The Angry Mermaid 20 ... Y Morforwyn Dicllon 20

Printer-friendly version

Author: 

Audience Rating: 

Publication: 

Genre: 

Character Age: 

TG Elements: 

TG Themes: 

Other Keywords: 

Permission: 

The Angry Mermaid. 20

A chapter that explores Drustina's burgeoning dulaity and the consequences it causes with a monotheist church.

This chapter also explores Drustina's first forays into an adult relationship as a woman.


'In the Name of God', to the presence of a ‘Maid of Satan’. Wearily, King Walezia explained.

“I’m having problems with the priests, Drustina. Many of the ship commanders and nearly all of the Iberian and Italian admirals are followers of the One God of Israel. The priests have been telling them that you are a monster, the work of Satan, a man/woman who is blasphemous in the eyes of God.”

“And do they believe this ... the admirals, that is? Do they believe this after all that I have been through?”

“The priests are only concerned with serving God. Their book says that God created Man and Woman and that you are an abomination set amongst us by the devil. That’s why you have survived so many battles. Your sorcery and the devil protect you.”

“And do I get a chance to defend myself against these crazy accusations? If this God of theirs created man and woman then it must have created me for now I am both.”

“Drustina take care. You must refer to the one god as ‘he’. The god is a father god and a spirit god and a son god, a holy trinity.”

“Oh, so there’s no mother god or daughter god? This single god is in three parts, none of which is woman but it’s holy. How does it create life if it has no woman part?”

“Hist now Drustina, you ask too many questions, you must have faith, you must believe!”

“I’ll not believe that rubbish. I have more parts than this stupid one god. I have manly parts and womanly parts, I am both a son and a daughter and I have a spirit. I have more parts than this stupid one god so to hell with it I say! If any of those stupid priests tries to accuse me they can accuse my sword and then see where it gets them.”

“Words like that will bring you more enemies Drustina.”

“What, you don’t think I’ve already got enemies enough? If they want to try me and then kill me which seems to be their way then let them meet me with a sword! If I die then I’ll at least have my respect, like Blueface and Portega and Barbas the Barbary pirate admiral. These I have met and killed, if I die like them I will be happy; man or maid, I will at least enter a place fit for the brave.”

Walezia sighed. He simply wanted a few hours with his wife and daughters away from the talk of war, war, war.

“Will you join me with the ladies? Aiofe is here and Arina but please; no talk of war or gods. It is the Solstice feast tonight, the start of the new year and new hope.”

Drustina shrugged and Walezia’s shoulders sagged with relief.

“Very well my lord. Am I to wear a gown or come like this?”

“Put a gown on. That cuirass and britches only emphasises your maidenly body. Those britches are tight and they serve only to exaggerate your maidenly curves.”

“Very well, but I’ll keep my sword. I’ll feel safer if these priests are out to get me.”

“By all means Drustina, I know I can trust you around my ladies; and me for that matter.”

He entered the Queen’s chambers while Drustina went to change. She returned after only a few minutes wearing a royal blue gown with a tight fitting bodice and flowing hem that served to emphasise her femininity. Everybody’s eyes turned in admiration or envy as she swayed majestically into the Queen’s apartments. Drustina was without doubt a stunningly beautiful maid, tall and slender with flowing curves, yellow hair and pale blue-grey eyes. Even the battle proven Toledo blade at her slender waist seemed to endorse her femininity as it swung low on her maidenly hips. The transverse chest band of her dagger scabbard served the two-fold purpose of pushing her breasts up while harbouring her deadly weapon laid across in plain view and under her breasts. Walezia stared fascinated by the incongruence and his eyes flashed an intense welcoming smile.

‘Here truly was a warrior princess!’

Drustina slid her hips onto the bench and gracefully took her place at the table beside her older sister Aiofe. The conversation soon became animated and exciting for Aiofe was an old hand at drawing her sibling out of his/her shell. For once Walezia was able to relax and enjoy a pleasant afternoon away from the worries of war. They discussed womanly concerns especially the newly available cloths and materials coming out of the Berber ports for while this gave the girls a chance to discuss designs and patterns for gowns and dresses, it also gave Walezia an insight into likely trading patterns and opportunities for merchants at the regular Tuesday commerce conference. At this weekly meeting the merchants met to discuss the various trades so vital to Malta and its people. Thus while Walezia was listening attentively to the girl’s chatter he was actually looking for pointers in cloth and fabrics to give to his merchant’s guilds when he met them. If a king could give useful advice to his subjects it always served to enhance and secure his throne with his people.

Drustina surprised herself by finding herself interested in the girl’s attention to fashion. As a ‘boy’ she had never considered clothes except to ward off the cold; now she found herself considering colours and shapes of gowns and dresses not to mention jewellery and slippers. She found herself fingering the scabbard of her dagger and wondering if perhaps she might not have a more decorative sheath made just to house her faithful edge when she was attending just such meals as the one she was attending right then.

‘Perhaps a jewel encrusted harness for banquets and feasts,’ she wondered.

She made her ideas known to the rest of the girls and they squealed with delight. Several of them had noted how the breast scabbard served to ‘push’ Drustina’s breasts up into more prominence and whilst they might not have felt confident carrying a blade, all the girls were secretly considering a ‘breast scabbard’ type of accessory to enhance their blessings. The conversation turned to ‘breasts’ and support, a subject that both amused and embarrassed King Walezia He had the grace to blush as he turned to his Queen and smiled as he wagged his disbelieving head.

‘Women could be so ‘matter-of-fact and open with each other when discussing the most intimate of things!’ he concluded.

Having assimilated the women’s ‘openness’ amongst themselves about their bodies, Walezia turned to Drustina and asked wonderingly.

“D’you know my warrior princess, when I see you now amongst the ladies of my court, so happy and at ease, I am beginning to realise just how big a problem this maidenly transform must have been for you. You have my respect and admiration that you seemed to have handled it so well.”

Drustina’s eyes flashed with gratitude, for the King had expressed words of support and sympathy that she, Drustina, had never thought to hear. The laughter around the table fell silent as Drustina’s wide vivacious smile suddenly descended into tears of relief and happiness as she stumbled to her feet and hugged King Walezia tight to her breasts just as any loving daughter might. Then she turned to the Queen and slumped her head over the lady’s shoulder as she let the floodgates of joy open.

For a stunned moment King Walezia stared stupidly as the sobbing back of his most esteemed warrior princess. He thought she was crying with despair.

“What did I say wrong?” he begged of his Queen.

“Nothing darling, you said the perfectly correct thing. Drustina’s crying because she’s so happy.”

Walezia wagged his head in bemusement. As a father with four of his own daughters, not to mention a son away in Iberia cementing the new relations with Kings Appotel and Pilus, Walezia full knew the strange fickleness of women’s emotions. He actually rose from his chair and stepped over to wrap his arms around the sobbing warrior until her tears ended. Then as he felt the slender muscles rippling invisibly under Drustina’s peachy curves he realised that although his favourite warrior was definitely a woman, she still had that dangerous ability with weapons. As the hidden muscles rippled under Walezia’s tight hug Walezia sensed the sexuality of her embrace. His embrace slowly acquired a more comradely mode until a grateful Drustina turned and kissed him full on the cheek.

“Thank you my Lord. You’ll never know how much your words have brought me joy.”

The King blushed and all the girls around the table squealed their amused support. Walezia turned to his wife with wondering eyes and she enlightened him.

“My dear husband, it’s hard enough for a girl to enter womanhood after years of childhood expectation and anticipation not to mention teaching! Think how hard it must have been for the boy warrior to find himself set upon the same road with no preparation, no motherly guidance and the prospect of nothing but danger and threat from holy men and other manly predators. Your words have double the value to Drustina that they would have been to any ordinary woman. That is why the girl is so happy. That is why she cries. She has shown more courage travelling the road to womanhood as she has ever shown in her many battles and wars. You have just endorsed that truth and she is desperately happy. Now we girls have thoroughly enjoyed this meal, shall we invite some men in for dancing?”

The mood around the table brightened for all except Drustina who smiled nervously as she turned to whisper in the King’s ear.

“I cannot dance my lord, and what man would dance with a maid who bears manly parts?”

“We’ll cross that bridge when the men ask you to dance my dear. You shall have the second dance with me after I have led off first with my lady wife.”

Drustina sagged with some relief. If the King danced with her, it gave some degree of endorsement to her new-found maidenly status but she still felt nervous at the prospect of dancing with other men. Perhaps Torvel would help her in addressing her fears if he took her in hand. She knew she could trust Torvel for they had even slept with each other for warmth on the sea passages to and from Iberia. Nary a once had her Celtic comrade attempted anything untoward. Yes his hand had drifted over in their sleep as they had spooned together for warmth but it had never found its way to inopportune places.

As a boy, Drustina had never learned to dance so at least he didn’t have the disadvantage of ‘unlearning’ the boy’s parts to dancing. As the King released her from his embrace she sidled over to her big sister Aiofe.

“You’re going to have to teach me to dance sister.”

“I can’t think of a more enjoyable activity!” Aiofe grinned hugely as the doors opened and the ladies processed into the great hall.

Drustina chose to remain with her sister in the middle of the line. Entering first was a big no-no for that was the Queen’s right whilst coming last would be making a pretence of the ‘grand finale’. Drustina had already recognised that male heads turned when she made an entrance. Her looks, hair and curves ensured that. It wouldn’t do to outshine the other girls for that was the one thing Drustina found hard to reconcile with being a woman, namely female jealousies.

She slipped inconspicuously through the door and sidled up to Torvel who was chatting to Eric and Carl behind the king’s throne. As she slid her hand nervously around Torvel’s elbow his companions stopped in mid sentence.

“My, oh my!” Eric gasped as Carl’s jaw sagged, “so who are you my beautiful maid?”

Torvel grinned as he took Drustina’s hand and gently pushed up the wide flowing sleeve to reveal the angry scar that flensed up her forearm from wrist to elbow.

“You’ll remember that I’m sure,” he said as Eric’s eyes widened in shock.

“Drustan!” Eric choked.

Drustina lowered her eyes shyly, more embarrassed at her new-found status as maid than at Eric’s stunned realisation. Carl finally found his voice and stopped gaping.

“Well I’d heard the rumours, but I just didn’t believe it. So it’s true then. You’re now a maid!”

Drustina nodded and clung more tightly to Torvel’s arm as Carl’s eyes drank in the vision then fell to the familiar sword at Drustina’s slender waist. He reached out, tapped the hilt of the famed Toledo blade and smiled.

“You’re still a warrior though I hope.”

She nodded as Eric added.

“We’re going to need your sword in the forthcoming battle for Carthaginia. You’ve become something of a talisman to men in the fleets despite the priests and their poison. You can still use it I hope?”

“Try me in the training yard tomorrow dear Saxon. This sword can lead armies as well as protect my virtue. Besides, I need the weapons practice, living as a maid is fun but I don’t get much time to visit the yard or the butts. I haven’t fired my bow in a month.”

Carl’s smile widened.

“I will be honoured to cross swords with one of the finest swordsmen in the world.”

“Uuhhm, it’s swordswoman now Carl, but thank you for such a lovely compliment.”

Carl ginned as Drustina leaned away from Torvel to plant a delicate kiss on Carl’s cheek. Carl crimsoned but did not withdraw which gave Drustina some hope. At least the pagan men of the northern countries did not seem to condemn her for something over which she had no control. She turned to Torvel and called over her shoulder as the King led her away for his promised dance.

“Will you dance with me for the third dance after His Majesty?”

Torvel grinned and declared loudly.

“Of course I will my Celtic maid. What man can resist your charms?”

“And beauty!” Eric and Carl chorused as they staked their claims for the fourth and fifth dances.

Drustina had never enjoyed herself so much as that night but only the northern men seemed to find no incongruence in dancing with a maid who was once deemed a boy. It remained for Aiofe to reveal to the northerners that her sister was indeed endowed with all the maidenly parts whilst simultaneously warning them that she still had her manhood and her sword. It was Torvel who struck up the courage to ask Aiofe.

“Will she find motherhood?”

“It would seem so my fellow Celt. She functions in all else as a woman. Those womanly functions of which you know so little have come to her with all the force of an earthquake. My dear sister has had a tough time these past few years and few of us realised until it became utterly obvious. I for one, as her older sister was stupid not to spot it earlier. My dear younger sister has been through hell.”

“I can scarce imagine such a trial,” Drustan observed, “I for one would be horrified and distraught to be suddenly changed. It must be worse than being made a eunuch!”

“Oh come now,” Aiofe grinned, “It’s not all that bad being a woman, we at least can have children, you cannot!”

“But Drustina will, if she chooses.” Torvel observed softly as the magic of such a development overcame him.

“Yes, but only if she chooses. May the gods protect any fool who thinks he can force his will. Just warn Carl and Eric, I have seen her swordplay when she bested King Walezia but a few days ago in the gardens and he is no mean swordsman. He is highly rated by the Templar knights.”

“It will amuse me to watch.” Torvel smiled. “Carl and Eric quite fancy themselves as swordsmen.”

“Well I think there will be a goodly crowd of observers in the yards tomorrow.” Magab added. “There is a buzz about the hall tonight for Eric and Carl have both mentioned the challenge. King Walezia is amused and I know for a fact he favours Drustina. He’s tried her sword and it’s lost nothing of its speed or ferocity. Apparently most of the Templar knights are coming for they have heard the rumours but wish to see for themselves. A maid who can best a man with a sword, it intrigues them.”
Torvel excused himself to Magab as he saw Drustina free for a fraction of a minute and he seized the opportunity.

“Might I have another dance Drustina?”

She smiled and sighed.

“Yes, but take it easy, I must have danced a score of jigs and reels whilst some of the footwork amongst the men has been downright clumsy. My feet are sore with being trodden on.”

“Well stay in my arms for the rest of the night and I will go lightly with you. Remember you will need good footwork tomorrow to beat those fools with their swords. They will try to force you down.”

“Thank you kind sir. I’ll take your offer and dance with you for the rest of the feast. You, I know I can trust. Don’t be afraid, I won’t break, hold me closer if you wish.”

Torvel could hardly believe his good fortune as several pairs of envious male eyes followed the couple around the dance floor.

Sadly however, some priests stared disapprovingly at the pair’s pagan intimacy. To add fuel to the flames Drustina knew that the priests were aware of her duality and to a man they all felt she was some sort of monster, an affront in the eyes of their one male god. This duality threw their religious mores into a ‘cocked hat’ and left them confused and angry. That anger led them to detest Drustina. Old pagan customs and manners were being twisted by the new monotheist faith that set women aside and lower than men. Drustina sensed the oppressive censure but she was determined to claim what she felt was rightfully hers - equality with any man as earned by her sword and bow not to mention her lethal dagger.

In this much at least, Torvel, Carl and Eric were fully behind her and that put most of the men in the Turdetani fleet behind her. The priests were afraid to raise condemning tongues while four swords and a fleet of ships stood ready to refute their objections. As the night wore on Drustina found herself wrapped tighter and tighter in Torvel’s embrace and she had never been so happy. That night, on the winter solstice, Drustina slept with Torvel and lost her maidenhood as they spooned together when he took her from behind.

up
143 users have voted.
If you liked this post, you can leave a comment and/or a kudos! Click the "Thumbs Up!" button above to leave a Kudos

Comments

The Angry Mermaid 20 ... Y Morforwyn Dicllon 20

Glad that Drustina has accepted who she is, and I agree with her about the Godhead of Christianity as established by those close minded clerics of the church. No, to me, although God is masculine, it is a concept that our limited understanding can't comprehend about the Completeness of God that sees everybody as His Children.

    Stanman
May Your Light Forever Shine
    Stanman
May Your Light Forever Shine

Once again, you hold me ....

... spell-bound. This series is simply superb. And it's stunning to me how time flies in your story. All quite logically, without artifice, and I suddenly at the end had a little shock - the winter solstice! Already! So I had a quick hunt, and the previous winter solstice wasn't so long ago, story-telling-wise! You do this all so well, Bev. Thank you very much indeed.

Julia.

Is this chapter broken?

I love Historical Fiction and just discovered this amazing story. I have sped through the first 19 chapters but was stopped cold when I started reading chapter 20. 19 ends with Drustina and Magab secreting off to Carthage in the dead of night, but chapter 20 here starts with everyone (including Magab) still on Malta. this chapter is very small compared to previous chapters and does not start with a character list. Both 19 & 21 have character lists so i think this chapter may have gotten corrupted at some point in time, maybe during a server outage?