Ellen sat quietly at the old wooden table, gnawing quietly at a piece of bread. She was thrilled that she had been allowed to stay up so late. Or early, she mused in her mind as the saw the sun begin to filter through the rough glass of the window opposite her. She watched her mother as she paced worriedly across by the door. Tristan had been gone a worryingly long time.
Ellen was worried, of course. But, to be honest, the bread was at the forefront of her mind right now. She glanced up as a shadow flickered in front of the window, heading towards the door
"Tristan's back" she muttered with her mouthful as, in true 'Tristan fashion' her older brother came stumbling through the door with minimal grace
He slammed the door behind him and leant against it
"It's them!" he gasped "They're back"
Ellen jumped up, abandoning her bread "What? The mermaids?! Can I see them?!"
"No, Ellen" Annice pulled her daughter back from the door "Tristan, where's your coat? You're soaking wet!"
Tristan's breathing slowed as he regained his breath "I left it at the pier after I fell in"
Annice stopped, leaving her daughter behind and grabbing hold of her son's shoulders
"You fell in? Did they touch you? Are you hurt? How on earth did you get away?" she seemed panicked. Tristan, however, had begun to think over what they had said to him
"I'm fine. They…" he paused, shaking his head "…they put me back on the pier"
Annice pulled back "No. No they didn't. Merfolk will drown you. They always drown people; it's just what they do"
"No it's not, mother" he sat down, shaking his hands through his hair "They don't do that. They told me that they don't…"
"I don't care what they told you!" Annice shouted "They lied. They drowned your father and they'll drown you given the chance!"
"But they didn't, mother" Tristan interrupted, standing up and heading over to stand behind Ellen. He placed his hands on his little sister's shoulders. She winced as the cold water seeped into her clothes "They didn't drown me and they didn't drown Ellen. They could have but they didn't"
Ellen glanced up at her brother as wet, cold droplets fell from the ends of his messy damp hair and onto the top of her head "Get off me, drippy" she snapped and Tristan pulled his hands away
She seemed convinced by his argument though "Mummy, why do you think they want to kill us?"
Their mother sat down quietly and placed her head in her hands. Tristan hated her like this. She became child-like and stubborn
"They killed your father, children" she glared at them, making Ellen and Tristan feel as if they had betrayed their own parents "They will kill you… they're just biding their time"
"Come on, Ellen" Tristan ushered his sister up the stairs. Mother was beginning to disturb Ellen "You can sleep in my room tonight. We'll stay in tomorrow morning"
"You mean this morning" she giggled, taking her brothers hand "It's almost light"
Tristan smiled at his little sister and let her run into her own room to put her night-dress on. He simply changed his clothing, pulling on his clothes for tomorrow. He'd only be asleep for a few hours anyway. He'd slip out to work and let Ellen sleep on. She needed the rest
Ellen sprinted back into the room and launched herself onto Tristan who had already laid back. She sighed at him calmly as both of them shut their eyes.
"Tristan" her sleepy voice mumbled through the silence. Tristan didn't open his eyes
"Yes, Ellen"
"Do you think they'll come back?" She didn't need to say who she was talking about
He shrugged, jolting his little sister "Well, so long as they bring my coat"
Ellen laughed again and Tristan smiled down at her
"Now, go to sleep" he muttered and Ellen finally went quiet
Tristan sighed "I don't think you need to worry about the merfolk anymore" he wasn't sure if he was trying to reassure himself or Ellen "I don't think they'll harm us…"