Merman Husband: Part Six
Your ceiling was adorned with a mural of what the water's surface looked like from below. On the morning that you and Leith were married, he had sent in some of the best artists from across the world to your palace to paint it.
"It will be hard for you to travel to my home," the merman had said, his soft eyes fixed on you with an intensity that, at the time, you didn't understand. "So I wanted you to see what I see when I wake up there. That way, when we sleep apart, we will still wake up to the same sight."
Back then, you had dismissed it as nothing more than a way for him to flaunt his wealth. Now, after hearing his ultimatum, you thought of that mural again. How you had dismissed it. Why had you? He had always been earnest with you. Even if he didn't love you, he at least cared. That was far from the worst thing an arranged husband could do.
It had been two days since Leith had told you to give his voice back or that he would leave. That he would keep your secret but that he would leave. Be gone. That you wouldn't get to see him every day. It would solve your problem with Eidhneán. He would never know that you lied. That when you took the Spirit of the Sea back, it wasn't the first time you had picked Leith over him. After tomorrow, if you said nothing, then Leith would leave. You would stay married on paper. It would be everything that you wanted.
Yet, the idea of that made your chest ache. Could you really live your life only seeing him two or three times a year? The rumors that Eidhneán was the "real King" or "real consort" would only spread. It would hurt Leith's reputation in your Kingdom, and likely would cause some unrest with the Elven Kingdom as he would never be your official consort.
Just after the morning of the third day, you slipped from your chambers to his. At the center of his marble walled room was a large, clear pool. Leith was sleeping at the bottom of it, his tail curled up around his torso in a way that reminded you of a serpent curling in on itself. His fins flicking slightly in his sleep.
On the golden table by his pool sat the sea grape wine that he kept just for you. He had infused it with magic so whenever you drank it, you would be able to breathe under water. You had only used it a few times because the salty taste was for a taste you had not acquired, but you wanted to talk to him.
Pouring the cup, and downing it so you could choke down the taste, you kept your eyes fixed on where the merman was curled up on the seaweed mattress. It took a few moments for the tingling in your chest that indicated the magic was working to start. You didn't understand at all how it worked, but that didn't matter. It worked, and you couldn't wait another minute to speak to Leith.
Stripping off your clothes, you changed into the merfolk garb that was always laid out on the table as well. A seal skin top and skirt that wouldn't get heavy in the water. As you tugged it on, you glanced at Leith again. He was still sleeping.
You walked into the pool, careful as you sank into it. Cold water washed over you, making you tremble, before you fully submerged. You don't know why it always seemed worse before you submerged, but at least it didn't feel freezing once you were.
While you swam down, the salt water washed over you, filling your chest with its stinging coldness until you breathed it out. How did the potion keep you from drowning? It didn't matter. You weren't going to let yourself be distracted.
When you reached Leith's bed, you pulled yourself onto it. He stirred, blinking his blue eyes blearily. A small smile tugging at his lips.
"Good morning, Wife," he muttered in that wrong, metallic voice. "You came to greet me for a change. How pleasant."
"I don't want you to go back to your Kingdom," you said, looking down at him from where you were propped up.
He raised an eyebrow curiously. "So, you'll give me my real voice back, then?"
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