12: You Spin Me Right Round, Baby

Chapter 12 of "A Grail for Eidothea"

Apr 19, 2024

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Eidothea meets with her grandmother, Elin. She learns about the generations old quest to find the Greal (needed to anoint the Chosen Court ruler). Elin teaches her how to use the ring to find the Greal.

:You do not wish me to accompany you?: I asked. If anyone should converse with the prophet, it should be me, the prophet to come.

:You thought that a little too loudly.: Llyr sounded unoffended, even amused. :The journey took a lot out of you the last time. You will need your strength for what lies ahead.:

:Is it because I am not truly dreigiau môr?: My grandmother’s opinion still rankled.

:No one is truer dreigiau môr than you, Eidothea.: Llyr stopped and drew me into an embrace. My head nestled against his. He stroked my hair, soothing me. :You are one of the Chosen Court and look every inch a draig môr. Never let anyone think otherwise.:

I pulled away just enough to gaze up at his face. The gossip current swelled around us. :You are sweet to say so and I thank you for it.:

Llyr’s smile stiffened as he stepped out of our loose embrace. We resumed walking. :Shall I give you the full tour of Caer Morgana? You have not had a chance to see all of it.:

Together, we explored the city, stopping to eat at a restaurant whose seating was outdoors. Dreigiau môr seem almost ageless. Llyr seemed young to me, perhaps because we had known each other as children, but his mother did not appear much older. There seemed to be few Llyr’s age. I imagined I would find out more about the dreigiau môr population in due course. For now, I wanted to enjoy my new environment.

Llyr charmed and delighted as an ad hoc tour guide, making sure I sampled local delicacies. We met a couple of his friends. They clearly longed to learn more about me, the newcomer, but Llyr dodged their questions and pointed looks and extricated us.

If he had not recently encouraged me to think of myself as wholly dreigiau môr, I would have thought he was embarrassed to be seen with me.

:They caught the gossip current,: Llyr explained. :What could I tell them? Especially as you are unsure of your own feelings.:

I thanked him, glad he remembered despite our earlier embrace. We meandered our way back to his home.

When it was time to retire for the night, Llyr escorted me to my chamber and lingered in the doorway.

:Was there something…?: I did not want him to see my exhaustion from the long day of walking underwater, from the whole journey, and from facing my feelings or lack thereof. It all felt too much in the moment.

:I know you are weary. I wanted to let you know that I will ask Ondine to be with you tomorrow. She is curious about life Above, but not quite so brave to make the journey. She is my baby sister. It’s not a trip I’d want her to make, so please —:

:— make everything in Caer Morgana sound so much more wonderful? That should not be too difficult.:

Llyr bid me goodnight, his gaze lingering before he quitted the doorway.

+++

Ondine is every bit as delightful and charming as her brother, and chose to teach me the dances of the dreigiau môr while peppering me with questions about life Above.

At the end, breathless, she said, :I would teach you the dragon dances but that requires being outside the city, and—: here, she pouted, :—I am too young to go yet. They are …: Ondine blushed and giggled. :They are courtship dances, procreation dances.:

My cheeks burned, my mind flashing to Llyr teaching me how to swim and move in my dreigiau môr form. :Were any of those…?: I realised too late that I had thought it to him.

:Any of what?: Llyr’s voice sounded in my head, his thought echoing. :I will be there soon, you may tell me then.:

:My brother might teach you given that he’s chosen you to be his bride.: Ondine babbled with excitement. :It’s so romantic!:

I distracted her by asking about the dreigiau môr courtship and marriage customs. Not because I was interested, but this faux engagement held a lot of hidden dangers in this new-to-me society.

Llyr eventually made his appearance in the atrium. He took one look at me and crossed to my side in an instant. :Are you fevered? You look quite flushed.: He pressed his palm against my brow.

Ondine smiled. :I was telling her about the dragon dances and our courtship practices. You shouldn’t have all the advantage in this betrothal, brother. She needs to stand for herself in this.:

Llyr coughed and turned away from his sister, reddening a little himself. You would think seawater would cool burning cheeks. To me only, he said, :I wouldn’t dare take advantage, but when you had the vision? The spinning? That was …: He hesitated. :That was similar to one of the dragon dances.:

I remembered little of that, being immersed in the vision and told him so.

Ondine looked back and forth between the two of us and pouted. :If you aren’t going to include me …:

Llyr apologised, but didn’t enlighten her.

Sighing, Ondine rose from the bench. :I know I am too young. I will leave you both to discuss these adult matters.: She flounced off.

Llyr sat beside me.

:She does not seem so young, perhaps a little immature, but she looks old enough to seek a husband in my village. She mentioned that the dragon dances are not for the young.:

:It’s a matter of biology.: His hand slid under my palm, fingers enclosing around my hand. :Did she tell you that a handfasting lasts only for a year if there are no children?:

:She did not. She spoke of negotiations…: I canted my head. :Thus our faux engagement is not a major event? Your mother made it seem so.:

:Any handfasting adds a thread, linking families, even if it’s only for a short period. Handfastings can be renewed or dissolved annually. Everyone is different. Ondine shouldn’t have embarrassed you like that.:

I smiled. : I suspect she was testing for the truth of our engagement—which would suggest we have already danced like that, yes?:

:She knows we are pretending to avoid further questions. Why would she—:

:To see if our hearts are maybe a little bit involved after all? That there is a little bit of truth to the fable?: I could not begin to know my own heart, but looking back, maybe asking the question hinted at it.

Llyr reddened, leaning toward me. :The intimate nature of the dragon dances would make anyone blush. Was that not why…?:

I grabbed the excuse. :Of course that is why. What did Maeve say to your suggestion?:

Llyr straightened, withdrawing his hand from mine. :She categorically refused. I asked her why, when a Chosen Court cannot be formed without the Greal … and she said your destiny to find the Greal must come before any learning about being … being part of the Court. She too feels your task is too urgent. Once we have the Greal, our work will begin in earnest, thus at least one of us should stay and learn. You are of the Grealseekers, so I cannot go in your place.:

I wondered at his hesitation, but he had relayed a lot of information. :Did you not have a question to ask her?:

He glanced down, his hands closing in his lap. :I did and she …: He looked at me. :May I tell you when you return? It won’t make a difference unless we have the Greal.:

I frowned. :Llyr?: Even in our brief acquaintance, he had not held anything back from me.

He reached for my hand and squeezed it. :I need time to come to terms with what she told me.:

I gathered both his hands in mine. I wanted to ask more questions, wondering at the strain in his thoughts. :Is it about being the king?:

Llyr nodded. :About being the ruler, yes.:

Ceridwy entered. :Such a charming picture! Llyr, are you certain your attachment is a fairy tale? Ondine told me both your faces looked fevered.:

Llyr withdrew his hands from mine. :The dragon dances make anyone blush.:

Sure enough, Ceridwy’s cheeks pinked. She patted them, but she didn’t look too convinced.

The next day, Llyr escorted me back to my beach. We lingered offshore, beneath the waves. The task ahead rose insurmountable in my mind and my tail thrashed.

:All will be well — and if you need me, call out to me. If I can, I will come to you.:

:We can talk over long distances?:

:If you are near the ocean, and even then, you would have to shout. But we have a bond, Eidothea. I will respond when you call.:

:A bond?: Did he mean the engagement? My stomach fluttered with sudden nerves.

:As prophet and ruler, our fate binds us,: Llyr reminded me, his thought calm and serene. He dove and rose, his body making a lazy ‘o’.

I flapped a fin at him, sending a shot of water his way. :Of course. I will call, but I hope I will not have to.:

:Keep me informed, then. Being undersea, and not hearing, unable to help…: His clawed hands clenched.

:I will try,: I promised. :I should go …: We had drifted closer to shore and rocks brushed my tail.

We surfaced, and shifted into human form. This time nothing but water shielded my nakedness.

:I must go.: I turned toward the beach and stood, finding the rocks beneath my feet. I waded in, helped by the surf, turning back once I realised the water would soon no longer shield my bosom. Llyr’s head and shoulders remained visible, his black hair glistening wet against his scalp.

:Go! I do not wish you to see me naked.:

His gentle laughter tickled and warmed my mind, but he sank beneath the waves, a hand raised in farewell.

I let a wave carry me further into shore and got to my feet, the water rushing around my thighs.

I heard a shout and a male figure waved from the cliff top. Covering myself with my hands, I pushed through the water and sprinted for the sea cave. How was I going to explain this?