Watery Door

 

            The sweet night air blew across Ellara’s face and she breathed deeply. This is where I’m supposed to be, she thought contentedly. The seashore lay before her, and she practically flew over the sand toward the ocean. As soon as her bare feet touched the water, she felt at peace.

            None of the other woodland elves spent time in the ocean. Ellara was the only one who would dive and swim in the waves. Everyone else thought she was crazy. Oh, let them have their beautiful trees, she thought. Ellara used to be like them when she was younger, but the first time she saw the ocean, she knew that this would be her focus. She used to come every day to the ocean’s shores, but Ellara felt the waves of disapproval directed at her from the others. Now she snuck away every night to come here.

            The moon was full and cast its brilliant light on the water. Ellara waded in, savoring the feel of the sand between her toes. Then she noticed something odd where the moon’s light touched the water. Something golden was rising up out of the ocean. As Ellara stared, it emerged fully and she realized it was a door. The door swung open inwards, inviting her to enter.

            Like a fish born to water, Ellara swam towards the strange door. As she got closer, the ocean floor rose up underneath her until she was standing in front of the open door. On the other side, a watery scene stood before Ellara. As she watched, schools of bright colored fish swam by and seaweed swayed in the ocean current.

            All at once, an elf appeared in the scene. This wasn’t just any elf. Her upper body was that of a woodland elf, just like Ellara, but instead of legs, she had a beautiful teal-green fish’s tail.

            Ellara had heard stories of mermaids, but she just thought that they were fanciful legends. The stories all talked about horrific fish elves that would spirit away any woodland elf that came too close to them. This was the reason for most of her kinsmen’s aversion to the ocean.

            The mermaid on the other side of the door beckoned to Ellara with a smile. Ellara hesitated, worried that some of the legends could be true. As she wavered, the mermaid spoke to her. “I’ve been watching you for quite some time Ellara.”

            Ellara, shocked, wasn’t sure what to say.

            The mermaid continued. “My name is Callina, and I was once a woodland elf, like you.”

            “I’ve heard of you,” Ellara said curiously. “I thought you had moved to another woodland settlement.”

            “Is that what they told you?” Callina asked thoughtfully. “I have always loved the water, and I spent most of my time away from the forest, in the ocean. Most of our race is afraid to swim and experience the pure joy of moving through the water. I suppose they wanted to protect young elves by saying that I had just moved somewhere else. But really, I’m living my best life. I never have to leave the water now.” She performed a joyful flip, showing off her sparkling mermaid tail.

            “Are there others like you?” Ellara asked curiously.

            “Of course. We come from many places, but we’ve all made our way to the ocean.” Callina paused then and asked, “Would you like to join us?”

            Ellara thought of all the stories of mermaids, and how they captured young elves.

            Seeing her concern, Callina said, “This is a choice that is entirely up to you. Mermaids don’t actually ‘spirit away’ young elves. Everyone makes their own choice.”

            “If I go with you, will I be able to come back?”

            “If you wish, you are always free to return to the forest. It has happened before, otherwise there wouldn’t be any legends about us at all. The doorway between worlds appears when a full moon’s light touches the ocean.”

            Ellara thought about leaving the forest. Could she really do that? She thought about living her life in the ocean with other mermaids. Ever since she’d seen the ocean, her heart had been held captive by it, but she felt alone. No one understood her desire to be in the water. Now she had a chance to meet others like herself who also loved the water.

            Making her decision, Ellara nodded to herself and said, “Okay, what do I do to become like you?”

            Callina smiled encouragingly and said, “All you have to do is walk through the door, and your heart will do the rest.”

            Ellara took a deep breath as she prepared to leave the life that she knew to explore a new world. Slowly, she reached her hand through the doorway and touched the warm ocean water. As she moved through the strange portal, her body started to tingle. She held her breath and fully stepped in to her new world. She was now totally immersed in the water, and she felt at home. Looking back, she saw her old life through the doorway. She flipped her beautiful violet mermaid’s tail and propelled herself through the underwater wonderland.

            Ellara laughed happily, and found that she didn’t need air to breathe anymore. Callina smiled as she saw Ellara’s joy. Ellara was free. She swam gleefully and felt at peace.

Callina swam alongside her and said, “Do you like it? Would you like to meet the others?”

            “Yes, please!” Ellara cried joyfully. She followed Callina as they moved through the depths of the ocean, elated to begin her new life.