A Council Of Queens and Kings

The-oceanic-courts || you are here

@thehealingcourts || freshwater merfolk

@collectively-nefarious || the bad guy blog + their associates

The Drowning of a Roanoke Agent

@the-roanoke-society

“Mother of the waters,” Augustine spoke softly, beginning a chant known to him only through stories, stories he barely believed. His desperation brought out the part of him that wanted to believe.

“Augustine.” Leland said, still on the river bank.

“Harken to me, hear me my call.” Augustine continued the prayer, ignoring his lover.

“Augustine.”

“I offer you this soul, this body, to remake as your own.”

“You can't do this.” Leland told him.

“She's going to die if I don't!” He argued, pausing his prayer to the goddess.

“She'll be bound to these waters, bound to a goddess she does not know!”

“She'll be alive!” Augustine snapped. “This is my fault, I have to make it right. She can't die because of me, Leland. I won't let her.”

Leland sighed. He looked from his lover to the pale, dying woman in Augustine's arms. He then entered the river to join them, helping Augustine hold her. The Roanoke agent had saved Augustine's life. For that reason alone Leland decided to help.

“Ladies of the lakes,” Leland said. “Hear our call.”

Augustine's eyes widened, surprised by Leland's words. He joined Leland in the new chant, a prayer to a place more likely to help than the absent goddess.

“We offer this soul and body,” They spoke the words together. “In honor of her courage and sacrifice, for her willfulness and loyal nature, we ask you to bring her back, to make her one with the waters.”

As they finished speaking, and before they could continue to another verse, a figure broke the surface of the water in front of them.

Laudine of the Great Lakes. She was known to be less gentle than her peers, volatile and impulsive. She had an amused expression on her face as she looked them over, taking in the state of all three of them. Augustine in his merform, Leland still in a human form, and a dying woman in their arms.

“Bring her back?” The lady mocked their words. “She's not dead yet.”

“My lady-” Leland began. He got no further as Laudine shot forward, taking the woman by the throat and forcing her down to the river bed.

Leland had to hold Augustine back from interfering. He soothed his lover with gentle words to keep him from interrupting the ritual. This was what he'd asked for. What they had asked for.

For Augustine it felt like an eternity before Laudine resurfaced with the woman's unconscious form. She passed the newly transformed mer to them with a knowing look.

“I'll leave the explanations to you.” She said, “There will be a place for her in the Great Lakes when she is ready.”

Without another word, Laudine disappeared into the water.

Augustine held the woman close to his chest as Leland wrapped his arms around them both. There they waited for her to wake.

Leland

A former Silent Guard of the Arctic Palace. He left the Royal Guard after the death of Queen Consort Delja. He blames himself for failing his duty as her personal guard.

He returned to his birthplace in the Great Lakes. He grew restless and began taking odd jobs, eventually becoming an assassin. His first hit was human who had harmed of of the daughters of the lakes.

While oceanic mer are bound by a treaty to never purposely harm landfolk, freshwater merfolk are not. Many mersassins are either Freshwater or Brackish mer.

@the-roanoke-society

(x)

Perhaps it was the time of year that influenced Arroyo's decision. Or perhaps it was the way Morgan barely acknowledged him as they sat together that compelled Arroyo to take action.

Ondine had brought Morgan as she always did, but this time it was without warning. They had arrived yesterday, on the anniversary of his first wife's death. Ondine was almost frantic, trying to suppress her anxiety for her friend. Morgan was practically a husk, a faded version of herself that Arroyo had yet to witness. It was the worst he'd ever seen her and it had ignited the tiny spark inside him. A desire to make sure she would never experience this again.

Perhaps that was why he had ordered a room to be made up for Angela. He would not risk her leaving or interrupting. He fears she knows his intentions and would try to stop him.

“Morgan?” Arroyo spoke gently. He sat beside her as she randomly moved pieces around on the board game in front of her.

They hadn't been playing it. She had grabbed the game when they'd entered the room a few hours ago, but she just kept setting it up and moving pieces around. Then she would clear the board and start over. Arroyo had simply let her be, watching her as he wove a calming aura around her with the soft sound of his humming.

“Come with me, Morgan.” He spoke. He stood and offered his hand to her.

It was the usual time they would stop playing whatever game they'd chosen and take a walk along the shore.

She took his hand wordlessly, used to the routine of their time together. There were only subtle differences. The palace guards never followed them this closely. And Arroyo's daughter, Marise, had never joined them before.

The two of them, father and daughter, led Morgan into the water, only stopping when the waves reached her hips. They were near a drop off and Arroyo could feel the call from the depths. To drown her, to take her.

“Morgan.” He spoke softly, pulling her close so she could hear over the waves. “Do you trust me?”

The only response he received was a nod. It was enough.

So Marise began her song, to entrance Morgan. Arroyo's was too familiar. He used it on her too often, and Arroyo wanted her to feel no pain. He watched her closely, waiting as she began to show the signs of the song taking over her.

Once she was fully numb to everything, lost to the song and a happy memory trapping her in her mind, Arroyo carefully wrapped his arms around her waist.

“You will never feel this way again.” He whispered.

Arroyo dragged her under. He felt her body tense and then she went limp in his embrace. Her body gave in to the song, the melodies of Marise combined with the call from the depths. He felt Morgan's bones break and reform as he held her, pulled her down deeper. Her tail formed, taking on a similar shape to his. It was the color of white starlight, iridescent in the moonlight. As the transformation continued, markings similar to his own appeared in shades of purple.

Only after it was finished, as she rested peacefully in his arms , did Arroyo have doubts. He should have allowed her to decide when she was herself again, not when her mind was clouded. He should have let her choose, truly choose this.

It was too late to undo it.

He took her to the Pearl Palace, a place she had visited several times before. And there he waited by her side until she came back to the waking world. He watched as she took in her new form, her new reality. Her eyes, her beautiful eyes, looked so confused.

“What did you do?” She asked. “You...you tricked me.”

It was Spring.

Fucking Spring.

Leland hated the season.

Hated the smell of it and the memories it brought. His former life haunted him still. Of being a silent guard of the Arctic kingdom. One of the Queen's royal guards. One of the royal guards who had failed to save her, who had failed to detect the traitor among them. She had died that spring, and Leland could never forgive himself for his failure.

“You're thinking about it again.” A gentle voice broke his thoughts. Augustine was sitting beside him, poking his cheek now.

A sigh escaped Leland as Augustine managed to get a ghost of a smile out of him. Sweet Augustine, his borderline insane lover and partner, was always trying to cheer him up.

Leland shook his head.

“Oh no you don't.” Augustine pouted slightly. “Talk to me. I know how you feel, but I love hearing your pretty voice.”

Leland moved to sign that he didn't feel like talking but Augustine snatched his hands to keep them still.

“Oh no. No, no, no. You know I don't speak that. I'm Brackish, Darling. I was raised in a river. I don't understand your fancy Arctic palace sign language.”

“Fine.” Leland spoke, letting his hands rest in Augustine’s grasp. “Yes, I'm thinking about it. No, I'm not okay. I just-”

“Hate Spring.” Augustine finished his sentence. “I know. That's why I'm here, and why we're here at the bar to drink and have a good time. Or try to have a good time anyways. Let's get you another drink.”

Leland sighed. “That's not-”

“Oh my gods, look!” Augustine gasped, just a tad obnoxiously. He pointed in the direction of the entrance. “Look, Darling, look who just walked in!”

When he turned to look, Leland frantically grabbed his lover's hand to stop him from pointing.

“Isn't that the King?” Augustine asked. He'd seen him before, once or twice, while participating in some light burglary that he'd never admit to his lover. “Your King?”

“Hush, Please stop.” Leland spoke quickly, avoiding people's stares.

“What?” Augustine seemed honestly confused. “It's him, isn't it?”

“It is rude to point at people, and you're drawing attention.” Leland huffed. He turned and took a drink, downing the last of his drink. “yes...it's him.”

His eyes kept shifting to steal glances at his former King who was now seated at the bartop.

“Do you want to go talk to him?” Augustine asked gently. His hand moved to caress Leland's arm, giving it a gentle squeeze.

Leland shook his head.

“I am the last person he'd wish to see.”

“Bold to think he'd recognize you.” Augustine shrugged, bringing his hands back to himself. He gave Leland a side eye to see if he took the bait.

Leland did.

“I'll have you know I was a well known palace guard. I accompanied the Queen, and King, on many outings. I-” Leland huffed. “I hate when you do that.”

“I'm sorry. You know how much I enjoy seeing you all worked up.” Augustine smiled. He gave Leland a quick kiss on his cheek. “Go on, talk to him.”

Taking a deep breath, Leland approached Valdimar. His hands were shaking slightly as he signed the formal greeting to his former king. It was a practice and familiar gesture that made Leland's heart ache.

Valdimar's eyes widened slightly at the familiar sign language. He looked Leland over slowly, taking in his features. His eyes softened as he recognized the former palace guard who stood before him. Delja's favorite. The one who was always with her.

“It's you.” The Arctic King stated, his voice just loud enough to be heard over the noise of the bar.

“My King, I-” Leland began. He realized he had no idea what to say to him. He froze when the Arctic King reached out to him. Valdimar gently brought Leland's forehead to rest against his own. It was rare for the Arctic King to show affection at all, and it shocked Leland to be given an honor he'd seen others receive on those rare occasions. It almost felt like the rest of the world faded away at that moment.

Leland had lost his Queen, a woman he'd greatly admired, and Valdimar had lost his wife during that horrible spring so many years ago. All because Leland had failed her. He had failed in his duty to protect her, and he had run from his failure. He was a deserter. Valdimar should hate him. He should hate him.

“Hate you?” Valdimar spoke. His voice was filled with a warmth Leland did not expect from his former king. “You were not to blame.”

“I failed her.” Leland argued, his voice breaking.