Inside the Queen's Chambers, Queen Brietta was lying on her bed. The room had a large bed in the center. The mattress was soft and was adorned with a purple bedsheet.
"Are you sure Denise? Was it really Queen Ariana?" Brietta looked sharply at her maid - in-waiting, who stood with her bowed head in front of the chief queen.
"I am certain, Your Highness! I saw her out in the garden last night with her crystal ball in hand. Who would go out at such an unearthly hour? It's not even befitting a queen, Your Majesty." Denise replied with a taste of bitterness.
Her mood resembled the almost dark room of the queen. The chamber was dimly lit. The walls were adorned by beautiful paintings of mermaids and mermen.
Denise had been a close ally of Brietta since a long time now. She had long black hair that she tied in a ponytail. Her brown eyes shone wickedly as she gossiped about the other queen.
"Hmm, it seems Ariana hasn't learnt her lesson yet. " Brietta lied down on her bed as a crooked smile formed on her lips and her black eyes twinkled menacingly. Her long black hair spread on the pillow as she stared at the ceiling.
"The last time I caught her, I let her go with a warning but this time my dear Denise," she paused as her black eyes gleamed in wickedness, "I think I need to handle things differently." Denise bowed her head and smiled slyly at her mistress' words.
She knew the cunning ways in which her mistress worked. She might seem to be relaxing on bed but there were many dangerous ideas swirling in her mind.
The soft mattress seemed to comfort Brietta as she rested her black fish tail gently and her mind got lost in a cloud of thoughts.
Away from the queens' quarters, the festivities were in full swing and the entire kingdom seemed to brighten up today.
Zedon was intently watching the marble statue.
The eyes had no eye balls and the mouth was open. The hair of the lady were long and gave a messy look. Her long fishtail rested on the beautiful podium. The statue was grey from head to toe.
Zedon's icy blue eyes showed reverence as he gazed at the face of the statue. His black hair was adorned with a circular, golden crown. The crown was studded with many expensive gemstones. His blue coloured fishtail swayed in slow rhythm.
His handsome face had a look of respect and devotion which got distracted momentarily as a servant approached him, "Your Highness", the servant bowed, "All the preparations are complete. We are ready for the night's ritual."
Zedon gave a slight nod.
"Please call the queens. We need to start soon." He ordered. The servant bowed and left.
Zedon became thoughtful. He knew that tonight was the night of the Full Moon Festival. It was today that the members of the royal family offered gifts to the Mother Mermaid. In return, she blessed the kingdom with happiness and prosperity.
Legend has it that it was today that the Mother Mermaid, the Divine deity they all worshipped, achieved the status of divinity.
So every Full Moon Night, it was a custom to offer her respects. The entire kingdom participated. The commoners were invited to the Great Hall of the palace to view the ceremonies. It was a grand affair.
Zedon knew what he would offer the deity. He had been ruling the kingdom of Aquata for 500 years now. He belonged to the ruling class of the Thalassians and according to the tradition the King had to promise the Divine Mother that he would rule in a just manner and love his subjects deeply.
If by any chance the promise was broken, it would lead to the King's death. That was seen as the punishment from the Mother Mermaid.
Soon the guests started arriving, the commoners were standing in the designated area at a far distance and the Great Hall looked marvellously decorated. The atmosphere was alive with the chitter chatter of the guests.
A grand feast had been organized. The best chefs in the kingdom had prepared seagrass soup, sea - cakes, sea - drinks, sea- fruits and sea- desserts.
Suddenly there was an announcement.
"Behold! The Beloved Queens of His Excellency, King Zedon of the Mighty Thalassian race, are arriving."
The crowd fell silent. Everybody saw the queens enter with their respective maids.
Right at the forefront, leading the small group of Royal Women, was the Chief Queen Brietta. Her grace was matched by her confidence as she moved. She wore a silver tiara that shone brilliantly. She was closely followed by Denise, her maid - in - waiting and her confidante.
Next was the one who was known in the land for her beauty and grace and for the fact that she was "The One" who stole the heart of King Zedon, Queen Annelise. She had soft, silky, blonde hair. Her ocean blue eyes matched her beautiful, blue fishtail. She was closely followed by her maids.
The third in the group was a mermaid who was moving with her eyes lowered. She moved slowly, her white fishtail moving gently. She wore a white bralette. Her black hair was tied in a lovely braid. Occasionally she looked up, her brown eyes a little fearful. She then quickly lowered them, a few maids following her close behind.
The next lady was a woman with short, brown hair that reached her shoulders. She had a brown fishtail and her eyes were blue. She wore a blue bralette and moved confidently. She was Queen Ariana, the famous magician of the kingdom and King Zedon's fourth wife. She waved gently at the crowd as she passed with her maids behind her.
The youngest, Queen Julia moved with her maids following her. She had red hair that she tied in a bun today. She wore a red bralette that matched her red fishtail. Her red eyes shone in happiness as she gave a broad smile to the crowd.
One by one the Queens entered the Great Hall as the crowd cheered on.
Queen Brietta took her seat on a throne beside the King's, her black fishtail swaying gently. The other queens took their thrones in the area designated for royal women.
Ofcourse they were throwing jealous glances at the Chief Queen who smiled slyly and seemed to enjoy the attention.
"My Love, it is your turn to start the ceremony by making an offering." Zedon spoke to Queen Brietta.
She nodded and moved towards the statue of the Mother Mermaid.
"I offer my pearl necklace to the Divine Mother Mermaid." She bowed in front of the statue of the deity as she held her beautiful necklace out.
The audience gasped at the beauty of the necklace. It was made of rubies and emeralds. The Great Hall resonated with whispers and murmurs. Everybody was dying to know the original price of the flawless accessory.
It was a gift from Zedon and he had presented it to her on her last birthday. The audience praised the queen for her offering.
Next it was the turn of Queen Annelise who was renowned in the kingdom for her exceptional beauty. She stood in front of the deity and took out a ring from her finger. It was a shiny, flawless, green emerald ring.
She closed her eyes and uttered, "To the Great, Most Divine Mother Mermaid, I offer my obeisance and this ring which has been in my family since 3000 generations."
As soon as she said this, there were loud gasps and hooting. The people present were ecstatic at their Queen's generosity.
Zedon gave a slight smile. The other Queens gave dirty looks to Annelise who seemed unperturbed by the attention.
Next, Queen Bella, a mermaid with a long white fishtail, black hair and brown eyes came forward.
The moment she approached the deity, Zedon intervened, "Let Ariana go next."
Taken aback by this sudden intervention, Bella looked at Zedon with a hurt look on her face but receded. The other Queens gave scornful looks while Ariana gave a nasty smile.
Ariana, a lady with brown hair that reached her shoulders and brown coloured fishtail, looked pleased as she approached the statue of the divine deity. She closed her eyes for a brief moment, recited an inaudible prayer and then opened them. Her blue eyes shining with reverence.
"Oh Divine Mother! I offer my sea shell to you." With this she raised both her hands and suddenly a beautiful, white seashell appeared.
"This seashell has powers that can make you invisible." Everyone was paying deep attention to the Queen's words.
"I offer this humble gift at your feet." Saying so, Queen Ariana placed the beautiful white seashell at the feet of the deity.
Zedon gave a proud smile. He hadn't expected anything less from his childhood friend. He knew he was fortunate to have such a renowned magician as his wife.
Ariana looked at Zedon for a brief moment, gave a slight smile and then moved back to her place.
Soon it was Queen Julia's turn. As all eyes turned towards her, she gave a slight smile and turned towards Bella who was standing far away looking dejected. With a slight smile playing on her red ruby lips she held her hand and gently took her towards the divine deity.
Zedon's forehead furrowed in slight indignation as the red haired mermaid carried Bella with her.
"Let Bella offer her obeisance to the deity too My Lord." She looked at Zedon.
Though reluctantly, he nodded his head. Seeing that Zedon had given his consent, she looked at Bella and spoke, "You should go first. I will go right after you."
Slightly nervous, Bella gave a slight nod as she approached the statue. In her small voice she uttered, "Oh Divine Mother! I do not have anything fanciful to offer you but every morning there is a flower that blooms outside in my garden. It gives me immense joy every morning. I therefore, place this lovely, pink flower before you."
Saying this she took out a beautiful, bright pink flower. Its fragrance immediately spread and enchanted everyone present.
With this, she quickly went back to her place.
Julia approached the deity with her long red fishtail. She closed her red eyes, smiled a little and then opened them again.
She folded her palms in reverence. Her eyes were full of devotion.
"Oh Divine Mother! You have bestowed me with the greatest gift of life, Zedon." She briefly looked at her smiling husband, taking in his flawless appearance and handsome face.
The crowd applauded at her words and the rest of the queens looked at her in complete silence.
She turned towards the beautiful face of the deity and continued, " I offer you my old mother's bracelet that she had presented me with at my wedding. Please accept this humble offering and bless her soul."
With this the crowd erupted in joy. Zedon smiled, looking happy at his youngest queen's gesture.
He still remembered that fateful day when he had asked for her hand in marriage. Cecelia was an old mermaid in his palace who looked after the Queens' chambers. Zedon had been so impressed with her work that he had decided to marry her daughter. The old mermaid had gone mad with joy. Zedon had in turn got a wife who was a kind woman at heart.
As Zedon was lost in his thoughts, a voice boomed in the hall.
"Your Majesty! We have found a human in our land."
Immediately there was silence. All heads turned towards the source of that voice. It was the king's Army Chief. In his hands, he was holding a body.
Suddenly the mood of the gathering changed. People gasped in shock. How was that possible? Hadn't the Mother Mermaid cast a spell on their kingdom prohibiting the entry of humans...even if dead?
Not only that even the mermen were prohibited to go high up into the land of the humans. If anybody tried, he was forbidden by the protective spell cast at the surface of the ocean.
The five queens looked shocked and curious at the same time.
Zedon, looked surprised.
"What are you talking about Eric? How can a human enter our land? You know the spell of the Mother Mermaid quite well."
"Your Majesty, I am not mistaken." He held out his hands. "I am holding the human's body in my hands."
Zedon hurried towards his Army Chief. As he drew close, he looked at the human's face.
It was a girl.