The Daughters of the Air

Late in the night, when everyone was asleep, the little mermaid stood at the railing of the ship and waited for the dawn. She knew that when the sun rose, she would die.

Then she saw her sisters rise up from the sea. Their beautiful long hair was gone — cut short. Their faces were pale and sad.

"We went to the Sea Witch," they said. "We gave her our hair in exchange for a way to save you. She gave us a knife. Before the sun rises, you must go into the tent and kill the prince. When his blood touches your feet, you will become a mermaid again and you can come home with us. Hurry — the sky is already turning red!"

The little mermaid took the knife and went to the tent. She pulled back the curtain. The prince and his bride were sleeping peacefully. The prince was smiling softly in his sleep.

She held the knife over him. Her hand shook.

Then she put the knife down. She could not do it. She loved him. She walked to the railing, threw the knife far into the sea, and jumped in after it.

She felt her body dissolving into foam. But she did not feel death.

Instead, she felt herself rising — rising up through the air. She was light and transparent, like air itself. Around her floated hundreds of other beings, beautiful and weightless.

"Who are you?" she asked — and was amazed to hear her voice again, clear and beautiful.

"We are the daughters of the air," they answered. "Like you, we have no immortal soul. But we can earn one by doing good. We fly to places in the world where people are sick and suffering, and we bring cool breezes and the scent of flowers and healing. After three hundred years of good deeds, we receive a soul and join the everlasting happiness of heaven. You tried to earn a soul with all your heart and strength. You suffered greatly and chose love over revenge. Now you can join us and earn your soul the same way."

The little mermaid looked back at the ship. She could see the prince and his bride standing at the railing, searching the water for her. They looked sad. She kissed the bride's forehead gently — the bride could not see or feel it. She smiled at the prince one last time.

Then she rose with the daughters of the air up into the rose-red clouds of the morning sky.

---VOCABULARY---

**coral** — a hard, often red or pink material made by tiny sea creatures, found on the ocean floor; often forms beautiful natural structures

**amber** — a hard yellow-brown material, very clear, like glass; here used to describe the colour and look of the palace windows

**a pearl** — a small, round, shining white jewel that forms inside an oyster shell; very valuable

**a mermaid** — a legendary creature that is half woman and half fish, living in the sea

**a wreath** — a circle of flowers or leaves worn on the head for decoration or as a symbol of rank

**a shipwreck** — an accident in which a ship is destroyed, usually in a storm, and sinks in the sea

**unconscious** — in a sleep-like state, not awake and not aware of anything; often after an accident or injury

**a whirlpool** — a fast circle of water that pulls things down into it, like water going down a drain

**a polyp / polypi** — a sea creature with long arm-like parts that grabs and holds onto things; here described as half-animal, half-plant

**a skeleton** — the bones of a dead person or animal

**a cauldron** — a large round metal pot used for cooking over a fire, often connected with witches and magic

**graceful** — moving in a smooth, beautiful, and elegant way

**a foundling** — a child (or person) who is found without any family or home, and whose origins are unknown

**agony** — very strong and terrible physical pain

**transparent** — so clear that you can see right through it, like glass or clean water

**to dissolve** — to become liquid or disappear into liquid, like sugar dissolving in water

**ethereal** — very light, delicate, and beautiful, as if belonging to another world rather than this one

---QUESTIONS---

**Chapter : The World Under the Sea** . Where did the Sea King's family live, and what was their palace made of? . How was the youngest princess different from her sisters in character? . What did the youngest princess have in the centre of her garden, and where did it come from? . What did the princesses learn from their grandmother about the world above the sea?

**Chapter : The Prince** . What was happening on the ship when the little mermaid first saw it? . Why did the little mermaid want to save the prince when the ship sank? . Why did the prince not know that the mermaid had saved him? . After returning home, what did the little mermaid do every day?

**Chapter : The Deal with the Sea Witch** . What did the grandmother say happens to mermaids when they die? How is it different for humans? . Why was the path to the Sea Witch so frightening? . What were the two prices the little mermaid had to pay to become human? . What would happen to her if the prince married someone else? . Why did she not say goodbye to her family before leaving?

**Chapter : Life at the Palace** . When the prince first found her on the beach, why could she not explain where she came from? . How did the little mermaid show the prince what she could do, even without a voice? . Who did the prince think had saved him from the shipwreck, and why was this a painful mistake?

**Chapter : The Wedding** . Why did the prince decide to marry the princess from the neighbouring kingdom? . How did the little mermaid feel during the wedding? What was she thinking about? . Why did the little mermaid dance so beautifully on the ship that last evening?

**Chapter : The Daughters of the Air** . What did her sisters offer her, and what had they given up to get the witch's help? . Why did the little mermaid throw the knife into the sea instead of using it? . Who are the Daughters of the Air, and how can they earn an immortal soul? . The story ends with the little mermaid rising into the sky. Is this a happy ending or a sad ending? What do you think?