Cidaris and Raine

He heard her sigh as she surfaced. “Please don’t make a fool of me Cidaris. If you do love me, say it.” He watched as she rubbed the wet mark of his hand print on her cheek. “I know in some places they think that women shouldn’t or can’t make up their own minds about things like this, because they think women fall in love too fast. If…” she stepped into the water and shuddered as it reached her knees, “If that’s true of merfolk, when you say you love me, I can pretend to frown and say don’t be ridiculous Cidaris. It’s far too soon for declarations like that, and then we can keep meeting in secret like this. To talk…” she shuddered and knelt down in the cool water and ran her hand down the side of his head to his chest, “…and learn more about each other.”

“My lady,” he said, speaking words he’d overheard men whisper to women on the balconies whenever he snuck close, “I swear on the moon that turns the tree tops silver…”

She giggled again, and his heart danced within him. “Don’t swear by the moon, it’s constantly changing. And sometimes it isn’t even here at all. I don’t want your love to be like that.”

“I thought ladies liked when men swore by things.” He cocked his head to the side as he looked at her in confusion. “If not the moon, what should I swear by?”

“You don’t need to swear on anything. Just say the words and I will believe you.”

Cidaris pushed himself further out of the water and gently cupped her chin. Her breath tickled his nose as he closed the space between them. “Very well, I won’t swear on anything. Raine,” he looked deeply into her brown eyes, drinking in the adoration he saw within them. “I love—”

“Wait,” she pulled back suddenly and sat in the pool before him. Picking up her skirts, she stumbled out of his grip and out of the water. “Don’t say it. It’s too sudden. It’s too rash. This is all the things that my parents say I shouldn’t trust about love.” She paused and reached back towards him. “But maybe, if you keep coming back, this… this potential love will grow like the flowers in my father’s garden. Good night. I’m sorry. I have to go.”

“Wait. You’re just going to leave me like this.”

“I’m so sorry. What can I say to fix it.”

“Say you love me and let me say it back.”

Her postures melted and she began to sink back down to the ground. “I already have said it. I wish I hadn’t so I could say it all over again.”

“Raine!”

“Oh it’s my nurse. I must go.” She hurried to the entrance. “I’m coming!” she called up to the manor. Turning back to the waters she licked her lips. “Please stay. I’ll try to come back out soon.”

He watched as she scurried up through the gardens to the glowing rooms above.

Flopping on his back he lay in the gentle waters lapping over his body. “This is a dream. I’m going to wake in the morning, and this will all have been a wonderful dream.”

The pattering of feet drew closer. Flipping over he pushed himself farther into the shadows as Raine reappeared at the entrance.

“I can’t stay, but if you do wish to be with me forever, come back at hightide tomorrow. I will leave with you and be your bride forever.”

“Raine!” The annoyance in the older woman’s voice cracked through the night and drowned out whatever words Cidaris might have said in reply

“I’m coming,” a harsh bite of anger-tinged Raine’s words, but they vanished as she turned towards him again. “Good night. Goodnight. A thousand times good night.” She vanished into the garden once more.

Cidaris sighed and turned towards the exit of the cave. The water was shallower now than when he first came in. Before he dove beneath the surface he looked back towards the manor once more. “I love you Raine, he whispered to the birds and trees. “I will be here tomorrow.”