The Calm of Greece

*6*

The cool water lapped at her feet, making her feel as if she was soon to drown.

"Feriah, you're not even in yet."

"I'm aware, yet I feel like I am."

That wasn't far from the truth. She really did feel like she was going to drown when she took another step in, didn't help that her past was screaming at her at that moment. The sights and sounds blocked her thoughts as she felt Hercules take her hand, "It's alright, I'm right here."

She watched him, seeing how he moved away from her yet held tightly to her hand, how he tried so hard to coax her into the water. Slowly, she moved her feet, feeling the cool water rise up her legs, sending a harsh shiver up her spine.

"That's it. We made it out here last time, you can do it again." he smiled at her, his thumb brushing over her finger.

Any way of comfort and reassurance, he gave it to her. To calm the past or her racing mind, he did whatever he could to just have her lean on him and relax. Once the water licked at her hips, she froze, feeling the fear well up in her, her grip on him harder as it all came back.

"You're ok." he said, pulling her sight to him, "You are just fine. Focus on me Feriah."

She locked with him, keeping her eyes on his as he pulled her closer to him. She felt the water rise higher, covering her navel as he began to lean in the water.

"Hercules, please." she pulled back, breaking the contact.

"Feriah, you're ok. I promise, I won't let anything bad happen to you." he took her hand once more, "Just let the water cover you. Like a bath."

Feriah just stared at him, those were two totally different things, nowhere near the same. Yet his hand held hers, pulling her closer as he gave her a slight nod. She followed him, trying to silence the fear that screamed in her ears as it rose up past her breasts. She felt herself shiver in the water as he continued to coax her in, finally pausing as it sat just above the cups of her bikini.

"There, look at you now. Even farther than last time." he smiled at her, "Very good. And you are still ok, see."

She looked around, waiting to see something float past her, waiting for- Hercules's arms wrapped around her, pulling her against him.

"What the hell?" she shouted.

"Just relax, I have you." he replied, "Just hang onto me please, and kick your feet lightly. Like you are walking through the ruins, just ever so gently."

Feriah glared at him in puzzlement but did as asked. Her arms found themselves around his neck as she moved her feet like so, feeling the water move around her as he just stood there.

"See, do you see how that feels? That free movement, the water moving around you?" she heard him ask as she nodded, "That's good, that's what it's like to swim. To feel weightless and free. It's heavy yet not, understand?"

"I think I do."

"Good, just keep this up." he said as he held onto her.

Feriah was unsure of what he meant or what he was grasping at but the more she did as he said, the more she could feel it. The strange weightlessness surrounded her as she moved in the water, hanging onto him for all she was worth. But the more she kept it up, the more relaxed she felt. The water just licking her skin lightly as its gentle rolling lulled her, feeling Hercules's arms around her, just tight enough to prove he was still there.

"There you go." she heard him whisper in her ear, "You're doing great, Feriah. More than you could have ever imagined."

It oddly was relaxing, calming really. She lightly let go of his neck, letting her one arm move out along the water as her mind focused on his touch. That in itself was keeping her focused, more than she would have thought. Was this really how people felt when in the waters, so free and relaxed as it gave her a gentle comfort and a lulling lullaby of sounds? It was magical almost.