The Little Mermaid

A/N: // represtents thoughts. I will not change the way I write so if anyone wants to flame me for my use of the word lass, then let me know and I'll introduce you to my green flame eating dragon Thor ;-P
Oh and if anyone comes acroos the word 'Nessa' well that was Gelir's name before I changed it to the elvishword for 'merry'.

*********************

The next morning, Merry was out walking again; he wanted some fresh air after his ordeal the night before.

He was heading for the ferry to check that no damage had been done but as he passed the riverbank, he saw something strange. From his distance he thought he spied a young Hobbit lass washed upon the bank. As he moved closer his suspicions were confirmed. There before him was a lass on the bank, naked and unconscious.

Merry sat by her side and embraced in hin his arms. He looked upon her face and fell into a waking dream. That face was so familiar to him, but he could not place where from, everything was a blur. He knew he had to get her to his home, where she could be looked after.

Merry brushed against her cheek with his hand.

‘Can you hear me lass, wake up, come on wake up, please’

Slowly Gelir opened her eyes. She thought herself to be dreaming when she saw his face. She smiled.

‘Oh thank Elbereth, you’re awake’

Merry sat her up and still holding on to her he managed to take off his jacket and wrap it around her.

‘What’s your name’ he asked but he was met with no reply.

‘It’s okay, don’t be afraid, please tell me your name’

At that Gelir began to sob in his arms. Merry held her tightly against his chest.

‘Sshh, it’s okay, I’ll take care of you.’

Merry stood up and then picked her up and carried her away to his home.

The walk took some time, Merry talked to Gelir constantly to keep her awake. She felt warm in his arms, and safe. Finally they reached Brandy Hall and Merry kicked the door open.

‘What’s that you’ve got Meriadoc’ his Mother asked as she greeted him.

Merry continued walking towards his bedroom while answering, followed by his mother.

‘It’s a young lass, I found her by the river’

‘Well why is she not suitably dressed’ his Mother added noticing the unconventional state of Gelir.

‘I know not Mother, anything could have happened to her’

Merry turned into his room and placed Gelir on the bed.

‘What are you doing Meriadoc’

‘I brought her home so we could help her Mother, she won’t talk to me’ Merry answered, clearly worried.

‘Well you’re not planning on keeping her in your bed and I indeed hope you are not planning to tend to her yourself’ his Mother replied in disgust

‘Well unless you would like to do the honors’

‘Honor’ his Mother snorted ‘what an improper word for this situation my boy. Bringing in strays from I don’t know where’

Merry looked at her, he did not appreciate her cold nature, not when his was the exact opposite.

‘I’ll send some of the maids to see to her, now come, your supper is on the table’ she finally bended to his will.

‘I have no desire to dine tonight, tell the maids to fetch it back here for the lass’

‘Meriadoc I do not think…’

‘I am staying here Mother; no harm will come of it. She is in my care now and I wish to see that is exactly what she gets’

With that Merry’s mother stormed out of the room.

A few minutes later, by her orders the maids brought in Merry’s supper for Gelir and an old nightshirt belonging to one of them. Mrs. Brandybuck was certainly not going to lend one of hers to the drenched Hobbit lass.

After they’d cleaned and changed Gelir, Merry bade the maids leave them alone. He sat for a long while watching her, the supper had gone cold, but he was sure she wouldn’t mind.

When Gelir finally awoke the first thing she saw was Merry sitting by the bedside.

She felt it was strange, she had a bed at home, but it was constructed of pearl and seaweed, this felt softer and warmer. Maybe living on dry land was not going to be so bad at all.

‘Hello again.’ Merry said ‘Do you remember me’

She smiled and nodded her head.

‘Are you hungry’

She nodded again.

‘Don’t you want to speak to me’?

Another nod.

‘Then why won’t you’ Merry asked softly.

Gelir bowed her head.

//‘Oh now what shall I do, I cannot speak to him, I cannot tell him that I love him. I believe I am doomed after all’//

She opened her mouth demonstrating that no sound would come out, trying to make him understand. Merry’s heart sank, it had occurred to him while she had been sleeping that this could well be the lass he dreamed about that night on the ferry, but if she could not speak it could not be so.

‘You can’t speak’ he asked.

She nodded.

‘I am sorry’

Merry got up and placed the tray on her lap. On it there was a slice of bread and cold soup, with a mug of ale. Gelir looked at the strange food, of course she was accustomed to eating fish, but she picked up the bread and took a bite. It was very different to fish but she quite liked it. The ale however burnt her throat and she coughed and spluttered.

When she had finished Merry took the tray away and sat back down.

‘What happened to you lass, why were you washed up on the shore’ Merry asked, then realized she couldn’t tell him.

‘Were you on a ship perhaps, that was shipwrecked’

Having no other explanation for her presence Gelir nodded in agreement.

//‘If only he knew the truth’//

‘Then where are you from, you can’t be from Buckland, or Hobbiton, and I know not many other places where Hobbits dwell. Perhaps you are from a far away land then’

She nodded again.

‘And where were you heading’

Gelir pointed all over the room and then to the window.

‘Here, you were headed here’ Merry exclaimed ‘And were you seeking anyone in particular’

She then pointed to Merry.

‘Me, you were seeking me, I know not why and you cannot tell me, but fear not lass, I shall look after you now, and you may stay here as long as you wish, till we can get word to your family.’

At this Gelir began to sob and shock her head violently. Merry went and sat on the bed pulling her into his arms

‘Hey now what’s wrong lass, haven’t you got any family’

Gelir nodded her head

‘You have, then… Oh I shan’t ask you anymore, you must rest’

Then came a knock on the door.

‘Come in’

His Mother stepped in tall and straight, looking shamefully at her sons’ show of affection.

‘Meriadoc, where do you intend the lass to spend the night’ she asked.

‘Here of course’

‘What here in your room, that is most improper and where would you sleep young Master’

‘I do not know Mother’

She shock her head in yet more disapproval

‘Very well then lad, sleep where you will but not here’

With that she turned and slammed the door behind her.

Completely ignoring his Mothers words and with Gelir’s approval he slept with her that night in his own bed. Holding her close for comfort, Gelir soon fell into a peaceful sleep.

************************

King Naman was growing increasingly worried about his daughters’ whereab. He. He’d heard tales of various creatures seeing her swim here and there through the seas and he concluded his worst thought. His daughter was headed for Middle-earth. He decided it was time to tell his other daughters the truth.

He gathered his them together in the grand throne room of his palace.

‘What is it father’ Akasha asked.

‘Is it Gelir’ Alyssa added.

‘In part’ the King answered.

He sat uneasy on his throne.

‘Do you remember the stories your Mother used to tell you about a place called Middle-earth, my children’

‘Yes’ Alyssa replied ‘though Gel would eagerly listen to them more than we’

‘Mother always did have a rather creative imagination didn’t she father’ Adarna said.

‘Yes she did, only it was not her imagination.’

The mermaids looked at him in confusion.

‘You see Middle-earth is real, as are elves and men and all other folk in her stories’

He went on to explain the last alliance and how their Elven Mother came to live in the sea.

‘Father’ Arnella interrupted ‘Do you think this is where Gelir is, do you think she’s gone in search of Middle-earth’

‘Indeed I do, if my memory serves the forgotten land lies East of the palace till the suns light and then North till dry land. Many cratures of our world reported her heading in that direction.

‘What shall we do Father’ Amina asked.

‘I shall send a patrol to look for her, I fear evil may still dwell in those land even after so many years. I once knew a great Elven Lady of Light by the name of Galadriel, she sees all and knows all, but or many a year evil swirled in her veins, though not prominent it should be very hard to tell if it has not taken her over by now.’

There was a long silence before the King continued.

‘If Gelir has indeed sought out Middle-earth the Lady would indeed sense her presence and they would meet.

Alyssa stepped up

‘Father do send out the patrol, but let us go in search of the Lady Galadriel, if such a great Lady she should appreciate our approach far better, do you not think’

‘I cannot allow you to go swimming in places you do not know my daughters’

‘You have trained us well Father’ Akasha argued ‘we shan’t lose our way, and if she knows what has become of our dear sister, then we shall find out’

‘Very well’

‘We leave immediately’ Alyssa declared.

It was still morning when the sisters set out for Middle-earth. It took them many months to reach Middle-earth for they lost their way many times, and were not as skilled as they had thought. Indeed it was Gelir who was the most skilled, even though she dwelled indoors, it took her a matter of days to reach the forgotten lands.