The rest of the planning was easy. They got things sorted out in a way that was pleasing to them both. They decided against a rehearsal dinner, as it would be a waste of the Dark Lord's time. Not a risk Faustus, at least, was willing to take.
But all that being seen to, Faustus had
Ambrose and Anton, his newly officially appointed co-deputies, take care of the
more minor paperwork that had piled up in his absence. He had instructed them
to set aside anything that needed his especial attention and tend to the rest.
"Shall we?" he asked, proffering
his arm to Freya. They had had so little time to just relax lately that he had
been unable to resist the prospect of a short vacation. They would be touring
beaches…and frolicking in the waves. Faustus was bringing his wet suit, keeping
his modesty and making him more hydrodynamic. He wanted to be able to keep up
with her.
"Yes, I think we
shall." Freya smiled as she took Faustus's offered arm. She was excited to
be going on a short vacation with him. To find just the right place for their
wedding, and to relax together for a while without the pressures and daily
reminders of the Church.
She wondered where
they were going first and was looking forward to seeing if there were any
hidden life within the waters of each place. Maybe even perfecting the magic
between Faustus and herself with how he could see what she saw. For he would
know far more what she was looking at then she did, when it came to the ancient
ways of the world and myths. It was all so exciting!
The first beach they went to was in a
northerly direction. The waters appeared crisp and cool, and there was a slight
bluster in the wind. Faustus changed into his wetsuit boldly, as there were no passers-by
to witness them.
"Race you," he said, gleefully,
as he took off at a run.
Freya looked about
the instant they arrived and smiled. It was a nice, private looking beach and
the wind whipping around made the smell of the sea that much more intense. She
inhaled deeply and sighed in abject delight at the scent of the place.
Smirking, she
undressed as Faustus changed, down to her intimates, as she knew what would
happen the instant she hit deep water and smirked. "Hey! No fair!"
She laughed as he took off first. Tearing after him, he beat her as she just
ran into the water to ignore the shock of the cold. Going under enough to get
wet so as to get acclimated to it.
Faustus dived headfirst into the icy cold,
the waves cresting over him as he swam out. He resurfaced with a whoop and
grinned at Freya.
"Well, come on, then!" he called.
Freya resurfaced
closer to shore and giggled as she swam out to where Faustus waited. Seeing him
in this playful mood was delightful, and the fact that she hadn't shifted yet,
made it all the more fun.
She ducked under the
water, grabbed hold of Faustus's ankles and dunked him. Coming up with a laugh
as she tried to escape.
Faustus spluttered as he went under, and he
took in some water as he attempted to surface again. "Oh— no—" he
gasped out between coughs.
"Please don't do that again," he
said when he caught his breath.
Coming back to the
surface, she held out a hand to help keep him afloat, looking sheepish and
contrite. "I'm Sorry…" She said softly. She had thought it would be
funny, but she misjudged and now felt badly about doing so. It had been a form
of play for her, growing up, but now she realized that wasn't everyone’s cup of
tea. "Really, Love, I am sorry…."
Faustus took another moment to catch his breath
but gave her a thumbs-up to show he was okay.
"Reminded me of a particularly nasty
grindylow I met when I was a boy," he remarked. "Yes, well, no harm
done, I suppose."
She winced at his
words and helped him more to the shallows. Sitting with him as they both caught
their breaths. "I can see why that would bother you. Those things are
nasty." She looked over at him.
He nodded. "Yes, well, perhaps we
ought to be going. We do still have three more beaches to visit…."
And so on they went, testing the other
beaches for energy and vibes, water calmness, hospitality of the marine life,
and other such conditions.
Freya had enjoyed
herself, for visiting each beach gave her an opportunity to see more to the
life under the water. Though, as she was making her way back from the depths,
something dangerous happened! This was the last beach they had happened to
visit and after talking to the marine life that lived under the waves, and
sharing the information with Faustus, as he was once more in her mind, she had turned
back to head to the surface. She was not even halfway back to the surface, when
she felt her chest suddenly tighten! The ease of breathing suddenly stopped and
as she looked down, she realized with growing horror that her mertail was
fading! Oh shit! Oh shit! She tried to stop panicking and while she still had
the tail, darted to the surface! It wasn't enough….it faded, as did her ability
to breathe underwater, so close to the surface. She could see the sun so
clearly. But she hadn't taken a breath before she went for the swim as she
hadn't needed to….her lungs felt like they were going to explode!
She…had….to………Faustus……couldn't….leave
him…behind……! Her hand up to her wrist breached the surface, as she hovered in
the water, before everything slowly started to go black.
Faustus immediately sensed when she resumed
her human form, such was the strength of their bond. He was by her side in a
minute, pulling her onto his back and hauling her back to the shore. He sat
cross-legged on the beach, put her over his lap, and used magic to draw the
water out from her lungs.
"Are you alright, dearest?" he
asked. "Can you breathe?"
Life returned with a
painful gasp of air as she felt the water leaving her lungs. Coughing as she
went to sit up a bit as she choked and hacked up the rest before she could nod.
"Yes…Love…" She managed to get out as she shook with the need to
breathe. Her heart raced as she turned to hug Faustus. Her body shivering with
adrenalin at what almost happened. "Thank you, Love…."
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