Chapter 3: The Hidden Mermaid
"How are you my friends?" Eric joyfully asked the Doctor and Clara.
"Better now that your crew have stopped pointing swords at us." The Doctor happily replied.
They had not seen each other since the Doctor returned Eric to the Enchanted Forest from Torchwood.
"You said you were going to get Mickey's heart back from Regina. Have you?" Eric asked.
"No." The Doctor replied.
"We were just on our way to go do that, but the Doctor got us to the wrong place...again." Clara remarked.
"What do you mean again?" The Doctor questioned.
"You were supposed to take me to Las Vegas and instead we ended up in a soviet submarine with an Ice Warrior." Clara fired back.
The Doctor was silent. He knew Clara had bested him and so did she. However, he refused to give Clara that satisfaction. Instead, he elected to stay silent until he grew curious about the present situation.
"So why are you here on the waters at night?" The Doctor asked Eric.
"Regina killed every man I took to Torchwood. This is a memorial service on the waters. I've gathered the best sailors in my kingdom to help remember them and their sacrifice." Eric replied.
"Why at night?" Clara asked.
"This is a solemn event. I thought it would help set the mood." The Prince responded. "Also, I thought this would be the safest night to do it."
"What do you mean?" The Doctor asked.
"Well it's been a year since my last Ursula Ball. Tonight is the highest tide." Eric said.
"Why is that so dangerous?" Clara asked.
"You don't know?" Eric asked.
"No she doesn't know. She's not incredibly smart like you and I." The Doctor said. "You should tell her just so she knows."
"Excuse me!" Clara interjected. "There's no way you know." She accused the Doctor.
"Of course I know. I'm the Doctor". He responded.
"Now I'm thoroughly convinced that you don't actually know." Clara said.
"Just tell her." The Doctor ordered Eric.
"Once a year, on the highest tide," Eric began. "mermaids are given legs. They are granted with the ability to walk on land for twelve hours."
"What's so dangerous about mermaids?" Clara asked.
"You must be joking!" Eric exclaimed.
"She's only proving my point." The Doctor said.
"Shut up you." Clara said to the Doctor. "Why are walking mermaids such a terrible thing?" She asked turning her attention towards the Prince in front of her.
"Mermaids are pure evil." Eric responded.
"That's not what I've heard." Clara remarked.
"What do you know of mermaids?" Eric asked her.
"I thought they were half girl and half fish. They were nice. They sang songs under the sea." Clara replied.
The Doctor did not say a word. He was fascinated by the topic of evil mermaids.
"Well you thought wrong." Eric corrected her. "Mermaids are hunters. They attack ships in groups. If their group is large enough, then they can have enough power to tip over boats. Once the men fall in the water, they kill them. They think they own the sea and that man has no right to it. I've not once met a mermaid who was at all kind. They can not be trusted."
"Wouldn't a mermaid with legs be able to climb onto your ship from the water?" The Doctor asked.
"They wouldn't. They couldn't pass up the opportunity to come on land." Eric replied.
"You made it sound like they want no part of the land." The Doctor reminded the Prince.
"I can not predict how the mermaids will think. I can only assume that tonight, they will leave the waters alone. My fallen sailors deserve a remembrance on the sea." Eric stated.
"But a mermaid with legs could still climb on this ship and you wouldn't even know." The Doctor said.
"There are no mermaids on my ship!" Eric said sternly.
The Doctor could tell from Eric's tone that he didn't want to hear anymore about mermaids. They stood on the ship in silence for a few awkward moments, until finally, Clara broke the ice.
"It's a bit chilly out here." She said.
"Go to the lower level of the ship. I keep blankets down there in case of cold nights on the sea." Eric instructed.
Eric pointed to a door that was behind him. Behind the door were steps leading to the lower level of the ship. Clara embarked down the steps by herself.
When Clara arrived on the lower level she only saw one long room filled with cannons, swords, and clothes. At the very end of the room was a long couch covered in blankets. She thought it a little odd that there was a couch on this ship at all, but did not question it. She moved her way towards the couch.
As Clara got closer to the couch, she noticed that the blankets started to move. Clara stopped dead in her tracks and watched something big move under the blankets. She cautiously stepped closer and closer. There was definitely something under them. She stepped forward very cautiously until she was eventually right in front of the moving blankets. A sense of fear briefly swept over her. It could be anything. This land was filled with magical creatures of every shape and sort. She thought to herself "What would the Doctor do?". Of course she knew the answer. The Doctor would rip the blanket off the couch and see what was under there without giving it a second thought.
So, Clara got over he fear. She took a deep breath and tried to prepared herself mentally for whatever was underneath these blankets. Clara gripped her hand on the blanket by the left side of the couch. She then pulled, sending the first blanket flying behind her. When Clara looked at what was under it, she was surprised. It was a woman.
Clara studied this woman intently. She had hair that was as red as blood itself. This woman was not wearing much clothing at all. Her chest was only covered by a purple top piece. The rest of her upper body was completely exposed. The lower part of her body was still hidden under more blankets. Judging by this woman's outer wear on the top of her body, Clara did not want to move the next blanket and reveal what was underneath.
She then studied the woman's face. She looked afraid, very afraid. She did not speak, but her eyes did all of the talking for her. She was frightened. She did not move. She just kept laying there on the couch staring fearfully into Clara's eyes. The Doctor's companion finally gathered the courage to speak.
"What's your name?" Clara asked the red haired girl.
The strange woman did not reply. She only stared at Clara.
"Are you scared?" Clara asked.
She did not reply, but she didn't have to. Clara could see the fear in her eyes.
"Are you in trouble?" Clara asked.
Still the girl did not reply.
"Look it's ok. You can talk to me. I won't hurt you." Clara said.
Once again, the woman on the couch said nothing.
"I've got a friend. He's called the Doctor. You may have heard of him?" Clara asked.
The girl did not speak, but she shook her head to indicate that she had not heard of the Doctor.
"Do you remember the Sontarans? They invaded this world not too long ago." Clara asked the silent woman.
She still did not verbally respond, but nodded her head to show that she did remember the Sontarans.
"Well the Doctor stopped them. He was the one who ruined their plans and sent them off." Clara said to her. "If you won't talk to me, at least talk to him."
Clara then turned around to go back upstairs and fetch the Doctor.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Clara heard the sound of the bangs behind her. She turned around and saw that the woman was banging on the ground to get her attention. The woman then opened her mouth to speak.
"No"
Her lips made the motions for the word, but no sound would come out.
"No?" Clara questioned.
"No." The women said with her lips again, but not her voice.
"I have to get the Doctor." Clara said and then turned around to go get him.
She then heard another bang. This time the noise was much louder and it startled Clara as she started to go up the steps. So Clara rushed back down the steps to see what had happened. She then saw that the woman had fallen from the couch and apparently hit the ground hard. However, once she saw the woman's full body, she was shocked. The lower half of her body that was covered with blankets was now completely exposed. Instead of legs, Clara saw a green tail.
This was no girl. This was a mermaid.