The Maiden and The Four Waters

Walla looked down at her legs as they swayed at the edge of the bed, she didn’t fear not touching the bottom, she just feared the lack of freedom she had in the water. She barely knew Mariana; her village saw the water maiden as the villain, yet Walla was hypnotised by the water maiden.

Mariana was a curious creature, the things Walla noticed. One minute were decorated along Mariana’s body only for the next second for it to be gone, the only thing that stayed the same was the shells and the swirls from when the woman first meet.

The flowers that Walla had seen when it rained had disappeared. The playful personality that had slipped out was now almost staying while the curious personality had disappeared.

Mariana rested herself by Walla’s side “I like when your down here.” She looked up at Walla.

Walla smiled a little, she couldn’t find her words. As much as she liked being underwater, Walla knew this wasn’t the life she wanted.

“I heard you talking to that man, you said your stripped of all your titles. If you stay here, you won’t be. The king will let you share mine.” Mariana sounded like she had hope throughout her tone as she tried to convince Walla to stay.

Walla noticed the glistening in Mariana’s eyes, the way her hair didn’t obviously float with the water rather than Mariana’s ends softly bounced on her shoulders and around her face.

Walla dropped her eyes to her hands as she felt Mariana’s touch, Mariana’s hands rested on top of Walla’s, Walla gently stroked Mariana’s thumb with her thumb.

Mariana found amazement in Walla, she found amazement in the way the land maiden cared for her, the way the land maiden didn’t lie instead stayed silent when spoken to, the way the land maiden knew when she speak aloud and the way she just looked.

“Mariana, I like spending time with you but we both know I can’t stay. This world isn’t built for me.”

“I can build it for you.” Mariana found a challenge in Walla’s words.

Walla stayed silent, she lifted up Mariana’s hands before pressing them gently to her lips.

“Is this a custom on land?” Mariana blushed a little.

Walla lowered Mariana’s hands to Mariana’s lap before pulling her hands away from the water maiden’s soft grip.

If Walla wasn’t in fear of standing up, she would’ve walked out of Mariana’s room.