Feyhim loved listening to you talk.

Despite being the town’s guardian spirit, he had slowly faded from their memories as the need for miracles declined with the development of modern technology. The lake he resided in, deep within the mountains, became overgrown with weeds, neglected after the visits from the townspeople ceased. The small stone path leading to the take was all but obscured by shrubbery, but still you ventured the path to talk to him.

Your chatter was a nice distraction from his loneliness.

Feyhim smiled softly as you spoke, large serpentine head resting on the bank near you. The rest of his long sinuous body remained within the lake, scales glowing soft sheens of gold and pink as they caught the light. One eye was fixed on you as you spoke, tracking every little movement you made.

Feyhim didn’t care much for the content of your speech. What was important was the soothing rise and fall of your voice as you animatedly told your stories. Nodding along, Feyhim relaxed at the sound of your voice, eyes drifting close.

“I’ll be moving to the city soon.”

Startling, Feyhim's eyes snapped open.. His body—previously relaxed, began to coil underneath the water, creating ripples on the surface of the lake.

You will be moving away soon? Away from him?

Tail lashing against the water, Feyhim rose to his full height.

“No.” He growed, voice reverberating throughout the surrounding forest.

He refused to be left behind like this. You were not going to take your voice away from him. He was not going to be left alone again.

Moving onto the shore, Feyhim took the form of a young man. Dressed completely in white, gold and pearls dripped from the end of his robe, twinkling underneath the sunlight as he stepped forward.

“You will not be leaving.”

You stared, wide-eyed before you were rendered unconscious.

As you awoke an indefinite amount of time later. Knelt in front of a small table, a large, seemingly unending hall spread out before you. The banquet tables lined up below you each sat thousands of fish, all dressed in a variety of suits or dresses, as they chatted amongst themselves like men. Wedding banners lined the walls from floor to ceiling while flowers adorned every unoccupied inch of the hall. You looked down at yourself, finally noticing the wedding garb you were dressed in.

Feyhim, who was sitting next to you, noticed your movement immediately. The stern expression on his face quickly melted into a soft smile as he turned towards you, clearly pleased with himself. tugging upwards in a smile.

“My bride, you’re awake.” He murmured, gesturing for one of the fish to pour nuptial wine.