Sarah Forward

Creative Writing mod. 3

New-Fangled Fairy Tale

4/9/05

The Little Merprince

You may believe that all that lives beneath the vast blue seas is a huge variety of aquatic animals and plants, but that is apocryphal. There are people who live down there, mer-folk. Beings that reign over the land beneath the waves just as we over the earth above.

Now in one particular kingdom there was a beautiful castle inhabited by a widowed queen, her husband’s mother, and her eight children, all girls save the youngest. Each of her children had a unique aesthetic or was some form of virtuoso. The first daughter, her skin, another’s hair, one’s voice, the next her tail, the fifth her verse, the sixth her musical skill, and the seventh, brains. The youngest, her only son, had the most brilliant sparkling eyes. But like man’s with their small pupils, his eyes languished in the dark depths and he could not see as well as the rest of the dull-eyed mer-folk with their large pupils. So he always kept a lantern fish close by his side when he strayed far from their vibrant castle and city.

Now like all boys, he was rowdy and adventurous. So when his sisters would giggle and ask their grandmother to tell them tales of the beauties of the human word, of pretty princesses and dashing princes, he would wrinkle his nose with censure and stick out his tongue with a gag before swimming off to his mother, for she told the best tales.

Having grown up in a much different time then her mother-in-law, the queen had different stories to tell. Those of the royal Navy and swash-buckling pirates. Stories which the little merboy would listen to with intent awe. He wished he could see these magnificent men that choose to live on the sea rather then land. His mother would merely smile and laugh before tucking her son into bed and kissing his brow good-night.

But not every night was this simple and happy for the queen, for you see; she and her little prince had a secret. He was actually the son of a pirate, a half-blooded mer-child and every evening of a full moon she would give him a potion that would place him in a deep sleep and she would carry him to the surface. Placing him upon the rocks of an island to slumber she would watch as his tail split and withered away into legs. The Prince would doze on though, totally oblivious to the change, and when he woke on the rocks beside her the next day, he’d never think to question his mom as to why they did this strange ritual.

One of these evenings though, something went wrong. A pirate ship that had been battered and thrown off course by a storm sought refuge in the cape of the island to start repairs. The captain of that ship was the infamous lady pirate, Lady Erica. Whilst her crew fixed the vessel and partied, she wandered the uncharted land. Walking down one of its shores her sharp eyes caught a glimpse of the prince sleeping upon the rocks. As Lady Erica picked her way across the perilous stones to the boy, the queen saw her and in a panic, fled. Casting her eyes sadly back up to the surface she mourned not being able to bring her son with her, for if she had, the boy would surely drown.

When Lady Erica finally made it to the boy she found that he was nude, but otherwise apparently fine. Stooping beside the boy, she tried to wake him, but to no avail for the potion’s affect was too strong. Removing her waist sash, Lady Erica wrapped it about the boy to make him decent before lifting him and carrying him back to her ship, placing him in a free hammock in one of the ship’s cabins before retiring to her own for the night.

“Oi! It’s got a bloody tail!”

“Gah! What the hell?!”

“Christ’s alive! It’s a mercreature!”

Her crew’s shouts woke the captain early the next morning. Shoving through the crowd circling the cabin she had left the boy in just the past evening, she ordered people out of her way.

Lying on the floor just outside the cabin door was the little merprince. His tail had returned with the rise of the sun and he was desperately trying to struggle back to water. Panic reflected in his eyes as they darted about the crowd, desperately seeking an escape. He clutched his throat and he panted labored breaths, it was obvious he couldn’t breathe.

Thinking fast Lady Erica scooped the boy up and elbowed through the crowd again to the ocean side of the ship to cast him back into the sea.

The cool water felt glorious as the little prince inhaled deeply. Calming, he resurfaced a moment to look back up at his savior, ‘She’s beautiful...’ he marveled, ‘and a pirate as well!’ this caused an excited clench in his chest as he dove back beneath the surface and searched for his home. When he finally made it the queen embraced him jubilantly and his sisters circled around them, all glad to see the little prince return home safe.

That night he sat in his room thinking about the beautiful pirate that had saved him, fingering the waist sash that had remained caught around his tail during the chaos that morning. ‘They are real… the stories are true…’ he though happily. Bundling the sash up into his hand he rubbed it lightly against his cheek as he drifted off into sleep, dreaming of how wonderful it would be to be a pirate.

Up above the repairs had been completed on Lady Erica’s ship and they were ready to set sail. Perched on the figure head of her ship she didn’t turn her gaze from the sea as she responded to her first mate, “Very good… but I want you to get this place marked on our maps. I believe we should turn this into our new hideout, after all, the navy is getting awfully close to finding ours…”

“Aye aye!” he responded with a salute before setting about with the orders.

Back at the castle deep below the waves the prince woke excited, he wanted to go to the surface again and watch the pirates. But his grandmother disheartened him, reminding him that human’s traveled on boats and never stayed in a place too long. “Besides,” the old mer-woman continued, “no one lives on the Island above our kingdom.”

Despite his grandmother’s words, the young prince still ventured up to the surface again. Popping up in the island’s cove a wide grin spread swiftly across his face. All around him was the sounds of banter and saws and hammers. A small village seemed to have popped up overnight. Lady Erica’s ship was still docked within the cove and she once again stood upon the figure head, shouting orders and joking and cheering with her crew.

Swimming as close as he dared the murmured voices became more audible as he listened to their plans for living here. His heart was full of joy as he dove back to tell his mother the news.

“M’ma! M’ma!” he called as he swam swiftly through the halls.

“In here dear,” she replied as he torpedoed past the library she was sitting in.

“Oh M’ma! I have the most wonderful news!” he cried, ‘leaping’ into her arms.

She chuckled, hugging him close, “And what’s that my dear bright-eyes?”

“The pirates, they’re going to live on our island!” he reported.

“My… that is something,” the queen replied, “but let us keep this our little secret, okay?”

The little prince nodded obediently.

For days afterwards the little prince would sneak off to the surface to watch the pirates move in or host parties for other ships and their crews. He wanted so much to be part of it all.

The queen would watch her boy do this and listen to all the things he had to tell her when he’d return. As much as she was pleased that he was happy, she could tell that watching just wasn’t enough, there was a longing deep in her son’s eyes.

Finally another night of a full moon, and the prince sat expectantly in his bed for the potion his mother always brings. This time though, she did not, instead she said, “I have a treat for you.” Leading him to the surface by his hand, she brought him up into the full light of the moon.

Basking in its soft glow, the little prince could feel something odd stirring within him. His mother lifted him up onto the rocks and he watched in a bit of horror as his tail split. Crying out more in surprise since there was no pain he clung to his mother, “W-What is happening?!”

The queen stroked her sons head soothingly, “It’s ok. Just relax. It’ll be over soon…”

The little merprince whimpered as he watched his tail become legs. It wasn’t until he recognized what his new appendages were that he became excited, “M’ma… they’re legs! Like the one’s men have.”

“Yes dear,” the queen replied a little sadly, kissing his brow, “they are legs… a gift from you’re father. Unlike your sisters, you are the son of a pirate.”

The boy gaped at him mom, “A… pirate?!”

She nodded, “Now… they only last the night, but I’ll allow you to stay up late if you’d like to visit these pirates you’ve been watching.”

The Prince beamed at his mother, hugging her tightly, “Thank you so much m’ma!”

His mother did him the last favor of swimming him into the shallows and couldn’t help but laugh lightly at her boy as he tried walking, his legs wobbling as much as a new born fawn’s.

When he finally got used to the action of walking, he marched himself rather proudly into the village of pirates.

Dark glances where cast his way along with jeers and snickers. Finally one cocky pirate confronted the nude prince. “Excuse me lad, but be there a reason ye be parading into our camp without even yer skivvies?”

The prince cocked his head, “Sk-skivvies?” he repeated questioningly.

The Pirate laughed, “What be you? A native? I thought there be no other men on this island.”

The prince just nodded because the man was right, there were no other men, he didn’t know he was also agreeing to the first part.

“Well ain’t you a find then? Lady Erica is gonna wanna know about you…” grabbing a waste cloth from somewhere he wrapped it around the young boys waist before he said, “Follow me.”

The little merprince’s heart fluttered excitedly, he was going to get to see the beautiful Lady Erica!

Stepping into the captain’s quarters of their ship, the pirate removed his cap and dipped into a bow, “M’lady, I bring you a great finding.”

Lady Erica turned up from her desk that lay strewn with papers. “And what brings thee?”

“This boy… he strayed into our place not minutes ago… he’s a local.”

“I have ventured this entire island myself, there are no locals.” Lady Erica huffed.

“But he’s not from our crew, and he’s not an abandon because it’s been months since another ship has visited our hide-out…” the pirate replied.

Lady Erica simply frowned and looked the boy up and down… he looked like a ghost, his skin so white, but he had the darkest curly locks. She was captured by the sparkling green eyes he was beaming at her through. “What is yer name boy? And where do you hail from?”

“Au-Aurie. And I ‘hail from’ the sea?” he offered.

Lady Erica laughed, “Well Aurie, have ye suffered from a blow to the head or something? One cannot hail from the sea.”

“But I do,” he protested lightly.

“Aye, something must be boggled,” the pirate who brought him chuckled, ruffling the boy’s hair.

Lady Erica cast a bit of a harsh look at the man, “You are excused,” she told him flatly.

The pirate returned a slightly startled look but bowed again and left.

“Tell me… Aurie of the sea. What brings thou here… I feel we have met before.”

“Ah yes!” he nodded, “We have, you saved me from your boat.”

“Saved you from my boat?” she questioned.

“Mmhmm… must have been only half a year back… on a night like this.”

A dawning look spread across Lady Erica’s face, “You… you are that merboy!?”

Aurie smiled and nodded again.

“But… but how do you have legs? How do you walk amongst us?!”

“I am... halfblooded?” he offered as an explanation.

“But why… why did you come back? And how come you do not stay man?”

“I cannot… not without the full moon.” Aurie said sadly. “But I returned to see you! You are so beautiful and you command your crew so well… you must be a great pirate!”

Lady Erica flushed lightly at his compliment, “Ah well… yes. I’m infamous anyway.”

“Oh how I’d love to be on your crew and adventure like you do!” he said wistfully, “Will you tell me tales of your adventures?! I only have this evening, but I’d like to hear true pirate tales for once.”

Lady Erica smiled softly, “Sure.”

Aurie beamed and climbed up into her lap. She flushed again and protested lightly, but when the boy blinked up at her innocently she just smiled and began telling him stories until sun-up.

As the sun was rising she walked him back to the shore. With a yawn, Aurie fell backwards into the water as his legs fused together again. Stretching, he waved to the pirate captain before splashing into the depths of the sea again, giving Lady Erica a good glimpse of his tail, “Well I’ll be blowed…” she murmured with a disbelieving shake of her head.

They continued visits like these for many months, but soon it just wasn’t fulfilling enough for the young prince. He wanted more, to be a real pirate. He told this to his mother and this brought much sadness into her heart, but she understood.

“It’s your father’s blood… it flows so strong in you…” she said, brushing some of his curly bangs from his brow. Falling into a sad silence she debated with herself for a while before the little prince questioned her,

“M’ma? What are you thinking about?”

She gave her son a small smile, “A way to give you you’re wish. It’s not a friendly task, but I know how you can become a pirate.”

“Oh you do?! Will you tell me please?!” Aurie cried happily.

“If it is what you wish… you are going to have to visit the sea witch…”

“Oh m’ma… not her… I hear horrible things about that merwoman.” Aurie said with a bit of fright.

“Yes dear… she’s the only conjurer strong enough to grant a wish such as yours,” the queen replied sadly. “You know where she lives… I grant you my permission to visit her if this is truly your passion.”

Aurie pondered on it a while, but it truly was his passion, and he decided right then and there that he’d do whatever it took. Hugging his mother, he thanked her, “I love you,” were his last words to her before swimming off.

Now this sea witch, she lived in a truly unpleasant part of the sea. Wrought with deadly depth beasts and prone to whirlpools, even the vegetation was out to capture you with its hand like leaves. He clutched the waist sash he wore as a scarf close to himself to prevent anything from grabbing him and he dipped and darted through the terrible route. Finally he came upon a clearing that housed the bones of some unknown but truly ferocious looking beast. In the middle of the clearing a cauldron stood, some old stagnant brew still in it.

“Witch?” he called meekly, his voice squeaking a bit in fear. Clearing his throat he tried again, “Witch! Are you home?”

“A visitor?” a horrible voice creaked from the beast’s skeleton, like the very bones were speaking. A haggard looking mer-woman appeared from the jaw’s of the beast’s skeleton. The recluse’s hair snaked like eels from her head and she had a short tail and teeth like a piranha.

She moved in swift, flitting motions as she swam up to the prince, her sharp teeth glinting from her grin. “Well… if it isn’t the bright-eyed prince,” she said, circling the boy. “What could yer highness want from me?” she questioned.

“I… I wish to become a man.” Aurie finally blurted.

“Really?!” the sea witch seemed almost excited to hear it.

Aurie nodded sheepishly.

“Ah… well I can grant your wish. But you must give me something in return.”

“W-what do you want? I can get you anything,” Aurie said readily.

“I want from you… one of those beautiful eyes,” she replied, pointing right into his face.

“One of my… eyes?!” Aurie replied with a bit of fright, his hands covering his face, but his fingers split so he could still see the witch.

“Yes… it would make a lovely pendent,” she hissed, her wicked grin still playing on her face.

“Ah… I don’t know…” Aurie had promised himself he would do anything, but this seemed extreme.

“That’s all I will accept. You decide how much you want to be a man…” she said, crossing her arms and settling behind her cauldron.

Aurie panted a bit in anxiety, not believing what he was about to do. Finally he reached up to his left eye and pressing his fingers into the corners as far as he dared he paused a moment to brace himself before tossing his head back as he pulled forward, plucking the eye from it’s socket. With a scream he covered the hole with the palm of his free hand, clenching the eye tight in his other. Afraid he might damage it and the witch would not accept it as payment, he cast it down to her before clapping that hand too over the wound, writhing and bucking with pain in the water.

The witch grinned maliciously as she pressed her ‘gem’ into the open socket in the middle of her pendent. “Very good,” she praised him before setting about garnering the required ingredients for the prince’s request.

Tears welled in his eye and rolled down his cheek as he watched. The salt of the sea had mostly stopped the bleeding and assuaged the pain, but he refused to remove his hand from the open socket.

Finally, after hours of brewing, the witch presented him with a vial. “Drink this on you’re next full moon and you’re wish to be human will come true,” she promised.

Snatching the vile the prince quickly turned and fled home, no longer wanting to look into his own eye staring back at him from the sea witch’s gaudy necklace.

“Oh my dear son, what as happened to you!” his mother cried, holding him tight when he returned. “You’ve lost one of your beautiful eyes.”

“But I got what I wanted…” he replied, holding the vial close to himself.

“I guess it was a fair price,” the queen replied sullenly.

After that, there was no hiding what was going on from the rest of his family, for they all swiftly noticed the loss of Aurie’s eye. He adopted an eye patch like the pirates he idolized. Finally, on the evening of the next full moon, he said his good-byes to everyone and told them they could visit him at anytime, for he wasn’t going to live that far away. His mother was the only one that followed him to the surface, and she hugged him close one last time as he changed.

“I will always love you, my little bright-eyes.”

“And I will always love you mom,” he replied before tipping back the vial and consuming every last drop of the bitter liquid.

Fully becoming a man, his age in human years caught up with him and he grew into a strapping young gentlemen. Wrapping the waist sash about himself for decency as he had been taught, he made his way to his new home.

Lady Erica looked at him with shock when he entered her cabin, “Who-who are you?!” she questioned, drawing her saber defensively.

“My beautiful captain, it is me… Aurie,” the prince replied, holding out his hands to show he was no threat.

She inspected him carefully, “My little merboy… what happened to you? One of your beautiful eyes is gone… and you have aged much in a month.”

“I have given up my eye to become man, to join your crew! And as for my age… I have always been this old… it’s just that mer-folk age physically much slower then men.” Aurie explained.

“You are… a man forever now?” she asked.

Aurie nodded, “Yes’m.”

Lady Erica cheered and threw her arms around his neck, “Oh for how long I’ve wished this true! Come come, I have the perfect clothing for you,” she stepped back and led him by his hands to an armoire. Opening it, she displayed to him the most glorious captain’s suit. She smiled sweetly at him, “It was my fathers… I’m sure it’ll fit you well.”

“It’s so lavish…” Aurie mused, fingering one of the sleeves. “Is it really for me?”

“Yes. I want you to wear it. Now change, quickly, I want to present you to my crew!”

From that evening on they were inseparable. The infamous duo of Lady Erica and Lord Aurie, two royals gone wrong. They were the best and most illusive, every ship in the Navy knew of them and their ship The Ginger.

One Naval captain was particularly determined to destroy the pair, Sir Uric Lupine, known by pirates as ‘The big bad wolf’. He was a vicious advocate of the law and the free lives of such pillagers made his blood boil.

It was a dark day when Sic Uric’s ship tagged The Ginger, and a four day battle ensued. Sir Uric was finally forced to retreat, but not without first capturing Lady Erica. This threw Lord Aurie into a state of despair, for Lady Erica had foreseen this day and made him promise to continue on and not jeopardize her crew with attempting her rescue.

When Aurie returned home, his mother comforted him as they sat in the shallows together. “Ah my dear… such is the life of a pirate,” she sighed, “I lost you’re father much the same way. The only thing you can do it live on for her. Continue the legacy you two started in her memory.

Standing, Aurie looked down onto his mother with a strong smile, “Thank you m’ma… I will.”