Querencia World Book3: The Mystery of The Mermaid Fortress

Chapter 5 Dragon Raiden’s Story

I can feel my daughter’s anger and confusion, looking at me disgusted.

Rosille held Louverielle “, Listen to me, my daughter,” those words slips her lips,

“daughter?” Louverille is bewildered.

“what are you saying? Louverielle trembles

“my mother died a long time ago,” Louverielle gazes at both of us as if we are playing with her mind.

“Louverielle, listen to me. I am your mother,” My love, Rosille, give away that information.

I reminisce that day when Louverielle, my daughter, she is confused. Louverielle gave me a questioning look; she does not want to believe in what Maiden Rosille told her. Louverielle knew that Maiden is not allowed to marry and have children.

Louverielle admires Maiden Rosille for a long time; it never occurs in her mind even once that Maiden Rosille is not what she thought, off. The perfect image of Maiden Rosille is the reason she wants to be a Maiden.

Louverille confusion and anger I can feel the weight of her emotions; her stare is piercing right through me and her mother, Rosille.

“you’re not my mother; you are crazy! You’re saying impossible things. A Maiden cannot marry, have her own family, and children,” Louverielle pushes Rosille's hand.

Rosille knees weaken as I quickly come up and catch her, she lost consciousness.

Days pass as Lyriqa, and Shikia founds out about the truth. Celeste has no choice but to tell them the story. Celeste, their grandmother, reveals that Maiden Rosille hides the fact of her affair with me.

 Celeste revealed that when she found out about our relationships and Rosille, being pregnant. Celeste orders us to get married. We get married secretly, and Rosille hides her pregnancy to the mermaids.

 For a year, Rosille is away from the Mermaid’s Fortress to hide the truth. After Rosille gets birth, she comes back in the Fortress as if nothing happens. She explains to the mermaids that she is sick and needs to take care of her health, the reason, she is away. None of the mermaids say a word after Maiden Rosille shows herself and clears the rumor.

Louverielle, our daughter, is in denial; she runs away. Rosille is sick, and she is getting worst. Day by day, she wishes that her daughters would forgive her and accept both of us as his mother and father.

Rosille, I can sense she is waiting for the day her body will give in. I do not want to see her in that state, but I do not want to leave her alone, either.

Surprisingly, Louverielle shows up with her sister Lyriqa and Shikia; those words she speaks I never forget.

“Make each of us the Maiden of each Mermaid’s Fortress. The mermaids are separated cause of that tragic war by the dragons and wizard,” Louverielle stares at me with disgrace.

Rosille, even though she barely moves, tries to speak and agree with her daughter's demand that is Rosille's dream for her daughters, anyways.

“Yes, the three of you will be the Maiden of each Mermaid’s Fortress,” Rosille confirms

Louverielle stares at my wife coldly “, We will never repeat the mistakes you make. We will never taint our position as the Maiden like you do. We will never be weak for love like you do. Never, we will be like you!” Louverielle raises her voice.

That is the time I stand up and raise my voice “, Enough!” but Rosille holds my hand tightly and calms me down.

“They have the right to be angry at us. We hid the truth from them for many years,” Rosille kindly reminds me.

“We turn back in our responsibility as their parents,” Rosille trying to remind me.

“She is right in everything about me,” Rosille is regretful; I can feel it.

Rosille calms me the moment I realize she has a point, somehow we become reckless, and we do not think of the outcome of what we do.

The only fault we ever do is we fall in love and Rosille, break the law of the Maiden, a tradition for Mermaids ruler throughout the years.

Louverielle faces us with her fierce attitude, “, Let us hide the reality that you are our mother, and you are our father. No mermaids will know the truth. We will bury the truth until our last breath. Our grandmother hides this for years, even to us. It is not hard for her to hide the truth for some more years. We will keep the reality for it benefits us. No one will respect us if someone finds out that our mother is the respected Maiden Rosille, betray them. The mermaids that look up to you and respect you; they will turn their back against you. I never want to experience that shame, nor do I want my sister to suffer. It is time you both face the consequences of what you had done. As the future Maiden, I promise I never commit the same mistakes you did nor put any shame for being a Maiden,”

I have no words to say to my daughter Louverielle, I cannot find any traces of pity for her mother. She felt nothing but remorse, but I can sense some hidden emotions from Lyriqa and Shikia.

Louverille prominently stands up and announce, “Let us do the coronation as soon as possible,”

Louverille turns her back and walks away. Her words are order, not a request. Rosille falls, Shikia quickly catches her.

“mother,” our youngest sweetly said

My heart melts as our youngest speaks those words, and she smiles timidly at Rosille, but Louverielle instantly grabs her sister, drags her away from our place.

Lyriqa’s eyes reflect sadness, but she has no power to protest and oppose her sister.

Before the day of our daughter coronation, Lyriqa and Shikia sneak in to meet us. I witness how happy is Rosille.

Lyriqa and Shikia acknowledge the life that they have is a labor by their mother, bears them for nine months. Our daughters hug her tightly and call Rosille, their mother. They promise they will visit her when they have a chance.

Our daughters, crown as Maiden. Each of them becomes the Maiden as they aspire. The Maiden ruler of the Mermaids Fortress; Louverielle, the Maiden ruler of Forbidden Fortress; Lyriqa, the Maiden ruler of the Enchanted Fortress; Shikia, the Maiden ruler of the Human World.

After that day, Rosille’s health is not getting any better. A day that I fear the most comes, Rosille passes away. In her last breath, our daughters Lyriqa and Shikia held her hand and cries. Never Louverielle comes near her mother; she stares at her, not showing any feelings, nor shed any tears.

When Rosille is gone, all I wanted to be is where the other dragon lives. I wanted to leave and stay in the dragon sanctuary, but Rosille never lets that happen.

My oldest daughter, pent up anger; she pours it all on me. Louverielle chained me here; she never wanted any of our family secrets spills to anyone and if she founds out that I am telling you about our secrets, imagine what she might do.

Raiden's big fiery eyes glare at me, intentionally scaring me. I gulp as I realize how much weight all this secret I unlocked.

After listening to Raiden’s long story, reality slaps me hard. Maiden Rosille that, I respected, had a big secret. I met her dragon father, and I know about her mother, the former Maiden.

Maiden Rosille that everyone looks up, too, like how I respect Maiden Louverielle, somehow I understand her desire to hide the truth. Maiden Louverille does not want to taint her mother's image as a Maiden, but I cannot dare speak it to Raiden.

I am half-heartened. I feel for Raiden, and I understand Maiden Louverielle. I never choose any side; I need to know more things.

I remember I need to leave before Maiden Louverielle comes and visits the dragon.

I quickly get up and bid my farewell. I swim on my way home. My mother and father, having their conversation at the dining. They do not notice me; they seem serious. I overheard their discussion. My concern about other creatures arises as I know what is happening between Kingdoms is alarming.

The King proclaims war against the other four kingdoms, it is a war insist by the Elders. The citizens of the four Kingdoms suffer, including the creatures in the Forest.

Maiden Louverielle, anger towards his father, has a basis. She never knows anything that her father and the other dragons, being fooled by the black wizards who are now Elders.

Our Maiden, only knows that his father, a dragon who wins the war are the ones who let the Elders win their position and leads their victory. They are the ones who cause the Forest fire, the mythical creature's death, the mermaid's division to three Fortress, and the cause of her mother Rosille sickness. Our Maiden has no clue for that reason; she has the right to be mad.

I feel bad for Maiden Louverielle; if I can tell her the truth and reveal that her father is control by Elders. The other dragons, too, maybe things may change.

If I dare tell her the truth, but I know, I cannot. I fear for my life. I fear the Elders' power. I never want to test our Maiden anger.

Maiden Louverielle, without any feelings, chained his father in that cave. I cannot imagine what more she can do to me if she finds out I know the secret of their family. I promise to myself; I protect what I know.

The war between the Kingdoms is getting worse; the citizen's life sacrificed. None of us know when the chaos between the four Kingdom will end. The mythical creatures as each of us wounded and damaged by the loss in the last war between black wizards and good wizards and their dragons. The mythical creatures in both Forest decide not to take part in the havoc happening between humans provoke by Elders.

It is painful to hear the news that a lot of innocent citizens are badly affected, but we cannot intervene. The leaders in the Villagers in the Forbidden Forest and the Enchanted creatures shut all their mouths.

The news happening in the land reaches us for Maiden Louverille as our Maiden ruler goes to meet the Villagers leader of other creatures; ogre, elf, vampire, wolf, and witch.

The Village Leaders each state their opinion about the ongoing war and they unite in declaring one statement that every Village Leader agrees.

We know that the Village Leader, not engaging in any war. Our Maiden comes in front of us to reveal the treaty of each Village Leader agrees. It states that we will remain silent in all the battles and fight that is going on between the Kingdoms. As the creatures of Forbidden Forest, we must abide in the treaty.

Maiden Louverielle brings the news to us that the King put fences in the Forbidden Forest, dividing the Forbidden Forest from the Enchanted Forest and the Palace.

The news does not surprise us; the war between the Five Kingdoms provokes by the Elders like what happens in their first war between the black and good wizards with their dragons.

We know the Elders' real color and how much they wanted to eliminate any obstacles in their way, and that includes the mythical creatures.

The war is ongoing, and the rumors about the a*******n of mythical creatures in the Enchanted Forest becomes loud. Maiden Louverielle confirms it is a fact. The Villager Leader knows that we are lock by that fence, for we cannot help and rescue the Enchanted creatures against Elder's ill intention.  The Elders make sure that Forbidden's mythical creatures are trap in their borders, limit their movement.

 Copyright:

This story is solely my ideas and creative thinking. Please do not copy, use, distribute, or reproduce.

© January Garneth.2020. The Mystery of the Mermaid Fortress