SEVEN
The news was much as they expected. Niall had arrived several years ago, and Lady Aine had been wary of him at first, but as time passed, he had earned a sort of grudging respect. “Lord Aidan warned Mother about him, but I think, in a way, she appreciated his presence as a sort of leverage,” Neria said. “After Lady Maeve and Lord Idris took the throne, she felt quite a bit of outside pressure to enact reforms concerning the treatment of nature spirits. I don't think she was personally opposed, but the nobles certainly were, and, as you know, she generally tried to avoid conflict with them.”
Meirion’s jaw tightened, and Seren laid a hand on his forearm. His eyes flicked in her direction, and his other hand came to rest on top of hers, squeezing briefly. “Did anyone accuse him in regards to the Lady’s death?”
“No,” Neria said with a sigh. “We were away at the time, visiting one of the far Eastern Courts, on Niall’s insistence. It seems all too convenient now, but at the time, no one thought anything of it. He brought me home as soon as we received word, and he was instrumental in controlling the chaos. Most of the nobles were simply grateful he was around.” The young woman wrapped her arms around herself, perhaps unconsciously, and Meirion sighed.
“I’m sure that’s just as he intended. By the time anyone found proof of his involvement in Aine’s murder, he would’ve been too entrenched to oppose, had I not arrived. And he planned to be rid of me as well. Pretending not to recognize me was bluster. I was attacked by a strange creature in the mortal world just a few days ago, and if had not been for Seren’s intervention, I likely would’ve died as well.”
Seren scowled at him. “You never told me you thought something nefarious was going on. I thought it was an accident.”
He squeezed her hand again. “I thought so at the time, but it seems awfully convenient, doesn’t it? If that thing had attacked me instead of you, I would be dead. Fatal damage to the soul is an ailment most people would never consider purposefully inflicting, and therefore, remedies for such a thing are practically nonexistent. I doubt anyone would have thought to try a soul-bonding ritual on me, even if someone would have been willing.”
Seren wanted to protest because of course, she would have done it for Meirion, even without knowing his feelings, but she knew that wasn’t the point. “So, you really are married,” Neria said with a faint smile. “I had wondered if it might be a bluff to draw out Niall’s temper, considering how well it worked.”
“Well…” Meirion rubbed the back of his neck. “It was mostly intended to anger Niall. Seren and I are together, but the ceremony was conducted with some haste, in order to save her life. She didn’t even have the luxury of accepting my proposal, as she was unconscious.”
“I would have accepted it,” she answered with a fond smile, and she couldn’t help but notice that the tips of his ears turned slightly pink in response.
“What will you do now?” Neria asked. Seren could tell that she was trying not to laugh at the sight of Meirion’s discomfiture, and he was obviously glad for the change of subject.
“We will go down to the Palace, at least for tonight. I’m sure rumors are running wild by now, and I’m curious to know whether Niall has allies elsewhere in the Court. If you don’t have any objections, I’d prefer for you to stay here. The Lord and Lady of the Heavens may arrive tomorrow morning, and I’d like to have someone here to receive them.” Neria visibly sagged with relief.
“Yes, of course. I’d be happy to.”
**********************
Seren yawned as they exited the room, and Meirion turned to her. “Are you feeling up to going to the Palace tonight? It can wait until morning if you’re tired.”
She smiled up at him. It had been an eventful day, and part of her would like nothing better than to curl up in bed, preferably next to Meirion, and not have to worry about anything for a few hours. But, on the other hand, she knew he was anxious to be gone, and she wasn’t so tired that another journey was out of the question. “I’m fine, really,” she assured him. “You’ve had the same day I have, after all, and you didn’t even have a nap.”
He reached out, somewhat tentatively, and cupped her cheek in his hand, his thumb stroking her cheekbone. “I’d hardly call sleeping for an hour after being impaled with an arrow a nap, but if you’re certain you’re all right, we’ll go. I think you’ll enjoy the trip.”
“So, you’ve said. I take it you’re still not going to tell me anything?” He smiled in response, his eyes twinkling.
“You’ll see soon enough,” he said, bending down to give her a quick kiss on the cheek. It was a small thing, these unprovoked gestures of affection, but it meant the world to Seren, and it made her want to kiss him back. But he took her hand again, leading her swiftly down a new corridor. To her surprise, they passed under an archway and out onto a wide veranda where the stars were just starting to come out. Back in the mortal world, the April air was still chilly, especially at night, but here it was balmy as summer. The ocean, the waves now soft and placid, stretched out past the horizon. It was the same color as Meirion’s eyes, but, picturesque as it was, she couldn’t see anything that looked like a palace.
“What-?” she started to say, her brow furrowed.
“Only a little further,” he said, his smile widening as he led her down the stairs an onto the beach. She might have been annoyed by how much he was enjoying her confusion, but it was still rare enough to see him so happy that she decided she didn’t mind all that much.
The warmth of the sun still lingered in the sand, and it was pleasant on her feet, but Meirion kept going, leading her right into the waves that flowed lazily up the beach, reminding her suddenly of that day. Seren could hardly believe only three days had passed since she had jumped between Meirion and the creature that had nearly claimed her life.
Perhaps she had loved him even then, but it was nothing to what she felt for him now. Still, she was about to question him again when he suddenly stopped. “You can swim, can’t you?”
“Ye-es,” she answered slowly, taking a moment to comprehend. “Is the Palace in the middle of the ocean or…?” Meirion took both of her hands, his eyes glinting even in the fading light.
“Come and see,” he said, pulling her further into the water, which was nearly as warm as a bath. Seren might have made some protest, only she was held in place by the intensity of his gaze. Soon the water was up to her chest, and when a wave rolled past them, it nearly knocked her off her feet. She yelped in surprise, clinging to Meirion’s arms and he chuckled, pulling her close against his chest. “I thought you knew how to swim.”
“I do,” she said, scowling up at him. “I just didn’t realize it had gotten so deep.” His arms wrapped around her waist, and he kissed her softly, making it difficult to hold on to her irritation.
“I wouldn’t have let you fall,” he said, his tone gone low and rough. “I wish we had more time.” She didn’t have to ask what he meant. “Don’t be afraid, and hold on to me.” His eyes glowed with light, and she felt herself begin to change.
**********************
The water was soothing, and not just because of its relative warmth. This was the ocean of Meirion’s birth, and it recognized him; he could almost hear it whispering his name as it flooded his body with magical power he hadn’t even known he was missing. It was a homecoming and awakening all at once. In hindsight, he could see that it had been wrong of him to leave. His grief had blinded him, and as a consequence, he had nearly lost the essence of who he truly was. But, due to that, he had found Seren, and it was certainly a worthwhile trade.
He felt her grip on his hands suddenly tighten as a wave passed and he pulled her against his body automatically, setting off a completely different type of instinct that rooted him firmly in the present.
For all her errors and less than spectacular parenting, Meirion realized, though it pained him, that his mother had been right about one thing. He would not have been happy, marrying Isabel. Though her death still saddened and angered him, it was more about the waste and cruelty of it than his personal grief.
Even the memory of that love, strengthened by nostalgia and years of brooding, was only a candle next to the roaring bonfire that was his feelings for Seren. Perhaps it would fade with time, but in that moment, he was sure that it would only grow stronger and deeper. He would’ve liked to tell her all this, preferably while making love to her under the stars, but they had places to be. He could only hope that his kiss could transmit some of what he felt.
“Don’t be afraid, and hold on to me,” he said, and she wrapped her slender arms around his neck. He forced himself to look away from her star-flecked gaze to concentrate on magic, pulling the power of the ocean into him and twisting it into the shape he wanted. It had been a long time since he had done the spell, but it was still as easy as breathing.
His legs lengthened and he felt sharp bursts of sensation along his back and forearms as spiny fins pushed through his skin. New senses produced a diverse and temporarily bewildering array of perception and his chest burned. He let himself fall backward into the water, pulling Seren with him, and felt the cool rush of relief as water flowed through his brand-new gills.
She thrashed in his arms, striking him with her tail in her panic. Calm down and breathe, he said, stroking her back. All speaking underwater had to be done mind to mind, and her eyes widened when she heard him inside her head, but she did stop flailing. He took her hands, flicking his own tail to pull her upright.
What happened? Why are you a mermaid? she asked, even her mental voice tinged with wonder and anxiety. She was as lovely as he expected, the scales on her fins and long, graceful tail an indigo so dark they were nearly black in the moonlight. He imagined they would be iridescent blue and purple in the sun.
Technically, I'm a merman, he replied, not without humor. You’re a mermaid. Or merrow is the generally accepted gender neutral and collective term. The royal families of all of the Courts have their own favored form of shapeshifting. The Court of Heavens is partial to dragons. Rumor has it that the people of the Court of Bones all turn to giant wolves on the full moon, but I’m not sure that’s true. We have simply taken on a form suitable to our domain.
Everyone in the Court will be like this? she asked, looking down at herself in some astonishment and waving her tail experimentally.
Everyone who doesn’t already possess a form naturally adapted to water. Most of the nature spirits in the Palace are selkies and dolphin-kin. They are already at home here. He released her hands and she listed slightly to one side. He couldn’t help a small smile. Just try swimming around for a bit, and once you get the hang of it, we’ll go.
*******************************
Turning into a mermaid hadn’t been among Seren’s expectations concerning her debut in the Court of Waves, but she couldn’t deny that she was enjoying it. Meirion’s appearance had been initially startling; not only had he acquired a tail with scales of rich teal and rayed fins on his back and arms of the same striking color, but his eyes were larger, the slit pupils nearly the size and shape of quarters in the dim light filtering from above.
Gills in his chest flared with every breath, and she found she had them as well. Breathing came naturally, as long as she didn’t think about it, and swimming was nearly the same. She only needed a few pumps of her powerful tail to get her going, and her arms could hold her steady in the water as well as offer maneuverability. There was something unbelievably freeing about it, and she would have liked more time to explore her new abilities and senses, but Meirion took her hand again.
I promise I’ll take you swimming for fun later, he said, flicking his tail over hers in a caress. After all this is done, I’ll take you wherever you want to go.
Don’t throw around your promises so carelessly, she replied teasingly. What will you do if I end up asking you for something impossible?
I trust you, he said. And besides, when one has magic and an eternity worth of time, no task is insurmountable. There a was part of Seren that immediately wanted to challenge him on that, to demand the moon and stars for her own, something silly and poetic, but she was moved by his expression of trust. Also, she had a premonition he would try to get her anything she asked for, even if it was patently ridiculous.
He pulled her forward until they swam side by side and she realized she could see the glimmer of lights in the distance, and on the ocean floor below them, there was a path lined out with shells and coral interspersed with colored globes of crystal. How far is it? she asked, more out of curiosity than anything else, though her muscles, unused to this kind of exercise, were quickly growing fatigued.
Not far, he assured her, but if you get tired I can pull you along. Somehow, the offer made her more determined to make it under her own power, and she knew Meirion was taking it easy on her, keeping to her pace. Still, her hips ached, and she might have given in if she hadn’t seen the smudge of darkness and color on the horizon. There it is, he said, confirming her suspicion, and that was enough to give her a final burst of energy.
The Palace of Waves was not what she expected, though in truth, she had little in the way of expectation for a palace underwater. Still, it was beautiful and strange, even from afar, appearing to have grown from the ocean floor rather than built. As they approached, she realized that was at least partly true.
The walls were constructed from some sort of greenish stone, and coral had been allowed to grow over it strategically, so that the walls bloomed with red, pink, and purple, interspersed with bubble-like windows glowing with inner light.
Shining globes of blue crystal crowned the towers and outlined the windows and doors, suffusing the whole structure with ethereal light. There was no surrounding gate, as it would hardly be effective, but she could see guards criss-crossing the water, shark and porpoise fae armed with spears, and below, crustacean fae graced with their own natural armor stood by each doorway and prowled the walls.
Seren expected that they would be stopped, but just as they got within range of the guards, Meirion held up his hand and a light flashed from his upraised palm. The palace responded, the globes of crystal flashing suddenly gold.
A horn call, something deep and sonorous, reverberated through the water. Every eye turned to them, making Seren briefly wish she could hide behind Meirion, and he, as if sensing her anxiety, drew her closer as they continued forward to the main doorway, which was now lined with guards at attention. They bowed as their Prince approached, banging their spears on the ground, and he acknowledged them with a wave of his hand before they passed under the archway and into the Palace.
The doors clanged shut behind them, leaving them alone in a sort of antechamber lit with a few globes of wan green light. It seemed a strange sort of reception for a palace, and Seren turned her head to ask but Meirion anticipated her. The upper floors of the Palace, where all the business is conducted, are not underwater, for the convenience of the nobility.
As much she enjoyed being a mermaid, and was looking forward to experimenting with it more, Seren couldn’t help but be relieved that she would soon feel the ground beneath her feet again. The lights in the chamber flashed yellow three times. They’re going to drain the water, Meirion said. Come sit with me, and we’ll change back. He kneeled down on the ground, a minor feat with a tail, and pulled her across his lap. The first time can be somewhat disorienting, he said by way of explanation.
As if I need some sort of excuse to sit in your lap, she replied, grinning up at him, and his cheeks colored. There was a rushing gurgle as the water began to recede, and he shook his head and took her hands in his. Light enveloped them. She could feel her gills fusing and her fins retreating. Her legs returned to normal length, and the scales fell away as her lungs began to burn from lack of oxygen.
Instinct told her to panic, to claw for the air, but Meirion’s arms were tight around her now, and a moment later she felt her head breach the surface of the water. She took a great gasping breath as he stroked her hair. Her vision was blurry when she opened her eyes and her limbs felt heavy. “Ugh,” she said, coughing up a small amount of water.
“You did wonderfully, my love,” Meirion said, kissing her hair. Her heart warmed at the endearment, and she leaned up to kiss his cheek. A draft on her skin made her shiver, reminding her that they were now only clad in a few soaking wet lengths of fabric.
He pulled her even closer, wrapping his arms around her. Even though she could see the goosebumps on his skin, it felt deliciously warm against hers. “The servants will be in with towels and dry things in a moment. I suspect it’s only been this long because they’re fighting over the honor.”
Sure enough, the door opened before he could finish the sentence. What seemed like an army of servants marched in, draping towels over them, and pilling fabric and jewels and crowns on the table and offering food. It was all quite overwhelming, but it was only a few seconds of frenzied activity before they all departed again, save for one, a squat and matronly fae with mottled gray skin. “Prince Meirion, you’ve returned at last,” she said, her voice choked with emotion. The change in his expression was almost comical.
“Nan, you’re still here?” he said, his eyes wide and his mouth gone slack.
“Of course, I am, you awful boy,” she scolded. “I’m the Head Chambermaid now, since there’s been no need of a nursery for some years. You nearly broke my heart when you left, but I knew you’d be back again. It’s just like you to give no notice to anybody. Are you going to introduce your young lady, or do I have to guess?”
“I…” he sputtered, but Seren’s snort of laughter was enough to break his confusion. “I’m sorry, Nan. This is Seren, the daughter of Lord Aidan and Lady Rowan, and my wife.”
“Nan” smiled, an expression surprisingly endearing considering it displayed her array of sharp teeth, and held out a leathery, web-fingered hand which Seren shook. “I’m pleased to meet you, Princess. My name, as it happens, is Dilys, but as I was the Prince’s nursemaid, he tends to take liberties.”
“I can see that,” Seren said amiably. “He does seem to be quite a handful. I’m pleased to meet you as well.”
“You’ll do,” Dilys said with another toothy grin before turning back to Meirion. “I hope you aren’t expecting any sort of grand welcome. The Court is still in mourning, and we weren’t told you had returned. What’s become of little Neria?”
“Neria is fine. She remained at the upper house to receive guests,” he said with a hint of exasperation. “I don’t expect any sort of anything. I came to investigate Lady Aine’s death, for the most part, and to quell rumors, but there’s nothing that needs to be done today except to find us a place to sleep. We only arrived this morning, to meet with Seren’s parents, and then she was injured by a would-be assassin. As you might imagine, we’re exhausted.”
Dilys’ expression softened somewhat and she patted Meirion’s shoulder. “I’m sorry for my harsh tone. But no one has told us anything since the Lady died, and to have you show up out of the blue was a shock.”
“I’m sorry I sent no word, but after the reception we received at the upper house, I thought it best not to leave any waiting enemies time to prepare for my coming.” His arms had tightened around Seren at the mention of the attack, and she realized he was still afraid for her safety. After what happened to Isabel, she wondered if he'd ever really be able to relax again.
“I understand,” Dilys said, nodding gravely. “All is not well within the Court, but it’s a relief to have you home again. I’ll prepare your old rooms, for now, while you dress.” She bowed and went out of the door, and Meirion sighed.
“I dread the interrogation I’m going to get from her later, but I’m glad, at least, to know there is at least one person we can trust here. I think she likes you,” he added, bending down to kiss her forehead. “Come on, let’s get dressed before someone thinks to come and check on us.”
Dilys came to get them a little while later, which was lucky because Seren was already half asleep on Meirion’s shoulder. The halls were dim and quiet, but she could hear whispers of excited chatter as they passed closed doors and shadowed corridors. Meirion’s room here was even larger than the one they spent time in that afternoon, and the bed was huge and inviting. She was barely able to get undressed before falling into it. A pair of strong arms wrapped around her, and she snuggled back against Meirion’s chest and was asleep in moments.