Will left the shore hastily, not wanting to stay there any longer than he had to. He still couldn't believe that only hours before that he was trying to fight boredom, and in no way in the entire universe had saving a woman from drowning come to mind.

No matter how hard he tried he couldn't seem to get her out of his head. What kind of person was she that those men felt like she was better off dead than alive? What kind of a person was that man? Those men? Why anchor the boat?

He shook his head, forcing himself to focus on his situation at hand as he drew closer to his house. Will made his way back to the house slowly and quietly, trying his best not to draw his father's attention.

He paused at the front entrance, and could see his father moving in the kitchen. No doubt finishing up dinner.

"William! Come and get your dinner!" His father called angrily.

"Crap." Will muttered under his breath and entered the house but angled his body in the direction of his room as if he just came from his room.

"William don't make me come up there!..."

"I'm right here," Will responded grabbing his plate from his father's hand before heading back toward his room.

"And where are you going!?"

Will turned to his father, trying to mask his panic and shock at his father's request.

"Uhh... to my room?"

"There is a matter of importance I need to discuss with you," his father said utterly calm and turned around to sit at the dining table. Will sat across from his father, his mind flashing to the last time he sat with his father at the dining table. That was when his mother was still alive.

"Shall we discuss the matter before we eat? That way we get it out of the way," his father suggested, his voice spiking up with more edge and hardness that wasn't necessarily there before.

Used to his father's sharp tone, Will shrugged and gestured for his dad to continue, taking a bite from his dinner.

His father eyed him wearily before clearing his throat and speaking. "I know you were out of the borders today and by a lone ship."

Will stopped chewing and stared at his father, swallowing the fish down hard.

"I don't know what you are talking about..."

"Don't play dumb with me, boy. You were spotted outside the borders by a ship. And when they came back to tell me, we went back and you were gone! And then you had the decency to lie to me and pretend as if I didn't see you come into this house. Late!"

Will said nothing at that, his father's hand started to twitch with his anger and his eyes matched his deep scowl. He waited for his father to continue, knowing to not stop him if he was in his mood.

His father momentarily relaxed as he continued on. "It turns out the person that spotted you was Sir Adilic and his son. You were lucky it was my most trusted advisor of the late, and not some younglings ready to spread the word that the order was false because they saw their very own prince cross the borders."

This time Will did speak. "Father I don't see why it is that big of a deal now. I have always been able to cross the borders, it has never bothered you this much before. And I couldn't stand by and watch..." Will immediately cut himself off but his father caught on.

"Stand by and watch what!?" His father's voice easily filled the room, but Will crossed his arms and stared at his father.

A moment of silence passed between them before his father's eyes widen with the recognition of what his son must have done.

"The ship... you were there... someone was drowning. Thrown overboard?" His father's voice shook and his eyes got even more distant.

"William... people go overboard all the time! It is their way of punishing people and you interfered with that..."

"No, this was different. She wasn't breathing and..."

"She!? You did this all to save some human girl!? You disgrace your history, who you are as a merman, a future king! No son of mine goes rogue like that! I can't believe this..."

"Are you saying I'm not worthy enough to be your son?"

"I'm saying if plans weren't already in place I might have considered it," his father stared hard at Will which Will returned with his own anger he had bottled up.

"But since they are in place I no longer have any regrets, seeing as you are old enough to make bad decisions, you are still young enough to listen to your father."

"I am 19 years old. You can't keep controlling..."

"Well then I am still king and even a prince needs to listen to a king," his father's glared at his son as he pulled a paper off from the chair next to him.

Not even knowing it was there, Will took it wearily and began to read the contexts of the paper. His eyes scanned over the words and his cheeks flushed once he got the gist of it. He could feel his anger returning, he got up and slammed his hand on the table with such force it shook.

"An arranged marriage!? You can't do that..."

"Why not? You agreed to it at the meeting," his father met his firm glaze, standing up to be eye level with his son. Will thought back to the meeting and how he had agreed with the counsel on a decision but didn't know what he agreed to. This was it.

"I didn't know..."

"I know that but now you have to face the consequences of your actions."

Will began to pace, his tail rapidly moving, matching his mood. "I can't and won't. I am only 19..."

"You are more than old enough to marry. Do you at least want to ask who you are to marry?"

Will gave his father a look and he took it as a sign to continue. "You are to be married to...Mia," his father gave him a pointed look, daring Will to yell or shout.

Will soften a bit but continued to glare at his father. "Mia and I are just friends. Marriage isn't the answer to whatever problem you have that you are trying to drag me into."

"It is about time you ruled. And you need a strong queen by your side. Now though Mia is average at best, that's where you come in and make all the big choices."

"Don't speak about Mia that way! She is my friend...."

"And future betrothed," his father paused before he sighed with a shake of his head he continued on, "Sir Adilic saw you, and the only way to keep the whole thing silent was for his daughter to be by your side. Will we have no choice, the sea witches are coming closer and action needs to take place."

"And why can't you figure something out? You know more about the situation than any of us do," Will felt like shouting but his reply came out soft, just above a whisper.

"I don't have time," his father really looked at him then as if seeing a son instead of a nuisance.

"But not arrange marriage, dad. I won't do it," Will responded with a bit more strength and didn't miss the way his father reacted to him saying dad. The way he did so many years ago.

"If it's about love, that comes after. Your mother and I were an arranged marriage, but we fell in love almost right after we met. That will happen for you to," his father stopped as if caught in the memories and a small smile was there before it vanished completely. Will longed for his father to talk about his mother but not like this.

"But we are friends..."

"Then your marriage is based on  friendship, instead of hatred," his father said sternly, no longer soft like before. "The decision is final. You are to be wed to her in a month's time."

With the last word, his father left.

Will felt his anger start to boil again, his tail matched his thoughts as he raced out of the house. Though it was dark, he could still see clearly as if the sun were still out. How could he do this to me? To Mia? It could have been worse I guess, I could be arranged to someone I didn't like. But we are friends, and that's all we will ever be.... since when do I listen to my father anyway? He can't force me... us to do this, he's only doing this for his own gain, not thinking about Mia feelings, or mine.

"Will?"

He looked up at the last person he wanted to see at the moment. Mia looked down at her hands, and ran her hand down her scales, like she always did when she was nervous.

"Mia, I know this seems really bad but..."

"What seems bad? Is something wrong?" Mia asked immediately, staring into Will's eyes, practically begging him to say something.

"Did your father tell you yet?" By the confused look she gave him, he took it as a "no".

"It's okay. I have it under control. I won't let him do this to us. Your friendship means everything to me," he smiled and brought her in for a hug. He was unsure how he was going to go about keeping his promise but he knew he had to.

"Will, I don't understand..."

"It will be fine," he pulled back from his hug and gave her a smirk to lighten the mood. "See you in class tomorrow?"

"Yeah, see you Will. Sit next to me?" She teased and he smiled at that.

"If you are joining us again, this time I'll tell Ren to move," they shared a small chuckle, lifting some of the bad mood.

"Bye Will," she smiled before she turned around and left. Will watched her go before he turned around himself and saw the borderline. How could my father do this to me? We never had a strong relationship but this is low, even for him. Besides we haven't done an arranged marriage since... well my mom and dad's. Maybe not so long ago but it's out of the blue for sure. He's scared of something, but what? And what can the arrange marriage accomplish?

Crossing the borderline without much thought he went to the place where he had saved the woman from drowning. He didn't know what to do now. He couldn't allow his father to do the arrange marriage, and yet he didn't know how to stop him. He was stuck.

"Aww, is little prince upset?"