After Cordula spent her time with Marilla, she was allowed a weekly swim out at sea. There she could swim around freely and exercise her tail. Being locked in the dungeon didn't give her a lot of exercise. Although she went up to the surface at night, it wasn't enough. Her tail would feel terribly stiff. It took her about ten minutes of swimming before she felt better.

She loved it when the dolphins came near her when she was playing around. They were such playful mammals. She would ignore them at first and just play around in the waves. One of them came up to her and gently poked her in the side with it's nose. She gave a giggle and started speed swimming and they would chase her. She would follow and copy their every move as they jumped out of the water and do acrobatic spins in the air. Sometimes she would grab onto one of their fins and the dolphin would drag her deep down into the sea and came out again spinning and twirling into the air.

They would play like this until she was out of breath and was to tired and couldn't play anymore. It would have been nice if there weren't any guards around. But this was her destiny, she couldn't change that.

While playing around in the water she remembered her wedding day.

**********

It was a small ceremony. It wasn't a special occasion for Cordula. She didn't even know anyone there. Not even the groom. She has been living in the kingdom for three days. She barely saw anyone until the ceremony. She just stayed in her room. When it was time, Kino's mother came to escort her in. She missed her mother terribly at that moment. This was supposed to be the happiest day of her life. She was suppose to share this day with her family and friends.

The kingdom's Priestess married them. Cordula was so nervous she wasn't concentrating on anything the Priestess said. She was looking at Kino. He was the most handsome merman she had ever seen. He looked strong and brave. She can understand why merfolk were afraid of him. Kino had a square face with a strong jaw-line. His brown fearless eyes had an intense glow. His eyes had a fire with passion that mesmerized her. She sometimes couldn't look away from them. His long black hair cascaded over his broad masculine shoulders. His chest were smooth and unscathed. His muscles were well looked after and his skin had a dark bronze tan. It looked soft and she imagined laying her head on his chest. She was physically attracted to Kino. When she looked up from his chest he was smiling at her with a glimmer of delight in his eyes. She could feel her face flushing with embarrassment. The moment it was time to exchange their coral rings, she only realized the ceremony was nearing its end.

Kino took her hand and lead her away from everyone. "You look beautiful today, Cordula." He said kissing her hand. "Come, I want to show you around the castle."

They have been swimming around the grounds with his arm around her lower back. "It's so beautiful out here." she said softly.

"Yes, I love this place." He said smiling at her. "Would you like to go out to sea for a swim?"

"I'd love to." She grinned up at him.

They dove into the water and were swimming alongside each other. Racing each other. Laughing and playing around. Kino pushed past Cordula, brushing his slippery skin against her. This caused her to slow down. His touch felt like electricity. A kind of electricity that excited her.

Kino grabbed her around the waist. Still weak from his touch, she struggled to escape his grasp. She gave up struggling and gave in to him. He pulled her closer to him. Kino stroked her hair, looking her in the eyes. For a long time, Cordula allowed him to hold her. Then she reached up and kissed him. She never kissed anyone under the water before. Not like this. His mouth felt hot. Kino's scent was powerful. Cordula could smell it beneath the waves.

Cordula's body responded to his scent. It was almost stronger than his touch. The stirring inside her body felt strange but wonderful. Longing. Longing for him.

They were floating and swimming side by side while holding hands just above the sand. Cordula's heart raced and she could feel her body heat under his intense possessive gaze. There was something demanding in his eyes.

Kino flicked his tail excitedly and moved forward to caress Cordula, brushing against her skin in a sensual and whirling dance. Round and round they swam. Spiraling. Their bodies continually touching.

As they tumbled about, without really thinking Cordula nibbled Kino's neck. Kino chuckled in reply. "You're a divine being Cordula." His voice a husky growl.

He floated just above Cordula, their bellies touching, tails thrusting them in accord. They moved in a slow, lazy line above the sand. They slowed down. Kino cupped Cordula's face with his hands. He slid his one hand behind her back and pulled her close to him. He kissed her hungrily.

She gasped for air when he moved his lips to her jaw and then down her neck. He cupped one of her nipples in his mouth. He sucked and tugged on it lightly, sending shivers through her body. By now they stopped moving. They were twirling round and round while kissing. He stopped them from twirling and lowered her and lay her on the bed of the sea.

He was tracing kisses up and down her stomach, their tails touching all the time. When he entered her she gasped and let out a shrill shriek. Their bodies were moving in unison. Touching, kissing and biting. It went on for what felt like forever.

They swam out to shore together holding hands. "It's a beautiful night. Let's take a walk around before going back to the castle." He said as they shape shifted as soon as they were on the beach.

"I'd love that." She replied.

"The moonlight shinning on your hair makes you more beautiful and desirable, Cordula."

"Thank you." She said shyly.

**********

"Princess it's time to go back." One of the guards said loudly pulling her out of her day dream. When it was time to go back down to the dungeon the guards would come closer to her and accompany her back down into the dungeon. Too soon all her joy would disappear and her loneliness would surface.

She was still holding the pearl with the shell in her hand that she found while playing with the dolphins. When she got back to the dungeon she couldn't stop looking at the pearl. It resembled peacefulness in her distressed life. It gave her a sense of power. After staring at it continuously she started feeling powerful and strong again.

She remembered the day her father taught her how pearls formed. How they were born, he said. They were born from tears, he said. He laughed at her when she said she was a pearl because she cried a lot. "Yes, Cordula love, you are a precious pearl to your mother and I."

She was just a little girl of six years old when he told her the story about how pearls were 'born'. She was fascinated by such a beautiful miracle. He told her that when an irritant like a grain of sand enters an oyster's body, the oyster will try to ease the discomfort by coating it with calcium carbonate, which eventually hardens and form the pearl. The pearl resembles victory, he said.

At that moment she decided to fight back. No matter what.

The pearl resembled strength and victory. Something she didn't feel for a very long time.

"A pearl is a beautiful thing that is produced by an injured life. It is the tear that results from the injury of the oyster. The treasure of our being in this world is also produced by an injured life. If we had not been wounded, if we had not been injured, then we will not produce the pearl." (Quote by Stephan Hoeller)

"I am a pearl." She whispered softly.

"I am going to be victorious. My tears are not in vein. I am going to fight back and be victorious. I am a pearl." She whispered again.

**********

Please tell me what you think of the story so far, and please vote for this chapter. You know how we writers like hearing from you. And I do value your opinions. You can click on the star at the bottom of this page. Your votes means a lot to me.

Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed it:-)

I would like to dedicate this chapter to my daughter @MarijkeHefer01 for helping me with all the technology thingies that sometimes boggles me, lol. And for checking my chapters before I post them. Thanx Marijke I appreciate it a lot and I love you lots.

I am going to host a competition in the next chapter. My prize to the winner will be a chapter dedication. Please stay tuned for the details.

Thanx once again for reading;-)