The Little Mermaid (Faerie Tale Collection) (10 page)

KEEL RAN DOWN THE forest hill, hiding within the greenery along the way. He did not see too many people, as his particular route only took him past the road once or twice. However, he did keep to darkened alleys once he approached the village. His instincts took him directly to the water. He knew he was close when he saw the gulls overhead and could feel the thud within his chest, almost as if the waves themselves were beating against him, beckoning him home.

Wedging himself between a stone wall and a window leading to a house, he peeked out onto the glistening surf and sighed when he saw the waves and sparkling sand. The sky was a stunning blue, and the water chanted the sweet melody of peace and serenity.

This was home.

There were a few people on the sand walking and speaking to one another, but no one quite brave enough to actually play within the water itself. He shook his head. Of course the humans would think them odd. It had never fully occurred to him that they might be afraid of his domain until this moment.

Goodness, humans were a deuced peculiar species. His only hope was that one day, they would finally become brave enough and actually try to come out into the waves and experience the water as it was meant to be—lived in and enjoyed. Of course, with their layers of clothing, it might be a bit frightening, seeing hard it was for Pearl even to stand with the gentle waves hitting her.

Glancing once more out to the sea, he leaped over the wall, intending to climb down to the sand below and collect as much water and seaweed as he could carry, but he screeched to a halt.

Directly underneath him at the bottom of the hill stood a soldier. When he looked along the base of the beach, where the sand met the village, he saw many soldiers lining the area. The prince was clearly not going to accept that the merfolk were not his property, was he?

Keel glanced around and found a hat sitting upon a wall a few feet away. He snatched it up and placed it on his head, then walked casually down the hill, as if he sauntered past royal soldiers every day of his life.

All seemed well enough until he began to approach the shoreline. What should he do now? He had no way of collecting the precious water he needed for Pearl—not a pail or a bucket or even a small pouch to carry it in. And if he simply went to the shore to touch the water, the soldiers might become very suspicious. Why did this species not like water?

He sighed and looked around.

This was going to be even trickier than he thought.

A soldier to the left of Keel seemed to get a bit agitated by his sudden appearance. So Keel kicked at a small shell with the toe of his shoe as if he were in deep thought. When he noticed the man make motions as if to come over and speak with Keel, he pretended not to perceive the movement and turned and walked back up toward the village instead.

Thankfully, the soldier let him go without protest.

Once he made it back to Pearl, he could tell things had not progressed. In fact, she had a wet sheen of beaded droplets all along her body, and she was shivering in her sleep. Placing a hand upon her head, he was amazed to feel the heat that met his palm. My goodness. At this rate, she would cook herself.

Her wound must be infected. There was no other explanation for her illness. And without the saltwater to clean it out, chances were, it would only continue to grow, and with it coming from the back of her head, so close to her brain . . . Keel inhaled sharply. No, he would not allow himself to think such thoughts. He needed to stay focused and get her to the ocean as soon as possible.

Because if he did not, her chances of survival had just become exceedingly slim.

She whimpered and fidgeted.

“Shh, Pearl. I am here. I have not left you,” he whispered as he picked her up in his arms. Her whole body responded by quaking, and then her teeth began to chatter. Even though she felt like fire, she was practically freezing death.

Warmth. She needed warmth right this instant.

Hurriedly, he removed his long-sleeved shirt and wrapped it around her. Tucking her into his chest, he gave her as much warmth as he could.

After an hour, her condition only worsened. She was actually crying out, deliriously so, and shaking. Her whole body covered in the wet sheen. He could not fathom the pain she must be experiencing, either.

Hang the humans’ royal army. Hang that brainless prince. Keel simply would not sit here under this prickly tree while he watched the love of his life die in his arms because of their thoughtless actions!

Even if he had to perish to guarantee that she made it to the ocean safely, he would risk his life to do so. This sweet little mermaid deserved to go home!

AS HE STEPPED OUT from under the covering branches, shirtless, and hoisted her up in his arms, she awoke briefly. Her eyes met his and she whispered, “Keel?” before wincing in pain.

“Yes, it is me. I am taking you home, my dear. We are getting you out of here so you may get better.”

“What happened?” she asked, though her body slumped back down in his arms and her eyes lost their focus and shut before he could answer her.

She had awakened and recognized him. It was not much, but at least he knew she was fighting to live.

As he walked boldly down the main path, carrying her, he spoke constantly to her pale, sickly form.

“Live. Do not stop fighting. Do not give up. I need you, my little one. I need your optimism and curiosity and zest for life, and most especially, I need your belief in humanity right now. Allow some small part of this world to be what you imagined it to be. Tell me, teach me that you were correct. That there is some sort of goodness to this race.

“Allow me to hope more than I ever have before as I face them head on.” He shifted her slipping form a tad bit higher to compensate for the eternal weight determined to pull her out of his arms. “Now, more than ever, I need to grasp onto that light you possess. I do not know what would become of me if you ceased to exist. I cannot fathom it. Your defiance, your ever questioning, your happy exuberance, your bravery, your love of the world around you buoys me and revives me. Tell me I will not lose this piece of my heart. Tell me you will continue to fight this infection.”

Down he walked. The closer he came to the village, the more people he met along his path. Many stared at him curiously, but did not attempt to stop him. He was in no mood for being stopped anyway. With such distress as he no doubt showed upon his face and the ailing, wounded woman in his arms, perhaps they were afraid to come closer.

His heart warmed slightly at the thought. Was this his answer? He had heard that landfolk were a suspicious, fearing group of people who did not generally go out of their way to help those who were sickly, since they were too afraid to become ill themselves.

He grunted at the morally perverted way of thinking. Such selfishness in a sect of people deserved the cruel, hard lives that they lived. It was no wonder they were in such a sad state of misery. They brought it on themselves, never venturing out beyond their own circles and beliefs. Never seeing the goodness and joy that awaited them in all areas of life—not just that which they could learn from other cultures and people and races, but no, more than that. They were shut off from experiencing anything new. Of course they were bitter and cruel and only thinking of their own gain—they had no hope of ever finding light.

It was a culture as completely riddled with their own fears and prejudices as he had ever imagined before. And now because of a need to control, to greedily latch on and possess and destroy anything remotely different from what they were accustomed to, his own lively light may never shine again.

She moaned in his arms, a soft, melodic mermaid wail as he stepped foot into the cluster of homes and shops and eateries that made up the village. People turned to stare. Many of them pulled several paces back so they could pass by, unaffected by Pearl’s strange noises.

His chest felt heavier than the arms that carried her. He knew that mournful song well. He did not have much time left. The mermaid, as she is about to die, will call out to her loved ones and friends, using a deep cry to let them know she is nearly to the point of passing on. It is as natural as any instinct their bodies possess, and it allows everyone she loves to come to her and pay their respects before she slowly fades away.

How could their world have been changed so quickly? Tears of sorrow mingled with rage filled his eyes as he continued to march down the cobblestone streets, carrying his heart toward her home. People continued to stare, but he did not make eye contact to see their true reaction to this display. He simply did not care.

He was not there for them. He had one goal on his agenda, and that was to get her to the healing waters safely and destroy anyone who got in his way.

Just then an older woman came toward him from amidst the alleyway. She held a small cup in her hand, and a piece of cloth of some sort.

THE WOMAN CHATTERED AT him with a look of great concern. When she went to touch Pearl, he pulled the mermaid out of her grasp. But she continued to chatter, her sweet face smiling as she beckoned to the cup she was holding and then to Pearl.

Did she wish to help them? What trickery was this?

Keel glanced around, glaring as he waited for the soldiers to attack. But all that looked on were astonished humans. Apparently, even they felt the older woman to be acting in an unexpected manner.

Was she really sincere, then?

The woman slowly ran her hand over Pearl’s hair and bandages while she chanted a quiet song. Keel’s heart rate increased, still fearful of what the woman might do. But she had such a kind way about her, she reminded him of his own mother.

“Ruby,” she said as she touched her chest. “My name is Ruby.”

Was she attempting to communicate with him?

The woman looked to the girl in his arms and gestured to her. “Name?” she asked.

“Pearl.”

“Aww.” She smiled and then began to sing her song again, this time including Pearl’s name as well. When she was done, she dampened the cloth with some water and gently rubbed it on Pearl’s forehead and then brought the rest to her lips to drink.

Pearl sighed. Her hand reached up and weakly held the woman’s wrist. “Thank you.” Her speech was slurred and the woman probably had no notion of what she had said, but it did not matter. In that moment, communication was not necessary. The kind soul kissed Pearl’s cheek and wiped her brow again.

She seemed better. Thank the sea gods there was kindness in this world after all.

Just then, a soldier came up from the ocean and toward them. Keel hitched the mermaid up on his chest, daring the prince’s guard to touch either of them. Right as he was about to walk away, the older woman boldly stood between Pearl and the soldier.

Ruby loudly spoke to the man as he approached, almost as if she were threatening him with bodily harm if he hurt them. When she motioned for Keel to follow her as she began to lead them toward the beach, Keel shook his head. He honestly could not trust her.

Holding her arms out in front of them both, she began to walk down. The soldier looked stunned and a bit unsure of what he was to do next.

Could this be happening? Was a human actually caring about merfolk enough to save them?

Keel began to follow her.

As they approached the beach, there was no sign of the prince, but his army was waiting for them. They did not stop. They did not veer from their course. Instead, he clung to Pearl tighter as the woman shielded them both and kept walking.

The woman hollered at the men as they passed them, but Keel knew it would not be enough. They hopefully would not harm her, but he did not put it past the soldiers to do something mean to him.

As the soldiers went around the woman and up to him, Keel held his elbows out like shields and slammed into the men closest. They grasped his arms and attempted to whip him around, but neither were a match for his strength or determination or for the little old lady shouting down the sky.

The fact that Keel’s upper body was exceptionally more toned from constant, vigorous swimming every single day was enough to deter these silly humans from stopping him, but with such a vicious protector, he could tell the men had no notion of what to do.