Now I know that I am mixing the mythology of the mermaid, sea nymphs and undines etc. here, but as a lot of them fall under the same group of water elementals, I hope that you'll forgive me. Please enjoy 😊🧜🏻‍♀️ And if you can think of any more mythical creatures that you would like included in imagines that I haven't already written about, please let me know😄

The Free Folk had many myths and legends. Stories of the gods and great beasts, of fantastical creatures and other worldly beings. But Tormund had always taken the old tales as nothing more than fanciful imaginings that were created to entertain as the group sat around the fires on the long nights beyond the wall. Stories conceived to bring some wonder to the lives of the children. But now, as he looked down at the creature on the floor, Tormund was having to rethink everything he thought that he knew.

A number of the men had gone out to the frozen expanse that had once been part of an ancient sea, intending to cut through the deep ice so that they could fish, and bring their much needed catch back to the encampment. But it wasn't just a pile of fish that the men had returned with, but a creature that no one could believe actually existed.

"How did ya catch it?" Tormund asked one of the men that had returned with the creature.

"We cut a bigger hole in tha ice than normal. We threw in tha net and left it like we always do. When we brought it back up, we thought we had a net full a fish, but we found this instead." The man replied, as he along with the others stared in continued disbelief at what they had brought home.

Tormund couldn't help but stare at the beautiful creature. She was like nothing he could ever have imagined in his wildest dreams. And as she looked up at all those around her, fear and confusion evident in her eyes, Tormund couldn't help but feel as though she needed protecting. That he needed to protect her.

She was more beautiful than anything he had seen, with hair as green as the grass in the warmer seasons, and eyes as pale blue as pure ice. But it was her tail that truly separated her from anything else he had witnessed. The powerful looking appendage appearing to be scaled just like the fish that had been caught with her. Each tiny, intricate plate, shimmering in the afternoon light.  

"Well, well, well. I never thought I'd ever see one a these again." Rowna said, as she pushed her way through to crowd. The old woman smiling reassuringly at the creature.

"Ya seen one of these before?" Tormund asked, listening as the old woman began to speak to the creature in a language that he had never heard before. The beautiful creature appearing to reply in the same.

"Of course, I have. It was a long time ago, but I seen er kind before. I was only a child when I came across one of er sisters. I thought that they had all passed into myth many moons ago. But it would appear as though I were wrong." The old woman chuckled, as she took the creature's hand. The two continuing to converse in the language that only the pair seemed to be privy to.

"Well? What is she?" Tormund asked. The big red man taking the words out of the mouths of everyone else present.

"That is a sea maid." Mance announced, as he came up to join the others. The older man smiling as the sea maid looked up at him.

"And a very beautiful one at that. I had heard they were exquisite, but I wasn't expecting anything quite like this." Mance continued, as he took off his fur cloak and draped it around the female's half naked form. The maid, smiling up at him, as he gently brushed his rough fingers across the skin of her cheek. The king beyond the wall, seemingly as besotted as every other male present.

Tormund thought back to all the old stories that he had ever listened to, yet still couldn't remember any tales of so called sea maids that appeared to be able to cast a spell on every man around.

"I heard stories from the old folk, and some of the other men at the Wall about sea maids. Some say that their songs are supposed to be able to lure sailors to their deaths. Their ships crashing on the rocks as they sail helplessly towards the beautiful creatures. Others say that they are the daughters of the Drowned God and are benevolent beings that aid Ironborns that are lost at sea, helping them to return home or nursing those that are hurt back to health. But in any case, all the stories have one similarity, and that is that sea maids have a special way with the hearts of men. Many men losing their minds if they betray a maid's love. Ya see, sea maids are born without a soul, only gaining one if they wed a mortal man and bare him children. But if he ever betrays her, if he ever breaks her heart, the man is fated to pay with his mind, and his life." Mance explained, as he watched Rowna leave the sea maid, and make her way over to where he and Tormund stood.

"Well, I know how she got ere. She got caught in a ferocious storm and was washed along with a violent current that brought her all tha way ere. She said that she must a banged er head, as tha next thing she knew, she was on the ice surrounded by men that were covered in the fur of animals.

"So, what do we do with er? I mean.......do we keep her ere?" Tormund asked, as he continued to stare at the ethereal creature, hoping that the old, grey haired woman next to him, wouldn't say that they had to return the sea maid back to where they found her.

"Well, she should go back ta the frozen sea, but she fears that the way back ta the open ocean may be blocked off due ta tha storm. She has asked fa permission ta stay until tha weather changes, then she will return ta er home." Rowna informed the two men, as they all looked at the maid.

"We would be honoured to be the home of a sea maid. Not often do you get to say that you have seen a living myth, never mind be able to give them a home." Mance chuckled, as he made his way back over to the maid and began trying to explain that she could stay. Rowna shaking her head as she watched the confused creature just smile at the man before her.

"What about er........well, about er tail?" Tormund enquired, furrowing his brows as the old woman began to chuckle.

"Well, they say that once a maid's tail is completely dry, it changes ta legs. I ain't ever seen it happen, but if she's happy ta stay on dry land fa so long, I can only think that she knows that she can survive. And she might look fragile, but er kind a strong little things. Tough, and surprisingly fierce when they need ta be. She'll be a good fit in tha camp." Rowna reassured, as she watched Mance completely forget about speaking to the maid, and now found himself lost in her eyes.

"I need ya ta help me get er ta me tent. She can't change out ere, and she can stay with me until its time fa er ta leave. Mance, and the others ain't no good ta me until they can break er spell. Ya the only one that ain't a drooling fool. Yet." The old woman continued, as she shook her head and pulled Tormund over to the creature. The big red man taking the maid into his arms and making for Rowna's tent. A long line of men following closely behind them. Tormund wondering why he was the only man present that still seemed in control of his senses.

"Ya know they also say that the only men that don't instantly fall under a maids spell, are tha men that they are destined ta be with. Ya see they use it as a defence. They make men fall in love with em so that they won't hurt em. The only men that they don't, are the ones that they want ta truly love em." Rowna said, as Tormund lay the maid down on the bed in the tent. His eyes firmly fixed on the beautiful face of the creature. A shudder flowing down his spine as she reached up her hand and softly touched his beard. Rowna doing her best to push all the other men out of her tent.

"Oh, and er name is (Y/n)." Rowna told Tormund. Smiling and exiting the tent too, so that Tormund could spend time with his maid.