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Bear
As I continued to lay in my yurt by the water, alone this time, I reflected on Sage’s behaviour. I trusted her to be on my side, and of all people, she usually was. I wished she could have seen it how I had - the true beauty of the one that saved me. Sighing in defeat, I rested my head back on my pillow, and looked up at the ceiling. The Faery kingdom had killed many of our men and always attacked at night when the blood moon would rise in combination with the black moon, which would come around once every hundred years. The dark Faery’s were situated in the skies of our homeland, which was all over Islanda, -also known as the Isle of Fairies- yet they would stalk their prey anywhere over the world and would follow us on our raids, attacking at the weakest of our men.
I tried to research them and would ask as many questions to my father as he would answer, though he was always resistant to give me anything. I did find out, however, thanks to Sage’s research, that the Dark fairies kingdom spanned much larger than that of my home town, and reached all the way over Sugarland - a place that was always forbidden. We tried to find out why, but could never get an answer.
As for the sea monsters, this consisted of giant squids, mermaids, both dark and pure, and occasional sightings of more unidentifiable creatures that appeared to be relatives of the dark mermaids and would appear from the deepest depths of the sea. Though they had different species, Sage always said that they were one in the same. We had only known sea creatures to be bad, as that was what we were always told, and therefore, everyone was an enemy to us. One particular breed of mermaid, as well as most of the deep-sea inhabitants, stalked their prey at night. They lured men in their drunken state, calling out a siren song to draw Vikings and explorers over their boats. When this tactic worked to plan, as it usually did, they would drown their ships, killing a mass amount of people in one go. The human feast would be shared amongst the sea giants that got there first. It was a sad, harsh history that my father and the other elders would never talk about. It was forbidden.
I envisioned the mermaid in my mind, replaying the memories over and over. Her face, her iridescent tail, her shimmering hair and skin... though, the more I thought of her, the more Sage came into my mind, “You shouldn’t be thinking about her Bear... what would your mother think?” agh, I shook my head to rid myself of her judgement.
I should rest. I closed my eyes. But again, Sage came into my mind. This time however, it wasn’t judgment. It was beauty, the way that she cared for me- dabbing my fever ridden face with a damp cloth... the way she fussed over me, watching my fumbling hands when I played with my food, not letting any enter my mouth. I know she didn’t notice me watching her, as she couldn’t keep her eyes off the food in my hand. There was something different about her. I couldn’t pin what it was before, but now I had realised. She had come into herself, ripening with age. Her once childish features had matured, sitting perfectly on her face. Her eyes sparkled, framed with long dark eyelashes, and her hair fell perfectly around her shoulders, tumbling down her back like a waterfall. Her skin was clean and fresh, unlike how it was when we were children, always playing in the dirt and refusing to wash after.
There was always an unspoken bond between us, I couldn't deny it. I thought of her clean golden locks of hair and how she tucked it behind her ears. The ears that framed her petite face and equally complemented a splattering of freckles that laced across her cheeks. Her nose was small and her green eyes large, as though she was a small child excited for the expectations of life. A face so perfect, I wondered if it were sculpted by the Gods.
A sharp pain made its way down my arm, interrupting my secret thoughts. The Mermaids healing was only a quick fix. Her promise of returning was drawing near. I gazed out at the ocean, wondering how and when she was going to make her next appearance, and more importantly, why? What benefit would she gain? And when she returned, would she take me to the deep to keep me prisoner forever? I made my way to the water, splashing the droplets of sweat from my face.
“I thought I told you to stay out of trouble”, A sweet voice came from the water. I jumped back, scrambling against the rocks. “Oh, come on... you're not still startled from when I got your arm the first time, are you?” she grinned at me with pearly fangs. “I thought you would have mulled over my existence by now and gotten used to the idea.” I stared at her wide-eyed, just surprised that my Mermaid had re-appeared.
“I have always known mermaids to exist.” I managed.
“Then why be afraid?” She cocked her head, her piercing eyes staring into my soul.
“Why are you here?” I straightened myself, towering over her.
“Don’t be silly, let me see that arm.” She said, yanking it toward her. My mind wanted to resist but my body didn’t agree.
When I didn’t respond she continued, “Well, have you ever thought that maybe it’s because we are good? If your kind ever stopped to see that, we wouldn't be in battle like we have been for the past two-hundred years.” She paused, her face growing more serious by the second. “The poison has spread. There is nothing further that I can do for you without help.” She said matter of factly.
“So... I’m going to die?” I spat, horrified.
“Not, if we get the help that we need. Come on, let's go.” She pulled me toward the water.
“b—ut.” I stammered.
“No buts, come on.”
“We need to seek help from the dark faeries,” I was on her back, the cold making its way to my bones. A shiver set out across my spine.
“No!” I spat in disgust. “I will never seek help from a dark fairy! they have set out to ruin my clan time and time over. They have killed so many of our men... They killed my mother” I thought of my two-year-old self being plucked from the grip of my mother's arms as she was killed by a Dark mermaid, just like the one that had attacked me. An enormous female faerie with an even larger wingspan and dark flowing hair had dropped me into the ocean, leaving my mother unattended and under attack. To this day, I could not remember how I had survived. My father had told me that he himself had pulled me back in, yet I felt as though something, or someone else had saved me. Perhaps a Mermaid.
She looked pained by my confession for just a moment before speaking, “I'm not fond of them either. I’m not going to pretend that my kind hasn’t had their fair share of brutality at the hands of Fairies, but do you really want to die? Because that is what’s going to happen if we do not seek their help.”
“I refuse,” my arms crossed across my chest. I ignored the pain that was brazing through my forearm.“My father would never allow it.”
“Your father does not have to know.” She paused before continuing, “Your cold, let me fix that.” Sudden heat waves radiated from her back, as her hair glowed golden, catching the light.
“How did you do that?!” The breath caught in my throat.
“Just another mermaid trick.” Laughter erupted from her as pearly fangs glistened. I would never get used to that.