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Chapter 4

Aquan/mer Language

Aeriel continued to train her daughter in the weeks ahead by gradually increasing the amount of water exposure as Nemir's control improved. After four months, Nemir was able to stand in the ocean at knee level for 10 minutes before the urge to transform overtook her. Nemir was happy about the progress she had made, but was beginning to feel impatient. The two women were returning to the house late one evening when Nemir decided to confront her mother.

"Naneth," began Nemir, "I have been doing well have I not?"

"Yes, of course!" assured Aeriel, "I have been very impressed by your progress. I expect you to have full control of your transformation in another six months."

"That long?" sighed Nemir as her shoulders drooped in disappointment, "I don't want to sound impatient, but I was hoping to be exploring the ocean long before now."

"I know this can be a bit tedious, but it is imperative that you have ultimate control in all aspects," explained Aeriel.

"I've spent my entire life swimming in these waters," her arms motioning back to the shore. "I don't see how that has changed now that I have a tail," challenged Nemir crossing her arms and facing her mother.

"I understand your frustration, but you aren't ready. Your powers are starting to emerge and you don't yet understand what you can do," countered Aeriel as she tried to calm her daughter.

"Then teach me. I'm tired of having buckets of water dumped on me like I'm a dirty pig. I've made so much progress. I can do more!" demanded Nemir.

"You can't rush this process," Aeriel's voice became more intense, "Stop thinking like a mortal Nemir. Power such as ours are not become mastered in a couple short months. I don't want you hurting yourself or others because I failed to train you incorrectly."

"I'm not dangerous!" insisted Nemir, "I would never hurt anyone! Do you really believe I would?"

"No, not intentionally you wouldn't," said her mother as she reached out to her daughter and brought her close, "but I need you to trust me. Please." The look of desperation in her mother's eyes instantly extinguished the rebellious flame inside of Nemir and she returned her mother's embrace.

"I'm sorry Naneth," apologized Nemir, "I will trust your wisdom in this."

Aeriel smiled down at her beautiful daughter, "Thank you Nemir. That is all I ask".

Seasons changed and soon the weather was growing colder. Frost encrusted the ground each morning, the blue sky was often hidden by dreary grey clouds and the wind would cut through the shore like a knife. The family spent what time they could indoors around the warm fire entertaining each other with songs and legends of old. Aeriel continued training lessons, but the focus became more academic since Reavor was spending more time at home due to the weather restricted the time he could spend in the boats.

Nemir was pleasantly surprised to discover that the colder temperatures didn't affect her as severely as it once did. Her body should be forced into an unpleasant state of violent shivering each time it was exposed to the cold water, but she only felt a mild coolness. Despite this, Nemir was beginning to dislike each trip she took with her mother down toward the shore. The urge to dive into the crashing waves became stronger with each visit and the touch of the waves on her skin was torture. She felt like a starving child at a banquet who was only allowed to eat the crumbs that fell to the floor. She loved her mother, but she was beginning to wondering if she was being a little over protective. She had almost complete control over the transformation now and could stand waist deep in the waves for over an hour before any desire took her and freshwater had no effect.

Nemir stayed strong until one particularly lovely spring day. It was the warmest she had experienced since the end of winter, and the sun was sending rays of joy through a cloudless blue sky. Nemir couldn't resist taking a walk down to the shore later that afternoon after assisting her mother with the chores. The sand felt smooth and warm between her toes, the blue of the water was so bright it seemed to merge with the sky, and the sun made the waves shine like diamonds. She had no intention of disobeying her mother's orders when she walked along the shallows where the waves met the shore. She had done it hundreds of times with her mother present and she had remained in control each time.

Instead of walking horizontally with the waves, however, Nemir's path gradually traveled farther out into the water. She knew in the back of her mind that she should stop, but that voice was drowned out by the sound of waves crashing and rolling into the shore. The water against her skin felt warm and comforting, but it soaked into her dress making it heavy and cumbersome. She slowly untied the sash around her waist and let the wind free the dress from her body and discarded it upon the shore. When the water reached her waist she allowed the transformation to overcome her and for the first time she was able to experience the motion of her powerful fin and how it moved through the water.

She was an experienced swimmer before the existence of fins, but there were still some adjustments to be made. The force of her tail was more powerful than expected and she was quickly thrust forward into the water, the lack of control causing her to crash into the sand below. The continuous cycle of the waves swirling around her was disorienting and she was unable to surface to gain a breath. Her lungs burned and panic was beginning to set it. The battle was a losing one and she could no longer fight the urge to take a breath, but the result was not what she anticipated. Instead of drowning as salt water invaded her throat, she felt the relief of oxygen flood through her. Nemir didn't get much time to process this development before she was forced upon the shore, her body encrusted with sand. The sudden change from water to air caused her to cough as she slowly turned her body onto her back and collapsed into the sand. She laid there catching her breath, trying to process her new discovery. A giant smile spread across her face and she enthusiastically jumped back into the ocean using her muscular tail to push her past the waves and into deeper water.


Aeriel was beginning to worry. The sun was setting and Nemir had still not returned after leaving several hours ago to visit the beach. It wasn't unusual for her daughter to be gone for long periods of time, but it was almost dinner time and she had promised to be home before then. It certainly wasn't the first time Nemir had lost track of time while visiting the seashore, but a tingle of anxiety continued to nag at her. Finally she decided to fetch Nemir herself if only to silence her own head and the rock forming at the base of her stomach. The shore was just a quick walk away and Aeriel was soon scanning the beach for any sign of her missing daughter. She spotted a set of old footprints in the sand that lead toward the rising tide and rushed forward to follow them. The tracks didn't go far before the incoming waves washed away what remained, but the direction was clear. Aeriel tried to fight down the feeling of panic that was quickly developing within her, grasping at the slight hope that her daughter had not disappeared into the waves. Her weak optimism was soon smashed as she discovered Nemir's dress discarded on the shore, soaked by the incoming water. Grasping the fabric to her body, Aeriel looked out into the vast water as the sun began to sink into the horizon wondering if her daughter would return.


Nemir forced the muscles in her tail to cut through the water, feeling a slight burn as she tested her own limits. The speed she achieved was beyond anything she could have imagined before and she couldn't help but smile as bubbles and fish flew past her in a blur. She took a sharp turn upward using her full momentum to break the surface of the water, projecting her body high into the air. While there, she was able to glimpse a beautiful scene of the bay turned crimson and gold by the setting sun before diving back into the depths. She surfaced again to better appreciate the view while casually floating and allowing the current to guide her. So entranced was she that she didn't notice the small fishing boat until her head met the solid wood bow.

"Ouch!" she exclaimed in surprise as she turned to face the intrusive object while rubbing the back of her head. She turned and met two pairs of wide eyes staring down at her from the side of the boat. Their faces were young and they looked to be only a couple years older than Nemir. It took a moment for everyone involved to process the situation and the 3 teenangers stayed frozen exchanging surprised glances. Finally the skinny one with dirty blond hair and a pointy nose broke the silence, "Morfindir, quickly grab the net before it can enchant us."

Nemir did not wait to hear the reply before quickly ducking down into water with a flip of her powerful tail and splashing the faces of the two boys. Her heart quickened with a rush of adrenaline, and she traveled to what she thought was a safe depth before pausing to calm her nerves. She heard raised voices from above just before a harpoon flew past her. Pain sprang from her upper arm as stream of blood flowed into the ocean. A rope was attached to the weapon and as her eyes followed it to the boat above, a great anger grew inside her. How dare these boys try to harm her! She was not some animal to be hunted! She grabbed the rope and using her full power gave it an aggressive pull. As she expected, the thrower had attached the rope to his forearm in hopes to retrieve the target from the water and the unexpected force caused him to fall into the water. Into her domain. She was the predator here.

The boy splashed violently for a few moments calling out desperately to his friend for help, "Morfindir! Quick! Help me!".

Nemir, using the rope, pulled him out of the rescuing reach of the boat. She watched with satisfaction as he flailed about desperately. Perhaps now he will think twice before harming random women he meets in the ocean. A different voice from the boat above cut through the water, "Oaritsi, please have mercy on my cousin. Though he deserves your wrath, he can't swim."

"Well then he shouldn't be out in a boat then," thought Nemir unsympathetically. The blond boy's struggling was slowing down and his body was losing the battle to stay surfaced. As his body finally sank below the waves, Nemir's resolve began to waver and her anger slightly subsided. Sighing, she swam to the suspended body, looped her arms under his, and swam upward toward the boat. When the boy's head surfaced, he expelled salt water with a ragged cough before taking a deep breath. Strong hands instantly reached down and freed the body from the water, pulling it into the safety of the boat.

Nemir turned to leave when a voice called out, "Wait!" she turned to face the voice and saw it was the one called Morfindir. He looked like he was around 18 years of age with broad shoulders, long rich brown hair, and crystal blue eyes. Nemir couldn't help but think he was attractive, but the current circumstances did not place him him a positive light. She raised a single eyebrow in response and crossed her arms challengingly.

"Thank you," his eyes were full of sincerity and Nemir accepted his apology with a simple nod before disappearing below the surface.

Nemir attempted to calm herself after the violent interaction with the two males. She traveled to a secluded area and stayed hidden as the sky darkened to an inky black providing the perfect background for the silver glow of the moon and stars. The lack of clouds in the sky allowed the brilliant lights to reflect clearly upon the black surface of the still water, and Nemir could easily imagine herself swimming through the night sky amongst the stars. She felt peaceful for the first time since her 15th birthday party so many months ago. The delight caused the Sea Song to stir within her and the urge to voice this feeling grew and a gentle song escaped from her lips into the night.


Aeriel took a few calming breaths and tried to focus on creating a strategy to locate her missing daughter. Her only advantage being that Nemir was unfamiliar with her mer-form which should limit her to the bay. This wasn't saying much, however, because the Bay of Belfast was rather vast and almost stretched the width of the whole kingdom. She had no other option; she needed more fins in the water if she was to be successful.

Stepping into the waves, she begrudgingly called for the two Foam Maidens she knew would be close enough to answer her distress song. "Laegwen and Mithiel please hear my plea. My daughter has become lost to me. I need your help searching the sea." Aeriel repeated the phrase a couple more times before returning to the edge of the waves to pace impatiently while waiting for her sisters to arrive. Thankfully, their response was swift and Aeriel soon spotted two forms walking out of the ocean toward her.

The first was an impressive sight for the woman was over six feet tall with defined muscles and broad shoulders. Her hair was an eye catching shade of silver that reflected the moonlight giving it a subtle glow and eyes of cutting blue. Her body expelled confidence, her face was often seen sporting a cocky grin and she was known for her sharp tongue. Aeriel had always been impressed by Mithiel and her extraordinary attitude.

Laegwen followed close behind. Her body was also tall and muscled, but her frame was slender and she moved gracefully like kelp swaying with the currents. Her hair and eyes were a vibrant green that was not dimmed by the lack of light. She was known as a gentle soul who spent most of her time tending to the sea life that lived amongst the shadows.

"Sisters!" exclaimed Aeriel as she rushed to embrace them, "We must move with much haste. Nemir has disappeared into the bay and I fear the worst".

"We will offer what help we can dear sister, but surely no harm would come to her here," responded Laegwen calmly.

"Yes, Aeriel," boomed Mithiel, "These are calm waters and the sky is clear. No need to hover about the girl like a hungry seagull".

"You don't understand," explained Aeriel frantically, "She isn't prepared. This is the first time she has experienced deep water in her mer form, and I'm not there to assist her."

Mithiel raised an eyebrow at her sister, "Surely you jest. It has been almost a year since her awakening. No wonder she disappeared. The calling must have been driving the girl mad."

"It does seem rather unorthodox..," added Laegwen hesitantly.

"I was trying to protect her," defended Aeriel, "I wanted her to have better control before she faced the full calling of the Sea Song again."

"Was she having issues controlling her form?" asked Laegwen.

"No, she has been doing quite well actually…" replied Aeriel quietly.

"Then what seems to be the issue here?" demanded Mithiel.

"She… possesses the Sea Spell. I heard it in her song the night of her 15th birthday during the ceremony," confessed Aeriel to the Foam Maidens.

Laegwen and Mithiel exchanged confused glances before turning their faces toward the frustrated mother. "Aeriel, has living with men for 20 years turned your brain into a sponge? You are speaking nonsense. Your daughter simply inherited this skill from you, or have you forgotten?" Mithiel challenged with her typical lack of couth.

"What Mithiel is trying to say," interjected Laegwen shooting a warning glance at Mithiel, "why would this cause you to limit Nemir's expose to the ocean?"

"I was scared," Aeriel sighed and sank down into the sand as if she could no longer support the weight that rested upon her shoulders, "The Sea Spell is such a difficult gift to control and Nemir is still so young. I didn't want to risk exposing her to the full power of the Sea Song before she had learned control. The call only makes it more difficult to learn restraint."

"Aeriel," Laegwen took a seat next to her sister, "Where did the fear of your gift come from? It is a rare blessing."

"Blessing," scoffed Aeriel, "All of us possess the power to influence the actions of men. Lure them in numerous directions, confuse their minds, or summon mist to blind their eyes, but no matter how strong the song their will is still intact. You couldn't force them to complete an action that conflicted with their very soul. The Sea Spell is different. A man would murder his own mother if I demanded it. I once ordered a Captain to steer his ship into another resulting in the death of himself and most of his crew. Men he had sworn to guide and protect now dead by his hand." Aeriel looked into the faces of her sisters searching for a sign of understanding, "That sort of power… it is corrupting. In my younger days, I was foolish and thought to use it to my advantage and was almost lost to darkness. I do not want that for Nemir."

The three sat for a moment until Mithiel broke the silence, "You had no one to teach you Aeriel. None of us did and this resulted in many mistakes being made in the early years, but you can be there for your daughter. Keep her from making the same mistakes you did, but only if you are honest with her. You have to trust her. "

The three women walked determinedly into the surf when Laegwen suddenly stopped and motioned for the others to the same. "I hear a faint song on the wind." Aeriel and Mithiel followed suit and strained their ears.

"I hear it as well… it sounds like… Nemir!" exclaimed Aeriel, quickly getting to her feet and stripping away her dress.

"We best hurry before she has every boy in the village fetching their boats. You were right Aeriel; she is certainly a natural," with a wink Mithiel dived into a waves and the two quickly followed.

The group followed the song through the darkness and into the bay till they spotted a female figure floating in the moonlight.

"Nemir," yelled Aeriel.

"Naneth?" Nemir's song stopped as she searched for the source of the voice. Aeriel rushed to her daughter and attempted to embrace her, but Nemir pushed away putting a healthy distance between her and her mother.

Aeriel was a little taken aback, "Nemir, why do you run from me?"

"I don't want to leave. I want to stay here where I belong. You've kept me away too long," challenged Nemir.

"I'm sorry darling, I shouldn't have kept you away from the ocean for this long," apologized Aeriel, "but I was only trying to protect you. What happened to your arm?" she asked spotting the red gash.

"Nothing, I wasn't able to handle," responded Nemir covering her wound with her hand.

"This is what I was afraid of!" exclaimed Aeriel, "Were you attacked?". Nemir remained silent but her guilty eyes spoke volumes to her mother.

"It is easy to lose yourself within the depths if you aren't anchored. You were attacked today, and yet instead of hiding we were still able to find you by following your song. What if we had been a group of mortals wanting revenge? I have made mistakes, I know, I only ask that you allow me to fix them," Aeriel offered her daughter her hand.

"And you won't be doing it alone," interjected Mithiel.

Nemir strained her neck to look around her mother searching for the source of the voice, "Who is there?" Two Foam Maidens swam up to join the mother and daughter.

"This is Mithiel and Laegwen who agreed to assist me in my search for you." Nemir greeted her aunts with a shy wave slightly embarrassed that they had witnessed her outburst.

"We would like to offer our services to you Nemir," continued Mithiel, "Your mother is a talented mermaid to be sure, but we each have our own specialties to offer."

"Are you sure?" asked Aeriel, "She is still young and has a few years to go."

"When you have lived as long as we have sister, what are a couple years? Besides, I can't let you teacher her how to use a spear. Your aim was always horrible," taunted Mithiel.

"Spear! You're going to teach me how to fight?" Nemir asked excitedly.

"Oh, I'm going to teach you more than that. I'm going to teach you win!" Mithiel grasped Nemir's shoulder, "sturdy frame, but your muscles need improvement. You won't do much damage with those jellyfish arms".

"Sometimes conflict is not always the best option," interjected Laegwen, "My specialty focuses on the benefits of camouflage".

"I remember the time you summoned a fog so thick, the sailors were unable to walk on the deck of the ship for fear of falling overboard," reminisced Aeriel laughing.

"Will I be able to do that?" Nemir's face could barely contain her excitement.

"That depends. Each of us is gifted with different talents and abilities and yours will surface as you grow older," explained Aeriel, "but I think it is best if we return home for now. Your Ada will certainly be worried at our unexpected absence".

"But Naneth, you haven't told me about your gift," said Nemir.

"Tomorrow, Nemir, I promise to share with you, but it is late and this tale is a long one," vowed her mother.

Nemir's curiosity was peaked, "You know I'll hold you to that."

"I would expect nothing less," smiled Aeriel, "Let's go home".


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