Page 8 of Sea's Secret

“Can you get him?”

“Fine–” Rina sang with a sigh. While Rina was my closest sister, she did not like my closeness to our cousin Finn. Finn was older than me, not by much. We were born during the same cycle, and had been the closest of friends for all our lives, but my sisters thought of him as the little brother, and pest, they never had.

“Finn is a good merman,” I reminded her.

“I know he is, but he is just–” she shrugged.

I remembered all the times Finn and I had annoyed my sisters. For some reason, they forgave me, but always remembered Finn as being the irritating one.

“He is so annoying,” she sang, then swam to the entrance to my room. “But because I love you, I will fetch him.”

She left, and I watched myself in the mirror.

“Here is the abalone strand,” Coral sang, swimming through my door. The color was a close shade to my tail, which made me happy. I pulled on my white tail covering and then the abalone strand. She kissed me on my cheek once I was done. “You look beautiful, sister.” Then she swam out of my room. Coral was seven years older than me, and like all my sisters, was a mother, so I wondered where her children would be when we were all at the ceremony. I usually watched all my nieces and nephews, but that evening, I would be at the ceremony–although part of me, really would have rather watched the children.

“I heard you needed me?” Finn asked, his familiar melody such a comfort as he swam up to my open door, smiling. His silver tail reflected in the Marren Lights, streaming in through my window. His tanned skin and bright smile brought me peace. His blond hair was always cut short, but still floated around him.

“Finn, I’m not as excited as I thought I would be,” I sang, adjusting the tail dressing.

“That’s because Edmar is boring,” Finn scowled.

“He is not; he's dependable.”

“And you want that in your husband?”

“Of course–”

“I mean, is that all you want?” he asked, swimming over to my window and sitting down next to it.

“I love him.”

“You think you love him,” he sang, picking up one of the seashells, sitting on my window ledge. I often collected seashells and had discovered such a wide variety of colors and shapes over the years. I watched as Finn tossed the shell up, then caught it when it sank down.

“Rina just told me that I love him, and I am pretty sure I do.”

“Yes, because that sounds like the right way to realize you love someone,” he smirked sarcastically.

“Finn, I’m marrying him. I’m sorry you don’t like him, but it’s all been planned.”

“And isn’t that awful!?”

“No, I’m grateful. I’m not sure how I could have chosen one from all the mermen if I hadn’t had my father find someone for me.”

“Your heart would guide you,” he answered matter-of-factly. “That’s how love and marriage is supposed to work. That’s how it was for all your sisters. They followed their hearts.”

“We’ve been over this,” I argued. “I needed help. I do not trust myself, and—as a Princess of Marren—”

“Yes, yes, it’s your duty to marry a good merman; I get it. I just want you to be truly happy. You know that I never agreed with your choice to have your father choose someone for you, because I wanted you to find someone—”

“Not boring?” I cut him off. “I know, but not everyone can be like you—seeking out adventure at every turn of the tide.”

“I do love adventure—and if you allowed yourself to think freely, think for yourself, you would realize that you love it, too.”

“Finn—”

“Okay, fine. I will try to do as you ask. I know you try to fight against your rebellious nature, but I would rather have you nurture it. Yet again, not my choice.”

“I’ll be fine. As long as I can have as many merlings as possible and get to care for them.” I paused, thinking about becoming a mother, and that caused a warmth to flow through me.

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