TEMPEST KNEELED BEFORE the goddesses, awaiting judgment.

The Mother Goddess of the Tuatha dé Danann said nothing. Perched upon a throne of woven branches and leaves, Danu watched Tempest with indecipherable earth hued eyes. Only the women bickering between them shed any light on what they thought of Tempest's actions.

"Last I checked we anointed her as a Lady of the Lake," Áine hissed, startling blue eyes flashing with annoyance. "Not a Lady of the Sea."

The Lady of Avalon frowned, turning to face the glowing goddess of sun and light. "She saved a life."

Áine shook her head, rustling the curls of her flowing fire red hair. "I told you she'd do this," she said, walking towards Danu. "I told you she'd be compromised given who Tempest saved. You shouldn't have summoned her since she can't be impartial."

Morgan le Fey's dark eyes bored into Áine. Tempest swallowed thickly, nervous stare moving to stare at Áine's long hair that ended at her ankles. She sensed a battle of words incoming.

"You think I'm unjust?" Morgan le Fey asked, tone cold and bitter like the sea which she commanded. "At least look me in my face when you make such claims, Áine. Don't hide behind the Mother Goddess."

A stormy cloud befell the fair beauty of Áine's most cherished face. A goddess of love and fertility, Tempest rarely saw her be anything but soft in appearance.

Tempest had forgotten that even love could be dark. Even the sun could cast a shadow.

Áine was no exception to the rules of maintaining balance.

"That boy is not Arthur," Áine said coldly. "Arthur is dead."

Morgan le Fey clutched the skirts of her loose plum hued dress. "You think I don't know that?" Her pale skin flushed a sickly gray. "I carried him to Avalon myself. I laid him to rest. I know exactly where my brother rests. You don't need to remind me of his fate. I remember it well."

Danu rose from her throne, killing Áine's next words with one blank stare. Her thin fingers pulled back her hood. She was draped in a silk dress of vibrant colors depicting nature. Her long brown hair ended at her knees. The thick tresses swayed as a breeze blew through the secluded forest.

"Áine has a point," Danu said in a melodic voice that reminded Tempest of her mother. "If it were Nimue or Gwen or any other Lady of the Lake, you'd punish her for crossing a line. Yet you waver because that boy is Arthur's descendant and his reincarnation." Danu gently touched Morgan le Fey's clasped hands. "Matters of the heart aren't allowed here. You knew that when you accepted your role as a faerie goddess. If this is a promise that you can no longer keep, then tell me now. New arrangements can be made."

Áine's wide mouth fell open into a silent gasp. Tempest herself wasn't so lucky in preventing her gasp from staying quiet.

Morgan le Fey's scowling lips flattened into a thin line. She breathed out a heavy sigh in defeat or acceptance, Tempest wasn't sure which. Two long braids of black sapphire stretched towards the dirt when Morgan le Fey tilted her head to the side.

"That isn't necessary," she replied, the bite was gone now from her winter voice. "I can be fair. I apologize for letting my heart blind me."

Danu nodded. "You will choose her punishment then."

Morgan le Fey whispered her true name. Tempest jerked from the whiplash it stirred within her. She balled up the fabric of the plain white dress the goddesses granted her to wear and raised her head.

"Yes?"

"You're a Lady of the Lake. You know what your job does and doesn't entail." The goddess stood before Tempest commanding her attention with her presence alone. "You're aware of the limitations to the gifts that were bestowed upon you. You know that just because you're blessed, it doesn't mean you can't lose all that you've been given when you step out of line."

Tempest froze, floored by the gravity of the goddess' words. A cold sweat broke out on the back of her neck. She gulped, pushing away the dizziness chasing her low spirits.

"I understand," Tempest said, keeping her words steady even though her hands trembled.

"Do you have anything to say for yourself?"

"I know that I'm forbidden from unleashing my will upon any source of water that isn't a lake. Prophecies and King Arthur's reincarnation are no exceptions to this rule." Tempest let out a heavy breath, meeting each of the goddesses' critical stares. "I didn't save Kane so that he could become a great warrior and save his world. I saved him because he's a means to an end. I broke my vows because I know keeping him alive is the only way to save my sister. I was selfish with my actions but I don't regret them." Tempest bowed, pressing her hands into the fresh soil. "I accept whatever punishment that my goddess sees fit."

No one spoke but the wind laughed at Tempest. She rolled her eyes. Leave it to the wind to be an asshole when her fate was on the line.

"This is the first time you've broken the rules. It's for that reason alone why you'll keep your powers." Tempest let out an audible sigh of relief, sinking deeper into the dirt so that her nose touched the warm earth. She stiffened when a pointed nail grasped her chin, tilting her face upwards. "Nimue told you to let your heart breathe and yet you've rarely done so."

There was a dark gleam in her mischievous eyes. Tempest followed her gaze to stare at Áine. The goddess wore a long forest green skirt with silver embroidered horses. The silk material flared wide as the wind gathered around her in a playful embrace. Her thick hair covered her bare breasts, acting as a makeshift top.

"Your punishment is love."

Áine giggled, transforming her youthful face into something child-like. "How befitting."

Tempest balked, pushing herself to stand. She stumbled when something refreshing pierced her physical body. "I don't understand."

"I take from you your filter." Morgan le Fey grasped Tempest's throat firmly. "I take from you your silver tongue and your ability to withhold words of affection. I take from you your mask of deceit and your defense of power." Morgan le Fey dragged Tempest towards Áine, holding the shaking Lady of the Lake in place. "The scorching heat of the sun will vanish only when your heart learns to truly love again. That is your punishment."

Áine's small hand sank into Tempest's chest, slipping past her sweaty skin and seizing her heart. Heat unlike anything she'd ever felt before exploded within her body in short bursts. Her body convulsed as the molten lava of Áine's love seared every nook and cranny it could find.

Tempest woke up screaming. Darkness flooded her sight. Strong arms yanked her out from underneath a watery grave. She sputtered, skin flaming with an unseen fire and body aching from the weight of the sea.

"It's ok! You're ok!"

Tempest coughed, latching onto cold armor as her vision tunneled. She shivered, bare upper body glistening with water. Her toes dug into the smooth rocks beneath her. By the time she could see she realized someone was holding her.

Kane's terrified pale blue crystals bore into Tempest with a glassy sheen. A shaky smile stretched over his fair face. "Hi."

Tempest swallowed the dryness in her throat, grimacing at the pain and heat wracking her body. "Where are we?" she asked. The taste of blood lingered on her tongue.

"We're still on Eros. I took you to a lake." Kane replied softly, cradling her head with the crook of his elbow. When she didn't have the strength to respond he slowly lowered her underneath the shallow water. "I was so scared you weren't gonna come back."

Tempest believed him. His eyes were red and puffy. He held her so tightly. Like she'd slip away if he so much as loosened his grip on her.

A line creased her forehead as a cool rush of water filled her lungs. "Why?"

Kane hummed, raising a brow as he pushed a strand of hair out of her face. "Why what?"

"Save me."

"You don't deserve to die," he said, not even taking a moment to think. "You're... you're a good person. Even though you keep people at arms length, I can see that much. My cousin Gia was the same way. Not a lot of people understood that before-" Kane sighed, shaking his head. His fiery braids were messy and full of twigs. "Nevermind. Forget about her. Thanks for saving my life."

Tempest narrowed her eyes.

"I know, I know. Saying thanks is rude because it means I owe you something but-" Kane paused, gnawing on his bottom lip. A layer of clear paint coated his glossy eyes. "I'm so sorry that this happened to you," Kane murmured, speaking fast and in lilting tones. His face twisted in agony. For a moment Tempest wondered if it was her or him that got beaten into submission by the sea with the way he was acting. "I don't ever want you to do anything like that for me again. Next time just let me die."

Tempest scoffed, grasping her broken ribs. A shattered laugh rattled her bruised chest. Áine's heat thrummed within her like a second heartbeat. Guilt took root where conviction once thrived as Kane's tears took shape.

She was using him. They both knew it. Yet it pained him to see her wounded after she saved his life.

Tempest shook her head, unable to keep her words to herself due to Morgan le Fey's thievery. "You have a kind heart," she wheezed, holding back a scream while her bones snapped back into place. Tempest swallowed thickly, closing her eyes as the sun rose and a new day began. "Thank you, Kane. For helping me."

Tempest heard Kane gasp. To be frank, she couldn't bring herself to care. Kane was in her debt just as much as she was in his.

In some ways, she guessed, they now stood on equal ground.

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QOTD: What are your thoughts on Tempest's punishment? Do you think it fits her crime? How do you think it'll impact her relationship with others?