The lightning-scarred knight lost his hesitation when the siren slipped beneath the waves and the debris bobbed empty and wave tossed. His mother had taught him to swim in his youth, for fear that their closeness to the water would be too dangerous if he did not. It was a skill he had never regretted knowing- especially not know. The seawater darkened his rose-grey coat to ruddy slate, lit with the fine lines of white that traced his pewter scars in sharp relief. The sea tugged at the rose pendant on the cord around his neck as if demanding tribute for the life he intended to try and steal from it.
He could see where she had gone under, still closed to the surface so her thrashing was clear. He had to turn to keep her out of his blind spot- it would do neither of them any good if he could not see what he was doing. Diarmuid thrust himself beneath the surface, ignoring the sting of salt. It wasn't graceful or pretty, but in the dark water he could see the seaweed that wrapped around her legs like mermaid hair- it almost turned her into a creature of myth as he had first though in fleeting fancy. Now he struck out to rip the stands away, to loosen them so she could fight to the surface.
A burst of bubbles, life's breath snatched away, burst from his nostrils as a stray hoof caught him in the ribs from her flailing but he thought he got the worst of the snatching strands free. Lungs burning, he drove his shoulder into her, thrusting her towards the shallower water of the cove and up towards the surface. Then he had to break away himself and fight for the surface to refill his lungs with air, coughing as the sea flung spray in his face.
He tossed his head, trying to find her and cursing inwardly at his limited vision. The shore was not so far off, nor the soft silted sand that would provide sanctuary for the shipwrecked sailor and her would-be rescuer.
@Thaleia Eh... not sure mine's much better. Let me know if it's too gm-y or anything and I'll edit!
