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46. Chapter Forty-Six

Chapter Forty-Six

Meria

I heard the whispers, first. The splashing stopped as the mer froze in order to stare at me; then many turned their backs to me. I looked around, searching for any familiar face, and then I saw Finn. He motioned to the right, and I saw my father, reclining, half submerged upon a rock, beside the rest of my family. I swam faster to reach them and passed by more mer, who upon seeing me, turned their backs, also. That was what we did to traitors of our kind. When I was at the base of the rock, I rose to the surface.

“Father!” I called, and there was a silence that followed. My father, eventually, turned to look down on me from the rock.

“Meria?” he asked as if confused.

“Father, our people were never meant to stay under the sea, forever.”

“Finn told us to relay that message from you, Meria!” my sister called from beside my father. “I guess Mother and you both told us.”

“Sirens are a real threat,” my other sister said.

“Are the lights still burning?” I asked my father.

“The last one still flickers, barely, but we have lost all else,” Father said. “We can no longer survive in the Marren depths.

“The Ancients set the Marren Lights there to burn bright for us until the time came for us to rise. When the first light went out, that was our sign to leave,” I said. “I am glad that you all have risen. This is what we should have done long ago.”

“She speaks the truth.”

I paused to see Ancient Celia in a long silver dress, standing on a nearby rock. There was a light that radiated from her. “I am Ancient Celia, the Ancient who first brought you the lights. They were only ever intended to be temporary. I am surprised that this information was lost by your kind.”

“It was not lost–only not believed,” my father said, and I could hear the quiver in his voice.

We revered the Ancients.

“You should have believed your Queen, whom the Creator called to guide you out of the seas. Had you listened to her, so many of the mer who have died or worse, have become sirens, would have been saved and still with you to this day.”

“It was forbidden,” Father argued.

Celia ignored Father; then she continued. “Then, your daughter, who was also shown the truth from the Creator, came to you to give you a second chance, and you also denied and persecuted her.”

“I did –” my father said, his face looking so sad as he turned to me. “But humans –there is no way that they are no longer corrupt.”

“Some humans are still corrupt, but most are good; most follow the Ancients once again,” I said.

I heard loud gasps and turned around to see Dominick swimming toward me. He reached me, panting, and I was too astonished to say anything.

“How dare you lead one of the human beasts here!” Father bellowed.

“He is one of the good ones. He follows the Ancients, and he has kept me safe.”

“Depart, human!” Father shouted, making a wave crash against Dominick's side, pulling him down into the water.

“Father!” I screamed; then I dove into the water to find him. He was swimming up toward the surface, and I helped him reach it faster.

“Meria–” he gasped as we broke though the surface. “Your father is rather intimidating,” he smirked. “But I have no doubt that I can handle him.”

“Well, you are a pirate,” I said with a smirk.

He winked and swam over and placed himself in front of my father. “King of Marren,” he said with a nod of his head. I heard the whispers from all the mer around us. My sister was gasping. I had never seen Dominick act so formally. He seemed more like a prince than ever before.“Stop trusting in things that have hurt your people. The truth is here, right now.” He broke the silence.

“Human,” Father snarled.

“I can attest that humans do not seek to harm Marren or any magical beings,” Dominick said.

“And I am to take your oath? How? How can I trust a corrupt one of your vile human race?”

“You are a fool if you do not!” We all turned around to see a middle-aged mermaid with light blond hair with blue tints and a tail–a tail that shimmered turquoise in the water.

My heart beat faster.

Is it–

“Allia,” Father gasped.

–My mother.

“Hello, will you make the same foolish mistake that you made so long ago? Will you deny your people their lives, now?”

“We were safe under the sea! I was only doing what we had been doing for centuries, what always kept us safe. I waited for the Ancient to come,” Father said as Mother swam up to tread water beside Dominick and me.

“Well, she has come. You better listen to your daughter, or you will kill more of our people!” she shouted.

“How are you here?” Father gasped.

“The Ancients,” she said, looking at all my sisters, then resting her gaze upon me. “I came to support my daughter. I love you, Meria. Thank you for saving our people from your father’s ignorance.”

I had no words. Her eyes were warm and so were her arms as she wrapped them around me. That–that had been the missing piece for me under the sea. That had been the reason I did not feel like I belonged. I was like my mother.

“I was looking for you–” I began.

“I know, dearest, Celia told me, and you traveled the Misted Seas? You truly are a strong soul. I knew you were special the first time I held you in my arms.” She kissed my cheek.

“I am so happy to finally be with you.”

“And I you. I am so proud of you and your example of strength. I missed you every single day.” Her eyes, so soft and warm, made me feel at peace. “I am going to go talk to your foolish father, now, and to all our people,” she said with a wicked grin, kissing the top of my head.

“Your king has failed you all–” my mother began, pulling away from me to shout to all the mer. “Many have lost loved ones to the darkness. Will you keep doing likewise until our race is lost forever?” my mother called.

Dominick touched my hand, and I clasped it tight beneath the water.

“Go up and onto the shore, and see for yourselves that you also have legs as well as scales. That our ancestors lived and prospered on Marren Island,” the old queen called.

There were murmurs around us within the water, and Finn swam over to us.

“Who wants to join me? Legs are pretty useful,” he said. A small group followed him, and Father was still silent. Slowly, more and more merpeople swam toward Marren Island.

“I only wanted to help our people,” Father finally said as he left the rock and approached Mother.

“You are a fool.”

“Can you ever forgive me?” Father asked.

“I doubt it. You removed me, not only from my kingdom, but from my children. I have not seen them for nearly two decades. I missed out on watching them grow. I did not see them marry and have children of their own. You robbed me, Marren King. You stole my life from me. That is not something I can take lightly. You are incompetent and should step down as king. You almost destroyed our entire race with your pride and foolish ways.”

“King of Marren,” Ancient Celia’s voice boomed loud. “You are stripped of your title and crown. You are not a worthy ruler of Marren.”

“I will do as you ask and beg for forgiveness. Will you banish me?”

“I will not do what you so foolishly did when you banished, not only your righteous Queen, but Marren’s youngest princess–still, you will only be allowed to remain in Marren if the new Queen allows it,” Celia answered him.

“And who is this new Queen, great Ancient?” Father asked, bowing his head.

“Queen Allia is Queen and ruler of all mer, until it is time for her eldest daughter and her husband to replace her. Queen Allia will restore order and balance to the merpeople. All Hail to Queen Allia!” the Ancient called out.

Everyone shouted in unison, “All hail to Queen Allia!”

“You know what to do, Queen Allia. You shall be blessed.” Ancient Celia turned to look at me. “I am happy you are finally reunited with your mother, but I would advise you, Meria, to not shield your heart–but trust it.”

Then, with a silver shower of sparkles, the Ancient was gone.

“I am sorry for what I have done, my Queen,” Father said, turning to my mother.

“Thank you, and even though you have betrayed both your family and your people, you may live in Marren as long as you do not cause anymore problems. About fully forgiving you, we shall see. I am not like you, I am not vindictive. Still, for the moment, I do not forgive you.”

Father nodded. It was so strange to see him so defeated. I knew he had done bad things, but my mother’s mercy toward him was a reminder that the Ancient’s ways were good.

“I will make sure the human kingdoms are aware of the peace that exists here,” Dominick said.

“We shall be hopeful for good things from humans, I have seen their kindness first hand,” my mother, the Queen of Marren said to Dominick with a kind smile.

“I will leave you alone with your family, and then we shall speak later,” he said, coming close to me.

“I will come back with you,” I said to him.

“But–” Dominick started.

“Unless you do not want me to come back with you?”

“No, of course, you are always welcome.”

“Meria?” I turned to see Edmar beside Coral, my sister. He looked at me with pain in his eyes.

“Hello, Edmar,” I said, moving even closer to Dominick. Dominick looked down at me, then at Edmar.

“Is this your betrothed?” he whispered in my ear.

“Yes, he was.”

Edmar came to swim right in front of me.

“You left, and I had no idea,” he said.

“Edmar, I will not marry you. You are a nice mer; however, we are not compatible. I should have never had my father choose my match.”

“I have had time to think about it. If this has to do with the children thing, I am okay with having more.”

“No. It has to do with me–and you. I do not love you, Edmar.”

His face looked shocked. Then he looked at Dominick.

“You love this human ?”

“I–”

“She does not have to answer to you. You are no longer her betrothed, so swim away,” Dominick nearly growled at Edmar.

“I see–well then, if there is nothing I can do to change your mind.”

“No, there is not. Goodbye, Edmar.”

I turned to look at my startled siblings’ faces. Rina had tears in her eyes.

“I love you, Meria. I hope you are always happy, even if it is with a human.”

“I will see you later; I am not leaving, forever,” I said to her, although I was not sure, as I understood what I had to do to break Dominick’s curse, and I was dead set on doing it since everything was settled in Marren.

“See you soon, then,” she said, giving me a hug. One by one, I hugged my sisters and kissed my nieces and nephews on their heads.

“Meria, I am so proud of you.” I turned to see my mother.

“Thank you, Mother,” I said with tears in my eyes.

“Now, do what you must.” I looked to my father, who swam over to me. There was a softness in his eyes I had never before seen from the former Marren King.

“Meria–I am sorry I banished you. I have regretted it as well as banishing your mother since the day I did those things. I am hard-headed, and I was foolish. I did not follow my soul’s melody when it told me to listen. I clung to the past, when I should have seen the signs that the Ancients sent. Although they had not come, they sent you and your mother to show us the way. So many mer could have been saved if I would have listened to your mother and you. I am humbled today by my mistakes. I am ashamed to say we only rose today because I was forced to do so, as the Marren Lights are all but gone.”

“We all have things to learn. I learned on this journey. I learned more about who I am and what I want. I also learned to not be so silent. Silent obedience is not the way of the Creator,” I said.

“Your father has much to learn, and I shall teach him as best I can. First thing I will do is demand that he never say, ‘silently obey’ again,” my mother said.

“I am willing to acknowledge my faults, and I know I wronged you, Allia, and you, Meria.”

“Thank you, Father, but like I said, I found my voice. I never would have if I had never been banished. I do not regret what happened, but I hope that in the future you will listen, instead of silencing those around you.”

Without another word, I turned. My heart was racing. I had never been so bold before toward my father. The feeling, while invigorating, was also exhausting. I wanted to be on the ship in the captain's quarters, away from all those eyes.

The thought struck me that I had no desire to dive into the depths, back to the Marren palace. I wanted to go to the ship.

What does that say about me? What does that say about where I belong?

I belonged in the human world, or I wanted to belong there. I had believed as much when I took that star from the Mirror Sea to take away Dominick’s curse and give up my tail. But, at that moment, more than ever before, while I still loved the sea, I realized that I did not want my old life. I liked the life I had found. I wanted to have the future I saw with Dominick with children all around us. I wanted that dream to finally come true. My grandest dream had never been being a mermaid. It was to have my own life, my own love, my own family.

I looked around at my people, and I was happy, knowing that they would be alright. My mother would be a wonderful Queen again, guiding the mer into their new future. I would miss my sisters, my nieces and nephews, but that was my goodbye . A goodbye to the old Meria–the “silently obedient,” little mermaid.

I had finally said what I wanted to say and what needed to be said.

I waved goodbye, and with Dominick at my side, I swam back to the ship.

“I am so proud of you, Meria,” Dominick said as we swam.

“That was utterly terrifying,” I gasped with a small chuckle.

“And yet, you did it. You didn't apologize once, and you stood your ground.”

“I did, and even to Edmar.”

“I hate him. It truly took everything in me to not torture him. To think he kissed you –that you and him–” he paused.

“I am done with him. He knows that, now.”

“Yes. I truly am so very proud of you. You were wonderful,” he said as we reached the ship and took the rope Peter tossed out to us. Dominick was so handsome there in the water, his hair askew and his face dripping wet.

“Thank you for coming to support me,” I said, touching his hair to fix a section that was sticking up.

“It seems I am a loyal pirate. Where you go, I will go.”

“I like that.”

Peter pulled us from the water, slowly. As we both arrived on deck, soaked with sea water, we simply stood there, grinning and looking at each other.

“Are you guys going to kiss, or what? This tension is killing all of us.” I expected such words from Sands, but it was Peter who said them.

“What?” Dominick asked.

“So you have kissed her?” Peter said with a laugh.

“Go about your business. We set sail for Walden,” Dominick said as he took my hand and pulled me to the back of the ship and into the cabin. How did he know that was all that I wanted, to be in that cabin with him. Maybe he did not know, maybe he simply wanted that, too. My heart fluttered, so many feelings curling and sloshing around inside of me. I loved that pirate so much. “Sorry about him. I’m sure you know about siblings,” he said as we stepped inside. Then he grabbed a linen towel and wiped his face free of seawater. I remembered, then, that we could not be alone in the cabin, for that was where the Pixie Isle children slept. Most of them were still sleeping–and if not, they were still in there, sitting or laying around, obviously still exhausted from all they had endured. I did not blame them at all.

“Yes, the worst,” I said, looking at him as he smiled. “–but also the best,” I added with a smirk.

He gave a knowing grin. “I want to help the children before they return. I think I can take away their pain and help them have a better life once back in Walden.”

“But all that pain is life experience, and it builds who they are; maybe this is the path the Creator wanted for them. I have already helped them as much as I believe they should be helped. All pain is not necessarily a bad thing.”

He nodded and added: “I cannot remove their memories, just be a balm for them for a time, although I do wish I could take it all away.”

“I understand, and I am sure that your gift will be a great relief for them. Thank you, Dominick, for being so kind.”

“Your mother–” he said tenderly. “I am so happy that you found her. Are you sure you do not wish to stay?”

“I will have plenty of time to catch up with her, I am sure. Although it felt like a goodbye of sorts, I know that she will be in my future. I am needed here, now,” I interrupted him, motioning to the children. “But tell me, you really do not know where your sister is?”

“No, I do not.”

“And yet, we are still sailing to Walden?”

“Yes,”

“Where you plan to meet with your mother?”

“Yes.”

“Why this sudden change? You were so set on finding your sister–so you could have your revenge, of sorts.”

“The Mirror Sea changed me a little. I–I did not pull out my desire–I pulled out yours.”

“You what?” I gasped.

“How could you leave your greatest desire, Meria? You wanted so badly to find your mother and save your people. What star did you take instead?” he asked, looking at me, so confused. I bit my lip. I was not yet ready to tell him. I could not tell him or else he would not let me do it–heal him–break his curse. “I–I needed something else, Dominick–something infinitely more important for my future.”

“What?” he nearly begged, stepping closer to me. We were whispering, but then and there was not the place nor time to have such a conversation, with all those suffering children around us. There was a moan, and we both turned to look upon a little boy who was shaking.

“We shall speak of this later,” Dominick said as he turned to me and waited for me to nod before he took off his gloves, and I stood beside him as, one by one, he took on the pains of the children.

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