The Human Castle

The Human Castle

The three were now in the place of humans, which the merman, or the teen, hadn't seen in his whole life. The queen covered her face, telling the teen to not see around so much, while holding his brother's hand. There were fruit stalls, fish stalls, and many more. Whenever he looked at any fish stall, it reminded him of Skarra. He shifted his mind off from that and focused on learning the way to the castle. After sometime, they reached to the castle doors.

"Greetings, warriors.", the queen greeted. "We are traders, who do trading of perfumes. We just came here to try our luck on the king, if you both allow us to go inside.", she said, smiling at them. "Is this your child?", one the warriors asked while pointing at the prince. "Well, he is my little brother. I and him live alone, so wherever I go, he comes with me.", answered the queen.

The other warrior was starring at the teen, who was watching the design made all over those huge doors.

"What are you starring at?", he asked. "Just starring at those wonderful designs made on these doors.", Shakes answered. "Haven't you seen designs like those before?" "No." came a quick reply. "Shall we go in now?" asked the queen. "You may go." said the warriors, or guards, whatever they are called.

The trio entered, keeping their eyes at the front, but still, aware that a lot of eyes were on them. Yes, eyes of the men and a few women sitting at the court, and the other guards present there. The king looked at them, and then smiled, breathing in the underated smell coming from the carrier. Good that the queen had wrapped her half face with a cloth, so that the king can't see her full face.

'Now, time to act just like how the queen showed me.', thought the teen, and bowed before the king. "Greetings, your majesty.", he said as the other two too bowed down. "It's a great pleasure to meet you." added the prince. "We are perfume traders, trading and selling of perfumes is our job. We are here to try our luck in here by selling you these perfumes, if you like them.", ended the queen. 'The queen is really experienced in such matters.', ran a thought through the teen's head. "Sure sure. I would like to." said the king, as the clothe was removed from the carrier and the fragrance filled the environment with amazing freshness and calmness.

The queen took one of the bottles out from the carrier, walking upto the king with happiness and excitement. She opened the bottle once she was near enough to the king. The king leaned, taking the sweet fragrance into his chest.

"Nice." complimented the king. "Knew that you would like it." said the queen as she smiled and took another bottle to the king.

This time, it was a total different one, a fragrance the king remembered, and memories flashed in front of him.

'Oh dear! See what you have done. I'm covered in sand now!!'

'This is your favourite scent, right love?'

'We will always be lovers, even if when we are old aged.'

"Ummm, your majesty?", a call came from the queen, who was confused. "Ah! Sorry, it's just, this scent reminds me of something..." "Something or someone?" a quick whispered question came from the queen, before she goes to get some more scents. "Wait.", voice came from the king. "I want to buy the one you have in your hands.", he said. "Sure.", she said, before handing it over to the king and bowing. "How much is this of?" "How much sand is there on the shores?", a kind of replied - question came back from the queen. "What?" a question came. "Just joking, how much would you like to give?" she said. "I guess joking around with the king isn't good for you." one of the people in the court advised.

Aish, he actually needed a nice answer.

"And I think that you shouldn't tell what I should do." a total perfect answer came from the queen.

That made the king, guards, and a few people sitting in the court giggle. Of 'coures, that made the man angry.

"I see, you have no fear of what he can do, you do?" a lady said sitting in the court, smiling. "She has more power than him." a true answer came from Shakes. "I really wanted to hear that, specially from a man." she said, happy from the answer she got. "Now if you all allow the king to say something." the prince said. The king commanded, "Guard, bring a handful of gold coins in a small bag." "And it should be untouched by hands." the prince added.

That line made the guard and the queen laugh. After sometime the guard comes back, handing the bag to the king. The king gave it to the queen.

"Thank you ~" said the queen and goes back with the two to their another mission. "Wait." commanded the lady. "Do come back tomorrow. I also want some." "Ok!" answered the prince and then they left.

Now time to find Shakes' lover, Skarra...