Freedom

/ Liz H-H

Many thanks to Jenne Gray and C.E. Ayr for their photo prompt, THE UNICORN CHALLENGE.  (04/25/2025). No more than 250 words in length.

© Ayr/Gray

Early morning footfalls changed from soft wet pad through dew labored grass, to sharp crunch of gravel still held by night’s razor sharp chill. A faint scent of black coffee hung in the silent air; no one was in the mood for chat. They had a wrong to right.

‘Twould have been better done had they acted under the last full moon, better yet had they never stolen from the sea what was never theirs to begin with. Five there were, of those who had known, though to be truthful, all of the village knew. But tradition gave the right, folklore supported possible happy endings. They pled ignorance for possible bliss.

There was no issue from their union, no web-fingered children to unite the two worlds. Patric had been kind, had grown to love her in his way, and her dark brown eyes seemed to speak what her silenced tongue could not. All assumed she was happy and loved him, as well, never sure enough, though, to return her pelt. Now she was near death.

They passed through the gate, the stone pillars that had always been. Patric took the lead, his small stolen wife wrapped in her own fur now, cradled in his arms, priest keeping pace, kindness suppressing his shudders as the fur gathered and melded itself around her failing body. Brothers Tor and Ralph followed, and lastly, young Jenny of the glen.

Laid down in the shallows, was her movement from waves? Or a return of life?

© Liz Husebye Hartmann (2025)

19 thoughts on “Freedom”

  1. This was a really good story, and that’s before I’d read the comments and learned about a selkie. After reading about selkies the story was even better. Is Patric innocent or does he know she’s not human?

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  5. It’s a tale of Selkies – but it’s a tale of ordinary life and love too, Liz.
    I’ve known ‘selkies’ seaarching for the skin they left at the altar.
    Beautifully written – and in the language of the fairy tale/myth too.

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  8. There are a million tales of such a relationship, Liz, and none with a happy ending.
    Great piece, masterfully created atmosphere, we walked with them to the shoreline, hearts in mouth…

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