The River Maid

by Gemma Holden

  “Please, Christian. I don’t want you to see it.”

  “You shut me out once before remember. I won’t let you do it again. Whatever happens now, it doesn’t change anything between us.”

  “Christian…” she began. He stopped what she was about to say with a finger to her lips.

  “Whatever happens,” he said firmly.

  Reluctantly, she nodded. She braced herself for the worst as Christian drew back the covers. She was now wearing a white nightdress, although she didn’t remember when that had happened. She could see her tail sticking out of the bottom. The fins looked limp and wilted. She lifted up the nightdress and had to choke back a cry. It was a mess. Flakes of translucent scales were scattered across the sheets and her tail looked like a grey lump of charred ash.

  Christian gently touched her tail. “Does it hurt?” he asked.

  She shook her head. “I can’t feel anything.” He moved his hand further down to her fins and suddenly she could feel the warmth and pressure of his touch. “Wait, I can feel that.”

  “There’s pink here underneath the scales.” He carefully brushed some of the scales away. A chunk broke off and crumbled into dust. A frown creased his brow.

  “What is it?” Adrianna asked.

  “I’m not sure.” He pulled out a small folding knife from his pocket. “I won’t hurt you.” Carefully, he used the blade to scrape more of the scales away. He drew in a breath.

  “What is it?” Adrianna asked, trying to see.

  “It’s your legs. Underneath are your legs.”

  Sure he was mistaken, she looked down. She could see pink underneath the grey peeking through. She couldn’t believe it.

  Christian rushed to the door and shouted for Gaspard. Gaspard appeared panting and out of breath. “What is it? What’s happened?”

  Laughing, Christian clapped him on the back. “It’s Adrianna. She’s awake and she has her legs back.”

  A huge smile filled Gaspard’s face. “That’s wonderful, mademoiselle,” he said, coming in to look.

  Christian carefully scrapped more of the scales away to reveal healthy pink flesh. He had to cut away large chunks of scales near the top of her legs, but they fell away easily, crumbling into powder.

  “We’ll leave the rest to come away by itself,” Christian said after most of her legs had been exposed. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

  She had to blink away tears as she looked down. She could see her toes amid the remains of her tail. “I can’t believe I have my legs back.” She wriggled her toes, watching them move. She tentatively touched her skin. It felt so smooth and soft after the feel of her scales.

  The scales continued to come away slowly over the next few days until nearly all of her legs had been revealed, except for a few patches of green scales that still remained. There was a large patch at the top of her left thigh and another over her right calf. Christian tried to gently scrape them away, but it hurt.

  “I don’t think they’re going to come off,” he said.

  She touched the shiny patches, watching as the scales caught the light. They seemed to be fused to her skin. But it was a small price to pay for having her legs back and it was a reminder that it hadn’t all been a dream.

  Christian’s mother was horrified when she found Christian in Adrianna’s room examining her legs one morning and immediately ordered him out. He jumped up from the bed, flushing guiltily, but he came back later once she had gone.

  She’d spent over a year as a mermaid and it was strange to have legs and be a girl again. She kept looking down expecting to see green fins and a tail.

  She had to learn how to walk again. Christian coaxed her out of bed. “Try a few steps,” he said, pulling back the covers and helping her to turn round and slide to the edge.

  She placed her feet on the floor. Her legs felt heavy and clumsy. “I can’t.”

  “I won’t let you fall.”

  He held out his hands. Helpless to resist the boyish gleam in his eyes, she stood up, but immediately her legs buckled. Christian caught her and steadied her, his hands on her waist. She wound her arms around his neck for support. He was all that was keeping her upright.

  “I can’t do this,” she said.

  He continued to hold her. “Just one step and then you can rest.”

  It felt like her legs wouldn’t take her weight. She would have fallen if not for Christian. She awkwardly shuffled one foot forward and then the other. Having a tail was much easier than having two legs. She had to keep remembering to move them separately. The wooden floor felt hard under her tender feet. They were as soft as a newborns, the previous calluses gone. She missed the ease of moving through the water. She was exhausted by the time she had taken two steps and Christian had to help her back to the bed.

  Each day, he made her walk a little further, at first just around her bedroom, then along the landing and then down the stairs. He took her outside onto the parapets. She could see the river below, where she had once thought she would spend the rest of her life. The town looked so small from the castle. It would soon be time for her to go back there, but how could she go back after everything that had happened?

  Christian stood behind her, his arms wrapped around her waist. She leaned back against him, content to be in his arms. Neither of them spoke of the future, afraid of breaking the spell.

  Now that she had her legs back, she had no reason to stay at the castle. She should go back to the town, but she didn’t want this to end. They were pretending again. Whatever was between them, it couldn’t last. The French would catch up with them eventually and they would have to face them.

  “What are you thinking about?” Christian asked, his mouth against her hair.

  “I wish we could stay like this forever.”

  His arms tightened even more around her. “We can. No one can take the castle. If the French come, we could stay in the bergfried and lock ourselves away from the world. No one would be able to reach us there.”

  She wished they could do that. A thought suddenly occurred to her. “We never finished our story,” she said, twisting her head round to look up at him. “What happened to Don Quixote? Did he marry Dulcinea?”

  Christian was silent, staring out at the river. “No,” he said at last. “He didn’t marry her. He gave up all his adventures and renounced all his ideals. He gave it all up and became what they wanted him to be.”

  “And how does our story end?” Adrianna asked softly.

  “It doesn’t,” he answered, but she could hear the uncertainty in his voice.

  They were both silent, the cry of the gulls overhead the only sound. Neither of them spoke. They both knew this was coming to an end. She was no longer a mermaid, but Christian was still a prince. Their story was nearly over.

  Chapter Thirty Nine

  Christian wandered through the castle, at a loss what to do with himself while Adrianna was with her mother. For once he didn’t want to go riding, not wanting to be too far away in case she needed him. He was happy that Adrianna had her legs back, but now everything had changed between them. He didn’t want to rush things by declaring his feelings for her. So much had happened to her over the last year that she’d had no control over and he wanted her to have a choice. She was still adjusting to being a girl again and he didn’t want to overwhelm her. She was so conscious of the scales that still covered her legs, but they both carried scars from the last year. Their experiences had changed them.

  Gaspard appeared ahead of him, coming down the staircase, but it was too late to turn around.

  “You seem to be avoiding me,” Gaspard said, blocking his path and forcing him to stop.

  “Why would I be avoiding you?” Christian asked innocently, trying to step around him, but the Frenchman wouldn’t let him pass.

  “We need to leave. We cannot delay it any longer. Every day you stay here you risk being arrested.”

  “Adrianna is still recovering.”

  “Is that the only reason?”


  Christian hesitated, about to deny it, but settled on the trust instead. “I’m afraid, Gaspard. I’m afraid of what her answer will be if I ask her to come with me.”

  Now that Adrianna was no longer a mermaid, she was no longer in danger from the French. But they would still be looking for him. He had to leave and go into exile. He might never be able to return to St Goarshausen. How could he ask her to leave everything and go with him?

  “I’m sorry, my friend,” Gaspard said, “but you must. I will begin making the arrangements to leave.”

  Knowing Gaspard was right, he nodded. “I will speak to her.”

  He found Adrianna with her mother in the breakfast room. She wore a cream dress embroidered with tiny blue flowers. Her mother sat next to her, holding her hand as if she was afraid that her daughter might be taken from her again. Frau Netal sprang up as Christian entered.

  “Your Highness,” she said, dropping into a curtsy.

  “That’s not necessary,” he said, but it was too late. Adrianna had followed her mother’s example and rose as well. She gave a wobbly curtsy, but then she had to grab onto the table before she lost her balance. He held back a curse and moved to catch her before she fell. She was still unsteady on her feet. Annoyed, he helped her back to her chair. He didn’t want her to start being formal with him now and treating him like a prince. Not after all they had been through together.

  “Your Highness,” Adrianna began.

  “My name is Christian,” he said firmly. “Nothing has changed.”

  “You’re a prince,” she said.

  “I was a prince before when you were still a mermaid.”

  “That was different.”

  He didn’t want to argue with her, especially in front of her mother who was watching their exchange, a worried expression on her face.

  “Your Highness,” Adrianna began again.

  Christian ground his teeth.

  “I should leave,” her mother said, rising.

  “You don’t have to go,” Adrianna said.

  She hugged Adrianna tight as if she never wanted to let her go. “I will get your room ready for when you come home.” Frau Netal curtsied to Christian again before she left.

  “You’re going home,” he asked, when she had gone.

  Adrianna looked down at her teacup. “She just assumed that I would, now I have my legs back.”

  “I see.” He lapsed into silence. “Gaspard is making preparations for us to leave. He thinks that we’ve stayed here too long.” He took a deep breath. “Come with me.”

  Adrianna looked up. Pain filled her eyes. “I wish I could, but I can’t leave my mother. She’s only just got me back and she has no one else.”

  He nodded curtly. “I understand.” He knew more than anyone about responsibility and duty.

  “I’m sorry,” she said. “It’s my fault that you can’t stay here. You shouldn’t have to leave because of me.”

  “You once told me not to blame myself for what Lorelei did. Don’t blame yourself now.”

  He turned to leave, but she stopped him with a touch on his arm.

  “Christian…” she began.

  He turned back to her. He could see everything in her eyes, everything that she felt, and everything that she wanted to say. It was mirrored in his own. He didn’t need or want words. They were too clumsy. They couldn’t express everything that he felt for her.

  He drew her up, out of the chair and into his arms, and he kissed her. It started as a gentle brush of his lips over hers and then her arms wrapped around his neck and she was kissing him back just as passionately. They were both breathless when he finally pulled away. He rested his forehead against hers and then he trailed kisses along her cheek, her ear and down to her neck before he found her lips again.

  A shout came from outside, followed by the sound of pounding feet along the corridor and more shouting. He broke away.

  “What is it?” Adrianna asked. Her cheeks were flushed and her lips swollen from his kisses. He wanted to kiss her again.

  “I’m not sure.”

  Reluctantly, he released her and went over to the window to investigate. Two ships had appeared on the river. They had dropped anchor just below the town. The hatches were being opened and cannons were being rolled out and aimed at the castle. A feeling of dread went through him. Taking Adrianna’s hand, he pulled her from the room and outside onto the parapets. A line of French soldiers were slowly snaking their way up the hill to the castle, pulling cannons behind them. It looked like an entire company. Beside him, Adrianna was silent, gripping his hand tight. They had both known this would happen eventually.

  He took her back inside and into the entrance hall where the servants were gathering. There were murmurs of fear and one maid started to cry, but they went silent as he arrived. He could see they were afraid. It was important that he appear calm; he couldn’t have them panicking. His mother and Gaspard appeared, both breathless from hurrying.

  “What’s happening?” his mother asked as she came over to him. He drew them away, into the corner and out of hearing of the servants.

  “There are French soldiers on their way to the castle,” he told them quietly. “They have cannons with them and two warships.”

  “I see,” his mother said, not the least bit ruffled by the news.

  “It’s me they want,” Adrianna said, speaking up.

  “You have nothing to fear, mademoiselle,” Gaspard said soothingly. “They’re looking for a mermaid and you’re just a girl again. You should be safe.”

  “He’s right,” Christian said, taking her hand and drawing her over to the stairs. “Why don’t you wait in your bedroom? I’ll come and fetch you when they’ve gone.” He didn’t want her to see if they arrested him. Reluctantly, she left him, looking back over her shoulder as she went up the stairs. He waited until she had disappeared out of sight.

  “We must appear that we have done nothing wrong,” Gaspard said. “We have no reason to hide anything.”

  “I will speak to the servants,” his mother said, “and try to calm them.”

  Gaspard clapped Christian on the back. “Come, my friend, let us go and see what we’re facing.”

  Together, he and Gaspard climbed to the top of the bergfried. Gaspard pulled out his spyglass, but Christian didn’t need one to see the double column of soldiers, muskets held ready against their shoulders, marching slowly toward the castle.

  “They’ve come prepared,” Gaspard said.

  Christian nodded. “Perhaps they’re not here about Adrianna. We always knew Napoleon would destroy the castle at some point. He couldn’t just leave it here.”

  Gaspard peered out through the glass. “General Ducasse is with them.” He pulled the spyglass away from his eye. “Will that go in our favour?”

  Christian shook his head. “I don’t know.”

  He could just make out the familiar figure of the General riding at the head of the column, sword at his side. The last time he had seen Ducasse, he had left on good terms, but that was before Christian had stolen away the Emperor’s mermaid. But he didn’t think the General had ever seen Adrianna. He had left to rejoin the army before Napoleon had unveiled her to the city.

  “I hope you’re not considering doing anything foolish, my friend,” Gaspard said.

  He would have fought or attempted to if Adrianna had still been a mermaid, but she was safe now.

  “Hopefully, it won’t come to that,” Christian replied.

  “I hope so. Let us go and find out what they want.”

  They climbed down from the tower and went out to join his mother in the courtyard. The servants were lined up behind her. He and Gaspard stood either side of her as they waited to meet General Ducasse. The General rode into the courtyard at the front of the column. He dismounted, his face expressionless. His mother went forward to greet him.

  “General Ducasse,” she said smiling. “You should have sent word you were coming. I would have prepared food for you
and your men.”

  “Your Highness,” he replied, bowing curtly. He made no move to come any closer or to take off his hat. There was no trace of his former friendliness in his manner. “I’m looking for your son. It’s believed that he was involved in the theft of something belonging to the Emperor.”

  “You must be mistaken,” his mother said.

  Christian stepped forward. Gaspard put an arm out to stop him, but he pushed by. “General,” Christian called.

  The General looked at Christian, disappointment evident in his eyes. He handed the reins of his horse to a soldier. “Wait here,” he told the man.

  Christian followed the General aside, where they wouldn’t be overheard.

  “Do you know why I’m here?” the General asked.

  Christian met the General’s hard gaze unflinching. “You’re here because of a story.”

  “Is it true? Did you steal the creature?”

  “There was no creature.”

  “Then it was all a lie? There was never a mermaid?”

  Christian hesitated. He didn’t know what to say. He couldn’t lie to the General, but neither could he place Adrianna in danger. If he told Ducasse the truth about her, he may insist on taking her back to Paris.

  “You fool,” the General said, taking his silence as guilt. “You shouldn’t have come back here. You should have stayed away.”

  Unable to lie and unable to tell him the truth, Christian stayed silent, his jaw tight.

  “What about a ship?” Ducasse asked. “It was last seen near here, further up the river. It was commanded by a captain named Fournier. We met him in Paris. Have you seen it?”

  Christian hesitated. “You won’t find it,” he eventually said.

  “Has Fournier fled? I hoped he’d been wise enough to run away, rather than face the Emperor.”

  Again, Christian didn’t reply. He couldn’t tell the General his former friend was dead. Something in his face must have given his him away.

  “What do you know?” Ducasse asked.

  “I can’t say.”

  Ducasse stepped back and raising his voice said, “Prince Christian of Hesse, you are charged with theft and treason. I’m arresting you and taking you to Paris where you will be tried for your crimes.”