The morning was cool and a light fog hung in the air. The sky was a soft gray and whispered of an occasional rain. The trees fluttered lightly in the gentle wind. Declan had been awake for about an hour helping Davey get the boat ready for sail. They were just about done packing for the trip when Muriel arrived. “Davey, do you think the water will be good for sailing today?” she asked as she looked at the sky.
“I think that the winds will be fair and the seas will be following.” He smiled at her.
“I have never been on a boat before,” Muriel mused.
“Lucky for ya that I been sailing these waters since I was a young’un. You’re in good hands.” Davey said.
Declan smiled reassuringly at Muriel as he helped her board. Marnie had walked down to the docks with Muriel and embraced Davey. He placed his hand on her belly, and said, “Now don’ let this little un’ come till I come back.”
“I make no promises, this un’ will come when he is good and ready” she smiled.
“He? And hows it ya know he is he?” Davey asked through smiles.
“Oh I know he is fierce as his papa,” she chuckled. “You take care of these uns’ I have a good feeling bout them.” She motioned towards Muriel and Declan.
“Yes ma Lady” Davey bowed and boarded the ship.
The sea air brushed against Declan’s face and he felt alive. He had always loved watching the ships set sail and even had dreamed of going with them. He could not get enough of the billowing sails and the waves that lapped against the sides of the boat. The waves were a bit like riding a horse, steady and sure movements, just slightly more erratic. Muriel’s face had turned a nasty shade of green and Declan realized she was about to loose her breakfast. He steadied her on the dock and held her hair as she heaved into the ocean. After she had no more left to offer, he coaxed her to sit down.
“Sit down and focus on breathing.” He said.
“How are you not sick?” she asked weakly.
“I used to dream of sailing away and finding a new land somewhere else.” Declan answered.
Sitting seemed to help as the green tinge of Muriel’s face was beginning to fade. “Was your life so very bad?” she asked.
“It was not all fancy balls and pleasures if that is what you are asking” he said.
“I only meant that you were born to privilege that most folks could only dream of.” Muriel responded.
“I think you have a misconception about my role in the royal family” Declan said.
“What was your childhood like?” she asked curiously.
Declan thought for a moment and sighed, “my first memory was when I was six years old. My brother was nine and followed him with his group of power hungry friends. They were peaking over the battlement and throwing pebbles at the crowd below. When they hit someone they would duck down and laugh about it. When I saw what they were doing, I tried to stop them.” Declan paused before continuing. “My brother didn’t listen and threw a rather large rock over the side. We heard a thud and someone screamed from below. My brother and his friends knew they would be in trouble and decided that I would be the scapegoat. They grabbed me and forced me to show my face over the battlement. After a few people recognized me as the prince, my brother’s friends kicked me and left me by the battlement as they ran off laughing.” Declan’s eyes began to water.
“Did they get caught?” Muriel asked.
“No. I was blamed and my father had me whipped like a common slave. The worst part though was that the man that was struck by the rock was the father of the only friend that I had.” Declan said.
“What happened to the man struck by the rock?” Muriel implored.
Struggling to get the words out Declan said “he suffered a head injury and has never been the same since. He doesn’t remember who he is and he doesn’t remember that he had a son. From that day forward, my friend was no longer my friend and I was alone.”
Muriel wiped a tear from her face. Declan looked up into the sky and said “my childhood was filled with many bad memories. My brother would get into trouble and I would be punished for it. I guess that is why my mother sent me away a year later.” He smiled at the memory of his mother. “
“I am sorry for misjudging you Declan.” Muriel said quietly.
Declan smiled at Muriel and gazed into the horizon. He could see the shoreline where they were heading. The sun was tucked behind the clouds. Occasionally it would peak through trickling it’s light across the water. Declan looked down into the cool calm depth. Here it appeared shallow and he could see all the way to the bottom. A few fish glided in and out of his view leaving small bubbles in their wake. A larger fish glided into view and Declan gasped. This fish had long hair and arms like a woman. Her appearance was lovely and Declan leaned over for a better view. He felt a sharp tug at his neck and fell backwards. “Best not to be looking in there” Davey motioned.
“What is that thing?” Declan wondered.
“I imagine you must have seen a merrow.” Davey shuddered and said “those devilish creatures. Lost many good men.”
“Do they hurt people?” Declan asked.
“Worse, they are irresistible to men and bring them to the land beneath the waves. Their soul is trapped forever…” Davey’s voice trailed off and he took off his cap and held a solemn look on his face before returning it to his head. Declan stood respectfully by waiting.
“Davey, I must ask you something.” Declan fuddled with his hands. “Do you think that your village would stand with the Prince if he were to come against Lady Revna?”
“I don’t know much about the prince, if he is anything like his father then I would imagine their wouldn’t be much difference for me” Davey said.
“Say he was different. Would that change your mind?” Declan asked again.
“I can’t say, why are you so interested?” Davey inquired suspiciously.
“It is just that well… I am Prince Declan.” He looked up at Davey who did not seem pleased to hear this confession and began to fidget nervously.
“Do you understand what you have done?” Davey whispered in a hushed voice.
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“What have I done?” Declan matched his whisper.
“Royal blood calls out to them.” Davey shook his head in disbelief.
“Calls out to who?” Declan whispered.
Davey did not respond he just looked to the water and pointed towards it. Declan peaked over the edge and saw that the water was aggressively lapping against the boat. The water that had been clear was dark and cloudy and a humming sound began to reverberate the very air. The humming grew louder and it gripped at Declan’s ears. The closer it came, the clearer the humming became until it was no longer a hum. The most beautiful sound that Declan had ever heard filled all of his senses. It was as though the entire world was made right in this melody, he couldn’t help but move towards the song. He stepped forward and saw her, the woman who was singing. She was sitting on the edge of the boat and her eyes were for him alone. Unable to contain himself, he stumbled towards her. Declan stretched out his hands towards her and could almost brush his fingertips to hers. Her eyes were locked on his and their fingers met.
A warm tingling filled Declan’s fingertip and spread throughout his body, he could feel his lungs shifting and when he gasped for air, he couldn’t find any. Looking back he could see Davey and Muriel on the floor of the ship with their eyes closed and ears covered.
The woman tugged at Declan’s arm and drew him closer to her. He allowed her to lead him into the water. Declan thought the water would be freezing but instead it was pleasantly warm. When he took a breath, instead of water filling his lungs, it felt as though he was breathing air. He turned his attention to the beauty of the woman beside him. Only now did he realize that she had a tail for legs. This was a merrow. For a moment, Declan was aware that he had gone under the waves and fearfully began swimming back to the surface. The merrow began to sing again, the sound lulled him back into complacency.
Declan lost track of how long they had been swimming. He noticed that all around him were ships that had met their final destination. The wrecks grew more dense the longer that they swam. He followed the merrow into the wreck in the center of the ship graveyard. He was expecting to see the rotting inside of the decaying ship. Through the opening a land filled with the most dazzling structures filled his vision. The structures were made of glass and there was an reflective glow emanating throughout. Pouring down from all sides were waterfalls that pooled into reflective lakes. Trees and all sorts of greenery grew here in abundance. Declan realized he was standing in a shallow pool of water and next to him, the merrow had removed her red cap and was currently standing on two legs.
“Where are we?” Declan asked her.
“The land beneath the waves” she responded in her song like voice.
“Why did you bring me here?” he questioned.
“You will see in time.” She smiled serenely.
Declan felt as though he had awoken from a strange dream. She was no longer singing and his mind cleared. He needed to leave. He implored her “Please, I cannot be here, I must go back.”
“You cannot.” She responded and glided away from him.
He followed after her, “please, you do not understand, my friends will be worried about me.”
She flipped her long soaking hair over her shoulders. “I cannot help you, you came willingly.”
“How is it willingly when you entranced me with your song?” he sounded exasperated.
“Your friends did not follow me.” She noted.
“What do you plan on doing with me?” Declan asked.
“That entirely depends on your connection to humans.” She said.
“Davey said that royal blood calls out to you, what does that mean.” He questioned.
“It means we can smell filth from the farthest ends of our oceans.” She sneered at him.
“You do not know me, how can you make that judgement?” he answered,
“All of you humans are the same. Too easy to catch. Same evil souls.” She brushed him off.
“Who can I speak to that is in charge around here?” Declan implored.
“I am taking you to him now.” She motioned towards the largest structure that was made of glass.
It was the tallest and most impressive one. It had a waterfall directly behind it and was surrounded by flowering vines trailing upwards on all sides. Declan followed the merrow to the glass doors and she tapped lightly. The doors swung open and they entered. Inside was an indoor garden filled with the most exquisite plants and flowers. There were even butterflies fluttering from flower to flower. It seemed as though this land under the waves had managed to take every beautiful plant and creature and bring it here cultivating the perfect place. Declan rounded the corner to find a throne room of sorts. There were pillars lined around that entertained the vines that wrapped themselves around them.
On the seat of the throne was a man with a balding head and a misshapen body. His eyes bulged and reminded Declan of a very ugly fish. He also caught a faint trace of fish smell in the air which turned his stomach. One of the guards standing by him announced, “Prince Declan of the humans to see King Firth of the Land under the waves.”
The king’s eyes focused on Declan and he cleared his throat and asked “What brings you to the land beneath the waves this day human?”
Declan answered, ‘I did not come willingly, I was entranced.” He stole a glance at the merrow beside him.
“Ah yes, just like the other humans, never able to take responsibility for their own actions." he chuckled. The merrow smiled at the man knowingly.
“I would like to leave” Declan thought it best to get straight to the point.
“I am afraid that is not possible.” The man said.
“Why not?” Declan asked.
“You do not have a cap.” The king said.
“Cap?” Declan asked confused.
He waved a red cap in his hand and said “The way to travel between lands requires a cap.” “Then please may I borrow yours?” Declan asked.
“No.” King Firth answered.
“Might I borrow someone else’s?” Declan asked.
“It is akin to wearing someone else’s undergarments. It is considered a great insult to allow another to use it.” King Firth stated in shock.
Declan could not believe what he had just heard. He wanted to laugh but knew that probably was not the best action. “Could one be made for me?" Declan inquired.
King Firth looked at him with eyes of fury, “NO! It is only for the merrows you abominable human!”
“What can I offer in exchange?” Declan offered.
“What could a human possibly offer a merrow other than their soul?” the king retorted.
“You want my soul?” Declan asked.
“Well, yes, it is what gives us light at the bottom of the sea.” The king answered.
“I cannot offer you my soul but I can offer you better lighting.” Declan said.
“Do tell.” The king leaned in to hear better.
“What if you moved your kingdom to the main land?” Declan asked.
The king laughed heartily “You mean live among the humans!?”
“Why not?” Declan asked.
“You are all filthy, lying and devious creatures.” He spat.
“Have you met every one of us?” Declan asked.
“Hardly! I have met enough to know that you will double cross me and break the hearts of my kin.” He scoffed motioning to the merrow.
“I can promise that if your kingdom will stand by me, I will keep my word.” Declan stated.
Declan held his breath as the king narrowed his eyes. King Firth adjusted himself in his seat. “What if you break your promise?”
Knowing the cost of what he was about to offer, Declan gulped, “If I break my promise, I…I will forfeit my soul.”
The King smiled, “I agree to your deal. So you are aware, in the land under the sea, a deal struck is a deal bound. When you make the decision to double cross me, I will bask in the light of your soul.”
Declan answered “I will keep my word and you will eat yours. Now I must be returned to the land above the waves.”
King Firth laughed heartily then nodded towards the merrow. Smiling she brought Declan back to the pool of water, she put her cap on and grabbed Declan’s hand.
Instead of the merrow returning Declan to the ship she brought him to the shores of Hollow Coast. Once she let go of his hand she disappeared beneath the waves. Declan was unsure how he would keep his promise to the King Firth but he was determined not to break it. He waded inland and looked around. The land was desolate. There was not a soul around and he had no idea where he was.
