For abidat3

The storm had caught them all by surprise. The Velaryon fleet thrown around by the waves, as if they were little more than children's toys. Rain falling with such force that it stung the skin as it bombarded the shocked sailors that were doing their best to raise the sails, before the vicious winds could tear them to shreds. The thunder so loud, that many held their hands over their ears, and lightening so bright, that the night became as day when it flashed. And in the middle of all of this, was Vaemond, doing his best to control the chaos. To keep his men's mind on the task at hand. The commander having to scream to have his orders heard over the maelstrom that seemed to have come from nowhere.

A part of him had to think that for some reason, the Merling King was displeased with them. That this was a punishment for some transgression that had been committed. Yet the younger Velaryon knew that not a man that sailed on his ships, would be foolish enough to anger the god that they all honoured. But here they were, the storm seeming to get worse by the moment; Vaemond stumbling towards the railing of the ship and holding on for dear life, as yet another wave struck the side of his ship. The commander yelling out more orders, as his men frantically moved around the deck. Those that had climbed the masts to secure the main sails, thanking their lucky stars that they had not been thrown into the turbulent dark water that rolled and pitched beneath them.

And then, there it was, Vaemond turning as all around him suddenly seemed to go quiet. His eyes growing wide and his heart dropping into the pit of his stomach, as he saw it, a wave, taller, longer, larger than any other that he had ever seen; towering over the main mast of his ship and heading with such speed towards them, that it took his breath away. The younger brother of the Sea Snake not able to say another word, to shout out an order for his men to prepare, before the wave hit; Vaemond, despite his grip on the railing, finding himself thrown from the deck, and into the watery abyss.

                                                        >>---------------------------------<<

He was doing his best to survive; to not surrender his body to the Merling King, just yet; but as the freezing cold of the water began to seep into Vaemond' s very marrow, his body losing every last ounce of warmth from his muscles as he sunk deeper and deeper into the darkness, he seemed lost. The commander of the fleet, closing his eyes as he just sank deeper and deeper down into the water; Vaemond not seeing much need to have them open, for even if there had been a large, brilliant moon shining brightly in the night sky above, the depths of the Narrow Sea were impenetrable to even the brightest of lights. Vaemond feeling himself slowly lose consciousness, the last of his breath leaving his body, as he finally accepted his fate, and allowed the water that surrounded him, to take him wherever it pleased.

Suddenly his eyes flew open, a bright shimmering glow surrounding him as there, in the never-ending gloom, he could see a pair of perfect bright eyes staring back at him. His heart thumping frantically against his ribcage, as he felt the warmth that was coming from a pair of soft lips that gently kissed his own; and what felt like arms, holding him. Vaemond' s lungs filling with much needed air as whatever this was embracing him with such care, seemed to be enabling him to breath.

Vaemond closed his eyes again, feeling comforted by whatever it was that was with him. The commander hoping that at any moment, he would wake up and find this whole night had been nothing more than a dream; but as he felt, what he was sure were long fingers delicately brush over his cheek and then move up into his hair, they sprung open to once again be confronted by those exquisite eyes. And despite the fact that he was still in the freezing water, the aura around him was making him feel safe, like he could remain in the water forever; and as he felt the lips creeped upwards into a soft smile, the younger Velaryon couldn't help but wrap his arms around the body that was pressed against his, sensing immediately that whatever this thing was, it was most definitely female. A fact, that made him hold on tighter to his would be savior.

Suddenly, Vaemond felt his body begin to move upwards, back to the surface, back to the storm that had taken over the night, back to life. The female that was holding him, seeming to be able to effortlessly propel him back into the air.

                                                          >>--------------------------------<<

Vaemond coughed and spluttered. Salty water coming up from his lungs and stomach. A gasp finally bringing with it some much needed air. The commander laying on his back and breathing heavily, just breathing; the thoughts of what had happened, or perhaps what his delusional mind had thought had happened, forgotten about for a moment, as he was just grateful to be alive.

"I am glad to see that you are awake." A voice suddenly came. Vaemond sitting bolt upright, his eyes wide as there in front of him, he saw the shoulders and head of an exquisite woman, bobbing around in the now calm sea. A soft smile coming to her lips, as he looked at her.

"It..........it was you that saved me.........." The commander managed to reply. His words more a statement than a question. Vaemond knowing that there was no mistaking those eyes. No mistaking the eyes of his rescuer.

"Why............?" The female furrowing her brows at the question that had just been asked by the man.

"It was my father's bidding. And my desire.........." She replied, as Vaemond moved onto his knees, and crawled across the rocky outcrop, to the edge of the water.

"Your father...........?" The commander enquired, yet before his rescuer could answer, he could hear his name being called from a distance.

"Your fleet is on the other side of these rocks. Not all hands survived the night; but you will sail again, seahorse." The woman explained, before she turned to leave. Vaemond calling to the water, as her head sunk beneath the gently lapping waves.

"At least tell me your name.........." He called out. Vaemond sure that he heard the name (Y/n) being called back, before he was left all alone.