Page 143 of Sea's Secret
“No–of course, not,” Peter said with a smile.
“Well, I am going to–” I said, looking at Peter. He needed to leave with Gwendolyn, so she would not panic when I entered the water.
“Gwendolyn, let’s go back to the castle; we should brainstorm ideas about what could happen in a story where there is a lost lake.”
Gwendolyn laughed and nodded. Peter escorted her through the forest, and I waited a few moments.
“Are we safe?” Dominick called from the water.
“I told Peter to go–as we were about to become rather improper.”
“What do you mean, mermaid?” Dominick said, raising his eyebrows up and down, teasingly.
Without another word, I ran into the water and straight for Dominick’s arms. He picked me up, twirled me around, and tossed me. With a splash, I sank under the surface, and while, yes, I did not have a tail, when I entered the water, I could still hold my breath for long periods of time, dive deeper than humans could, and see under water just the same as before. Except, I did not like that kind of water very much, fresh water. It was murky.
I rose to the surface to see Dominick had completely submerged himself as well.
“What do you think of this lake?”
“I am sorry, Dominick, but I do not like it, not very much. It is trying to be a sea, but it is a horrible imposter.”
Dominick chuckled. “Come here–” He took me in his arms.“We are getting married tomorrow,” he said, tenderly, brushing hair from my face.
“Yes, can you believe it? Are we sure everything is ready?” I asked.
“Yes, the ship sets sail at dawn. Finn spoke with your father, mother, and sisters, and they should be out in the harbor, above the sea. Sands is in charge of the crew on board the ship.”
“And your mother, she really will not mind us being gone for a while on a honeymoon trip, as you call it.”
“She will miss us. She loves you, probably, just as much as me.”
It was true, the Queen was kinder than I had ever dreamed, taking me in as her own, and even meeting with my own mother. I had spent many afternoons in the palace and in the sea with my mother, too, and getting to know her was like getting to know a piece of myself.
“I am excited. I love our adventures.”
“Yes, but not as many near death experiences this time, okay? This should be a relaxing trip,” Dominick said with a smile.
“I saw those maps you were prepping. You have some adventures in mind–any treasure?”
“I may have a few things planned, but they are surprises, and you should know that you are all the treasure I will ever need,” he said, then reached down to kiss my lips.
“I want you to know, I really do not have kind feelings for this small false sea of horrible fresh water–”
“Lake,” Dominick chuckled.
“Dominick, I do like adventures, but I do prefer the sea, and salt in my water.”
“Well, there is not much salt water on land. I guess we shall have to stick to traveling upon the seas, which I must admit is exactly what I would prefer as well. I just wanted to make sure you had this human experience of a lake. Seems important.”
“Water should always have salt in it.”
“Again, Meria, if a human drank only seawater as you did, they would die. There are stories of men doing so and going mad.”
“So am I a human–completely, or am I still a mermaid just without her tail?”
“Well, you will officially be my mermaid tomorrow–and then after that, forever. We can travel all of the seas.”
“For ever and ever.”