As a child, Merma once walked upon earth's greenest fields. She experienced the summer grass beneath her feet and wore shoes that carried her over rocky terrain. She stubbed her toes and skinned her knees yet neither did she escape the pain of those wounds than she did the pain of a broken heart as an adult.
She lost her love to as much greed as any man could acquire, greed for luxury , greed for temporary pleasure and greed through self absorbed advancement. Love no longer had value to him, her time meant little and her heart was no longer enough to offer him happiness.
In a state of anguish she travelled alone across miles of ocean until she reached the Island of Alchemy. There, she became a prisoner of her own memories. Tormented by long days and even longer nights, the months passed painfully slowly as if time itself was indifferent to the chisel at her heart. No longer able to bear with her anguish she surrendered her life to the ocean.
As she was swept under the waves the ocean felt her heart pound with tremendous passion and with the same intensity of its own. Senda, the spirit that rules the underwater world sought to rescue her, not from her death, but to posses her and become stronger. But the broken heart was too painful for the Spirit to endure and it withdrew; leaving her half mortal half sea creature.
Since then many a seafarer has told stories of his encounters with the mermaid. The sound of a harp has been heard as it echoes a haunting melody from beyond the sea and a figure of beauty in silhouette seen under moonlight and stars.
On distant rocks she waits, waiting for absolution, waiting for answers that will never come, waiting to be rescued by a love that has long since past and from a world that no longer exists. Held captive in a dimension of doleful sorrow she watches for ships to pass; waiting, watching for a love that never was.
Ships have perished in the wake of strong gales and they have succumbed to the mercy of the ocean. Those tokens of great value lie inert beneath the waters strewn across the ocean floor. The fate of those vessels that enamoured the sailor now lie in unmarked graves. And although the planks are dilapidated the cargo of riches survive, waiting to be claimed.
Merma has rescued many seamen from the depths of the ocean, returning them safely to shore. Those Jewels she has recovered from sunken ships she hides in coves and caverns to entice those seamen and treasure seekers.
The bait lies below shallow waters, and it is there she awaits mortal engagement. If he chooses wisely a desirable fate awaits, however, if he proves that his voracity is not love he faces a much crueller fate. And the journey from the cavern back to his ship would prove to be futile.
A vital strong man would soon find the treasure he carries become a little harder to hold, and each step he makes him age. By the Time he reaches his ship, time has crept ten fold and he soon finds himself a crippled old man, unable to board his ship and escape.
For Time is a treasure we rarely give credit to. We can earn our gold and silver, we can lose it all and earn it back. But Time cannot be recovered, and in the end when we are surrounded by things we thought we needed, it is Time we need more of.
And so, curse and revenge serves as a lesson to the desire of material things. And the fool that fails to recognize the importance of love over all; will see his reflection upon the waters, not as a wealthy vibrant man; but of irony and an empty hour glass.
About the author: Sandra Macdougall: fairy artist, accompanies her illustrations with tales from the legend of Lansorda. This place of magic and fantasy has been developed created and imagined by the artist. http://www.sandramacdougall.com