A Tail of Love - Book One: Forever Fins

Forever Fins-Eight

I woke up and went downstairs. Finny was there, eating clams for breakfast. Eli was there to but he was not eating. I was not hungry but I would need my strength for the long swim home so I ate the leftover clams. "When will we leave ta go ta your kingdom?" I looked at Eli and felt a stab of sorrow.

"In a few hours, the bond should be strong enough for you to go. But be prepared for a long swim." He nodded.

We spent the day talking about what we would tell Daddy when we saw him. Finny would be in trouble because messing with another mer's mate is a serious matter. She would probably be sentenced to exile on land for a year. She would be sent to a deserted island and she would not be able to use her magic until her sentence was over.

When it was time to leave I gave Sybil a hug and followed Finny and Eli. He tried to hold my hand but every time he did I pulled away. Being around him caused me great sorrow. He would never be mine. He stopped trying to comfort me and walked into the ocean. "Let's go. It'll take a few hours to get there. Elias when I push your head underwater I want you to inhale as much as you can, try not to flail. It'll just make it worse. When you can breathe just stay underwater or you'll just have to do it again." He nodded and Finny pushed his head underwater. He inhaled and gave us a thumbs up. Finny and I had on our Korsta's so we did not have to hide any clothes before we transfigured. Eli would not have been able to transfigure until the bond was sealed, so he would only be able to breathe underwater.

When we were finished transfiguring Eli stared at me. "Stop staring and let's get going." He looked at Finny in alarm as he heard her voice. "I forgot he doesn't know how to talk underwater. Ok talk in a higher pitched voice than you normally would and you'll be fine." On his first try all he did was blow bubbles but on the second try he spoke perfectly.

"Aura ya' look amazing. Ya' ar' so colorful, you're like a painting." I blushed and started swimming.

Eli tried kicking after us but the current made it nearly impossible so all he managed to do was spin in circles. I swam up to him.

"Wrap your arms around my waist and I will pull you." He nodded and did as I said. A feeling of warmth and sadness spread through my body. I dived down and started swimming towards home.

It took us a few hours but I saw the lights of my kingdom. I pulled Eli off my waist, holding onto one of his hands. Finny took his other hand and we speed towards the palace entrance. I saw Sid, one of the guards. He swam towards us and sheathed his sword to his waist. The green-blue scales of his fins reflecting the light of the palace.

"Princess Aura. Princess Finnora, it is good to see you. I will inform the king that you have arrived." Finny nodded to him and glared at Eli when he chuckled.

""Your names Finnora? That's rough." She pulled free of him and swam ahead of us angrily. We reached the palace and entered the main hall. Sid was there.

"King Azuron is waiting for you." The big double doors opened and I saw Daddy sitting on his throne. I let go of Eli and swam toward him. He pulled me into his arms.

"Aura, it has been to long since I saw you. Welcome home."

"It is so good to see you to Daddy. I have missed you."

I pulled away and noticed that his brown and blue hair was streaked with gray. "Who is this young man?" Eli looked at Daddy and spoke.

"Me names Elias Carver. It's a pleasure ta meet ya' your majesty." Daddy looked him over and nodded.

"So which of my family are you bonded with?" Eli glanced at me before looking back at Daddy.

"Finny, your majesty." Daddy smiled.

"I will be glad to inform Redfin that my niece has finally found a mate."

Finny swam up to him.

"Uncle Az, I'm afraid that I haven't found a mate." Daddy turned to her puzzled.

"Explain." She looked down, knowing what her punishment would be once she told him what she had done.

"Aura wanted to bond with Elias but I knew that she wouldn't be able to have another mate because she hasn't partaken in the moon ceremony. I bonded with Elias to keep Aura from only having the chance of being with one mate. It was not my place to do what I did and I will accept whatever punishment you see fit but if I could do it over I would do it all over again."

Daddy calmly looked at Finny for a few minutes. "Well Finnora, what you did was wrong, you should not have meddled with my daughter's affairs. You will be exiled on an island and you magic will be bound for one year, starting next week. For now I will sever the bond between you and Elias. I am sorry you got dragged into this young man. Aura." He hugged me. "I am so sorry about all this. I can see how much this hurts you." I hugged him and squeezed my eyes shut, I could feel the pressure behind them and knew that they were silver.

Daddy let me go and turned to Eli. "I cannot perform the separation tonight, because it has not been exactly twenty four hours since you bonded. It would be very dangerous if I broke the bond now. I will perform the separation in three days. That will be safest for both of you. Aura can you show Elias to his room."

With that Daddy left. "It'll be me birthday in three days. This will be the first time I have spent it with other people." I looked at Eli, I wanted to go over to him but I just could not.

"I will show you to your room." He followed me to the western tower and I opened the door to the shell room.

The shell room was a circular room with every kind of shell under the sea on the walls. It was one of the prettiest rooms in the palace. "It's beautiful." Eli swam forward onto the sponge bed.

"Goodnight Eli." He looked up at me.

"Night Aura." I left and swam up the flight of stairs to my room.

I fell asleep after hours of tossing and turning, knowing that the whole time my eyes stayed silver.

*********************

I woke up and went down for breakfast. Eli, Daddy, Finny, and the rest of the court were there. I took a seat next to Nanami and ate quickly. Nanami and I planned to go to our old clubhouse so we could talk about our situations.

We finished and I started to leave when I felt a hand on mine. I turned and saw Eli. "Aren't ya' gonna show me around? This could be me only chance to see your kingdom." I pulled my hand away.

"I am going with Nanami. I am sure that Finny or someone from the court will be glad to show you around."

I left quickly, not wanting to see the hurt look on his face. "Why are you acting like that Aura? Elias is our guest." I looked at Nanami. I knew my eyes were silver. She gasped, she knew me so well.

"Oh Aura I'm so sorry." She hugged me hard, I returned her embrace. We reached our old clubhouse and sat down on the sponge pillows. Our clubhouse was the captain's quarters of this ship that had sunk a few decades ago. It was still in good condition, you could even see out of the glass windows.

"What happened Aura? Why is Elias here, and with Finny?" I told her everything that had happened from when I first meet Eli, up to when Finny ripped him away from me. When I was finished Nanami sat silent for a few minutes. "How could she do that? I'm so sorry this happened." I played with the charm on my necklace. I suppose I would have to give it back to Eli before he went back to the surface. I would stay here. I could not stand living there with Eli so near to me, yet out of reach.

We talked for a few hours then swam back to the palace. When we go there the grand hall was empty but for the guards. I said bye to Nanami and swam up to my room for some much needed sleep. I reached the stirs and saw Eli trying to swim towards his room. I swam up behind him and pushed him towards the door. He turned when he reached the door. "Aura-" I swam up the stairs to my room and slammed the door and turned the lock.

I felt my eyes turn silver and I went into a restless sleep.