#tahliah

Tahliah played by the edge of the ice as the boys watched her from the water. Aurgelmir was mostly silent, but Ymir spoke to her. He spoke to her about everything and anything, telling her of the deep while he got to know her. This was the first time they had met her, and all they knew was how much their father loved her.

“This is boring, why can't we play some real games?” Aurgelmir said, nearly splashing Tahliah with his tail.

“Careful!” Ymir scowled at his brother.

Tahliah, however, got excited. She hardly cared about almost being splashed by the icy saltwater.

“What kind of games!” She asked, coming closer to the edge of the ice.

Aurgelmir swam up to her, resting his elbows on the ice. Tahliah knelt down on the ice in front of him.

“We could play hide and seek,” He suggested, looking her in the eyes. While he held her gaze, one of his hands took hold of her wrist. “Maybe we should play tag?”

“Tag! Who will be it?” She asked. Tahliah was going to ask ‘I can't swim, how will I tag you?’ but Aurgelmir had pulled her into the freezing water. He shouted “you're it!” before swimming away. Ymir was quick to follow, but something felt wrong. He turned back to see Tahliah sinking, her heavy clothes and fur cloak dragging her down.

Ymir grabbed his brother by the fin to stop him. Something was definitely wrong. She hadn't transformed into a mer form. Aurgelmir looked to his brother as their father's words echoed in his mind.

“I am trusting you both.”

Aurgelmir panicked and bolted away, but Ymir quickly swam to his little sister. He took her in his arms and brought her back to the surface.

Ymir struggled to pull himself, and Tahliah, back up onto the ice. He cradled her in his arms, trying not to cry, trying to focus on saving her. His tail was still breaking apart as he laid her down onto the ice. He ignored the pain of the transformation as he used every bit of his abilities to draw the seawater from her lungs.

Ymir cried out her name several times, praying she would be alright. He was relieved when she began coughing. At least now she was breathing. He lifted her into his arms, struggled to walk on his newly formed legs. Ymir had never been on land before. He managed to get the hang of walking fairly quickly, and took Tahliah to a guard.

“Lead us to the healers, ” Ymir ordered. The guard was quick to obey, both of Valdimar's sons were well known despite that face they never had come on land before..

Once they were at the healers, Tahliah was taken from Ymir's arms. The court Siren took hold of his trembling hands, speaking softly to him, assuring him that his sister would be alright. As the healers went about warming Tahliah, the youngest was sent to retrieve the King.

Ymir was quiet as they tended to Tahliah. He had moved out of the way, back against the wall. He knew his father would be furious. He wished he could melt into the ice walls of the palace and hide.

Valdimar was furious. He went to Tahliah's side first. Before his court Siren could speak, Vald turned his attention to Ymir. Valdimar grabbed him by the arm and practically dragged his terrified son out of the infirmary.

"Father, please!" Ymir cried. "It was an accident! We were playing at the edge and she fell in!"

Valdimar stopped, still holding his son in a tight grip. His eyes narrowed. "Where is your brother?"

"...I pulled her out. Aurgelmir stayed in the waters."

"He swam away, did he not?" Vald asked. "He left her to drown."

"Father...please. He was scared." Ymir replied. "I pulled her out..."

"Did he pull her in?" Vald demanded. Ymir avoided his father's gaze. "Answer me."

"..it was an accident." Ymir responded. "We didn't know."

"Go," Valdimar released his son. "Find your brother and bring him before me."

"..Father, I-"

"Aurgelmir will face the consequences of his actions, no matter what you say." Vald cut him off. "Go, now. Bring him to the throne room."

Ymir left, going to straight into the waters. He was tempted to run, to flee from his father and never return. He hadn't gone far when he felt someone grab his fins. He turned to see his brother.

"He has summoned you, brother." Ymir said, taking his brothers hand. He knew Aurgelmir was terrified. "Not going will only make it worse."

They stayed there for a moment, holding on to each other. Ymir let out a soft call that echoed through the waters. Aurgelmir looked surprised by it, but remained silent until an answer echoed back to them.

"You won't face him alone." Ymir said, squeezing his brothers hand. "I will be with you, and we will always have our Goddess with us."

The silent guards escorted the twins to the throne room upon their return. None of them dared to meet the gaze of the King when they arrived. The guards were dismissed and the great ice throne room was silent. The boys could feel their father's angry gaze and didn't dare look up. It was several agonizing minutes before the angry King spoke.

"Did I not ask you to look after Tahliah?" Valdimar demanded. He stood from his throne and approached Aurgelmir. "Was it such a difficult thing to ask of you? You couldn't even behave for one hour? You could have killed her, your own sister! She would have died and you would have let her!"

Ymir could sense his brother frustration and fear grown as their father bombarded him. When Valdimar paused to take a breath, Aurgelmir took his chance speak, letting out his anger at their father.

"You didn't tell us she couldn't swim, that she has no mer form! You don't tell us anything about her! Not where she came from, not who her mother is, and not about what is wrong with her!" Aurgelmir yelled. "What makes her special?! You never cared about us this way!"

Valdimar slapped his son, hard. The sound of it echoed in the throne room. It was followed by the sound of Aurgelmir hitting the floor, having lost his balance due to his weak legs.

"Valdimar!" A new voice dominated the throne room. All three of them turned their heads to see Sedna. She was holding the sleeping princess in her arms.

The Goddess had raised Vald after his parents had died, in return he had made her the Godmother of all his children. She had heard the echoes of the Beluga Whales calling for her in the deep.

"Sedna..." Vald stepped back from his son and bowed to her.

"Why are you terrorizing them?" She asked. "They are only boys. Look at them."

"Sedna, I-"

"It was an accident, yet you treat him as if he had done it on purpose." She cut him off.

"He pulled her in." Vald argued. "At her age, she-"

"How would he have known? You don't speak with your sons. You don't know them, or ask after them, and yet you expect them to know everything of your world?"

"...they are not mine to ask after. They took up their mother's title, I-"

"You will keep putting up walls to shut out anyone you could possibly lose until you are truly alone." Senda cut him off. "A plan only a fool would think of. And I did not take you into my waters, and give you a kingdom, only for you to be a fool who is cruel to his own children."

Valdimar remained silent.

"Finish your judgment and come see your daughter at the healers." Sedna spoke, turning to take Tahliah back. "And if you lay a hand on your sons in such a way

again, I will cut both of your hands off."

Once she was gone, Valdimar returned his attention to the twins. Ymir had helped his brother up, and holding him up. Aurgelmir avoided looking at his father, but Ymir had been emboldened by Sedna and returned his father's gaze.

"I entrusted her to you both," he said. "and you failed me, Aurgelmir. You will remain here in the palace, and take care of your sister until I decide otherwise. Ymir will see to the Beluga Whales alone."