Happily Never After

Chapter 9: The Mermaid

“Tell me about the mermaid,” Midas asked of Bromwen as they settled to their chambers for the night.

“Her name was Arabelle,” Bromwen said. “She was from an island called Neverland. She made a deal with Rumplestiltskin to save her son. He gave me the dagger and said she knew what she had to do.” Tears filled Bromwen’s eyes.

“It’s okay, I’m here,” Midas said with comforting arms around his queen.

“I wish I never made that deal,” Bromwen said through tears. “I’m sorry, I know more. She had a son. He was eternally young and that had driven him mad. She wanted to save him from himself; she wanted to leave the mermaid lagoon and be a land dweller like her son. But Rumplestiltskin had told her the only way to save him and Neverland was to kill him. If she didn’t do it, she would be turned to seafoam and die.”

“Did she do it,” Midas inquired?

“No, she didn’t,” Bromwen answered. “I’m sorry, my darling, I should’ve just told you that I couldn’t conceive. Then we may not be in this mess with Rumplestiltskin.”

“We’ll figure this out,” Midas said. “I promise.”