The River Maid (34 page)

His mother had frozen. Christian took her arm.
“Have the servants pack your clothes and anything valuable. There’s not enough time to take everything.”

“
I’ll prepare the carriage and see to the horses,” Gaspard said.

Christian nodded. He and Gaspard had suspected that something like this would happen. “
We don’t have a lot of time. We must hurry. I’ll fetch Adrianna.”

Christian ran inside and headed up to Adrianna
’s room. The servants were frantically packing, running from room to room and taking the furniture out. He knocked on Adrianna’s door and went in. She had been watching from her window.

“
What did they say?” she asked.

“
Napoleon has ordered the castle destroyed. They know about the French warship that disappeared.”

“
They’re looking for me. This is my fault.”

“
Napoleon would have ordered the castle destroyed eventually. Stay calm. You have nothing to fear.”

“
What if they recognise me?”

“Ducasse never saw you. He left to rejoin the army before you arrived at court.
You should be safe.”

Voices came from outside the door and a moment later two soldiers entered the room. Adrianna clutched his hand, but they barely glanced at her. They threw open the wardrobe and rummaged inside and then checked under the bed. Finding nothing, they left.

“See,” he said, squeezing her hand once they had gone. “You’re safe.”

She smiled at him weakly, but he
could see how worried she was. Her brown eyes were large in her pale face. He drew her from the room and led her down the staircase. The soldiers were searching every trunk before it could be taken out of the castle. She paused before she followed him out into the courtyard. She kept her fingers linked tightly with his.

He guided her through the crowd of soldiers. They had almost made it past, when suddenly one solider cried out,
“It’s her. It’s the mermaid.”

Christia
n silently cursed. Adrianna froze. He stepped in front her. The solider was young, barely older than Christian with fair hair and earnest blue eyes. The other soldiers in the courtyard had turned at the boy’s cries, but they looked unsure.

“
Do you know him?” Christian asked quietly.

Adrianna nodded.
“He’s one of Fournier’s men.” Her voice was bleak.

Ducasse came over. He looked doubtfully at Adrianna.

“It’s her, General,” the solider said eagerly. “It’s the mermaid. I would know her anywhere.”

Ducasse looked Adrianna up and down. He appeared unimpressed.
“Your mermaid seems to have grown legs.”

“It’
s a trick. It’s the creature. I know it is.”

Ducasse turned to Adrianna.
“I’m sorry, mademoiselle, but you will have to show us your legs.”

“It’
s improper,” Christian said. “I cannot allow it.”

“Nevertheless,
we must see her legs.”

“
It’s all right, Christian.” Adrianna reached down and lifted her dress, just high enough so that they could clearly see her ankles and the outline of her legs beneath her petticoats. If she lifted it up any higher, they would see the green scales that still remained on her skin. She let her skirts fall back in place.

“
I apologise, mademoiselle,” Ducasse said, taking off his hat and bowing stiffly to her.

“But it’
s her,” the solider protested. “She’s the creature.” 

“
Continue searching the castle,” Ducasse said. He gripped the soldier’s arm and steered him away. They could hear the General berating him.

“
I have to go and make sure all the servants are out of the castle,” Christian said once Ducasse had gone.

“
This is goodbye then.”

He turned back to her. “You’re still going to stay?”

“I have to.”

“
It isn’t safe for you here. Someone could recognise you.”

“
Who is going to look at a washer girl from the town? No one will even notice me. No one ever did before.”

He shook his head.
“Don’t ever say that. You’re extraordinary, whether you’re a mermaid or a girl. You have more courage than anyone I’ve ever met.”

“Christian…”

He seized her other hand as well and drew her to him. He stared into her eyes. “Come with me.” He had never felt more vulnerable than he did at that moment.

“I can’t. My mother has only just got me back
. I can’t leave her again. She has no one else.””

“
I understand.” He released her and stepped back. “I have to go.” She didn’t stop him as he strode away. He had to force himself not to look back.

The soldiers were watching them closely. The rest of the company had arrived and were setting up the cannons, rolling them into position, ready to fire. Gaspard was loading a carriage with their luggage and piling furniture from the castle into a separate wagon.

“Please, General,” his mother begged Ducasse. “Can’t you give us some more time? A few days so we can empty the castle.”

“I’
m sorry, Madame, but I have my orders.” Ducasse’s attention was fixed on the pocket watch in his hand.

“
Is that it?” Christian asked, as the footmen brought out the last of the trunks.

Gaspard finished lashing the furniture in place and climbed down from the wagon. “That’s all we have time to take.” He mopped his face with his handkerchief.
“Is everyone out of the castle? The ships will begin firing soon.”

The servants were gathered together in the corner of the courtyard. Christian quickly counted them. Frowning, he looked around.
“Where’s Adrianna?” he asked.

“
She went back inside,” one of the maids said, speaking up. “She said she forgot something.”

Gaspard opened his pocket watch.
“There’s less than ten minutes to go.”

“
I’ll get her,” Christian said. He ran back into the castle. 

~~~~~

Adrianna hurried up the stairs. She had forgotten Christian’s book, the one Gaspard had given to him. She might never see him again after today. She was going back to the town and Christian was leaving. If not for the scales on her legs, it would be as if it all had never happened. She wondered how she would explain them. No one else would ever believe her if she told them what had happened to her. She couldn’t imagine any man not being repulsed by them. She thought back to what her mother had told her when she had seen her that morning; that Peter and Jutta had married. She was happy for them both. She was relieved that Peter no longer harboured a desire to marry her, but she wondered what the future held for her now.    

The book was still on the bed. She picked it up. She remembered Christian reading to her while she lay feverish. His voice had been the only thing that kept her here. The last page was still marked with the ribbon. There wasn
’t much of the story left to go, just a few pages more. This was the end of their story now, she thought wistfully. Conscious of the time, she held the book to her chest and hurried out of the room and down the stairs. She stopped half way down. The soldier who had accused her of being a mermaid waited at the bottom, blocking the way. 

“I know what you are,” he said. 

“I don’t know what you mean.” She clutched the book to her chest as if it could protect her.

“
I know you’re the mermaid.”

“You’re mistaken.
I’m just a girl.” She tried to step around him, but he caught her arm and wrenched her toward him. She screamed as he tried to pull up her dress. She felt his hands on her bare skin, his fingers rough as he tried to pull her skirts higher. She struggled, afraid he would feel the scales that still remained on her legs.

Suddenly, the soldier was yanked away from her and thrown against the wall.

“Are you hurt?” Christian asked, his voice gentle.

Trembling, she shook her head.   

“You might be able to fool Ducasse, but I know what she is.” The soldier pushed himself to his feet and pulled out a pistol. He cocked it and aimed it at Christian’s chest. “I’m taking her to Fournier to claim the reward.”

“Fournier is dead,” Christian said. “The ship was destroyed.”

“You’re lying.”

“It was destroyed by the mermaid, the real one.
There’s only five minutes to go and then they will start firing on the castle regardless of whether we are inside.” Christian’s tone was harsh, but his hands were gentle as he drew Adrianna safely behind him. “Is it worth risking your life over? No one will ever believe that she’s the mermaid.”

The soldier still continued to point his pistol at Christian, but he looked uncertain now.

“Adrianna, I want you to go in the carriage with my mother and Gaspard,” Christian said calmly. He kept her behind him as he spoke.

He meant to stay until she was safely away.
“I’m not leaving you. It’s me he wants. You should go and I’ll stay.”

The hands of the grandfather clock were slowly ticking round, drawing closer to the hour.
“Adrianna, you have to go now before they start firing.”

“I’m not going without you
,” she replied stubbornly.

“Adrianna, please. You must go
.”

“Whatever happens, remember. That’
s what you said.”

Suddenly, there was no time to argue. The clock began to strike the hour.

Chapter Forty

Gaspard watched as the hands of his pocket watch drew slowly round.

“
Where are they?” Marie asked anxiously. “Why haven’t they come out?”

He snapped the watch shut.
“I don’t know.”

From inside the castle, the grandfather clock began to strike the hour. The cannons were being rolled forward and packed with powder. He tried to go back in, but the soldiers grabbed him and held him back.

“General, my son is in there,” Marie said.

Ducasse stood overseeing his men.
“I’m sorry. I have my orders.”

Marie cried out as Ducasse nodded and the fuses were lit. Gaspard pulled away from the soldiers.
Christian’s horse was tied to the back of the waiting carriage. Gaspard untied the reins and swung up onto the horse, for once not needing a mounting block for assistance, and kicked it into a canter. Marie called after him, asking him where he was going. He ignored her and rode down the hill, heading to the river. He clung on as he was bounced up and down in the saddle. Behind him, he heard the boom of the cannons as they opened fire, followed by an immense boom from the river as the ships opened fire on the castle as well.

He practically fell off his horse at the water
’s edge. “Lorelei,” he called desperately. “Lorelei, I know you’re out there. Please answer me. I need your help.”

She hadn
’t responded to him before and he didn’t know why he thought she would answer him now, but Lorelei slowly emerged from the water. Christian had told him about Lorelei’s change in appearance, but he was still shocked by her sunken eyes and hollow cheeks. Her hair no longer fell in golden waves, but hung limply around her shoulders like straw. Her eyes were still the same vivid shade of violet, but the pupils were larger and the irises seemed to swirl.

“
You have to do something,” he begged as the cannons fired again. “They’re firing on the castle and Christian is inside. He will be killed.”

“
Why would I help Christian?” she asked, her voice low and deep.

“
Because you love him and you helped him once before when he was shot. You destroyed the ship.”

She laughed bitterly.
“He doesn’t love me.”

“
He may not love you, but you still love him.”

She blinked slowly as if just realising the difference. “
I can’t help him,” she finally said. “My magic is almost gone.”

“
But you destroyed that ship in the river.”

“
Look at my tail.” Beneath the water, her tail was completely silver as if it had beaten out of a solid piece of metal. Adrianna had once told him it was lavender. “If I use the last of my magic, I will die. I’m dying now. I don’t know what will happen to me.” She hesitated. “I’m afraid.”

Gaspard stared into her eyes. He could see through to the girl beneath; the frightened and terrified girl.
“I believe that when you die you go to heaven and you’re with those you love. I will see my wife and my daughter again.”

“
But I’m not human. I don’t have a soul.”

“
You love Christian. That means something, even if he doesn’t love you back. I’ve met soulless men who didn’t love anyone but themselves and their own greed. There’s no reason why you can’t go to heaven.”

“
I will be with my sisters?” she asked, hope shining in her eyes.

“
Yes.” He hoped he wasn’t lying.

The cannons had stopped. They were likely getting ready to fire again. Lorelei dived into the water. He didn
’t know if she intended to help them.

~~~~~

The castle shook. Dust and plaster rained down on them. Glass shattered. Christian grabbed the pistol from the soldier and together they fell to the floor. Another canon ball tore into the castle and the ceiling collapsed. A cloud of dust and smoke made it impossible for Adrianna to see. Coughing and her eyes watering from the smoke, she groped around on her hands and knees, trying to find Christian in the rubble. She saw his hand lying limp and still. He was trapped under a pile of debris. Adrianna grabbed his hand and shook him. “Christian!”

He opened his eyes and coughed, choking on the dust. He rolled onto his side and tried to get up, but he was trapped. She lifted off the plaster and rubble, using her hands to dig him out. 

“Rescuing you was easier when you were in the water,” she said, panting from the effort. She eventually managed to clear enough of the debris for Christian to pull himself out. In the confusion, she had lost the book. She was about to try and look for it when a shot rang out, barely missing her. The soldier had managed to reach his pistol. He lay on the floor, his leg at an odd angle to his body. Dust had streaked his face and hair white. Another cannonball ripped through the wall, smashing everything in its path. She pulled Christian up. She put her arm around him and they scrambled out of the room just before another explosion ripped into the castle.

Adrianna suddenly stopped.
“Can you hear that?”

“
Hear what?” Christian asked.

Lorelei was singing. She could hear it clearly in her head as if the maid was standing next to her. Another explosion shook the castle. Christian took her hand and pulled her along. They stumbled out of the castle into the courtyard. Gaspard was just riding up. He climbed down from the horse and took Christian
’s weight from her.

“
Are you hurt?” Gaspard asked.

“
It’s just my shoulder,” Christian said as he leaned on Gaspard.

The canons had stopped firing. The soldiers had gathered to watch what was happening in the river. Of the two ships, one was still firing at the castle, but the other was heading directly for the cliffs.

The General came to stand beside them. “What are they doing? Have they gone mad?” Suddenly, he frowned. “And what is that sound?”

“I can hear it as well,” Christian said. “It sounds like someone is singing.” There were murmurs of agreement from the other soldiers, as they craned their heads around, trying to find the source of the song.

“It’s Lorelei,” Adrianna said. She could hear Lorelei’s song, calling the sailors, drawing them to her. Helpless to resist, they obeyed, steering the ship headfirst toward the cliff where Lorelei had her cave.

They watched as the ship
’s prow smashed into the cliff. Sailors jumped overboard as they tried to save themselves. The other ship was trying desperately to steer away, swinging round in a wide circle. It managed to steer away at the last moment and avoid colliding with the rocks directly, but there was an awful groaning sound as the ship scrapped against the side of the cliff. Sailors were jumping overboard and swimming to the bank. Some of Ducasse’s men dropped their muskets and ran out of the courtyard, heading down to the river to help.

“
What sorcery is this?” the General asked.

“Not sorcery,” Christian said. “It’s the mermaid; the real one.”

The General drew in his breath. “Then it was true. Fournier was right. There was a mermaid.”

“Fournier is dead,” Gaspard
said, his voice weary. “Lorelei killed him and the rest of the men on his ship. Don’t try to capture her, General. She will destroy you as she did Fournier. Besides, her time is nearly at an end. She’s dying.”

The General gazed out at the river. “What will I tell the Emperor?”

“You will tell him the truth,” Gaspard said. “You searched the castle, but found no sign of the mermaid. In time, the world will forget. The people of Paris will believe that it was never real. It will become a story they tell to their children. The story of the Emperor and the mermaid.”  

“Shall I arrest the prince now, General?” a solider asked.

The General didn’t respond. He looked out at the river, his face expressionless. Christian waited silently. Adrianna clutched his hand tight as Ducasse turned and regarded him. Finally, he shook his head. “Let him go. The prince was never here. He had already fled when we arrived.”

“Thank you,” Christian said.

The General nodded to him curtly and then looked back out at the river. “As far as I’m concerned none of this ever happened. The ships ran aground against the rocks. Everyone knows how dangerous this part of the Rhine is. I will make sure my men never speak about what happened here today. I’m sure the Emperor would prefer to forget that the mermaid ever existed as well. I suggest you go now.”

The General went to speak to his me
n to arrange the rescue effort.

“
Why did Lorelei help us?” Christian asked Gaspard.

“
I think she finally realised what love is.” Gaspard put a hand each on her and Christian’s shoulder. “Follow your heart, my friends. I intend to follow mine.” He went over to Christian’s mother and held out his hand to help her into the carriage. She placed her hand in his and he raised it to his lips before he helped her in.

“
I think Gaspard cares for your mother,” Adrianna said, turning to see Christian’s reaction to the startling news.

Christian didn’t look surprised, in fact he was smiling.
“It’s about time he did something about it. I’m glad. He deserves some happiness.” He drew Adrianna to him. “I have to go,” Christian said, “before Ducasse changes his mind.” He swallowed hard. “Come with me.”

“I can’
t,” she said, wishing more than anything that she could go with him. “You’re a prince. We don’t belong together.”

“
Napoleon will confiscate all of my lands. He’s already destroyed the castle. I don’t know what’s going to happen. I just know that we belong together. You’re my future, Adrianna.”

“I can’t leave my mother again. I’m all she has.”

“Adrianna!”

Adrianna
broke away from Christian as her mother appeared, running up the hill, her apron flapping around her neck.

“
You have to go,” her mother said urgently, seizing Adrianna’s hand.

“
I can’t leave you.”

“
But you can’t stay here. You will never be safe. You’re alive. That’s all that matters. You can come back one day when the war is over. Until then you have to go. You don’t belong here anymore.”

“
But you will be alone.”

“It will be enough to
know that you’re alive and happy. It was all I wanted for you. You cannot have that here now.”

Christian was waiting for her to make a decision. There were two lives, two paths before her. She had promised herself that if she got her legs back, she wouldn
’t hesitate again. She would be brave enough to make a life for herself. 

She hugged her mother tight.
“I will send you some money,” Adrianna said, fighting back tears.

“T
ake care of each other,” her mother said, her voice muffled by her own tears.

“
We will.”

Reluctantly, she pulled away. Christian held out his hand and she took it. They were no longer a prince and a mermaid. Now
, it was just her and Christian.

“
Do you think we can ride?” Adrianna asked as Christian led her over to the carriage. 

“
You might have to hold me on,” Christian said.

He gathered the reins of his mare and mounted and then reached down to help pull her up behind him. The carriage pulled away followed by the wagon. She waved to her mother as Christian guided the horse out of the courtyard until she could no longer see her. She sat behind Christian, with her arms around him. Christian stopped the horse on the cliff above the river. 

She could see Lorelei far below. The maid was just a small silver speck, but she knew it was her. Some of the sailors had reached the shore. Fishing boats were heading toward the ships as the townspeople went to help those still stricken. She could still hear Lorelei’s sad song, but it was softer now, barely more than a whisper. She thought she would always hear it when she closed her eyes. With her arms around Christian, she bid a silent farewell to the town.

“Where shall we go first?” Christian asked.

She looked ahead, to what waited for them. Green hills rolled like waves, stretching endlessly. Gulls cawed and circled in the sky. The whole world was there before them.

“Everywhere.”