The Maiden and The Four Waters

Walla fell backwards as she was pushed into the cell, the makeshift dungeon that village rarely used.

Mariana landed with a thud still in the net she was caught in.

Walla crawled over to Mariana “Are you okay?” She reached for her pocket on her pants before realising that she didn’t have anything sharp on her, instead she tried to find the net’s opening.

“For now,” Mariana breathed.

“What were you doing by the water’s edge?” Walla let a small smile spread as she found the opening of the net by Mariana’s skirt. She began to pull the opening of the net up over Mariana’s body.

“I was waiting for you.” Mariana helped pull the net over her head.

“Mariana” Walla sighed.

“I saw you by the river this morning, I thought you’d return but you didn’t. Instead those men did.”

“Why didn’t you dive under?”

“I tried but their nets caught me” Mariana cried.

Walla rested her head on Mariana’s shoulder “The king will suspect something happened. I can’t protect you in my town.”

Mariana lowered her eyes to the female beside her.

Neither knew what to say.

Walla held back the anger of the king, she held back the reveal of the truth the king gave when he spoke to Walla earlier in the day. She couldn’t put Mariana through that.

Mariana didn’t speak of Walla’s physical marks; she didn’t let her gaze linger long enough on the land maiden’s face or around her neck. Mariana stayed silent.