D&D CHAPTER 5

Numbness was the first thing that came to Hermione's mind as she struggled to open her eyes. It felt like she was floating within a cold abyss of darkness, the sound of her own breathing echoing in the blackened space. Her body felt heavy as if her veins were filled with lead but still, she fought her own eyelids, forcing them to open.

As quickly as she opened them, Hermione closed her eyes protecting them from the white piercing light invading her senses. "W-what" she weakly groaned as she slowly opens an eye, adjusting to her newfound vision. "Where am I" she says as she scans the room, her sight sharpening as the seconds ticked by.

The room she was in was covered in many variations of blues and greens. Now with her sight restored, Hermione had finally noticed the bubbles floating out of her mouth as she spoke. "WHAT IN MERLIN'S NAME" she screamed as she scrambled backwards only to fall off the edge of where she laid previously. Hermione moaned in pain, as she slid her body off what seemed to be a bed. "Where on earth am I?" she wondered aloud.

"Carpathia" a voice replied from behind.

The brunette sharply turned, coming face to face with a mermaid like creature. It's ears were fin-like and there were small bots of scale littered across the creatures' body. "Who are you? Where am I? How did I get here?" Hermione fervently as she quickly stood up.

With a swish of the tail, the creature moved closer towards the witch, "there is no need to be afraid. I found you sinking and injured, fearing the worst I brought you back here."

"And where is here exactly?" she replied politely but distrustful of this unknown entity's purpose.

"Carpathia is part of the Kingdom of Arun, a fairly small region compared to those residing in different waters, but we are a robust group" the creature explained.

"Okay, and you are?"

"Oh, how rude of me, my name is Euxine. It is an honour to meet you…."

"Hermione, Hermione Granger" the brunette said, replying the unspoken question.

"Ah well then Lady Hermione, would you like to change first or shall I show you around" Euxine asks.

"Change?" Hermione states confusedly as she looks down to see that she was wearing some sort of wet suit equipped with scales similar to that of the creature. The only difference between to two would be Hermione's bushy hair and pair of legs. "What am I wearing?" Hermione asks as she continues to inspect her the clothes.

"That is a special suit designed to allow land walkers the ability to live underwater" Euxine said, "although it has been quite a while since one was required for use in this settlement."

"Ah" Hermione sounds out in realisation "so that is why I am able to breathe and speak with no issues."

Nodding their head Euxine continues "the suit you are wearing is particularly special as it is made with a special weed that allows a certain level of healing to the wearer."

Scrunching up her eyebrows, Hermione looks at Euxine, "why would you or your people allow me to wear such an important thing."

Euxine waves their hand casually, "it is fine. The suit has been untouched, and we have already designed far better suits than the one you are wearing right now." Euxine then points towards a chair in the far left corner of the room, "however, if the suit makes you uncomfortable, your clothing is over there."

"No no, this is fine. Thank you, Euxine."

Nodding their head once more the creature opened the door and lead them outside to a large corridor situated next to a large entrance way. "This is the residence of my elder brother, who governs the settlement."

"Do all those of your kind stay together with their siblings?" Hermione asked as Euxine looked to be somewhere in her mid-20s.

Euxine nods and states "I as the youngest am to stay with the head of my family until I am wed. Until then, I am to live under the protection of my elder brother."

"Are you interested in looking for a spouse though?" Hermione asks, having noticed the slight gloom surrounding Euxine.

"I-I am not uninterested in finding a partner. However, many of the males here are not desirable to me" Euxine replies.

'Wait, male?' Hermione thinks perplexed as she scans Euxine discreetly once more.

"I know that I do not look particularly feminine" Euxine says, distracting Hermione from her evaluation. "I am from a military family as such both males and females are to be trained. Unfortunately, since my brother and I have been close since were mere hatchlings, I have taken on one too many of his traits both physical and otherwise" she said as she brushed her hand through her short turquoise hair.

Feeling emboldened Hermione suggests "well what about a female partner? Is that something that would be possible for you to consider."

Euxine face tense in shock before settling down to an easy smile, "my how bold of you, are you offering Lady Granger."

Hermione laughs lightly as she waves her hand, "you have me wrong Lady Euxine. And please call me Hermione, there is no need for such formalities with me."

"Well then Hermione please refer to me as Euxine. Further, if I may if you are not offering, why would you make such an implication. You shouldn't play around with a maiden's heart" Euxine replies her tone light and filled with mirth.

"You're right, Euxine, I misspoke slightly" Hermione accepts. "You see I myself am married to four women and thought perhaps presumptuously that may be the reason for your unmarried status."

"I can barely find one partner much more four. You must be very blessed" Euxine replied.

Hermione smiles widely in happiness "I am very lucky indeed." As she thought more about her family Hermione's face begins to pale, "Um Euxine how long have I been here."

"Hmm, I found you during the beginning of the first moon quarter I believe. One moon has passed and we are now into the third quarter so it would be about…"

"THREE WEEKS!" Hermione shrieked, the dread filling her body. The ambush on the ship happened about 12 days into the mission, meaning she has been gone from home for about five weeks. In other words, Hermione might as well prepare the will for her children now. In fact, now that she thought of the mission Hermione had just remembered that if she was in a bad place, her cousin and dragon might actually be six feet under right now because of her wives.

Hermione spins around to look at Euxine, her eyes looking slightly deranged, making the sea creature take a step back. "Please, Euxine I need your help. I need to get home as soon as possible, my family."

Euxine holds up her hand in a stop motion, effectively shutting up Hermione. "Say no more, I will help you get home as fast as I can."

Both continued to discuss the preparations required for their journey, and Euxine began informing her brother, Tengri, of the issue at hand. Much to Hermione's shock, Euxine was the Head of Enforcement in Carpathia. When she asked Euxine about how the journey may affect her position Euxine simply said, "I care not for the title. Carpathia is a peaceful settlement as is the Kingdom of Arun, if they require my assistance, they can send Isthiophorus to inform me."

Hermione had also learned that Euxine and her people were Selkie. Mythologically similar to that of mermaid, they greatly differed from the merpeople that resided at Hogwarts' Black Lake. Further, she had learned that the Kingdom was located in the Black Sea meaning they had two possible routes: one by land and the other by sea.

"It will probably make more sense if we travel by land, that way I will be able to send an owl to let my family know I am okay" Hermione recommended during one of their discussions.

Looking at the map displayed before them Euxine stated, "I understand your logic Hermione, but how will you acquire an owl. Further, it would be quite difficult for us as we would have to pass through at least 4 to 5 kingdoms."

"Hmm, you make a good point. Even with a legitimate explanation, it would be difficult to cross the borders of each country without having at least one stop us for one reason or another."

"So, it is agreed then" Euxine wagers.

Hermione nods her head in acknowledgement "yes, we travel by sea. I hope you have a dolphin to spare."

Euxine gives Hermione a grin, "Oh I have something much better than that. Tell me have you ever hitched a ride on an Istiompax indica."

"A what?"

Four days after her arrival, Hermione and Euxine were ready to leave. Looking at the four fishes before her each about 15 feet long, strapped to what look like wheel-less chariot, Hermione decided to try her luck and ask, "say Euxine, do these um Istiompax have a…more common name."

"Oh, you must mean their Northern name, Black Marlin."

"Wait. Aren't they suppose to be Indian and Pacific Ocean?!"

"Indeed they are but you see we had these bred here as such they are used to these waters, though they would be slightly slower than their brethren they are much stronger and will not tire easily."

"What have I gotten myself into" Hermione muttered as cracked the reins.

And so, they sped off into the watery wilderness, both not fully knowing where this adventure would lead them. One thing is for certain though, things were not better down where its wetter. Damn you Sebastian, for giving us more Disney lies.

IMPORTANT: I want to clarify that I am not continuing the story hence my lack of editing for horrible spelling which I noticed after re-reading everything. I'm just writing small update to maybe get some interests for anyone who wants to adopt the story and because I felt bad for all of you who have been waiting for an update for so long. I have not touched this since I was 18, I'm now 24 years old and really I don't necessarily have the time to give this story the interest it requires. So yeah hope you guys enjoyed it.