Chapter Two, Flynt

The Coral Ledge was vast and bright, ten leagues beneath the surface of the water, one hundred leagues across east to west in between Moongleam and Sungleam Isles, and north to south in between North Crown Island and Starsand Island. These four islands encompassed the deep underwater city of Ardlan, nestled along the bottom of the Coral Ledge, capital city and home of all merfolk of the Aquastor Ocean. Humans called the seas between the four islands the “Cursed Waters” for no ship ever survived a voyage into them. Ships simply began to sink in the Cursed Waters and not one man ever lived. Sailors believed that the water came to life and swallowed ships that ventured there, though others believe that the waters were inhabited by a giant kraken.

In truth, the “Cursed Waters” of the Coral Ledge were not cursed at all, merely guarded by the Ardlans, or merfolk. Ardlan, the city itself, stretched for leagues and leagues peacefully along the Coral Ledge in quaint houses constructed by coral fragments and sandstone, housing twenty-thousand merfolk if not more. The coral used to build the houses was composed of a splendid array of bright colors that absorbed the sun’s rays in the daylight and released them during the night, creating an aquatic city of glowing reds, blues, and purples. But if the coral couldn’t absorb any sun because of murky conditions or cloudy skies the Ardlans had erected glowstones, which are natural stones that glow white in the dark. The Palace, residence of the King Aedres and his two sons, Rinan and Calder, was as massive as it was beautiful. Like a multi-colored pearl sleeping at the bottom of the tide, the Palace was the gem of the ocean. Made out of swirling coral the King’s Palace was round cavernous; the very center of life in Ardlan. Heavily guarded by legions, the Palace was a beacon of strength for all merfolk and sea-life. Dolphins and sharks, turtles and whales, seals and walruses all came to dance in the diamond-dancing light of Ardlan, the refuge under the sea.

The high moon sunk into the ocean and the sun took its place as Forde and the First Legion arrived home between the southwestern watch. Sun drifted lazily upon the coral floor, reflecting off of the pure white sand and bright coral shelves. The Palace sparkled and gleamed ahead. Merfolk were active from dusk to dusk, dawn to dawn, sleeping only every few days. Ardlan was in a constant state of movement; mermaids moved in and out of their houses with young ones in tow, mermen warriors patrolled the streets as shoppers drifted through the markets, eyeing expensive gems and stones.

Forde grasped at the coral shell necklace that rested gently around his neck, thinking of his mate at home. It had been a few days since their last meeting and he was anxious for the reunion. He gazed down upon the city, looking house to house for his. There in the corner by the palace, resting against a large bright red coral shell was his estate. Large and spacious, thanks to his high rank in the King’s Legion his home proved to be formidable for his age. At three-hundred years old he was still considered very young in society and his mate was one hundred years younger than he. The merfolk were impervious to age and need not fear death by it. Many of Forde’s men were tens of thousands years old, and still as strong as they were in youth.  

Though miles above it he could see the opening of his home and he suddenly longed to be rid of war and battle for a time. He turned to his men, “We’ll meet once again in three days’ time.” They nodded and bowed their heads before surging downward and disappearing into the bustle of the city. Forde swam down slowly; weary from the long few days behind him. His arms felt like mush, especially his weapon-arm which had been exerted too often for early summer. He felt as if his pike would slip from his hand at any moment and he hoped his strength would recover before his next venture. Forde gripped his necklace again out of habit. He would never forgive himself if he lost it, for it was made out of the rarest coral in all of the Aquastor, gathered and crafted into a necklace by his mate.

His house was upon him before he realized and out of the large circular opening streamed a merman of beautiful origin. His auburn hair was short, perhaps only an inch in length, and his light blue eyes were soft and tranquil. His torso was slender and defined by firm muscle contours, which turned into a spectacular tropical blue tail low upon his waist. His crystal-blue scales exploded into light as the dawning sun showed upon them. Around his neck was a dazzling necklace made of sea-diamonds gathered and crafted by Forde himself. Their necklaces were gifts to each other the day of their first joining, the moment when they would become bonded for life. Merfolk did not love like the humans, whose love was fleeting; they loved forever until the End. Many mermen and mermaid alike envied Forde for many things, but most of all was his capture of Flynt’s heart. Flynt, the Diamond of Ardlan. Flynt, the Crown of Grace. Their joining had only been four seasons prior, which is one year by human count, but to an ageless people it would be akin to yesterday.

But a new beauty had taken root in Flynt’s body; the beauty of new life. News of his pregnancy had spread throughout the city like a northern current and society was excited for the birth of what could be the most beautiful child in the history of all merpeople. Forde and Flynt’s joining was perhaps the most celebrated event in Ardlan in a thousand years, since the birth of the king’s youngest son Calder. And now with a pregnancy underway many of the city-folk were wondering in what way to celebrate next.  

Flynt was only three months into his pregnancy, by his guess, but his belly was already jutting forward in a petite way, sloping out from his chest and coming back in just before his skin turned to scale. With six months left before the birth Forde didn’t know which out of the two of them was more excited, he or Flynt. Forde allowed his weapon to fall away at last and Flynt was in his arms before he could blink. Merfolk were exceedingly sappy, loving good romance and public displays of affection, though public fornication was frowned upon.

Forde could feel Flynt’s belly protruding into his own and he worried that his embrace was too tight. He pulled away to look at his lover’s face framed by his hand. He was beyond anything Forde had seen. He was so handsome and delicate, yet masculine and powerful; a sea-orchid with thorns. Their lips met and their tongues danced. Young love was written all around them. “Did you miss me?” Flynt’s voice was like a siren in the deep, soft and halcyon.

“Of course, I never stopped missing you,” their hands entwined and Flynt brought them to rest on the soft swell of his stomach, where inside was nestled a sweet merchild. “I missed you both.”

Flynt’s smile was as bright as his scales, as white as glowstone glimmering in the Black Reaches. “I never stopped either.”

But Forde’s body was overwhelmed and his mind had grown sleepy. “I am weary, love. Lead me to bed.”

The young mermen glided through the hole into the elegant mer-house which was open and spacious with no rooms. Unlike most human architecture merfolk liked their houses to be circular without any corners with rounded windows and domed ceilings. Tiny glowfish swam joyfully around inside water-lanterns spaced around the room, providing a green light that danced and wobbled across the ceiling and walls. The floor was pure white sand, dotted with collected starfish and shells. It was typically a house rule to not make any sudden movements within the home so that the sand floors would remain cloudless and unstirred; a chore for merchildren who loved to play. Their large bed resembled that of a human’s hammock made out of soft rope. Weavers would craft pillows and blankets out of ghostmoss which grew in the Moondance Woods.

It was a perfect home for Forde and Flynt and very large by most standards, which meant room for more merchildren in the future, something Flynt deeply desired. They both wanted a large family but conception was not always easy for their long-lived race. Some merfolk may try for children for a hundred years and never conceive, so when Flynt’s became pregnant just after four seasons since their joining it was taken as a good sign for their future conceptions.

As Flynt helped his mate into the soft hammock he crawled in beside him and brought the warm blanket over top of them. He snuggled against Forde’s strong chest and sighed into the water. After three long days he was once again at ease. Collecting pretty shells or shopping in the market could only hold his interest for a little while before his heart panged for his warrior mate. He loved Forde’s bravery and patriotism for the kingdom but he loathed the dangers involved and the days it kept them apart. But he shrugged that away now as he listened to Forde’s calm breathing. He was spent and he needed rest.

 “I fear the Slitherscales are plotting against us,” said Forde half asleep, but there was worry in his voice. “Our skirmishes with them have almost ceased completely. These past weeks we have only encountered human hunting vessels. It’s too quiet in the east.”

“Their plotting against the Coral Throne never ends, love.”

Forde tightened his embrace around his pregnant Flynt and buried his face in his sweet-scented auburn hair. He thought about his many encounters with the Slitherscales, the twisted merfolk outcasts that were banished into the Black Reaches long ago by the King. Their treachery had converted their once beautiful bodies into a slithering visage. Long eel-like tails spilled from their pale human torsos and their teeth had become a maw of razors. Their tongues had become forked and their eyes had turned poison green. They looked like death because they worshiped death. They drew powers from the Underworld and brought corruption into the waking sea. Forde remembered the first time he saw one; the rage in its eyes, the cold hatred within. It bled green when he spilled its guts. Green blood clouds everywhere. He drifted to sleep with his hand on his mate’s belly thinking of all the ways he would protect their child. Flynt slipped quietly into sleep beside him, for he too was weary and refused to sleep without his mate.

Chapter Three, Moonlight Meeting

The moon had risen and the tides had changed. A cool current had spilled through the windows and Forde stirred gently from his sleep. Flynt was still sleeping in his arms with his belly gently pressed into Forde's side. He was so proud of his growing family, excited for what was to come. He had no doubt that his family would complete with three or four little ones swimming around dirtying the house and causing small mischief. He smiled and kissed his sleeping mate gently waking him from his slumber.

"The moon has risen, love," Forde nudged his belly. "It's time to play." 

Flynt groaned as he opened his eyes and shook off his sleepiness, stretching his arms and tail. Though not a warrior, all mermen possessed an impressive physique; hundreds of years spent swimming made it so. His belly seemingly grew by the day, pushing out his once muscled stomach into a small dome. It growled with hunger and he placed a hand upon it as he looked up his smiling lover. 

"And why are you so chipper?" Flynt asked as he wrapped his arms around Forde's neck. 

"Because I have a special night planned for us," said Forde, flipping his tail and entwining his hands within his mates. "We'll hunt some clam on the way."

Forde gently tugged Flynt into his body and twirled him around, blue-green eyes glinting with romance. Flynt's heart swooned at the handsome man smiling at him. He was the moon to his tide, the oyster to his pearl, the water to his ocean. His golden hair swayed in the water and Flynt ran his hands through it, admiring his astounding good looks. He wondered how he was so lucky to have snagged the arm of this merman. 

"Come, we have an hour swim ahead of us," said Forde. They left their house in the nightglow of Ardlan and began swimming southwest, picking up clams along the way and eating them. Clams were a common food for merpeople, as was certain types of seaweed and fish. Once their hunger was sated they continued southwest below the surface of the water, watching the moon rise as they went. 

"Where are you taking us this time?" asked Flynt as their powerful tails propelled them forward. Forde would often take his mate on intimate getaways to various locations around the Aquastor for quality time together away from the bustle of the city. They both could appreciate city life but they had each been raised in small mer-villages and were accustomed to the serenity of a simple life. These small getaways gave them the peace they needed and desired. 

They swam for almost two straight hours before the shore of the human continent of Lordanir came into view upon the moonlit horizon. In the distance the small human settlement called Brighton was glowing yellow and red with torchlight, shimmering on the shore with its long wooden decks stretched out into the ocean. It was a beautiful town with perhaps a thousand people residing within, all mostly good people who fished to survive, never treading too far into the ocean or hunting dolphin or whale (a grave mistake for any human). Forde knew them to be worshipers of the "Water God" Aedres; a misguided concept, for he was not a god but the Mer-King. But their devotion had earned the good king's smile and he blessed their city with protection against destructive storms and rogue waves.

"If I were a human I would want to live there," said Flynt as they looked upon the town's wooden architecture. 

"Come, let's go meet that person on the docks," said Forde, gently pulling Flynt along.

"But is it not forbidden to show ourselves to humans?"

"Forbidden? No, love," corrected Forde. "But frowned upon."

This did not ease Flynt's conscious as they swam beneath the tide. The wooden docks creaked and groaned as the water lapped against them and on the very edge under the moon, alone and sullen was a beautiful teenage girl. Her brown hair stirred in the gentle breeze of the evening as she looked across the sea at the pale moon. She appeared troubled and forlorn, as if something very deep weighed upon her thoughts. She didn't see the two mermen in the water below looking up at her sad face.

"I think she is sorrowful," commented Flynt, squeezing his mate's hand. He was very nervous being so close to humans. As Forde pushed towards the surface Flynt quickly grabbed him. "Don't scare her."

Forde looked back and nodded. "You can stay here if you'd like. She is harmless."

"I will remain below," said Flynt, looking anxious. 

Forde emerged from the water quietly like a pale reflection upon the sea. His golden hair looked white in the moonlight. The girl looked at him and their eyes met but she did not seem to understand, for he appeared only human and his tail was hidden in the dark water. She didn't look frightened at all, but rather perplexed.

"Were you trying to scare me? Because it didn't work," she said, grinning. "Isn't it dangerous to be that deep at night? You don't know what's lurking below."

"It's quite safe, actually," said Forde. "What's your name young one?"

"Serene," she said, swirling her bare feet around in the water. "And you don't look any older than me."

Forde only smiled, flashing his pearly teeth. He was three hundred years old, which was ancient in human years. "My name is Forde. And you're right, I don't look any older than you, but I am."

"I'm sixteen, what about you?"

"Three hundred," he replied simply.

She scoffed. "You're not three hundred. Probably seventeen, I'm guessing." 

"What troubles you so that you sit alone late at night by the ocean?" Forde asked, dipping his face back in the water to look at Flynt who was listening intently below. He beckoned him to come up but he shook his head.

"A boy recently left me for another girl," she said with a downtrodden tone. She looked at her hands in her lap and played with her fingers. "It's a long story and I don't really want to talk about it."

"I'm sorry Serene," offered Forde. Suddenly Flynt's head emerged from the water next to Forde.

The girl was surprised. She was still under the impression that they were nothing but human since their tails were cloaked in the dark blue waters, but she didn't know where they had come from. They were not local or she would have known them. They had simply appeared from the ocean, it seemed to her. "Another? Where did you two come from anyway?"

Flynt swallowed nervously, holding onto Forde's hand beneath the water. But Forde answered, "From the depths of the ocean of course."

"But… I don't understand," she said, frowning.

"Can you keep a secret, Serene?"

The girl nodded emphatically. "I am best keeper of secrets."

Forde suddenly disappeared beneath the water and Flynt followed, leaving Serene on the docks above. They were gone for what seemed like a minute or two and she had thought that perhaps they had left her alone, but suddenly two long fish shot from the water into the air, like graceful dolphins she thought. But then she realized they weren't fish at all, but the very same two young men she had just been talking to. She gasped aloud and stood on her feet, alarmed but mesmerized by their beautiful, slender, muscular bodies. "By Aedres!" she whispered. The two mermen plunged back into the water in perfect dives and remerged once more in front of Serene. "You're… you're mermen. From the storybooks and legends!"
Forde grinned and Flynt managed a smile. He was still very unsure about this little meeting but his nerves were calming. "We are," confirmed Flynt. "I am Flynt. It's nice to meet you Serene."

"The pleasure is mine, Flynt," she said, bowing generously. 

"Will you sit on the dock with me?" asked Serene. "I would very much like to see your tails again."

Flynt looked at Forde with wide-eyes but Forde took his hand and squeezed gently. "For a little while but then we must go." Forde swam to the edge of the dock and began climbing the wooden planks. His tail was long and heavy but it was not difficult for his powerful torso to pull it along. When he was perched on his rear with his tail still hanging into the water he reached down to help his pregnant mate up. 

Flynt was very strong as well and despite his pregnancy he was able to climb up next to his love and sit beside him, encircling hands. He felt beyond exposed sitting on a human dock outside of a human town, but there was no one else around and the dock was stretched far upon the ocean away from prying eyes. 

The girl was transfixed by their long colorful tails glowing in the moonlight. She had never before thought she would ever see such a sight. Mermaids and mermen were storybook legends told to human children at night; they weren't actually supposed to be real, she thought. She noted Flynt's round belly thinking of how much it looked like her mother's stomach when she was pregnant with her baby brother. She watched the two of them holding hands, as if they were in love. "May I ask if you two are married?"

"Married?" asked Flynt, looking at Forde.

"Mermen do not marry," answered Forde, understanding more about human society than his mate. "We Join and spend eternity with one another. It's very much like human marriage."

"Do you not Join with your… females?" she asked. Clearly two males getting married in her human society was not normal.

"We can if we choose, but it is with our males that our children are born, not females like humans," Forde replied, reaching for his mate's belly and rubbing its wet surface as it gleamed in the moonlight. "Flynt carries our first little one now."

Serene seemed amazed at such possibilities. "May I feel?" she asked, looking into Flynt's cerulean eyes. 

"O-okay," Flynt answered nervously, allowing her smooth hand to touch his bulging belly. Forde felt a strong sense of pride as he watched and he grinned mirthfully. "There's no movement from within yet, but soon I hope."

"I am amazed. Your culture is so different," Serene said, pulling her hand back. "I wish I could be a mermaid and disappear into the ocean. Do you know of the Water God Aedres?"

"We do," said Forde. "We serve him under the sea. He is our king and we love him as much as he loves us."

"Will you take me to meet him?" she asked, feeling suddenly alive and restless. She wanted to delve into the ocean and become a mermaid herself.

"You would drown and your body would be crushed," stated Forde. "We live deep under the waves, further than any human can swim. You would not make the journey."

"Can you turn me into a mermaid so I can swim there?"

"That is not in my power to do," replied Forde, frowning sadly. He caressed her sweet face with his hand and held her that way for a tender moment. "You have a life here on land with people who care about you. Do not let some foolish boy ruin that for you."

Serene allowed a tear to run down her cheek before nodding.

"I have a gift for you," said Forde unexpectedly. She perked up and watched with keen interest. 'A gift from a merman old; a gift greater than any gold' she recited the nursery rhyme in her head. Serene couldn't believe her eyes as she watched the merman pluck a golden scale from his long tail. He pressed the large scale within her hand and smiled. "Keep it safe from everyone but yourself. Farewell Serene."

"Farewell Serene," waved Flynt.

"Wait!" she cried. "Will I ever see you again?"

Forde smiled and shrugged. "It isn't likely, but you never know. Goodbye!"

The two mermen dove into the sea, disappearing beneath the dark tides under the moon. Serene watched the water for a long time, thinking about what had just happened, unsure if it was a dream or not. But the golden scale in her hand held the luster of the moon and she knew everything had been real. Two mermen had been sitting right next to her. Talking to her. Breathing next to her. Her friends would never believe her if she told them, but she was the greatest secret-keeper.

-- Edited by Lyric on Thursday 2nd of June 2011 02:54:37 AM

Thanks Phamh, glad someone is enjoying it xD