Disclaimer:
I don't own any of these characters. They are all from the 1979 live-action film by Image Entertainment and based after the Characters of Hans Christian Anderson's fairytale.
Author's Note:
This is my take on what would happen if the movie ended slightly different. Instead of living as a dream on earth forever, the little mermaid, by Sulpitius's sacrifice, gets to continue living on earth in the castle with the prince and princess.
Please Review!
This will be told in three points of view: the Prince Antoine de Saint-Gotharde, the selfish Princess and the Little Mermaid.
We enter the story where Sulpitius has just died and has told the prince the mermaid's secret.
Part I
Antoine left the dead-man's side and walked back over to where his bride stood, the little mermaid still clinging to the princess's arm.
"Antoine, are you alright?" The princess asked.
Antoine looked past her at the little mermaid. Her eyes were downcast and she seemed even more depressed then the previous night after the wedding ceremony.
"Antoine?"
"We'd best be getting back to the castle." Antoine looked at his princess. He called to a man nearby. "William!"
"Yes, sire?"
"See that this man gets a proper burial."
"Yes, sire." William turned to go about his task.
"Antoine?" The princess touched his arm. "Something's troubling you. What is it?"
Antoine looked at her. "Take the girl back to the castle and wait for me there. I will be along later."
"But, Antoine..."
"Please, princess."
"Well..." Antoine noticed she was studying his face, but he gave nothing away, "Alright. Come along, dear."
Antoine watched as she led the little mermaid away. He hoped to question the little blond girl later. The princess of princesses, the strange man had called her, his dream girl. Was there any truth in it?
Antoine didn't want to admit it, but the strange man had some sort of strange effect on him. Something deep inside him told him the man had been telling him the truth. Did that mean the man had been right all the time? Was he really so blind? Had he married the wrong princess? Was his princess truly the little mermaid his wife took such a liking to?
Antoine didn't like the path his thoughts had taken. Marry the wrong girl? Ha! He was no fool! Or was he? Antoine shook his head to clear it. He'd worry about this later. As of now he'd need to see if anyone knew the strange man. He needed a name for the headstone and, as much as he hated to admit it, he wanted to know the truth.
………
The princess sat silently at her vanity starring monotonously into the mirror as her maidservant, Jacqueline, pulled a brush through her long brown hair.
"Don't let it worry you so." Jacqueline said, gently pulling the golden object once more through the tangles. "I'm sure he'll be fine."
"I know, but I can't help but feel something's wrong." The princess sighed. "He's never kept anything from me before! I wish I knew who that man was!" She glanced again in the mirror where her little foundling of whom she knew as a noble lady sat by the window, quiet and seemingly miserable. She had been that way since last night, not the sort of thanks the princess thought should be given for the twelve new dresses the tailors were going to make for her. She thought it queer how the girl could change moods so suddenly. She seemed jolly and spry early afternoon at the wedding party and then and now she was depressed. It confused her and she hated being confused.
"Perhaps he was a known criminal and the prince didn't want to worry you." Her other servant, Leonela, suggested.
"No. I fear it's more complicated then that..." The princess eyed the little mermaid.
Jacqueline continued on with her task. "I wouldn't worry, Princess. He told you he'd be back, right?"
"Right."
"Then I'm sure he'll give you a full explanation when he returns."
The princess sighed and cradled her chin in her hands. "I sure hope you're right."
………
Antoine trotted into town and tied his horse outside the local tavern. A man at the end of town had sworn he would find the information he was looking for here. All the local gossip always filtered though the building and someone there was sure to have heard something about the strange vagabond, as drunk or sober as the source was.
Antoine could have easily sent a servant on this errand, he knew, but this was something he had to do himself. He did, after all, need more then the man's name. He needed the man's accreditation.
He entered through the wooden doors and approached the front counter. He was surprised no one recognized him, though they probably weren't all in their right mind seeing the beer mugs in their hands.
"What will you have?" The large woman behind the counter didn't bother to turn around when he sat at the counter. She was a funny looking woman, Antoine surmised before even seeing her face. She wore a bright orange dress and had sea green hair. Not the type of thing he'd call beautiful.
"I've come for some information." Antoine said.
The large woman turned around, "Then you came to the right " Her smile faded as she noticed him. "Oh, it's you."
"And it is you?" His frown deepened, "I thought you were a duchess? What are you doing dressed as a common pauper in this nasty place?"
The old woman quirked, "You've got me confused with someone else, pal. I've always worked here at the inn. I don't know any duchesses, and I'm definitely not one!" She chuckled.
Antoine was offended at the ugly woman's response. "I beg your pardon? Is that any way to speak to your prince?"
The woman's lower lip curled. "Prince? Ha! Some Prince!"
"Are you mocking me?"
She smirked in response.
"I can have you thrown in prison for that!"
The woman began to laugh, "Oh? But a lot of help that'd be to you, prince! If you want any information about that vagabond, you're going to have to ask nicely."
Antoine was taken back, "How did you know the purpose of my visit?"
"Come on, prince. Do you want the information, or don't you?"
Antoine thought for a moment, "Tell me what you know."
The woman chuckled again and Antoine hated her for it. "Why should I?" There she was refusing him again!
"Because if you don't I'll "
She wagged a finger in his face, clicking her tongue. "That kind of attitude won't get you anywhere."
Antoine sighed, "Please, I need to know the man's name. Who was he?"
"What importance is that man to you?"
"I killed him. Or rather, he made it appear that I had, but I hadn't." Antoine's eyes lowered as he thought back, "Actually, I first met him when he was posing as a messenger from King Arthur, and he wanted to show me something. I don't know what. The next thing I know he's telling me to rescue some girl the townsfolk meant to burn at the stake. A mermaid, they called her. A mermaid! Ha!"
The woman spoke, "You sound as if you don't believe it."
Antoine frowned. "I do not! I mean, why should I? Mermaids have fishtails. She has feet. She is not a mermaid…"
The woman began humming a strange tune and rearranging the beer mugs on a shelf.
"Now tell me of the man. You must know something about him."
The woman smirked again. "His name was Sulpitius." She began stacking more mugs atop the first. "He was from out of town. I don't know too much about him except he had been traveling a while before he ended up here."
"That's it?" Antoine was baffled. This hardly sounded like the life of a man who'd suddenly kill himself after swearing some naive girl was a mermaid; his princess of princesses. Ha! What a fool he was for even thinking of believing the man!
"You said he was dead?"
"Yes."
The woman released a deep throaty laugh. "And I thought he was bluffing…"
"Then you knew it? You knew he was going to kill himself!" Antoine stood quickly. Maybe he had jumped to conclusions too quickly. "Who was he really? Tell me!"
The woman began casually polishing a glass. The sudden silence was driving Antoine crazy. Why wouldn't she just answer his question? Was it so much to ask? He needed answers, not just for the man's proper burial, but also to ease his own mind. He had to prove this man was a fraud. There were still too many unanswered questions and he didn't like the answers he was receiving.
"Tell me, prince. What of the little noble lady with a secret? Is she well?" She finished polishing the glass before turning back to him.
"How do you know about her?" Antoine was mystified. Did she know something about the little mermaid and if so, how and what?
This woman must be a friend of Sulpitius. He decided. They must have been partners in some sort of evil plan, but then how did the little blond girl fit into this? She definitely wasn't part of anything evil. At least, he refused to believe it.
"Well?" Pressed the woman, "How is she?"
"She's well."
"Alive?"
"What kind of question is that?"
"With the state of affairs last night, I am glad to hear it."
"What is that supposed to mean? Do you know her?"
The lady sighed and leaned over the counter. "I thought when you came along we'd have some brains in the castle again…"
The Prince's expression darkened, "What is that supposed to mean?"
"The little noble girl, Prince. Sulpitius is dead and you still don't know who she is?"
"Would I be asking if I did?"
The woman sighed again, this time in disgust. "Royals." She mumbled
Antoine pretended to have not heard her. "The little blonde girl." He said between clenched teeth. "Who is she and what does she have to do with Sulpitius?"
The old woman smiled wickedly and Antoine knew she was keeping something from him.
"Come on and tell me! What about her?" His voice was venomous and he leaned in over the counter so that their noses were nearly touching, "What about her?"
"The answer to your question is really quite simple." The old woman began cleaning her fingernails, "She's a mermaid."
………
The little mermaid ran to meet her prince when he returned later that evening. He looked tired and weary and wouldn't even look at her as he rode up. He raced past her though she was sure he had seen her.
Prince? She didn't speak the word but rather thought it in her head as she watched him gallop into the courtyard abandoning his horse, and heading towards the castle's main door. My dear sweet prince, what is the matter?
She soon followed after him and paused at the door to listen to the conversation going on just inside the door. She opened the door a crack so that she could see inside.
"Antoine! You're back!"
"I thought you would be in bed."
"I waited up for you. Antoine, you look troubled, what's wrong?"
"It is of no concern of yours."
"But Antoine? Antoine!"
The mermaid entered the room to see the princess starring up the stairway a look of hopelessness on her face.
"Oh, Antoine..." The princess murmured and the mermaid saw the tears as they began to slide down the princess's face.
She walked over to the princess and the princess turned to her. "Oh, there you are, dear. I was wondering where you had gotten off to..." She removed a handkerchief from her pocket and began dabbing at her face.
"Don't be sad." The mermaid said softly.
The princess attempted a smile, "It's difficult not to be, dear. I thought marriage was supposed to be easy and here I am, only married a day and we're already at odds."
"The prince loves you." The mermaid said.
"So you've said before…" The mermaid watched as the princess dried the remaining of the tears from her face. "Come, it is time for bed. I'll fetch you a nightgown. You'll have to borrow one of Jacqueline's until your dresses are finished."
The little mermaid allowed the princess to lead her up the stairs and into her bedroom.
"You can sleep again on your cushion in the corner. It'll only be temporary, after all. I've already been planning who would be a best-suited husband for you. There are so many noble knights in the land, but I promised you the best and I intend to keep this promise." She led the little mermaid over to the bed. "Sit here, I'll ring Jacqueline and have her bring you a night gown."
The mermaid did as directed and watched as the princess left the room, closing the door behind her. The mermaid soon got up from the bed and tip toed over to the window where she could look out at the place where her friend had been sleeping. She could no longer see him there and wondered where he was. He most certainly would have come for me. She thought. He's never gone a night without saying goodnight.
And another thing puzzled her. Hadn't morning come and gone after the wedding? Then why was it she was still living? Had something gone wrong with the spell? Or perhaps she had heard the witch wrong? Whatever had happened, the little mermaid was glad to have the extra time with her prince.
"And be sure to bring a small one. I shant have the girl sleep in this dress another night!" The mermaid turned from the window as the princess came back through the door.
"My dear, what are you doing by the window?" Asked the princess. "Did you see something?"
The mermaid shook her head.
"Well, then come here and let me take your cape."
The mermaid approached the princess and allowed her to remove the garment.
"It's so pretty." Said the princess. "Won't you tell me at least where you got it? I won't ask you to answer me if it would be giving away your secret."
"The witch gave it to me." Said the mermaid, turning to her princess.
"The witch? What witch?"
"The one who gave me legs."
"Legs, my dear? You must be mistaken. There are no witches and there is not a soul on earth who can give legs. Those you were born with, dear."
The mermaid watched as the princess took a hairbrush off the vanity and began pulling it through the mermaid's blonde hair. "Hmm, you have many tangles. Perhaps it'd be best if you took a bath before getting into the nightgown."
The mermaid cocked her head sideways. What was a bath?
The princess smiled at her. "Yes! That's what we'll do. I'll call Leonela and have her bring up some warm water, and the groomsmen, the tub." She headed again for the door. "Now don't go anywhere, dear. I'll be right back!" She exited, closing the door behind her.
The mermaid was alone again, but she didn't understand. A bath? What was it? And where was her friend? She decided to go look for him herself. The princess was obviously busy with other things. She grabbed her cloak, tied it on and slipped out the door.
She looked both ways down the hallway. Which way should she go? She had only spent one night in the castle previously and she had never been alone. The princess was always with her. She looked to the left and then to the right. She walked over to the banister and peered into the room below.
She spotted the prince and waved at him, but he didn't see her. She decided to follow him. Maybe he knew where her friend was? Maybe he knew why she was still living?
She quickly scurried down the grand staircase and tip toed over to the door of which the prince had entered earlier. She carefully, pushed open the door and entered the library.
The prince spun around as she entered. His eyes widened in surprise and then his features relaxed as recognition stepped in. "Oh, it's only you."
She smiled at him and walked over to him.
"Why aren't you with the princess?"
"She left."
"Left?"
The mermaid nodded.
"Well where did she leave to?"
"She wanted a bath."
The prince sort of nodded. "Well, what are you doing down here?"
The mermaid wondered why he wouldn't look at her. "I was looking for my friend."
"Your friend?"
She nodded.
"Who is that?"
"I don't know his name."
"Oh, you mean the bearded man! The one who cared for my horse during the tournament?"
The mermaid nodded earnestly. Yes that was it!
She watched as a shadow passed over her prince's face.
"I've been waiting for him." Said the mermaid.
"Yes. I suppose you have."
She feared she was upsetting the prince, so she turned to leave.
"Wait!"
She spun around at the sound of his voice.
"Where are you going? I need to ask you something important. I--"
"Dear? Dear? Where are you?" The princess's voice reached the mermaid's ears. She looked out he door, then back to the prince.
"Never mind." Said the prince. "You can tell me later. The princess is looking for you. Come on. I'll take you back to her." He stood and to the little mermaid's delight, took her by the hand and led her back up the stairs where the princess was waiting.
"There you are!" She said and rushed over to the pair. "I wondered where you had wandered off to."
"She was in the library," said the prince. But the mermaid noticed he didn't look at the princess as he spoke.
"Yes? Well, thank you, Antoine." The princess took the mermaid's hand and led her into the room, quickly closing the door behind her.
"I am sorry." Said the mermaid.
"Sorry? For what, dear?" Asked the princess. She again removed the mermaid's cloak and hung it on a wooden peg by the door.
"For making him angry."
"He wasn't angry, dear. Something's just bothering him, that's all. It had nothing to do with you. Now come on." She led the mermaid over to a wooden tub behind a screen. "Take off your dress and step in the tub, dear. I'll go grab you a towel." The mermaid watched as the princess walked again out of the room.
She looked back to the tub and dipped her fingers in the water. She instantly pulled them out, feeling that it was warm.
How strange. Thought the little mermaid. Why is the water warm?
The princess returned moments later. "Is something wrong?" She asked. "Why aren't you in the tub?" She set the clean towel on the vanity by the door.
"It's warm." Said the little mermaid.
The princess smiled at her. "Of course it's warm, dear. Baths are supposed to be warm. You can't tell me you've never taken a warm bath?"
The mermaid shook her head.
The princess sighed. "I'd hate to know what kingdom you came from. It must be terrible bathing in cold water. Now, come on, let me help you." The princess began removing the flowers from the mermaid's hair.
The mermaid waited patiently as the task was done.
"There. Now, let's see about your dress…"