"You don't know the extent of what he gave up for you."
Hawk searched her gaze, trying to understand what went unsaid. It was like looking down into the oceans, to depths so great no light had ever touched them. What sadness had she seen, this mermaid - LadyMer - to have such depths in her eyes?
Hawk could see himself reflected in them, suddenly. And not in the mirror-bright way of a summer day. He saw....
He saw himself, on a moonlit night not so long ago, standing at the window of his cabin, looking down into the sea. Alone.
So alone.
The depths in Mara's eyes were the ocean he'd tried to drown himself in. The ocean of loss, of believing that his happiness had died with Lucas. That life had died with Lucas.
And then. Silver. Not a replacement for Lucas, that could never be. But something new. A light source he'd never known existed, like the sun had risen in his world after too long a lingering night.
Had he once again lost that light? Perhaps. He certainly deserved to, after how he'd treated Silver. He couldn't bear to think of what might come next, about whether or not he could even survive a world without Silver when he already knew thedarkness so intimately. But what he did know, was that he couldn't allow things to end between them with Silver believing the worst.
And if there could possibly be a way to get him back....
"No cost is too great," he answered quietly.
Still, Mara looked unconvinced, and Hawk began to despair of ever winning her over. Then, beside him, Elizabeth emitted a long sigh.
“I’m sorry, Mara,” she said softly. “When I met you... I didn’t realize. I should have treated you more kindly. I should have taken care of you.”
For a long moment Mara said nothing. Then she inclined her head. “Thank you. It cannot undo the past, but... I appreciate your words. And for my part... you did not ask for me to make this sacrifice, or for me to love you. That was my own silly, romantic dream, and it was not fair of me to place it on you.”
Then, she squared her shoulders and turned back to Hawk. "Alright, then. But just Hawk.”
Elizabeth nodded. “I understand. Thank you.”
Mara pulled at Hawk’s coat. “Come with me."
Hawk followed her from the room. "Where are we going?"
"To your ship, Captain. We will need one of your longboats." She looked to Roxanne, who had risen again from her spot in the corner, as Mara reached the bottom of the stairs, crossing the room.
"Is he giving you trouble?" Roxanne asked, casting fierce glances at Hawk.
"No trouble," Mara replied, smiling at her with surprising gentleness. "We'll be back no later than sundown."
"You're going with him?" Roxanne's fingers twitched near the hilt of her sword. "I'm going with you."
Hawk expected Mara to balk, but instead she actually smiled. "I'll be alright," she promised. "I'll be back soon."
"And so will I. I'm going with you." Roxanne turned her glare back to Hawk. "I don't trust him any farther than I can throw him. Which ain’t far. If he wants to take you anywhere, he's taking me, too."
"I can assure you - " Hawk started, but Mara shook her head.
"Alright," Mara said, and turned for the door, the little smile on her lips almost making Hawk forget the angry, wily woman he'd spoken to minutes prior.
Fish people!he thought. Whatever. As long as she took him to Silver.
Inside his grotto, Silverfin looked into his tarnished, old mirror, beheld his luxurious long tresses, and sighed. He cast his eyes around his dwelling, where each nook and cranny stood filled with coffers. Each one contained treasures that would have provided a biped with a life of riches beyond their wildest dreams... and they were all worthless. Silverfin sighed again.
What use was all this personal beauty and all this treasure if he had no one to share it with?
When he had been with Samuel, poor and hairless though he was, he'd felt himself as wealthy as a King. A single touch made him feel all-powerful, even though he had been missing a limb. A single look made him feel sated when he hungered. A single kiss... Silverfin brought his fingertips to his own lips, but the saltwater of the ocean had washed away the last, lingering traces of Hawk’s kisses.
You thought yourself so smart, so wily, with all your plans. You were a fool.
