The Selkie's Promise
In a quaint little village bordering the glistening Irish sea, life unfolded through the rhythm of waves and salty whispers of the wind. The inhabitants were simple souls, dotting their existence with fishing nets, salt-stained wools, and folkloric tales, one of them being the legend of the Selkies.
Selkies were believed to be mystical creatures that dwelled under the sea, straddling between the realm of humans and seals. Their magic was such that they could shed their seal skin, transforming into beautiful humans. Trapped in this strange dichotomy, they were figures of allure, sympathy, and caution.
In the heart of this very village lived a young widow named Fiona. She was blessed with a heart full of love and a son named Ewan who craved the sea's mysteries. Even at the tender age of seven, Ewan was fascinated by the tales of the Selkies, a fascination fuelled by the lullabies his mother sang of their enchanting world.
One windy afternoon, while casting their nets for the day's catch, Ewan noticed an unusual shimmering stone among the pebbles. It was a piece of purest obsidian, pitch-black yet intoxicatingly radiant. It glistened like an eye of the night sky. Fiona recognized it immediately from the folklore. It was a Selkie's skin!
Intending to return the skin, Ewan carefully placed it beside his pillow that night, lest it gets lost. As his eyelids drooped, a soft shimmer filled his room, and a beautiful woman appeared. He was not scared, rather the sight of her put him at ease. She was a Selkie.
The Selkie introduced herself as Morrigan. She thanked Ewan for picking up her skin and promised to grant him one wish in return. Ewan pondered for a moment. He missed his father, but he had a more pressing concern. He wished for the village to prosper and his mum to worry less about making ends meet.
Morrigan appreciated young Ewan's selfless wish. She promised that the village would experience a bountiful catch of fish from that day onward, enough to satiate their needs and barter for their livelihood.
As promised, the village entered an era of prosperity. The nets came up heavier each day, bringing smiles on the fisherfolk's faces. Fiona's creased brows of worry ironed out as she watched her son growing amidst this newfound affluence. She knew nothing of the Selkie's promise but thanked the sea for its generosity.
On every full moon, Ewan would place the Selkie skin near his window, allowing Morrigan to return to her human form and spend time with him. Their bond deepened, and he came to know the world beneath the waves, how the life there was connected with theirs and the balance maintained by the Selkies.
Years passed, and Ewan came of age. He became a visionary, always advocating respect for the sea and its dwellers, embodying the lessons he learned from his Selkie friend. His teachings nurtured a symbiotic relationship between the sea and the villagers, ensuring prosperity without plunder.
When the time came for Morrigan to bid goodbye, she made Ewan promise to throw the Selkie's skin back into the sea, restoring it to its rightful owner, and maintaining the balance of nature. Ewan did as promised, mindful of his duty towards his people and his mystical friends.
The tale of the Selkie's promise became a legend, with every generation passing it down, ensuring that the villagers' gratitude towards the sea remained undiluted. The sea continued to provide, and the people continued to respect its gifts, making the village an undying emblem of the harmony between nature and mankind.
The story of the Selkie's promise, Ewan's wisdom, and the flourishing village stands testimony to the fact that when intentions are pure, the universe conspires to bring about prosperity, maintaining a sacred bond between the realms of humans and unknown.