Cut the strings and set me free

Part 4- if the strings snap will you let me float away?

And when finally the salty tang of the sea greeted us, whipping us in the face with the full extent of the sharp cool wind that had picked up slightly, I find my heart in my throat when a familiar figure greets us.

I yank at the bridle, pulling the horse to a stop before I'm running, feet slipping for purchase in the soft gold of the beach as I scrabble forward hearing the spew of curses from behind as Tae abandons the horse and the two of us rush towards the sight, towards Spirit- (Y/N)'s beloved steed who skittishly approaches the water, rearing back when his hooves sink further in; perhaps one of the only horses of the palace that had never ventured to the sea, had never been exposed to the waters. But still he continues to try move forward, rearing back in alarm at the foreign alien feeling. 

And my hand shakes as I pick up the discarded fabric that had fallen to the ground, clench tightly at the fine-woven nondescript cloak- the identical to the ones Tae and I had owned; always silently proud of sharing something that tied us together, of being disguised from something cut from the same cloth. Another level of closeness.

And it's discarded.

Left behind.

And as we turn towards the sea, the waves rushing in and out with the chilling breeze, the waters give us nothing, no hope, no sight of anything.

And yet our eyes don't veer off, hand tightening on the cloak when a violent motion of the waters reveals white sodden fabric and I'm not thinking, not pausing as the fabric falls out of my slack grip and I'm rushing into the waters, breeches and boots soaked and plastered to my body with the water, another splash as Tae follows.

We push further into the sea, panic threatening to numb my mind, to stop me in my steps and the waves are merciless. My hand goes out to stabilise Tae when he wobbles, hand fisting into the thick material of his jacket, reaching down to grab his hand- lacing it together as we venture in further.

I draw a deep breath in, the two of us ducking under the waters- eyes streaming and stinging as we search for a familiar figure, walking in deeper and swimming deeper into the sea's depths- pleading for nature's mercy, for the universe's benevolence.

And when the light begins to stop reflecting on the waters, it's the colour of white, billowing up around a still figure, hair splayed around; the sight of our angel suspended and floating in the deep dark depths drawing us closer, hands and legs propelling us closer, streams of air escaping my mouth when it had parted in a silent scream.

My hands fumble to grip her, her hand away from reach, catching onto the layers of white and tugging, drawing her close until our arms are safely around her and our legs are kicking, pushing us up towards the surface.

When our bodies break through the barrier of the water, it's with two mouths that loudly heave for breath, bodies greedily drawing the air in and one limp figure between us, skin chilled and hair plastered to her body, clothes heavy and weighing her down, a dead weight.

I shiver involuntarily at the thought, pushing it aside as we swim to get her to the shore, to get her to land and we carefully draw her down, setting her to rest on the sandy ground, my lap cradling her head and hands desperately patting her face, trying to get a reaction, to draw her out of the sunken chill that holds her captive.

"(Y/N)...baby please open your eyes." I sob, feeling every bit of strength leave me now that we've got her, now that my eyes are on her.

And her unresponsive motionless...frighteningly still state draws up the panic I'd suppressed, has it spilling over in consuming waves that seep into me, knock me breathless.

My hands tap harder, one snaking down to press against her pulse point, slipping over wetness and pressing against her skin, ears and soul straining to hear the recognisable tell-tale thudding of life.