Chapter 1 Reward from the Mer King
On the day that changed Ross Poldark's life forever, he was walking along the shore below the cliffs near his home of Nempara. He was also feeling tired and lonely when he suddenly heard a scream full of rage and fear.
He moved faster down the beach in the direction of the cry, turning his steps to a small inlet hidden by large boulders and coming to a halt with his shock at what he was seeing.
A beautiful woman with long, curled and wavy red hair lay half in and half out of the shallow water. She was trapped in a fisherman's net as she hissed and thrashed while trying to escape her entanglement.
Ross rushed to her side, uncaring about the freezing saltwater as he went to his knees. He was relieved when she froze in response to his presence, her bright emerald green eyes wide and staring up at him.
"Easy, lady. It is alright," he promised, attempting to lessen her anxiety. "I am here to assist you."
He drew a small knife from his left boot and began to carefully cut the net free from around her body. Ross blinked rapidly as she was finally released, her long red and wet hair hanging over her shockingly bare breasts. But what caught and held his attention was the dark green-scaled tail ending in lighter green fins.
The fish-woman hissed at him, revealing pointed white teeth that appeared deadly sharp. She was clearly young and afraid. She then scrabbled with her hands away from both the net and him, dragging herself fully back into the water and quickly disappearing beneath the waves.
Ross stared at the still rippling water, feeling as though he were in a dream. He put away his knife carefully, beginning to gather up the old fishing net to take with him and repair it.
Ross looked back at where she had dissapeered beneath the waves just once, then lifted the net into his arms and walked back along the shore. When he reached the narrow cliffside path back up to his home he started climbing.
It was getting late in the day by then, so Ross had a filling supper of thick stew reheated over the fire, still thinking of the young mermaid as he headed to his bed for the night.
When he took his usual walk along that same stretch of beach the next day Ross decided to sit down for a while on a rock near the water and stare out at the ocean, feeling melancholy and cold.
Ross sat for about a half-hour or so, then began to get up to leave, pausing when he heard a voice call out to him softly from the water.
"Wait, please."
Ross turned back to the ocean, his dark eyes going wide in response to the vision before him. A young man was floating out in the water, making use of a large black sea rock to conceal himself from anyone else who might come walking along the beach. Though, such a thing was highly unlikely to occur, as this beach belonged to Ross.
The man's visible skin was bare and pale, his sandy brown hair long and wavy, and his silver-grey eyes large and beautiful as he gazed at Ross in uncertain silence.
"Yes?" Ross asked him curiously, moving to sit back down. He drew his legs back up against his torso, placing his arms and chin on his knees while he watched the man swim closer. "Do you need something?"
"I wished to thank you for saving Demelza yesterday, is Mer tradition to thank all who assist our people. She has always been far too curious for her own good. Especially about the land."
"I see. I am glad I could save her. And you may call me Ross."
"Ross?"
"Yes. Ross Poldark."
"Then thank you, Ross. My name is George. I also came to request that you not reveal our existence to other humans. The existence of mers. It would endanger all our lives, as I am sure you can imagine."
"Yes, I do see. Even if I had someone to tell, I would not. I would never wish harm upon either of you. Or others of your kind."
"This is good," George stated with a clearly pleased smile at him across the water. "It is also a tradition of our people that when a human assists one or more of us, we offer that human a gift. Therefore, if it is something we can give, it shall be provided for you."
"Oh, that- that is not necessary," Ross replied honestly. "I am glad I was able to help, but I do not need.."
"Please, Ross, this order comes straight from our king. Demelza is his betrothed, and shall be queen one day."
"Oh, goodness. Well.."
"Yes?"
"Does the request need to be for physical possessions?"
"Not necessarily, no."
"..Then, would you spend time with me, George?"
"I.." he began, clearly hesitant as he blinked rapidly. "You want to spend time with me?"
"Yes," Ross replied hoarsely, blinking back sudden tears from his dark eyes. "You seem kind, and.. you are beautiful. I hope my saying so does not offend you. I am so lonely, George. I have no one. No one who cares about me but my cousin Verity. No one to care for. Except for Verity and Aunt Agatha, what is left of my family has turned their backs on me."
"I am sorry for that, Ross. Your request may be.. uncommon, but it is unlikely the king shall object, given what you have done for his betrothed. And what you said about me does not offend. Would you not rather spend your time with a willing mermaid, though?"
"No, George," Ross replied quickly, his dark eyes widening with clear alarm at the thought. "I am a man, but I have never been romantically drawn to women. They could be my friends, of course. But who I need is a mate. A man I can hold and cherish. Sleep beside. Make love with. Spend my life with. Trust with my heart."
"I understand, Ross. I have never been drawn to women in that manner, either."
"Truly?" he asked with hope now in his voice and expression.
"Yes. I swear it."
"Then you will meet me here tomorrow, George?"
"Yes. I will, Ross."
"Thank you. That means a lot to me."
Ross stood up then, preparing to make his way back to his home. But his head began to spin suddenly and he stumbled, losing his balance. He managed to catch himself with his hands so he did not faceplant on the pebbly sand, but when he tried to get back up he had no strength in his arms.
"Ross!" George gasped. He swam closer to the beach, his expression suddenly concerned. "Are you alright?"
"I.. have not been feeling well. But this is.. I do not think I can get up to make it home. Everything is spinning, and I have no strength in my arms."
"That is not good. Hold on and I will help you."
"Alright," Ross agreed weakly.
He watched in slightly delirious silence as George swam closer to the shore. Ross was stunned when the merman walked out of the water on legs covered in deep blue, skin-tight pants made of gleaming fish scales. His chest was bare and his long, slightly curled, and sandy brown hair was wet, hanging to his slender shoulders.
George came nearer, bending down to draw Ross close into his strong arms, securing his grip on him before he stood again and began to carry Ross up the beach. "You will have to tell me the way to your home, Ross."
"Yes. It is up that path there. A dark, dreary stone building."
"Is there anyone there to tend to you?"
"No. I had to let the last of the servants go. I could no longer afford to pay them."
"I see. Then I shall care for you, Ross."
"I.. Thank you, George," Ross whispered before abruptly going limp in his arms.
"Ross! Ross!" George cried in concern. He jostled him in his arms to try and wake him, but he did not respond.
George hurried up the path that Ross had pointed out to him, ignoring the pain the rocks and sticks caused to his bare feet. It was not long before he spotted Ross's home, rushing up the path and through the gate.
George entered the house and quickly located Ross's bed chambers, stripping the man out of his wet clothes before laying him down in the bed and beneath the covers. He then moved to add more wood to the low burning fire already in the grate of the small fireplace before moving back to Ross's side. George pressed the palm of his right hand to Ross's forehead gently, becoming even more worried when he felt the unnatural heat in his flesh.
George looked around frantically, relief transforming his fair features as he saw a basin and pitcher of water on a nearby small table. He grabbed the cloth beside the basin, dampening it with the cool water and beginning to tenderly bathe the top half of Ross's body to cool him down. He continued to do this, rewetting the cloth as needed until he was certain Ross had come out of unconsciousness and drifted into a peaceful sleep.
George then laid down beside Ross, but atop the covers, not wanting to assume he was welcome in the man's bed while he was sick, but needing to rest near him in case Ross woke before him.