Page 67 of Entangled

“You are? Why? What about?” asked Sebastian, not knowing exactly what they were up to, and fearing it had something to do with their wedding. He hoped Merrow wasn’t going to back out now.

“Yes, Elric, we need your help,” agreed Merrow, her gaze drifting over to Sebastian. “Sebastian, I’m sorry that I didn’t talk to you about this first, but you should know that I have had second thoughts about getting married.”

“I know,” he said softly. “I’ve heard.”

“You know? How?”

Now, he’d done it. He’d have to tell her the truth. If he didn’t, and she found out he’d sent a spy, she’d be furious that he’d lied. That isn’t what he wanted at all. A marriage based on lies was never going to work.

“I have to admit Merrow, I figured you didn’t want to marry me and I wondered why. That is why I had Hitch spy on you.”

“You did?” all the women said at once.

“Oh, boy. You are in trouble now, you fool.” Elric hopped off the table laughing. He zipped over to the stove. “Who wants tea? Mayhap a little pazzleberry pie too? We need some refreshments because this is about to get entertaining.”

“Sebastian? You were spying on me?” Merrow looked hurt.

“I’m sorry, sweetheart. I should have just come out and asked you. I guess deep down I was afraid to hear your answer and that is why I was hesitant to even know.”

“You were deceitful,” said Merrow, her eyes narrowing. She crossed her arms over her chest.

“Merrow, you weren’t honest with Sebastian either,” her mother pointed out. “If you had been, he would be included in trying to figure out how you can still marry him and stay a sea nymph.”

“What? Is that what this is all about?” asked Sebastian.

Merrow let out a long, deep sigh. “Mother is right. I should have come to you with my concerns. Can you ever forgive me for going behind your back?”

“Only if you can forgive me.” Sebastian took her hand and kissed it.

“I’m going to retch if you two keep that up. Now do any of you want tea or not?” The elf held a kettle of hot water.

“No, thank you,” said each of the women in turn.

“Nay,” answered Sebastian, his eyes still fixed on Merrow.

“Fine!” Elric slammed down the tea kettle and his arms were waving above his head again. He was a strange little man who seemed to fly off the handle with tangents for no reason at all. “I get woken up at the crack of dawn and can’t even have a cup of tea before I’m being bothered by fools and big oafs. What do you all want from me?”

“Elric, I was hoping you’d know a way for me to marry Sebastian and still stay a sea nymph instead of turning human,” Merrow explained.

“Why in the name of Belcoum would you want to do that?” Elric cursed, using the name of Mura’s god of the underworld.

“Because I like being an undine.” Merrow shrugged. “I also want to be able to raise my child as a sea nymph. Is that so bad?”

“Will you for sure become human as soon as we’re married?” asked Sebastian, just to make sure he understood this and how it worked.

“Yes,” said Merrow. “I’ll give up my tail and my life as a water nymph and be landbound and human forever from then on. There is no reversing my decision.”

“You said you’d gain a soul,” Sebastian pointed out. “Sweetheart, would it really be so bad to be human and have a soul? Your mother is human now, yet she is still living with all the sea nymphs, although she’s on land.”

“I’d like to make something clear,” Dee spoke up. “I only tolerated being human because I did not have a choice when I was forced to marry an evil man I hated. However, this time it will be my daughter’s choice to become human. It is her life. She is right to question it and think things through before making such an important decision.”

“Sea nymph, I don’t know how you’d be able to do what you are asking me about,” said Elric. “Sorry, I can’t help.”

“Oh. All right, then.” Merrow’s sad eyes turned downward. “Thank you, anyway, Elric. I had to ask.” She turned and started walking to the door.

“Wait a minute,” said Sebastian, not wanting Merrow to have to give up all she loved just for him. “Elric, you said you are a messenger of the gods of Mura.”

“Yep. That’s right. What of it?” Elric zipped over to the door. “Do you need a message delivered to them? It’s not common or usual to have a human request the audience of a god and not advised at all.”