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Queen Portia of the Undersea was never described as a kind woman. Loud, conniving, an opportunist when she sees it and a schemer when she wants something, but never kind.
Violet supposed she could not blame the merwoman, the Undersea is a cruel and harsh place where the weak are left to fend for themselves. It is only recently that they have been united and that was after a terrible and bloody civil war.
With more "Land dwellers" as the merfolk called them, taking to sea, and bringing battle to the sea as well, it was only a matter of time before Queen Portia started looking for alliances. Only a fool would ignore the signs.
Violet was just not expecting Queen Portia to send a sixteen-year-old girl to be the one to negotiate the contract.
Violet was with her son, King Anthony, when it was announced that the diplomat from the Undersea had arrived.
"Your majesties, the diplomat from the Undersea," their butler announced.
Anthony nodded. "We will meet them down at the docks."
"No need, your majesties," a young feminine voice said.
The diplomat Queen Portia sent was a plump girl with curling red hair, pearls braided in, and brown eyes. Iridescent dark green scales covered different parts of her creamy pale skin, including all over her legs. Her dress was loose and flowy, and with the way she kept playing with the fabric Violet suspected she wore it more for their sakes than her's. Peaking from underneath the fabric was what Violet suspected to be a breastplate.
The girl is introduced as Lady Penelope, and she is quick to the point. "Her majesty is looking to form an alliance through marriage. Whether it be a marriage to one of her daughters, or remarriage for herself she does not care. We are willing to offer news of incoming storms, escorts by members of the merfolk out to sea, and should a ship sink we will look for survivors and for any bodies that have been taken by the waves."
"And what do you ask for in return?" Anthony asked the girl.
"As with any other alliance we ask for you to extend the same support we offer you, such as assistance should it come to war," Penelope said. "We also ask if you could have your fellow land dwellers in your kingdom stop putting their trash in our home. It's very rude."
Anthony and Violet looked at one another. It was a good alliance, nothing too crazy from either side, and it would give their kingdom an advantage when it came to crossing the oceans. It's also something that would not be offered again should they turn it down. But . . . Violet had always hoped her children would marry for love just like she did with Edmund before his untimely passing. As the dowager queen she saw the benefits for the kingdom. As a mother, she just wanted her children to be happy. Maybe, maybe she could make this work.
"If Queen Portia was the one to remarry would children be required?" Violet asked.
Lady Penelope shook her head. "No, her majesty already has her heir. Her majesty is also willing to move closer to your lands if you wished. There is a castle not far from the borders, and if so wished we can also look into building a new home on the borders of our lands."
That's just what Violet needed to hear. "I will marry Queen Portia then."
Anthony's head whipped around towards his mother.
"Very well," Lady Penelope stood and bowed. "I will let her majesty know."
Violet's children did not agree with their mother's decision.
"Mother, Lady Penelope said the Undersea queen had multiple daughters and an heir. Surley one of us could take take this on instead," Anthony tried to reason.
Her other seven children nodded on agreement with their older brother. Colin, their kingdom's own diplomat said he was always traveling, a mer wife made sense. Benedict, Anthony's right hand, said he would not mind living by the sea as he found it beautiful and he patrolled the border anyway every day. Even her daughters had thrown in that they could marry, princesses married for alliances was not uncommon, so what if it was to the Undersea instead of one of the Kingdoms on land.
Violet only shook her head. "I want you all to marry for love just as I did," she gently told them. "I have already had a happy life with your father, I do not mind my next marriage being for politics."
It was a little confusing on who would pay the dowry, but they eventually came to they came an agreement that Violet would bring some gold into the marriage and Queen Portia would bring some pearls. Both contributing to building their new home that Violet would soon share with her new spouse.
Violet made sure she had a room for all eight of her children, a room for herself, and a room for Portia, but did she need anymore? Lady Penelope said Portia had an heir and daughters. How many were there?
"How many children does Queen Portia have?" Violet asked Lady Penelope. "I want to make sure they have rooms as well, and figure out the direction of the canals for the home."
Lady Penelope blinked, her head tilted slightly to the side. She honestly looked surprised that Violet asked about the Undersea princesses. "Her majesty has four children, all daughters."
Violet nodded and continued with the planning. So that means five, or should it be six, of the rooms would need canals directed into them. Oh what would someone of the merfolk want in a room?
Penelope offered to help Violet with the rooms. She took care of one while calling in three others for the other princess’ rooms. All three mermaids were red heads with pearls braided in. It must be the fashion below. The three mermaids were Prudence, Philippa, and Felicity. Penelope introduced them as her sisters. Violet wondered if they were diplomats as well, possibly ladies maids? The little one, Felicity looked no older than her Hyacinth. Could she work at such young an age? Violet had to admit she did not know much about the Undersea and its rules.
Three months later the building is complete, and th day of the ceremony arrived soon after. Violet and her children stood at the edge of the dock, as the merfolk rose up from the sea to meet them. Queen Porita leading them with her four daughters behind her. Oh, guess Lady Penelope and her sisters don’t just work for the royal family.
Violet wasn't sure what she was expecting of a warrior queen but if she was honest with herself she did not believe Portia was to be this pretty. Her hair was a curly red just like her daughters, with more pearls braided in than all four of them combined. Her tail was a beautiful iridescent purple, with scales also covering different parts of her body. Ceremonial armor with bright colored shells and sea glass covered her top half. Violet was surprised to see the flower she shares a name with weaved together into a necklace. When had they gotten those?
Violet herself wore a gown with a skirt designed to look like the waves of her new spouses home. She had thought it was a little too on the nose, but seeing the violet necklace her finance wore maybe not.
They had two officiaters with them, one from the land and one from the sea. Violet was still unsure of the Underseas customs so she thought this would be best.
It proved to a very good idea when the officiated from the sea had said to present their wedding gifts. Violet had pulled out a ring, Portia pulled out a dagger. Violet’s side tensed, while Portia’s side remained unaffected by the dagger.
Perhaps they don’t exchange rings, perhaps there is deeper meaning behind this? Violet thought to herself as she accepted the dagger. The dagger while could still do its job as a dagger also looked to be ceremonial. The handle was made out of coral while the blade itself was made out of obsidian.
Portia stared curiously at the ring Violet put on her finger. Twisting her hand this way and that, the sun shinning different rays of light off the gem.
After the ceremony Violet's children head back to the main castle while Portia's children head for the underwater castle. Both sets giving their mothers space and time for the newlyweds to get to know one another.
Violet walked along the path in their new home while Portia swam in the canal beside her. She had showed her the kitchen, the entrance on land and the pool that leads to the entrance underwater. Now they were at the rooms, and at the moment Violet was showing Portia her room.
"You may add anything you like,” Violet said. “I didn’t get to see you during the building so I wasn’t sure what to add. My room will be through this door-" Violet paused. The canal into each of the bedrooms ended in a pool for the merfolk to be comfortable, but there was no way for Portia to swim to the door between their rooms.
Violet turned into the doorway, looking to see if possible to add something so she didn't horribly offend her new spouse. "I am sorry this part was not fully thought through."
"It is alright. I can walk," Violet hears Portia say. Right after she could feel a pair of large firm breast pushing against her back as a pair of arms wrap around her waist.
Violet jumped and turned to fully face Portia. Portia had gotten out of the water and like the first day Violet met Penelope she had legs supporting her that are covered in scales. A flowing skirt mimicked Portia's tail, but her top half was bare, her red hair just covering her nipples. Violet wasn't sure if that made it better or worse, as she tried to keep her eyes on Portia's face.
Portia held up her hands, her brow furrowed. "Forgive me, the research we had done on land dwellers had said you find comfort with this kind of contact. Perhaps it was wrong."
Violet stared at Portia. She tried to hug her to comfort her? "No, no your research was right, some of us do find comfort in that. I was just not expecting it."
Portia sighed. She could hear the unspoken words. Violet was not expecting it from someone like her. "You are not my enemy Violet, and you have already been a better spouse than my previous one. I do wish for this alliance to work. Do you?"
Violet nods, still trying to keep her gaze from going below Portia's neck.