The Little Mermaid

16 - Struggles

The days unfolded like a dream, a beautiful yet fragile one. King Frederic and Queen Arianna welcomed Lashanie with open arms, offering her a haven within the palace walls. Their kindness provided a temporary solace, a stark contrast to the looming deadline of Ursula's cruel bargain.

Lashanie, adorned in the simple blue dressVarian had procured, attempted to navigate the unfamiliar world of the palace. Her human legs, once a symbol of freedom, were now a constant source of frustration. Each step was a wobbly endeavor, the polished floors offering little traction to her unaccustomed feet. Varian, ever patient, was her constant companion, offering support, both physical and emotional.

Yet, the heaviest burden Lashanie carried was the silence. The absence of her voice was a constant ache in her soul. She used gestures and expressive drawings in the sand – a talent honed during countless hours spent exploring the ocean floor – to communicate. But these were clumsy substitutes for the melody that had always flowed from her heart.

One afternoon, Varian found her sitting by the palace pond, her eyes fixed on the shimmering water, a wistful expression etched on her face. He sat beside her, a comfortable silence settling between them.

Suddenly, an idea sparked in his mind. Pulling out a small recorder from his pocket, something he used to capture strange sounds for his inventions, he placed it in her hand. His eyes twinkled with a mischievous glint.

Lashanie looked at the device with confusion. Varian smiled and picked up a twig, using it to sketch simple shapes in the sand. A bird in flight. A babbling brook. A crashing wave.

Lashanie's eyes widened in understanding. Varian wanted her to capture sounds that evoked her emotions, sounds that spoke the language her voice couldn't. A shy smile tugged at the corner of her lips.

Taking a deep breath, Lashanie closed her eyes and focused. Slowly, she began to tap out a rhythm on the recorder, mimicking the chirping of birds. Then came the gentle gurgling of water, followed by a series of clicks and whistles that evoked the rhythmic crashing of waves against the shore.

Varian listened intently, his face filled with awe. This wasn't just a collection of sounds – it was a story, a tale of longing and freedom, of the world she had left behind.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple, Lashanie turned to Varian. Hesitantly, she picked up another twig and began to draw. A crude image of a mermaid emerged in the sand, reaching out towards a figure on the shore - a figure that looked suspiciously like Varian himself.

Varian's heart pounded in his chest. He understood. Lashanie's story, her song translated into sounds and drawings, spoke of a love that transcended the boundaries of their worlds. A love that defied the cruel silence Ursula had imposed.

Tears welled up in his eyes. He reached out and took her hand, squeezing it gently. In that moment, no words were needed. Their connection, forged in stolen glances and unspoken emotions, was stronger than any voice.

The days ticked by, each sunrise a stark reminder of the approaching deadline. Lashanie, despite the love and support she found with Varian and his parents, couldn't shake off the growing sense of dread. Yet, her determination to bridge the gap between them, to make Varian understand her love through sounds and drawings, burned brighter than ever.

The melody she could no longer sing echoed in her heart, a silent promise to defy the sea witch's curse and find a way to stay with Varian, even if it meant facing the consequences of a mermaid's forbidden love.

A heavy chill filled the air, a stark contrast to the playful warmth of the days that had come before. Three sunsets had painted the sky, each one a brushstroke closer to Ursula's deadline. Lashanie sat hunched over a table in her guest room, a room that had become a sanctuary filled with Varian's discarded inventions and seashells he'd collected from his childhood trips to the beach.