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Dorcas and Pandora had been allies for a few months. They hadn't started out too well.
Dorcas had been out on an expedition, when her crew had reeled in some more fish for the crewmates to eat. Unbeknownst to them, the siren queen had been on patrol, as there was some weird activity going on in the far sides of the ocean. And it was their duty to solve whatever was happening. But they had gotten too trusting of the unknown waters, and hadn't spotted the massive ship hovering above them before they were lifted up and out of the water and came face to face with a (while very beautiful) bastard human.
Obviously, Dorcas was caught off guard, in all the waters around their kingdom,never once has a siren been reported to be splashing in them. The queen scrambled to cut the netting holding them,profusely apologising
"Oh dear,I'm so so very sorry. We hadn't an idea of sirens in the waters." They muttered songs of profanities as they struggled to cut the ropes.
Pandora wasn't worried,not in the slightest, this hadn't been the first time they been caught by an unintelligent crew of humans. However,it was the first time they hadn't had to use their songs and screams to get out of said netting,and the first time they had been so intrigued by a captain. Though,she had a regal energy to her,and the way she carried herself,similar to the siren themself, so they doubted she was constantly on the waters.
"Fear not, it isn't uncommon for me to get caught in your nets. Though I'd advise you to hurry, as the Queen of Sirens isn't someone you'd be wanting to meddle with." Pandora smiled, a row of sharp,shark-like teeth adoring said smile.
Dorcas lit up slightly at the title. Dorcas hadn't been queen for long,so meeting other royalty felt like a privilege. And a curse. She had little to no idea how to navigate the royal responsibilities she got.
Infact, the whole reason she was out on an expedition is because her kingdom was facing a financial crisis,it was hard enough to reside on an almost isolated island,but a kingdom not far from it had been robbing the boats that came far and back. So they were searching for ways to bring wealth back to the people, and how to stop the neighbouring nation.
Once the netting was cut,Pandora was released back into the water. The siren Queen sat swimming on the surface though, a curious glint in their eyes.
"I'm a queen too,your grace. Dorcas Meadowes,Queen of the Emerald city. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, though I must apologise for the circumstances of our meeting."
"Oh not to bother, us sirens prefer to not be discovered by humans. But Yes,yes I've heard of your Emerald kingdom. In Fact, my kingdom resides directly below yours,so i am well aware of your existence. I just never expected the queen to be so beautiful. Its lovely to meet you." They used their tail to splash, as a greeting of sorts.
Now that Dorcas had time to look at them,the queen looked as unnerving as the stories described sirens to be. Their eyes were large, their iris a honey yellow,while their pupils paralleled that of a goat,their lashes were long, so long they looked unreal. Dorcas duly noted that they likely have an incredible peripheral vision. Just as Dorcas had seen previously, their teeth were sharp, and uncomfortably white. Something they hadn't noticed was their ears, they were shaped similarly to fins, and they protruded from the siren's pale blonde locs. They matched the queen's tail,which was a beautiful cerulean blue thay faded into a turquoise.
Dorcas smiled at the flattery, and leaned their elbow on the edge of the boat,placing their chin in their hand.
"The feeling is quite mutual,may i get a name,queen of sirens?"
"You may. I am Pandora, Queen of sirens. Many even consider me Queen of the ocean."
"It's lovely to meet you."
Pandora swam closer to the boat, a slight smirk growing in their lips,
"See,I'd ask what you and your crew are out here for,but I already know. Your kingdom is currently at war with another,am I correct?"
Dorcas nodded, a weary expression on her features,
"Though unfortunately,it's less of a war,more of a pilgrimage."
Pandoras easy-going expression was yet to wipe off their face,it seems it never did, the life of a siren Dorcas suspected,
"I can help with that. They've been bothering my subjects,they pollute our oceans, destroy our reefs, hurt our animals. They will pilgrim no more."
Dorcas' regal smile had now spread into a grin.
That meeting was just a few months ago, and now the two sat on the shore, dishevelled and injured. But alive. And safe.
The waters had been painted red, just as the sand had been. And many lives had been lost. But between the two kingdoms there would have been far more without their alliance.
The two hadn't really processed that the fighting was over, but every once in a while they'd get flashbacks of sorts. They weren't necessarily bad ones all the time, sometimes they'd show stuff such as Dorcas pushing them into the water and Pandora drowning them. Those were fond memories. But sometimes they'd be not so fond ones, such as when Pandora got caught in netting again,or when Dorcas herself almost drowned.
And the two knew they'd never feel the same again,of course they wouldn't. They'd have to work through these feelings, they'd have to get help.
But the queens found themselves okay with that, as long as they did it together.
Through sickness and through health if the silver bands on their fingers meant a thing.
Somewhere through all the fighting and the planning, the two leaders had started to fall in love. Pandora fell first, entranced by Dorcas,but Dorcas fell a lot further. She was the one to propose, under the promise that if they survived,they'd marry,and their kingdoms would unify.
And they did survive. Their wedding was in just a few days, and though most of their time was now spent planning,it was all worth it. Especially for the little moments they got together inbetween it.
As of right now, the Siren was singing their hymns to Dorcas. It was one they had written for her, back when they thought they were going to die,they sang for him as a final goodbye. Perhaps it was just a siren thing,but the emerald queen was obsessed with their singing, obsessed with Pandora.
"Do you think we can have this as our wedding song? It's enchanting,I want the while world to hear your melodies."
Pandora abruptly stopped singing, and looked at Dorcas with warm, light eyes. Pandora stared at her for the moment , as if realising how much they really loved her. How lucky they truly were. They were glad to be born into this universe, one where they had the privilege to marry such a magnificent person.
"I love you,pearl."
"And i you."