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Week Seven Story: A Heart of Stone

 Quest of the Jewel by E. W. Champney and F. Champney (1917).

There once was a fish maiden. She spent all of her time by the river fantasizing about the royals life in the palace. They were all so beautiful and pristine. Their lives were planned out for them and they never had to wonder what would happen next. One day, on her daily delivery to the palace, she saw a handsome man fleeing. He was grumbling to himself and stomping away as if something terrible had happened to him. Out of curiosity and lust, she followed him. She knew if he was leaving the palace there was no one worthy for him except a princess but she wanted to know him. She had to know him. He continued his pity parade well into the forest. He finally stopped at her favorite part of the river, where is puddled enough to make a deep well. She would never dare go in it for it was ridden with monsters. He continued his grumbling until she stepped out from behind the tree. 

He yelled " I wanted to be alone , let me die alone and in peace. I will not ever return to good graces at the palace. There is no reason to live further".

"But, why? What could you have done that is so awful?" she asked.

"I have lost the princesses jewel. She wanted it and I failed to retrieve it. I searched all over the land and could not find it. I do not know where it went" he wailed.

As he continued his whining, there was a glimmer coming from the water. She thought to herself, "it is not possible that is his jewel. I must retrieve it for him. I am one with this river, I would be the safest" she thought as she moved towards the river. At this point, he noticed the glimmer too. There was a small flicker of hope that arose in his chest. He prepared himself to jump. He would not give up on the quest, regardless of who had given up on him. But, she grabbed his arm. 

"Allow me. It is the desire of your heart and you are the desire of mine. I shall grant you this peace" she said as she readied herself to dive.

As soon as she hit the water, his heart stopped and his breathing caught in his throat, because outlined below her was a serpent. His tail went on forever. He was terrified for the girl but even more about losing the one chance he had to restore himself in good graces. 

Tamatori and the Sea Dragon. Source: WikiPictures

Author's Note: The story goes on to end with her stabbing herself. The sea dragon does not like corpses, he only eats fresh meat. This eliminates the risk from him, but she ends up dying with the jewel in her chest cavity. The man grabs her and carries her back to the palace to restore the jewel to the princess and to honor her sacrifice.

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Comments

  1. CJ CampbellOctober 19, 2020 at 2:31 AM

    Hi Brynlee!
    You took an interesting take on the story by focusing on the story from the point of view of the fish maiden rather than focusing on the minister of the empress.
    Though I'm somewhat curious as to why you chose to stop the story where you did. Was there a particular reason that you chose to stop there?

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  2. Katie HerklotzOctober 20, 2020 at 10:14 PM

    Hey Brynlee! When I started reading your story I figured it would be a typical 'happily ever after' ending. However, that was definitely not the case! I really wish the story continued and I knew what happened to the fish maiden. I saw in your author's note that you explain the ending, but I think incorporating it into your story would read better. You did a great job though, and I look forward to reading more in the future.

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