She swam closer, her tail swishing through the clear water and reflecting the moon.
The moon. Outside. Life. My mission.It all came back in a single image. Branwyl pursed her lips delightfully and approached mine, her long eyelashes fluttering to leave tiny bubbles of air. Only an inch separated us from the seal of a kiss, and for a moment, I wanted to give in. Did I want the assignment so much that I was refusing such beauty?
Yes, you do, the last shred of life in me shouted.
Finding a knife at her throat, Branwyl gasped. I was barely alive but had escaped her magic. She grimaced and waved a hand in disgust, visibly offended by my rejection, and a brown piece of parchment popped into my hand. “Thank you,” I mouthed while grabbing it and swimming upward, kicking the water hard, hanging by my last string of life. The mermaid huffed and waved her tail, diving deeper into the lake.
As soon as I reached the surface of the water, I gasped for air, my lungs agonizing in pain. I inhaled profusely and vomited all the lake filth that filled my stomach until breathing became second nature again. I was immune to the cheers and shouting from the shore; the crowd celebrating my safe return. All I wanted to do was breathe, breathe, and keep breathing until there was no bulk of air my lungs hadn’t enjoyed.
“You had us worried for a second, little brother,” both Damaris and Vikram came to help me swim out of the lake. My body clung heavy with water, face red and eyes wide, mud clinging onto my robe and boots. I nodded, relieved to enjoy deep breaths.
“Come, let’s get you changed,” Damaris urged, placing his hand on my shoulder.
Around us, hundreds of fae celebrated and cheered while we passed them and stopped in front of the podium where the King and Queen awaited. They both rose from their thrones when I returned, taking turns in hugging me.
“There he is! Our beloved prince with his assignment. May the Goddess guide you, my son, and bring you a fruitful district!” Father wished me with pride.
My only means of communicating was a nod of acceptance, still shook by the realisation that my life had almost ended minutes ago.
“Thank you, my King and beloved Father,” I bowed my head as the release of words from my mouth ripped pain down my throat. “My Queen,” I bowed towards my mother. “If you would excuse me, I would very much like to change robes,” I said, smiling as widely as my mouth allowed me.
“I think it would be for the best; it looks like you had an eventful encounter,” the Queen replied with a knowing smile.
“Please, let the celebrations continue!” I echoed to the crowd, who started singing and dancing the instant I burst out of the lake, safe and sound.
Alongside my brothers, I sailed across the sea of ovation until we reached the wooden carved palace doors I had admired at the beginning of the evening and sighed in relief, knowing that I, too, added an event into the future carvings of this gate. Leaving a small trail of mud and algae behind, I followed my brothers into the chambers.
When I arrived, they were already searching my wardrobe for something more suitable to wear, and as soon as I spotted them, I knew what was coming. I didn’t even have time to prepare myself that the older prince’s accusatory voice resonated.
“Will you ever listen to me?” Damaris started. “Didn’t I warn you that you shouldn't wear the celebration robe into the lake?”
I remained silent, my head about to drop from fatigue. The last thing I needed was a scolding.
“But how epic would it have looked if he’d done it without getting wet? Get to the lake and threaten the princess into giving it to him? Then make a turn towards the crowd, his cape fluttering in the wind, scroll in hand and hair shivering in the night?”
Both Damaris and I grinned at our brother, who had clearly envisaged the moment several times over.
“Those little romance phrases you tell your ladies have gotten to your head,” Damaris laughed.
“Yee of little faith,” Vikram scowled. “Have you both forgotten how epic my assignment ceremony was?”
Our turn to laugh profusely had come. “I remember how you wiped your snot on my tunic,” I answered.
“And how you were shaking…after you crawled out on your hands and knees,” Damaris added.
“Let us all remember for a second that I hadher, alright? The Queen’s sister? The most beautiful siren to walk this earth?”
“You mean swim...the waters,” Damaris grinned. “Dear brother, I just realised why you are this way,” he added in shock, raising his hands. He just made a monumental discovery.
Vikram only blinked, waiting for him to tell us more.
“You saw the most beautiful siren there is and fell in love. Ever since, you obsessed yourself with finding the same beauty in women. Again, your way of searching is completely and utterly wrong but…” he went on, waiting for us to catch on.
“But?” Vikram asked with caution.
“You are still in love with Eidothea!” Damaris proclaimed victoriously.
“And here I thought that for once you might say something intelligent,” Vikram huffed with disappointment.
