The Prince

Her grandmother put a wreath of white lilies in her hair and eight oysters on her tail to show her royal rank. The little mermaid rose up through the water, light as a bubble.

The sun had just set when she came to the surface. The sky was red and gold, and the evening star was shining. Near her was a large ship with three masts. Hundreds of coloured lamps were lit on deck, and she could hear music and laughter.

She swam to one of the cabin windows and looked in. She saw many people dressed in fine clothes, but the most handsome of them all was a young prince. He had dark eyes and dark hair, and today was his birthday. He was about sixteen years old.

The little mermaid could not take her eyes off him. She watched the fireworks burst in the sky above the ship and reflected in the dark water below. She watched the prince laugh and shake hands with the sailors. She stayed near the ship all evening.

Then the weather changed. Black clouds came, the wind grew strong, and huge waves began to rock the ship. The little mermaid was not afraid — she swam easily in the storm. But the ship was in great danger. The mast broke, water poured inside, and the ship began to sink.

The little mermaid saw the prince fall into the sea. She dived down, then swam up to find him among the broken wood and crashing waves. He was unconscious and sinking. She held his head above the water and swam with him through the storm, keeping him safe all night.

When morning came, the storm was over. The little mermaid swam with the prince to a sandy shore near a beautiful white building. She laid him gently on the warm sand and waited.

Soon, a young girl came out of the building and found the prince lying on the shore. He woke up and saw her face. He smiled at her. He did not see the mermaid who had saved him, because she was hiding behind some rocks in the water. He did not know she existed.

The little mermaid watched as people came and carried the prince inside. Then she swam sadly back into the sea.