Here There be Dragons: Testing the Waters

Nereida had not felt this relieved in a long time. To know that Caleb was still here, still happy, it was more that she could express. He had been her first friend, her first confidant, though she had never told him about her gifts. He had not been family when she had run. Not yet.

The princess put her friend from her mind when she heard the heavy beam being lowered. Aella, still in her finery, smiled softly at her.

“I think you promised I could help you undress?” Aella asked softly. Nereida smiled, her heart racing, and she stepped toward her wife.

“I did,” she moved to start with some of the buttons to help, but Aella gently pushed her hands away.

“No, love,” she whispered. Nereida frowned, not understanding. Aella kissed her cheek chastely. “Not until I have my wife back.” And the Admiral knelt at the princess’s feet, gently reaching for the anklet. Nereida shivered, heat rushing through her body. She leaned on her cane, looking down at her wife. Aella had the delicate anklet in her hands.

“I’m your wife like this too,” Nereida said softly. Her voice quivered slightly. Aella’s laugh was short and bitter.

“You’re the Princess. I want all of you, not just the face you show others.” She gently began taking off the boots and stockings Nereida wore. Her new foot felt much better free of the boot; the clawed, lizardlike foot did not properly fit inside the boots she had. She’d need new ones, likely custom made.

Aella gently touched her leg around where the anklet sat, her fingers barely touching her skin. Nereida shivered.

“Tell me I can take this off, love,” Aella said, her voice deepening. Nereida shivered.

“Take it off,” she whimpered, meaning more than just the single piece of jewelry. Aella’s grin turned mischievous. She gently undid the clasp, dropping the anklet to the ground. The pressure of the magic lifted immediately. The relief was instantaneous and glorious.

But Aella did not get up off her knees. She began trailing kisses up Nereida’s good leg, the kisses gentle, fleeting like the flapping of a butterfly’s wing. The fine hairs on her legs and arms stood up, and Nereida shivered.

“You, my siren, my princess, my wife, you aren’t just one thing.” Aella kissed Nereida’s knee, this kiss lingering. The Admiral had disappeared beneath her skirt, hidden by the ruffles. She felt Aella’s deft, fine fingers working the strings of her drawers and pulling them slowly down. Before the drawers came free, however, Aella moved her ministrations to the lizardlike leg. “You, my love, my world, my dragon, are so, so many things.” Aella’s kisses did not feel quite the same on the thick scales, but Aella compensated for the lack of feeling by becoming more insistent, her kisses sucking and her tongue dancing across the back of Nereida’s new knee. She nearly buckled, and grabbed her wife’s head through the dress to steady herself.

Slowly, Aella trailed her kisses higher, pausing as she reached the top of each thigh.

“Go to the bed,” Aella commanded, “leave your dress on. I want to see you come apart in all your finery.” Nereida whimpered as Aella’s tongue darted between her lower lips.

She managed to make it to the bed. Aella pushed her back gently, removing her jacket but leaving the rest of her finery on.

“Repeat after me, love,” Aella whispered, slipping a single finger gently inside Nereida, swirling it slowly. “I deserve love.”

“I… I deserve love,” she panted, wiggling to try and get more, but Aella smirked down at her.

“I deserve to be myself,” she said, adding a second finger. Nereida whimpered, trying to get more, but when she did not repeat her wife, Aella stopped the gentle teasing.

“I deserve to be myself,” Nereida managed, her voice shaking. The Admiral used her other hand to gently caress her face, though that was made awkward by the fabric gathered between them. The crinoline crinkled as Aella withdrew her hand, lying down next to Nereida. She kissed her, the kiss long, slow and deep. Her tongue gently probed about.

“I deserve to love my own body.” Aella kissed her cheek, down to her chin, then down to her collarbone. Her deft fingers began to undo the laces of her overdress. She gently ran her fingers along the top of the corset, gentle teasing kisses not far behind. Nereida whimpered.

“Love, please, more,” she begged. Aella chuckled softly, her breath from her laughter tickling Nereida’s chest.

“Not until you say it.” She pulled the last few strings apart, leaving Nereida’s breasts exposed while the dress was still gathered around her waist. Aella gently massaged her breasts.

“I deserve to love my own body,” Nereida managed. Aella rewarded her by placing kisses on her breasts, her tongue and teeth teasing her nipples.

“That’s the way,” Aella whispered, teasing the other breast with her fingers, pinching softly. “Tell me, my princess, tell me that you are beautiful.” She bit down softly after she spoke, holding Nereida’s nipple in her teeth. Nereida mewled, the need building inside her. She wanted, so much, to touch too, but when she tried, Aella gently pressed her hands down. “Not yet, love,” Aella said, letting go for the moment. “I’m taking the helm, and I want to bring you to pieces before you get to touch me.” She smirked, her scars stretching. “Do you need me to tie you up so that you don’t try?”

“Please!”

“Well, if you insist.”

Aella fetched two of her silk scarves, slowly dragging them over Nereida’s bare arms. She tied the knots slowly, taking time to kiss her between each knot. Her arms were secured above her head. Nereida pulled and twisted, letting the fabric rub her wrists and tighten ever so slightly. Her heart raced as Aella began trailing slow kisses down her arms to the start of her sleeves.

“I want to worship you,” Aella whispered, kissing her ear and gently nibbling it between her words. “All of you. And I am going to start with your new leg. Because it is a part of you, now. Can I?” Nereida’s heart thudded in her chest. When she did not answer right away, Aella pulled back, waiting but not touching.

“Yes,” Nereida decided at last, heat creeping into her cheeks. Aella beamed down at her, kissing her lips with hunger.

Aella disappeared beneath her skirts again, trailing insistent kisses and nibbles up her new leg, her fingers moving ever upward until they slipped inside her. When Aella licked her leg, her tongue playing along some of the more sensitive scales at the top of her thigh, Nereida felt a crash of need, nearly enough to drown her. She came apart. Aella made a startled little noise, and then did it again, chuckling to herself when Nereida made a gasping, needy sound as she came apart again.

“You have a new fun little spot,” Aella observed, kissing the line of her leg where thighs touched. “Love,” Nereida begged, unable to form a more coherent thought. Aella’s tongue danced at the edges of her most vulnerable spots, teasing, tasting but not taking. “Please!”

“Will you take all the moon offers you this day?” Aella asked, each word coupled with a teasing touch or gentle lick.

“Yes! Please! Please!”

The crash of need hit hard as her wife slipped into her with her fingers, her tongue teasing as she went. Nereida lost herself in her wife’s touch, crying out, begging, until she was completely spent. Aella escaped the layers of fabric, her face flush, her eyes shining.

“My ocean,” she whispered, leaning in to kiss Nereida before she reached for the silk scarves to untie them. “You are perfect as you are.” Nereida, fresh off the burst of release and emotions, felt tears in her eyes at her wife’s words. Salty tears started leaking from her eyes. Aella stopped what she was doing, worry on her face.

“Too much?”

“No.” Nereida shook her head, and leaned into her wife as best she could when bound. “No… I … I just needed that.” And she let the tears fall as her wife untangled her, pulling her into her arms to just hold her.

“You will always be beautiful to me,” Aella said softly, stroking her hair with a gentle touch. Nereida nodded, and the tears would not stop. She leaned in, eyes closed, letting the emotions fall away with her tears, until her quiet cry stopped.

They sat in silence and darkness, listening to the sound of the waves and the slowing of their own hearts.

“I love you,” Nereida whispered.

“I love you, Ner.” Nereida kissed her wife, a long, deep kiss. Aella made a startled sound, and Nereida smiled up at her.

“Prepare to be boarded, Admiral,” Nereida said, her voice low and husky from spent tears and lust. Aella laughed, a soft sound like the waves crashing on the sand.

“Do you plan to conquer me, love?”

“The sea always conquers ships in the end,” Nereida replied, enjoying their game. She kissed Aella again, capturing her lip in her teeth, ever so gently to not break the skin. Aella mewled, and Nereida set about the most pleasant task of making her wife come apart as the sound of rain began outside, drowning out whatever sounds they could make together.

The next day the rain continued, pouring down so hard there was almost no visibility outside. Nereida left her wife with the boys, the three of them playing a game since there was little to do and nowhere to go. She went below deck, her cloak soaked completely in the three minutes she had been outside. She could hear someone telling tall tales farther down the hall, their voice echoing. She knocked quietly on her brother’s door, hoping that she was not disturbing her niece’s nap.

Basiano opened the door, smiling widely at her.

“You look like a drowned rat,” he said, stepping aside. His daughter was curled up on the bed, happily munching on her own toes. She pulled the heavy wool cloak off, dropping it to the floor. It made a disgusting squelching noise. Damara squeaked in indignation as light flooded onto her. Nereida carefully helped the newborn find her hand so she could suck on it and sooth herself.

“What brings you here, Nerry?” He closed the door and returned to the bed beside his daughter.

“Were you going to out me to a bunch of sailors?” she asked, her voice tight. She touched her child’s head, ever so gently. She was fuzzy like a peach.

“Nerry…”

“Were you?”

She hadn’t meant to snap, but now that they were here, so close to the old man, everything seemed harder.

“I hadn’t planned on it,” he replied after a moment. “Except, Nerry, my daughter is a siren. They need to know. You… your sons are sirens with hair as blue as water. Only you have an anklet. Only you can… can make it safe for them.”

“And they are sailors!”

“So is this WHOLE crew. You showed yourself to them. You let yourself be happy.” He sighed. “Nerry, I can’t… I won’t make you. But, maybe you try with Caleb? Show him who you are. Let him see. Let yourself see that you will still be our princess.” She felt hot tears on her cheeks. When had she started crying? “I want you to be yourself, Nerry.” He stood then, and held out his arms to embrace her, but he did not step forward. She ran to him, and let herself cry. She spent the next hour there, each of them with a baby in their arms, telling him about everything: her struggles with her leg, her fear of losing herself to the Ocean goddess, her fear that their father would reject her, her fear that her father would try and keep her in the castle. She sobbed in his arms until Damara woke and began to cry. She shifted the baby as if she were going to feed her like a normal infant, and placed her hand on Damara’s cheek. She felt the magic seeping out of her.

“Nerry? What… what are you doing?” Basino asked, his voice a hushed whisper. Nereida smiled sadly at him, feeling the tears threaten again.

“She’s a dragon, Bassi. She eats magic.” She watched her brother’s face for signs of fear. Saw his shoulders tense and then release, the crows’ feet near his eyes crinkling with worry.

“Does it hurt you?”

“No. It’s tiring, but no more than breastfeeding is.” She chuckled. “So far she likes Aella’s magic best, but I’m a close second. We’ve been careful, we only let the boys play with her or hold her after she’s fed.”

“Father can’t know,” Basiano whispered, as if their father was on the other side of the door. “He’d never give you peace, never give her peace. She’d be…”

“No one will know anything except that she is our daughter. We’ve talked about it. She was conceived through the magic of the siren people who married us. That is all anyone will be told.”

“The crew knows.”

“No one will betray us,” she said, her voice soft but firm. He nodded, but looked torn. She sighed, patted his hand, and then made up an excuse to go, so that he could sit with his feelings on the matter.

The rain continued for hours, only breaking as the sun was setting. The children were anxious to get out and play, had even begged to play in the rain but the storm had made the sea choppy, and she was not willing to let them risk the deck. Once the rain stopped, Nereida took the boys to the deck while Aella took her turn feeding and rocking Damara.

“No running,” she cautioned as they stepped out onto the wet, slippery wood. “But if you hold the railing, you may climb up to the highest deck and look at the sunset.”

“A ship’s coming, mommy!” Alejo cried excitedly. Nereida looked where her son was pointing, and indeed, one of the ships was coming closer. She recognized the ship, it was Caleb’s.

“Likely to bring your uncle Caleb aboard,” she said, ruffling his hair. “Go back into the cabin and get your caps on.” He made a face indicating how very much he did not want to do such a thing, but when she frowned at him he relented. Alejo pulled his brother along. As they left, Nereida took a moment to place the anklet on. The wave of nausea was strong as her mother’s magic wrapped her tightly, choking her off from her true form. A necessary evil, until she could talk to Caleb.

When the boys came back out again, both stopped in the doorway to stare at her. Alejo stomped his foot.

“I’m not pretending!” he yelled. She flinched, but took a step toward the angry little boy.

“Little love,” she started, but he stepped back, crossing his arms and glaring at her.

“No!”

“It’s for your safety,” she started again, but the young boy stomped again, this time the rain water in the wood jumping away from him until he stood in a circle of dryness as big around as he was.

“We don’t lie to family!” the child yelled. He grabbed his little brother’s hand. “Come on, Egaz.” Nereida watched, feeling helpless, as her children fled downstairs. She leaned on the mast, tears spilling down her face. She did not know how to make them understand.

The crew around her had been suspiciously busy, none of them looking at her as they prepared for visitors. Carlos, however, broke away from his duties, and came to comfort her.

“They are hard at that age,” he said softly. “Everything in black and white.” He leaned against the mast beside her, not quite touching her. “It’s made all the harder when there is so much change.”

“He’s angry all the time,” she admitted, looking up at the sky. “Angry or afraid.”

“Probably both. Little lad’s got a lot going on, yeah?” She nodded, so he continued. “Give the boy space. If there is a reason to hide, to keep yourself from your adopted people, tell him when he’s calmed. Trying now is trying to reason with the tides.”

“I… my people did not know that their princess was a siren.”

“You fear they will reject you?” The older man sounded sad and tired. “I’m sorry, Princess.”

“I fear father… I fear my father will lock us away. He never wanted me to have children….” Her voice was small, shaking. She felt the older man take her hand and give it a gentle squeeze.

“Your brother is Crown Prince. He won’t let it stand. Have faith in those of us in your corner, yeah?”

“Yeah,” she echoed. She thought of the joy on Caleb’s face when he saw her. Nereida took a moment to wipe her eyes.

“Thank you, Carlos.”

She went to find Evander who was orchestrating the boarding. He looked at her with concern in his eyes.

“Touchy-Feely,” he greeted. “Playing dress up?”

“He doesn’t know.”

“I had, in fact, figured that.” He gave her a lopsided grin. “I’ll send him to the cabin.”

“Evander….” she hesitated. He turned to give her his full attention. “What would you do?”

“If I had to hide who I am from everyone I cared about? I’d run away and join the circus.” He smiled at her, but there was a flutter of pain in his expression. “And I’d never look back.” There was something raw in his tone that she couldn’t read, and so she stepped in, and hugged him. He let out a rumbling surprised sound before he wrapped his arms around her. “Don’t go,” he whispered quietly. “Don’t give them the chance to hurt you again.”

“I’m already here.” She felt tears prickling at her eyes. “But… Evander, promise me something?”

“Anything,” he replied.

“If… if this goes south, if it looks like they are going to… keep me, get my children out of here.”

He broke out of the hug, and looked down into her eyes, as if he were searching for something.

“You want me to kidnap your children and flee?”

“Yes. Because I would rather know they are out on the waters, safe and loved, than with me rotting in a dungeon.”

“Nereida,” he breathed her name. She smiled sadly. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d heard him use her name. “If y’all think it can … why go?”

“My mom.” He winced as if struck, and nodded.

“Ya have my word, Princess.”

She returned to her cabin just as Aella finished changing their daughter into a new little gown. It was made of scraps from their destroyed wedding attire. Not the softest clothing for a newborn, but they had not been able to make port. She told her wife about Alejo’s outburst, and Evander’s promise. Aella remained quiet, listening, her face occasionally twisting in worry.

“Love… you would not do well without your children.” Aella cuddled their daughter closer as she spoke.

“I… I know.” Nereida finished putting the boys’ toys in the basket under their cot. She limped around to a chair and dropped into it without grace.

A knock sounded at their door, and Aella rose to answer it. Caleb came in, bowing his head respectfully to Aella before he stilled, seeing the baby in her arms.

“When you said they were too young to be titled, Nerry, I didn’t expect one so… tiny.” He laughed a little nervously.

“Come in, Caleb.” She kept her tone even. She rose to give him a hug, leaning heavily on her cane. He eyed her, but did not comment on her new weakness. “I’ll tell you the story, but only if you sit and join us for tea.”

“I brought biscuits from my own store. A few days old, but I can’t imagine you’ve had any baked goods in quite some time.”

“Months,” she admitted softly.

“I’ll leave you two be,” Aella grumbled, as Damara fussed in her arms. She was clearly tired.

“Nonsense, please, I insist,” Caleb said. “Stay. If we are to be family, you can’t be running off.” Aella heaved a sigh that was more dramatic than it had to be, before she moved back toward them. She did not sit, however, and instead paced about shushing the baby in her arms.

“How long have you been married?” Caleb asked, passing Nereida a biscuit. It had bits of fruit and nuts baked into it and was covered with powdered sugar. He offered one to Aella, but the Admiral refused. Nereida took a bite. It was heavenly, sweet and nutty all at once, though it was too dry. She wished they had butter.

“Three months,” she replied. Caleb glanced back at the baby, then at them, his face shifting again between emotions. Most were gone too fast, but she noted anger and pity.

“I think,” Aella said, interrupting Caleb before he could speak his piece, “you should tell him the whole of the story before he makes assumptions.”

“I would tell you the grand tale, if you have time,” Nereida said. He grimaced.

“Maybe the shortened version? I imagine that you will be called on to recite it in excruciating detail before the Crown.” A nervous laugh escaped Nereida, but she launched into the shortened version, telling him how they ran to the forbidden waters, were married by the sirens and their daughter was born of a magic they did not understand. Caleb listened with wide eyes, never interrupting, making no comments, anguish on his features by the end. He had been so taken by the story that he’d not even touched his biscuit.

“Nerry, why did they spare you?” he asked once she had finished. His voice was soft, concerned. He reached for one of her hands. “The sirens, I mean. Why did they embrace you as one of them?” She swallowed. Her mouth felt dry, too dry, and she reached for some tea. Nearby, she saw that Aella had placed Damara down in the basket she slept in, swaddled up tight in a piece of blanket. After she drank the tea, she looked at Caleb.

“Because,” she struggled to find the words. She wanted to ease him into it, but her head was full of cotton. Aella cursed suddenly, soft and yet angry. But Nereida hardly heard her wife over the sound of her anxiously pounding heart. The edges of her vision were blurred. What was happening? “I am a siren.” And she fell forward, feeling hands catch her before darkness claimed her.