Chapter 18

Eighteen

“ M errow? Merrow, honey, it’s me. Sebastian.”

Merrow slowly opened her eyes to discover herself in a bed in the castle with Sebastian standing over her, holding her hands.

“Where am I?”

“You are in Evandorm Castle,” he told her in a soft voice. “How do you feel?”

“I’m fine. Why am I in bed?” She sat up, holding her hand to her stomach. “Oh, now I remember. I am sorry for throwing up on the floor.”

“No one minds.”

“Speak for yourself, you big oaf. Unless you’re the one cleaning up the mess, then you’d mind.” Elric crawled atop the bed, sitting there staring at her.

“Is something wrong, Elric?” she asked, knowing the little man had something to say.

“You’re pregnant, that’s what’s wrong,” spat Elric, making Sebastian cringe. He had wanted to be the one to tell her.

“I am?” Her worried eyes traveled over to Sebastian. “Oh. That’s not good, is it?”

“We’re not exactly sure,” Sebastian answered. “No one here really knows a lot about…about your kind. However, Elric thinks it is unwise to get married now.”

“Why?” Her gaze flew over to the elf.

“That’s not what I said.” Elric crossed his arms over his chest and raised his chin in the air. “I said, you should have gotten married first. Now she’ll be a human trying to birth a sea creature.”

“Nymph. Say nymph, not creature,” Sebastian told the elf under his breath.

“Oh. That is not good.” Merrow felt excited at being pregnant but was worried since what the elf said was true. “It could be dangerous, I suppose. If it is a girl.”

“What do you mean?” asked Sebastian.

“All girls born to sea nymphs are nymphs,” Merrow explained. “But if I have a boy, it could be human since you are human, Sebastian.”

“But…if you have a nymph and you are human, how will we raise her?”

“That might be tricky,” she said in deep thought. “I don’t really know how that would work.”

“We need to find someone to ask. Someone who knows all about birthing sea nymphs,” suggested Sebastian.

“I know the perfect person to ask. My mother! After all, she birthed fifty-one children.”

“And your brother was a nymph too,” he pointed out.

“Yes. But my parents were both nymphs. I am sure that is why.”

“How can we contact her?” Sebastian let go of her hands and stood up straight.

“The only way to do that would be to go into the sea and call her with my mind.” Merrow started to get out of bed, but laid back down when the pain in her belly cramped up once more.

“You’re not going anywhere,” Sebastian told her, heading for the door. “You stay here. I will do it for you.”

“Don’t be silly. You can’t do that!” Elric was at it again. He didn’t seem to be a very positive or supportive man at all.

“I’ve spoken to Merrow in my mind before. I can do it. Just give me a chance.” Sebastian left the room before anyone could stop him.

It wasn’t long before Sebastian had boarded The Spectrum with the Blackseed brothers as well as with the ornery little elf. They took the ship far out on the Masked Sea, trying to remember the exact area where the portal had opened before. It would be their best bet to contact Merrow’s family on the other side, the closer they could get to the portal.

“Stop here,” said Sebastian. “I think this was the area.”

Darium and his brothers stopped the boat and dropped anchor.

“Go ahead,” said Rhys. “Call Merrow’s family with your mind.”

“I’ll try.” Sebastian closed his eyes and thought really hard but nothing happened. “It’s not working.”

“Perhaps you should get into the water to do it.” This suggestion came from Elric. Sebastian didn’t really like that idea. Especially since he didn’t doubt the elf might convince the others to leave him there and go back to shore without him. After all, up until today they’d all been enemies. He wasn’t sure how fast the other kingdoms would really accept him after all the horrible things his uncle did.

“I don’t know,” he answered.

“If you want to contact sea nymphs you need to do it from the water,” said Elric. “It’s a conductor of sorts.”

“Is that what you all think?” Sebastian asked the Blackseed brothers.

“We have no idea,” Darium answered with a shrug. “You are the one who said you’ve done this before.”

“Sea nymphs are a complete mystery to us,” added Rhys.

“Well? Are you getting into the water or not?” Zann nodded to the side of the ship.

“I’m not sure.” Sebastian looked at the men who were staring at him disappointedly with their arms crossed over their chests. He got the distinct feeling the Blackseed brothers considered this a waste of their time. He shouldn’t care what others thought of him, just like Merrow told him. Sadly, he still did. “All right. I’ll give it a shot.” He stood up, taking off his weapon belt and boots. Then he removed his tunic. “If Elric thinks it’ll work, I’ll try it. He’s a sage and supposedly knows more than the rest of us. I’ll go into the water and call for any of Merrow’s family with my mind. But if you see a portal opening, be sure to pull me out at once. I don’t want to get sucked through it and end up on the other side.”

“Got it,” said Rhys with a nod.

“It might be better if you did,” grumbled the elf. Sebastian thought it best to ignore Elric’s comment.

After lowering himself into the water, Sebastian took a deep breath and dove down. He called in his mind for Merrow’s family, hoping at least one of them would hear him. Dee! Melite and Galene. Merrow needs you. Please, hear me. She is ill and I don’t know how to help her. You need to come right away.

He resurfaced several times, but by now the sun was disappearing and it was getting late. He’d had a long day and was tired and drained. All he wanted to do was to go back to his castle and curl up in bed with his arms around Merrow.

“It didn’t work,” he said, after breaking the surface, feeling more than defeated. Mayhap he didn’t do it right. But even if this was so, there was no one who knew anything about this to ask for guidance right now. “No one heard me.” He put his hands on the side of the boat and pulled himself up.

“Don’t be so sure,” said Stone. “It seems your mind is strong enough to call the sirens after all.”

“What do you mean?” Sebastian flipped over the side and into the boat.

“Look for yourself.” Zann nodded at the sea.

After wiping the water from his eyes, Sebastian looked out at the water. At first he didn’t notice anything. Then he saw it. One by one heads popped up in the water until they surrounded the ship completely. They kept coming until there were so many that Sebastian started wondering if all fifty of Merrow’s siblings had answered his summons for help.

“Oh, I see,” he said, feeling a little intimidated to have so many of them there when his entire army was back at Macada Castle and he had no means to protect himself whatsoever. He hoped Merrow’s father wouldn’t show up as well. The last thing he wanted after all they’d been through was an attack by undines, especially from the God of the Sea.

“For the last time, there is nothing wrong with me. Now step aside and let me leave. I need to find Sebastian.” Merrow was fully dressed and standing at the open door. Sebastian had requested several of Evandorm’s soldiers to guard her door. She’d been told he did it to protect her, but for some reason this didn’t feel any different than when he’d held her as a prisoner at his own castle.

“I’m sorry, but we have our orders,” answered one of the guards. “We can’t let you leave the room.”

“Then fetch the lady of the castle. Or one of the Blackseed brothers’ wives or mother,” she instructed.“I need to talk to someone. Someone with power. Yes, call the women, please.”

The guards didn’t have a chance to answer before she heard a sloshing sound coming from down the corridor. She peeked out the door to see Sebastian, half undressed and soaking wet. With him, to her pleasant surprise, were her mother and sisters Melite and Galene.

“Mother! Sisters!” Merrow pushed past the guards and ran to them, throwing her arms around the women.

“I’m here too,” she heard Sebastian say. She looked over at him, realizing her mistake. He seemed so sad that she hadn’t greeted him in the same way as she did the women. Merrow threw her arms around Sebastian and kissed him firmly on the lips.

“Now, that’s better.” His arms encircled her waist, pulling her closer.

“Why is my family here?” she asked him.

“It’s not just us, Merrow,” said Melite. “All of your sisters came to your aid when we heard Sebastian’s call for help.”

“Sebastian summoned you?” She looked from the women over to Sebastian. “You did it with your mind?” she asked him in disbelief.

“Yes,” he answered, standing up straighter, seeming so proud. “I did it the way you taught me.”

“I see.” She almost laughed aloud. Merrow supposed it could be true, but it was highly unlikely. After all, he was only a human. It took someone with magic to be able to call with one’s mind and to then be heard through a portal and into a faraway land. Either way, she was touched that he’d do this for her, and loved him for it even more.

“Merrow, are you ill?” asked her mother, putting her arm around her shoulders. “Sebastian said he preferred to let you explain what is going on.”

“You didn’t tell them?” she asked Sebastian.

“No. Not yet.” Sebastian cleared his throat. “I thought mayhap we could do that together. In the privacy of my own castle. Our castle,” he quickly corrected himself.

Merrow wasn’t sure how she felt about going back to Macada Castle. She liked being around the Blackseed brothers and their wives. Evandorm felt safer. More like home. Everyone here had been so kind to her. They’d also treated her sisters well during their time here. She didn’t know anyone at Macada Castle, and wasn’t sure those people would be willing to accept her.

“Can’t we stay here for the night, Sebastian?” she asked him, hoping he wouldn’t object. “I’m not sure how comfortable I feel about going to Macada Castle right now.”

“But that’s going to be your home now. As soon as we’re married,” he told her. “Plus, I am the king. I need to get back there anon. My men will wonder what’s happened to me. I have obligations that cannot be ignored.”

She let out a deep sigh. “I suppose you’re right.”

“You aren’t worried about what my people will think of you? Or about us getting married, are you?” he asked her.

“Mayhap, a little,” she admitted.

“Merrow, you were the one who taught me not to care about such things.”

“Yes. You’re right.” She bit her lip and looked to the ground. He must have known how uncomfortable she felt, because he said something next to make her feel at ease.

“I have a lot to tend to and won’t be able to spend time with you tonight anyway. Mayhap, if King Zann doesn’t mind, you and your mother and sisters can spend the night here at Evandorm. Without me. I’ll be back first thing in the morning.”

“You are all welcome to stay.” Lira walked down the corridor with Zann. “For as long as you’d like.”

“Yes. That’s fine,” agreed Zann.

“Thank you,” said Merrow, feeling a little bad for not wanting to go back with Sebastian, but she really needed to talk to her mother and sisters. Alone.

As soon as the four of them were settled into a bedchamber and alone, Merrow told them to sit down because she needed someone to talk to who was a sea nymph.

“What is it?” asked Galene.

“You look so sad,” remarked Melite, as the two girls climbed atop the large bed, getting close to Merrow.

“Yes, daughter, do tell us what is troubling you.” Her mother sat down on the bed, too.

“Mother, I’m worried. It seems…I am pregnant with Sebastian’s child.”

“Oh, my!” gasped Melite.

“Congratulations,” said Galene.

Her mother didn’t respond.

Merrow continued. “The elf said since I was pregnant before I was married, once I am human, I might die birthing a sea nymph. Is this true?”

“I’m not sure,” her mother answered. “I can’t say this has ever happened before. Not with a human and a sea nymph, that is.”

“Surely, you’ll birth a girl and she’ll be an undine,” said Galene happily.

“I can’t wait to be an aunt,” added Melite, bouncing up and down on the bed excitedly.

“I could have a boy. And he might be human. Right?” Merrow asked her mother.

“Not all boys born to sea nymphs are human,” answered her mother. “You do have one undine brother, remember.”

“Yes, but you and Father were both undines at the time. That’s different.” Merrow got up and paced the floor, wringing her hands together. “I have to admit, I am having doubts about getting married to Sebastian, although I don’t want him know. That is why I wanted to talk with you three privately.”

“I figured as much. Come sit back down, Merrow.” Her mother patted the bed with her hand. Merrow sat down again, even though she would have rather continued to pace. “You haven’t known Sebastian long enough to really realize if you love him and want to be his wife. That is understandable.”

“Nay, that’s not why. I know I love him and that I want to marry him. It’s not him, Mother. It’s just…I mean…”

“We know what you mean,” said Galene, having read her mind. “The bigger part of it is that you don’t want to stop being a sea nymph.”

“That’s right,” she admitted. “Is that selfish of me? I just can’t help feeling this way. I am not sure I want to be human, after all. I love the sea, and swimming and life under the waves. I crave everything about it. I also love being with all my siblings.” She reached out and took her sisters’ hands in hers. “I also like having a tail at times and being able to swim really fast and not have to hold my breath under the water. I look forward to teaching my child, if she is an undine, all about life as a sea nymph. I want her to experience all the things that are special to me. But if I am a human, I’ll give up all those things. I won’t be able to be that big a part of my child’s life, and that makes me sad.”

“Well, how do you think Sebastian will feel?” asked Melite. “He’ll never be able to spend that kind of time with an undine child under the water, either.”

“I didn’t think of that,” Merrow answered. “I suppose he would feel a lot like me right now.”

“There is nothing you can do about it, Merrow.” Galene looked to her with sadness in her eyes. “You will marry Sebastian and when you do, you will become human.”

“It’s not that awful, I suppose,” her mother tried to console her. “Besides, you will gain a soul.”

“I’d give up having a soul all together if I could only marry Sebastian but stay an undine too.”

“That’s not possible,” said Galene.

“It’ll never happen, sister.” Melite had tears in her eyes. “Don’t worry.We will take care of your child for you and raise her as if she were our own.”

“Thank you,” said Merrow. “But I can’t allow you to take my child back through the portal once it’s born. Sebastian and I will want to raise our family here. On Mura.”

“It seems to me that you have a difficult choice to make, then,” said her mother.

“Mayhap I can birth my baby but never get married at all?” Even when Merrow said the words, they sounded stupid.

“Your father would never condone that,” said Dee. “Merrow, you’d better get married before we go back through the portal. I don’t want Nereus finding out about all this by reading my mind when we return.”

“Was Father the one to open the portal when you returned?” asked Merrow. “If so, he might already know.”

“Nay, it was Nerites,” said Melite. “He knows how to use the Calling Conch on his own now.”

“I still can’t believe that Sebastian was able to reach all of you using his just his mind.” Merrow felt proud of him that he should even want to try to help her in that manner.

“What did you say?” asked Galene in surprise.

“I’m proud of Sebastian for calling you with his mind,” Merrow answered.

Her sisters looked at each other oddly, and Merrow instantly had a queasy feeling in her stomach. “What is it?” she asked. “Tell me.”

“Sebastian isn’t the one who called us,” her mother answered for them.

“He’s not?” Merrow didn’t understand. “But that is what he told me.”

“He’s a human, sister,” Melite reminded her. “You know as well as us that he doesn’t have the power to call us with his mind. Especially from so far away.”

“I didn’t think so,” she answered, suddenly feeling so silly. “But he sounded so certain that he called you. I guess I wanted to believe him and that is why I didn’t question it.”

“Mayhap he thinks he called to us, but that is not who summoned us,” explained her mother.

“Then who did?” asked Merrow.

“It was that odd little man with the pointed ears,” said Galene.

“It was Elric. The sage,” her mother told her. “He has more than enough magic to accomplish such a feat. That is why so many of your sisters heard him and wanted to come here to help you.”

“Mayhap I’ll have to thank him personally.” Merrow felt bad for Sebastian and didn’t want to tell him that the elf had obviously tricked him somehow. Sebastian would be so upset to think others had made a fool out of him.

“If there is a way to marry Sebastian and stay an undine, Elric would be the only one to tell you how to do that,” said her mother.

“Do you think he’ll know?” Merrow’s hopes picked up. Mayhap she could end up having everything she wanted, after all.

“It’s worth a shot.” Her mother stood up and stretched. “Merrow, you’d better find him and ask him about it first thing in the morning. I get the feeling Sebastian isn’t that fond of Elric. If he knew what you were doing, he might try to stop you.”

“You’re right,” said Merrow. “I shall find and ask Elric about it first thing in the morning.” Merrow had a newfound confidence, thinking that Elric might have enough magic to help her with her request. Now, the only problem would be trying to convince him to do so.

“Sister, if he can’t help you, are you still going to marry Sebastian and become human?” asked Melite.

Merrow wished her sister hadn’t asked that question, because she really didn’t know how to answer that right now.