Chapter Text
“What are you willing to offer?” Anne swam inside excitedly, looking around at all the jars lining the walls and the crystal globe standing center in the room. She could hardly believe this was a forbidden talk in the ocean. What was so bad about this? Ursula was promising freedom, a chance to explore a land that was undreamt of for a mermaid. “What’s a worthy exchange? You’re giving me everything I’ve always wanted!”
-
To be fair, Anne wasn’t aware she wasn’t supposed to make deals with a sea witch. Sure, anyone offering you happiness at a price such as your voice was automatically suspicious, but how could she help it? Anne hated the stupid tail attached to her almost as she hated the red mop on her head.
Suffice it to say, her naivety had gotten her in a sticky situation. Again.
The first thing she figured out from being washed up on rocks is that they hurt your legs. She saw tiny scratches all over the pale skin that replaced the scales and sighed. She supposed the saltwater would take care of any infections, but her wounds now hurt like hell and she was stranded on an island with no food, no clothes, and no voice. Luckily, she had managed to find an old towel that had probably washed up from a shipwreck and wrapped it around her shivering frame. She was starting to regret her decisions. It was getting late and so far, there was no sign of any life coming to whisk her away and save her- or at least, put her in front of a fire.
Maybe if she hadn’t seen that shipwreck, she would still be at home with her family. Where were they now? She was sure they had to be worried sick. Anne could hear Marilla now. “You have your head in the clouds- Anne Shirley. It’d be best if you focus on the world around you, down on the ocean floor.” It helped Anne to imagine a search party being thrown in her honor. All the merpeople joining together to find her and bring her home safe.
That stupid shipwreck. All the bright colors in the air had fascinated her to no end. She desired to know what they were for- and why there were so many of them. All the crew seemed to be celebrating, yelling and cheering as red, blue, and purple strings of light shot up in the air. Anne couldn’t believe her eyes as she propped up against the floorboards of the ship, careful not to let any of them see her. She stared in wonder as the men threw back glasses of dark liquid, footsteps staggering as their eyes became almost glass-like. However, her gaze kept focusing on one of the crewmates. His floppy brown hair stuck to his forehead from the sweat and ocean water, and the way he danced to the beat of the music reverberating through the ship was almost hypnotizing. He seemed to not have a care in the world. If only she stopped to think about the consequences of her actions.
Anne couldn’t remember all the details. She remembered lightning, and then men falling overboard. Somehow, the one she was fixated on before was still on board, and then he wasn’t- because he was blown away by the fire. It had taken some strength to drag him all the way to shore, but somehow, she managed.
When she laid his body down on the beach, Anne got a better look at the man. He still smelled of what she assumed to be from the grey clouds around the fire, even while soaked. His face looked like it was carved by one of those Gods Anne read from inscriptions she found while searching for human treasures. Gilbert. That was his name. One of the members of the crew shouted it amid the wreck. She whispered it, gently placing her head against his chest to check his breathing. Once she knew he was still alive, she was forced to jump back in the water when she heard voices calling his name. Before she swam away, she turned to see a giant structure not far offshore, big and sturdy to hold an entire kingdom. Anne couldn’t help but wonder if he lived in the castle.
The sea witch had been a great deal of help once Anne realized there wasn’t much convincing her to stay in the ocean. However, she only realized after how idiotic she had truly been. Her voice was gone. How was she supposed to make her way around this island when she couldn’t even introduce herself?
And now she was here. Cold with no direction. She blamed her giddy optimism. If she had just listened to Marilla, she would at least have a way of yelling to see if anyone was within ear range. Until she heard a voice calling to her. Anne quickly turned to face whoever was talking, but deep down she already had a feeling in her gut who it could be.
“Miss?” Not sure why, she closed her eyes, hoping he was talking to some other random girl on a rock with no clothes on. “Excuse me, miss, do you need any help?”
Braving a peak, she saw he was much closer now. Anne went to open her mouth before remembering Ursula’s conditions- but she wasn’t sure if she wouldn’t have been left speechless anyway.
He was beautiful- a different type of man than she was used to seeing. His forehead was creased with worry, and when he got a little bit closer to her, she saw he had brown eyes that reminded her of the liquid she had seen him drinking on the ship three nights ago.
“What’s your name?” Gilbert’s eyes went wide when he realized she was only wearing a towel, and immediately shrugged off the overcoat he was wearing. “Did- did you need.. are you cold? How long have you been here?”
While it was safe to assume no one occupied this part of the shore often, it was a shock that no one visited from the castle behind them. The water here was surprisingly peaceful when there was no shipwrecks or rugged waters. The smell of saltwater filled her nose, and suddenly, Anne remembered why exactly she wanted these legs. She hurriedly pointed at her throat, indicating she couldn’t talk. Gilbert tilted his head, mouth opening just a little before closing again.
“Here,” he mumbled, putting the jacket over her. “Allow me.”
Attempting to explain the situation with just her body language would be the trickiest part, until she could find another way to communicate. Even then, what was she supposed to say? A sea witch encased my voice in a crystal ball so I could have human legs?
“Do you have anyone we can get in contact with?”
Anne’s first response would have been Matthew, but seeing as that was out of the question, she resorted to shaking her head.
“We can try to sort something out soon. For now, let’s just get you inside so you can warm up a bit, how’s that sound?”
While she never saw herself as a damsel in distress, she couldn’t help but wonder how it must feel being a maiden in need of rescuing. Back in her home, she often imagined someone coming to transform her tail into legs. Now, it was all so real. Perhaps a bit of overselling might make the entire ordeal more fun. Anne had always liked to make the most out of every situation.
It didn’t take much time for Gilbert to notice she was shivering even harder now. His eyes widened, and he hesitantly lifted an arm up.
“May I?”
Anne was not quite sure what he was asking permission to do. She had been on land for no more than two hours and she wasn’t sure what the protocol was for this. Still, she nodded, and he reached around her shoulder, hand rubbing up and down her arm, attempting to warm her up.
“Once you’re up to it, I’ll have someone run you a bath, and then we’ll figure everything out. There’s no need to be frightened, miss. We’ll have everything taken care of.”
Anne stole a peak at Gilbert again. A warm feeling filled her stomach, and her head suddenly felt very light, almost as if it were completely empty. She couldn’t seem to focus on anything, even the panic that filled the voice next to her asking if she was okay. The last thing she could recall was the world spinning as her eyes closed.