brightly against the blue of the ocean around us. "Senda, is that you little sister?" Triton asked, his smile bright.
I smiled then, letting go of his daughter's hands as I pulled my brother in for a hug, "It's good to see you brother."
"I'm glad to see you are doing well little sister. You've grown to be a beautiful Symari." I felt the blush creep up my skin and all I could do was turn away.
"Oh stop it! The last time you saw me was only a few years ago!" I exclaimed just as the girls swam over to the table to grab some sweets from the table, "It seems your daughters are growing fast. They'll be coming into their powers soon."
"Yes, " Triton says, "Atlanta keeps reminding me which makes me feel old."
"Oh hush, you're making me feel old!" I exclaimed as he let out a boisterous laugh just as someone swam to my side and tapped me on the shoulder.
"My Queen, " I heard a familiar voice say, and instantly I knew it was Kai. Turning to face him, I smiled, "May I have this dance?"
He knew how much I hated dancing. Maybe he didn't know I suspected he was cheating on me. But with who, I had yet to find out. Maybe he wasn't the love of my life after all, but I did love him with all my heart. And I knew I could never love another. I will just have to see if he is truly as honorable as he says he is.