Chapter 11: Learning

Ariel was so fascinated there were so many human objects that she'd never seen before there was this one that was round like a sand dollar and had this sharp pointy thing it was called a compass but this other object was so peculiar you could see your reflection and you wear it on top of your head it was one of the most fascinating things she had ever seen. "It's called a helmet" said John, "A helmet what's it used for?" Ariel asked, "Well its used to protect your head when your in battle", "Oh well how do I look?", "Like a soldier you have the most beautiful name Ariel", Why thank you your name is beautiful to John Smith", "Thank you" he said and gave her a smile. "Tell me more about humans what do they eat?, where do they sleep?, Is it true that you brush your hair with a dinglehopper?", "Slow down one at a time", "Oh I'm so sorry its just I haven't been with humans for a long time", "You mean you've come in contact with humans before?", "Yes" Ariel said sadly "But that was a long time ago."
She turned away from John she didn't want him to see her like this when she suddenly felt a his hand on her shoulder "Are you alright" he asked "Yes I'm fine" she replied turning back towards him "Would you like me to tell you about where I'm from?", "Yes please" she said excitedly, "Well I come from a place called London its across the ocean many miles from here its a large city the streets filled with people, the sweet smells of shops that make bread and sweets, the sounds of horses and moving carriages its truly a beautiful sight but its not for me I prefer adventure exploring new worlds that's why men and I are here we're looking for a place for our people to settle", "Wow it all sounds so wonderful will you ever go back I mean its your home", "Well its not like I actually have a home to go back to I don't belong anywhere", "I'm sorry John" she said then she thought for a moment and had the most brilliant idea "You could belong with meI mean among my people I mean the merfolk I could arrange everything" "That's kind of you Ariel but I'm not sure if I could belong anywhere."


They both were quite for a moment "So where exactly do you come from? I mean I know that mermaids live in the ocean from the myths and that are told but what's like?", "Well we live in a kingdom called Atlantica our people live in homes made of wood made from the old shipwrecks that we find we use bones, shells, rocks whatever we can find to use as tools or sometimes we ask our fish friends to help us and then at the center is a large place that is made completely out of coral but it shines as bright as the stars." "So your people are ruled by monarchy then?", "Monarchy what's that?", "Its where people are ruled by royalty you know with a king and a queen", "Oh I see then yes we are ruled by a monarchy" "What do your people eat for food mostly sea creatures?", "Yes", "Very interesting well they certainly never mentioned this like that in the myths, and legends" "Oh what are those myths and legends I mean?", "Well they're just like stories that people tell about creatures like you that aren't real some think of them as savages", "Savages what are those?" "You know people who are uncivilized", "Why would people think that?", "Well because in the stories that are told its said that mermaids would use their beautiful voices to put sailors in a trance then they would swim towards them and become their pray."

Ariel was shocked is this really what humans thought of her kind maybe daddy was right maybe they actually were barbarians no matter how different John seemed from the others they were all the same "SAVAGES WE ARE NOT SAVAGES!" Ariel said not only hurt but with anger as she dove into the water " Wait Ariel wait!" John called out as he ran into the water after her blocking her path " Let me through" she said trying to go around but he kept stepping in front of her every which way she turned "No I'm not letting you leave, look savage is just a word my men would not think that of you we learned from our mistake last time when we came in contact with another race that was different from us in the end we learned that they really weren't so different from us after all especially me and believe me I don't think that neither you or your people are savages."
She was still unsure how could she possibly believe him after what he had called her but then she looked into his beautiful eyes it they were like a gateway to his soul she could see that he was a good and pure man who wouldn't dream of harming another being and that he had truly learned from his mistakes "I believe you" she said it made her feel all warm inside when she saw how happy he was with a smile on his face "Good I should be getting back my men are probably wondering where I am meet me here tomorrow", "Yes of course", "It was a pleasure meeting you Ariel" he kissed he hand and headed back towards his camp Ariel looked at her hand and then him watching until he was out of sight then dove back into the water and headed out to the sea.