Legend of the Mermaid's Tear

THE LEGEND OF THE MERMAID’S TEAR

Once upon a time, in a kingdom by the sea, there lived a mermaid named Sirena. She was the most beautiful mermaid in the ocean, with a shimmering tail of emerald and sapphire scales and long, flowing hair the color of sunshine. She lived amongst her mermaid kin, and they all had a peaceful existence, living in harmony with the sea animals and the kingdom’s people. It was the time when humans and mythical creatures co-existed in peace. 

Sirena was known not only for her stunning beauty, but also for her compassionate nature, as she always helped and protected her fellow sea creatures. 

But despite her amazing beauty and grace, she was incredibly lonely, as she kept a secret deep inside her heart. It so happened, that Sirena had fallen in love with a human prince named Auberon, who lived in the kingdom by the sea. She had seen him from afar, watching him as he walked along the shoreline and her heart filled with a sweet fire.

Prince Auberon, the heir to his father’s throne, was a skilled sailor and an adventurous explorer. He had travelled far and wide, visiting distant lands and exploring uncharted waters. He had a reputation as a brave and courageous navigator, and was highly respected among the kingdom’s people.

The prince was a handsome young man, tall and strong, with chestnut hair and dark blue eyes. He had a charming smile and white teeth. No wonder Sirena had fallen for him at first site. However, their love was doomed, as mortals and mythical creatures were not meant to fall in love with each other. Sirena knew that if her love for the prince were discovered, the consequences would be catastrophic.

The mermaids’ leader, the Sea Queen, had forbidden any of her kin to interact with humans: she believed, that it would bring only trouble and heartache. The Sea Queen could punish Sirena, if she knew of her passion for the prince. 

Sirena knew that she had to forget the prince and bury her feelings deep within her heart. But every time she saw him, every time she caught a glimpse of his handsome face or heard his voice, her heart would ache with longing. 

In spite of all the precarious circumstances, Sirena decided to speak to prince Auberon in person, to let him know how she truly felt. She knew that it was risky and dangerous but she took the challenge. Her desire to be with the prince was too strong for Sirena to ignore. 

Prince Auberon also dreamed of meeting the mermaid. He had seen Sirena before, when she was swimming gracefully below the surface of the water, her scales glimmering in the sunlight, and was enchanted with her beauty. He didn’t know who she was, but he couldn’t help but drawn to her. He would often find himself staring at the water longingly, in hope to catch a glimpse of the mysterious mermaid in the shimmering waves of the sea.

One day Sirena took the risk to make an appearance to the prince. During one of his walks by the shoreline, she slowly emerged from the water, making sure that she was fully visible to him. The prince noticed her and was struck and awed by the sight of the mermaid. He stopped short, silently entranced by the sight of the beautiful creature before him.

As Sirena appeared from the water, she stared at the prince with her large, soulful eyes, silently communicating her feelings. The two stared for a moment, their eyes locked in a silent understanding. However, before he could say anything, Siren’s instincts kicked in, and she suddenly dived back into the waves, disappearing from sight. 

An instant chemistry sparkled between them. Their connection was immediate and intense, as if they had known each other for a lifetime. Despite not a single word was spoken, they understood each other’s feelings and yearnings. The prince was left in awe, wondering if he would ever see her again.

The prince was determined to see Sirena again and find a way to communicate with her. He would come to the shoreline every day, hoping that the mermaid would appear to him once more. He would stare into the sea, silently praying that she would emerge from the ocean depths to bring a bit of magic into his otherwise mundane life. 

All this time Sirena tried to communicate with her prince through telepathy and magic. She had exhausted all and every means, but wasn’t successful. So now, she decided to talk to him in person. 

She realized that she was a sea creature, and the prince was a human, and it was difficult to bridge their two worlds. She had to act wisely and cautiously. She didn’t want to scare him, or spoil their first date. The best choice was to appear before him when he was alone by the water’s edge to allow them some privacy.

So, as one night the prince was gazing out to the water, admiring the colourful sunset, he suddenly heard a soft, melodic sound behind a big boulder on the shore. He turned to it and saw a beautiful mermaid, her scales shimmering and glittering in the fading sunlight. It was Sirena.

She moved gracefully out of water and positioned herself on the big boulder right before the prince’s eyes. Once she settled, placing her long tail around it, she looked up to him, her eyes full of unspoken love. 

Prince Auberon was overjoyed to see the mermaid, but at the same time a bit nervous and apprehensive), as he had never spoke to a mermaid before. As he gazed at Sirena’s beautiful face and torso, he could feel his trepidation slowly fading away, replaced by a sense of wonder and expectation. After all, he had longed to see her again since their first encounter, and now she was in front of him, and it was not a dream.

The prince, as a true gentleman, greeted the mermaid with courtesy. “Greetings, fair mermaid, he said. - Your beauty is unparalleled, and it is an honour for me to see you before me”. Prince’s chivalrous nature compelled him to respectfully compliment Sirena.

Mermaids are known for their sweet and captivating voices, and Sirena’s voice had a gentle, melodic quality which sounded like the soft ripple of water. As the prince watched her, captivated by her appearance and her voice, she was singing a heartfelt song to tell him about her longing to be with him and her desire to cross the divide that separated their worlds.  

Sirena’s song:

Oh, sweet prince, my only true love,

I yearn for your touch and your gentle smile.

Your eyes are blue like the summer's sky, 

You live far from me, but you will be mine.

I feel our unity deep inside,

For you and I cannot be apart.

I long for your hand to hold me through the night

To feel your breath and be by your side.

I am a mermaid who once lived in the sea

But my heart is now on the land with you

Our love will never die, it's destiny

Two souls bound together, forever true.

Listening to her song, Prince remembered a story he read in his literature class, about Odysseus and sirens. Sirens lured sailors into abyss with their songs. So, he wondered if this sweet voice is trying to deceive and bring him to his end. But, looking into her eyes, he saw how sincere and vulnerable she was, how daring in her effort to reach his heart. The prince decided to trust his instincts and was carried away by her song, and her voice, soft and sweet as a gentle breeze. Each word of her lyrics struck a chord inside him, stirring up his admiration and tenderness. Her words and her voice completely enchanted him. 

Mesmerized by her performance and her sincerity, Prince decided to invite her over to his palace, to offer her a meal and a stroll in the garden. He wanted to learn more about her and her life in the sea. But alas! Mermaids cannot walk on land, and they faced a challenge to be together in the human world. Unable to let her go, Prince wriggled a diamond ring off his finger and gave it to the mermaid for her to remember their date.

Sirena accepted his ring gracefully and looked at Prince in awe. Alas, mermaids cannot survive for long on land. She was starting to feel the effects of being out of water and felt urgency to return. 

In his utter despair he took a step forward and said, “Sirena, we may need magic help if we are to be together. Do you know of any magical beings who could assist us?”

- All the mermaids have a father, - Sirena told him, - known as the Sea. The Sea is the powerful ruler who watches over all aquatic creatures, including mermaids.

Sirena knew she was her father’s favorite pet, so she hoped he may be the key person to help them overcome the obstacles that stood in their way. But approaching him for help could be a dangerous endeavor. The father Sea could prefer to have Prince in his underwater world, rather than let his daughter Sirena go to live on land. He could also arrange a shipwreck for the prince to bring him forever to his sea kingdom.

That was what Sirena told the prince. Auberon did not fancy the idea of the shipwreck happening to him and his fellow sailors. He rather preferred to stay alive and safe instead of being drowned and dead trapped in the sea’ underwater kingdom. 

But before Prince Auberon could answer, Sirena, with a short cry of farewell, couldn’t help but to dive back to her elements. Only her green and blue tail flashed in the waves as she disappeared into the blue abyss.

The prince, overwhelmed with heavy thoughts, decided to seek counsel of his father, the King, a great ruler and a wise man. The King’s advice might guide the prince to the right decision. So, he went straight to the palace and confided to his father his feelings for the mermaid and their dilemma. He asked his father’s opinion on what he should do. 

The King, Auberon’s father, was appalled by the prince’s revelation. He never expected his son and his heir to fall in love with a mermaid, a sea creature, a complete stranger to the human world. He grew rather concerned about his son’s safety and his state of mind.

King figured out that time came for his son to marry. Needless to say, he wanted him to marry a good earthly princess, not a sea creature. He saw the Prince’s love for the mermaid as a childish fancy, and wanted him to become a grownup man and attend to his royal duties. “The boy spends too much time by the see” he reflected. “That is why he got engaged with a sea creature. Mermaids can be very attractive and very seductive”.

So, the King said to his son: “My boy, we all had our fantasies in younger days. But there comes time when we must serve our duty to the throne. That is to marry a good earthly princess, fitting to be a queen. A mermaid is not a suitable candidate for the throne, not in practical or societal aspects.”

The prince was crushed and hurt by his father’s reply. In his frustration and despair, he ran to the shore, where they had met with Sirena before, and called out to her. He wanted to share the news and seek comfort in her presence. Long he stood there, gazing into the endless blue, but no answer, no stir of the water, no sparkle of sapphire and emerald did he see.

And that for a reason, as Sirena, the mermaid, couldn’t come to his call at the shore. She was strictly forbidden by her father, the Sea, from dating the prince. She was put in a closed cave deep down from the surface, far away from the prince. This separation was disastrous for both of them, since their only dream was to be together. They were kept apart by mere force, by the Sea’s decree.

Frustration washed over the Prince as he returned home, feeling devastated. Overwhelmed by emotions, the Prince decided to go to sleep, hoping that rest could bring comfort to his weary mind. As he drifted off to sleep, he saw in his dream his dear Sirena. Her words soothed his worried mind as she offered him words of comfort. She reminded him of her undying love and reassured him that she would find the way for them to be together, if only he kept his oath to be with her. And with that promise prince fell into the deep and dreamless sleep, after the emotional turmoil of the day. 

The next day prince, as a dutiful royal, woke up and went about his usual responsibilities. He welcomed foreign ambassadors in the state chamber and entertained royal guests during the Festival. His mind was still preoccupied with Sirena and their predicament, as he went through public events and festivities with a heavy heart. But duty comes first, he thought, and Prince Auberon concentrated on the royal rituals. His mother the Queen was eager to see him married. So, during the great ball in the royal palace, she took the opportunity to introduce Auberon to a young princess named Clautilda. 

The prince found Clautilda very sweet and charming. They joyfully danced together, and her witty remarks and vibrant personality brought a smile to his face. Her freshness and cheerfulness were a welcome change after the melancholic situation with Sirena. They spent time chatting and walking in the seaside garden. As the ball was finished, the prince gave young Clautilda a flower to express his admiration and appreciation. 

Alone in his rooms, the prince felt a mixture of clashing emotions. On one hand, he enjoyed the company of Clautilda and felt a fondness for her growing as he came to know her better. On the other hand, his infatuation with the mermaid still lingered in his mind as a fantastic and colorful dream.

But, the more the Prince reflected on his feelings for Sirena, the more he was suspecting that his sudden infatuation with her could have been brought upon him through magic. Mermaids are notorious for luring men to the underwater world. But Sirena was different, wasn’t she? Prince was torn between these conflicting thoughts all the night. At some point he even questioned the possibility to tell Clautilda about his romantic involvement with a mermaid, as he wanted to be honest and transparent with the young princess. But he declined this idea after all.

At this time Sirena was kept prisoner in a deep cave behind bars by her father, the Sea. She had to send her best friend and pet, a konek called Bobby, to seek the counsel of a spiritual man. She put the diamond ring over konek’s head and asked him to bring it to the spiritual man Bulliard who lived under big rock by the sea. Bobby was half sea creature, half lizard, he was sleek and swift, so he raced to the land as fast as he could. Bobby’s errand was brave and dangerous, as father Sea might catch him and punish for helping Sirena. 

Bobby the konek arrived to the shore from the deep underwater cave, swift and agile. He knew where the wise man lived, and brought him Sirena’s ring. Upon seeing the ring, the magician asked Bobby what he wanted, and konek briefed him on the story of Sirena’s love and her longing to be with Prince.  

The magician Bulliard looked into Sirena’s diamond and saw there all the story, as precious stones concentrate within them personal info of their owners. After a long contemplation, and consulting ancient volumes, the wise man proposed a strange and dangerous solution to Sirena’s difficulty. He said he could use his magic powers to transform Sirena into a human form. But under two conditions: she would only retain her human form by day and revert to a mermaid at night. Additionally, he warned that the transformation will come at a cost, as Sirena would lose her beautiful voice and ability to speak. 

Sad and dejected returned Bobby to his Sirena, wearing her ring over its head. He related to her all the words of the wise man and his offer. Sirena fell into a deep thought. Should she agree to the terms of her transforming into a human girl, she could spend time with prince only during the day. But they would not be able to have conversations, as she would lose her ability to speak. Sirena had a strong feeling that their relationships with prince wouldn’t last this way. She hesitated to accept the offer. 

And after a long, long struggle, after many and many torments Sirena decided to sacrifice her own desire to be with Prince Auberon. Against all her longing to be with the prince, she made her mind to keep her natural form as a mermaid. She chose to stay in the sea, in her element. But she will ever, ever follow the prince’s ship on his travels, she will keep him safe wherever he goes, and when he feels sad and lonely, she will sing him songs, with her beautiful resonant voice, to bring him comfort and joy in the open sea.

The prince, informed by Bobby on Sirena’s decision, accepted this sacrifice with a heavy heart. He knew the deep love and loyalty of his mermaid, and felt touched and comforted. This new arrangement allowed him to feel connected to both his own world and Sirena’s. But not only that – his unbreakable connection with Sirena ignited in prince a deep interest in the sea. He began studying sea life.

Prince Auberon, loyal to his mermaid, never married and dedicated his life to exploring the marine biology. His passion and curiosity for underwater life made him a renowned scientist and researcher. He made great discoveries in the study of sea biology and shared the secrets of the ocean with the humanity.

The prince’s contributions in marine biology were a breakthrough and lead to new discoveries after his death. Sirena, having a longer lifespan as a mermaid, is still alive and continues to live in the sea. She still wears her diamond ring.

To commemorate the life of Prince Auberon, a scientist and a legend, a monument was built by the sea. The sculpture of a strong, slim man standing against a sail. At his feet a mermaid is dashing ahead of him, as if showing him the way - his guide and his inspiration.

The End.