Eldoris and the Merlune 5

A breakthrough had begun. As the fae blade in her hand caught the light of a full moon, and if she summoned a swirling ribbon of water at the right moment and curved it around the blade, and a shaft of that light caught onto her tail, Eldoris swore her form began to change. Until the moment the nixies would arrive with their idle chatter or Ethyne would poke her with sharper scaled teeth caps or the naiad would float through her skin at the most vital moment. The moment when enough magic had gathered and glittered and she would be able to swipe at her scales and tear them away. They would shed and separate until her tail split in two – forming the shape of the delicate lightly scaled legs she had frequently worn in times past.

The spell in the book was so similar to the one the old Sea Hag had used on her years ago, albeit less permanent.

She even would have been able to keep them forever had Midori kept his promise to her. Had he loved her the way she should have been loved. Had he not stood and watched at the destruction befalling her home, her family. Had he married her and given her that true binding lover’s kiss.

Such is the way of Undines, the Hag used to say. Relying on men to change them. Dying to be heartbroken. 

Eldoris had slapped her once for saying such a thing. Never again. The Hag kept her contained in a forgotten cave for a month and wouldn’t say a word about her whereabouts to anyone who asked. Her grandmother had always been set in her ways and brutal with her punishments. Even to the princess of a thriving water kingdom.

Yet she was helpful too. She had ruled for decades before Eldoris’ parents ascended the Merlune Moon throne.

At last Eldoris managed it. Her tail dissolved into legs, and she nearly screamed with rapt delight. Now her attacks could be more precise. More controlled. Up-close her magic would be a better weapon. Along with the single blade at her side. And what better time to attack then at the annual Summer Solstice ball at Blackwell Castle? She had once dined at that ball, eaten skewered crab and herbed sole. Her own brethren in some ways, albeit rather delicious. They deserved to be avenged for their deaths as did she.The shell carvings on the blades hilt dug into her palm. 

After all, the summer sun was the brother of the winter Moon. The Mother Goddess of Starlight had connected the moon and the sea by a luminous thread – and the Father God had connected the sky and sun and moon.