Common to numerous regions in France, Mélusibe is a mix of fairy and wyvern known for having built numerous medieval castles and buildings throughout the country. In Poitou, she innocents and gives power to the young noble Raymondin who had accidently killed his uncle during a boar hunt on 2 conditions : marry her and never see her on Saturdays. They live rich and powerful and have 10 sons, but doubt won Raymondin over. Because of his jealous brother's rumors, he suspects his wife to cheat on him. He thus peeks through the bathroom's keyhole to see her bathing... with a reptile tail. Shocked, he opens the door and confronts her. He thus breaks the promise and Mélusine turns into a wyvern and flies away in a desperate cry, never returning, except some nights to caress her asleep children in secret or each time one of her descendants dies or when one of her former goods is sold

Mélusine © French legends
Drawing and design © me