As the Water Flows

The river ran backwards on the day the Queen died. It would remain that way for several hours when the Queen’s essence would ascend to the Overworld. It was an extremely rare event as most of the Sidhe lived for several hundred years.

A mournful wail reverberated through the forest as the water creatures and other Sidhe took note of the change in the river’s direction. They knew it could only mean that Nehir, the beloved Queen of the Naiads, was no longer living.

In a secluded cove along a tributary of the river, Lital watched as the ladies-in-waiting washed Queen Nehir’s body in preparation for her journey. As the Queen’s cousin, Lital had been a loyal servant, but she was instructed that she was not to be a part of the cleansing.

Lital’s childhood friend, Damla, stood by her side, trying to comfort her, although she was just as distraught. Damla’s hands fluttered. “I am so sorry, Lital.” Deaf since birth, the girl communicated with gestures. “Nehir was a good queen. She will be missed.”

“Thank you. I know you loved her as much as I did,” Lital signed. “I just wish I was allowed to help them prepare her. She is family. It should be my duty.”

“You know why you can’t,” Damla replied.

Lital nodded miserably. “I appreciate you being with me, but you can go join them. You are a part of her court.”

Damla shook her head. “I am supposed to stay with you.”

Lital saw the Queen’s senechal, Varsha, wading toward them. She looked longingly at the reeds growing along the riverside, wishing she could hide among them. Damla squeezed her hand. She always knew exactly what Lital was thinking.

“Come, Lital,” Varsha said, “We must prepare you as well.”

“Yes, Varsha.” Her voice shook as she responded. She and Damla followed dutifully behind.

Lital had always known this day would come. At her birth, the full moon’s rays reached into the depths of the river to shine upon her. She was chosen as the Queen’s heir.

Lital had hoped that she’d have more time. She was still relatively young as Sidhe creatures went. Even though she had been raised for the role, she felt unsure of her ability to lead.

Varsha led them to the marshy area where the river usually flowed into the ocean. Several sea lions barked a greeting from the nearby sands. As creatures of the sea, they were not her subjects, but they bowed their heads in respect all the same.

Tears flowed down Lital’s face as she let Varsha remove her simple gown of woven reeds. Tears mourning the loss of her Queen and kin. Tears of fear of what was to come.

“It will be alright, Lital,” Varsha murmured soothingly as she gently washed the young woman’s body with crisp spring water burbling up through a ring of rocks.

“I’m not ready,” she whispered. “What if they won't listen to me? What if they won’t accept me?”

Varsha chuckled. “You sound like Nehir when she took her place as Queen. I’m sure every Queen of the Naiads has been nervous, not only at their coronation but any time they have to make a decision that may upset their subjects.”

“Why does it have to happen so quickly? I feel like I can’t properly mourn her.”

“It is the way of the Naiads, as difficult as it may be,” Varsha replied firmly. “Everyone is in mourning. They understand your sadness. They will not expect you to be bright and chipper. But we need a queen ready to protect us. While most of the other Sidhe species are our allies, there are some who would take advantage of the lapse in leadership.”

“Ban Sidhe,” Damla signed with a grimace. “At least I am immune to the wail of the banshee.”

Lital nodded. While it was true that one needed use of their ears to succumb to banshee’s call, they rarely turned their voices on fellow Sidhe. They usually preferred to lure humans to their doom. Really, who could blame them. Still, Lital appreciated Damla’s matter-of-fact view of the world. While she was of the river, she had a way of keeping Lital grounded.

Varsha continued. “You have been educated in what it means to be Queen. You know you will not do this alone.”

“Yes, you will be there by my side to advise me.” Lital said, trying to catch Varsha’s eyes.

“I will be available as long as you need me, but I will not be your senechal.” Varsha reached into her reed bag for a vial of fragrant oil, which she mixed into a dish of river mud.

“What?” Lital gasped.

“Traditionally, your seneschal should be your most trusted ally,” Varsha explained. “Nehir was my closest friend. When she became Queen, she chose me to advise her.”

Lital gazed at Varsha. “I trust you.”

“Of course you do, as you should. But I’m not getting any younger. I look forward to stepping back from this role.” Varsha smiled at her look of uncertainty. “There is one who always has her eyes on those at court. She goes largely unnoticed. Her knowledge of those under your rule, both your allies and possible enemies, will be invaluable.”

“Damla,” Lital stated, more than asked.

Varsha gave a curt nod as she handed the mud mixture to Lital’s friend. Damla accepted it from her and stepped forward to begin painting sigils on Lital’s face and body.

“You knew.” Lital felt a little hurt that Damla hadn't told her.

Damla rolled her eyes. She stopped painting long enough to sign, “You would have known if you had paid attention to the history of prior reigns. Why do you think I was with you during your training?”

“Because that’s what friends do,” Lital sighed. “I did pay attention. I know the whole court usually changes. I just thought the new Queen could choose a new senechal or keep the current one as they desired.”

Damla waved away the explanation and continued her application of the mud.

The preparation for the coronation wasn't all that different than the preparation of the former Queen’s body after death. The sigils were different. For one, they brought wishes for a successful rule. For the other, they helped the essence of the bearer cross to the Overworld. Both had shells woven into their hair. Both were wrapped in river kelp gowns.

Lital waited nervously for the coronation to start. The spectators had begun gathering as soon as the news of Queen Nehir’s death was announced.

Eventually, Lital was led atop a large stone in the middle of the river. A cheer arose as soon as she appeared.

Naiads sat in the water at river banks as far as she could see. Water Fairies flitted above their heads. The land on either side of the river was packed with Dryads, Sylphs, Elves, Gnomes, and countless other allied Sidhe.

A reed raft floated at the base of the rock, bearing the body of Queen Nehir. River otters bobbed in the water around her.

Varsha stood just behind Lital at her left. Damla stood to her right. Another good friend, Kasumi, sat at Damla’s feet. She was to be Damla’s voice for those who did not sign.

Varsha raised a hand, bringing silence to the crowd. “We are gathered here to bid farewell to our beloved Queen Nehir and also to welcome our new Queen.”

She waited for the renewed cheers and murmurs to die down before continuing. “I will now step down from my role as Senechal. From here on, Damla will assume the duty as the Queen’s right hand. Varsha stepped back as Damla moved forward to face Lital.

As she signed, Kasumi’s voice rang out. “It is my honor to serve our Queen.” She took a river glass crown from Varsha and placed it on Lital’s head. “All hail, Queen Lital.”

“All hail, Queen Lital!” the crowd cheered.

The sound of a conch shell rang out from the ocean, where a contingent of Merpeople, Kelpies, and Selkies congregated. As fellow water creatures, they were her closest allies. Each had their own ruler, but they all, including the Naiads, were subjects of the High King of the Seas.

Lital bowed her head graciously to the crowd. She stepped down a series of stones into the water and moved to the head of the raft. A playful otter swam around her waist. Lital smiled and ran her hand down his back.

She took a handful of flowers plucked from the river’s edge and placed them on Nehir’s chest. Lital kissed her cousin’s forehead and made a sign of protection above her head.

“As Queen Nehir makes the journey to her final resting place, we ask that the Lord and Lady of the Overworld welcome her essence to join that of our ancestors,” Lital said with a much stronger voice than she felt possible.

She pushed the raft forward and watched it float away. The otters swam with the raft to keep it on course. The spectators tossed flowers as the raft floated past.

As was tradition, Queen Nehir’s, family, advisors and courtiers swam behind the raft. Lital, Damla, and Kashmir were among them. The other Naiads were free to follow as they chose.

Their journey took them to where the river began, or in this case, to its end. Where several rivulets trickled down the mountain to form the river, a cavern was exposed by its change of course.

The raft slipped into the cavern and out of sight. Queen Nehir’s body joined those of her ancestors.

Like the tide coming in on the coast, the river’s water filled the cavern. Once the entrance was hidden, the river resumed its normal course.

The spectators, Queen Lital, and her advisors alike, let the rush of water carry them back toward their homes.

Exhausted by all the day brought, Lital allowed Damla lead her back to the royal pool.

“You did just fine,” Varsha said proudly. “As I expected you would.”

Lital joined her court in a royal banquet where they feasted on the finest foods the river had to offer.

After the mourning period had passed, a larger banquet would be held for all of her subjects. Until then, they were free to celebrate as they saw fit.