An untold legend about a glorious crown was forged by one humble blacksmith from a humble and unknown forest in the sea. Back when the sea was prosperous, a time long forgotten. This cecaelia blacksmith crafted a golden, jeweled crown, made from materials from both lands. Pearls, rubies, and other gems. It is said that the crown is also enchanted, the wearer experiences life more joyfully, the food tastes better, and sleeps better. It is rumored that a witch enchanted it. 

However, tragedy occurred, when the blacksmith eagerly wished to give the crown to the heir, and the mermaids showed their true selves. The crown is said to be lost underneath the ruins forever… 

I can hear the echoes of the future. What they will tell each other and speculate about this time. How they will call me a witch who cursed everyone, how the blacksmith was just a simple fool… I will make sure this crown will never get tainted by greedy hands. But as she wished… I shouldn’t hide it too well. In case someone else fitting for her hopes does come and find it… 

***

In a cave hidden away by long vines, there was the sound of constant hammering. That sound has been repeated for a few days but this day it was slowing until it finally stopped. I swam towards the cave and saw the caecilian blacksmith admiring a golden crown in her hands. 

“Finally done?” I asked with a chuckle. 

“I think so… Yes!” She finally looked at me, black smudges all over her face. On her lips, a bright smile, and her amber eyes shone. Her expression changed from a prideful smile to widened eyes. The face she always made when she was about to make a request. My smile immediately vanished. 

“I already told you no,” I said to her firmly. 

“Please, my Elissa! You’re the only one I know who has such warming enchantments. The crown won’t be complete without it. Not without your touch.” She moved closer to me, grabbed my hand gently, and let her thumb caress me. I sighed and looked away. 

“I just don’t believe in him like you do. He’s just a prince, born and raised in the palace. What would he know about creating a bond between them and us? They don’t understand our ways. I can feel the greed from them… It’s only a matter of time!” She placed a finger on my lips and smiled. I kept looking into her amber eyes and saw the passion in them. 

“I believe in him because I met him.” 

“What?” My cheeks heated and I moved her finger away from my lips. 

“Don’t worry, my heart belongs only to you. As you know.” She reassured me and my body slowly relaxed. 

“I didn’t talk to him really, but I saw him stand against his family. I saw him studying our culture. His actions show that he will be a great leader. He isn’t spoiled like them. Take my word for it. Or… You can follow me to their ball! Then you can see for yourself.” I stared into her eyes. She never seemed so certain in anything before. Other than loving me. For her, I’ll do anything. I could feel the low vibrations of the cave, as if the forest was giving me a sign to enchant the crown and go with her. 

“Fine…” I said with a sigh. If the forest so badly wanted me to follow Birkana’s wishes, I would. Apart from my own feelings for her. 

“I’ll enchant it.” I took the crown away from her hands and moved out from the cave, Birkana following me from behind. I was surrounded by the red vines and breathed out slowly, focusing the magic around the crown. Gentle orange light engulfed the crown, a color that was similar to Birkana’s energy. 

“May this crown bless whoever wears it. May this crown make the wearer feel the way I do when I am with you.” Red colored her cheeks as she tried to resist but I knew she couldn’t have wished for anything better. 

Enchanting took its time, to make sure the crown wouldn’t make the wearer stronger, that would be too much of a risk. The crown should feel like a reward. When you finally lay down after a long day at work, when you finally eat food when you have been starving. A peaceful feeling, for a monarch who can take care of us. Birkana wished the crown to be the last reward and trial so the future ruler could prove their worth. In a homage to the old trials the merfolk kingdoms would hold. Another cecaelia blacksmith crafted a reward for these trials. Sadly the merfolk have stopped with these trials, a feeling tells me it’s their greed. There was some kind of knighthood that had disbanded too… But that’s just the details. 

After I managed to enchant the crown, I went back to our home, where Birkana had already made herself comfortable in bed. The bed consisted of nearby leaves and vines we have collected nearby and made a comfortable bed. I placed the crown in a protective case, along with her other projects. Like a pair of sapphire earrings she made me, and an emerald ring. I laid down next to her and nuzzled her. She smiled in her sleep as she always did when I cuddled into her. I gently caressed her cheek and prayed to the forest spirit that she was right about this prince. 

*** 

The day of the royal ball has finally arrived. A sort of coronation. Everyone in the land has been invited. But many from our forest didn’t care much to join. Which I can’t blame them for, the life we have known is in the forest. The life the merfolk lived was too different… Even our concept of gender. The women from our forest thought it was weird and merfolk usually always asked questions why only women ever came. Not like the merfolk ever would understand nor care to understand. Some even see us as just mysterious and monstrous witches. 

Arriving at the palace, it seemed so majestic. But I still couldn’t help but feel an ominous feeling from it—distant screams. 

“Do we have to?” I asked her one last time, hoping she could feel it too. Hoping she would turn around. But she simply smiled and kissed me. 

“No need to worry. We’ll be fine.” 

The ballroom was filled with merfolk, all of them wearing something magnificent. I still fail in comparison to them. She suddenly let go of my hand. 

“I will just go and deliver this to the king.” She said, slipping away from me. I froze ever since then. I watched her walk up towards the thrones. They greet her in a friendly manner until the siblings of the crown prince stabbed him in the heart. Then the only thing I could hear was my screams as she fell to the ground too, slowly floating. I could see her essence, her soul parting from her body, disappearing along with the crown. 

I don’t remember the journey back home. I could only feel the loss and the grief. I tried to warn the forest of the future, how this is one step closer to our demise. Of course, they didn’t believe me and I hid in a cave, the same one where Birkana crafted the crown. One by one other young witches came to me, feeling the same ominous feeling. 

“When the time comes… We’ll make sure they pay.” 

That crown was the last good thing I made. My new purpose is to make sure the royal family pays. But I soon realized my mortality would be an issue. I needed to extend my lifespan somehow. Or switch from my decaying body at the very least… I can only trust myself to reenact my revenge… 

And now I’m here in front of your grave my love, in a face and body you wouldn’t recognize. No one has found the crown, the entire sea is just ruins. 

“You would hate me for everything that I have done… But the only thing I could fill the hole you left me with is hatred. Maybe now I could let go to join you in peace, but I think my heart has been too corrupted at this point…” I touch the gravestone with the only hint to find the crown, considering obliterating it. But I can’t keep disappointing her. 

“I think I’ll only be able to join you in death… Once the crown has been found by the one you would have deemed worthy. I need to make sure it happens…”