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 11
...
With a simple wave of the hand, Queen Regina opened the heavy double doors of the front entrance to the castle of the Dark One.
Terrible security She mused disfavorably. Nothing like my palace.
No matter. She had information to gather, information that Rumplestiltskin would likely be willing to part with. For no price at all. Oh yes, this time she was more than prepared for the imp's antics of magical trading. She had a story to tell him, a story that after he heard it, he would be so miserable that he would not even think how precious the information he gave freely was.
And the best part was—none of it was true!
Regina smirked at that last sentiment and thrust her arms out again, opening the second pair of double doors. She sauntered into the grand hall of the Dark One himself, casually strolling as if walking down a garden lane.
"Flimsy locks," she could not help but point out.
She saw that her words barely registered, Rumplestiltskin remained standing with his back towards her at his loom. Why the man insisted on keeping that flimsy article around, she would never know. Her last conversation with the imp had left her in no position to ask trivial questions of magical antiques. But this time, Regina possessed the wild card. Her high-heeled boots clicked on the fancy marbled floors as she strode over to the table, putting on airs of nonchalance.
After allowing herself a little self-satisfied snicker at her earlier jab, she spoke as casually as one does concerning the weather, "I have a deal to discuss."
She reached a hand towards the silver tea pot placed on the gilded Hall table. "A certain…mermaid."
…
The edge of the lake was yet untouched by the faint angles of dawn light that had pierced the upper portion of the forest tree tops. It was liquid smooth, not a single ripple graced the surface to distinguish the water world from the forest world.
Suddenly, two figures burst out of the deep end, both gasping and gulping for air.
Snow felt the arms of her captor twist her to one side, and then fling her like a doll towards the lake shore. Right into a nice thick patch of mud. But it was solid ground! Snow wedged herself onto her elbows and crawled slowly up the muddy bank, just away enough that only her legs were still in the shallows. Then she rested her cheek on the ground and just breathed. Never in her entire life had she ever been more grateful for a full breath in her lungs.
That was awful! She shivered hard in her soaked clothes. Then a thought occurred to her and she quickly lifted her head to look back into the water. Where is the…?
The mermaid who had saved her life was still in the lake edge, lying mostly in the muddy water. She had her eyes squeezed shut and her head wedged into the watery muck of the shoreline. Snow saw her half-opened hands fold and unfold into themselves a few times, before clenching into a determined fist. Slowly, painfully, the mermaid turned onto her stomach and started to pull herself forward in the river mud using only her arms. Inch by inch, she did not stop until her tail was completely out of the water. Snow's eyes widened as the green scales sank into flesh, the fins running down the sides shrank and then vanished, leaving only a faint watery residue. The entire mass of the tail split in two and then suddenly it was completely gone, replaced by two legs and two feet. The mermaid's blue lips trembled as she curled up into herself in the freezing mud, folding her shaking legs and arms into her weak form.
I didn't know mermaids could have legs! Snow thought incredulously.
But Snow could not stand how scared and vulnerable the girl looked. She reached over and gently touched one of the mermaid's forearms, letting her know that she was not alone. The fathomless blue eyes, buried in a face so young, glanced up at her. Expressionless.
"It's OK," Snow gave what she hoped was an encouraging smile. "You're going to be alright. You're going to be fine…"
Again, no answer. Snow was puzzled. Maybe she can't talk?
At any rate, the girl looked too exhausted to converse about anything right now. She remained on the ground, folded into a ball and shivering. Snow eased herself up to look over the edge of the girl's form at the lake they had just crossed in a matter of seconds. It was huge! She could barely make out the wooden post on the other side of the shore. How fast could mermaids really swim?
But before Snow could marvel further at this wonder, she heard the thundering of hooves and the rattling of armor. The queen's men! She quickly got herself to her feet, nearly losing her balance in the slick mud, and scanned the tree-lined lake shore for trouble. Snow's sharp forest-green eyes soon saw: black-armored men on horseback, heading their way. They had only a matter of minutes before they would be upon them.
She quickly turned to the girl, still curled up on the ground. It did not look like she would be doing any fleeing by swimming; Snow would have to help her escape.
"Come on", Snow said hurriedly as she knelt down. "We have to get out of here."
She gripped the girl's right wrists, intending to help her to her feet. The girl flinched and snatched her hand back. Her blue eyes glared up at Snow's with contempt.
"Please! The Queen's men are coming!" Snow tried to explain quickly but then saw stopped when she saw the reason for the pained expression.
The right wrist of the girl was as cut up and bruised as the left, but swollen and disfigured in a way the other was not. Snow could now see that the girl favored the arm by holding off of the ground, trying hard not to touch it.
Gods! Her wrist is broken. What can I do to …Snow thoughts were interrupted by the shrill of a horse. A little too close for comfort.
Snow scooped down and lifted the girl by her left arm instead. Her legs buckled. Within a second, Snow slipped the girl's arm over her own shoulder, and rose with the weight of both of them. She could feel the mermaid trembling with the effort of getting to her feet. It hurt her sore shoulder to hold the trembling girl up, but she refused to let go.
"Come on, we have to go." Snow said urgently, her hands resting over the girl's as they fled together.
Though she received no answer, she did notice the straightened line of the girl's shoulders and the new forward jut of her jaw. Even the faintest hint of a nod. There was determination to live in the young one yet.
The two of them staggered away from the shore, the mermaid leaning on Snow for support the whole way. She stumbled a lot, as if her feet moved without her control, but she seemed to be trying very hard to keep up and Snow could not fault her for that. But they were making a lot more noise than was wise. While the two continued to flee, Snow heard the sounds of the guards approaching on foot, hacking at the forest foliage with their swords. They were almost upon them and the mermaid was making far too much racket, hobbling like a newly-born foal on long legs.
"This way!" Snow whispered urgently as she shifted their direction suddenly.
The mermaid did not reply, just tried to turn fast.
Snow found the perfect spot to stash a mermaid, a grove of ancient mangrove with overarching branches hanging so low that a curtain of greeneries covered the entire spot. Thick bushes and other foliage added further coverage. Snow stepped carefully over some downed logs, and then dipped her back, allowing the weight of the girl to slide off gently onto the ground. She seemed to understand Snow's thoughts of hiding rather than fleeing for she did not protest when Snow placed her next to a tree. Snow quickly knelt down to join her, scanning the forest with quick eyes.
From the forest floor, the mermaid sat with her back pressed against the tree while Snow huddled close beside her. They both waited breathlessly for several minutes. Snow strained her neck, trying to determine if the guards were still close – it was too hard to tell from the ground. After several more agonizing moments of silence, broken only by the ragged breathing of the girl, Snow decided to risk a look.
"I'm going to see if the coast is clear," she whispered. "You stay here. Try not to make any noise."
The mermaid narrowed her eyes as she glanced sideways to Snow and gave—of all things!—a glare that clearly said, "I know! I'm not an idiot."
Snow rose slowly upward and walked a little a ways. The first gray light of the dawn was filling the forest, allowing her a little more visibility. The subtle hint of dawn breeze caused Snow's skin to stiffen with cold. As she scanned the forest for dangers, she also felt a tightening in her stomach muscles. Red had always told her to trust her instincts and right now, they were fired up.
A dreadful uncertainty filled her. Something is wrong. There should be a few guards still looking for us. They would not have given up so…
Suddenly, something monstrously large and strong grabbed her from behind.
"You can't run from the queen Snow White," the guard spoke loudly into her ear.
The man twisted her head to one side and held her cheek against his cold breastplate while he grabbed for his knife. Out of the corner of her eye, Snow saw the knife glitter in the air over her shoulder, ready to plunge into her chest. Her right hand shot out and caught the wrist of the man. He tried to tear his wrist free, but Snow held fast. The guard hesitated for a split second, shocked at the way the former princess was fighting back. Snow tried an elbow jab but his armor was too thick to do much damage. Then he tore his arm free, angling the knife towards her side instead, and pulled back ready to plunge.
Eyes squeezed shut, Snow prepared to feel the knife drive into her side just below her ribs. But the pressure went to her back, not her side. And the guard was not moving for some reason. She stood for a moment, an uncontrollable trembling wracking all over her body. Eyes still closed, Snow kept expecting the pain of being stabbed to overwhelm her, but nothing happened.
The knight suddenly fell hard to the ground behind her, the knife still in his left hand gleaming without a hint of her blood on it. A thick tree branch, tapered to a fine point on one end, protruded out of his back.
What happened? Snow gripped her shirt collar and tried to calm her ragged breathing. How did that happened? What is… She looked up and suddenly saw her answer.
The mermaid she had left by the tree was standing right behind the fallen knight. A few sweaty wisps of red hair hung over her eyes and her bare shoulders heaved as she stared at the man on the ground. Apparently, she had snuck up behind the black knight, and stabbed him through the back with nothing but a tree branch. Snow had simply felt the end of the branch pushing through the man's torso onto her back, nothing more.
Snow remembered her fears last night when the mermaid had grabbed her. Fears that she was going to kill Snow, drag her to the bottom of the lake and drown her. She now saw that those fears were false. She stretched out a hand to the girl. "Thank you." It was all she could think of to say.
The girl stepped back as she gazed down at the body of the guard, a look of adult-like sadness on her young face. She stood there swaying, waiting. Snow thought she looked so…tired. Her eyes were bloodshot in her gaunt face. Her young body was streaked with sweat and mud, and her wrists were swollen and ripped from the rope bounds of that awful post. She finally glanced up at Snow and with a small gasp she started to collapse. Snow quickly scooped down and caught the girl in her arms, lowering her gently to the ground. She was surprisingly light but it did feel a little odd to be cradling a naked teenage girl in the middle of the forest.
"I got you," Snow whispered as she rocked the shaking girl, "hold on."
A slight moan was the only indication that the mermaid had heard her words of encouragement.
"You're going to be alright," Snow said softly as she wrapped her arms around the girl, stroking the soft red hair. The mermaid let out a few soft whimpers, gripped the front of Snow's shirt, and buried her face into Snow's shoulder as if seeking comfort in the touch. Snow's heart nearly broke at the feel of the trembling girl against her own body.
"Shhhh. It's OK, I'm going to help you," Snow said soothingly, pressing her cheek to the top of the girl's head as she continued to rub her back.
The girl's eyes remained shut but her lips moved slowly. Snow leaned in closer, eager to hear the mermaid's first spoken words.
"Please…help…" she managed to croak out. Her voice sounded hoarse and unused.
"I will!" Snow said assuredly as she stripped off her heavy green cloak. It was still soaked from their trip through the lake but would have to do for now. She wrapped the girl in the article, securing it with a few ties.
Ever so gently, she helped the girl to her feet and once again slipped under her arm, shouldering the mermaid's weight. "Come on," she said. "I live nearby. I'll take you home."
They both stumbled away, Snow half-carrying the exhausted mermaid.
…
That night, elsewhere in the Enchated Forest...
When the white wolf crossed the small stream, her paws shattered a thin coating of ice along the edges. It was a bitterly cold night. Not the best conditions to be out and the wolf was well aware that her energies were nearly spent.
A jolt of pain coursed up her wounded paw when it struck a small rock. Easing herself slowly down onto the frozen grass, she lowered her white muzzle to inspect the curled paw. Numbed, she lapped at the wound. The long warm tongue lolled back and forth, back and forth, but it was not healing any faster. The creature sighed. Had her injuries not been sustained by magic, the cuts and scrapes would have disappeared within days. But here and now, a week after her tussles with Rumplestiltskin, and they were still present and giving her pains.
This is punishment enough she thought, laying her furry head down against her outstretched paws.
The moon was down behind the Enchanted Forest tree line, but the stars shone in a canopy of cold light above her. The wolf's golden eyes roved in her narrow skull as she studied them, not really looking for anything. A second later she was spurred to her feet by terror. A bright light, far too powerful to be any star, was descending from on high towards her. The wolf's body shook but then she relaxed. She recognized a friend.
The Blue Fairy glided down from the forest canopy, her ethereal blue shine illuminating the golden eyes of the benign creature. As she flew closer, she summoned herself into her full form and came to a stop at the front of the wolf.
"Hello my friend," Blue said with a smile. "I've been looking for you. I never got a chance to say thank you."
The wolf cocked her head, puzzled. Thank me? she asked, her brow twitching in confusion. Anyone else would have done the same.
"No…they would not have," Blue answered.
The wolf paused, startled that the fairy had understood her. Her first reaction was a profound shudder of relief, but her second was bewilderment. She was beginning to recognize a pattern here, and it was a little frightening. The Blue Fairy had been very friendly, indeed, her presence here now confirmed that she might be a pack mate, but how could she understand her words?
"I'm sorry I don't have the answer." Blue shrugged her shoulders. "I wish I could help you understand why you are different."
The wolf stepped forward. A small smile formed on the fairy's face as she reached out a hesitant hand to stroke the wolf's pure white head. An unexpected shiver of pleasure went through Blue as, for the first time in her long lifetime, she stroked the fur of a woodland creature.
"How did you come to be this way?" she asked. The creature rumbled a growl that, oddly enough, Blue understood perfectly.
"You don't know?" This was puzzling, she'd never heard of animals born with this kind of gift of communication. There had to be magic involved somehow.
"Well, do you remember when this started happening to you?" She inquired further. "Someone who may have helped you after you helped them?"
The wolf cocked her head, the golden eyes taking on a glazed look as she thought hard. Her thick-furred brow suddenly went high as the answer suddenly came. I did help someone once. I helped them both actually and ever since then…I could understand and speak to others in a voice that my pack could not. The long muzzle lowered in shame. That is why I am alone. Runts are not welcomed, especially strange ones like me.
"I'm sorry to hear that" Blue answered, not knowing what else to say. Wolf pack mentality was a little beyond her. In all her centuries of helping others as a fairy, this would be the first time she granted the wish of a wolf. She stroked the furry head again with warm fingers. "Maybe I can help you get to the bottom of this. Whom did you help?"
The wolf glanced back up again. She suddenly lifted her head proudly, ears erect, and curled her tail upward. A mermaid. I helped a golden mermaid.
...
Snow White was at a loss of what to do. The mermaid was not getting any better. If anything, her condition was worsening. Despite the relatively warm cabin space, the girl shivered uncontrollably under the fur blanket Snow had tucked over her. Her skin was burning hot under Snow's gentle touch and flushed with red. Her arms and legs thrashed against the blankets and she kept jerking her head from side to side, as if caught in her own personal nightmare and unable to flee.
Snow got out the wrung cloth and dabbed the mermaid's forehead, trying to bloat away the sweat that kept pouring down the young one's face.
"Hang in there," she whispered, more to comfort herself than anything.
She had brought the mermaid to the cabin she shared with Red. Long ago, when she had first suggested a cabin in the woods for both of them, she had allowed childhood fantasies of cozy little cottages with thatched roofs and birds chirping all around to put romantic images in her head. It helped her not to dwell on the sadness she felt for Red losing her mother. But after months of looking, what they had found instead, well… it was a cabin,—with a leaky roof, hardly any furnishings, mouse-infested, and smelling of livestock. Red guessed it used to be a woodsmen station that had been abandoned years ago. But it had been a good home these few months and Snow was more than grateful. And now, she had her first guest in her new home.
Snow set down the cloth and took one of the mermaid's hands in both of hers. It seemed that all she could do now was offer comfort and this was the only way she knew how. Both of the mermaid's wrists were wrapped in ointment and clean clothes, healing the cuts and raw skin from those rough ropes the knights had used. Her right wrist was tied into a clumsy splint made of two straight tree branches. Snow still could not believe that the teenager had tugged so hard at the restraints her very bones had snapped. What kind of strength did these mermaids truly possess? But there was no time to think on that now. This girl had saved her life twice and Snow would do all she can to save hers.
"Eric… Don't leave me. Please! I'm so sorry…" The faint, sorrowful murmuring of the mermaid broke Snow's train of thought.
"Shhh, I'm here." Snow smoothed auburn hair back from the clammy forehead.
She'd didn't know what else to do; she never felt so helpless in her entire life. Snow had no experience whatsoever in caring for a sick person. In her past life as a princess, whenever she was ill she had scores of nurses and servants attending her every need. She never had cause to learn how to do the care herself, until now that is. Until she had a sick mermaid in her cabin. She wished she knew more about helping people.
Snow stroked the smooth skin of the girl's forehead and wished, yet again, that Red was there. It was the last night of Wolfstime so she would have expected to hear from her sooner. Every month since Red had learned how to accept her Wolf, since Snow had stumbled into that, ummm…den, Red took a trip deep into the Enchanted Forest. Wolfstime was now a time for her to be free and run, no longer ashamed of what she was. Snow readily understood her friend's need to let herself go every month. Red usually left for a few days, returning back to the cabin she shared with Snow in very high spirits.
But now, for the first time since she had known Red, Snow desperately wished her best friend did not turn into a wolf. Red would be much better suited for caring for the mermaid.
On the small pile of furs, the young girl continued to shiver, her body straining under a high fever. Snow's forest-green eyes peered anxiously down at the girl as she traced her fingers down the cheeks, wiping away some tears.
Oh gods. She's burning up Snow thought in alarm. She felt tears form in her own eyes. She didn't want the mermaid to die. She didn't know why she should feel so much for this girl, except perhaps that they had already been through so much together.
Snow did not know what to do about the fever, but at very least she decided she should check the mermaid's wounds. As gently as she could, Snow took one of the curled up wrists in her hands. The girl cried out in pain at the touch as Snow started to unwind the bandages, ready to treat the cuts.
"It's alright…it's alright. I'll try not to hurt you," she whispered as the mermaid's cries quieted and trailed off into soft whispers.
"Eric…I'm so sorry…I wanted...I wanted to tell you...," the words faded slowly as the girl slipped fully into a restless slumber.
…
Red was usually not one to take unnecessary side trips, but the damn rabbit had asked for it.
On her very last night of Wolfstime, her trip through the woods had led her into a large moon-lit clearing. As Red was enjoying the crisp snow air there came a rustling of bushes, out of which plopped a forest rabbit. The animal gave her a dubious stare that looked very smug and Red got the distinct impression she was being laughed at. It whiskers wiggled as the snout curled into a smirk and its head tilted to one side, just eyeing her.
Well what are you looking at? Red thought as she glared back.
Suddenly, the creature shot off into the brush, its white bob of a tail wagging almost mockingly after. Before she really thought about it, Red was sprinting after it. Round and round the woods she chased the effrontery rabbit, her wolf paws flying over the forest floor. The chase soon became more a game than a competition for survival. Red was exhilarated in the hot pursuit, thinking only of running faster and farther.
Red cleared a tree stump in one soaring leap and pounced right onto the rabbit. The fluffy creature slipped out of her paws easily and pushed off her face, launching itself away, leaving Red blinking in surprise at the feel of furry paws slapping her muzzle.
Well that was embarrassing. A wolf outsmarted by a rabbit, glad no one saw. She thought as she got to her feet, shaking her head. Red stood still in the darkness, glancing around and sniffing the wind to get her bearings. The trouble was that she had run so far and so fast, she was completely lost.
The green open spaces of the Enchanted Forest unraveled at her feet. A cold breeze blew over a small pond and the smell of the forest filled her nose. Red trotted on, thankful that she still had many hours left of Wolfstime to get back to the cabin and Snow.
As she stepped past the shadows of a bordering tree line, she heard the unmistakable snort of an amused party. When she looked up a rocky hill saw that she had company. At first, she took the animal for a small white dog, a puny one at that. But the narrowed muzzle suggested wolf and right now, it was curled up in a big amused grin in a way Red had never seen another wolf do before.
I'm sorry…we're you actually trying to catch the rabbit or did you want to be used as a springboard? The white wolf sat back on her haunches and grinned down at Red from her higher vantage point with a big doglike smile that spoke of an easygoing, friendly personality. The wolf evidently thought her mishap with the rabbit had been hilarious.
Red felt a tremor run through her muscles What? she wondered. Are you one like me? Are you from Anita's pack…She felt a deep stab of pain of the thought of her mother, dying right in front of her eyes. Red made a soft sorrowful moan in her throat, forgetting her company for a moment.
The white one rose from her perch on a rock slab and glided towards Red, whining softly with a note of gentleness. She approached slowly, muzzle lowered, eyes gazing up at Red. I'm sorry, I didn't meant to cause you pain.
As the white wolf smiled up at her, Red studied her companion. Red was, as far as most wolves, very large. All of her kind had been, they were not normal wolves after all. She had seen her woodland cousins on occasion but all were much smaller and too intimidated by her to even approach. But this one was different. The golden eyes shone with intelligence and there was not a hint of fear in her posture. The wolf was much smaller than her, probably one of the forest variety, but the fact that she approached Red spoke of a difference that was not just physical.
Red touched noses with her companion, smelling to gauge any danger. She found none so gave a greeting, Hello.
Are you hunting? The white asked, gesturing towards the forest underbrush with a nod of her narrow skull.
For a moment, Red was at a lose of how to answer. She'd never even considered hunting as a wolf. In her brief time with her mother's pack, she'd never really learned how to. It seemed almost shameful to admit the inadequacy now.
Strangely, the other wolf did seem to judge. She made a grunting noise and turned her face away, scanning the forest floor with darting eyes. She started away, carefully tiptoeing along the pond bank, searching the muddy reeds and grasses for something. Quick as a flash, her muzzle shot into the ground, found its target, and before Red had time to be shocked, the wolf had snapped the neck of the water vole and gulped it down in a satisfying crunch.
You're a wolf, not a cat! Red's upper lip lifted in contempt. How can you eat a rodent?
Hey! When I'm hungry, I'm hungry. The white wolf licked her chomps, then patiently started studying the ground again, her brow furrowed with concentration. Then she lifted her head, plastered darker with a mud mask, and stared right at Red. At least I can catch my meal Miss 'I'm too good for rodents but not fast enough for a rabbit!'
Red narrowed her eyes and angled her dark muzzle forward. This one had an attitude unbecoming anyone, or anything, she'd ever met. But she did have a point. As a wolf, it was only right that one learned how to hunt and she was hungry. Red had a few hours of Wolfstime left, if rodents were the only thing available, then rodents would do well. Besides, it had to be better than other things she'd eaten in her life.
Peter. Another shudder, this one harder.
The white one saw her distress and crept forward, brow arched in sympathy. Red was so distracted by thoughts of Peter she was very surprised to feel a warm tongue washing her face vigorously. Although a well intended gesture, it was an indignity to Red and she stepped back with a snort and a glare.
I'm sorry. The white's mouth snapped shut and she gave a withdrawn whine as an apology. I only meant to comfort you.
No..no…Red hastened to apologize herself, berating her sense of mortification at the gesture of kindness from the stranger. I was startled is all. I don't get to spend much time with… She paused. Was it safe to admit her unconventional conditions to this creature?
You're a lone one too? The other wolf smiled again. Red found it amazing the muzzle could lift and fall so very easily with emotions. So am I! May chance we could be pack mates! Would you like to hunt with me?
I've never hunted Red answered, shrugging her massive furred shoulders. The white one was a full head shorter than Red, but gave off the impression of being taller. Bigger than her body.
The smaller wolf let out a huff of air that Red knew was a suppressed snort. Well, I was just about to grab a late snack. You're welcome to join—so long as you don't scare away every rabbit we come upon.
The white one arched out, craning her front paws forward to stretch some muscles, then turned and trotted away. Red followed, her heart pulsed with adrenaline, thrilled with the sense of a first hunt and the potential meal to come. But she felt like introductions should be made before the lesson began.
She cleared her throat and the white turned around. My name is Red, what's yours?
For a split second, her companion seemed puzzled. The muddy brow wrinkled with concentration before shooting upward with giddy discovery.
Blue helped me figure out my name she said with eyes full of pride and self-knowledge. My name is Rain.
…
It was early morning now. Snow was siiting outside, at the back door of the cabin when Red returned after her long night.
"Red! Thank goodness you're here." Snow quickly gave her friend a hug, overwhelmed in her relief at seeing that Red was alright. She gripped her friend's arm and led her into the dusty cabin's common room, past the stumps and slabs of wood that served as their kitchen table and chairs. The mermaid was still lying in the warmest corner of the room, curled up on the pile of blankets and furs, her ragged breathing barely visibly.
"Snow, what the…" Red stumbled on the words, her dark hazel eyes taking in the sight.
"It's a long story…"
Indeed, it was some time before Snow finished the tale.
"So you found her tied up in the lake?" Red asked incredulously. Of all the cruel things she'd heard the queen's men were capable of, this was by far one of the worst.
"Yes." Snow leaned over and placed her hand over the girl's forehead. Right now she'd slipped into a more peaceful sleep, but Snow's touched confirmed that her fever was still very high.
Red sniffed the air heavily. The cabin had a distinct aroma to it that she could not quite place, but everything looked as it always did. The worn stools, the old fireplace, the complete lack of insulation…just like home. She knelt down and resumed her focus on the girl. Ever so gently, Red lifted one of the bandaged wrists and started to unwind the cloth wrapped around. The girl whimpered and clenched her eyes hard in pain.
Snow could not hold back the involuntary sharp intake of breath as she gazed at the wounds. The cuts were now festering, a sickening pus emanating around the deepest lacerations. The girl's tiny wrists were awash with a disgusting blend of red blood, purple bruising, and yellow pus. Snow could only imagine that the other wrist, the broken one, was much worse.
Red was a little less shocked. She'd seen her share of wounds in her time living with her Granny and was vaguely aware of what to do. Their young guest, lying in the sweat-soaked sheets, was in dire need of some medicine.
She gently laid the girl's arms back down on her stomach. "I'll go into the forest and gather some feverfew, willow, and maypop. It'll help with her fever and ease the pain a little." Red rose and quickly grabbed her red cloak from the hanging peg by the large front door. Throwing it around her shoulders, she addressed Snow. "You put on a kettle. We'll need to boil those bandages and reapply some ointment. Maybe wash her too. She looks like she hasn't had a bath in…" Here Red paused and distinctly sniffed the air.
Snow stood too and gave Red a quizzical look. "What is it?" she asked her friend.
"Snow…this is going to sound crazy, but I think I smell the ocean." Red's nostrils flared as she inhaled another odor. "And fish, I smell fish…but how is that possible? We're leagues from any…"
"Oh that…," Snow grimaced and glanced down at the girl lying on the floor, "I forgot to tell you Red. She's a mermaid."
Red stopped fiddling with the ties of her hood. "Uh…sorry, a what?"
"A mermaid." Snow walked to the other side of the cramped room and opened a worn cupboard door, searching for the old kettle. "I found her tied up, half-in the water. I think the queen's men were trying to force something out of her." She paused and could not help but flinch at her next words. "She was dying Red, strung up like an animal and left to dry in the sun."
"My gods." Red glanced down at the girl, looking with a newly-found sense of awe. "She survived that?"
Snow nodded. She hadn't even had a chance to explain how the mermaid had pulled her to safety, dragged herself onto shore, and then stabbed one of the black knights straight through with a tree branch.
"We have to save her." The strong note of urgency in Snow's voice and determined glint in her green eyes was not unnoticed by Red. She was very good at reading her best friend.
"Snow, I know you are always kind… even to me after I killed as a wolf. But there is something else about this girl, isn't there?" Red noted, her sharp eyes boring into Snow's.
Snow sighed. "She saved my life Red. At a great risk to her own. We have to help her."
Red nodded in confirmation, her affection for the stranger tripled upon hearing that simple statement. She urgently flipped up her red hood to cover her head and turned to leave. The woods were cold now that winter had come and she would need to be vigilante on her journey.
As Red slipped quietly out the door, Snow hung the battered iron kettle over the flames of the kitchen fire and went back over to the pallet where the young girl lay. She knelt down and gently tucked the fur blanket a little snugger around the girl's thin frame. Maybe she only imagined it, but she could have sworn she saw a hint of dark-blue under the thin dancing eyelids of the mermaid. Was she waking now?
"It's alright," Snow whispered. "You're safe here. I won't let anything happen to you."
"Please…please…" The teenager shook with the effort of saying the words. Snow soothingly dabbed at her sweaty neck with the cloth.
"Shhhh…don't talk. You need to rest."
"Please don't hurt him." The plea was so soft, Snow almost did not hear it.
…
Numbing pain coursed through her whole body, threatening to engulf her and force her back into that dark place her mind took her whenever she lost consciousness. A place of pale mermaid eyes and waters stained with blood. Thinking of the water only reminded Ariel of how thirsty she really was. Her throat was so parched it took great effort just to breathe. When her thin chest rose and fell with small gasps, she felt as if her very ribs were knocking against each other. Just the effort to draw a simple breath was so exhausting,
Ariel felt the small tip of a cup settle on top of her cracked lips. She did not question her salvation, but gulped the water down with all the strength she could muster. It revived her in a small but essential way. Enough so that she could crack open her heavy eyelids to see a little.
The woman who had saved her, cut her free from those hellish bonds, was leaning over Ariel and holding a small wooden cup to her lips. The raven hair fell around features so exquisite Ariel felt as if she were in the presence of royalty. But that of course was impossible.
"Here…drink this," the woman spoke gently and with a warm smile. She held out another full cup.
Ariel hesitated, remembering how the human boy guard had done something similar, only to pull the cup away to torment her further. Should she trust a human? After everything that had been done to her? But she smelled the water and was still so very thirsty. Ther mermaid struggled with her compulsion for a few seconds longer, then could no longer stand it. There was a bitter taste in the water but she didn't care, it was liquid and she wanted it badly. It gave her another surge of strength. After months of being unable to say it, she finally was able to whisper the two words. "Thank you"
The woman looked surprised, as if she was not expecting Ariel to express her gratitude. Then she smiled nicely, "You're more than welcome."
Ariel started to glance around, trying to in her surroundings. But the darkness of the cabin prevented her from seeing much detail. She did not remember much, only being pulled to her feet, dragged around, then sinking into a soft mound of blankets. She started to feel her heavy eyelids drop down again. As much as her curiosity burned to know what had happened and where she was at, her body was simply not allowing her to remain awake long enough to find out.
"It's OK. Rest now, you're safe here," the woman spoke again in soothing tones.
Despite everything that humans had done to her lately, Ariel found herself believing in the words. They gave her hope. She wanted so badly to do the traditional human introductions, to say her name and ask the name of her companion. Just like she'd seen other humans do so many times. She drifted off but before she was asleep, she murmured a few words. It was such a blessing to just talk. "My name is...Ariel."
Another long one I know! But I so enjoyed writing it and I sincerely hoped you enjoyed reading it.
As a bonus I will give a little hint of something: the wolf Rain is based on a character from a lesser-known, but very real German fairytale. A fairytale involving a mermaid but not THE little mermaid. Any guesses? I promise I will give full details as Rain eventually will get the chance to tell her story.
Reviews are wrapped Christmas presents and tis the season for giving!