By way of sea was least how, Prince Erwin wished to travel. If he was to be forced into a marriage of his parent’s choosing, could be offered was the choice in how he would make the journey towards his doom. A loveless marriage was a death sentence for the joy of one’s soul after all.

It was estimated that Prince Erwin and the crew of people sailing with him would be at the mercy of the waves and water for no less than three months. Plenty of time for the Prince to drown his sorrows in unrefined ale— a bitter but welcomed change from the dry wine of his homeland.

About a month into the trip was when Prince Erwin spotted you, eyes just above the water’s surface, a body hidden beneath. A merperson. He’d heard tales of course; they were hard to avoid them when hunting your kind was a sport his father prided himself on.

The first few times he tried to interact with you under the guise of night while everyone else was asleep, resulted in you disappearing into the depths. Yet, Prince Erwin’s persistence was well rewarded in time, your eventual surrender to his curiosity and kindness fostered your own as well.

Your tail whipped against the side of the small jolly boat Prince Erwin had lowered from the main vessel to be closer to you—a routine formed over the past few weeks. Holding onto the sides of the boat to steady himself, he flashed you a grin, “Not so eager, my dear; you’ll toss me into the waters alongside you.”

After a few minutes of your usual nightly chatter, Prince Erwin’s expression grew solemn. More of the journey was behind him than ahead; his betrothed waiting for him only a couple weeks away. “It’s deplorable really, how brief our time has been together. Should I have been born a selfish man, I would wish for an eternity with you.”