Fates: Chapter Fifty

Margaret

The meeting with their Elders passed by in a blur. It was difficult focusing on their discussions as fatigue started to overcome me. In truth, the only time I was able to speak was when Seirra introduced me.

They mostly asked questions which were easily answered by Seirra and Prince Erwann. Seirra and the prince admitted the truth about the former Oracle's death and apologized to the current Oracle for raiding the restricted area of what they called their Scribe Chamber.

The Elders expressed both their dismay and their amazement at how these younger merpeople were able to use such powerful enchantments to cross over the two worlds. They were particularly in awe of their princess's magic. To be able to use the Sacred Enchantment without dying was considered an incredible feat for such a young mermaid.

I heard the Elders saying how the enchantment could very easily consume the body that was sacrificed without proper control from the wielder. This was why the Sacred Enchantment was always used only with the aid of the kingdom's powerful jewels, and only when absolutely necessary. For the princess to use it and take on its effects was apparently something only the most powerful Aquanians could do - say for example, King Tideus during his younger years.

Sierra had told me how we found the lost princess and how she initially refused to go with him to Aquania, and I wondered exactly what kind of person she was. I secretly called her a bitch with the way Seirra described her but hearing everyone's admiration made me think that I might have gone overboard with my nickname for her. Granted, Sierra did say that her initial reaction to him was only because she thought her father had disowned her.

When I saw the mermaid lying on the coral bed, her seemingly pale and weak body was not able to hide her physical beauty. She was, as a matter of fact, enchanting. I had no idea whether she looked just as beautiful while she was on land but I had suddenly felt ordinary in her presence. If Seirra had so much described her as pretty when he told me about her, I probably would have been extremely jealous.

My mind started wandering and soon enough, they were wrapping the meeting to a close.

One question, however, remained: Why was Princess Marina still unconscious?

"Your Majesty," the Oracle said. "I still have no information on how to wake the princess but I will continue to look into it. I have faith that the princess will live - my dreams have shown her sitting on a throne and I do not see how my vision would be wrong."

The Oracle infused her words with as much confidence as she could but even I heard a tinge of doubt in her words.

"There was no precedent that we can rely on," The king replied. "I am just hoping that she is strong enough to come back to me."

We all bowed as the king was escorted by soldiers on his way out of the room. As soon as the Elders had left, Sierra turned to Erwann.

"Margaret needs to rest."

"I agree. Shall I arrange a room for her?"

"No need. She is coming home with me."

I was wondering where exactly I was meant to live here when I grasped what Seirra's words meant.

"Wait," I blurted out, surprising the mermen. "What do you mean I'm coming home with you?"

"It means you will live with me," Seirra replied matter-of-factly.

I blinked several times until it dawned on me that the only obvious place in Aquania that I can call my home is wherever it is that Seirra lives in.

Seirra suddenly looked unsure as he asked, "Do you wish to live anywhere else?"

"Well, no...I just thought we would be-" I cut myself off as I realized how foolish it is to think that human customs were completely applicable underwater. "Never mind. I guess my brain is just fuzzy from fatigue."

"Shall we?" Sierra asked me. When I nodded, he told Erwann, "As agreed, we shall postpone any ceremony to celebrate the union of the Fates until the princess's condition is assured. Thank you, Erwann. We'll see you tomorrow."

"I should be the one thanking you two. I'll see you tomorrow."

We just got out of the castle gates when Seirra finally broke the silence.

"We never know if you're completely safe already, Marge. Enemies can be everywhere. That's why I had to keep you close."

He looked genuinely worried and I wanted to smack my head for not realizing it immediately.

"I understand," I replied. "I wasn't thinking very well."

"Our weddings here do not hold the same significance as on land. When we find our pair, we simply decide to cohabit and make a family. Weddings are just like any other celebration."

Seirra can obviously read my mind because that was exactly what I was going to ask earlier, before stopping my words midway.

"I kind of got the idea that it would not be the same. I mean, the ring you gave me should've been indicative enough. I just...Well, I kind of forgot."

"You haven't changed your mind yet?"

That made me stop. He looked calm but when I pulled him and looked at his eyes, I knew the situation bothered him - and most likely, he was worried about the effects of my transformation as a mermaid.

"No," I told him with as much certainty as my voice could project. "I am not changing my mind. I just needed time to adjust." It was time to be more honest. "I also just thought I would have a wedding first before 'cohabiting', if you know what I mean."

I do not know if mermaids still blush but if so, my face would definitely be red by now - which, thankfully, made him smile.

"I see," Seirra said, still smiling and with a little shake of his head. He lifted his right hand and touched my cheek. "Don't change, Marge. Even if you're here, stay as my little human. Okay?"

His grin was a little too mesmerizing, which flustered me even more.

"It's kind of difficult to shake off my humanity seeing as I still have my memories - except the days I first fell in love with you." That thought made me sigh. "Darn, I wish I could get them back. Don't you think it's unfair that you're the only one who remembers them?"

His eyes had started to sparkle, which made me feel frustrated.

"I guess that will forever be my secret treasure," Seirra said, shooting with his knowing eyes. "I'll never forget the first time you told me you love me."

My eyes widened as I realized that he never mentioned exactly how we told each other our 'I love yous' during his 29 days on land.

"Why? What's so special about it?" I did not make a fool of myself back then, did I?

"Nothing," Seirra teased. "It was just a very beautiful memory." His eyes sobered as he pulled me closer. "I love you."

His lips touched mine as he said the word 'you' and the words captivated me until I lost count of how long we were kissing each other in public - just outside the castle grounds.

That thought jolted me back to reality and I abruptly pushed away from Seirra's embrace. Somebody giggled behind me and I dreadfully covered my face from embarrassment. Seirra laughed and grabbed one of my hands to continue on our way home.

"Are you actually embarrassed to kiss me?" Seirra asked with a laugh.

"Well, no," I answered back between gritted teeth. "I just didn't think it makes a good impression when people start talking about me kissing you in public instead of being introduced as one of the so-called Fates." Seirra just laughed louder and I felt the need to add, "It wouldn't have mattered if people didn't know who you are in the first place."

"You mean who we are," Sierra interjected, emphasizing that everyone already knew who I was the moment I entered Aquania with him.

I really did not think being the 'Fates' meant such a big deal but I was not there when the veil protecting the merpeople was on the verge of destruction. I would not know what it meant to feel as if your life was in danger every time I left the comfort of my home. In my head, I was simply going to Aquania with the person I loved.

I was still wondering about how I should act and how my life would be like now that I was a mermaid when Seirra's voice penetrated my thoughts.

"We're here. Uhm...Welcome."

I did not even realize how far we have come from the castle or how long we had been swimming to get to Seirra's house - uhm, reef. I guess I just had to pay a bit more attention next time.

His home was actually very similar to the ones I saw when we arrived in Aquania. It seemed to be made of several corals - three big, dome-shaped bluish ones clustered together in the center surrounded by platelike, orangey ones and further accented by corals that looked like tree branches. It was actually like a bouquet of corals.

Just like everything else in Aquania, Seirra's reef was magical. The corals which I thought looked like branches must have sensed Seirra and moved to open the entrance to his reef. What I supposed were jellyfish illuminated the inside and I saw exactly how simple his home was. There were several shelves lined with what seemed to be canisters, which I assumed were either documents or probably their version of books. There was a set-up similar to a table with chairs near the windows. Crossing to the left towards the other dome showed what seemed to be the bedroom - decorated with a coral bed, another table and chair set-up and a chest. The last dome seemed to be a storage room that had his food supply (mostly sea plants) and to my utter disbelief, chests filled with gemstones and trinkets.

"What are those?" I asked Seirra without taking my eyes off the shiny jewels.

"Items we pick up here and there," Seirra answered with indifference. "I used to collect them as a kid. We usually trade them with each other just for entertainment. Mermaids, however, have learned from those with human encounters that most of those could be used to accentuate one's looks. Which is also why we all wear them when we have a celebration. Though most of the time, we just collect them and leave them in storage."

My mouth stayed open the entire time Seirra was explaining about the gems.

Seeing my astonishment, Seirra added, "The jewels do not have value here in Aquania unless they have been infused with magic. And there are very few Aquanians who have the ability to do that."

"Like you?" I guessed, considering how he owned several magical jewels.

"Yes," I should not have been surprised that he said yes. When I turned to look at the chests again, Seirra immediately knew what I wanted to know. "Those do not have magic in them." He took my left hand and touched the ring on my fourth finger. "This one, however, does."

It made me stare at the ring that Seirra gave me at the beach when he asked me to be his Fate forever.

"What kind of magic does it have?" I asked.

"I am not completely sure yet," he replied. "When we infuse magic on jewels, it was usually on small amounts and for specific purposes. I did not have any intention to put magic on your ring but when I put it together with the Crystal Key of Saol, magic was infused in it, connecting the two jewels together."

I continued to look at the ring, only just noticing that the color of the stone had changed to red just like the Key. If the two are connected, then I hope the magic would not be too difficult to control.

"King Tideus said that everyone in Aquania acquires the ability to use magic. Does that apply to me too?"

"Yes," Seirra answered with a small smile. "Your abilities will probably not be as strong as Aquanians but you would still need to learn how to use it. Once everything is settled, I will teach you."

I smiled at him, excited at the idea of learning something new when he seemed to suddenly remember something else.

"Oh, and mermaids also know how to use weapons. Of course, Aquanian soldiers are all very skilled but considering how merpeople used to be scavengers and hunters, we made sure everyone had the ability to protect themselves. I'll teach you too," Seirra added with his own smile.

I swallowed. "I guess I have a lot of things to learn while I am here."

"It's okay, Marge. You have many years left to master everything."

Seirra's grin made me look forward to acquiring all these new skills that he was talking about but apparently, my body has had enough excitement for the day. A yawn finally escaped my lips and my eyes began to feel heavy again just as it was during the meeting with the Elders.

"It's time to rest," Seirra declared as we swam to the bedroom.

I was too tired to notice anything else as I lay down on the bed made of what seemed like a soft but kind of slimy cushion.

The last thing I remembered was Seirra's kiss on my forehead before sleep completely took over me.