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 13
Even though Red had said it was only a loan, she had Snow tuck her red hood over Ariel's sleeping form. As soon as dinner had been over, the mermaid could scarcely keep her eyes open. She ended up nearly falling asleep with her head on the table, spilling tea down her front. Snow had to carry her and lay her down on her comforter of furs, where she curled up into a warm ball, and kept right on sleeping.
"She's exhausted, poor thing," Snow commented to Red, seated at the table with Rain the wolf.
Rain looked up from sniffing her cup. "She'll be fine Snow. It will take some time, but mermaids are stronger than they look."
Red had to smile at that, she knew that there was truth to those words. Her neck was still tender from her encounter with the mermaid in the woods and she rubbed it again. Snow had never complained after Quinn had nearly throttled her, but now Red could appreciate on a higher level just how much it left the throat bruised and battered.
"Thanks again for the fish Rain," Snow said. "I don't think I've ever seen anyone so hungry."
It was true. After Red and Ariel came back from their little "mishap", the first thing Ariel seemed to notice was the two plump fish resting on the kitchen stools. She had wiggled off of Red's back (having no shoes for protection, Red insisted upon carrying her), and attempted to reach for the fish when the sight of Snow made her pause.
"You," she breathed, her eyes fixated on Snow.
Snow smiled and held out a hand to her, but Ariel ignored the greeting. She moved forward, pressed herself into Snow, and wrapped her arm tightly around Snow's torso. She was a little surprised, the mermaid's grip was a lot stronger than a typical hug, but Snow enveloped her own arms around the grateful girl and hugged her back. Slowly, Ariel eased her hold and with a deep sigh she drew out of the embrace.
"You saved me," she murmured, her young face shining with gratitude.
"And you saved me," Snow replied with a loving smile, and reached out to cup Ariel's face in her hands.
Ariel dropped her eyes, bashful at the reminder of her own feat. She felt a guilty flush in her chest, and her cheeks began to warm up. "I wasn't planning on it," she admitted. "I was going to leave you…but then I saw the queen's men. And I just…I uh,…I couldn't…."
Red came up from behind, shaking her head. "Don't knock what you did Ariel. You saved Snow's life that day."
Ariel swallowed around the lump in her throat, not knowing what to say to that. "You really think so?" she asked uncertainly, her heart beating faster with an odd-sense of pride.
"Yes," Snow replied. Her eyes grew softer and she took Ariel's left hand in hers, giving it a nice squeeze.
Ariel felt her heart swell with pride and her shoulders straighten with confidence. She didn't understand this feeling of accomplishment, truly, but it was wonderful. Suddenly her eyes went wide and she seemed to be staring at something just behind Snow's back. Snow turned to see Rain, who had remained silent and in the background throughout the exchange.
"I knew I smelled the ocean. And you saved the Princess Snow White!" Rain cheered. "You're a hero mermaid."
Said-hero's eyes narrowed. "You have a mermaid's voice! How did you…did you steal that?" Ariel demanded as she rounded around Snow and came closer Rain. The two younger ones matched each other in height, but the mermaid was far bonier and pale compared to the sturdy and well-toned wolf.
Rain stepped back and raised her hands in a defensive-gesture. "Easy fish-girl. It was a gift, a gift from one of your sisters."
Ariel narrowed her eyes further. Mermaids never 'gave' anything, they only took. Or had things taken from them, like the knights trying to take her tears. "Who gave you her voice?"
"She never told me her name. I did not even know that she had given it to me until the Blue Fairy and I figured it out," the wolf explained. "But I do remember she was very beautiful: long golden hair, amber eyes, smiled all the time like a dolphin…
"Wave!" Ariel exclaimed. Her older sister Wave had disappeared years ago, never heard from or seen again. The talk had been that she had abandoned the pod and now her name was associated with the shame of a failed mermaid. Had that all been a lie? Had she simply left the ocean like Ariel did?
"Wait? You have a mermaid's voice?" Snow spoke up.
"Of course," Rain replied over Ariel's shoulder. "It's why you could understand me…mermaid's can speak every language of the land and sea."
"Mermaid's voices are magical. It makes it easier to lure sailors to their deaths if they are being seduced in their own language," Ariel explained further. "But why would she give you her voice?" Ariel turned back to the wolf, her suspicion clear on her voice.
Rain's nervousness re-appeared; she touched her new-golden eyes at the reminiscences of a past life. "Well…I um,…I helped her and her true love."
"Yes you were about to tell me." Snow said, nodding. "Care to share both of your stories after dinner?" The young ones both needed to eat, the mermaid especially. She looked drastically underfed.
…
Meanwhile, in the dungeons of the Evil Queen's Castle…
"I keep telling you! I don't know any mermaid!" Eric yelled and pounded on the bared door.
It didn't budge the door but it helped his frustrations. He wracked his hands through his choppy black hair for the umpteenth time. How could this have happened? Why the hell had he been arrested?
After waking up on a beach somewhere on the edge of the Enchanted Forest, he had wandered around for days, unconcerned with everything. All he could understand was this pain in his heart, this feeling of emptiness, like he had lost something near and dear to him. He knew his name, he knew where he was from, he knew everything…except what he had missing. He felt so lost and alone. He walked for days, not knowing where he was going but needing to do something. He finally got directions from a shepherd, a nice guy who offered him a place to stay for the night. The shepherd had brought him into town, even bought him a meal at a tavern claiming that he did not like eating alone. After he left the tavern, however, heavy footsteps signaled his being followed. He was walking on, slowing his steps when he abruptly turned and something large connected with his forehead, knocking him out cold.
When Eric's eyes finally snapped open, he was surrounding by dark stone on all four sides. The ceiling was open to an overlying chamber, but it was covered with a metal grate. The door was a solid piece of wood with only a small iron grid as a window. He was lying on a simple cot in the barred room. As he slowly sat up and rubbed his sore head, he tried to search his memories for an explanation. He recalled the scuffle with the black knights, the blow to the head, and then this. Why was he a prisoner of the Queen? As far as he was concerned, he'd done nothing. Coming up to the bars, he glanced up and down the dimly lit hallway, seeing other cell windows similar to his. He tugged at the bars, even though he knew that it was a useless effort. He tried kicking the door down, but ended up nearly fracturing his foot. Since he thought himself to be alone, he let out a cry of anguish.
"Are you alright?" an accented voice came suddenly, making Eric jump back. It had come from the cell opposite his, but he could not see anyone.
He approached the bars of his window and called out. "Hello?"
There was a slight shuffling noise, and then a woman came into view in the grated window. She had the look of a prisoner, with a ragged blue shirt, unkempt long brown hair, and a pale face that had not seen the sun in a long time. But what Eric noticed the most was the intelligent, gentle gaze in her eyes, shining across the dark hallways that separated the two of them. She had the look of a clever spirit, which in these settings seemed somewhat sorrowful.
"I asked if you were alright," she repeated. "It sounded like that door put up quite a fight."
Eric had to smile at that. "Well it gave me just cause for injuring it."
The woman smiled too, even managed a little chuckle. To Eric, it sounded like she had not had a reason to laugh in a long time.
His proper upbringing shone through, even without any memories and in a prison. He spoke politely. "My name is Eric and I came from Venn. What's your name?"
"I'm Belle." The woman answered, studying Eric with those large, intellectual eyes. Eric did not mind, he had a feeling that this was how she always looked at other people. Studying, gauging, and learning all she could.
Maybe he could get some answers out of her. "These are the Queen's dungeons right? I was under the impression that simple fisherman are not arrested for treasonous crimes. Why are we here?"
The woman continued to survey him, but it also looked like she was mulling over his questions. He waited patiently. Finally, she spoke up. "Well I think the reason I am here is that she wants to hurt someone through me. Someone I once cared about." Then she had a question of her own. "Why does she keep you here?"
"I don't know!" Eric answered, his exasperation adding a harsh tone to his voice. "I have no idea what she wants from me…all I know is that I was grabbed, knocked out cold, and then I woke up here." Eric fought to compose himself as the frustrations of not understanding any of this boiled in his veins.
"But…you mentioned a mermaid?" Belle asked. "Do you know a mermaid?"
Eric glanced up, recalling the fuzzy memory. Right before his vision faded to black, he thought he had heard the Queen's men say something. Something about a mermaid?
"I'm…not sure," he stammered, completely honest with Belle. "I don't remember a mermaid, but then again…I don't remember a lot of things now."
Her large brown eyes softened with sympathy. "I'm sorry to hear that."
Eric shrugged. Of his past, all he knew was his name and where he was from. But his lack of memories was not such a pressing concern at the moment. As was the obligation for any new prisoner, escape was first priority.
"Well then, Belle. You seem like an intelligent and resourceful lady." For some reason, she blushed bright red when he said it. As if she were not used to compliments about her wits. "And it seems like you and I have one goal in common."
She cocked her head and narrowed her eyes. "What would that be?"
"Getting out."
…
Dinner was a hasty affair. Red set to the task of dressing the rabbit Snow had managed to shoot, while Snow prepared to make a stew. Meanwhile, Ariel glanced back at the fish, then back at Snow, her desire very obvious.
Rain the wolf scooped up one fish and held it out generously. "For you, my friend. I owe a great deal to mer-kind."
Ariel needed no further encouragement. Her teeth, stronger and sharper than any human girl's, pierced the flesh of the raw fish with gusto. She sat down on the floor, Red's cloak puddling around her, and began to eat. Between bites, she mumbled. "Thank you!"
"Wow! I get to meet another mermaid," Rain said excitedly. She crouched on her haunches next to Ariel, leaning so closely their noses almost touched. The other girl must not have thought it odd or did not care; she continued to eat her fish with enthusiasm. They settled into a friendly-enough talk, bordering on tolerance, but at least the mermaid was no longer threatening the wolf.
"Red I have to say, this has been one of the oddest days of my life," Snow whispered good-naturedly to her best friend.
After, the stew was prepared Red and Snow called for an assembly. Ariel was more than satisfied with staying on the floor crunching her meal, but Snow felt that she needed more nourishment than just raw fish. Red offered to help, but Ariel dismissively waved her extended hand off. She stuck the leftover fish into her mouth and rose awkwardly to her feet. It must have been pride that compelled the mermaid to try and get up on her own, the movement seemed anything but natural. Once standing, Ariel skidded sideways, arm flailing in desperation, certain that she was about to end up on the floor. Snow caught her arm just in time and steadied her.
She gave Ariel a reassuring smile. "Whoa! Easy there. Take it slowly, ok? You're still healing."
Ariel pouted as she irritably rubbed the cast covering her right arm. Snow saw her fists clench, she may be a mermaid but she still had the impatience of a teenager.
Rain balked at the idea of eating cooked meat, but with a rising interest, she overcame her wolf upbringing and ended up delighting in the stew prepared by Red. As for Ariel, she fairly shoveled food into her mouth, making Snow conscience even further of what she had been through. They were all hungry, but the mermaid seemed to completely disregard appearances when her appetite set in. Red's hood draped over her shoulders but Ariel did not seem concerned with closing to ends together to cover her body. Being a mermaid, Snow figured that modesty was not an important virtue in her family. Having been dragged through water herself, feeling the clothes tug at her skin with every stroke of Ariel's tail, made Snow understand why mermaids went without clothes. The red cloak also did little to hide the cuts on her wrists and her broken arm, held in a sling that Red had fashioned out of a scarf.
That got Snow to thinking of a spring, many years ago, when she had been a child on a runaway horse and of the woman who had saved her life. Her hair was dark, her smile had been kind, and Snow was full of gratitude; but look where that day had led. A bounty on her head, a captured mermaid, and a cabin in the woods.
"Ariel, how did you come to be in the forest?" she asked cautiously. "What happened?"
Ariel glanced nervously up, instincts telling her to shut herself in and not breathe a word. What if she told her story and they took advantage? But then…something in Snow's gentle green eyes made her change her mind. She had saved her, and then carried her to safety. If this woman who had protected her life trusted the other two, then it must be alright. They appeared trustworthy, almost like a family. With a heavy sigh, Ariel related her tale. She left nothing out: the Dark One and his deal, the lost voice, Eric and his family, and finally losing Eric. She hesitated at talking about their kiss in the ocean, but somehow she knew that Snow would guess what she did.
At one point, Red interrupted. "How is it that you have legs now if your three months were up?"
"After I explained everything to Ursula, she punished me by making me a human." Ariel admitted. "It was thought to be a horrific punishment. I told her how much walking hurt me."
"So…you have a tail when you're wet?" Snow asked. That would explain why her tail had simply dissolved away after Ariel had pulled herself out of the lake water.
Ariel nodded a 'yes'. She then finished her story by explaining how a week after losing Eric, she had stumbled onto shore…only to be captured by the queen and taken to the lake. The rest was well known.
"That queen has got to be stopped!" Red stated adamantly as she shook her head hard. "She can't treat people like this."
Rain nodded. "I knew royalties acted funny, but this…" She flushed, apparently remembering her company as she turned to Snow. "I'm sorry, I should not stereotype." She looked towards the fire in the hearth, her animal eyes glowing in the light. "My own experiences with royal families have been somewhat unconventional."
"Well…what experience is that?" Snow asked. "What is your story?"
Rain shifted again, and strummed her hands nervously on the table. But finally, she began:
"In another land, there was a powerful king who had a golden tree in his garden that bore beautiful golden fruit. But the King was never able to enjoy his treasure, because the fruit was always stolen. When the two older sons were sent to find this thief, the youngest son begged to go as well. His father gave him the most wretched horse in his stable, because he was certain his son would fail. So he set out, amongst the jeers of his family."
Rain, caught up in her story whined softly, deep in her throat. "I found him next to his dying horse, along the road. In my pack's last hunt, I was not allowed any share. I was so hungry…"
"You didn't eat the prince?" Snow asked hurriedly.
"Of course not! Humans taste terrible"—both Ariel and Red visibly flinched—"I ate his horse," Rain continued as if it was nothing.
"Afterwards, he asked me to help him. Just like that...right after I'd eaten his mount," Rain said. In a softer voice she added, "I wanted to help him, but I hesitated. Humans are considered unworthy creatures, but he looked so lost and scared…"
"And you were afraid of what your pod would think?" Ariel asked understandably. She remembered the sailor, dying by Marina's fangs, and sighed sadly.
"Yes, but I chose to risk it. I'd always dreamed of adventure. We traveled together and he heard of a neighboring emperor with a beautiful golden bird in a cage, and that this was the creature who stole the golden apples. The prince attempted to slip in to steal the bird, but was caught. I tried to fight the guards to help him escape, but he was taken away."
"The Emperor was convinced that hanging was far too good for the young prince, so his punishment was to perform some very difficult task, under pain of death. The Emperor had a neighbor, who was also a mighty Emperor, possessing a golden horse. The prince was told to steal this horse and bring it back, but he was caught again."
"This guy must have been a clumsy thief," Snow could not help but point out.
"Yes, he was! I tried to tell him how to not get caught but he did not listen." Rain said with exasperation.
"The second Emperor decided that the prince's life was to be spared only on the condition that he should obtain possession of the golden mermaid. After I broke him out of his cell, I reminded the prince that he had failed twice now, and that he should have me help him. We came to the sea and went out on a boat. Soon, we saw the golden mermaid swimming near, beckoning and calling him to follow her. I came up with a plan and told her that she must come to him. With these words, the prince turned the ship round and steered back towards the land. The mermaid came on board."
"This caused her to follow him?" Red asked dubiously.
Ariel bit her lip shyly and explained. "Mermaids find themselves even more draw when their prey rejects them. She probably was not able to resist the temptation."
"Exactly," Rain agreed with a nod. "The prince and I talked with her. When she saw that I meant her no harm, all three of us returned to the palace of the Emperor. He gave over all rights to the mermaid and gave the prince the golden horse as well. The three of us rode back to the other emperor, who was also so impressed he gave the prince the golden bird and threw the two of them a feast."
"I've heard this story," Snow said. "There was talk in my father's court about a mermaid who became human to be with her prince. But…I thought it was just a story."
Rain grinned. "Just because it's a story, doesn't mean it's not true…eh, Snow White, Fairest of them All?"
Snow grimaced and smiled. "Go on please?"
Here, Rain gave a small growl, showing her anger. "I snuck into the feast to say good-bye. But then I heard that when the prince returned to his father's kingdom, his brothers found him and in their jealousy killed him, taking the golden bird and the golden horse. But the mermaid escaped and would not leave him. That's how I found her, all alone in a groove of trees, watching over him like he was still alive."
Red, Snow, and Ariel all waited with bated breaths, very caught up in the story.
"I tried to comfort her, but she was so sad. I wished with all of my heart that I could do something to help them both, to save him," Rain paused and whined again, apparently overcome with the memories.
"I suggested we cover him, as is only right for a fallen companion. She and I gathered leaves and placed him in his final resting place. Then the strangest thing…one of her tears fell into his mouth…then I breathed on him…and the prince was no longer dead but sleeping! The mermaid woke him with a kiss, and we went back to the palace. The king heard his tale, banished the two evil brothers, and the prince and mermaid married. I hid in the back, and watched their wedding. Afterwards, they both approached me, thanking me for all that I had done. The mermaid...I didn't understand it at the time, but in her gratitude to me for helping to save her true love...she gave me her voice." She looked up, slightly self-conscious. "Am I telling it well?"
"Very well," Snow reassured her.
"Afterwards, my pack rejected me. I was already an omega but now…"
"What's an 'omega'" Ariel interrupted.
Red flinched, thinking of her brief time in Anita's pack. "Traditionally, there are alpha, beta, and omega wolves in every wolf pack. The alphas are at the top, betas in the middle, and omegas at the bottom of the hierarchy order. The rest of the pack picks on the omegas."
Rain winced and stroked her left sleeve, touching the pale scars that ran across her forearm. "Yes. I was already at the bottom of the pack but after I obtained a mermaid's voice… the increased beatings by my superior pack members…I could not stay because all thought me a traitor." Rain spoke softly, with an almost regretful tone. She related to the three how she had saved the Blue Fairy's life, was chased off by Rumplestiltskin, only to be reunited with the Blue Fairy again and granted one wish.
"You wished to be human?" Ariel asked. She seemed to be hanging on to every word the young wolf was saying, hanging on with anticipation.
"Not exactly," Rain gave a practiced shrug that looked almost normal. "I asked if I could transform into a human."
"Why?"
The golden orbs of the wolf looked knowingly into the mermaid's dark blue eyes. "The same as you I imagine…I wanted to have more out of life." Her gaze shift as she glanced at Snow to her right. "Humans have such adventures, are able to take journeys, see places, do things…I wanted that. And so I asked for the ability of change."
All were silent as the story of Rain the wolf ended, each caught up in their own thoughts. But none were more captivated than Ariel. The story seemed like a fantastical fairytale of impossibility and wonder, not the golden horse or the golden tree but the mermaid that fell in love. It was possible for her kind to love, for someone had done it before her! She had not considered finding Eric because she had convinced herself he was better off without her. But the wolf's story had struck a chord within her. Could she find him and convince him to love her again? Could she do as this golden mermaid had done?
The sun was very low now. The corners of the room gathered shadows and the small fire seemed to grow brighter. Since the story had ended, the howling winds and temperature drop outside was more noticeable. A rough winter storm was building in the Enchanted Forest.
"Rain, you are going to stay here tonight," Red added hurriedly. It would be crowded this evening, with two wolves, a mermaid, and a human. But the alternative of sending their friend out into the woods in this storm, not to even be considered.
Snow shared her feelings. "Absolutely," she said firmly. "And you—" Snow nodded at Ariel. "—you need to get to sleep. You're still healing."
"She didn't have any problem earlier when she tried to kill me." Red pointed out, a note of humor in her voice.
"What? I said I was sorry! I didn't mean to—" Ariel caught herself. "Oh. You're teasing me aren't you?"
Red grinned. "Yes I am"
When Snow pressed some warm tea onto her, Ariel tried to resist, but finally drank it. Apparently, she wanted to stay up and talk more to Rain, ask her questions about the golden mermaid. But Snow conducted her to her fur pallet in the corner of the cabin and laid her gently down. "Go to sleep," she said . Then even more soothingly, "Rest now." Ariel's heavy eyes obeyed Snow's insistence.
Rain joined Ariel soon afterwards. She became a wolf to sleep, curled up onto the floor next to Ariel, her white fur shining in the firelight. The transformation was so sudden Snow did not have time to be surprised: one second she was a girl, the next she was a small white wolf. She snuggled close to the mermaid, sighing with complete content. The other girl simply rolled over, curling into herself.
Later that night, as Snow lay on her own small cot, a funny thought occurred to her. Of the four people sleeping under the roof tonight, she was the only human. Somehow though, the idea did not bother her one bit.
…
As Ariel settled into a new life in exile with Snow and Red, she was surprised to discover how many more things she could learn about humans simply because she could ask specific questions now. Her voice was becoming bolder, with a hint of confidence more becoming a normal teenage girl. Even her walking was better, Snow took it upon herself to help Ariel regain her sense of balance. She even taught her how to do some ballroom dancing! She was a patient teacher, always ready to catch the mermaid when she fell and give her much-needed words of encouragement.
Ariel also learned so many new and fascinating things about the state of the kingdom through her conversations with Snow and Red. Previously, she had not thought much about life outside of her quiet village existence but now, she understood the human world was much bigger and more complicated than she could have imagined. She agreed with Red whole heartedly: Snow would make a great queen one day.
Snow and Red learned a lot too, about Ariel and about mermaids in general. Even about the deadly nature of the beautiful, but savage creatures known by all to be the siren's of the sea.
The evening after their dinner with Rain the wolf, Snow had Ariel drink two cups of cold tea laced with herbs to dull the pain. Despite the fever being gone, her wounds still needed attention and care.
"I'm going to have to bath your wounds Ariel," she explained. The two of them were sitting cross legged on Ariel's makeshift mattress of blankets and furs. "It will hurt, but I need you to hold still or your wrist will not heal." She ducked her head and looked intently at the mermaid's dark azure eyes. "Can you do that for me?"
Ariel pushed a strand of her matted red hair back over her ears and nodded slowly. She tugged the sleeve of her oversized shirt up and generously offered Snow her right hand.
Snow very slowly undid the splint. "It helps if you talk while I do this." She rinsed a cloth out in the wooden bowl filled with clean water. After wringing it out, she began cleaning the wounds on Ariel's wrists. "Why don't you tell me about life under the sea?"
Ariel was bravely trying not to be sick at the feeling of Snow's contact. She did not like to complain when people were trying to take care of her, so she didn't say anything about how much it hurt her broken bones when her wrist was shifted. Mermaids never complain about anything. When she lived in the sea, Ariel had only complained to herself when she believed her queen was being unfair—and when she felt like the whole world was against her.
She mulled over Snow's question for a moment. "Life in the sea is...beautiful," she answered, quite honestly. "There are most wondrous trees and plants that grow there, with stalks and leaves that sway when the water touches them. All of the colorful fish, big and small, swim amongst the trees as if they were the birds of the surface world. There are gardens of bright red and dark blue corals, with fish moving to and from, and the ground is the finest sand, but blue as a fire's flame. There is a light blue tint on everything really."
Snow smiled. "It sounds amazing." She slowly started to rewind the bandages.
"It...was," the little mermaid sighed. "But so...lonely. I mean, I was surrounded by my sisters wherever we went but, I never really...belonged. More than anything, I loved to hear the stories of the world of humans above. I kept asking the herons and the pelicans to tell me all they knew about villages and towns, people and animals. And then I wanted to hear about all the places to go and the...ouch!"
Snow had unintentionally hit a sore spot. She quickly apologized, "I'm sorry Ariel." She glanced up at the mermaid but quickly did a double take when she saw the fangs.
Ariel managed to hiss only once before forcing the incisors back to their normal shape. "Snow...I...I didn't mean...I'm sorry, I would never…" Unexpectedly, she hung her head. It looked as if she was trying desperately not to cry.
"No, no it's alright Ariel," Snow reassured her as she quickly finished resetting the splint. She pulled the teenager close in an embrace. "It's alright."
"No, it's not! I hate that mermaids are so deadly. I hate it!" She buried her head into Snow's shoulder. "We kill so many people and ruin so many lives by capsizing ships and destroying people's livelihoods. What good can ever come out of something like me?"
"Good has already come out of you Ariel." Snow stroked the mermaid's head soothingly. "You saved Eric's life, you protected his family, and you saved my life. Most people would not have risked coming back after being set free."
Ariel, feeling an inexplicable comfort in the embrace, dismissed Snow's comment with a light shrug. "It did not feel right, leaving you like that."
Snow dabbed away the remnant of a tear as it rolled down Ariel's cheek.
"Whatever you or other mermaids are capable of does not change that you are a good person. What matters is that you are brave and saved other's lives, even when you had the chance to flee. Now come on...," she gave Ariel a light tap on the shoulder. "I've got something that will cheer you up."
She rose and put the wooden bowl away. "I was planning on making a fire and warming some water. If you'd like, I could give you a bed bath—I don't know if you know what that is, with a soapy cloth and a bucket of warm water. We don't have a tub. I can do it as soon as Red gets back with the pail."
Ariel glanced up from her cross-legged position on the floor, her eyes wistful at the idea of feeling clean and refreshed. She had not had a bath in weeks and she felt as if she needed one more than the medicine she had to take. Mermaids are not used to having dirt and other substrates sticking, the ocean was constantly bathing, so being clean was something Ariel always longed for.
"Snow, if that is possible…I would love it, and as soon as I am better, I will go and lure a handsome sailor boy for you."
Snow chuckled and said, "There is no need for the sailor Ariel, truly." She cocked her head. "But I will be satisfied with no more talk about your hating what you are."
Yes, many lessons learned. But one of the strangest ones yet involved live trees being brought into the cabin.
One evening, a couple of weeks after Ariel had arrived, Snow hauled in boughs of evergreens and even a small live cone tree, cut at the base into the cabin. At first Ariel thought the tree was for the fire, but why the boughs? To her constant stream of questions, Snow had smiled and only said they would explain later.
"What is this?" she asked.
Snow grinned excitedly. "You'll see Ariel. It's a surprise!"
Perplexed, Ariel rolled up the sleeve of her faded blue shirt and scratched at her cast. It was much smaller and more flexible than her previous one, but still itched at most inconvenient times. She surveyed the tiny tree, walking in a circle. It looked small and scraggly, she would have past it without a second thought if she were walking in the forest gathering firewood.
"Excuse me, I'm not sure I understand," Ariel irritably reminded Snow that evening, "In case you've forgotten, I happen to have a bad history of surprises."
Snow smiled apologetically, reminded of the mermaid's past mishaps. How many times she must have wanted to ask questions but could not, because she had no voice? Not wanting to keep her in the dark, Snow figured how to explain all of it.
She patted the little tree fondly. "This is a solstice tree. Today is the solstice, the longest night of the year. Red and I thought we'd make the cabin more presentable for such a celebration."
"But, Red is gone…" Ariel pointed out. "She left several nights ago." Rain was away too, no doubt recklessly seeking out adventures.
"Yes, she went back to her village to visit her grandmother," Snow explained. "They'll both be here soon enough though. The solstice is a time for being with family to celebrate the coming of spring and warmer, brighter days."
"So…you do that by bringing a live tree into the house?" Ariel asked incredulously.
Snow let out a small laugh. "I know it sounds crazy but yes, it symbolizes the triumph of green life over snowy winters. The ancients also used holly and mistletoe as symbols of eternal life, and placed evergreen branches over doors to keep away evil spirits. Today, we bring in a tree to…well, to sort of celebrate the end of winter and the coming of spring."
"A plain little tree symbolizes all of that?" Ariel questioned skeptically.
"No of course not! We'll decorate the tree by putting bright strings of beads, or glass ornaments, or…"- here Snow paused, as if reevaluating her words -"But I suppose those would be things we would use at the Winter Palace, and not necessarily here," she corrected herself softly as she glanced around.
Ariel understood her hesitation, there did not seem to be anything of the decorating nature in their small homely cabin. At least, nothing that would be as elegant as the decorations from the household of a royal princess.
But Snow's face brightened up. "I'll be right back. We'll see what the forest has to offer." With that, she wrapped her cloak around herself and went out, leaving Ariel standing looking dubiously at the little tree.
Ariel cast her sharp eyes about the room. It was true, the setting seemed cheery with woven boughs of evergreens and long hanging cloths of red and gold salvaged from a rag pile from the village. Fresh pinecones were strung across the hearth, there were bunches of red holly berries weaved into strands, and even the smell of the cabin had changed to the fresh aroma of evergreen tree. Snow seemed to really enjoy the thought of having this "solstice" celebration. Ariel had had doubts about the Harvest Festival, but ended up enjoying it so very much. Why not this crazy winter holiday?
Still, the little solstice tree looked like it needed some sprucing up. But what could she use? As Ariel glanced around for some material, a sudden inspiration came over her. What a nice surprise it would be for Snow!
She quickly undid her simple rope belt, and slid out of her oversized blue shirt. Carefully lying down on the dirt floor, she grabbed the pitcher of water Snow always kept on the kitchen table and unceremoniously dumped the entire contents onto her bare legs. Her skin faded, the bones reset themselves, and Ariel was lying on the cabin floor with her tail slapping hard against the ground. She quickly twisted her body, lifting up her tail until it scrapped down the edges of the kitchen table. A few emerald and pale blue scales fell to the floor. Gathering these up, then using a string and her sharp incisors to make holes, she strung the scales together and started wrapping the cords around the little tree. She finished and eased herself backwards to admire her work. It was actually a very nice little tree at that! Maybe all it needed was a little love.
Ariel had wet her tail again and was starting on more strings of scales when Snow returned. "Ariel! What are you...?" Then Snow caught sight of the glistening little tree, all decorated with the emerald, aqua, and turquoise scales of Ariel's mermaid tail. Her eyes sparkled, as much as the little solstice tree, with sheer happiness. "Ariel it's beautiful!"
The mermaid grinned timidly. "I always shed scales, now they can be put to use." She finished the strand in her hands, and then rocked herself towards the holly hanging by the fireplace.
Snow tried not to stare rudely, but the sight itself was a little eerie. Ariel used her left arm to raise her torso and moved herself forward as a snake would, coiling then uncoiling her long, muscular tail. After stringing the last strand of scales, Ariel gripped the kitchen table and pulled herself upright, studying the room. The strands of garland, the evergreen boughs, and even the holly bunches were all decorated with the shiny scales from Ariel's tail.
"I think this solstice holiday is very nice Snow," Ariel said. She was eye-level with Snow now, her long tail bent to keep her erect.
Snow tore her eyes away from the sight and beamed at the mermaid. "Yes, it truly is…and it'll be even better now that you're here."
Granny and Red arrived shortly afterwards, bearing a meat pies, bread, cheese, and even some delicious apple cider. The celebration was simple, but much appreciated by all. It seemed to Ariel that they had, indeed, become like a family celebrating the holidays. Living as exiles had bonded them. Their shared experiences of struggles and triumphs had united them in a way she now cherished.
Snow, always so encouraging and kind, was like a proud big sister to her, and her initial hostile attack towards Red had smoothed out into a friendship. Even Rain, when she had a chance to visit, was like a long lost companion. She could jolly anyone with her comical wolfie antics. Yes, she loved this life as both a human and a mermaid. And yet, there was only thing that might have been missing…
Hello all! I hope everyone had a very wonderful holiday season filled with glad tidings and family and friends!
Note: The story of Rain the wolf is derived from "The Golden Mermaid" Fairytale re-told by Andrew Lange in his Green Fairybook. I, of course, took several creative liberties to make the character my own which I truly hope you enjoyed.
Stay tuned! Another adventure is coming to the little mermaid along with appearances by more of our favorite "Once Upon…" characters.
Reviews are New Year's Eve presents so be generous!