: the mermaid and her heart :
“To be forewarned, theirs is not a happy tale. It does not have a charming ending, nor a tragic one — for there is no ending at all, and the story is ongoing. Yet do not mistake this as something capable of salvaging. It is not. So do not cross your fingers or pluck your lashes, do not search for falling stars, and certainly do not go looking for an old hag to bargain with. Instead, listen and keep your hand level with your heart at all times. For love is as dangerous as any knife, and twice as unforgiving. And while the heart is a small target, once hit, it bleeds the most profusely.
"Never be caught unawares.
"Only one of our tale’s players is extraordinary, the other made exceptional by her touch. Their meeting was thought accidental, but when the time came, even the eldest of the Black Forests trees parted to give him a path to her, and the Sun conspired with the clouds to hang directly over her shoulders when he arrived.
"He was a hunter, fallen apart from the party he had rode with, left to wander the untrod path before him. When he found her, she was disrobed and stripped bare, cloaked only in light that shone upon her. So great was her beauty she he dropped his bow in fear, calling out that she was the fifth god cometh, and he had seen divinity in her form.
"May I be struck down by Varahk’s lightning, I have seen what no mortal may survive; yet I shall carry the memory of beauty into death as a comfort.
"The girl ran from him, plunging herself into the Thuane before the hunter had a chance to call after her. He searched for her in the water, thinking she had thrown herself in the river out of shame.
"He did not find her, but marked the spot in hopes that he might return and find her again.
"And so he did, coming by day after day, remaining loyal to his dedication until the day the same girl came up from the waters, revealing herself to be a daughter of Isonade. She had mistaken him in his furs as a skinwalker, and sought refuge in her Mother-Goddess’ domain. When he explained he meant no harm, she allowed him to approach, and he saw her loveliness was even greater when near.
"She had once been the loveliest girl in her village, but had been struck down by her own pride. When reborn, she became the fairest creature in the Black Forest, greater than her river sisters or the fauns, and the hunter was enchanted. But the sun was high in the sky, and he was fated to return to his home. The hunter pointed out a great tree in the distance, and promised that if she would wait for him under its shade, he would return the next day.
"The beautiful mermaid did wait for him, although it pained her greatly, for she was still young, and young mermaids cannot walk far from their home. But the hunter kept his promise, returning on the morrow — and the next day, and the next, until they met every day by the same giant oak. They fell so deeply in love, every time the hunter turned to leave, the mermaid wept and called after him How will I live while you are gone?
"And every time he called back Your heart will show you.
"Later, when the hunter had to travel to the next village, he had to leave his love behind, swearing he would return in a fortnight. The mermaid believed him, and knew in her heart that he would come back to her. But the heart of a mermaid is a fickle thing, and she grew lonely in his absence. So terribly did she ache for him, that she began to sing, a mourning song that only the truly grieving mermaids can sing.
"On his ride back to Braemer, the hunter heard her cry and ran to her taking her in his arms. When she began to weep, he only laughed, and the mermaid became cross.
“Why do you mock me? She asked.
"Do you know how I love you? He asked. If you do not, let me swear it on whatever you choose to prove it.
"Swear on the great river, She answered.
"Water is too unreliable, He told her, brushing her hair.
"You must swear on the sky, she said then.
"But the hunter answered Too far away.
"The mermaid grew angry, believing her lover would not promise his heart to her.
“Then what, She asked, will you swear on?
"When the mermaid said nothing, he continued.
“I swear on the sound of your voice, as lovely as the rushing Thuane. I swear on the gold of your hair, which is smoother than any bank of sand. I swear my heart to you on the storm in your eyes, for they are the sky to which I turn in need.
"The mermaid was sated, and they slept by the riverbank."
"The next day, the hunter was plagued with guilt for having left the mermaid for so long, and remorseful for the tears she had shed. So he decided to bring her a gift. He worked through the day, carving smooth wood into the likeness of her, so that she might wear it for a necklace. The eyes were large and the lips thick, the tail long and lovely as was her’s. But the hunter grew so consumed with his work, that he forgot about their meeting, carving into the night and morning after. When he looked outside to see the sun had long set and risen once more, he ran to their meeting place, full of worry.
"The mermaid was near death when he found her. She had stayed under their tree waiting for him, refusing to leave, sure her beloved hunter would come to her. But she was young yet, and could not spend so much time away from the water. Overnight, the pain in her legs had grown too great to take even a single step, and she collapsed. The hunter cried out to find her so, believing her to be dead. But he picked her up in his arms and carried her back to the Thuane’s edge, praying to the goddess Isonade to restore her life.
"He placed her gently in the cool waters, and waited. When she did not stir, the hunter called out to all the Gods, begging.
If only you let her live, I will gladly give my life in place!
"Slowly, the mermaid’s legs came together to create a beautiful white tail, and her eyes opened to see the face of her love. Overjoyed that he had not left her — for in her last moments before she swooned, her heart had broken, thinking he had deserted her — and kissed the tears off his face. Then the hunter explained why he had been late, showing her the necklace.
"The mermaid took her gift, and was filled with happiness. She knew he truly loved her. In her joy, she threw her arms around his neck, kissing and pulling him to her with the force of her gaiety. But in her rejoicing, the mermaid forgot that her lover had been only mortal, and pulled him below water, taking the breath from him with her kiss.
"When she realized what she had done, the mermaid howled and brought him back up for air, but it was too late. No matter how she cried and moaned and begged the Gods, he would not return to life. The mermaid was heartbroken, and wept over his body for seven days and seven nights. On the seventh night, a great boar emerged from the woods and took his body in his tusks, carrying him away to Varahk.
"After this, the mermaid gouged out her heart, remembering what her dead lover had once said when she asked how she would live without him: Your heart will tell you. But the mermaid did not wish to know a way of life without her hunter, so carved it out and locked it in a chest, storing it away in one of the many caverns of the Caer. This way, she will never feel the pain of love again."
