The Little Mermaid (Part Three)

Final part, the little mermaid is finally with her prince, but will things go as planned?

The Little Mermaid (Part Three)

"You're most dear to me," the prince declared
"You look so much like a girl I once saw
Such a beautiful girl who saved my life
After I was shipwrecked and washed ashore"

"She's the only girl I could ever love
But you're so like her, its kind to my heart
She belongs to temple and not to me
It's my good luck you're here, we'll never part"

"Alas he doesn't know, I saved his life"
The little mermaid thought in despair
"I saw the maid he loves more than me
But she didn't save him, it isn't fair"

"But she's owned by the temple, not by him
So they'll never see each other again
It is I he will be with most every day
It is I who'll love him until the end"

Soon rumors arose, the prince was to marry
The daughter of a neighboring king
The rumors told that the prince was glad
But the little mermaid knew the real thing

"I am forced to make this journey," he said
"But I will never marry against my will
So does not resemble my love like you
If I married you, I would be fulfilled"

He kissed her on the mouth so tenderly
And she dreamed of bliss and immortal souls
She laid her head upon his broad chest
And for the first time her heart felt whole

"I trust you aren't afraid of the sea"
He said as they boarded the striking vessel
He kept her close and told her stories
The little mermaid felt loved and special

In the clear moonlight when all was quiet
She sat on the rails and looked out to sea
Her sisters appeared looking so grim
She smiled to show that she was happy

The next day when the ship came to dock
The little mermaid strained to see the princess
She couldn't help but feel ill at ease
Would her beloved prince still love her best?

At last the princess boarded the ship
And the mermaid saw the rumors were true
The princess's skin was clear and fair
Dark lashes framed her eyes of deep blue

"It was you!" the prince cried. "Who saved my life
The maid who saved me from the angry sea"
He smiled with joy at his blushing bride
"I'm as happy as any man could be!"

He told the mermaid, "You'll share my joy?
For you loved me when I was so alone"
But the little mermaid felt her heart break
For the next morn would see her turn to foam

The chapel bells rang out through the streets
And the little mermaid held the brides train
But her thoughts stayed on her last night alive
And she felt her heart constrict with pain

The ship set sail after the couple wed
Brightly colored lanterns lit up the night
The wedding party was loud and merry
The little mermaid danced with all her might

After midnight, the party calmed down
And our little mermaid watched for daybreak
Her sisters suddenly rose form the waves
And her body began to shiver and shake

For there was no sign of their long rich hair
Instead they held a glinting sharp knife
"Before sunrise, strike it in the prince's heart
The sea witch said it would save your life!"

"She took our hair in a way of price
So you can come back to us under the sea
Make haste, one of you will die before morn
It's your decision, which one will it be?"

The mermaid crept to the prince's room
And heard him murmur the name of his bride
The knife trembled in her small pale hand
She knew what she had to do deep inside

She flung herself up and over the rails
As the first sun ray dissolved her to foam
But she did not feel the hand of death
She felt a warm sense of coming home

In the light she saw ethereal spirits
They floated as wingless as the air
The mermaid realized she was like them
And she ascended with a graceful flair

"We strive to gain an immortal soul
By doing good deeds," one softly sighed
"Who are you?" the little mermaid asked
"We're the daughters of the air," they replied

"For three hundred years, we've done what we can
To win a soul and share eternal bliss
We have to put others before ourselves
Which is what you did, despite what you'd miss"

For the first time the mermaid felt tears fall
As she vowed to do all the deeds she could
She looked to where the prince and bride slept
And wished their lives to be happy and good

Unseen by them she kissed them on the heads
And rose with the daughters above at last
"This is the way to the kingdom of God
Where we'll rest after the years have passed"

And so ends the story of the little mermaid
A story of bravery, magic and love
But at last our mermaid has found her peace
A she begins her flight to heaven above

*Gem* ©