The Queen of the Sea

The dawn sun draws the silhouette of a man sitting on rocks that barely rise from the earth, as if they were a tiny strand of hair rising toward the vast sea.

At midday, the sun’s rays escape the shadow of the clouds and make gleam a silver armor that the knight still wears, unable to forget his past.

The stars of the night watch him there, sitting, contemplating the sea, listening to the sweet melody that the waves bring in a whisper. At first, the knight thought that melody was a product of his imagination, a hidden desire to find comfort in those days of pain.


But after several days and nights sitting on those rocks, he convinced himself that the waves were singing a song in a strange language that he could not understand, but whose delicate notes brought him beautiful images, joy, and love for existence itself.

However, that song came with tears that multiplied with each bubble in the sea’s foam. A difficult past and sorrowful memories were the basis of that song, which only the knight seemed to hear.

So passed the sun each morning watching the knight who looked at the sea, thoughtful and silent. So passed the moon illuminating his armor.

It was a morning when the knight rose and with haste began to undo the knots that held the thick metal plates to his body. With care, he placed his shield and sword, his helm and breastplate, his gauntlets and all the pieces of his armor in a safe place.

Barefoot, he walked feeling the tickle of the sand and the cold of the water. He walked until his arms held him at the edge between the sky and the sea. He swam on until the horizon, listening to the waves, following the wind, asking the gulls.

Fate brought the knight to the middle of the ocean where mythical creatures usually wander aimlessly, and the knight heard the melody more strongly than before.

Resting on a nearby sandy cay, the knight waited again, this time listening to the song with greater clarity, trying to understand its meaning and, even more so, the reason why those delicious notes made him forget his pain.

Suddenly the song stopped.

The knight had begun to doze off lulled by the melody, and the sudden silence made him open his eyes. In front of him, a beautiful figure had knelt and was looking at him intently.

A beautiful curly hair and penetrating brown eyes amazed the knight, who blushed at her presence. Totally soaked, she smiled without taking her eyes off him.

-Hello,- said the knight.
-Hello,- she replied, not stopping to look at him or smile.
-Are you the one who was singing? -
-Yes… although I never thought a knight would come all the way here to listen to me sing. -
-It’s a beautiful voice, and even more beautiful the melody. -

The beautiful woman blushed.

-Of course it’s not, it’s a sad song… in fact, I wasn’t singing for anyone, only for myself. -
-I’m sorry if I offended you by listening to it or coming all the way here. -
-Don’t apologize,- she replied, slightly opening her beautiful lips -I feel happy that someone likes it, although I don’t think they understand anything about it. -
-The truth is I don’t understand it, but it still seems beautiful to me. -

The knight stood up, and she followed him, showing a slightly shorter height than the knight. Both smiled when they found themselves so close to each other.

She looked so beautiful and fragile, yet at the same time strong and energetic. They talked a bit about everything, about the past and the future, about the stars and the moon, about weapons and the waves of the sea.

Thus the knight learned that he was in the presence of the Queen of the Seas, to whom the salty breeze and the movement of the waves, the cry of the gulls and the heat of the sun were subject.

Little by little, a feeling of admiration grew in the knight’s heart, turning into something more, something the knight did not expect to happen.

Thus, unable to resist that feeling that roared and emanated everywhere, demanding to be expressed, the knight approached her once more and interrupted the entire conversation with a kiss on her cheek. She took his hand and looked down sorrowfully, then placed a kiss on his lips.

-I’m sorry- said the knight, sorrowful for his boldness.
-Don’t apologize, it was something I desired but would not have dared to ask you.

Talking and smiling, taken by the hand, they saw the surprised sun saying goodbye at the horizon. Kissing, they found the moon that could not stop looking at them surprised, their faces full of joy.

-I would like to stay here forever- whispered the knight to her ear.
-You must not do that- she replied, pressing her head to his chest. -You will die soon here.
-It doesn’t matter to me.

She suddenly pulled away and looked at him fiercely.

-Doesn’t it matter to you?… It does to me, I want you to live and to see each other again.

It was then that the veil of bitterness covering the knight’s soul slipped away and was carried off by the wind. It was then that the knight began to dream again. She took his hands again and, with tenderness, lifted his face to kiss him. Then she continued saying:

-It’s late, you must return to your home, eat something, sleep, and be ready for our next meeting, which I look forward to with great anticipation-
-I will, but I do not wish to return there-
-Take this with you and return to your home-

Then the queen of the sea embraced the knight strongly, lifting the debris of his heart, squeezing his soul which cried out in satisfaction at the gesture of that beautiful lady.

Thus, in a kiss at the midpoint of the night, the knight began his long retreat and made his way toward his home. Upon arriving at the beach, he once again put on his armor and directed his steps toward the town.

The stars were dimmed by the glow of the torches that illuminated the town. Too many torches lit for it to be such an advanced hour of the night.

From the hill from which the path descends toward the town, the knight saw a mob enraged that had cornered a small creature. The forest fairy looked with fear at the angry faces and the knight, wielding sword and shield, charged against the people of the town.