Crossposted on AO3

Part of Reylo Fanfiction Anthology 2021

Author's note:

First and foremost, I am so honoured to be part of something like RFFA. Whenever any RFFA event was around, I was either already too busy writing several fics in the same time I didn't want to put on hold or too busy with life and it was never a good time for me to participate. But this time, this time it finally worked for me.

I'd like to thank to all the RFFA mods – Victoria (who did my first draft), Viv (who did my second draft), Alexandra, Briar, Celie and Mneme for getting this together and being absolute stars all over again. The amount of time and love you dedicate to creating something like this and forcing us, writers, to be better in the most incredible way is heart-warming.

I want to thank mamabeardinolady on AO3 (and mumbeardinolady on Twitter) for the Beta before I even sent the story to the mods for the first time – she did an incredible job, assaulted the raw draft with commas and had the patience to put a stop to my endless sentences and divide them for which I am eternally grateful.

I also must thank to the people of Tumblr - lexinoctura, dazzlingstarlight and divermarv who supported me when I began to bitch about how much I want to join this event and couldn't find any inspiration. Thanks to them, I didn't give up and found the right one.

My last thanks belong to my surrogate sister Athina who cheered me on and although we don't write for the same fandom anymore, we always read our respective pieces. Love you, sis XOXO

Tags and warnings:

Character Tags: Rey (Star Wars), Ben Solo/Kylo Ren, Kylo Ren, Ben Solo, Poe Dameron, Phasma, Finn, Luke Skywalker

Settings Tags: Kelpies, Sea Monsters, Celtic Mythology & Folklore, Alternate Universe, Alternate Universe – Fantasy, Alternate Universe – Fairytale, Alternate Universe – Mythology, Deities, Otheworld, Samhain

Additional Character Tags: Princess Rey, Kelpie Ben Solo, Kelpie Kylo Ren, Prince Poe Dameron, Housemaid Phasma, Friend Finn, Magician Luke

Warning Tags: Explicit Sexual Content, Smut, Sex, Vaginal Sex, Vaginal Fingering, Mildly Dubious Consent, Dubious Consent Due to Identity Issues, Marriage of Convenience, Shapeshifting, Kidnapping, Abduction

Additional Tags: Rey and Poe Dameron are Siblings, True Love, Magic of True Love, All Magic Comes With a Price, Implied Phaime (Braime with Phasma)

LOVE BEYOND THE OCEAN'S VEIL

CHAPTER 1 – A Meeting

Once upon a time on an island far far away, there was a kingdom renowned for its breathtaking nature. Fertile fields, deep valleys, green hills and flowery meadows were interwoven with a myriad of mysterious forests. Woodlands and groves, surrounded by rocky mountains and glacial tills were embellished by sandy and pebbled beaches as a sea-green ocean bathed the banks of this fairytale realm.

The kingdom and its residents lived prosperous and wealthy lives under the rule of their sovereigns. The king and queen shared a mutual affection, respect and love fabled far beyond the island's borders. Their continental neighbours and other allies cherished their peaceful and forthcoming reign because they could always depend on their help whenever it was requested.

Their dynasty had already secured its continuation. Two children produced by the royal couple had recently reached adulthood – a son, the heir to the throne, named Dameron and a daughter called Rey. With a year and half age gap, the siblings loved each other dearly despite the peculiar rivalry between them. They often spent their time together in the palace gardens playing various games.

Dameron was an adventurous boy who never declined the opportunity to prove himself in a challenge, especially if it involved exploring something entirely new. Despite his impulsiveness, he always managed to deal with the trouble he got himself into quite well, thanks to the very close circle of his friends with whom he made all these thrilling journeys.

He loved hunting, and always stepped up whenever it was needed to help his subjects. After his engagement to a princess from an allied kingdom, he even set off on a trip around the island with his retinue to spread the goodwill of his parents and increase his popularity among the common people. As their future king, it was important to him to let them know that his reign would be as peaceful and prosperous as the one of his parents.

His sister, Rey, who was his best friend and confidant, and who he loved just as she loved him, was the true embodiment of her name's meaning. She was indeed a 'Jewel of the Island' for many, the treasured princess, one of the most beautiful maidens in the realm. With a kind heart and a loving soul, she put herself out on any occasion to aid her people and her friends.

Albeit good-natured, growing up with mischievous Dameron had taught Rey to be courageous and self-assertive when she needed to be. She hardly allowed herself to be intimidated or frightened off by anything. If anyone ever tried to browbeat her, she fought back tooth and nail without seeking help in her royal status, her parents or her brother.

While most of her female friends were lately all about getting married, Rey didn't have any thoughts on getting a husband anytime soon. Her life was very linear in this regard – she was to be wed to a nobleman of her choosing whenever she decided the time was right. Since she hadn't met the right man yet, the idea of marriage didn't appeal to her whatsoever, although she was happy that her friends had found their happiness.

Her interests lay elsewhere – outdoors, in the open air where nature performed magic tricks and converted the mundane world into breathtaking sights. She cherished the beach adjacent to the palace gardens the most and fancied spending most of her time on this variable playground. It offered the most beautiful view on the open sea, where the sandy, pebbled area stretched alongside the banks of the island up to the nearest port and far beyond.

Quite often she was seen walking across the dunes, picking up pebbles and seashells so she could build structures from the stones or write messages, as well as draw pictures into the sand with sticks. She loved bathing in the calm sea warmed by the shining sun or just sitting on a blanket on the beach, watching the hypnotic, raging waves hitting the seashore endlessly.

She also weaved wreaths from the flowers she picked in the garden behind her on her way to the beach, letting her love for music consume her. The songs she sang were diverse in the lyrics, melody and their meaning but she loved the ones about unhappy love the most. Their emotional tune and heart-rending, poetic lines always made her heart flutter. When she sang aloud, her voice gained a husky, yet clean tone.

Thinking of you, my love

Through the gold nights when I cannot sleep

Dreaming about nights we were together

Through the restless nights where there is no repose

For you are no longer at my side

The beach was simply her favourite spot where she spent a great deal of her time, no matter if she was alone, with her friends, with her brother or his friends. However, even when she thought she was alone, recently she had not been. Unbeknown to her, someone watched her from afar – at least from the beginning. With time, he moved gradually closer, observing her from the bushes, behind the trees, or from the occasionally convenient shadow in the garden.

The young man had never tried to speak to her, albeit having no intention to harm the princess with his silent attention. The beauty of the maiden on the beach had taken his breath away like an ancient spell and rendered him speechless. Her light, yet sun-kissed skin was in a delightful contrast with his paleness, just as her chestnut hair contrasted with his ebony locks.

But with each passing day, his interest in her and his desire to be near her grew. However, his prudence didn't allow him to risk the face-to-face encounter with her, for he was no ordinary man. He was a Kelpie, the Lord of the Deep from the Otherworld, a mythical creature feared by the mortals. His eternal charge commanded him to drown the impudent humans who dared to get too close to the invisible water borders of the Otherworld.

His fingers had gotten burnt several times in the past because of this, and so he had chosen to interact with humans as least as possible. But this girl was something else – an epitome of divine beauty he felt drawn to like a moth to the flame. He couldn't stay away from her, no matter how hard he tried. Periods of renunciation were followed by days of longing, and then periods of incessant trips to the beach to observe her until he couldn't stand it anymore.

As a Kelpie, he was gifted with shape-shifting abilities and could adopt several forms that were more acceptable to the mortals than his true one. Since he didn't want to scare her, he often shape-shifted into a horse, although he was aware of the danger that came along with it. But her gaze full of admiration, the flush in her cheeks and the glint in her eyes when she noticed the black horse galloping towards her across the sandy dunes were worth it.

He slowed down to a trot as he neared her, eventually switching to a walk in order to not sprinkle her with splashing sea water. Stamping his front hooves several times, he stopped a relatively close distance from her, turning sideways so she could admire his beauty. She couldn't hold back her excited sigh when she saw the golden colour reflecting from the sun in his pitched-black velvety coat; it vibrated through him like the sweetest wine.

Rey watched the horse in silent wonder and examined his slim, yet muscular neck covered with long, black mane, all the way to the top of the graceful small head with high forehead and arched profile. His body was sturdy but lean, characterized by an exquisite symmetry seen in the rarest breeds. And he seemed to be alone, for she couldn't see his owner anywhere in sight.

She had been taught how to ride horses since childhood, so her respect towards this elegant animal was practically innate. Carefully, she approached him and the horse snorted in response, twitching his ears. Her hand gently caught the bright red bridle around his head, and held it for a while to let him know she meant no harm to him. Thanks to that, he allowed her to caress him across his forehead and mane as she affectionately removed the sea weed from his locks.

"Where did you come from?" She whispered her thoughts to the handsome beast as if she expected an answer.

However, the horse remained silent and only raised his ears or flicked his long, silken tail. Once more, she scanned the beach that stretched far on both sides, but saw no one. Shrugging, she simply figured he had wandered off from his owner in the capital.

But the animal proved to be more mysterious than she had initially thought. When the sun began to set, the horse nudged her gently with his nose and then galloped away before she could blink. Once she realized that his action was actually meant to be a goodbye, he was just a black smudge in the distance, and she had no chance to catch up to him in her attire.

The next day, however, she found the horse waiting for her on the beach, neighing happily as if greeting her. She was mesmerized by the creature and gladly spent another day in his company; but she didn't cease to wonder who his owner was, and why he didn't search for him. As he never begged for food and was obviously well-maintained, she was sure that he wasn't mistreated.

However, the sudden departure repeated again and then again the day after that, increasing her curiosity. She even had a notice put up with a depiction of the animal, and a request to anyone who owned such a horse to come forward without fear in exchange for a substantial financial reward. She waited and waited for days but no one ever answered.

Things with the horse were even stranger. Not only did he always vanish once the sunset drew near, he also never appeared when someone else was with her on the beach. His arrival seemed to be conditioned by her being alone and so no one had ever seen him up-close. Rey's family and friends saw him only from afar as they strolled through the garden overlooking the beach, and the same went for the royal guards patrolling the castle's premises.

Probably the most curious thing with him was that he never allowed her to swing up on his back for a ride; stubbornly bucking his hind legs, or rearing up on them in dissent whenever she tried to do so. It frightened her the first time it had happened, especially since he had hysterically neighed. She eventually understood and learned to respect his untameable nature.

Her fondness for him grew despite this, for he was usually docile and happy to do anything else. She often led him criss-cross the beach, caressing him gently, and brushing his coat with a special pearl comb she had purchased just for these occasions. His mane soon turned into a braided embellishment, and his head was usually topped with one of the wreaths she had weaved for him. His gentle whinnies often accompanied her songs as he joined her in singing.

One day, roughly three months before the prince's wedding, Dameron and his friends decided to go fishing, taking a break from the chaotic hustle and bustle of the preparation. It was a welcomed and not unheard of distraction, for he was a seasoned and excellent seafarer who enjoyed navigating the ships across the blue depths. If he wasn't the crown prince with a determined future, he would surely become a navigator exploring the farthest corners of the unknown regions. After all, the very first detailed map of the island's coastline was created by him in cooperation with the royal cartographers.

Saying goodbye to his parents and sister, he set sail on a short but hopefully beneficial cruise that eventually turned out to be a living nightmare. Despite the favourable weather forecast, the gods sent a storm in their direction that caught them by surprise. The whole crew consisted of experienced and strong men who managed to keep the ship steady and unharmed, not losing a single member of their company.

But in spite of their unscathed escape, they strayed off their original course, having no idea where they were. Lost in the unfamiliar waters, Dameron remained stoically calm, and commanded his friends with an iron hope they would pinpoint their location soon. It was as if his confidence grew exponentially to the uncertainty of the situation, to prove his leadership abilities for a hundredth time, gaining more and more respect.

To find their way back home, they had to discover a landmark that would correspond with the map they had with them onboard. Scouring the voiceless but not silent sea, they searched the land behind the horizon, following the orbit of the sun above their heads. It took long hours that felt like eternity, but a happy shout from one of the crew members seated atop the main mast in the crow's nest roused them from the apathy into which they had all fallen.

An isle half-covered in a strange mist appeared in front of them on the west, and they didn't hesitate to sail towards it in hope to find some good folk who could tell them how far they were from home. But all they could see, once they were near enough to discern its features, was a beautiful creature cantering back and forth on the sandy shore, neighing merrily at them.

It was a horse black as the infinite depths of the ocean; his dark mane flying in the air wildly like the restless foam around the rocks of the seashore. The sunrays toyed with the colour of his coat that spanned all known shades in the world, and his soft whinnying as he pawed his hooves on the pebbles scattered around the dunes sounded like the most magical lullaby known to mankind.

Fascinated by the beauty of the gentle and graceful beast that resembled the one Dameron's sister Rey had befriended, they all disembarked the ship and went ashore as the horse tossed his muscular neck several times, urging them to follow him. His snorts accompanied by adorable twitching in his ears. The horse seemed friendly and welcoming, and his sideways posture invited the men to come and caress his silky coat.

But once they touched the robust, yet slender body of the stallion, the coat changed beneath their hands into a slimy, viscous substance. It glued them to the skin of the creature and even if they tried, they wouldn't be able to unstick their hands from it. However, none of them found it concerning as they were too mesmerized by the horse's appearance and his soothing neighs.

Instead, they grew bolder and one after the other, encouraged by the success of their mates, they swung up on his back with the intention to ride him. Although the beast was the same size as a regular horse, he was miraculously capable of fitting all the men on his back and still had enough space for more. Once again, none of the men grew aware of the impending danger, oblivious to all the warning signs.

Not even when the horse suddenly took off and ran to the sea, speeding across the choppy bright waves as if they were solid ground, did they realize what kind of disaster befell them. The creature carried them away towards the red-gold setting sun, passing through the beautiful great valleys formed by waves and tides. In the end, he plunged down to the yawning maw of Corryvreckan, the great whirlpool, which was believed to be the entrance to the mythical Otherworld, the realm of gods and deities.

The isle, half-covered in the mist, vanished after the sea surface closed behind them. Only their ship sadly creaked into the dead silence, as if it mourned the fate of the young men who hadn't overcome their vanity and brought the doom upon themselves. If they hadn't ignored the ancient lore taught since childhood, or the various danger signals, they could have been saved.

But they hadn't, for they didn't believe in the spooky stories floating around the kingdom. They considered them to be tales for the children to purposefully frighten them away from doing dangerous things that could cost them their lives. As well-built young men, they didn't see a reason to believe in such nonsense. But where there's smoke, there's fire, and the dreadful Kelpie punished them for their insolence, kidnapping them to the Otherworld as the myths foretold.

Everyone back in the kingdom had no idea Dameron and his crew were struck with such misfortune. After their ship failed to return back in the expected time frame, the king and queen sent the naval forces to perform a brief search in the near vicinity of the island, just in case their son and his friends were in some trouble and needed help to get back home.

But the time passed and their ship was still nowhere to be seen. Each day the naval ships returned back to the port empty-handed, much to the chagrin of everyone. The tension, nervousness, and anxiety slowly rose among the common folk, even though no one dared to think that their crown prince abandoned them. Instead, they incessantly worried about his fate for he was beloved and dear to many.

Rey endured the period of uncertainty and concern quite well, at least on the outside. As opposed to everyone else who fell into despair, she remained calm and even encouraged the others to believe in Dameron's return. Only when she was alone, she allowed herself to fear for her brother's life. She prayed to the gods for his fortunate homecoming, which she considered to be impossible with each passing day.

After several days of providing constant and welcoming comfort, she sensed she couldn't hold her heartache inside any longer. Choosing an appropriate unguarded moment, she ran away to take solace in the place she regarded as the most soothing – the sea shore below the palace gardens, where she had spent fantastic fairy-tale days with the mysterious horse.

Expecting him to be there, yearning to hear his lovely whinnies, she couldn't wait to confide her troubles to his nice, friendly face. But for the first time since she had known him, the horse failed to meet her expectations, for he was nowhere in sight. She curried hopelessly around the beach for a while, calling him, but the familiar creature she sought the solace in wouldn't appear.

Eventually, her knees buckled under the weight of the soul-eating sorrow deep within her, and she dropped on the sandy ground. The tears she couldn't hold back welled up in the corners of her eyes and began to stream down her cheeks as sobs vibrated through her. Overpowered by the worry for her brother, and fatigue from helping the others to stay positive, she broke down.

The Kelpie wasn't as heartless as it could seem, no matter what the myths and ancient lore claimed about him. He had developed a strong affection for the young woman, which resulted in the existence of a bond between them, despite his best efforts and good intentions. Thanks to it, he always knew for sure when she planned to visit the beach alone, so he could keep her company as the horse she adored.

Now, he found himself in an agitated state, for his beloved maiden suffered and he could sense her ache as if it was his own. It bothered him that he had no idea what ailed her, but he couldn't risk seeking her out in the human's castle. Once he had heard her calling, he immediately left his underwater kingdom to meet her. Yet he couldn't stop the feeling that something was terribly wrong with her.

The moment he reached the sea shore, ready to turn into a horse, he overheard her cries and thoughtlessly came running towards her. When he realized that he hadn't swapped his human form for the form of the friendly animal companion she knew, it was too late. He was but a few steps away from her when she looked up in hope that it was her favourite creature.

Instead she was too stunned by seeing a man where her horse was supposed to be. Rey remained silent and just watched him dumbfounded.

"What harm has been done to you, milady? It is such a shame to see your beautiful face tainted with those sad tears," he addressed her rather courtly, trying to be as polite as possible since this was for the first time he had ever said a single intelligible word to her.

For a brief moment, she forgot about everything in the world and lived only for the blush creeping inside her cheeks. As a princess, she was used to the courteous behaviour from others, albeit she hardly ever insisted on it. Yet it was twice as pleasing coming from the handsome young man, who focused his dark eyes on her with the warmest look she had ever seen on anyone.

Although he towered over her with his tall, lean figure, she didn't feel threatened by him at all. His face, pale as the foam on the waves striking the shore, radiated kindness and the way the sun reflected in his charcoal hair gifted him with an odd, pleasant halo. His clothes were plain – a pair of boots, linen trousers and tunic with a belt, all in a colour of the darkest ink. For some reason, she felt drawn, almost attracted to his full lips to the point where her heartbeat quickened.

But then she realized that the man wasn't anyone familiar. She knew every single maid and servant working in the guarded premises of the palace, and she would surely know if someone new had been hired.

"Who are you?" She questioned him instead, scrambling quickly back on her feet while she wiped the tears away from her face. "What are you doing here?"

He blinked away the foolish idea to tell her the truth and rather chose a more acceptable version of his existence. "My apologies, princess. My name is Ben, I'm a fisherman," he lied easily as the words came to his mind at will. "I live on the coast further west from here and I humbly ask for your forgiveness. I did not mean to trespass."

She didn't honour his explanation with an answer, too busy to keep her red-rimmed eyes off his moving lips. Rey settled them on his broad, fairly muscular chest she could see peeking out of top of the opened tunic, and then travelled down to his large, strong hands. She had no explanation for her noticeable curiosity in the man's appearance, but it confused her to no end nevertheless.

"I'm just trying to find my horse. He's kind of a wild creature so I always let him roam freely as he wishes," the fisherman added with a little smirk, for he noticed the effect his visage had on the princess and felt flattered by it. "Lately, he always runs and returns back from this direction."

Rey almost stopped breathing when she heard about the graceful beast that, by this description, seemed to be the same one that had kept her company for so many beautiful days.

"The black stallion is your horse?" she asked to be certain, and silently wondered whether the fisherman had ever seen the notice she had put up all over the capital.

"Yes, he is mine. I know it's a bit reckless to just let him run freely, but I could always rely on him. He was always back before the sun set behind the horizon. However, he went missing a couple of days ago," Ben clarified and conjured up a worried scowl on his face. "I gave him a day, waited for another one, and then I began looking for him. I followed his trail as much as possible and it led me here."

"He used to spend his days here, yes...," she nodded to confirm the results of his investigation, and looked around just in case she would spot the familiar black smudge in the distance. All she saw were the sea birds swooping and dancing in the warm sun. "But I haven't seen him for a while."

He gave a sad nod and lowered his head, digging the tip of his boot into the sand tentatively, as if he didn't know what else he could do in order to find the black creature. Rey sympathized with his helplessness, but every single person that had anything to do with security of the palace tirelessly worked on finding Dameron and his friends, or at least their ship.

"I wish I could help you," she sniffed and wiped away a new set of fresh tears that wetted her face, "but it seems that all the things I hold dear to my heart have started disappearing."

He looked up and his heart went out to her even more. Shoving his hands into the pockets of his linen trousers, he miraculously pulled out a silky handkerchief of a foamy colour, and offered it to her so she could wipe her face dry. "Is that why you are crying? Something else has been lost?" He asked curiously, happy to change the subject, because although the lying went easily, it didn't sit well with him.

Accepting the handkerchief, she momentarily admired the softness of the fabric that seemed to be made of the tiniest water bubbles mankind had ever seen. "Not something but someone," she corrected him, and caught the newly formed tear at the corner of her eyes with the handkerchief. She then attempted to blow her nose as appropriately as possible for someone of noble origin. "My brother is missing."

"What happened to your brother?" He clenched his hands into fists to resist the urge to caress her long, brown hair soothingly.

"Didn't you hear?" She was surprised at his ignorance for she would expect that the news about the missing crown prince was a widely known fact across the island by now. "He and his friends had gone fishing over a week ago and haven't returned yet. No one knows where they are or what happened to them despite the daily extensive search."

As she began to share more details from her brother's recent expedition, and what might have prevented him from coming home for the sea could be treacherous, a frown carved itself into Kelpie's face. He was the Lord of the Deep; he ruled the underwater kingdom and commanded its forces. He knew everything that happened within his water realm, whether it was a wrecked ship, drowned sailor or just a pebble thrown in the waves' midst.

If Rey's brother had been struck by a misfortune on the sea, he would have known it. No such event in the recent days, however, crossed his mind but one – about a week ago, he had kidnapped a group of young men into the Otherworld. Their ship strayed too close to the magical borders of the legendary realm, inhabited by magical creatures, deities, and dead whose deeds made them worthy to spend their afterlife among the eternal ones.

Horrified, he realized that these young men were the same men Rey talked about. He and his actions were the reason why this charming maiden suffered. Unintentionally and despite all his effort, he managed to hurt the woman he... yes, he already loved. Shape-shifting was his natural skill, but it didn't take away from him his ability to sense and feel as if he was in his normal form.

Even deities and other mythological creatures weren't excluded or protected from the same emotions typical for mortals. They felt hunger and thirst, they felt fatigue and exhaustion, and they were kind and deceitful. They fell in love and were conquered by hate; they married among themselves and divorced if the marriage was unsuccessful. They coveted things they couldn't have and didn't fear breaking the rules to get them. In all aspects, they were as good or bad as humans were, with only a few significant differences, immortality being one of them.

But before he could decide what to do with the nauseating knowledge he wished he could erase from his mind, Rey began to weep uncontrollably again. Her legs were still wobbly so she naturally sought a support in something firm she could hold tightly, like some sort of a comforting toy. Usually, she found it in the arms of her brother but since he couldn't be there, she hugged the man in front of her instead.

The contact of her warm body with his, as she wound her arms around his torso and lowered her head so she could nestle it against his chest, was as surprising as it was intoxicating. For a moment, he didn't know what to do with his hands, but as she squeezed him while sobbing and drenching his tunic with her tears, he put them on her back and embraced her.

Her scent was like the sweetest ambrosia and he couldn't resist nudging his nose into her hair to sniff at it so he could memorize her fragrance. In the meantime, he began to whisper assuring words into her ear in hope that any of them would help her to calm down. Seeing her in such a vulnerable, upset state when he had known her all happy and smiling was shock enough.

Comforting someone was an entirely new territory for him, so he also took it as an experiment to find more about her and discern what she liked. When he pressed her too much, she whimpered and so he relaxed his hold on her. When he started to draw circles on her back with his hands, she shivered and sighed in content and so he carried on, even daring to caress her hair from time to time.

And he was apparently good at it, because even after the tears and sobs subdued, Rey refused to leave his strong arms where she felt safe and secure. The rocking, soothing movement in combination with his deep voice vibrated through her and lulled her softly to sleep. It wasn't until she caught herself thinking about his pleasant sea-like smell when she realized she was hugging a complete stranger.

Appalled by her own behaviour, for she was hardly so affectionate with any man, she jumped back away from him to put some distance between them. "I am so sorry. That was absolutely inappropriate," she apologized for her emotional outburst that had caused her to cling on him so tightly that it was actually embarrassing. "I just... I'm supposed to be the strong one and I don't really have anyone to—"

"It's alright, princess," he interrupted her as he reached for her hand, and held it in his to let her know he didn't mind her allegedly unbecoming manners.

She tried very hard not to think about the way his thumb lightly moved inside her palm, but it certainly pumped her blood and sent her heart up into her throat. The gesture was so innocent, yet it spoke volumes, especially when she risked looking into his broody eyes. The attractive force between them seemed to be unearthly, but not wrong, and probably for the first time in her life, she found herself smitten with anyone.

"I really hope you find your horse, Ben. I really like him." She tried to disperse the unfamiliar tug inside her belly that didn't make her feel uncomfortable but bewildered her, and she needed a firm ground beneath her feet at the moment.

He sensed that she needed to pull herself together without direct physical contact with someone. Because it unsettled her, he let go of her hand and smiled at her instead. "Do tell," he said, inviting her to speak more about the horse that he supposedly owned, and of the days they had spent together on the beach in the palace gardens.

And she did, for she found it liberating to talk about the good days, forgetting momentarily about her sorrow. Her laughter replaced the sad tears as her missing brother and the missing horse blended together into a vague thought somewhere at the back of her mind. She lived only in the moment, spending the rest of the day on the beach in the company of the mysterious fisherman.

"Will I see you ever again?" Rey asked Ben tentatively at the end of the day. His presence made her feel peaceful and invigorated, thus she desired to spend more of her time with him.

He nodded with a smile, blind and deaf to the doom looming over his head. "I can come tomorrow, if you want." He offered as he brushed his fingers against hers while she hid her blushing cheeks underneath her hair. "My horse is still missing and I wouldn't want to miss him this time if he finds his way to these gardens."

From that day on, Rey and Ben met regularly at the sea shore a couple of times a week. The days passed, the horse had never shown up and the lovely and secret meetings between the princess and the fisherman were happening more often, even if they could spare only a few minutes. They didn't have to talk – or only one of them did and the other listened – but it was enough for them to walk side by side through the sandy dunes and watch the sun reflecting in the blue depths of the sea.

In spite of the initial troubles caused by the inner fear from the unknown, Rey eventually admitted to herself what she had never admitted to anyone – she had fallen in love with the young man, and the more often she saw him, the more her heart beat only for him. And what was more – he reciprocated her feelings, if she was to judge from the tenderness of his affectionate behaviour towards her.

Any oddities she might usually find strange were unimportant to her, only his presence was. If he insisted that he had to leave before the sun came near the western horizon so he would find his way home, she didn't question it. If she found traces of seaweed in his hair, she removed it and threw the dried pieces on the ground. If he brought her unique, colourful seashells or pearls as a gift, she thought he found them while he was at sea fishing.

His love made her happier and any outsider could clearly see that the princess was head over heels with someone, for such dimples in cheeks could be created by one magic only – love. She suddenly had a seemingly unlimited energy to support everyone and relentless hope for her brother's return, whereas others fell more and more into despair with no news, no clues, and no notion where the crown prince could be.

Nevertheless, their love was very chaste. The strongest displays of their mutual feelings were kisses on a cheek or forehead, or holding hands as they strolled or sat together on the beach. Neither had ever voiced those feelings through words, for they understood each other with a simple look, thanks to an extraordinary bond that was created between them without an intervention of some external force.

The contentment the Kelpie enjoyed when he was with Rey was followed by heart-rending nights full of suffering. Each time he lied to her to adapt his alias to what his life was supposed to be, a scar was carved into his soul. But he couldn't tell her the truth – the consequences of such an action were unthinkable, and he was already way too fond of her to easily fall out of love with her and let go of her. Just the sheer thought of losing her, never seeing her again, or living with the fact that she would despise him, brought him to the very edge of insanity.

What was worse, he was already mad because of the absurd situation he brought upon himself. He had become addicted to her with every fibre of his being and yet, he knew that any kind of closer relationship between them was impossible. She was a mortal of this world and he was a mythical creature from the Otherworld. They inhabited different planes of existence that could align twice a year but only for a limited time and in a limited way.

And while deities could enter in an official relationship with mortals, and it certainly wasn't an unprecedented case for the ancient lore mentioned several of them, he didn't have the heart to demand from her to abandon her kingdom, her home, her family and friends for him. Unfortunately, the unwritten mythological laws forbid him to renounce his eternal charge and become a mere human, as well.

The End of Chapter 1

The story is inspired by a Scottish myth The Kelpie from The Mammoth Book of Celtic Myths and Legends written by Peter Berresford Ellis and the bittersweet love story between the monstrous Kelpie and the princess Dianaimh.