Daughters of Triton--Ariel

EPILOGUE: Final Decisions

Ariel paced back and forth along the rim of the balcony. Her feet no longer felt weird to her, but they tingled. She stared out at the ocean and felt her heart pound. It was trying to claw its way out of her chest. It was trying to get back to the ocean.

She tore her eyes away from the sea and ran back into her room, droplets falling off her cheeks. She fell down on her bed, letting the water soak through the sheets under her face, and she prayed for the first time in her life.

* * * * *

What is this pain? What is this heartache? My heart feels as if it will explode any minute…perhaps it already has. Perhaps it has exploded and left this shell…this empty shell that misses its occupant.

I can hear the waves lapping against the castle’s side, taunting me. I can’t go back…I have lungs now and should I try to go back, I would die…but I want to so badly. I want to be able to swim free through the waves again and see my sisters and my father.

I try to plug my ears against the ocean’s calling, but it is too loud for me to ignore.

* * * * *

Here I stand, on the dividing line of two worlds. I feel the sand beneath my feet and the water lapping at my toes. As each wave pulls back, it seems to pull me with it. I want to go with it, but I want to stay here too…here with Eric.

Eric…I love him…truly I do. I know because every time he leaves the room, I feel my heart dragging the rest of me to go with him. But my heart loves the sea too. The fact that I want them both and cannot have them both is what is tearing me apart.

I breathe in the salt air and sigh. I have to make a decision between Eric and the ocean. As much as I don’t want to, I have to.

I take a few steps out into the water, half of my heart screaming with joy, the other half tearing itself apart with grief.

Suddenly I hear my name. I turn and see Eric running towards me, the dashing smile spreading across his face. He walks out a little into the water with me and takes my waist.

“Darling! Are you all right? One of the maids said she saw you go running out here. She said you seemed very distressed. Are you okay?”

“Y-Yes, Eric…I just…wanted to feel the ocean again.”

“Oh…is that all? Well then, enjoy, my love, but I must return to my study. There is an impending war with another kingdom and I am the one who is to prevent it. I will see you tonight.”

“Will you be at dinner?”

“I am afraid not. I will be working very late so do not wait for me.”

“Of course not…I will see you later…darling,” I say as he walks away, my voice weakening as I say the words.

* * * * *

I am in water up to my neck. My feet are burning with the desire to push off and swim. They are so thirsty for water; it feels as if at any moment they could turn into fins.

The waves push me up and down in the water, my nightgown sliding around my ankles. It feels so good to be in the water again, but this is so shallow. There is so much more I wish to see, so much more I wish to experience again.

I have made my decision. With a burst of energy, I leap head-long into a wave. The water rushes over my face and I feel so at home. My father will turn me back into a mermaid tonight, and I will be with my sisters again.

The ecstasy does not last long though. I suddenly feel a great wave of sadness spread through me. I imagine Eric. I see him married to another woman after I have left. Suddenly, I can’t breathe.

I break through the surface of the water, but I still cannot breath. My arms dash through the water at a ferocious speed. My hands stretch out for the shoreline as a scream bubbles up in my throat.

I can feel the sand now. It is warm even though night had fallen. I push myself over on my back and stare at the sky. My eyes begin to droop, but I refuse to fall asleep…I refuse…

* * * * *

I open my eyes and I am flooded with light. I turn to see Eric sleeping next to me. I lift myself up a little and push off the coat that is spread across me.

I just stare at him for a while, and then I see his eyes open.

“Glad to find you awake. You were out cold last night; I thought you’d never wake up. I wanted to carry you upstairs, but you looked too peaceful out here…so I decided to stay with you,” he says with a yawn. He begins to sit up but winces and reaches for his back.

“You really shouldn’t sleep on sand all night if you aren’t used to it, Eric. You will destroy your back.”

“Nonsense! that was the best night’s sleep I’ve ever had!” he says, smiling as he cracks his back. I cannot help but laugh.

Both of us stand up and he reaches for my hand to go back to the castle, but I motion to him to go ahead of me. He can tell there is something wrong, but he is kind enough to not ask me now.

As soon as he disappears behind the castle walls, I look back to the ocean. I stare out at it for a long time. Then I turn and walk slowly back into the castle walls with a smile.