Mer-maid in Manhattan
The continuation of a fairy tale

told from Eric's point of view

In retrospect, the sushi restaurant had probably been a bad idea. Not probably but definitely, if Ariel's shrieks of "murderers" were any indication. And just when I thought things had been getting better for her. I guess I was wrong.

We had moved here, to New York, after our little debacle with Ursula the Sea Witch back home. Originally I had thought it was just going to be for a vacation, but Ariel's father King Triton (ruler of the Mer-people and all of that) had been gracious enough to 'give up' his daughter permanently to life as a human and he knew that if she remained in my kingdom that close to the sea she grew up in eventually her longing to go back to the sea would overtake her and she might grow to resent me. Triton always wanted what was best for his daughter, and in this case he felt that marriage to me was best, so he suggested we move somewhere busy and boisterous to keep her occupied and take her mind off of all she was missing beneath the waves. And that explained how we ended up here, in Manhattan.

I had abdicated my throne to my younger brother, Ariel had gotten a recording contract with Geffen Records and our 25th floor penthouse waterside apartment now served as our castle. Life was going well---that is, it was going well until my new boss decided to treat Ariel and I to dinner that evening. Manhattan's finest sushi. It all got weird after that

I was standing at one of our floor to ceiling windows, forehead pressed against the glass, watching the rain pour down onto the dark city while Ariel slept in the next room. Her shrieks had been so loud in the restaurant earlier, and nothing would stop them, so I had to resort to some Valium to calm her down. Of course I'd forgotten her body chemistry was not quite completely human and the dosage may have been a bit off. I was guessing she'd probably sleep for the next 20-25 hours. This gave me plenty of time to think.

I stared down at the dark water below me, mentally calling to Triton, asking for help-for what I should do. I loved Ariel so much I just wanted her happiness but I was beginning to think she had given up too much to be with me. I was beginning to think I might not be worth it.

"Triton, help me," I thought, still staring into the darkness. I was so engrossed I failed to notice the droplets that had been running down the window were moving together,coagulating, becoming a larger and larger drop of water until it took on actual form and turned into Triton himself. I jumped backwards, shocked. I'm not sure why magic like this surprised me anymore, but every so often I was still shaken.

"Having trouble my boy," Triton boomed, his voice swirling into the wind of the storm outside.

I went to open the door wall to let him inside but he shook his head vehemently, lightning crashing as he did so. "I'm a little bit wet right now, "he boomed again, "I can just stay out here while we talk."

"Aren't you worried someone might see?" I was amazingly calm. I was talking to the watery form of my father-in-law, who just happened to be a mer-man, and the only thing I was currently worried about was whether or not my neighbors might see as they gazed out their own windows.

"Only you can see me. You summoned me and here I am, for you alone."

"I summoned you? What? When did I do that?" I remembered mentally asking for help, but I hardly would have considered that a summons.

"You only ever have to think of me and you know I'll be here to help. Didn't you read the rules?" I mentally chastised myself. I was still rusty at the rules. When Ariel and I had gotten married I was given the manual "How to Live with a Magical Creature" but I had only read half of it before life sidetracked me. I now see I probably should have studied it a little bit better. I wonder what other surprises might be in that book?

"So, my son, what can I do to help?" Triton continued. I must say, despite his storm-like appearance, his calm demeanor comforted me.

"It's Ariel. I'm worried about her. I'm not sure I'm the one that can make her happy. There is nowhere we can go that won't remind her of her old life and the fact that so many humans eat fish just bothers her so much." I winced at that last part. I had always loved salmon, loved lobster, loved all seafood. Giving it up had been worth it for Ariel, but occasionally the smell of fish and chips in the air still made my mouth ache for the salty briney-ness. All I had to do was remember the moment love opened my ears and all of the sea creatures talked to me and I could push aside my desire for crab cakes faster than you could imagine.

Triton smiled, "Oh Eric, don't be so certain you aren't just what she needs. It will take a bit of time until she is completely accustomed to your life, but with you is exactly where she belongs."

"I wish I had your certainty."

"Just believe, Eric. It will be all right." And then he disappeared. Well, dissolved is more like it, the water that formed his body falling in a huge splash into the river below. His words rang in the air after him, "Read the book."

I immediately went off in search of my manual. I looked everywhere; first the normal places like one of our many bookcases, then slightly less normal places like under the beds or in the nightstands. It wasn't until I had stooped to searching the fridge for it that I got frustrated. "Where is that stupid book?" ran thru my mind. There was an intense whistling sound and before I knew it, the book flew thru the air into my hand with a resounding smack, knocking me off balance. I grimaced, shaking the pain from my hand, but I was happy too. This was the second time I had simply formed a question in my mind and had immediate physical results. I was gonna have to put this to the test.

I found a space in a comfortable chair and opened the book to where I had left off. "Chocolate chip cookies sure sound good, " I thought and within an instant there was a plate of still warm Toll House Cookies waiting for me. "Some milk would be nice." The thought was still in the air as a glass appeared next to the plate. I smiled again. I could get used to this.

I read all thru the night, while Ariel still slept. When I got a little chilly a blanket was around my shoulders before the thought could complete itself in my head. When the sun began to peek thru the clouds, a hot cup of coffee appeared on the table beside me. Any small thing I wished for seemed to happen. Chapter 14 of the book had explained that phenomenon to me. Too bad I been given that knowledge earlier. It would have made moving all our belongings up 25 floors quite a bit easier.

At around 9am I finished the book, reaching the last lines and closing the cover hesitantly. I had certainly been surprised by what I had read-that a marriage between a magical creature and a mortal would never be completely true if it was the magical creature that changed;that the mortal would have to change for the love to last. So Ariel and I could be together---I would just have to become a mer-man for that to work. It was that last part that would take some doing. I would have to throw myself into a body of water, drown, and then be resuscitated by my true love. I wasn't afraid of doing it--I would do anything for Ariel--but now I was just anxious for her to wake up. The sooner I could be a mer-man, the sooner our life together could be more smooth.

"Wake up, wake up, wake up," I was trying the magic of my thoughts again and to my surprise, they worked. I knew she was awake when I heard the sweet sound of her singing in the other room.

"Ariel, honey, could you come here please?" I called to her as I moved towards the window, sliding the door wall open slowly. I heard her sigh and stretch and wakefulness crept back into her mind. "Ariel?" I called again.

"Coming honey," her voice was musical and magical to me. She entered the room, looking just as beautiful as she always did. Although I was still a bit afraid this might work, I knew I would do anything for her.

"Ariel, you know I love you, right?" She nodded, her face radiant. "So I need to do something for you. I finished the book last night," Her face got worried then. She had to know what was in the book. She had to know what I intended.

"Eric. . ." her voice was tremulous, "don't" But before her words completely left her mouth I was out the window, aiming my perfect swan dive into the river below. I was picking up speed, racing quickly toward the black water and just before I hit the rapids a watery hand pulled me back. Triton.

"Wa-aaa-what. . ." I was out of breath and surprised at the fact I was being hauled back up into my apartment by the watery apparition of Triton. "What are you doing?" I sputtered. "I have to do this. You know that. You told me to read the book."

His voice boomed, "And so you did son. And so you did. It was no more than a test to see how much you loved my daughter, how far you would go to protect her, to make her happy. You have made the ultimate sacrifice for her and for that, you will both be allowed to spend time in whatever guise you desire, whether humans or mer-people. And nothing will bother the two of you again."

I was in shock, as was the smiling and crying Ariel who was now in my arms. It had only been a test. Happily ever after was finally truly going to happen to us.

The End.