CHAPTER THREE: MERLINA'S WISH?
It had been a long, uneventful voyage to the spot where the Sea Witch's lair was located, during which I came to know about the human warrior, and he came to know about me. I listened attentively to his story as I sat at the front of his boat, enchanted by his quiet, gentle voice as he spoke.
His name was Jack, and he was looking for a way--a time portal, a magic spell, even a wish--to return to his own time. He had been brought to this "cruel, God-forsaken world" through the spell of an evil wizard, and he longed to return to his own world, and his own time. He had been searching all over the world for the solution to his problem, during which he'd had to battle robots, bounty hunters, and anything (or anyone) else foolish enough to cross his path. So far, he'd had no success in his quest. He had learned about the Sea Witch through one of the locals who lived on the land, and he hoped that she would grant his wish, and send him back home.
Then, I told him a little about myself, conveniently omitting a few things (namely, being the Princess of Aqualon, and, of course, my forthcoming wedding). I also told him that I, too, wanted to see the Sea Witch and have a wish granted.
"What are you going to wish for, Merlina?" Jack asked.
I had not given much thought about what I would ask the Sea Witch for. I'd thought about wishing for Prince Tyburon to fall in love with another mermaid, so that he wouldn't want to marry me (and then my Mother would have to call off that stupid wedding). But I figured that with my luck, I'd probably end up being the one he'd fall in love with and marry, so I decided against that. I'd also thought about wishing to become anything, or anyone, other than who I really was. I'd even thought about wishing to become a human, a human like Jack.
"I'd wish to become a human," I answered. "A human, like you. I'd have legs, I could go wherever I wanted, and I could do whatever I wanted!"
"But are you not happy as a mermaid?" Jack asked curiously. "I would be. If I were a mermaid..."
I giggled.
Jack quickly corrected himself. "I mean, if I were a merman, I would be happy living beneath the sea. The world beneath the sea is one of great beauty and tranquility. There are no bounty hunters, or robot minions, no creatures who want to destroy you, or enslave you..."
"Truly a wonderful life," I sighed, thinking about the "wonderful life" I was living back in Aqualon. It depressed me every time I thought of it.
I was still a bit depressed when night came, and we both settled in for sleep in our respective places. We would arrive in the realm of the Sea Witch in the morning. I would take Jack to see her, and doubtlessly, she would grant him his wish, and I would probably never see him again. Eventually, I would have to return to Aqualon, or Mother and his Sea Knights would find me, and I would have to go through with that stupid pre-arranged wedding to Tyburon, and our two kingdoms would be united, and everyone would live happily ever after.
Yes, I would eventually end up being married to a prince I'd only seen when I was just a newborn baby, and was too young to object to it. (Maybe that's why Mother had arranged for a marriage so early in my life!) Why did I have to marry Prince Tyburon? Why couldn't my future husband be someone of my choice, and not my mother's? Why couldn't he be someone I wanted to be with all the time, someone with whom I could talk with, and take long swims with, and genuinely love?
Why couldn't he be someone like...Jack?
I liked being with Jack. Even though he was a human, I admired his handsome, gentle face and his sleek, well-muscled body.
If only you were a merman, Jack! I sighed to myself. As I drifted off to sleep, looking forward to our visit to the Sea Witch in the morning, I had finally made up my mind about what to do about my wedding.
Yes, I would return to Aqualon, and yes, I would wed.
But I would not wed Prince Tyburon.
I knew now what my wish from the Sea Witch would be.
I looked up at Jack's boat on the surface, and smiled.