Bastian recovered himself enough to nod in response. "It is my pleasure to be here, my lady."

"Queen," her voice snapped at him like a whip. "I am Queen Asisya of Atlantis."

"Of course." Bastian flushed. "I meant no offense."

"Mother!" Ambrosia rose from her bow. Asisya turned her attention to her daughter. "I'm sorry to be so blunt, but we are low on time. Bast—" Pink blush spread over Ambrosia's face. "Triton Bastian and some of his companions bear injuries. I brought them here to seek treatment before...um..." She trailed off, and Bastian wondered what had happened to her usually silver tongue. 

Sudden insight struck Bastian. For some reason, Ambrosia didn't want to tell her mother about the mission into Selach territory. He swam forward and finished her sentence. "Before we continue to our destination." 

It was a weak statement, and obviously some kind of cover up, but it was innocent enough that Asisya wouldn't think too suspiciously of them. He hoped.

The queen lifted a single eyebrow. "I see." Her gaze shifted to Theron and then the rest of Bastian's party. "Oh, you do look a bit rough. The deep waters can be so unkind to travelers." Asisya considered them. Bastian held his breath.

"Very well, daughter. Bring our guests to their quarters. I'll send for our healers." She looked at Ambrosia, and something passed between them in their gaze. Ambrosia turned from her mother. Asisya narrowed her eyes.

Before she could say anything, Bastian spoke. "You have my thanks, Queen Asisya, for your assistance." He gave her his most charming smile. 

Queen Asisya's eyebrows drew close together, and she turned away from them. As she swam toward the city, Bastian noted she didn't seem to have an honor guard, or an escort at all. The queen of Atlantis swam alone on the edges of her territory. For a moment, Bastian was incredibly jealous. 

Zareb swam to Bastian's side and gripped his shoulder. "You, my friend, are going to have a heck of a time winning that mermaid's approval." Sympathy laced his voice, making him sound less gruff. Behind him, Varick laughed before Varya cut it short with a well placed elbow to the ribs. Bastian's shoulders slumped.

"C'mon, Bastian." Ambrosia slipped out from behind him and swam forward, her eyes on her mother's back. "We better get going." 

Ambrosia swam quickly over the city. Though all of the buildings gleamed with magnificent opulence, there wasn't a single merfolk swimming around that Bastian could see. He wanted to stop and explore a little, but Ambrosia's pace was too quick. She led them right to the domed building, pausing only long enough to glance up at the silver-lit tree.

The building had no entrances through the dome that Bastian could see. Instead, Ambrosia led them down to the floor of the ocean and into an ornate doorway that stood open. The heavy doors were made of the same marble stone as the rest of the buildings, inlaid with gold gilding that was flaking off in places.

Bastian glanced back at his friends as they swam into the dark hallways of the building. Varya and Varick were swimming close to one another, a nervous sort of twitch flowing through both of them and making their tails spasm the tiniest amount. Zareb just looked tired and beat up. Lachlan, on the other hand, bared his fangs when he passed through the doorway. 

Despite being the best singer out of all of them, Lachlan never resorted to violence first; he preferred his sarcasm and wit. His bared fangs were an anomaly and Bastian resolved to talk to him before the night was over. Whatever Lachlan's thoughts were on the subject of Ambrosia, he had still left behind Nereus to come with Bastian on this crazy mission. Lachlan deserved to have his opinions heard and considered. 

Ambrosia guided them through the hallways and they passed dozens of doors. She entered a darker part of the hallway, filled with odd bumps of marble that slowly climbed up and in every few inches. Bastian wondered what the purpose of such a weird design would be. It certainly didn't make it easier for his fins to go upward.

After they had followed the little marble bumps to a higher floor and a new hallway, Ambrosia finally stopped in front of a series of doors. "Here we are. These are all rooms that you guys can settle into. I'm sure Mother will see to it that you are fed and treated. I'll try to gather some supplies for the rest of the journey. We're close, though, so maybe we should snatch a couple hours of sleep before we head out."

Varya looked at Ambrosia and then smiled a sweet smile. "I think a nap is just what we all need. We've been tense ever since we left Nereus and I think it shows."

Even Lachlan didn't say anything against it, though his eyes showed mutiny in their depths. Bastian smiled his gratefulness at Varya for being the peacemaker. "Sounds like a plan. You guys go lay down for a bit." He made a shooing motion. "I'm going to help Ambrosia gather supplies."

Lachlan opened his mouth and Zareb promptly grabbed his arm and hauled the tiny merman into a room. Varick winked at Bastian before he disappeared into a room with his sister. Ambrosia frowned at him when they were all alone in the hallway. 

"You don't have to come with me, Bastian. I'm more than capable of getting what we need by myself." Her pointed chin lifted in the air, daring him to argue with her. 

Bastian shook his head. "Of course you're capable, Ambrosia. You're the most capable person I know. But you're also just as exhausted as the rest of us. If I help, we can both get to sleep sooner."

For a moment, Ambrosia seemed to be battling with her own feelings. Finally, her shoulders relaxed and she sighed. "You're right. I'm sorry Bastian. I just... I always feel like I have to do everything myself."

"I know. I've seen how hard you work at everything you do, and I've only known you for a short time." He rubbed at the back of his neck. "But that's the beauty of having friends, Ambrosia. They're people you can rely on, and they always have your back."

Ambrosia's eyes began to fill with pearly liquid. Bastian's mouth fell open as she started to cry. 

"Wh- Ambrosia! I didn't mean to make you cry. What did I say?"

As the tears began to flow over her cheeks, Ambrosia turned away from him and hugged herself around the waist. "I'm sorry. I'm just... I'm tired. That's all." He heard her sniffle a few times. "Come on. We've got to get a move on." 

She swam back down the way they had come, but when she got to the end of the hall, she moved up instead of back down. Bastian followed her and found himself staring at the trunk of the beautiful silver-lit tree. All around the circular room, there were wooden storage units with slats of wood inside of them. Cylinders of metal rested on slats, mixed in with plants that Bastian was familiar with: green algae, kelp, seagrass, and sea grapes all flowered in small bowls of clay.

Ambrosia moved between the wooden boxes and stopped in front of the tree. She looked over her shoulder and gestured Bastian closer. Then she reached out and took his hand, placing it against the trunk of the tree. To his surprise, the wood felt warm under his hand. 

She giggled, like she knew what he was thinking. "This used to be an apple tree, a long time ago," Ambrosia's voice was a reverent whisper. "Now it is a symbol of what we lost... and what we still have." 

Bastian swallowed hard. "What did you lose?"

A smile crossed her face and disappeared. "I prefer to focus on what we still have. Apples are a fruit, by the way. A juicy plant bulb that you could eat. They used to crush them and milk the juice into a drink. Like sweet water. And then couples would drink that sweet water from the same cup as they promised themselves to one another."

Suddenly, the world fell quiet. Bastian was only aware of the warmth under his palm and the hard beating of his heart. Ambrosia seemed to glow with the silver light, and everything else faded from his sight. Her eyes turned up to the swaying branches of the tree, moved by the ocean in a dance.  

Ambrosia's lips parted and she took a slow breath. Bastian held his breath. She sang. 

He didn't know the language she sang in, but he knew what she was saying anyways. There was love in her voice, pouring out of her and into the water. Crystals formed in the water, catching the silver light of the tree as they fell to the floor. 

Bastian turned his hand and slid his fingers between hers. Ambrosia met his eyes, silently entreating him to sing back to her. To return her affections. He wanted nothing more. Bastian opened his mouth. He took a breath. 

Nothing came out of his throat. 

Tritons have no Song to give. Selene had stolen it for herself. 

Despair filled Bastian and he cried silent tears. Each tear became a pearl as it slid to the floor and nested on Ambrosia's crystals. 

"I'm sorry," Bastian turned and swam away, ignoring Ambrosia's calls to him. He hurtled down the hallways, not knowing where he was going. He didn't care where he was going; he just knew he couldn't be in front of Ambrosia anymore. Not when she could sing for him, and he couldn't return her song. 

Not when his heart was breaking.