Trapped with a Way Out

by Jeffery Martinez

"Surely, you can't be serious!" Richard exclaimed.

  "If it is what she desires, then she shall have it," the Count said in a strained voice.

  "But she's too young, husband! She is only—"

  "I'm old enough to know what I want," William said, a little peevishly. "We mermaids come of age when we're fifteen—"

  "Be that as it may, you are still a child—"

  "You were still a child when you married my master," William said.

  "That was different! I had Come Out. And I am older than you. I—"

  "Your father and grandfather objected to you marrying the Count," William said. "They told me so all the time. They even tried to take away your inheritance if you didn't obey them, but here you are, married to my master."

  The Count laughed then, a roaring laugh. "She has a sharp tongue, this one!"

  "Don't tell me you approve?!" Richard cried.

  "To be honest, master, I don't need your approval," William said, looking at both of them. "Or either of yours. I'm old enough to do what I want, and since you know I am not human I am not bound to your rules. If I want to go off and see the world, I may. And, to be honest, I've already wasted enough of my life living in the dark that I don't want to stay there anymore."

  Everyone was quiet. Even when contrary, her voice was enough to put them in something of a trance.

  William said, "Humans live for such a short time. We mermaids live to be three hundred years, or more," to their looks of utter shock, she cut in, "It's true, we do. I've given up my long life to be with you all, and I want to make the most of it, for as long as I can. I love Mr. Bernadotte—he makes me happy, and he treats me right. I love being near him, and I love seeing the world with him. I just want to be with him and see as much of your world as I can before I die, and move onto the next life. I'm not asking anything else. I just want that. Please? Can I have it?"

  She meant their approval, because she wanted it even if she didn't need it.

  Captain Bernadotte smiled so tenderly, and reached over and kissed her, causing her heart to burst.

  Countess Richard waved them away. "Eh! Eh! None of that!" She took a deep breath. "Very well. You shall be married."

  Pip and William grinned.

  "But if you're going to be married, we're going to do it properly. No eloping, no rushed ceremonies. Is that clear?"

  William would have been happier eloping with Mr. Bernadotte, since she loved him so much and wanted to be with him as soon as possible. Her near brush with death at the hands of Linda, twice, and her own reduced lifespan as a human made her eager to live her life to the fullest and not delay with anything she knew would make her happy. She had spent over a year waiting patiently for her master to love her back so her life could begin—and before that she had waited her whole life to be old enough to visit the surface—and now she was done with waiting. She wanted to go and pursue what made her happy.

  However, she was still very fond of the Count and Countess. Part of her still felt like their ward, like their family, even though she was technically no longer beholden to them. She wanted to do one last thing to make them happy, and part on good terms.

  The Count himself said, "Please, William. Allow an old man this small joy before saying good bye to his ward forever."

  William sighed, and agreed.

  Wedding preparations took a few weeks, which made William nervous. Since weddings were considered a woman's affair, and both William and Richard had no other female relatives, Countess Richard took care of all the wedding preparations. She often insisted on "doing things right," as she called them, and ordered a lot of "frills" that William did not think necessary.

  First they needed to have William measured and have a dress made for her, which took many days—especially because Countess Richard insisted on having lace, pearls, embroidery, and yards of fabric added to the dress that William felt she did not need. Then they had to have flowers ordered, because all proper weddings had flowers, but since it was late summer and William would not wait, it would be difficult finding the right flowers in bloom. Of course they all had to be white. Thankfully there was a new breed of white roses that bloomed year-round, so this would do. And then they had to have doilies made for the tables in which the guests would sit during the reception, and William didn't even want to hear about the caterer, the cake, the band, or the guest list, or…

  "I don't want any guests," William said.

  "This is a wedding! Surely you'll want guests?" Richard responded.

  "There's no one I want to invite!" William cried. "The only people I knew on land were you, the Count, the servants—maybe your family—just invite your father and grandfather and the whole castle! I don't care."

  "Mr. Bernadotte will have people he wants to invite," Lady Richard said.

  "Then let him!" William cried, "What do I care?"

  Half the reason they were waiting so long was he was telling old crew members he was getting married, and they needed to wait for them to sail over to attend their former Captain's wedding.

  "But surely you have some family you'd want to invite?"

  "I don't have any family!" William exclaimed, "I don't…"

  Then she thought of loved ones she knew would want to attend. "I have someone."

  The only things William put her foot down about were having the wedding ceremony out at sea, and being able to invite one particular guest in person. Richard fought her to the death on the former, since she felt a wedding was only proper if it was done in a church, under God, administered by a priest.

  "Then bring him on the ship with us, I don't care."

  "Miss Hanna, that is not the way things are done."

  "Then do them differently," William said.

  Countess Richard nearly swelled like a bullfrog. "Young lady—!"

  "Don't even start with me!" William retorted. "We're only doing it this way because it's what YOU want. This wedding is for YOU! Not me. I don't care about any of these frills. I just want to be married to Mr. Bernadotte. That's it. That's all I want."

  "Young lady!"

  "No! And then you ask me if I have any family or friends I want to invite, and I tell you, and now you're telling me they can't come to the wedding?"

  "They can attend the reception afterwards…"

  "Then why invite them at all, then? I don't know if you've noticed, but a fish cannot flop happily on deck. If they're just going to float in the water and watch us eat, then there's no purpose in inviting them!"

  "There is a purpose! It's…"

  " 'To do things the right way.' I know, I know. Why can't we do things the way I want, for once?"

  Eventually Richard's father and grandfather, who were much wiser in such matters, convinced her to make this small concession to make the little mermaid happy.

  Captain Bernadotte, for his part, loved the wit and sass William displayed in defending the type of wedding she wanted. Her kindness in going ahead with a traditional wedding ceremony so as to make her human family happy moved him, but her liveliness and insolence in sassing Richard every step of the way endeared him to no end.

  He often laughed and kissed her, and held her tight whenever they were together. He was growing stronger every day, which he claimed was partly due to having his love in his arms again. William often scowled but blushed cutely at this, which made him laugh and kiss her cheek, or her nose. Anything to make her blush.

  Whenever they were alone (well, relatively, since they always had at least one servant nearby as a chaperone, and they were only allowed to meet in parlours or outdoors), he would lace his arms tightly around her waist, and kiss her, and huskily murmur in her ear that he couldn't wait to have her all to himself during their honeymoon.

  His husky murmurs awoke something womanly within William that she did not even know present, and she often blushed—feeling both trilled and relaxed at the same time—and leaned her head into his neck or shoulder, deeply inhaling his deep, musky scent.

  Of course, Walter or
Carlotta or one of the other servants was always nearby to say, "Ah! Ah! None of that!"

  She was very nervous when the Count and Countess said they could not see each other until the wedding. Captain Bernadotte had smiled his crooked smile, kissed her one more time on the lips, and reassured her that it would be fine. "See you at the wedding," he said.

  She often went to bed alone, anxious that she might not see him again.

  The wedding preparations were not all bad, though. When her dress was made and the tailor just wanted to make a few final adjustments, William audibly gasped when she saw herself in the mirror. She looked so beautiful, even to her own eyes; with crisp white fabric that brought made her look youthful, lace sleeves and neckline, pearls laced into her gown, mother-of-pearl blue embroidery that brought out the color of her eyes, and many yards of fabric that made her look far curvier than usual, but in a good way.

  William never thought of herself as pretty, since she had grown up plump and short-haired among mermaids who admired slim figures and long hair.

  Her eyes watered seeing herself in the mirror, and she felt so grateful that she could look so beautiful for Captain Bernadotte on their wedding day.

  Countess Richard smiled fondly, and stroked her arm. "This dress you're wearing is out of fashion, but I thought it would look best on you. We can't buy it at any shop doors, which is why I had it professionally made. I hope you like it."

  Sobbing, William nodded the affirmative. It made her happy to know that someone cared about her enough to do something so nice for her, even if she was bad at showing it.

  The only other thing they fought about was who would be her "maid of honor." William didn't care about any of that sort of thing, but relented when she learned Mr. Bernadotte would have his first mate as his "best man." William wondered if the Count might not be hurt, but he was to walk her down the aisle since he was the closest thing she had to a father, or guardian. They had all just assumed William would want Countess Richard to be her matron of honor.

  "Absolutely not," William said, a little too bluntly. "I already have one."

  This, quite naturally, caused a huge stir and many hard feelings that even stubborn William felt obliged to apologize for later. For the second time in wedding preparations, Countess Richard was obliged to compromise on tradition by letting William have two "maids of honor," herself and William' first choice.

  Invitations were dispatched for those who needed them, though these were thankfully few since most wedding guests lived within the castle, and knew William' secret. The nobles who had been invited to the Count and Countess' wedding were absolutely not invited as far as William was concerned, and she was relieved to find the Count and Countess agreed. Thankfully, William' transformation had occurred so early in the morning, and most of the guests were still drunk or hung over from heavy drinking and merry-making the night before, and the storm had come so swiftly and ended so abruptly, that most of them had gone back to bed and passed off what they saw as a collective dream (which they blamed on the same foreign wine they drank) or an illusion from the storm.

  Captain Bernadotte's old crew were invited, as was Richard's father and grandfather (the latter of which embraced William warmly and congratulated her sincerely for her happy occasion), Walter and Carlotta, and all the servants in the castle (much to the Count's and Richard's consternation).

  William was a little satisfied to see that the fancy invitation cards that Richard had pain-stakingly put together drooped when they touched the water, and William had to invite her guests through other means.

  William arrived in person to invite her preferred maid of honor. She entered the small shop by the sea with some apprehension, remembering that the last two (and only two) times she had been here, she had been so unhappy. But now it was not loneliness that drove her—but gratitude for the two times the shop's owner had shown her kindness when she truly needed it, and nudged her in the right direction toward happiness.

  She entered the small shop, not knowing how its owner would react. The little sea goddess was just as she remembered; small, sad, ancient, weary, and enigmatic. But now the aura around her was almost lethargic rather than melancholic, and she smiled gently when she saw her.

  "I am pleased you have returned, William Hanna."

  William smiled—beamed—and made herself at home.

  She did not know how Helena (as she called herself) would react to being invited to her wedding, or whether she would even want to go, since something told William she did not want to leave her shop.

  "I mean, I know you're busy," William stumbled along, "B-but you were there when no one else was, and-and I just wanted to thank you for all your—you brought us together when everything else would have kept us apart. And, I mean—that is—would you—would you be willing to attend our wedding, as my maid of honor? I don't know anyone else," and then she mentally kicked herself for adding that last bit.

  Helena smiled a small, happy smile that imparted more joy than her face could express.

  "I would be honored, William Hanna," she said gently.

  Unable to control herself, William threw her arms around the little shop keeper in a tight bear hug.

  She could feel the subdued joy radiating off the little shop keeper, though physically all she did was pat William on the shoulder.

  The day of the wedding finally arrived. William was filled with such turmoil she felt a small storm must be going on inside her belly, and she trembled as the servants put on her dress. Everyone made such a big fuss and to-do about everything that it left her a little calm, though, since she didn't worry about little details the way they did.

  She was also happy to see everyone so well-dressed just for her. She saw how handsome her master looked in his black suit and cravat and duster coat, and she wondered if Captain Bernadotte would dress as handsomely. She blushed at the thought. Everyone else was so well-dressed, including her, so it seemed silly that the other half of the wedding couple dressed in his usual coarse, scruffy fabrics.

  The thought made her laugh. She could just see him doing that.

  They boarded a beautiful three-mast ship like the one she had first seen the Count and Captain in, and she could not help admiring it as they boarded with the wedding train. However, they did not start the wedding ceremony until they were well out to sea. William remained in a small cabin until then, so as not to see the groom. "They're really adamant about this tradition," William thought, puzzled by it all.

  "Let them keep their traditions," Helena said calmly as she went to take her place for the ceremony to start. "This is the last favor you shall impart to the Count, and his Countess, before you are free to live for yourself."

  William sighed, but was reassured by her wisdom.

  Gasps from on deck told William that her own wedding guests had arrived, and she was further cheered—and made more nervous by it. She was glad she had talked to them on the shore before the wedding.

  Her Count came to fetch her when the ceremony began, to walk her down the alter and pass her off to her new husband. He had never looked so tall, handsome, or… fatherly to her. She marveled at how she could find him so handsome, and yet feel so little attracted to him at the same time. Her heart sang for another, and she could hear its answering melody from near.

  Sad and thoughtful was the look he gave her as he bent down to brush a strand of hair from her eyes (he was so tall!), and he seemed very regretful as he said, "This is the last we will see each other like this, William Hanna."

  "I know," she said, and she couldn't bring herself to regret it as much as he did.

  "I know," he said tenderly. But whatever happens in your next life, I want you to know: you were mine. I knew you first, I loved you first. No other man can love you as I have."

  William was momentarily stunned, and then she shook it off, and smiled, almost pityingly. How could she have ever loved this selfish creature? Oh, there was so much about him to love, she could see that even now, but it was not th
e same way as before. She'd known he was selfish for a long time now, but at that moment she realized he would never change, and all she could do was smile and shake her head at it all. If he had his way, she would remain by his side forever, although he had his own wife and marital bliss to live for. Once, she would have done anything to make him happy, and now she realized what a fool's errand that was. Securing his happiness meant sacrificing hers, and she was no longer prepared to do it.

  She thought of Captain Bernadotte, and how adding to his happiness only increased hers. She thought of how many times he had gone out of his way to make her smile, and it made her heart swell within her chest.

  Her master gallantly held out his arm, and she graciously accepted it.

  Once, she had convinced herself that she loved the moon just because her master loved it, but now she realized it was the sun she loved. Captain Bernadotte was bright as the sun, and reminded her of it too. Now, she would happily walk out of the moon's shadow to bathe in the sun.

  The sun shined over the ship's deck, and made the sea sparkle. The ceremony was a grand one. The entire ship had been decorated with wedding bells and streamers, with those cursed white flowers hung up on every bow and bulwark. William herself carried a bouquet of white roses, lilies, and other little white flowers she knew not the name of.

  Captain Bernadotte looked even more tall, strong, and handsome than she could imagine. Clean-shaven, his braid freshly washed and braided, and decked in his captain's uniform. He looked at her the way all young women wish to be looked at on their wedding day, and it made her blush. His first mate, sharply dressed beside him, only served to make him look more handsome and dignified by comparison.

  Around the aisle they walked, the small party of onlookers consisted of the Count's servants, and Captain Bernadotte's old crew, who were far less reserved. They cheered and whistled, even when the polite English society glared at their faux pas.

  But what delighted William most was to see Helena stand beside Richard in the maid of honor spot, looking beautiful and serene, as always. Also the siren Rip Van Winkle, who grinned and winked from the center of the wedding band. Most of all, she was thrilled to see Harkonnen and the stage girls. They all grinned and waved at her, and she grinned, waved, and blew kisses as she walked to the end of the aisle, where she saw—