lejp ending issues: desperately seeing help
I never do this, NEVER. I hate letting things leak and spoilers and whatever but i actually desperately need help with the ending of one of my fics I thought I'd ended well...and now I'm unsatisfied with it urg.
So this is actually the next installment of my LEJP Challenge...and yeah...wtf should i do with the ending...I think i have two right now that I hate haha.
(i'll have more A/Ns at the end)
Sirius had warned him he’d end up spending his honeymoon in prison if he didn’t calm down. James huffed at the words now as he sat it a magical void behind bars. Oh, their trip had started off swell…
--
The keyport had been crowded, Lily already felt sick to her stomach from the relatively long magical transfer and James was practically off the walls in his anticipation of the coming week. They’d waited patiently in line for their turn to enter the airport section of the massive building and play coy muggle tourists while officials in short robes smiled in a laid back island manner and checked their passports.
Once commuting with the muggles, Lily was adamant about confiscating James’ wand for the brief trip to the harbor. She was not risking anything going wrong; even if he was utterly vigilant while working with the muggles, when he was excited like that, they were lucky not to have broken all the windows in the bus, wand or not.
Out in the sunshine they’d bickered amicably about where they were going, ignoring the looks from the island natives and consulted their brightly colored pamphlet while making their way to the fishing docks.
“ Lost newlyweds?” a scruffy friendly-eyed fisherman had held out a long spear, a harpoon of some sort, blocking their path to more rickety looking docks.
“A bit, we’re trying to find the ferry dock to the Bermuda Tria-“ Lily had covered James’ mouth, smiling sweetly at the fisherman.
“ No, I think we’re fine, just…looking around, getting a feel for the place,” she’d laughed nervously already pulling James away. She hissed that muggles really didn’t need any new stories of crazy tourists looking for a nonexistent boat to a complete unproven legend.
“ Really now? That’s too bad because the ferry boat is waiting for just two more passengers, newlyweds if I’m not mistaken…” The harpoon had been raised and rapped butt end to the dock once, in the distance the air shimmered revealing a whimsical looking canopied yacht and a perfectly sturdy looking gangplank that led up to it.
“ Oh!” Lily had flushed brightly as she examined the fairly amused looking wizard, “ I- I’m sor-“
“ ’S all right lass-“ he’d waved his hand dismissively, “ Happens all the time. Th’ar waiting for yeh yet,” he motioned for them to continue forward and once they had passed he lowered his fishing spear once again, guarding the entrance to Bermuda’s legendary wizarding resort.
--
The choice to honeymoon in the Bermuda Triangle was all Lily’s. She was fascinated by the factual explanation of all the myths that surrounded the place. Originally the little group of islands were inhabited by only wizards, and warded heavily against outsiders. Eventually the muggles from the larger island had started noticing the charm’s effect on fishing boats. There was a veritable blank stretch of ocean that no one could recall with very much accuracy and new tales about the memory charms and other protective precautions began filtering into muggle fish tales.
In reality, the Triangle got its name from the grouping of three tiny islands, which made up the corners of the resort’s magical boundary. Within this shielded realm a paradise was created for the modern and weary magical traveler.
It’d been utopia for the honeymooners, a world where the sun shone down brightly and the sand warmed their bare feet just so. The tropical breeze always smelled of sweet flowers and fruit, exotic music and people drifted here and there filling the air with a sense of peace and relaxation.
They enjoyed their time together, alone in their room and out in the main plaza, beach, ocean…anywhere their hearts desired. Lily especially loved the wild phoenixes that cried majestically as they fished, swooping here and there in flashes of bright reds, oranges and yellows. Every sunset the birds flew over the island combusting and reappearing, creating fireworks of magic, sparkling against the purple and pink painted sky.
Riding pigmy water dragons was something they both enjoyed. Safely tucked into their bubblehead charms, they’d slipped onto the smooth backs of the glinting blue green reptiles. Unlike their airborne cousins these dragons were gentle, with long fins instead of claws and soft feathery kinds of spines in place of horns. James marveled at their small size, the Loch Ness in Scotland had just one giant water dragon, Nessie, but Bermuda had an entire domesticated herd that tumbled and played together, darting in and out of the coral, nipping each other’s wide whale-like tails.
Once they were done playing with the dragons, an island native took them on a guided tour of the surrounding ocean and reef with other tourist-topped dragons. The Merpeople colony was where the real trouble began.
--
“Oh! They’re so colourful! And so beautiful!” Lily had exclaimed upon catching sight of the inhabitants of the glowing reef before them. They’d put a charm in place between the two of them so they could still communicate to each other during the tour.
Many a Mermaid from this reef smiled beautifully upon spotting their visitors and swam over to greet them. They were fairly used to the tourists and even offered shells and necklaces for them. As they swam among them, their beauty was intensified so much as it was dispelled in their alien appearance. Merpeople hair was thick, coarse and weed-like as it floated in the ocean current around them, their skin glinted, scaly and as varied in colour as the rest of their bodies…but their eyes were odd, fishlike and small. Other than their chillingly inhuman features they were still quite beautiful; their tails and bodies were uniquely shaped and coloured, like the fish they swam among. All the colours of the ocean, and more rioted and assaulted the visitors’ eyes: bright greens, striped yellow and blue, a spotted white and black even flitted back and forth among them.
“ Yes, they’re salt water Merpeople, not quite the Sirens of the Mediterranean, but certainly a sight better than the fresh water Selkies back at Hogwarts.” James had responded to Lily and grimaced, exaggerating his disgust for the Black Lake’s Merpeople colony.
A purple-haired, lavender skinned Mermaid who greeted them, had begun crooning a beautiful shanty that made James’ eyes droop in its magical lure. Lily was surprised to see not a sleek elegant tail beneath this beauty, but instead a billowing skirt of membrane. Translucent as it was, Lily could see the long ropey stingers that swayed beneath her.
Before she could warn James, however, she was being distracted by a blue haired maiden with a long pointed nose and yellow slashes across her skin. She soothed Lily with a lullaby, touching her hair hesitantly and smiling an odd smile when she saw her beautiful green eyes. Soon it was clear Lily and James had attracted much attention from the watery natives. Some of the Mermen even joined in the songs- a sharp, dark finned young male especially was increasingly interested once he’d caught sight of Lily’s billowing red hair and smooth pink skin.
Lily had laughed as the mermaids petted her with curiosity, they fawned over her and plied her with beautiful shell jewelry chattering quickly to each other in Mermish. Lily heard James chuckle nearby once, but could not catch sight of him when she looked.
--
James sighed at the memory, he should have known then what was happening. He should have seen them discreetly draw their fish bone daggers and saw they way they moved him farther and farther way from Lily… but they sang so sweetly…it was like a drug.
Now he was here, alone, in jail, having been saved from the murderous Merpeople only by his panicked water dragon. Once returned to the tour’s end he was taken out of the water and questioned about what happened in the Mervillage. A scout was sent out from the resort to communicate with the Merpeople, and see if it was true they had tried to harm and kidnap tourists.
James was then detained, and his wand removed. He felt like he’d been in this tiny magical vacuum for an eternity. There was a clanking far off and James perked, straining to see in the darkness who or what was there. A burly tattooed island official came into view and unlocked his chamber, pulling James up and escorting him away from the cell.
Out on the street it looked like the natives were celebrating something, James asked his guard what the occasion was as he was pushed along to the ‘town hall’ of the Triangle.
“ They’re celebrating because the Prince has chosen a bride.” He said in a manner that told James he didn’t really want to be rough housing with him but he was under orders not to be ‘encouraging’ all the same. James frowned, looking around at all the laughing and singing people.
“ But, I thought that all the Wizard monarchies were abolished, the Sultan Sorcerers in the middle-east are just figure heads-“
“ The Wizards don’t, but the Merpeople do. We’re in their territory, we are under their control.” The guard offered a bit more freely, “ We’ve kept them safe from muggles and fishermen and in turn they’ve shared their resources and knowledge with us.” He gestured to the large sparkling mirrors perched around the islands that had something to do with the weather that James didn’t fully understand.
Before he could ask anything else, they were entering the large majestic looking hall, that in all honestly was quite a bit palace-like, now that James thought about it. He was led to a chamber where more officials in deep blue robes were converging at a large court-like bench along one wall. To James’ relief, among the people not on the bench, he spotted the familiar British Ministry’s formal red robes of an Auror; someone had contacted London.
The Auror turned and blinked in surprise, “ Prongs?”
Sirius. James could’ve laughed in the moment but just swallowed thickly and smiled weakly. Sirius barked a laugh and grinned, slapping James on the back.
“ What did I tell you?” he laughed again before straightening up and assuming a more professional demeanor, “ So you’ve gotten yourself in a jam with the locals-“ Before he could continue there was a wooshing noise behind the bench and a great flood of magically controlled water sprang forth from a pool James hadn’t seen.
The wall of swirling water rose to be just taller than the bench of Wizard officials, and several Merpeople took up their own places along the wall. In the center a crowned sandy haired Merman was curled, holding a trident that James blinked at in awe. So it really was true.
Among Wizarding mythology there was a story of five brothers who controlled the oceans. They were the sons of Poseidon himself and each wielded a trident, crafted by the sea god, which could control their ocean and all the creatures in it. Never before has evidence of such a myth come to the light but there it was, at long last, a golden trident and James stared at it with slack jaw.
“ What have you gotten yourself into this time?” Sirius hissed, obviously seeing the magnitude of this development as well.
Beside the Sea King was a sharp eyed young Merman with pointed fins that extended from his temples and cropped black hair streaked -from where his temple fins started- white. In his webbed and spined grey arms was cradled an unconscious and wet Lily.
With a wave of the King’s golden weapon, a wet gurgling noise filled James ears before it was silent and the king began to speak.
“ Why have you summoned counsel on such a joyous occasion?” he thundered pinning many of them with accusing eyes. James frowned, realizing the King had put some kind of charm on them so they could all understand each other.
“ We beg your forgiveness your Majesty, but this Wizard says that your civilians kidnapped his wife-“
“ We are within our own kingdom, all in this ocean is ours and in our rights.” the Prince, as it appeared, yelled angrily, drawing Lily closer to his person.
“ She’s a tourist your Majesties, from Great Britain, part of King Arktos’ Kingdom sire,” the official from the Triangle Resort tried to reason with them. They ignored the rebuttal and looked only to a distraught James.
“ She will be compensated for,” the King motioned to the side where a column of water rose up, supporting a very pretty pink dappled octopus girl with long inky locks who was holding aloft a fish net full of rocks and jewels, shells, and coins of precious metals. James grimaced, looked to Lily again and took a step towards her. The Prince hissed, his pointed black fins rising in defense.
“ Bala.” the King admonished his son.
“ Look,” Sirius stepped forward, “ I’m sure we can work something out, but we can’t give you a Witch. The British Ministry for Magic protects her, she cannot be taken against her will. Besides, she’s human, she can’t stay in the water with you.” He pointed out how Lily was already looking sickly from such lengthily exposure to the moisture surrounding her.
The great King chuckled mightily and Prince Bala smirked. With a wave of his trident a blinding light filled the hall and when James finally opened his eyes again, Lily was no longer resting easily in Bala’s arms her bare legs sprawled at odd angles. Instead he saw a long green tail and lots of pale, bare skin peeking though a long curtain of damp red hair. The octopus girl was gasping, naked on the floor before them, her new smooth legs akimbo beneath her, she was shaking from the abrupt transformation. Sirius shrugged out of his robe and wrapped it around her helping her into a more comfortable position before backing away once more.
James couldn’t keep his horror-filled eyes off of Lily though, as he watched the Prince dip her into the water. When she took a breath under the surface her eyes finally opened a crack. Her tail curled experimentally and she sighed.
“ …James?” she called in a confused voice.
“ Lily!” he called out, trying to move towards the benches again but Sirius held him back. Prince Bala smiled over her, pushing her hair back from her face.
“ Lily,” he tried her name, his voice sounding exotic trying to shape it. James flushed in anger. Lily was his! His wife, new tail or not, she didn’t belong with this crazy fish! He’d worked far to hard to get to this point and he was not about to let her go now.
“ Careful, darling, you don’t know how to swim,” Prince Bala chuckled as Lily tried to move. James’ hands turned to fists; he was not going to allow this.
“ No! Change her back! She’s my wife!” he yelled to the King who was watching his son fondly. The Merpeople ignored him and in a moment the rushing and gurgling sound was back. James’ yell was drowned out by the noise of all the water rushing back down into the pool behind the bench, and the last he saw of Lily was obscured by the Prince’s smug grin.
James dropped to his knees in anguish. They had Lily. They had Lily and there was nothing he could do.
Sirius was there beside him, gripping his shoulder and whispering in his ear.
“ It’s okay. It’ll be okay, I’ll get her back I’ll find something in the Ministry that will bring her back,” He promised before wrapping his arms around James to squeeze him once and then he was off, talking brusquely with the distraught island officials. James didn’t blame them for being worried, if word got out that happy tourists could be abducted into the sea like this, no one would come to the resort.
Beside him, the octopus girl moaned and he glanced at her. She was a feeble replacement for Lily, how dare they think a pretty face could placate him. The poor girl looked to be in pain and James sighed and hesitantly shuffled over to her.
“ What’s your name? Can you understand me?” he asked her and she made a frightened noise before trying out her voice.
“ O-O-Octavia.” She whispered and he sighed, of course that was her name. He gently reached out to her and helped her properly into Sirius’ robe, doing up the buttons for her.
“ It’s okay, no one is going to hurt you here,” He assured her as she looked around wearily, “ My name is James, I’m going to try and get you back into the ocean where you belong,” he smiled weakly, trying to be reassuring but feeling helpless.
“ It’s so…dry,” she whispered rubbing the skin of her hand and recoiling at the rough feel.
“ We’ll get you some water…or lotion,” he sighed and stood, moving to where Sirius was now arguing with a wizened official. The man was a foot shorter than Sirius, with fluffy white hair that rimmed his head but didn’t cover the top of his shiny tanned scalp. He had on the same blue robes as the other officials but a special golden badge- depicting a trident crossed over a wand, that identified him as the Wizard-Merpeople cohabitation officer- was pinned to his chest.
“ We cannot force them, Auror Black, they control us. If we were to use our magic against them now, well it would go against so many treaties-“
“ Treaties?” Sirius crossed his arms and leaned forward.
“ Yes, the Merpeople Treatment Treaties of the Bermuda Triangle, and the World Merpeople-Wizard Relation Treaties still in place from the Merwars of 1195,” he frowned, his great white eyebrows drawing together in confusion, “ Don’t you know them?” He asked genuinely. Sirius rubbed his head.
“ We don’t usually have much Merpeople trouble in the middle of London and the Selkies in Scotland really aren’t a big enough a colony to kick up much fuss,” his smile was twisted and bitter, “ Can I take a look at these treaties, maybe there will be some ancient agreement about cross species coveting and converting or something,” He sighed and followed the old official out of the hall.
--
One long day later, the entire resort knew what was going on, the British Ministry was going bizerk and James was not allowed to join the new team of Aurors working tirelessly with the island officials to try and negotiate Lily’s return.
Instead, he was forced to sit on the sidelines, watching as his and his wife’s future was put into a bunch of stubborn slippery fish hands. He took to getting out when he felt over whelmed; not exactly appreciating the sites, but just moving his legs, running from his frustrated and wrung out emotions. It was on one of his restless strolls around the islands that he bumped into a small glimmer of hope.
“ There you go, you’ve almost got it!” he heard a woman exclaim and turned, watching as several young maidens helped a dark haired girl, swathed in a delicate fabric, take a few shaky steps forward.
He recognized Octavia instantly, and moved towards them, wondering if maybe everyone was looking at this whole situation from the wrong side of the water.
“ Octavia!” he called out causing her to turn and loose her balance, collapsing into the arms of her companions with a whoop. He helped them up and politely asked if he might be able to take her for a walk to chat. The oldest woman who was clearly her assigned caregiver nodded with a kind smile and patted him on the arm.
Taking Octavia’s waist, he walked slowly, letting her try to stroll with him.
“ James,” she smiled at him, her eyes the strangest shade of violet he’d ever seen.
“ Yes, I-er I wanted to know if maybe you could help me.” He sighed and adjusted his glasses.
“ Maybe,” she laughed coyly, obviously she wasn’t too devastated about her new life. He smiled back.
“ Lily, my wife, is still being held captive by your Prince. I wanted to know if you knew of anyway I could get her back…” he pleaded. Octavia kneaded her lip and looked up at the sun.
“ You must be careful, the ocean…the ocean calls.” She frowned and looked out over the shore, “ The open water is…is a fickle woman and she calls to her creatures, she keeps them wild…if you want to save your Lily, you must act quickly or loose the woman you know to the call of Calypso, the mother,” She explained and James gulped.
“ How long do you think I’ll have…before this ‘wild calling’ starts?” he asked her holding her steady as she stumbled.
“ Oh,” she smiled, “ It changes. If your Lily was wild and free to begin with she is already lost, but if she was…tame- modest, it will take longer, maybe another week,” she blinked her wide violet eyes and James sighed, just what he needed, a time limit.
“ Well, is there anyway you know of that I could get her back?” he asked desperately and she shook her head but thought for a moment.
“ They will kill you immediately if you try to use magic…the only thing I know that would make him give you whatever you desired…would be to challenge Prince Bala for her. But you would need to know how to fight with their weapons, move through the water like they do, be one with the environment…you would be sure to loose, even if you had the time and ability to train…Prince Bala is the best in the ocean.” She whispered and his hope plummeted. Seeing him looking so desolate she pulled him to a stop and wrapped her arms around him.
“ I know you love your Lily, but with time you will forget her, and she will forget you,” she smiled inspecting his glasses with curiosity, “ And when that happens I’ll have mastered the craft of walking and maybe I’ll even be satisfactory at dancing,” She smiled cheerfully but frowned as James extracted himself from her embrace and began to lead her back.
“ Thank you, but I will save Lily…or die trying.” He sighed but stood by his statement, he would rather die anyway then have to live a life knowing he failed Lily.
--
“James! What…are you doing?” Sirius entered the room and frowned skeptically at a twin sai wielding James.
“ I…don’t honestly know actually,” He sighed and dropped the weapons onto his bed flinching as they clanked into the pile of a dozen other lethal weapons.
“ Going to war are we?” Sirius cleared a space on the small table James had covered in books on aquatic weapon wielding.
“ No- Yes-“ James drove a hand through his hair and rolled his shoulders, “ I don’t know. It’s just that we’re running out of time, if Lily is left in the ocean too long-“
“ I know she becomes totally crazy I got it,” Sirius gestured to his own stack of books.
“ I figured I might as well try to do something, but who am I kidding? I can’t just charge in there unarmed…” James sighed flopping into the seat beside Sirus who looked pointedly at all the weapons, “ Figuratively. Really, do you think I could last ten seconds even with these things?” he shook his head again and groaned.
“ Well lucky for you, I have just saved Lily’s arse. You both owe me for life by the way.” He nodded looking smug as he leaned back and crossed his arms over his chest.
“ What? Sirius- Pads, what did you find?” James’ sleep deprived eyes were wide and pleading.
“ One iron clad contract still in effect from 1203 when we ended the Merwars.” He lifted an ancient looking scroll.
“ And?” James’ looked so bright, so hopeful.
“ No recruiting and modifying from other species, including captured fugitives.” He sighed tapping the side of his head and frowning as James groaned.
“ What doesn’t make any sense Sirius. Lily isn’t a fugitive, she isn’t in a war!” he hissed slamming a fist on the table in desperation.
“ Doesn’t matter, they’ve taken her captive, and they’ve modified her to join the Royal family. Here,” he gestured to a floppy wet book, “ This is everything ever recorded about the Merpeople in Bermuda. Their Monarchy is the head of the army like most monarchies…so don’t you see? They’ve recruited Lily for their army!” His grey eyes sparkled and James looked up in awe.
“ How- how did you-“ James gulped like a fish out of water and pulled his friend into a hug.
“ Lets go get her back. This has been some honeymoon eh?” Padfoot laughed as James growled back at him, kicking his chair into place.
“You’ve no idea,”
--
AND NOW I NEED AN ENDING...because that is not a good ending point, so i'll show you what i had to come next...
Ending1
Two hours later after a very vexing confrontation with the king and his ability to shoot pure magic out of his trident, the contract held up and Lily was restored and returned. Octavia after being consulted decided to stay above land, having finally mastered walking was enjoying the sensation and the dry warmth of the air far too much to go back into the ocean.
Two days later Lily was still coughing up salt water and demanding never to leave a foggy dreary grey Britain ever again. James couldn’t help but wholeheartedly agree as he kissed Lily, grateful to have her back…without the tail.
Remus, upon hearing the entire tale over a pint with the newlyweds, Peter and Sirius, only sighed and said:
“ I could have told you nothing but bad luck comes from the Bermuda Triangle.”
Right and this I just wrote again and i still really don't like it because Lily is not a jealous Beyatch.
Ending 2
“ Wait, wait, you never told me the part about your stroll with Octavia,” Lily sputtered over her pint as James laughed during the re-telling of the story again.
“ I didn’t think it was very important, I was just glad to have you back!” James reached over the scuffed table to clasp her hand but she moved it with a scowl. The three other men around the table watched with vague and familiar amusement in their eyes.
“ Are you telling me that while I was being held hostage you entertained another girl…and didn’t think that was important?” Lily gazed at him looking genuinely perplexed.
“ Were you listening to Prong’s story, he have her the brush off mate-“ Sirius leaned forward on his elbows, clasping his fingers beneath his chin.
“ It doesn’t matter! He still didn’t tell me-“ Lily frowned.
“ I think you swallowed a bit too much salt water-“
“ I’m not crazy!”
“ I told you two no good comes from the Bermuda Triangle.”
SOOO yeah. Originally i sort of wanted the whole fic to come to a head with James actually fighting Bala, but uhh no, James would get pwned and he told me so, no amount of lion balls is going to save him helplessly in the water. And Sirius was speedy and awesome with his researching ( he didn't fall asleep once! he was very proud of that) and stepped in saving James from his feeble training for this battle I was going to put him in despite his protests.
Don't get me wrong, Sirius was always going to step in before the fight, but he just managed to do it way faster than I anticipated.
I just don't want to write that whole BORING confrontation with the King and Bala and the trident blasting the contract and with like Ursula!Sirius cackling and growing 30ft tall with his new found power of the contract...*cough* yeah Little mermaid FLASHBACK. James is no eric, he doesn't even like dogs, or dog-like krups. Something to do with his grandfather's blood hounds just freaked him out as a kid. THERE IS SO MUCH WEIRDO CLUTTERY BACKGROUND FOR THIS STORY. And I'm adding it all in my A/Ns when i publish it in FF because omg i actually worked really had on the researching.
Right, enough of me, ANY IDEAS ANYONE?
I will be eternally grateful and am taking your requests of fiction payment now.
So this is actually the next installment of my LEJP Challenge...and yeah...wtf should i do with the ending...I think i have two right now that I hate haha.
(i'll have more A/Ns at the end)
Sirius had warned him he’d end up spending his honeymoon in prison if he didn’t calm down. James huffed at the words now as he sat it a magical void behind bars. Oh, their trip had started off swell…
--
The keyport had been crowded, Lily already felt sick to her stomach from the relatively long magical transfer and James was practically off the walls in his anticipation of the coming week. They’d waited patiently in line for their turn to enter the airport section of the massive building and play coy muggle tourists while officials in short robes smiled in a laid back island manner and checked their passports.
Once commuting with the muggles, Lily was adamant about confiscating James’ wand for the brief trip to the harbor. She was not risking anything going wrong; even if he was utterly vigilant while working with the muggles, when he was excited like that, they were lucky not to have broken all the windows in the bus, wand or not.
Out in the sunshine they’d bickered amicably about where they were going, ignoring the looks from the island natives and consulted their brightly colored pamphlet while making their way to the fishing docks.
“ Lost newlyweds?” a scruffy friendly-eyed fisherman had held out a long spear, a harpoon of some sort, blocking their path to more rickety looking docks.
“A bit, we’re trying to find the ferry dock to the Bermuda Tria-“ Lily had covered James’ mouth, smiling sweetly at the fisherman.
“ No, I think we’re fine, just…looking around, getting a feel for the place,” she’d laughed nervously already pulling James away. She hissed that muggles really didn’t need any new stories of crazy tourists looking for a nonexistent boat to a complete unproven legend.
“ Really now? That’s too bad because the ferry boat is waiting for just two more passengers, newlyweds if I’m not mistaken…” The harpoon had been raised and rapped butt end to the dock once, in the distance the air shimmered revealing a whimsical looking canopied yacht and a perfectly sturdy looking gangplank that led up to it.
“ Oh!” Lily had flushed brightly as she examined the fairly amused looking wizard, “ I- I’m sor-“
“ ’S all right lass-“ he’d waved his hand dismissively, “ Happens all the time. Th’ar waiting for yeh yet,” he motioned for them to continue forward and once they had passed he lowered his fishing spear once again, guarding the entrance to Bermuda’s legendary wizarding resort.
--
The choice to honeymoon in the Bermuda Triangle was all Lily’s. She was fascinated by the factual explanation of all the myths that surrounded the place. Originally the little group of islands were inhabited by only wizards, and warded heavily against outsiders. Eventually the muggles from the larger island had started noticing the charm’s effect on fishing boats. There was a veritable blank stretch of ocean that no one could recall with very much accuracy and new tales about the memory charms and other protective precautions began filtering into muggle fish tales.
In reality, the Triangle got its name from the grouping of three tiny islands, which made up the corners of the resort’s magical boundary. Within this shielded realm a paradise was created for the modern and weary magical traveler.
It’d been utopia for the honeymooners, a world where the sun shone down brightly and the sand warmed their bare feet just so. The tropical breeze always smelled of sweet flowers and fruit, exotic music and people drifted here and there filling the air with a sense of peace and relaxation.
They enjoyed their time together, alone in their room and out in the main plaza, beach, ocean…anywhere their hearts desired. Lily especially loved the wild phoenixes that cried majestically as they fished, swooping here and there in flashes of bright reds, oranges and yellows. Every sunset the birds flew over the island combusting and reappearing, creating fireworks of magic, sparkling against the purple and pink painted sky.
Riding pigmy water dragons was something they both enjoyed. Safely tucked into their bubblehead charms, they’d slipped onto the smooth backs of the glinting blue green reptiles. Unlike their airborne cousins these dragons were gentle, with long fins instead of claws and soft feathery kinds of spines in place of horns. James marveled at their small size, the Loch Ness in Scotland had just one giant water dragon, Nessie, but Bermuda had an entire domesticated herd that tumbled and played together, darting in and out of the coral, nipping each other’s wide whale-like tails.
Once they were done playing with the dragons, an island native took them on a guided tour of the surrounding ocean and reef with other tourist-topped dragons. The Merpeople colony was where the real trouble began.
--
“Oh! They’re so colourful! And so beautiful!” Lily had exclaimed upon catching sight of the inhabitants of the glowing reef before them. They’d put a charm in place between the two of them so they could still communicate to each other during the tour.
Many a Mermaid from this reef smiled beautifully upon spotting their visitors and swam over to greet them. They were fairly used to the tourists and even offered shells and necklaces for them. As they swam among them, their beauty was intensified so much as it was dispelled in their alien appearance. Merpeople hair was thick, coarse and weed-like as it floated in the ocean current around them, their skin glinted, scaly and as varied in colour as the rest of their bodies…but their eyes were odd, fishlike and small. Other than their chillingly inhuman features they were still quite beautiful; their tails and bodies were uniquely shaped and coloured, like the fish they swam among. All the colours of the ocean, and more rioted and assaulted the visitors’ eyes: bright greens, striped yellow and blue, a spotted white and black even flitted back and forth among them.
“ Yes, they’re salt water Merpeople, not quite the Sirens of the Mediterranean, but certainly a sight better than the fresh water Selkies back at Hogwarts.” James had responded to Lily and grimaced, exaggerating his disgust for the Black Lake’s Merpeople colony.
A purple-haired, lavender skinned Mermaid who greeted them, had begun crooning a beautiful shanty that made James’ eyes droop in its magical lure. Lily was surprised to see not a sleek elegant tail beneath this beauty, but instead a billowing skirt of membrane. Translucent as it was, Lily could see the long ropey stingers that swayed beneath her.
Before she could warn James, however, she was being distracted by a blue haired maiden with a long pointed nose and yellow slashes across her skin. She soothed Lily with a lullaby, touching her hair hesitantly and smiling an odd smile when she saw her beautiful green eyes. Soon it was clear Lily and James had attracted much attention from the watery natives. Some of the Mermen even joined in the songs- a sharp, dark finned young male especially was increasingly interested once he’d caught sight of Lily’s billowing red hair and smooth pink skin.
Lily had laughed as the mermaids petted her with curiosity, they fawned over her and plied her with beautiful shell jewelry chattering quickly to each other in Mermish. Lily heard James chuckle nearby once, but could not catch sight of him when she looked.
--
James sighed at the memory, he should have known then what was happening. He should have seen them discreetly draw their fish bone daggers and saw they way they moved him farther and farther way from Lily… but they sang so sweetly…it was like a drug.
Now he was here, alone, in jail, having been saved from the murderous Merpeople only by his panicked water dragon. Once returned to the tour’s end he was taken out of the water and questioned about what happened in the Mervillage. A scout was sent out from the resort to communicate with the Merpeople, and see if it was true they had tried to harm and kidnap tourists.
James was then detained, and his wand removed. He felt like he’d been in this tiny magical vacuum for an eternity. There was a clanking far off and James perked, straining to see in the darkness who or what was there. A burly tattooed island official came into view and unlocked his chamber, pulling James up and escorting him away from the cell.
Out on the street it looked like the natives were celebrating something, James asked his guard what the occasion was as he was pushed along to the ‘town hall’ of the Triangle.
“ They’re celebrating because the Prince has chosen a bride.” He said in a manner that told James he didn’t really want to be rough housing with him but he was under orders not to be ‘encouraging’ all the same. James frowned, looking around at all the laughing and singing people.
“ But, I thought that all the Wizard monarchies were abolished, the Sultan Sorcerers in the middle-east are just figure heads-“
“ The Wizards don’t, but the Merpeople do. We’re in their territory, we are under their control.” The guard offered a bit more freely, “ We’ve kept them safe from muggles and fishermen and in turn they’ve shared their resources and knowledge with us.” He gestured to the large sparkling mirrors perched around the islands that had something to do with the weather that James didn’t fully understand.
Before he could ask anything else, they were entering the large majestic looking hall, that in all honestly was quite a bit palace-like, now that James thought about it. He was led to a chamber where more officials in deep blue robes were converging at a large court-like bench along one wall. To James’ relief, among the people not on the bench, he spotted the familiar British Ministry’s formal red robes of an Auror; someone had contacted London.
The Auror turned and blinked in surprise, “ Prongs?”
Sirius. James could’ve laughed in the moment but just swallowed thickly and smiled weakly. Sirius barked a laugh and grinned, slapping James on the back.
“ What did I tell you?” he laughed again before straightening up and assuming a more professional demeanor, “ So you’ve gotten yourself in a jam with the locals-“ Before he could continue there was a wooshing noise behind the bench and a great flood of magically controlled water sprang forth from a pool James hadn’t seen.
The wall of swirling water rose to be just taller than the bench of Wizard officials, and several Merpeople took up their own places along the wall. In the center a crowned sandy haired Merman was curled, holding a trident that James blinked at in awe. So it really was true.
Among Wizarding mythology there was a story of five brothers who controlled the oceans. They were the sons of Poseidon himself and each wielded a trident, crafted by the sea god, which could control their ocean and all the creatures in it. Never before has evidence of such a myth come to the light but there it was, at long last, a golden trident and James stared at it with slack jaw.
“ What have you gotten yourself into this time?” Sirius hissed, obviously seeing the magnitude of this development as well.
Beside the Sea King was a sharp eyed young Merman with pointed fins that extended from his temples and cropped black hair streaked -from where his temple fins started- white. In his webbed and spined grey arms was cradled an unconscious and wet Lily.
With a wave of the King’s golden weapon, a wet gurgling noise filled James ears before it was silent and the king began to speak.
“ Why have you summoned counsel on such a joyous occasion?” he thundered pinning many of them with accusing eyes. James frowned, realizing the King had put some kind of charm on them so they could all understand each other.
“ We beg your forgiveness your Majesty, but this Wizard says that your civilians kidnapped his wife-“
“ We are within our own kingdom, all in this ocean is ours and in our rights.” the Prince, as it appeared, yelled angrily, drawing Lily closer to his person.
“ She’s a tourist your Majesties, from Great Britain, part of King Arktos’ Kingdom sire,” the official from the Triangle Resort tried to reason with them. They ignored the rebuttal and looked only to a distraught James.
“ She will be compensated for,” the King motioned to the side where a column of water rose up, supporting a very pretty pink dappled octopus girl with long inky locks who was holding aloft a fish net full of rocks and jewels, shells, and coins of precious metals. James grimaced, looked to Lily again and took a step towards her. The Prince hissed, his pointed black fins rising in defense.
“ Bala.” the King admonished his son.
“ Look,” Sirius stepped forward, “ I’m sure we can work something out, but we can’t give you a Witch. The British Ministry for Magic protects her, she cannot be taken against her will. Besides, she’s human, she can’t stay in the water with you.” He pointed out how Lily was already looking sickly from such lengthily exposure to the moisture surrounding her.
The great King chuckled mightily and Prince Bala smirked. With a wave of his trident a blinding light filled the hall and when James finally opened his eyes again, Lily was no longer resting easily in Bala’s arms her bare legs sprawled at odd angles. Instead he saw a long green tail and lots of pale, bare skin peeking though a long curtain of damp red hair. The octopus girl was gasping, naked on the floor before them, her new smooth legs akimbo beneath her, she was shaking from the abrupt transformation. Sirius shrugged out of his robe and wrapped it around her helping her into a more comfortable position before backing away once more.
James couldn’t keep his horror-filled eyes off of Lily though, as he watched the Prince dip her into the water. When she took a breath under the surface her eyes finally opened a crack. Her tail curled experimentally and she sighed.
“ …James?” she called in a confused voice.
“ Lily!” he called out, trying to move towards the benches again but Sirius held him back. Prince Bala smiled over her, pushing her hair back from her face.
“ Lily,” he tried her name, his voice sounding exotic trying to shape it. James flushed in anger. Lily was his! His wife, new tail or not, she didn’t belong with this crazy fish! He’d worked far to hard to get to this point and he was not about to let her go now.
“ Careful, darling, you don’t know how to swim,” Prince Bala chuckled as Lily tried to move. James’ hands turned to fists; he was not going to allow this.
“ No! Change her back! She’s my wife!” he yelled to the King who was watching his son fondly. The Merpeople ignored him and in a moment the rushing and gurgling sound was back. James’ yell was drowned out by the noise of all the water rushing back down into the pool behind the bench, and the last he saw of Lily was obscured by the Prince’s smug grin.
James dropped to his knees in anguish. They had Lily. They had Lily and there was nothing he could do.
Sirius was there beside him, gripping his shoulder and whispering in his ear.
“ It’s okay. It’ll be okay, I’ll get her back I’ll find something in the Ministry that will bring her back,” He promised before wrapping his arms around James to squeeze him once and then he was off, talking brusquely with the distraught island officials. James didn’t blame them for being worried, if word got out that happy tourists could be abducted into the sea like this, no one would come to the resort.
Beside him, the octopus girl moaned and he glanced at her. She was a feeble replacement for Lily, how dare they think a pretty face could placate him. The poor girl looked to be in pain and James sighed and hesitantly shuffled over to her.
“ What’s your name? Can you understand me?” he asked her and she made a frightened noise before trying out her voice.
“ O-O-Octavia.” She whispered and he sighed, of course that was her name. He gently reached out to her and helped her properly into Sirius’ robe, doing up the buttons for her.
“ It’s okay, no one is going to hurt you here,” He assured her as she looked around wearily, “ My name is James, I’m going to try and get you back into the ocean where you belong,” he smiled weakly, trying to be reassuring but feeling helpless.
“ It’s so…dry,” she whispered rubbing the skin of her hand and recoiling at the rough feel.
“ We’ll get you some water…or lotion,” he sighed and stood, moving to where Sirius was now arguing with a wizened official. The man was a foot shorter than Sirius, with fluffy white hair that rimmed his head but didn’t cover the top of his shiny tanned scalp. He had on the same blue robes as the other officials but a special golden badge- depicting a trident crossed over a wand, that identified him as the Wizard-Merpeople cohabitation officer- was pinned to his chest.
“ We cannot force them, Auror Black, they control us. If we were to use our magic against them now, well it would go against so many treaties-“
“ Treaties?” Sirius crossed his arms and leaned forward.
“ Yes, the Merpeople Treatment Treaties of the Bermuda Triangle, and the World Merpeople-Wizard Relation Treaties still in place from the Merwars of 1195,” he frowned, his great white eyebrows drawing together in confusion, “ Don’t you know them?” He asked genuinely. Sirius rubbed his head.
“ We don’t usually have much Merpeople trouble in the middle of London and the Selkies in Scotland really aren’t a big enough a colony to kick up much fuss,” his smile was twisted and bitter, “ Can I take a look at these treaties, maybe there will be some ancient agreement about cross species coveting and converting or something,” He sighed and followed the old official out of the hall.
--
One long day later, the entire resort knew what was going on, the British Ministry was going bizerk and James was not allowed to join the new team of Aurors working tirelessly with the island officials to try and negotiate Lily’s return.
Instead, he was forced to sit on the sidelines, watching as his and his wife’s future was put into a bunch of stubborn slippery fish hands. He took to getting out when he felt over whelmed; not exactly appreciating the sites, but just moving his legs, running from his frustrated and wrung out emotions. It was on one of his restless strolls around the islands that he bumped into a small glimmer of hope.
“ There you go, you’ve almost got it!” he heard a woman exclaim and turned, watching as several young maidens helped a dark haired girl, swathed in a delicate fabric, take a few shaky steps forward.
He recognized Octavia instantly, and moved towards them, wondering if maybe everyone was looking at this whole situation from the wrong side of the water.
“ Octavia!” he called out causing her to turn and loose her balance, collapsing into the arms of her companions with a whoop. He helped them up and politely asked if he might be able to take her for a walk to chat. The oldest woman who was clearly her assigned caregiver nodded with a kind smile and patted him on the arm.
Taking Octavia’s waist, he walked slowly, letting her try to stroll with him.
“ James,” she smiled at him, her eyes the strangest shade of violet he’d ever seen.
“ Yes, I-er I wanted to know if maybe you could help me.” He sighed and adjusted his glasses.
“ Maybe,” she laughed coyly, obviously she wasn’t too devastated about her new life. He smiled back.
“ Lily, my wife, is still being held captive by your Prince. I wanted to know if you knew of anyway I could get her back…” he pleaded. Octavia kneaded her lip and looked up at the sun.
“ You must be careful, the ocean…the ocean calls.” She frowned and looked out over the shore, “ The open water is…is a fickle woman and she calls to her creatures, she keeps them wild…if you want to save your Lily, you must act quickly or loose the woman you know to the call of Calypso, the mother,” She explained and James gulped.
“ How long do you think I’ll have…before this ‘wild calling’ starts?” he asked her holding her steady as she stumbled.
“ Oh,” she smiled, “ It changes. If your Lily was wild and free to begin with she is already lost, but if she was…tame- modest, it will take longer, maybe another week,” she blinked her wide violet eyes and James sighed, just what he needed, a time limit.
“ Well, is there anyway you know of that I could get her back?” he asked desperately and she shook her head but thought for a moment.
“ They will kill you immediately if you try to use magic…the only thing I know that would make him give you whatever you desired…would be to challenge Prince Bala for her. But you would need to know how to fight with their weapons, move through the water like they do, be one with the environment…you would be sure to loose, even if you had the time and ability to train…Prince Bala is the best in the ocean.” She whispered and his hope plummeted. Seeing him looking so desolate she pulled him to a stop and wrapped her arms around him.
“ I know you love your Lily, but with time you will forget her, and she will forget you,” she smiled inspecting his glasses with curiosity, “ And when that happens I’ll have mastered the craft of walking and maybe I’ll even be satisfactory at dancing,” She smiled cheerfully but frowned as James extracted himself from her embrace and began to lead her back.
“ Thank you, but I will save Lily…or die trying.” He sighed but stood by his statement, he would rather die anyway then have to live a life knowing he failed Lily.
--
“James! What…are you doing?” Sirius entered the room and frowned skeptically at a twin sai wielding James.
“ I…don’t honestly know actually,” He sighed and dropped the weapons onto his bed flinching as they clanked into the pile of a dozen other lethal weapons.
“ Going to war are we?” Sirius cleared a space on the small table James had covered in books on aquatic weapon wielding.
“ No- Yes-“ James drove a hand through his hair and rolled his shoulders, “ I don’t know. It’s just that we’re running out of time, if Lily is left in the ocean too long-“
“ I know she becomes totally crazy I got it,” Sirius gestured to his own stack of books.
“ I figured I might as well try to do something, but who am I kidding? I can’t just charge in there unarmed…” James sighed flopping into the seat beside Sirus who looked pointedly at all the weapons, “ Figuratively. Really, do you think I could last ten seconds even with these things?” he shook his head again and groaned.
“ Well lucky for you, I have just saved Lily’s arse. You both owe me for life by the way.” He nodded looking smug as he leaned back and crossed his arms over his chest.
“ What? Sirius- Pads, what did you find?” James’ sleep deprived eyes were wide and pleading.
“ One iron clad contract still in effect from 1203 when we ended the Merwars.” He lifted an ancient looking scroll.
“ And?” James’ looked so bright, so hopeful.
“ No recruiting and modifying from other species, including captured fugitives.” He sighed tapping the side of his head and frowning as James groaned.
“ What doesn’t make any sense Sirius. Lily isn’t a fugitive, she isn’t in a war!” he hissed slamming a fist on the table in desperation.
“ Doesn’t matter, they’ve taken her captive, and they’ve modified her to join the Royal family. Here,” he gestured to a floppy wet book, “ This is everything ever recorded about the Merpeople in Bermuda. Their Monarchy is the head of the army like most monarchies…so don’t you see? They’ve recruited Lily for their army!” His grey eyes sparkled and James looked up in awe.
“ How- how did you-“ James gulped like a fish out of water and pulled his friend into a hug.
“ Lets go get her back. This has been some honeymoon eh?” Padfoot laughed as James growled back at him, kicking his chair into place.
“You’ve no idea,”
--
AND NOW I NEED AN ENDING...because that is not a good ending point, so i'll show you what i had to come next...
Ending1
Two hours later after a very vexing confrontation with the king and his ability to shoot pure magic out of his trident, the contract held up and Lily was restored and returned. Octavia after being consulted decided to stay above land, having finally mastered walking was enjoying the sensation and the dry warmth of the air far too much to go back into the ocean.
Two days later Lily was still coughing up salt water and demanding never to leave a foggy dreary grey Britain ever again. James couldn’t help but wholeheartedly agree as he kissed Lily, grateful to have her back…without the tail.
Remus, upon hearing the entire tale over a pint with the newlyweds, Peter and Sirius, only sighed and said:
“ I could have told you nothing but bad luck comes from the Bermuda Triangle.”
Right and this I just wrote again and i still really don't like it because Lily is not a jealous Beyatch.
Ending 2
“ Wait, wait, you never told me the part about your stroll with Octavia,” Lily sputtered over her pint as James laughed during the re-telling of the story again.
“ I didn’t think it was very important, I was just glad to have you back!” James reached over the scuffed table to clasp her hand but she moved it with a scowl. The three other men around the table watched with vague and familiar amusement in their eyes.
“ Are you telling me that while I was being held hostage you entertained another girl…and didn’t think that was important?” Lily gazed at him looking genuinely perplexed.
“ Were you listening to Prong’s story, he have her the brush off mate-“ Sirius leaned forward on his elbows, clasping his fingers beneath his chin.
“ It doesn’t matter! He still didn’t tell me-“ Lily frowned.
“ I think you swallowed a bit too much salt water-“
“ I’m not crazy!”
“ I told you two no good comes from the Bermuda Triangle.”
SOOO yeah. Originally i sort of wanted the whole fic to come to a head with James actually fighting Bala, but uhh no, James would get pwned and he told me so, no amount of lion balls is going to save him helplessly in the water. And Sirius was speedy and awesome with his researching ( he didn't fall asleep once! he was very proud of that) and stepped in saving James from his feeble training for this battle I was going to put him in despite his protests.
Don't get me wrong, Sirius was always going to step in before the fight, but he just managed to do it way faster than I anticipated.
I just don't want to write that whole BORING confrontation with the King and Bala and the trident blasting the contract and with like Ursula!Sirius cackling and growing 30ft tall with his new found power of the contract...*cough* yeah Little mermaid FLASHBACK. James is no eric, he doesn't even like dogs, or dog-like krups. Something to do with his grandfather's blood hounds just freaked him out as a kid. THERE IS SO MUCH WEIRDO CLUTTERY BACKGROUND FOR THIS STORY. And I'm adding it all in my A/Ns when i publish it in FF because omg i actually worked really had on the researching.
Right, enough of me, ANY IDEAS ANYONE?
I will be eternally grateful and am taking your requests of fiction payment now.