~ continued from Crystal at the MerCouncil
I watched with anticipation as Crystal’s mouth opened, her slim facial features set in resolve. Just as the first whisper of a word began to emerge though, her father, King Orion leaped out of his seat.
“No!” He slammed his great hand down on the table with a dull pound that echoed about the room. “Absolutely not. I will not under any circumstances allow my daughter to associate with those barbarians. Never as long as I live.” He leaned over the table and locked his dark eyes with Darek. Beside him, Crystal seemed to shrink and wilt into her seat. Simmering with anger, I tried to make eye contact with her as she sat, but she kept her head down and arms folded around her. Poor Crystal. Her father seems overpowering and more interested in talking than listening. Crystal’s a bonnie lass, I thought to myself, but she’d better learn to speak up before she loses her voice altogether.
The staring contest between King Orion and Darek was being watched intensely by everyone at the table. I felt my father shift uncomfortably beside me. Finally, Darek rose from his seat and, with a low but powerful voice, demanded, “Your Highness, please. Sit down.” I watched King Orion’s forearms tremble with silent rage as he continued to burn holes in Darek with his dark stare. Finally, he straightened and with a curt nod, sat heavily. All attention moved to Darek, who straightened his black robes and sighed deeply. When at last he looked back up, I could see determination written plainly on his wrinkled face.
“Kings and Queens of the Seven Seas, I know that what we are asking of you is difficult. Your children are precious and dear to you. We know this. And yet we ask you to allow them to reveal themselves to beings that have the capability to hurt and even kill them.” A burst of whispers broke out, but Darek raised his wizened hand and silenced them. “However,” he continued, “We have faith in mankind. We believe that now is the safest time to introduce our world to humans. We believe that not only will men and women accept us, but they will celebrate us. We promise that if we did not believe it was safe for the Mermaidens to do so, we would not be assigning them this task. We understand your fears and doubts, but we ask you to do for us what we are doing for the human world. Have faith. Have faith that your daughters will not only survive as they interact with the human world, but thrive. Not to mention the historic service they will be offering to both our civilizations. Now, we don’t wish to overwhelm you all, so I suggest adjourning for the day. Please, Mermaidens, talk with your parents and share how you feel on the subject. Come tomorrow ready with your answer. You are dismissed.”
I sat stunned. A million questions were running through my head but I couldn’t make sense of it all. Ambassadors? Nervously I looked towards my dad. He was sitting rigid in his chair, staring straight ahead. I bit my lip, knowing that the angrier he was, the quieter he usually became. I looked to my left at my mother. She met my gaze with her lips pursed in a tight line. As she reached out her hand to stroke my hair, something she’d done since I was a child whenever I needed to be comforted, I realized how much her fingers shook. I leaned into her touch and she smiled slightly. Then I felt a strong hand on my shoulder. I looked up into my father’s green-eyed gaze and rose alongside my mother. Slowly, we made our way out of the MerCouncil room and toward our own. I felt the silence around me like a heavy weight in my chest. Finally we arrived at our room, but still none of us spoke until we were settled inside, sitting on my parents’ bed. My mum and dad looked at each other, and then he began to speak.
“Brynn, we’ve taught you much over the years about duty and responsibility. And ye’ve been the perfect student. You’re mature for your age, lass, and ye’ve shown exceptional strength and courage. And as much as your mother and I hate to put more of a burden on your shoulders, we think you should accept the position of Ambassador to the human world. It may be scary now but if anyone can do it, it’s you. Ye’ve grown to respect and care for the human race through your interactions with them. Ye’ve just enough balance of compassion and determination to undertake this responsibility. Whadaya say, wee lass? Will ye do it?”
Pride surged through me at my dad’s faith in me. But there was an underlying layer of fear that spread right down to the tips of my tail. After all, I’d heard the tales of what happened to merfolk who got too comfortable on dry ground with the humans. But that was ages ago, I thought to myself. By now, humans have changed. I’ve seen it myself. I’ve been guiding mankind through the stormy nights for years now. Maybe it’s time to try to guide them through the day as well. I rolled back my shoulders and looked at each of my parents, my dad staring at me with his big round green eyes and wild brown beard, my mom gazing softly with her blue eyes and soft smatter of freckles across her round cheeks. I took a deep breath and smiled slightly.
“Aye, then. I’ll do it.”
My decision was made. Now I could only hope it was the right one.
Jan 16, 2021 at 4:05 pm
I found fin fun years ago but today I found my dream tail. I love the fire and ice look of the bronzed emerald tail. I have previously owned Crystal’s tail and Watercolor Wave. Watercolor Wave was my favorite until now. I swam in that tail for months. I’m saving up for the bronzed emerald tail indefinitely. I love fin fun so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jan 18, 2021 at 9:53 am
That’s so awesome! The Bronzed Emerald tail is so pretty!
Apr 1, 2020 at 1:16 pm
thank you for all of you true light shining through, I need to go catch up with Fergus he’s been exploring a ship!
Jun 9, 2020 at 5:33 pm
has nobody replied since april 1st 2020 at 1:16 pm!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1 this is cray cray!!!!
Jun 10, 2020 at 3:30 pm
We might not have been able to approve any of them yet!
Nov 11, 2019 at 6:05 pm
I love the Celtic Green tail l love mermaids .🐠+👧🏾=mermaid
Jun 6, 2019 at 10:47 am
These are so awesome I want to read them all!!!!!!! 😃
Apr 23, 2018 at 5:18 pm
wow… you are so cool Brydolon
Jan 9, 2018 at 3:23 pm
i love u
Dec 26, 2017 at 6:49 pm
U are pretty
Mar 9, 2017 at 4:52 pm
im going to get her tail hopefully the package 1 brynn is just like me! exept for the red hair and the freckles but most like me lol!
May 6, 2018 at 8:01 am
Zoey is most like me, although Brynn is like me too, except I have auburn hair, not red. But I do have about a million freckles!
Aug 3, 2016 at 7:56 pm
I love brynn so much
Sep 7, 2016 at 6:45 pm
Yeah, Brynn is awesome! I’m going to get her tail for my birthday.
Mar 3, 2017 at 7:02 pm
I have her tail. I lovelovelovelovelovelovelovelovelovelove it! I swim in it every single time I go to the pool. I even bought my sister the Asian magenta for her birthday, all by myself with only my money. It was $100 bucks too!
expen$ive!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jun 24, 2017 at 5:37 pm
I am going to get her mermaid tail this week or next week
I am so pumped!
expen$ive !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It is going to be awesome !
thanks fin fun for making my dream come true