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Fin’s proud smile rocketed me into the heavens. He was getting his wish; to prove his worth to his father and to show he’d made the right choice by breaking with tradition.
I wept tears of joy for my merman. What an honor to be appointed such a title. I only hoped it wouldn’t mean I’d be seeing less of my love. Then again, the elevation in his status might mean he had a better chance of my father agreeing to a marriage between Fin and me. That thought made me ecstatic with anticipation.
Fin held a fist to his chest and kneeled at my father’s feet. My father handed Fin a new trident, glittering with dazzling jewels.
“Congratulations, my son.” He pressed his own fist to his chest, nodded, and then moved onto Nemo.
I swept to Fin’s side and placed a kiss on his cheek, making sure all the mermaids knew he was mine.
By this point, Nemo jiggled with enthusiasm as his dream was about to be realized. As I swam back into line beside him, I wondered what my father had in store for him.Poseidon, let it be a medal.
“Dearest Nemo,” my father said, his eyes gleaming with joy.
I’d never seen the king so pleased to be awarding a medal in one of these ceremonies. Typically, they were tedious, a duty he had to carry out, and he undertook them with all the seriousness of a king. But something was different this time. Perhaps he was just elated that he had been saved from the spell, but something told me there was more to his happiness. That my mermen spoke to a deeper part of him, too, like they did for me.
“I present you with this medal of honor for protecting my daughter and the realm.” He pinned it to Nemo’s sash.
Nemo was positively beaming, and he couldn’t stop touching his medal.
“How could I ignore your contribution to Tritonia’s safety?” my father added. “I’m appointing you Master of the Crops.”
Master of the Crops was a role created after the devastating loss of crops back when the nutrients had failed to fertilize the plants one year. Recently, the former master had retired. It was the duty of the master to protect the realm from famine, to ensure the crops were not eaten by pest fish, and to make certain the plants were fertilized in times when the currents did not bring the nutrition.
Nemo accepted a staff made from molten sand encased with seaweed.
“This staff was freshly forged by a blacksmith on land,” said my father. “Now, I entrust it to you.”
Everyone, me included, went wild as Nemo thrust the staff in the air. Before I could move to congratulate him, he swept me into his arms, bent me over, and laid a long kiss on my lips.
A few shocked gasps carried through the crowd. From upside-down, I caught the mermaids leaning in to whisper to their friends. I smiled. Let them talk. I no longer cared for their opinions. They could gossip until they ran out of breath.
When Nemo set me upright, my father’s eyebrows were drawn together.
“Yes, well.” The king wasn’t one for affection in public. He also appreciated the courtesy of respect, like a bow or some form of acknowledgement, and I nudged Nemo. Grinning from ear to ear, he fell to the ground in a bow.
Apparently satisfied, my father moved on to Gill.
Gill swallowed hard. I could tell all this made him uncomfortable. But if he wanted to be in my life, this was the sacrifice he had to make. Never a day went by without me thanking him for sticking by my side. Sea god, I was truly blessed. With all my heart, I hoped my father did not offend Gill and refuse him a title in front of the court. That would not help the circumstances between them. I wanted more than anything for them to find common ground and get along as well as Fin and Nemo did with my family.
“This one I am most proud to appoint,” my father declared.
What? I’d never heard him speak so highly of Gill before. Was the king skipping Gill altogether and awarding something to me? I did not breathe again until my father lifted the last medal and pinned it to Gill’s sash.Thank the sea god!
Even Gill looked taken aback, and normally, nothing rattled him. “Thank you, great king.” His lips trembled.
My father’s fist found his chest. “For saving the merrealm, my daughter, and yourself.”
The whole room exploded with applause.
I caught the eye of Gill’s sister. She bounced as if she wanted to come up to the podium. I waved for her to join us. She was there in a flash and leaped into her brother’s arms. Gill’s adopted parents drifted up, too, embracing their son, crying with joy, no doubt happy about the way he’d turned around his life.
My heart was uplifted with joy for them all.
My father waited for the cheers to die down before he spoke again. “It is also my honor to declare you the Keeper of the Peace.”
I’d never heard of this title before. It must have been created recently.
“It will be your duty,” declared my father, “to bring harmony between the two merkingdoms. Be the voice of reason. Negotiate for prosperity.”
