The Princess of Waterfall Castle

He rode on through the forest, dodging limbs, denying the tears that threatened his eyes. He pulled back the reins on his horse as he approached a steep hill that overlooked the gorge. He could hear the waters coursing through the gorge, and as he sat there, staring into the deep ravine, listening to the thunderous sounds of the waters below, he felt a calming. His tears subsided, and he let the view soak into his being. He breathed in the mist that billowed up from below. From his vantage point, he could see a great distance to his left, and as he stretched out, listening to the roar of the water, he realized the sound was greater to his right. He leaned forward, stretching over as far as he dared, but the gorge curved slightly right enough that he could not see. Finally, he dismounted and walked carefully to the edge, peering over, stretching again as far as his balance allowed. He could see it around the bend—a waterfall. He walked to the right, to the farthest point of the hill, and pushed aside a clump of small trees and brush, almost losing his balance. A huge boulder was hanging over the cliff right below the trees, and if he had not pushed them apart, he would have missed it. He clung to the trees and carefully maneuvered himself down to the rock. When he was confident that the rock was solid, he inched his way, turning around so he could see almost half of the waterfall. The rock was like a shelf that hung out over the gorge walls. He felt as though he hung in midair. He carefully sat down with his back against the wall of the gorge and allowed his eyes to move gradually over every rock, listening, taking it all in. It seemed the water had no end as it fell into a magnificent pool of iridescent blue, just as his mother had described. His parents had been here. His throat constricted, and then his breath caught in his throat. There, swimming in his mother’s lagoon, was a mermaid-like creature, gliding easily through the sapphire waters. Above the sound of the falling waters, he heard her voice echoing through the ravine. How had he missed that sound? It was magical, ricocheting from rock to rock, from the creature’s lips to his ears. He wanted to listen, but he also wanted to call out. He knew he could not be heard over the pounding waters. Instead, he climbed back to the top of the ridge and walked his horse down the side of the hill and tied him there. Although the lagoon had seemed close enough to touch, it took him a while to find a way around the rock and trees. He was afraid the girl might be gone by the time he found a way, that she might sprout wings and fly. He came to a sandy trail and walked slowly and quietly, inching his way through the small trees and tall grasses, across the sandy beach, until finally, he stood beside the waters. Her long hair looking somewhat like a veil of fire, trailing in waves as she swam. Her skin was sun-kissed, yet as lovely as the roses that bloomed in his mother’s garden. He could wait no longer. His feet were now in the water, and he could hear his heart pounding fast and hard. He was sure she could hear it, even above the crashing waterfall. Still, she seemed unaware of anything as she lay back in the water and continued to sing. He didn’t want to frighten her, but he knew of no other way to announce his presence than to speak. He stepped a little farther into the water and opened his mouth, and a strange, stuttering sound came out. “What are you?” She let out a scream of surprise as she twirled about, trying to find the direction of his voice. “I mean, I mean, who are you?” She faced him now, and he quickly held up his hands to assure her. “It’s okay. I’m okay. I mean, I will not hurt you.” Her eyes locked on his. He felt as though he was drowning in deep blue-green pools, not water but her eyes; eyes that were beautifully fringed by long red lashes. He noticed how quick they changed from a beautiful blue green, like the waters in which she swam, to piercing green with flashes of yellow. He continued to stare, thinking she had a pretty, tiny nose. It was sprinkled with freckles, adding to her charm. His eyes lingered on her face. She had plump red cherry-like lips that seemed to be saying something. “Who are you, and where did you come from?” Her words jolted him back to reality. She exited the water, and the blue slip she wore looked much like a seal’s skin, wrapping around her body from neck to ankles. She reached for a length of cloth on the sandy beach and wrapped herself quickly, covering the middle of the slip. Benroy hesitated. “I think I asked you first. Who are you, and where did you come from?” He wanted to say she was trespassing on his land but decided to hold his tongue. The girl looked him up and down. “I promise I am not dangerous—look, I have no weapon.” He wondered what she was thinking, and he was glad he had worn nothing that would indicate who he was. She spoke slowly as she answered. “My name is Serafina.” “Serafina? Serafina,” he repeated and then laughed loudly. “Oh, I see, it’s your hair, like a burning fire—Serafina.” She was quiet as she locked eyes with his, and suddenly, he felt as though she was critiquing everything about him. He reached up to calm his ruffled hair, realizing his dark curls must be in disarray from his ride through the forest.