A Mermaid's Tail

DISCLAIMER: Sadly, I do not own Once Upon a Time or any of its fabulous characters. All recognizable players, dialogue, and/or magic spells belong to ABC and Disney.

Chapter 7

The pale new light of the morning sun made the dew shimmer like crystals on the grass as Ariel trudged along the early morning road. She was exhausted, but the need to get away kept her going. Shivering in her thin camise dress, Ariel clenched her fingers into a fist and shoved them under her arms in an attempt to warm up a little. She could not remember ever having run further or faster in her entire life. Then again, she'd only had legs for a few months now.

Last night she had been too late getting back to the house. Scuttle the seagull kept leading her in the wrong direction. Blasted, misdirected bird! By the time she had arrived, completely winded with breathes that did not seem to fill her lungs, she could plainly see the small troop of knights standing in front of the small cabin she shared with John, Jenny, and Eric. She had darted behind a tree and watched carefully to see if she had been noticed. None of the knights moved to indicate they knew she was there. She saw the human John talking to the knights in a loud voice, gesturing sharply. Jenny and Eric were nowhere to be seen. This was why she was here on the road, yet again. Running away from the village.

But what about Eric? Her thoughts came relentlessly. How could she leave him now?

She had no choice. She had to leave. Reasoning herself out of this one would lead nowhere. The queen of the land was after her and Ariel was certain that she was not interested in anything pleasant. She had heard rumors of what Queen Regina was capable of. The queen must suspect something about her or else she would not go through this trouble of trying to find her.

Just keep going she stubbornly told herself.

Ariel had been fleeing all night and most of the early morning. She had managed to catch maybe an hour's rest when she pulled off the road, and hid underneath a fallen log. Rising soon after she had slept briefly, she continued on, determined to put leagues between her and the queen of the land. Surprisingly, her stamina was much more than the last time she had traversed this road. When she had first stumbled on her brand-new legs.

Almost back to my old self she thought with much bitterness Running away and everything.

Just when she was really starting to get the hang of it, just when she was starting to really like being a human, that stupid land queen came in! Filled with regretful thoughts about leaving behind Eric and the village she had come to love, Ariel did not notice the second traveler on the same road until she had bumped into the person.

"Oh I'm so sorry!" the woman in a simple blue dress said.

Ariel shrugged, not really caring. She still found it odd that humans always felt the need to apologize whenever there was accidental physical contact. As if it was offensive to touch someone without permission.

"I wasn't looking," the woman continued.

Ariel nodded and noticed for the first time the large empty basket dangling from one arm of the woman. Her cloak, an elaborately decorated green material, was slightly dust laden indicating a long journey on foot.

"Sorry to bother you but could you tell me how far the nearest town is?" the woman asked in a lilting accent Ariel found oddly pleasant.

The mermaid gestured down the road, and then opened her hands wide, measuring out a sizable distance. It had taken her nearly a night and a day to travel this far from Venn and the woman would need to go far.

"I see. Is there anywhere closer where I can find some straw? I only need to collect an armful."

Ariel tilted her head at the question, a quizzical expression on her face. What would a human need an armful of straw for? They did not eat it, unlike some farm animals Ariel knew off. But she knew of a public establishment that might possess some. Ariel gestured again down the road, turned her hand to show a right turn, and then mouthed as best she could, Tavern.

"Sorry, what was that?" the woman asked, studying Ariel's lips.

Once again, the mermaid was overcome by her frustration at being unable to communicate, I don't have time for this!

Ariel suddenly lost her patience. She did the gestures again, adding a few grunts this time, then turned and continued her fast pace down the path. She knew that it was rude of her but she really did not have the energy to care. Drudging down the path, Ariel allowed herself to slip back into her earlier depression. Where could she go now? Away from Eric was her only choice. She would have to sort out specifics later.

Ariel's ears picked up the telltale noise of clomping of hooves on the graveled road far sooner than any normal human could have. Jerking her head up fast, she strained herself to confirm the worst. A large group of riders, and a carriage headed right for her! It could only be the queen.

What is she doing here? Ariel panicked.

She tilted her head, listening hard. The group was traveling towards her, towards the direction the other woman was walking, and Venn. Ariel quickly gathered up her mud-stained hems and skirted off the road into the forest foliage. She stumbled as best she could away from the view of the road and then crouched down to watch.

Belle heard the carriage too and quickly altered her steps towards the side of the road. This was the first time she had seen such traffic on the road from Rumplestiltskin's castle. The black horses of the first of the guards clip-clopped past Belle as she watched, fascinated with their strange attire.

Ariel was watching too, but with more of a sense of urgency. When the carriage abruptly stopped and Ariel heard the door open, she could not have been more surprised. She thought the queen was on the way to the village looking for her, so what did she want with this strange straw-seeking woman? She ducked her head further so as to avoid any of the guards' eyes and listened hard to find out.

"Did my carriage splash you?"

Ariel heard the false, friendly voice and she felt an unexpected shiver creep down her. Something was wrong; the queen would not use such a tone. She did not know how she knew but she knew. From her hiding place Ariel saw the queen step out her carriage, and the entire party continued along the road. Instead of remaining safely on the forest floor, Ariel slowly eased herself up to stalk the group. She followed from the cover of the thick green foliage, determined to hear what the queen of the land was really up to.

"You carry very little," the queen was saying in that same fabricated, kindly voice.

Ariel suppressed a growl. The tone was condescending and inflated, like someone who wanted to know something badly. Being a mute for the past few months had taught Ariel a thing or two about picking up different tones in others voices. But the other woman did not seem to notice. Belle and Regina continued down the path, chatting nonchalantly. Ariel followed from the safety of the forest, stepped cautiously over a fallen log, and considered her options. She was learning nothing from this rather-odd conversation about masters and lovers, and reflected on abandoning her eavesdropping. It was probably the safest thing to do. Crouching down again, keeping her eyes on the road, Ariel paused to allow the party to continue on without her. But then a familiar phrase rang from the queen's mouth.

"True love's kiss will break any curse," Regina said assuredly to Belle.

Why does that sound so familiar? Ariel scrunched her forehead, trying to figure it out. Where have I heard that…?

Rumplestiltskin! Her deal! Her sapphire eyes widened in disbelief and shock. She had to have true love's kiss or she would be a mermaid again. And here she was-miles from any shoreline with no plan whatsoever! She stopped watching the road and brought her clenched fists to her temple. She could not believe that she had forgotten her agreement with the man of magic. Don't panic. Unfortunately, she could not talk herself into that. Oh gods! It was only three days until the end of the final moon and who was she going to get to kiss her? It was not as if…

But then Ariel remembered Eric and the special night of the Harvest Festival. How she had held him so close, his arms around her, his lips almost touching her own. She had been so close then! Why hadn't she just been more forward and leaned in a little more!?

Because that is not how you are she mused to herself. Still the quiet and shy one, still the weakling.

Ariel almost hissed with fury before she caught herself and listened for signs of the queen and the other woman. They were much further down the road now, almost completely out of sight.

"An ordinary man," the queen was saying quietly.

Yeah you'd know all about that Ariel thought sarcastically. How is it that I can hear you anyway? You're so far away and yet…

Ariel let out a frustrated moan as she closed her eyes and inclined her head upward, cursing yet again at her thoughtlessness. Her keen hearing, the strength she exhibited when knocking down that Vanessa girl, her advanced proprioception at the festival… she had noticed her senses becoming more and more heightened yet she had not made the connection. She was already becoming more mermaid with each passing day! She half expected to see scales popping up on her thighs at any second.

But there was nothing she could do now. The young mermaid continued to crouch on the forest floor, breathing as lightly as she possibly could. After an eternity of wait, the queen and the woman in blue strode away. Ariel rubbed her hands hard, trying to get some warmth back after sitting in the cold morning dew for so long. Finally, when her sensitive ears detected no hint of the carriage, the black knights, or the queen, Ariel risked easing herself up. She cautiously stepped back towards the road, glancing both ways to assure herself she was alone again. Then she took off at a rickety sprint back towards Venn.

She had only three days left. Three days to find true love.

"And then it's back to fins and scales dearie!" Rumplestiltskin's voice echoed in Ariel's panicked thoughts.

Elsewhere, just on the edge of the Enchanted Forest...

Ella pulled her tattered cloak a little tighter around her slender form as yet another chilly wind cut through the forest trees. It was unusually cold this time of year, just after the harvest at that. The icy, metallic smell of the first Fall rains wafted in the air, urging Ella's legs a little faster. But even the impending threat of rain had not stopped her from sneaking out after dinner to see the show. The Lady Tremaine and her own daughters had retired early to bed after feasting on a scrumptious four-course meal. Ella, as always, waited on the three as both a servant and a constant source of amusement.

"You're too stupid as it is Cinderella!" her stepsister had told her as the older girl buttered a roll and shoved it into her large mouth right in front of Ella's face.

Not since she was a child had Ella ever given her stepsisters the satisfaction of knowing how badly their words hurt her. So she just stood there, ignoring the taunts and her own rumbling stomach until it was time to clear the table. After finishing the dishes, she ate a quick sandwich then sneaked outside through the small kitchen door. Slipping through the back gate and across the meadow, she found her special tree and began to climb up. It was the tree that she had planted at her mother's grave when she was just a child. Sometimes, when Ella was in the highest boughs, she allowed herself to fantasize that the swaying tree branches were her mother's arms. The large oak limbs scooping her in a big, protective hug, the likes of which she had never known or could not remember.

Ella settled herself comfortably into the highest branches of the tree, dangling her legs over a thick bough. As she leaned contentedly against the bark, she wrapped her cloak a little tighter against the cold. In the light of the moon and the twinkling stars, the pale silhouette of the castle of King Christopher was just barely visible in the distance. Enjoying the peace and quiet, Ella waited patiently.

BOOM! CRACK! BOOM!

Ella squealed with joy when the first of the fireworks from the castle parapets burst into the sky. Then another, then another…each a brilliant display of color and sounds, lighting up the night skies. Since she was so high up, she just knew that she had as good a view as the royal family themselves, Prince Thomas and his father King Christopher. For one glorious hour Ella was able to enjoy herself like any other normal girl in the kingdom, nestled safely in the branches of her mother's tree, watching the incredible show. But all too soon, the night dimmed again as the fires in the sky receded, leaving a lingering smell of sulfur in the air.

Happy Birthday Prince Thomas Ella had thought to herself, chuckling at the ridiculous notion that she would ever be able to speak to a prince face-to-face.

Now, Ella was hurrying as fast as she could back to the estate. Ducking her hooded head against the first sprinkles of freezing rain, she worried that maybe she had lingered a little too long after the fireworks. Her focus was so much on the dark ground in front of her; she did not notice Ariel trudging along the same path but in the opposite direction. The two girls lightly bumped into each other.

"Ariel! What on earth are you doing out here?"

Ariel was just as shocked to see Ella. Earlier in the evening she had forgone the road, hoping to find a short cut back to the village through the forest path. But then she had forgotten it would lead right through the grounds of the Tremaine estate. Her sharp mermaid sense had no trouble navigating the dark forest trail but somehow Ella had managed to sneak up on her. Incredible.

Ella! You're good at moving around silently Ariel thought favorably, rubbing her bare arms against the chilly night wind. You'd make a good mermaid.

Ella noticed Ariel's discomfort and that the other girl looked quite perturbed. "Ariel its freezing and it's about to pour! Where's Eric? Is he with you?"

Ariel flashed Ella an incredulous look. Of course not! You do not see him right? I have to go now.

She lifted her hand in the tradition human good-bye gesture and started away.

"Hang on! You can't go tramping around in the woods this late." Ella called after her, the firmness in her voice startling. What on earth was Ariel thinking? It was dark and about to storm rain.

Well you're one to talk, you're out late too! Ariel rounded back towards Ella, glaring at the girl with indignation. After hiking through the woods and along the road all day, she was in no mood for any accusations.

But Ella was used to people looking at her with anger, it did not bother her one bit. She did however try to soften her voice so as not to sound like she was reprimanding. "If you need a place to stay tonight, you can come home with me." Ella said with a firm nod.

Ariel immediately felt guilty for her rude behavior. She really should learn how to control her emotions better.

I'm sorry she mouthed as best she could. Unused to asking for help, Ariel allowed herself to hesitantly nod an acceptance to the offer.

Ella understood, and nodded lightly with a kind smile. Ariel joined Ella in her walk back to the estate. She had wondered earlier what she would do during the storm but reasoned that finding shelter was not as important as her mission. But by the time she got back to Venn, it would be dark and certainly not the best time for convincing someone to kiss her.

Ella insisted on sharing half of her cloak so that Ariel could duck underneath it for shelter against the falling raindrops. The two girls stole quickly across the grounds, scrambled nimbly over the wooden fence bordering the courtyard, and made for the side entrance. Ducking her hooded head into the doorway, Ella scanned the hallways confirming that the coast was clear. The old wooden tower clock chimed midnight, but otherwise the estate was as silent as a crypt.

"Come on," Ella whispered, "This way".

The two teenagers tiptoed silently across the marbled floors of the dining room. Ella made a mental note to wipe away their muddy boot prints as soon as she got Ariel settled in her room. Thinking of the hard beating she would receive from her stepmother if she were caught sneaking home so late, Ella could not help but cringe. The two teenagers silently traversed down the long carpeted hallways, dimly lit with the peeking moonlight from the high reaching windows. Ella led Ariel into the kitchen, completely dark now with no windows to let in light, and turned to a small door half-hidden behind some old wine barrels stacked next to the fireplace.

Ella's "room" was nothing more than the remnants of an old root cellar that had ceased to be useful for food storage due to a mouse infestation. Ariel's sensitive mermaid nose picked up the scents of wet soil, mold, and rotten timber boards that reminded her of a decaying ship. Hardly an appropriate dwelling for a sea slug let alone her friend Ella! But still even here, there were signs of a considerate living. The floors were swept clean, the walls scrubbed and whitewashed, and Ariel saw a few carefully tended candles, books, and other personal items arranged neatly on a worn, wobbly table.

Ella bustled in, shedding her soaked cloak and hung it on a nail stuck into the wall. She went over to the table, the only furniture that Ariel could see in the dim light, and started fumbling with a flint and steel. Numb fingers made the progress too slow.

Ariel quickly walked over and gently took the stones. Let me please? she asked with her eyes.

"Thanks. I'll be right back. Make yourself at home." Ella ducked her head under the low cellar door and headed up the stairs back to the kitchen.

Ariel quickly lit a few candles with a piece of tinder she found and glanced around some more. Ella's bed was a straw pallet similar to where Ariel had slept on the floor at Eric's house, but far more worn and with less blankets. A few charcoal sketches of horses, wolves, and what looked like a woman and a man were tacked up on the wall just opposite the pallet.

Who is that supposed to be? Ariel thought, leaning in to study the later picture.

Ten minutes later, Ella had brewed some hot tea and the both of them were seated cross-legged on the dirt floor. Sipping from the chipped mug, Ella could not help but reflect on her horrible hospitality. She could only use left-over leaves and honey as a cheap substitute for sugar, her stepfamily offered nothing else.

She felt the need to apologize to Ariel. "Sorry about the tea. It's all I have."

Waving her hand dismissively, Ariel shook her head hard and took another sip.

"So what were you doing out in the woods this late? I thought you were going to the Harvest Festival." Ella could not help but ask.

Ariel played with her lower lip while trying to think of an answer, I'm not sure I can tell you everything. I don't even know what I can tell you.

"Were you leaving Venn?" Ella asked, taking a sip of tea.

Ariel shook her head sadly, unable to hide her gloom and fear.

"Ariel…what's wrong?"

Her concern was well-put but Ariel was at a lost as to how she could tell Ella. Even if she did have her voice, it would be so very difficult to explain.

She thought about how she would word it, I'm a mermaid on the run from two queens, one from the land and one from the sea. I have to get true love's kiss within two days or else I'm going to have a tail again. I can't even tell the boy that he needs to kiss me because I sold my voice to a man of magic named Rumplestiltskin and that is just too weird when I word it like that!

Ella tilted her head, fixing Ariel with her serene, crystal blue eyes. She made a quick guess. "Does this have something to do with Eric?"

Ariel smiled a sad, half-smile and nodded only once. Her own fathomless blue eyes clouded with concern and fear. Ella sensed this was difficult for Ariel to talk about (not with her voice obviously) but decided it was in her calling as a friend to try and help. She ducked her head a little, locking onto Ariel's eyes. "Well…do you think you have feelings for him?" she asked gently, trying to reassure the nervous mermaid.

Ariel frowned and fiddled with her cup, I hadn't thought of that. It's supposed to be true love's kiss but I thought that meant I did not have to love him; he just needs to love me. But then…

Ariel thought about how Eric made her feel wonderful, how she felt whole and not like a defective mermaid around him, how she wished him to be happy too. She also thought about those piercing, storm-grey eyes of his, able to take in the whole world and still have time to shine in a special way at her.

Is that what love is? she thought wistfully. Mermaids do not love so I do not know. How do I know its love?

It was all so confusing and Ariel did not like it. Clenching her fists in frustration, she let out a discouraged humph of air. She longed to ask Ella, but of course could not.

But Ella could clearly see the turmoil in the other girl's thoughts, as obvious as the fireworks she had watched earlier that evening. Showing ones feelings was a luxury Ella had been unable afford since she cried at her father's funeral. Not since her stepmother had placed her in a maid's position. But she did understand the need to let things out every once in a while.

"Are you happy when you're around him?" Ella prodded the mermaid, sensing the girl's frustration. She reasoned it would help if Ariel talked about her feelings a little bit.

Ariel smiled and looked down. I guess so, she thought finally. But I never really paid enough attention.

"A very positive sign," Ella sighed lightly, shaking her head. "I've never been in love myself, but I think each person experiences it differently. It's supposed to be the most powerful magic of all, so maybe that means it should be something that you feel strongly about."

Ariel narrowed her eyes and sipped her cup again. Oddly enough, Ella was making sense.

But I don't know if I feel strongly about it she thought worriedly. I really don't know how I feel.

Long after Ella and Ariel were curled up together on the pallet, these thoughts continued to pound into Ariel's head. She truly did not know what to do…

"Ariel," came a soft voice.

Ariel scrunched up her face and reluctantly opened her eyes. Ella was kneeling next to the pallet, gently shaking her shoulders.

"Sorry to wake you but its dawn," Ella whispered. The faint, ambient light peeking from a hole in the tattered ceiling confirmed this.

Ariel nodded and rubbed the sleep out of her eyes. Time to leave and continue her quest to find Eric.

As she threw off the thin coverlet, Ariel thought again of her daunting task, I have to get back to the village, find Eric, and somehow convince him to kiss me, all the while avoiding getting caught by the queen or any of her guards. What a plan!

She grimaced as the images of the impossible idea flashed in her thoughts. Unlike Ella, Ariel had never mastered hiding her emotions.

Ella saw and settled her calloused hands on Ariel's shoulders, giving the mermaid a light but firm squeeze. "Hey, it's going to be ok. You'll see. Have faith in your dreams."

That's an odd thing to say Ariel could not help but think. But the strength and spirit of the maid was contagious and Ariel suddenly found herself believing that it was possible. That somehow she could have her own true love in the surface world. Her spirits lifted, immediately replacing the worry and sorrow that had filled her soul since the day before. She flashed a sunny smile at Ella, immensely grateful at her friend for the support. The blonde returned the smile with one of her own and pressed an apple and a small loaf of bread into Ariel's hands as the two stole quietly through dimly-lit the kitchen.

"Breakfast" Ella quipped. Ariel fought hard to suppress a giggle.

Once again, the two teenagers sneaked through the regally carpeted hallways and across the polished dining room floor, still tip-toeing like bandits. Ella grabbed her now-dried cloak, a trowel, and an old rag on the way out.

"I usually go visit my mother and father's graves once a week to take care of them," she explained in response to Ariel's raised eyebrows and pointed finger. "It's just on the edge of the estate grounds."

You visit where you're loved ones are in the ground? Ariel was partially shocked. That is disgusting! Why in the seas would you do that?

But she did not have time to inquire further. The two of them were just at the iron wrought gate, the same one Ariel had pushed her way past the first time she had met Ella. Was that only a few weeks ago?

"I have to go this way now," Ella nodded to the right.

Ariel nodded too and was about to sneak through the gates when Ella suddenly enveloped her in a hug. Ariel was too shocked to try and resist, her first hug in the human world was so sudden. But then she relaxed a bit and felt her own hands automatically come up to cling to Ella's body. This was different than what she was used to: when mermaids hugged they used only their tails, not their arms. Wrapping one fluke around another. But somehow…a human hug felt more personal, more intimate. It certainly seemed to last longer and Ariel found herself enjoying it.

"Good luck!" Ella gave Ariel a warm squeeze and pulled back, clasping both her hands and giving them a firm shake.

The mermaid smiled, nodded happily, and squeezed Ella's own hands back to show her gratitude.

The two girls parted ways.

Ariel sprinted down the road, not even bothering to acknowledge the other humans walking the same path. Although she had been confident earlier, her sense of urgency tripled as the sun rose higher into the sky. This was the second day and after the sun set on the third day, she would be a mermaid again. The idea of suddenly transforming in the middle of the village square, her long emerald tail flopping uselessly on the hot cobble-stoned streets, frightened poor Ariel to no end. If the humans did not rip her apart, she would certainly succumb to dehydration within minutes. She would die.

Dodging this way and that, Ariel rounded around the humans and finally broke free of the crowds into the village square. As she passed the remnants of the Harvest Festival bonfire, still piled up next to the town's news board she saw something. Something that made her day, if it was even possible, worse.

A wanted poster. Of her! Her face sketched onto a flyer with the phrase "Wanted For Suspicious Activities" etched underneath. Right next to the drawing of a woman with dark hair who was wanted for "Crimes against the Queen: Murder, Treason, Treachery."

Ariel ripped the poster down, crumpling it in her fury. That shark! What did I do to get her attention?!

But there was not time to dwell on this. Already her strange actions were causing unneeded attention from the villagers. She quickly tossed the flyer onto the ground, and then resumed her sprinting towards Eric's house. Had he seen the wanted poster? What would he think of her? How was she going to explain this? She found out that it was not Eric she would have to explain it to, it was his stoic father…

John was seated on a wooden stool, leaning against the front of the house. On his lap was a net in need of mending, and he was leaning over it with his darning instruments. But he looked up quickly at the sound of Ariel's footsteps. His eyes darkened with fury and Ariel could not help but flinch.

"So you've returned." He ducked his head back to his work but continued to speak to Ariel. "When you did not come back last night, I assumed you were hiding from the black guard."

John please! I did not do anything. Ariel longed to speak but could not.

"I don't know what kind of crimes you are guilty of…but you'll not involve my family anymore." He looked up again and fixed Ariel with an angry glare. "You are not to see Jenny or my son anymore. I have no love for the queen but I will not hesitate to turn over a criminal."

Ariel did not even try to argue, it was not in her. She had been treated so kindly by this family and now she had brought trouble to them. She felt an overwhelming sense of guilt. How could she think that she could ask Eric for a kiss now? When she had been nothing but trouble for him since the day he had found her lying on the side of the road.

"I suggest you leave here and not come back." John continued. "The queen's guard is not departing until tomorrow evening and it is not in your best interest to stay here."

Ariel turned and slowly started to trudge away, fighting the tears of disappointment that threatened to pour down her cheeks. That was it then…no hope. She would turn back into a mermaid tomorrow night.

Note: The tree at the grave of Cinderella's mother comes from the play "Into the Woods", some of the dialogue obviously comes from the original 1950 Disney animated film "Cinderella", and the idea of Ella seeing Prince Thomas' birthday show was inspired by "Dinner and a Show" by RicksIlsa.

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