The Maiden and The Four Waters

When Walla believed she had finally captured control of her breathing and enough of coughing up water, she took in her surroundings as she noticed Crowe and Melana walking towards her.

Walla rested her body against the river’s edge as she took in the sunlight.

The two woman didn’t speak as they sat down either side of Walla. Crowe and Melana both looked out at the still river as Walla tucked her knees closer to her chest.

“I thought I was doing the right thing, keeping them off the water. But two more and many more possibly to come.” Walla’s words felt like a daze as she stared across the river.

Crowe and Melana both turned their attention to Walla as they watched her.

“They want me to stay with them.” Walla sighed “I said no, it angered the king.”

Melana glanced over at Crowe; the two woman were seen equal, both sharing their love for Walla as they had watched her grow into the young woman she is today.

“Maybe it’s best that we pack up and move, we’ve done it before, and we’ll continue until we’re safe.” Melana found her words.

Walla shook her head as she finally shifted her gaze to Melana “We’ve only been here for three months; we can’t pack everything and just go. My father exiled us from pretty much everywhere, I had to beg King Ozmore to allow us to stay on the outskirts of Belivanne.”

The three women quickly turned their attention to the water as they noticed Mariana perched herself comfortably on a rock sticking out of the water.

Crowe and Melana stared in disbelief as they took in Mariana’s beauty, they noticed the shells around Mariana’s upper body as the shells glistened with water, they took in the sight of the tight fitted skirt neither knowing if it was a skirt or a tail.

Neither Crowe or Melana knew what to say or do as they felt entranced by Mariana, they watched as Mariana made a spectacle out of diving into the water.

“Was that…?” Melana didn’t manage to finish her sentence.

“Mariana.” Walla stated.

The three women watched as the water rippled, they watched as Mariana sat herself comfortably on the rock again.

“Legend has it, the four waters are like sirens. Though they don’t sing for distraction, it’s their beauty.” Crowe admitted.

It was like Mariana had heard them, even at a metre distance away. “We’re nothing like sirens. Their vile creatures.” She dived into the water; the bottom of her skirt lingered above the water as the skirt moved towards the three women.

They noticed Mariana’s body under the water as she rested herself on the shallow edge before comfortably laying on her stomach, Mariana looked up at the three women sitting on the river’s edge.

“Sirens manifest an illusion, we don’t. we keep to ourselves, though my curiosity has brought me wonder.” She lifted her lust filled gaze to Walla.

“Do you know whose taking our men?” Melana asked.

Crowe and Walla shifted their gaze to Melana.

Mariana ignored the question as she swayed the bottom of her skirt in the shallow water.

Walla carefully stepped into the water, she stood ankle deep before carefully lowering herself to sit close to Mariana.

Neither Crowe and Melana moved from their spot, they watched the woman. They realised Walla was under some sort of trance.

“You’re the first born, aren’t you?” Crowe called out.

Mariana nodded as she cupped her hands under the water, she began to drop the water from her hands above her head.

“The legend goes.” Crowe began as she recalled the legend “The King’s first born daughter finds wonder in something that she can’t understand. When she’s latched herself onto curiosity, the curious item must join her until the princess grows bored.”

Mariana smiled a little before shifting her gaze to Walla “I could never get bored with Walla.” She rested her hand on Walla’s cheek, she felt Walla’s cheek push into a smile. “She said no to join the King and I, now I must submit myself to living with pain until she says yes.”

“Men aren’t your curious item?” Melana questioned.

Mariana moved her hand away from Walla’s cheek before shaking her head, she looked up at Melana “Men are not what they seem, even my own kind can be cruel and vile. Woman of my kind must do what we can to keep ourselves safe, the children born are done out of repopulating rather than out of choice. It’s why we only have six a year.”

“If you’re not taking our men, it’s your armies taking our men?” Crowe threw her question out into the air.

Mariana cupped her hands under the water again, she let the water dribble through her fingers as she let the water trickle down her face.

“Mariana doesn’t know.” Walla sighed as she leaned back, allowing the shallow water to gently push around her.

Crowe and Melana looked down at Walla who was now comfortably laying in the shallow water.

“Doesn’t the legend say that woman can’t know the actions of others?” Walla sighed “Even the king doesn’t tell his Queen or heirs the truth, only when it concerns the line does the king speak of his actions.”

Mariana cupped her hands under the water as she listened.

“The legend calls the four water fierce creatures, yet you see Mariana in front of you, and she hasn’t done anything but glisten herself with water.” Walla calmly spoke.

Crowe and Melana shared a look, they both sensed something that neither could quite understand. They both knew a legend was always to be believed even though neither woman had actually seen the four waters until this afternoon.

“Mariana, it’s time for Walla to join us for supper.” Melana calmly spoke as if it wasn’t either a suggestion or a statement.

Mariana glanced down at Walla as Walla felt relaxed in the shallow water.

Walla closed her eyes for a second before opening them again, she slowly sat up before slowly rising to her feet “Mariana, you need to tell the king that we can’t stop the men from fishing forever. They will riot if I continue to attempt to stop them. We lost two good men earlier today, whoever is taking my men need to stop.”

Mariana gave a look of annoyance before splashing with force into the water.

Walla turned her attention to Crowe and Melana, they three woman silent knew...they just knew that whatever actions would take place next they would have to be prepared.