Gwyn awakes with a start, gasping in shock as she seemingly feels herself land in the darkness of the Cauldron's plane of existence. As her eyes fly open, bright sunshine hits them, causing her to groan and shield them from the rays. That's when she hears a soft, and very familiar voice, then a soft, warm touch on her arm.
"Gwyn? Oh, darling. It's alright. It was just a dream."
Gwyn immediately puts her arm down and stares. Directly into the eyes of her mother.
"M-Mom?", her voice breaks.
"I'm right here, sweetheart", she says, stroking the red hair from Gwyn's face gently and smiling, stroking her freckles. "You fell asleep. Must have had a bad dream."
"No. No no no. This was the dream." Her heart lurches in her chest as she sits up a bit too quickly and looks around. They're at a beautiful grassy glen, at the edge of a sparkling stream that makes its way into a very deep and large watering hole, clear as crystal. The rushing of the waterfall is a dull roar in the distance. "This isn't real. I have to get back to save my father. Did I accidentally pluck another string by mistake? The harp must have brought me here."
Laughter comes from the water and she turns her head quickly. There, in the water, she sees another familiar face, a head of raven black hair, and glittering magenta-violet scales. Next to her is a male with his back turned, no tail, wading in the water, his long red hair darkened to a shade of auburn from being submerged.
"Catrin", Gwyn breathes out, tears springing to her eyes. "Mom", she chokes out again, looking back at her mother.
"Gwyn, what's wrong? You look absolutely terrified."
"I...", she breathes shakily and stares at the two figures relaxing in the water again. Suddenly, it dawns on her that it's him. Her father. With her sister. And her mother is here too—it was the harp. The string that can transport you to different realities was next to the one that death bends to.
Gwyn swallows hard but tries to compose herself. This could be good. She could get answers. And even better, she can see her entire family being happy together.
"Mom, do you love Dad?"
Her mother's teal eyes glimmer slightly, and she smiles, looking over at Eris. "Very very much."
Before she can stop herself, she throws her arms around Marina's neck and hugs her tightly, sniffling. "I love you. I love you so much, Mom."
"I love you too", she replies, stroking her hair. "Now, why don't you join your sister? Make sure she doesn't have the urge to sneak off and lure another boy with her singing?", she chuckles.
"You could swim with us too?"
"I could..."
"The priestesses aren't here. You don't have to be afraid of judgment."
Marina smiles and squeezes Gwyn's hand. "Your father says the same. That it's a part of me, and I should not be ashamed. But I was fairly wild as a child, and I had learned to suppress that as I got older to blend in more seamlessly with everyone else. Especially the High Fae. I suppose it's a habit by now. A mask of protection, if you will."
"Dad's right. He loves you for who you are. He doesn't care that you're half-nymph. He does not only love half of you."
She blushes slightly and looks at her hands.
"She's right you know." A male voice pipes up from next to them and they look up to see Eris. He smiles broadly and kneels on the blanket in front of Marina. "I fell in love with one hundred percent of who you are, Mar. I chose you. I love you. I love our girls."
She grins and cups his face, kissing him soundly, then tracing over his freckles as well. "I love you, too."
"I don't want you to suppress your urge to swim or anything else. We are here so we can both be happy and who we are, who we are meant to be. Free. Free from evil, dictation, and rules."
Gwyn smiles at her parents, entranced with one another and very clearly still in love, as she slips her necklace off and hangs it on a low tree branch next to Catrin's. A blue stone in contrast to Catrin's dark pink one—stones that mirror their scales and their souls.
She can feel her nerves thrumming and her body trembling slightly as she nears the bank of the water, unsure what to say to her sister. Who, in this universe, has no knowledge of what she has lived through in real life. That she is dead, their mother is dead, and their father had just died.
Catrin beams her mischievous smile and motions to her with one webbed hand, pushing her wet, black hair from her moon-pale face. "Jump in, Gwyn! What're you waiting for?"
"Right. She doesn't know that I haven't swum since her death years ago and the very thought of it terrifies me...as if it enjoying it without her is a sin. But...I'm not without her. Not here. Not now. She's right here. Right in front of me."
"Catrin...", she states plainly, the name seeming so horribly foreign on her tongue after years.
"Gwyn?", her sister's brow furrows. "What's wrong?", she asks, swimming over to the bank.
"N-Nothing. Nothing. I'm just...in a weird mood I guess." She fakes a smile and pushes her worry down, inching her feet closer to the water.
"You seem afraid of the water suddenly. What happened?"
"Nothing happened, Cat. Okay?", she snaps gently, immediately feeling bad. "I'm sorry."
Catrin hoists herself onto the bank and pats the ground. "Sit, missy."
Gwyn sits and drinks in the full sight of her sister in all her nymph glory. So beautiful, so normal. So Catrin. And her voice is like every answer to every prayer she has made in the last four years. Gwyn hugs her close and closes her eyes.
"I—I had a dream, but it was so real. You got killed, and so did Mom. And I was by myself for years without you guys. And when I woke up it was like seeing you all again for the first time since that happened. I'm still shaken", she tells her, only slightly fibbing so she doesn't ruin this beautiful universe.
"Oh, Gwyn", she murmurs, hugging her back tightly. "We're here. Safe. All of us. You're not alone."
"Where's...um...", she trails off, wondering if she should ask or not.
"Where's who? Go on."
Gwyn blushes a bit. "Azriel."
"Azriel? I don't think we know an Azriel."
"Oh", she whispers sadly, a wave of grief hitting her all at once. She realizes in this moment that it was always one way or the other. At least she assumes. Who knows, there may be a universe where she gets everyone that she loves. But it doesn't appear so if the very harp brought her here. To what is most likely the best possible scenario.
"Dream guy?", she smiles and nudges her.
"Yeah...my uh, my mate actually."
Catrin gasps. "Oh, Gwyn! Maybe it was a vision? Maybe we can find him!"
Gwyn blushes more, thinking of Azriel, and how much she misses him. Not that it's even been probably five minutes in the real world. "Uhh...I don't think that's a good idea. Cat, there are things I can't say and things you don't know. But you have to trust me on this one."
Catrin looks at her oddly and sighs. "You're too shy for your own good, Gwynnie."
"It's not me being shy, I assure you."
"Fine, I trust you. I always will."
She forces the tears back that threaten to spring to her eyes, remembering the way she had let her die. For the children. Catrin had told her to, but...the betrayal she feels that she enacted by staying silent still rips her raw to this day.
"I hope you know that if you need to talk, I'm here. You know that. I don't care how crazy or nonsensical it is. You ramble a lot and I always listen. And you listen when I ramble too, especially about boys."
Gwyn cracks a smile at that and nods. "Yeah, I know." She leans her head on Catrin's shoulder and slips her fingers between her slightly webbed ones. "I just—I love you so much. And living without you hurts. Even if I do have Azriel. He makes it a little better, he makes every day worth it. But there's still a hole where you should be, and mom. I don't know that it will ever go away."
Catrin squeezes her hand and leans her head on hers. "You're not talking about a dream, are you?"
Gwyn sniffles and a few tears fall as she shakes her head slightly. "No. But it's a very very long and complicated story. But I'm not...I'm not your Gwyn."
They straighten and Catrin looks over at her, cupping her face, noting the sadness in her eyes. "All that stuff that you said happened...me ad mom dying. That was very real to you, wasn't it?"
"Yes. It's um...it's my world. As I said it's very complicated—"
"So that research that we did in the library for Merrill. That other planes of existence and other alternative worlds could exist..."
"This is my alternative universe, Cat. In my world, you're both dead. I end up in the Night Court. I make two incredible best friends and I become a Carynthian warrior. Can you believe that? One of my friend's mates is our trainer and the other trainer is his brother, Azriel. Who happened to be my mate."
Catrin takes a deep breath. "Wow..."
"Don't tell Mom and Dad. I don't want to ruin their happiness."
"Were they not together in your world?"
Gwyn looks down and shakes her head. "No. They had one night. Mom's Rite. Dad was trapped by a spell, again too long of a story to share but...by the time he got out, an evil King that wanted to take over Prythian had already sent guards to temples years before and they had killed her. So no, they never got to be together. In fact, mom kept his identity from us, and the fact that she had us from him, to keep us safe so his mind wouldn't be looked into when he was trapped."
"That's awful", she says weakly. "But...how did I die?"
Tears fall down Gwyn's face and she looks away.
"Gwyn?"
"It was my fault", she chokes out, her chest heaving with a strangled sob. "And I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry Cat—"
Finally, after eight years, Gwyneth allows herself to break down in tears over her guilt. She hugs Catrin tightly and sobs hard. "I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry."
"Shhhh, Gwyn, no. Shh, it's alright. Talk to me", Catrin coos softly, stroking her sister's copper hair.
She tries to reign in her sobs and pulls away slightly, sniffling and tears rushing down her reddened face. Catrin wipes her tears away with her thumbs. "Hey", she whispers. "I absolutely despise how much guilt you are carrying about whatever happened. I don't even need to know what it was to know that I don't blame you. I love you. Always. Please, don't ever beat yourself up like this Gwynnie."
"The soldiers came in another wave to the temple", she chokes out. "I ran and hid all the children. When I came back to get you, they had you. Two of them…h-had you by the arms. A sword to your throat." Her lip trembles and her face crumbles again as she breathes in a shaking sob. "They wanted to know where the kids were hidden. When I didn't tell them, they said that if I didn't answer, they'd..." She trails off, steeling herself as best as possible. "They'd behead you."
"I would tell you never to let someone like them ever come near a child", she says softly.
Tears stream down her face and she nods weakly. "I didn't know what to do, and you shook your head. But you're my sister. My twin. We—I needed you. But I was so stunned, and I was watching you tell me no and I've always sort of listened to you so...I didn't answer, and they did what they promised."
She breaks down and clings to her, sobbing hard. Catrin tears up and holds her close, her tail drying out as she transforms back into her mortal form, in a beautiful lilac dress. "Gwyn that was not your fault. I told you not to answer. And not only that but the only fault it lies on are those soldiers. I'm more concerned about what happened after. Did they get to the children?"
"No. I made sure of that. That your death wasn't for nothing", she whimpers, looking away.
"Gwyn. What did they do?"'
Gwyn closes her eyes tightly and shakes her head. Tears fall down Catrin's face. "Did they hurt you?"
Gwyn nods weakly. "There was no other choice but to let them...do what they pleased", she bites out through tears. "I wasn't ever going to let them get those kids. No matter what they did to me."
Catrin cries softly and rocks her, stroking her hair again. "Gwyn..."
"Azriel and his friend showed up. I don't know how or why he was there, as it's not their territory but they were. He slaughtered all of the soldiers there, who had killed or...forced other priestesses. Then he found me in the kitchen. On the table. Held down. He killed them all and saved me from it. I didn't know who he was at the time but a part of me knew that despite the horrors I had just gone through at the hands of males, that...I could trust him. He covered me and carried me to his friend, Morrigan. She was kind. I had told him where to find the children so I assume they were brought somewhere safe. I was brought to the library in the Night Court with other damaged priestesses and females with trauma. And it wasn't until two years later that I met Nesta and she convinced me to train and try to get better and more confident in myself again. I met Emerie at training too. She was Illyrian, like Azriel. But her father forcibly clipped her wings as a child, so she was damaged and looking for a way to heal too. I guess we found each other at the perfect time. We're...as close as sisters. You would love them."
Catrin holds Gwyn's hands. "I am so glad that you got a happy ending. I don't want you to feel guilty. Not anymore. Okay?"
Gwyn sniffles and wipes her face, looking at the water. "I haven't swum since your death. I felt too guilty. Like enjoying something you enjoyed so much would be a punch in the gut without you."
"Well, you have me now. And you're gonna swim again. Whether it's here or back where you belong. Whenever you're taken back."
"Cat..."
"You need to get over that fear. We just told Mom. Being a nymph is part of us. Part of you. Us not being around doesn't change that, and I am sure your mate wouldn't want you to be wary of a whole part of yourself either."
She sighs shakily. "Okay..."
Catrin smiles. "Okay." She looks over and motions toward their parents. Marina is in the water, her reddish maroon scales glimmering as she attempts to cover her belly a bit, so used to the modesty of the temple. Eris chuckles softly and pulls her body against his, stroking her jaw with his thumb and murmuring something to her that makes her laugh slightly.
"That could be you and Azriel."
Gwyn's cheeks turn bright pink and Catrin laughs. "Is he hot?"
"Cat!"
"Wellll, is he?"
Gwyn chews her lip. "Yes. Very. Tall, dark, and handsome. A velvety smooth voice, and shadow powers."
"Shadow powers?"
"Yes. He's a shadowsinger, but also Illyrian. He has these great big wings but they make him look more handsome somehow. And he has these little swirls of black shadows that follow him around. They're nearly sentient. They like to play and brush against me like a cat. Knowing they are a part of Azriel's inner self makes them cuter. He can be very rigid, especially when he's working. But I always know what he truly feels by the way his shadows act around me. Touchy-feely, playful. Like he's flirting when he can't actually flirt." She rambles a bit, a dreamy look in her eye, and Catrin can't help but burst into a fit of giggles.
"What?"
"You sound like me! Talking about any sexy male."
"Ugh, no way. Having a mate is totally different. The bond is...well, it's...so intrinsic. It connects you in ways unmated people can only think to understand. It's quite magical."
"I hope we both find our mates one day. In this world I mean. Me and my Gwyn. I hope you still meet Azriel. But if it's not him, then everything that happened in your world led you to him, and that's a happy ending."
"I still wish my family was around."
"You have Dad, don't you?"
"Yes, in a way. Again, complicated story."
"Gwyn, live your life", she tells her, squeezing her hand. "Don't let grief or guilt hold you back. I don't want that for you, and I know for certain that Mom wouldn't either. Also, this secret is safe with me."
"I probably shouldn't have said something. What if I messed something up?"
"Then I'm sure we would have felt the effects by now. I'm a very open person. You know that", she giggles.
"I know", she smiles.
"Alright, swim time. Come along, sister."
Gwyn groans and Catrin gets up, pulling her arm. "Come onnnn. I won't let any sister of mine be afraid of water."
"I am not afraid of water. I am wary of it. There is a difference."
"You're only wary of it because of me, and I'm literally right here now. So there's no excuse."
Gwyn grumbles.
"Gwynnnieeee."
"Okay, okay! Gosh, such a nag."
"Oh you miss my nagging, admit it."
Gwyn blushes. "Maybe."
"You so do."
Catrin pulls her to her feet and brings her over to where the bank is a few feet up from the water. "We're gonna jump in."
"What!? This is not the way to reintroduce m—Catrin!", Gwyn squeals as Catrin grabs her hand and jumps, pulling her along with her three feet until they plunge into the water. Clothes magic into scales of blue-green and pink-purple as Catrin grins broadly under the water. As they float back up, her dark eyes twinkle with mischief.
Once they break the surface, Gwyn gasps and coughs a bit, swiping her red hair from her face and struggling slightly to tread water with her tail, forgetting how to for a moment. "What in Cauldron's name—!?"
"Sometimes you just have to take the plunge, sis." She giggles and swims around. "You can breathe underwater for a few minutes you know, as you've seemed to have forgotten. That's why we have the gills behind our ears, and why they turn webbed to hide them—"
"I know that", Gwyn snaps a little, still finding her balance in the water.
"Look at you. You're beautiful. I'm sure you'll want to show your Azriel at some point."
Her cheeks turn red, and her freckles darken.
Catrin gasps. "You already have! Ohhh, was it a bathtub? I bet it was a bathtub. A big Illyrian one for those broad muscular wings", she teases, and Gwyn's neck and chest turn pink as well, down to the scales that cover her breasts.
"Cat!" Gwyn sighs and shakes her head, a small, amused smirk coming to her mouth. "Yes. It was a bathtub, and no nothing happened. He just...held me. After I showed him. It was nice. A good first step. Admittedly, I did push myself. I don't think he knows we don't have to strip before shifting", she chews her lip. "But I did because I want him to know I'm comfortable around him and I trust him. Even if I was panicking the whole time."
"You naughty little nymph", she laughs.
She giggles a bit and rolls her eyes, getting more comfortable with the water as she swims around, soaking up the bright sun as well and enjoying the company of her sister and the laughter of both of their parents. Enjoying this lovely universe that they all should have gotten to enjoy in her world.
Catrin floats alongside her. "I don't know when it'll get fixed. This you being here and not there, but I hope I don't forget when you get pulled back. Sometimes I need to be humbled. Or at least tamed. Mom said I can be too much like her when she was younger."
Gwyn looks over at her sister. "If I could have everything, both this life and all my friend and Azriel, I would choose both. I don't like betraying anyone. Not by saying I'd rather be here, nor by saying I miss the people back there. I don't like having to pick between two groups of people I love more than anything. It sucks."
"It's not a choice, Gwyn. You belong there. And even if there is no me, you can take comfort in knowing that there is, here. That I remember you, and that I want you to live a life as incredible as you are. I mean that. If this version of me can give you closure, I want that for you."
Gwyn tears up and hugs her again. Catrin hugs back. "You are loved by everyone you care so much about. I know it. All of us want you to be happy."
Cupping her face she smiles sadly. "No more guilt, Gwyn. I rid you of it. I'm serious. It was not your fault."
Gwyn closes her eyes and nods, leaning into her sister's touch. "I just miss you so much, Cat..."
"I'm sorry", she whispers in response, hugging her tightly again.
Eris shouts over to them. "Rini and Gwynnie! C'mere you two!"
Catrin snorts and rolls her eyes. "Let's go."
They swim over to their parents and Eris lounges back on the bank, his rolled pants soaked from swimming with Marina. "Would you girls like to go out to eat tonight? I'm starved. I don't know how all this swimming doesn't make you hungry", he chuckles. Marina laughs and fiddles with his long red locks, making a braid.
"Yes! I'm hungry too", Catrin says, pushing her way onto the banks.
Gwyn follows and grins, nodding. "I'd like that."
Eris gets up and carefully grabs their necklaces from the tree, gently clasping them around their necks. The stones glow and without drying, they immediately shift back to High Fae form, clothing, legs, and all.
He then takes Marina's necklace out of his pocket. The stone is a rustier red than Catrin's dark pink, matching their mother's scales as well. He clasps it around her neck, and she shifts back too. Looking down at himself he groans. "If only there was a magic spell or something to get me dry.
Marina grins. "I can help with that, lovey."
"Oh, is that so?", he smirks flirtatiously. Catrin fake gags and laughs at them.
Marina closes her eyes and summons her light power that comes from the lightsinger part of her. "Close your eyes."
Eris does so and she holds her palms out to him, the blinding white light hitting his clothes and warming him, drying them nearly immediately.
"There we go", she murmurs, pulling the powers back into herself.
Eris pats the thighs of his pants and grins. "Wow. Thank you, darling." Leaning forward he kisses her softly. "Mm..."
"Oh gods, get a room!", Catrin howls. Gwyn giggles next to her.
"Oh, we have plenty of rooms at the House", he smirks.
Marina playfully slaps his chest. "Get your shirt on, you sly fox."
Eris laughs and picks up his green tunic from where it hangs on a tree branch, and slips it over his head. As they begin to walk back up towards the entrance of the watering hole, Gwyn fondly watches her parents. Eris has a loving arm around Marina and Catrin's arm is hooked in hers as they follow.
This was it. How everything is meant to be. The way things should have been.
She looks over at Catrin who nudges her gently. "You'll be alright, Gwyn. I promise. I love you more than anything, you know that. You have to remember that, remember what I said."
"I will", she replies, letting out a breath. "I feel bad because I don't want this to end."
"But?"
"But...if it never ends I may never find Az. It's like my heart is torn in two. I know realistically that I will get pulled out of here eventually. At least I assume it's not permanent, not if my friends and Azriel have anything to say about it. I want to enjoy the time I have with you all together, here. But I know that it can end at any time."
Catrin smiles. "I think you should focus on the good. Right now, you are here with us. You got this time with us, and I'd assume it's a blessing. But it's also amazing that your mate is trying so hard to get you back. He must be, we've seen how mates are. Look at mom and dad. Dad would go to the ends of the earth to bring Mom back if he could."
"They're mates here", Gwyn muses. "That's amazing."
"They aren't in your world?"
"No...dad's mate actually preferred women and rejected him. They made up after a long time but they aren't together. As I mentioned, Mom died...years and years ago in my world. Dad had his mate and his rejection long before he met her, but I know that he fell for her that night. Deeply. Unfortunately, they never got to see one another in person again."
Catrin tears up a bit. "That sucks. They're so good for each other."
"I know. I wish...I wish for a lot of things. But, there is a female that I think he is interested in. She seems nice."
"As long as he has somebody, y'know. I don't think he's the type of person who could be alone. I wonder what being alone for so long had done to him in your world. He must be...a sadder version of himself."
Gwyn nods. "He is...but I'm thinking that maybe she can finally make him happy. Once all of the horrid obstacles are out of the way. There's...one in particular."
"Tell."
"His father."
Catrin gawks. "Beron? That bastard was killed before our parents got together here."
"Yeah well, he's still a murderous menace where I'm from. It's terrible. The reason I'm even here is because he killed Dad", she says quietly. "But my friend and I found a way to bring him back, but then I got brought here. Another long story."
"So...did you save him?"
"I don't know yet. I was dragged here before I could see. I hope it worked."
Catrin wraps an arm around her tightly. "Gods, your world sounds like a world of hurt. Aside from y'know...your new friends and your mate."
"Pretty much."
As they walk into a nice, open, and airy restaurant, her vision begins to distort.
"Oh no...no, not now...no", she murmurs, swaying on her feet before her legs give out. "Catrin", she gasps out, clinging to her.
Catrin quickly realizes what's happening and tears up. Marina and Eris rush over and help lower her to the ground.
Stroking her hair, Catrin places a kiss on her cheek. "I love you, Gwyn. Live your life to the fullest. I love you so much."
Marina furrows her brow a bit and feels her forehead. "Sweetheart?"
"C-Cat...Mom", she chokes out, reaching for them and holding on as tightly as she can. "I don't want to go yet. It wasn't long enough", she cries weakly as everything darkens.
Suddenly she finds herself in that colorful whirling tunnel yet again, her head pounding with dizziness.