Here is part two!
Sonia-46 asked in the reviews about why Ariel feels the pain in her foot. In the original story of The ocean's daughter, when the witch gave her the legs, she also said that every step would result in pain like a walking on a thousand knives... which is reasonable because Ariel did afterall kind of cut open her legs...
Nether less, my amigo(amiga?) up there's question has reminded me that maybe not all of you know this so here is an 'explaining chapter'. With a little 'aw' at the end. So thank you Sonia-46 for inspiring me! Gracias! :)
As usual, Happy reading, Eh.
"What are you doing here?"
Turning around, Ariel noticed a sleepy eyed Hook with a blanket in his hand. She shook her head, refusing to answer.
Hook stepped closer, putting the blanket over her shoulders. "You were trying to sing." It wasn't a question, he stated it as if it was the stupidest thing anyone could even question about. Then he added slowly, "and you were crying."
Ariel snubbed to look at him. Of all people, he had to be the one who had seen her weakest side. Determined to not let her cool melt, she turned on her heel, wanting to walk away from him.
Unfortunately, her foot seemed to have other plans. Maybe she stood too long (she stood there for most of the night after all), or maybe it was simply because of the curse of the pain, Ariel tumbled down, falling onto the wooden floor of the upper deck.
Hook didn't immediately move to her side. He stood there, confused for a while before moving towards her, "I've been meaning to ask you," He lowered himself down and put his good arm behind her back while his other (with the hook) carefully placed itself on the small of her back, cushioning his hook with the blanket. "What's with your legs? You always seem to be dying from the pain or something." Pulling himself up with Ariel in his arms, he waited for her answer.
Ariel shot him a glance. Hook rolled his eyes, "Right, it's going to be a long story. Let's get to the kitchen for breakfast – I'll bring the your book once I set you down."
"Aye Captain, glad to see you early." The cook John gave his greetings before turning to the storage room for apples.
Hook nodded, while setting Ariel down on the bench as usual. He left and returned quickly, with a pen and her leather notebook in one hand. Pushing the leather bound notebook to her; he munched into his fish pie.
How much do you know about my story?
"I know about you giving up your voice and tail to the sea witch for those sexy legs, and yet your prince ended up trashing you for another slut. That's about it though,"
My voice was not my only price I had to pay for my legs.
"Oh?"
I had also been cursed by my decision. Tails were something to be proud of as a mermaid, and giving it up was a huge sin. It was basically saying I was no longer a mermaid. As a reminder of who I will always be and my punishment as a traitor to my people, my legs would forever bring me pain.
Hook looked down towards her foot. They looked like they were beautifully sculpted from white marbles and sanded well with the finest sand paper. "They look fine to me," He explained, trying to clarify his intentions for looking at her feet.
They don't show anything on the outside. But every step I take will feel as if I was walking on a thousand knives. I bleed into my foot and I can the blood but it's never there. That's why it's a curse.
She looked up from her scribbles. Hoping to explain the pain concept to Hook in way he understands – she continued.
Sometimes the pain is bearable, but most times it feels like the knives sink into your foot, trying to carve out a toe or two.
Hook sucked in some air as he read her elegant script. His mind flashed to when the sword made clean snapping cuts at his wrist. Blood has shot out at all directions, but it was the pain, oh the pain, that remained in his mind like a pirate scar. He didn't think anything would ever compare to the painful degree of that. And to think Ariel walked around with that pain repeatedly injected to her system everyday was just hurtful – no – haunting.
It still haunts him sometimes, when he feels that his hand is still here with him, rather than a sophisticatedly designed hook.
She was, in a way, so similar to him.
Thinking her story had freaked out Hook, Ariel added another sentence for his sake. It's not as bad now. I think it's because we are sailing on the sea. It hurts the most when we docked. But I manage it fine when as long as my feet doesn't touch the floor.
Hook's mind went blank for a moment.
"John," he suddenly spoke up, after a few minutes of silence. "No one is allowed to have her feet touch the floor, understood? Have Smee carry her everywhere." Before leaving he room, he turned around, as if to emphasis it, "And I mean everywhere."
As he walked to his chamber for some planning, he questioned why he had done that. It was to make up for what I couldn't have. No one should have constant pain like that jerking the body was what he settled for eventually.
It was not because he didn't like it when she was hurt (at least not by him). It was also absolutely not because he cared for her.
Not even in the slightest bit.
I keep forgetting this: I don't own anything!
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