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Ovaln considered himself a reasonable man. He had married a woman who made him laugh, despite the fact he had no clue who her family was nor where she had come from. It did not matter much to him, after all, if she was good company and a reliable friend.
And, when she had asked him to come and see her in their shared "sacred spot" (her own name for it), he hadn't thought much of it. Perolt was a sentimental woman, after all, and he assumed she simply wanted to spend an evening with him in the place where they had fallen in love, in the place he had proposed. They'd have been married there, if not for the tiny entrance forbidding any of the catering or large guests from entry.
He swam through the dim lighting of the cave, and made his way to the small pocket of air that Perolt liked so much. There was a hole in the cavern ceiling, which made for a great view of the stars above. He carried a small woven box over his arm, packed with her favorite treats. Ovaln wasn't much for romance, but he did love to see her face light up when he remembered things. Even something as simple as her favorite crab cake seemed to be so special to her.
He found her sitting on a small rock under the water's surface, staring up. She looked somewhat worried, and it weighed heavy on his chest. Regardless, he smiled as he sat next to her.
"My dear, you look troubled." he said, as he placed a webbed hand on her cheek.
She sighed, turning to him.
"Do you love me?" she asked. The question was unlike her - Perolt held no such insecurities.
Ovaln supposed it was natural, though, that one would become...anxious, over time. The overwhelming affection gives way to soft, tender moments together. Perhaps she was having a bad day. He nodded, and gave her a smile.
"Of course I love you, my dear. Why wouldn't I?" he answered, trying to assure her. She gave him a tense smile, and looked back to the sky.
"Would you love me if I were a monster?" she asked, and he noticed her hand on his wrist tightening.
He nodded, gently rubbing his thumb over her cheek.
"I suppose, as long as you were still the woman I married...yes, I would love you, even if one day you turned into a monster."
She seemed somewhat shocked by his answer. Ovaln didn't know why; he'd never hid the fact that his obsession with Preolt had always been because of her personality, her kindness. There was an air of maturity to her, a maternal quality that set him at ease.
Surely even a monster could be comforting?
"...really?" she asked, and he nodded, moving his hand to hers, resting on her lap.
"Really. If you transformed into a monster right now, before my eyes, I'd kiss you, just to prove it." he promised, and she stared at him.
She got up, took a breath, and climbed out of the water. He watched her, somewhat concerned and somewhat confused, as she sat herself against a wall, and...
Transformed. Her scaled tail split into two legs, and her pale skin deepened into flesh. Fins gave way to smooth limbs and her head grew a long, thin horn. She looked unrecognizable, by the end. Well, maybe not unrecognizable.
She looked like...a shifting thing. A monster from the edge of the water, which pretends to be a beautiful woman, to lure seafolk and landfolk alike to their deaths.
He swam closer, feeling anxiety in his throat. Was this his wife? Was this still his beautiful Perolt?
She looked somewhat sad, as she moved to kneel by the edge of the water. Her soft pink eyes were still the same. They say eyes are the window to the soul, don't they?
She opened her mouth to speak, but he pulled her under and placed his lips to hers. She startled, and stared at him after he pulled away.
"O...Ovaln?" she mumbled, head just barely above the surface.
He smiled at her.
"I told you, didn't I? Even if you turned into a monster, I'd still love you."
She smiled, crying, and transformed back to hold him, under the water. He felt a sense of calm, as she placed her head against her chest. He petted her, softly running his fingers through her hair.
"Perolt?" he called, gently.
"Yes?" she answered, looking up at him. There was such joy in her eyes, it nearly broke his heart.
Had she been fearing this, all alone? Had she really been hiding this from him, all this time? Did it matter?
"Does this mean I'll finally get to see your family?" he asked, smiling down at her.
She laughed, and the sound put him at ease. He loved that sound - how gentle and cheerful it was. He loved the small ways her face changed, when she closed her eyes.
"Well...maybe. They're...wary of outsiders." she admitted, and he nodded. That was understandable. "But since you were so accepting, I'm sure they won't mind!"
He held her close.
"I'm sure all that can wait." he said, nuzzling into her hair. "For now, we have a whole night to ourselves. And I brought you a surprise!"
She tilted her head, but he handed her the small box. She pulled the lid aside, and he saw her eyes light up as she realized what was inside.
Crab legs, wrapped in seaweed, laid out in neat little rows. Her favorite. Ovaln thought it was a rather simple snack, but it made Perolt too happy for him to resist. He watched as she popped one into her mouth, happily chewing away.
He sat them down on the rock, her in his lap. Whether she was lying or not seemed irrelevant to him. After all, he was happy, and she was by his side. Wasn't that enough?
She looked up at him, and laid her head against him.
"...I'm glad I can trust you, Ovaln." she said. He kissed the top of her head, and nodded.
"Always." he assured her. "No matter what, I will be here for you. No matter what you need, or where you go. I want to be by your side."
"In that case-" Perolt said, moving to face him. "I have one request of you."
Ovaln nodded, and saw Perolt's expression change. She was more serious, now.
"My family is not malicious by nature, but we do have...unsettling powers. I'd like to bind our souls together. That way, we'll always be together."
Ovaln did not question it. Perhaps he should have, but he did not. He simply nodded, and offered her his hand.
"I vowed to be by your side until death do us part. Do you know some way to cheat death?" he asked, as she kissed his palm.
There was a soft, white glow from her. He could feel her, inside him, in every nook and cranny of his mind. It was an unfamiliar feeling, yet one that was...calming. Assuring. Like he was finally where he was meant to be.
"Perhaps. Either way, my people do not die. Perhaps, in this way, you can stay by my side. Will you?"
He pulled himself closer to her, and kissed her lips. The feeling grew, spreading through him. It was like she was part of him, now. Like he had become part of her.
"Yes. Always."