"I will try," he agreed. He did not promise; he could not, when he had no idea what the War would bring and if the Underwater City would need all of his attention on that fateful day. But he knew that Maeve would understand, and that he would do his best for all their people, both land and sea.
As the Queen moved farther out into the water, Hadama was able to stretch and swim more comfortabl at her side, holding her hand in support and to steady her as the bottom fell gently away beneath them. He said nothing to rush her, simply waiting until she was ready and letting himself slip beneath the waves with her.
She survived the first breath, and then the second, and the corners of his eyes crinkled in a small smile as he squeezed her hand. Still, he waited until she was fully ready before he began to swim, leading them both down, into the depths and away from the light. His water magic surrounded them, cushioning Maeve from the pull of the currents so that she would feel like she was swimming in the calm waters of the Miana Pool as he set a leisurely but steady pace, not letting go of her hand unless she needed it.
The journey took a little time to travel from the edge of the Isles to the outskirts of the City, and down from the bright light of day to the darker twilight of the ocean floor. There was light of a different kind here, however; luminescent algae and plankton cast an eternal glow around the delicate shell spires and twisting coral towers that rose from the sand and bedrock, defiant of gravity with the water to support them from below. They passed a few merfolk at first, then increasingly more as they drew near the edge of the city: shapes of half-shifted and fully-shifted sea creatures swam, slithered, and glided through the water on various errands but the roads along the seafloor were largely a formality for those who preferred the shape of decapods or other walkers.
Hadama looked to Maeve as they paused a little ways outside the main gates - artistic creations of twisting seaglass and coral, though there was no wall beyond them - and tilted his head to the side, eyes bright with pride and the quiet joy of being able to share his home with his friend. Would she like to go in?
As the Queen moved farther out into the water, Hadama was able to stretch and swim more comfortabl at her side, holding her hand in support and to steady her as the bottom fell gently away beneath them. He said nothing to rush her, simply waiting until she was ready and letting himself slip beneath the waves with her.
She survived the first breath, and then the second, and the corners of his eyes crinkled in a small smile as he squeezed her hand. Still, he waited until she was fully ready before he began to swim, leading them both down, into the depths and away from the light. His water magic surrounded them, cushioning Maeve from the pull of the currents so that she would feel like she was swimming in the calm waters of the Miana Pool as he set a leisurely but steady pace, not letting go of her hand unless she needed it.
The journey took a little time to travel from the edge of the Isles to the outskirts of the City, and down from the bright light of day to the darker twilight of the ocean floor. There was light of a different kind here, however; luminescent algae and plankton cast an eternal glow around the delicate shell spires and twisting coral towers that rose from the sand and bedrock, defiant of gravity with the water to support them from below. They passed a few merfolk at first, then increasingly more as they drew near the edge of the city: shapes of half-shifted and fully-shifted sea creatures swam, slithered, and glided through the water on various errands but the roads along the seafloor were largely a formality for those who preferred the shape of decapods or other walkers.
Hadama looked to Maeve as they paused a little ways outside the main gates - artistic creations of twisting seaglass and coral, though there was no wall beyond them - and tilted his head to the side, eyes bright with pride and the quiet joy of being able to share his home with his friend. Would she like to go in?
