Day 166 - Fantasy

 FANTASY

Prompt - Fantasy : Write about fairies, gnomes, elves or other mythical creatures

Davey watched the big man from his window.  He was coming up the track that began down in the cove, round by the caves.  Even at a distance he could clearly see that the stranger was powerfully built, was walking with purpose.  And heading his way.

He'd always known this day would come.  Tried not to think about it, just as he'd try not to cry now.  But they were never going to let him keep her, were they?  And she would go with him, wouldn't she?  Wouldn't she?  He hated himself for cradling this tiny orphan of hope.

Did he tell her now?  Had she already seen?  He'd best find out, and accept what was coming.  No clever plan came to him, no ingenious exit route.  Even base denial seemed pointless.  This man looked like he knew.  Everything.

Davey went downstairs.  Marina was at the window, had seen her... abductor? rescuer? mate?  He didn't know what was in her mind.

"Will you tell him where to look?"  A simple question, and one that told him everything about where he stood at this moment.  Part query, part command.  There was no doubt in her voice, in her green eyes.

"Aye, if that's what you want."

"I do."

"I don't want to."

I know.  And I thank you for that, and for my time here, you've been kind.  But the need to return has never left me.  I belong to the sea.  I belong with Dehyde.  I need to be Asham again."

"Dehyde?  Is that...?"  He nodded towards the path, she nodded in return.  

"Do not be angry with me."

He looked at her, as closely as he'd ever looked.  Pale skinned, silver haired, with the power and grace of a swimmer's body.  His perfect woman, who'd turned up in wonder, with a sense of curiosity and playfulness, and a naivety he couldn't comprehend at first.  Until he realised who, what, she was.  A selkie.   A walking myth.  A seal that had shed it's skin and come to land in human form, simply to see.  

Davey had lived alone for a long time.  Saw little company.  Had never had a girlfriend, let alone a wife.  Had known he never would.  Until she came to him.  He thanked the sea for its unearned munificence.  And knew what he had to do.

She was angry at first, swiftly saw through his lies, demanded her skin back.  Weeks passed, he tried to please, he pleaded, he offered, he appealed, he showed his appreciation of her presence.  So she chose to bide with him, to bide her time, living out this experience, learning, taking land based pleasures while she could.  Davey the cautious crofter became davey the ardent lover in her silky hands.  It had been good for both, but biding was all it could ever be.

"I can't be.  You have given me..."  He hadn't the words.

The big man was closer now.  Davey opened the door, stood waiting.  Dehye stopped three metres short, looked at the smaller man, looked beyond at the woman.  

"Where is it?" he demanded in a deep, salty voice.  Calmly, with no sense of threat, in a tone that knew it would be obeyed.

Davey looked round at the woman.  She already looked different to his eyes, eager to rejoin aquatic life.

"Go along the cliff," he said, indicating the path to his left, "and look for a little V shaped dirt track going down to the beach.  Not quite half way down there's an old barrel on it's side wedged into a gorse bush."

"I looked there once" said a surprised Marina. 

"I know.  What you didn't see was the false bottom that conceals a hole behind.  The skin - sorry, your skin - is in there, wrapped in oilcloth and covered with tractor grease to hide the scent."  He looked please with his own deviousness.

"You really did want to keep me here, didn't you?"  What could he say to that?

She moved forward, gave him a hug and a kiss on the cheek.  "Thank you.  But you knew it was never going to be forever, didn't you?  He smiled thinly.  She turned to the big man, placidly waiting.  "Where's your skin?"

"Ekrel and Mara wait on us in a sea cave, my skin their treasure."  She walked out to him, took his hand.  One half wave and they were on their way.

Davey still stood in the doorway.  About twenty minutes later the selkies came by, her skin in his hands, ready for her transformative return to sealdom.  They didn't look back.