𝐃𝐀𝐋𝐓𝐎𝐍 𝐆𝐑𝐄𝐘𝐉𝐎𝐘

i know death now, i've seen it. it had no fangs. it smiled at me... and it was beautiful.

“Oh, why, thank you.” A charming shade of red colored the mermaid’s cheeks as she looked away bashfully, her gaze falling to her feet briefly. “I am sure that the others are just as lovely and perhaps even more beautiful.”

“Well, I am honored to be the first to make your acquaintance.” A small smile tugged at her lips as her chin dipped low, bowing her head respectfully. “The stories and songs have to come from somewhere, right? Some young fry think you are just a myth.”

“I am one of the Merfolk,” she explained. Her hands reached for her necklace, rubbing her thumb over the small pendant out of habit. “Worry not, though. I am nothing like those devilfish Sirens.”

He let out a hum and shook his head, letting the matter go. But after a second or two of silence he spoke up again. “But it wasn’t bad. . . right?”

"My mother says otherwise but thank you." "You may, aha." She nodded and giggled softly. "But you're more than welcome to call me by my name instead. It is Eilonwy."

This frightened her, and the mermaid pulled away, retreating to another corner of the wrought-iron glass tank until her back was pressed against it. "I - I am sorry. I never meant to frighten you."

ㅤ ㅤ shoulders rise and fall within a single moment. exhaling a squall to blow loose a stray curl that had fallen into her face. “ Such is the nature of hubris. ” after all, she thought. how could one be wrong in matters of taste? all of it was personal. ㅤ ㅤ

She nods, and a small smirk tugs at her lips. "It's best not to come between a man and his ale then."

"Shell-o there," she mouthed underwater, communicating telepathically. Her free hand lifted to wave back, wiggling her fingertips.

"You should rest and sip fresh water."

There's a grain of truth in every fairytale, and she was very real. Eilonwy's evergreen hues studied the land-dweller behind the glass as her head tilted to the side in curiosity.

"Oh, dear. You haven't ingested any seawater, have you?"

ℌ𝑒𝑟 𝑝𝑎𝑙𝑚 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑒𝑠 𝑎𝑔𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑠𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑔𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑎𝑠 𝑠ℎ𝑒 𝑝𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑠 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝑓𝑜𝑟 ℎ𝑒𝑙𝑝.

ㅤ ㅤ impish features perk. eyes cued into the envy, as it crept across his face and tone. “ Firstly, I must ask. Have you ever been to the pleasure houses of Lys? If you have, then an answer exists within your own. ” ㅤ ㅤ

"That they do. I'm more of a sailor than a Lord, but yet I am granted a lot of power due to that title." He smirked and shrugged his shoulders, stealing more grapes. "The Small Council doesn't convene until this afternoon. I hope you don't mind my company."