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You blew forth with your breath, and the sea whelmed them over.
They sank like lead in the mighty waters.
Who is like you, Yahweh, among the gods?
The first time she sees such riveting blue, Biana Vacker doesn't stop staring.
The waves beneath the ship thrash furiously, and she suppresses the urge to run fingers over her scars, to cover them up, to hide hide hide as she has always done. The sea stretches out into the horizon behind her, almost kissing the disappearing sun, yearning like Icarus for a drop of liquid gold, of freedom. But yet, it remains - so blue and so close, a different shade every day, fading into the changing colours of the dawn.
She supposes that is why she finds herself somehow lulled by the waves. Despite everything the sea takes, the sea is where she has moulded herself into, carving herself a jagged home to stay. At first, resisting - it beat and roared, but now, there's a sense of grudging respect as it follows her everywhere. It is all the language she knows. She has sea hands, a sea heart. She has a direction here, she has a course. She hears the sound of the waves, the coarse wind and the salt and all the stars in the sky.
But the shocking nature of the mermaid's periwinkle eyes - that feels different.
The crew's muttering has slowly risen to a sharp din as she shakes herself out of her thoughts, instead focusing on not staring at her - no, the mermaid - open-mouthed.
Biana is struck by how similar the mermaid is to the ocean itself. She's devastatingly gorgeous, with a placid demeanour of the ocean mingled within her stare - yet there's a closedness behind it, a darker side she can sense only because of time old senses, honed because of the sea. Under her pinched brow, the mermaid's piercing eyes flit from crew member to crew member, ever so calculative. They're nothing but dismissive glances until she eventually locks her gaze on her - and with an aggressive hiss, she bares her sharp teeth, contorting her features into something treacherously savage.
Every one of her crew takes a step back, their hushed dialogue abruptly ending. The frightened stillness is broken only by the waves, and Biana suddenly feels small in comparison to her grandeur.
Don't be silly, she scolds herself internally. She's the one in the net while you're the one still standing.
"Biana."
The captain whirls around, relieved to see the furrowed eyes of her faithful quartermaster.
"Good lord Sophie, You could have given me a heart attack!"
Despite the short jib behind it, her voice is pitched slightly higher than usual, and Sophie's eyebrows draw in even further as she steals a glance at the net.
"What are you planning on doing about.."
"I.."
Turning, Biana looks back at the mermaid, heart thudding painfully when she meets her eyes dead-on. Her tail twitches, her scales gleaming brightly in the sun, drawing her like a moth to a flame, and she has a sudden desire to know what they would feel like under her hand. The mermaid smiles, cunning and predatory, as Biana shifts on her heels almost imperceptibly. Nimble fingers snake through the netting, and she leans forward as if poised to strike. She suddenly surges, the netting stitches ripping as she thrusts forward, but the net holds and she simply sways gracelessly across the wooden planks, causing the entire crew to jump back.
She laughs, her sounds echoing the rush of waves crashing on rocky shores.
"Biana!"
Sophie's voice is more urgent, more accusatory now, and Biana curses under her breath as she reties the strings holding the net in place.
"It's fine, I got it," she mutters reassuringly, though it sounds more like she's trying to convince herself instead of Sophie.
She laughs humorlessly, apparently having enough of Biana's bravado for that night, as she pulls her away and begins to berate her.
"Do you not understand that you have captured a mythical beast? Are you out of your-"
"Y-you should listen to your friend," the mermaid interjects hesitantly from her vantage point in the net, carefully shaping unfamiliar words.
Sophie's breath hitches loudly and Biana feels a haze of panic threaten to overtake her.
Her hearing is.... impressive, to say the least.
The mermaid betrays no emotion, other than cold detachment as she recites facts that make Biana feel faint. "She is correct. Keep me, and the Ocean will writhe in Her fury, destroying your ship." Her twitching fingers rip glaring holes in the already stressed net. "That is, assuming, of course, you survive my sibling first."
Her crew retreats back, but Biana can't help but take a step forward, a million questions racing through her mind - but the first query that is shouted isn't her own.
"What makes you think we should be afraid of you?"
Biana looks over her shoulder and sees Stina, her talented navigator with the unfortunate penchant for a tongue that runs faster than their funds. Stina's chest heaves and her feet fidget as her eyes flit between the mermaid and the waters.
Sophie growls a warning, "Stina."
Stina stands up and stares the mermaid down, despite her fear-filled gaze. "Why should we be?" she exclaims loudly. "We can just murder her and that tail will surely be worth a nice profit-"
[-profit? Do you think you're suddenly above us all? his voice sneered, loud and entirely too close, hand too warm too sharp too unforgiving-
There's a sudden crash and Biana registers a dull pain at the side of her shoulder. She bites her lip, trying to suppress the tears falling before they even start. She doesn't say anything in reply to the man - no, her father - who's now mechanically examining her shoulder, checking whether it'll leave a scar.
Her brother has slowly inched into the room, and although he's as still as she is, as complacent as she is, she can't help but feel a twinge of envy at the fact that he doesn't have a put up a play, doesn't have to cake his face with makeup and smile and pretend pretend pretend-
Her father (can she even call him that? Saying Alden is easier than trying to swallow the emotions that flood her when she remembers) drops her hand, before shifting past Fitz, no longer acknowledging the two of their actions.
"Remember. Do not give them any reason to worry", he intones, before he's gone and Biana wants to scream and shout and flood- ]
Everything but the dull end of Biana's blade slamming into the deck is drowned out by the mermaid's scream - and only a few moments from then, even the waves are muffled by the sudden fall of stillness.
Biana inhales deeply, the salty air scratching at the back of her throat. Stina shrinks but refuses to give up, her terror driving her to rebellion.
She growls quietly, her voice raspy and barely controlled in her fury.
"I should let her claw out your throat."
Biana's forearm itches from the thumping's sheer force (but also from something more - scars littering the skin, memories now clawing and trying to overwhelm her), demanding her attention as searing misery coated memories stream in. She takes another long inhale, the smell of fresh fish and sea anchoring her with its familiarity, and waves Sophie's worried look away quietly as she focuses back on Stina, a rage welling up in her chest.
As tragic that it is that Biana is the one that is giving Stina fear - she is really a brilliant navigator, and she has no personal grievance towards her - the white-hot rage threatening to explode out of her chest finds sadistic gratification in the way Stina seems to want to sink through the deck.
"But Captain, it's just a fish-"
Biana growls and looks down at the taller female, her notorious demeanour of the seas enveloping her like a well-worn cape. "People," she stresses, a scowl wrinkling her lips, "are not things to purchase."
In the face of Biana's stone-faced authority, Stina shuts her mouth, and her resistance completely vanishes. The rest of the crew continues shifting, mutters of dissent quieter, and an uncomfortable air grows between them. The waves shift silently, and the smell of brine suddenly grows stronger - but no other complaints are raised until a hesitant voice breaks the silence.
"What?"
Biana whirls around in her heels at the hushed question, coming face to face with the mermaid, the short quip seizing in her throat. Her mind chastises her for turning her back on such a dangerous predator, much alone approaching tantalizingly near - within her arm's reach. She automatically clutches the pommel of her sword, but the mermaid remains still, her expression scrunched in a perplexed frown.
Her eyes are alluring up close, like a stormy sea, wild, dangerous, and stunning.
She leans forward and Biana feels like the ocean is bearing down on her under her scrutiny. Her breath smells like fish and blood, and all Biana can think of is the razor-sharp canines that are approaching her neck.
"Not many humans... would bother with such kindness." Biana drags her gaze away from her bared teeth to glance at the mermaid once again. Her brow furrows and her head cocks to the side. "So, why do you do it?"
"Are you not someone who speaks, who thinks, who dreams as well?"
As she ponders her words, the mermaid hums, a sea shanty so familiar to Biana yet jarring from the mermaid's throat. There's no longer a bite behind her words, only a mellow, gentle voice, and curiosity shines through.
"Most people wouldn't consider that grounds enough to free-."
[-free on Sunday afternoon if he asks, and be sure to not bring up your father, her mother intones as though reciting from a long list of rules as she straightens the collar at Biana's neck, stiff and starch and painful. Her brother rides alongside her, poised perfectly like a puppet in carefully framed disinterest. Her long sleeves itch, and she resists the urge to pull the sleeves up. She knows if her scarred arms are seen by anyone in the republic, the sights and glances would only get worse.
The carriage jolts to a quick start, and she glances up as she descends, staring towards the docks ahead. Fitz stands beside her, her mother already lost in the throng of people bartering for kosher cut meat and braided challah at the market, shawl up and face down as she ensured no one would see the wife of a councillor (such a cheap establishment, how crude!). Harsh winds blow around her, the few raindrops making the back of the dress stick to her shirt and she plonks herself loudly on a few crates next to her, watching as Fitz continued to stare at the cafe nearby.
I know you're looking for that artist, she taunted, as she watched Fitz turn a delightful shade of crimson.
Tuning out the long tirade of her brother's explanation for exactly why he was watching the cafe and why that didn't include that artist because just because he flirted with me doesn't mean that he actually like liked me, she stared out morosely at the ships coming in, the "uncouth and unlawful" merchants descending their vessels, loudly bartering and intermingling among themselves.
They're so free and... happy, she can't help but blurt out as she hears Fitz sit down next to her with a rather undignified thump.
He frowns, momentarily pondering why exactly would Biana Vacker of all people feel that they were not happy, ignoring Biana's wistful sighs.
Do you ever want to leave?
The uncertainty surrounding the question blankets them both, and Fitz chews his lip before slowly shaking his head in the negative.
I wouldn't know what to do with myself, he tentatively whispers, before Biana crowds over him, turning onto him with an expression so full and unlike herself - so full of life.
Think about Fitz - you could finally run away with that artist boy and settle down and then I could come to visit you and we could share your favourite rugelach as we talked about the latest gossip topic and then I'd travel the world and we'd no longer be scared because I'd have a plane - no wait, a ship and sometimes you'd come with me and-, she paused taking in a deep breath as she stared back at him - wouldn't it be fun if it was just us?
Fitz's gaze on her is far away, and Biana feels herself shuttering slowly as the silence stretches taut between them. Fitz's words spill out slowly from him, almost as though he was afraid of breaking her carefully crafted reverie.
I'd love that, he quietly states. I'd love that a lot but-
but we both have our duty to father.]
Biana's expression shutters, before smiling back at the mermaid.
"Then again, I am not most people", she quips, and when the mermaid laughs, voice gentle like the waves rocking her boat, she leans in even further, emboldened by her enigmatic smile.
"Look, you were captured by chance by my crew", and at her words, incredulity sweeps across the mermaid's face. Biana pleads with her hands clasped. "Honestly, I'm sorry it happened in the first place!"
Her eyebrows lift, perplexed. "Honesty from a human?"
"Yes." Biana inhales deeply and extends her arm toward the ocean.
"Which is why I selfishly want to ask - when we let you go, may you spare us?"
The mermaid's eyes sharpen momentarily, her expression guarded as she regarded the captain.
"Was this... talk all a game to gain my favour?"
"Of course not!", Biana hastily backtracks, before looking back at the mermaid, gaze softening.
"We- I would have let you go, regardless of the consequences for my crew."
Biana shoves down her sigh at the mermaid's unreadable face, ears buzzing as her crew begins to protest behind her. Sophie's harsh barks keep chaos from erupting - but just barely, and Biana continues to stare up the mermaid beseechingly, mouthing "Please" over and over.
Please let this be enough.
The mermaid eventually responds, though she takes her own time. "Fine." She cocks her head to the side, carefully searching her.
Biana smiles at her, her relief visible in her smile.
"Then the kelpie queen is at your service," she adds, bowing gracefully. "However, my friends refer to me as Biana."
The mermaid's brows blend into her dark hairline, inscrutable against her silver-tipped bangs.
"Do you think we're friends?"
The ache in Biana's heart is agonizing. "I'd want to be."
Biana deliberately ignores the mermaid's astonishment, instead beckoning Sophie to assist her in lowering the mermaid to the waters below. The crew shuffles anxiously behind her, but she ignores them, leaping upon the railing to assist Sophie in guiding the crane as she ranks it. The mermaid jolts in surprise, but quickly spins around, writhing and straining at the net.
Biana steadies the beam and stares down at the mermaid. She's all restless energy and longing looks, and all Biana can think is about how wrong she looks trapped in a net.
"Biana", the mermaid mutters, just loud enough that if she strains, she can hear it. "Certainly not a name I've heard from here-
[-here it is, Biana thinks with relief, as she picks up the windblown shawl, decorated with hamsas from the floor of the alcove. Sure, the man her mother had tried to set her up with didn't show, but she knew she still wouldn't accept that as an excuse for her to dirty it.
I'd probably have enough time to take this to the washerman and back, she muses. It's not like the one person who really misses me is at home anyways, sent after the fabled princess - Sofia - wait, was she even-
It's only then she realizes with a jolt that she's somehow wandered into the heart of the harbour, infamous for its unsavoury trades. Burly shadows suddenly crowd her, and she falters, bumping into a much taller man who leers at her, the familiar smell of stale liquor on his breath.
You're too pretty to be here young one, he whispers, trailing fingers along her covered sleeves. Biana swallows, prepared to shout before there's a sudden ringing, and the man slumps forward in pain, before roaring back and punching a much younger, livelier woman dressed in the merchant - no, pirate's garbs, who looks strangely disconcerted with the fact that she's aggravated a man almost twice her weight.
The fight is over almost soon as it begins, and it's surprisingly the woman who stands triumphant, wiping the blood off her knuckles before extending her hand in dismissal.
Oh, Biana thinks, stupefied after the fight. She's so pretty.
"Take me with you."
The woman smiles, amused by the childish request before she turns back to her, horrified at the fact that she's entirely serious.
Biana's sure that she doesn't look like much, what with her bedraggled locks falling out of the messily tied braid, her dress rumpled and covered with much too much dirt, but she grits her teeth and for the first time since- the incident-, pulls up the long sleeves on an impulse, absorbing the muted shock as the pirate runs gentle fingers over the scars.
You're Eternalia's consort. The councillor's daughter who was maimed, the pirate whispers softly.
There's a mirthless laugh as Biana draws her arms away.
Everyone says it was wild animals, merpeople who attacked me. Perhaps even the most vicious of sea monsters would have been kinder to me than my father that night.
The pirate glances at her, before gently forcing Biana's trembling face up, wiping the soft tears that had begun streaming down them silently with a touch much softer than Biana expected. She glances behind, face momentarily unreadable before smiling, and her expression isn't one of pity - but rather, respect, and Biana finds herself stunned.
"I'm a pirate - well, Jolie, to be more exact. The seas were unforgiving to me at the start, and they may do the same to you - it took me many years to command them. People will whisper behind you, muttering tales of how you threw your life away. They'll lament your name, and the insignia you now represent. Are you willing to accept all of that? Do you still want to leave?"
"Yes."
Despite the slight waver in her voice, there's no hesitation when Biana grins, finally in charge of her destiny, finally free. ]
"What's yours?"
The mermaid startles, tail smacking against the rocks. "What?"
"Your name. What do I call you?"
She frowns, her brow wrinkled with.. shyness? "You won't be able to say my name since humans don't understand my language." Her gaze returns to the ocean, causing her entire body to tremble in apprehension as she gazes intently outwards, "What difference does it make anyway?"
Biana frowns at her as she draws her sword, setting it against the rope - yet she stills in the motion, curiosity overcoming her.
"Well if we meet again, what will I call you?"
She chuckles, her head bowed in a sorrowful manner, before returning her gaze to her
"Kelpie Queen, I pray that'll never happen. The enormous pods claim their territory in the regions where humans travel." Her lips form a half-snarl, a grimace at nothing, "They don't have enough fish to eat, so they eat humans," she says, her face darkening, "And they have no fear of the Ocean's vengeance. So please, don't try to find me - in fact, consider this free advice - stay off these currents. Nothing good comes from tangling with such folk - it will only lead to your early grave."
"But what if I managed to overcome all of that and still make it back to you? How else am I supposed to call out for you at the end of it all?"
Biana opens her mouth to continue, but whatever she's about to say dies on the tip of her tongue, turning into a sharp inhale as the mermaid clasps Biana's hands, holding her gaze as she presses a careful kiss to her knuckles.
"Linh", she softly says, grinning at Biana and she's convinced she's ascended straight into Shamayim itself.
Before Biana can scrape together the brain cells to respond, Linh curls forward, growling almost playfully at the rope. "Now cut me loose!"
Once again, she draws back her sword but pauses to look at the mermaid - no, Linh again.
"Biana!"
Her lips twitch and her blade gleams as it swings. With a loud snap of rope and a flash of her scales, the mermaid finally disappears into the ocean's deep blue depths, and a long silence surrounds Biana as she gazes into the waters.
"Ship spotted!"
All at once, a cacophony erupts, and the crew scrambles to their positions, preparing for whatever measure their captain will tell them to conduct. Unlike the rest, she stands, uncharacteristically silent alongside Sophie as the barrel-man narrates the familiar royal insignia and the absence of the young prince.
Looks like he finally got away from father and his home, it seems. Hopefully with that artist as well-
"Biana, are you listening? The ships almost here - if we want to escape, we need to do it now!"
Her smile grows sharp, before facing Sophie with a grin, watching her petulantly sigh, already expecting the outcome.
"But where would the fun be in that?"
Sophie simply nods and shouts, "To your stations!"
The ship erupts into a commotion of noise and clamour, heavy cannons scraping against the wooden decks and rifles cocking under Sophie's watchful eye before she turns back to her captain, face already mournful.
"The mermaid's going to doom us now - it's not even been an hour and we're already foregoing her advice."
Biana can't contain her laughter as it erupts from her mouth and she retorts, amusement flaring as Sophie sighs. "Worse luck to say that."
There's a dazzling glitter in the tiny area of the ocean she can see beneath Sophie's ear that captures her attention, momentarily distracting her as a true smile begins to spread across her face.
"Actually, my friend, I believe we're lucky."
Sophie's gaze is drawn to her father's approaching ship, but Biana still gazes past her, absentmindedly rubbing her knuckles as though chasing that phantom sensation, before catching that similar shimmer of silver further ahead - making her smile widen even further.
"Oh really?"
She winks and brightens at Sophie's sceptical expression.
The ocean is a fickle mistress, one who takes and takes and takes and is all jagged edges and warmth. But in the end, the ocean can also be someone kind, someone delicate, someone worth fighting for and someone worth meeting at the end of it all, with little but sheer bravado and simple kisses to lament their distance.
"Today I think, the seas are on our side."