A/N: As usual, I would recommend putting the video on loop.

A raspy breath escaped his lips while his head still felt like it was fastened to the stone below it. "M-m ... my ..." he tried to speak but even saying that one word was like scratching gravel against his throat. Aqua leaned in a little bit to better hear him, but no other word would leave his mouth. He required water. His body was far too weak to have any conversation.

"Put his feet entirely in the water already!" he heard (f/n) cry out. He hated to hear the pain in her voice; he detested how he couldn't rush over to her and wrap his arms around her. "How do you expect him to talk when he's like that?!"

"He'll be able to handle whatever suffering he's experiencing. It's nowhere near what my kind went through," stated one of the male council members.

"That may be true, Cetar, but his wife does have a point. We'll be here for hours if we keep him up there," the mermaid, sitting voiced. She signaled for two of the guards to come and lift him off.

"I hope that you know what you're doing, Aqua. Once his feet fully touch the water, he may try to attack us again. This time we might not be fortunate enough to escape with no wounds," Cetar responded, crossing his arms over his chest and keeping a firm gaze on Tarhuinn.

Before the guards could bring Tarhuinn up or before Aqua could answer, (f/n) interrupted once more. "Let me bring him into the water. None of you will have to come near him that way. His feet will be in the smaller pool still so that there's a decent amount of distance between all of you. I haven't tried to attack any of you since I've woken up. Please, take that into consideration and let me help him."

The council members shared a glance before they grouped together and conversed on the matter. A spear remained pointed at her, but her attention was mainly focused on the four authorities. She wished to bring him to better health and be able to hear his voice again. When the four merfolk broke apart, Aqua halted the two guards. "She can bring him further into the miniature pool. She knows the consequence if she tries to cross us."

Relief flooded her countenance before she pushed herself to her feet. She was a shivering mess, but she could warm herself by one of the torches after Tarhuinn was taken care of. (F/n) rubbed her upper arms and walked around the pool before she reached him. His head turned to look at her. Dark blues meeting (e/c) ones, his lips steadily upturned into a small smile. The fingers on his right hand twitched as he attempted to lift his hand up to her.

Returning the smile, she clasped his hand with her own right. Warmth greeted her touch as she pulled upwards on him. Given their weight difference and the fact that he was practically dead weight, she struggled in the effort, but, eventually, she had him sitting up. Immediately, his body went to fall backwards. Quickly, she rested her other arm behind him and held him up.

His left arm raised itself to rest over their intertwined hands, but, in the process, he slumped forward. The weight of him drove them both into the small pool. Water splashed upwards. All of the guards instantly had their spears pointed at the pair but kept the weapons far enough away that neither could reach out and grab one of them.

Water being wiped from her eyes, she felt herself moved into a sitting position. Thumbs glided over her cheeks gently. She brought her hands up and placed them over his right. (F/n) leaned into his warm and comforting touch. "I'm so happy that you're alright. I was ... w-was ..." The words wouldn't leave past her lips.

Taking her hands in his now, he brought them to his lips. He kissed her fingers caringly. "I'm here before you, (f/n). You need not worry about my safety now." Tarhuinn locked his eyes with hers and moved her closer. After he connected his lips with her forehead, he whispered, "Like you told me, we'll make it out of here. I'm not going to let them separate or harm us again."

"Just please answer their questions. I don't want you to attack unless it's absolutely necessary," she whispered back as she leaned her head against his chest.

"I understand." A relieved smile overtook her lips while his arms wrapped around her and brought them both to their feet. He set her back on the stone before he took a seat on the edge of it nearest to her. This was also the section furthest from the merfolk. Tarhuinn kept his distance intentionally for both his beloved's safety and to prevent himself from killing one of the nearby guards.

While (f/n) warmed herself by a close torch, he looked to the merfolk. "As my wife told you, we know of the five authors. We've read of their work, and my wife found something odd in their writing. We wish to ask them about that. In the process of searching them out, we've discovered that they don't desire to be found and that they're willing to kill us to keep themselves hidden. That is why we wish to avoid them until the proper time."

"And, why would you risk your lives to ask them a mere question?" Cetar inquired while he narrowed his eyes in suspicion.

"Their writing differs from the writing of one of our main history texts. The reason for the difference could have a life changing impact on kelremm and their partners. My wife encouraged me to help her seek out why the discrepancy between the texts existed. I decided to agree to her wish."

"You're remaining vague on what this difference was. What are you hiding from us?" Cetar asked, his tone growing impatient.

"This dissimilarity could mean that my wife and I may be able to spend more time together with our future child. My wife was kept from me for twelve years, and I'd like to claim that time back. Even if I only get one more year extra with her and our child, all of this trouble will have been worth it."

"I'd rather you two to never have a child, and your kind to go extinct." Cetar looked away from him and to Aqua. "This is a waste of time. We should proceed with torturing him. His wife can watch if she wishes."

Teeth bared, Tarhuinn almost lunged forward at the merman, who was now discussing his opinion in more detail with the others. (F/n) closed the distance between them. She rested her hands on his shoulders and pulled him back into his sitting position. Seating herself on the stone, she wrapped her arms around his torso. Her head pressed against his back to comfort him. "He's only one of the council members. The other three haven't decided upon anything yet."

"I know, but I never want you to view me that way. I didn't even want you to see me when I was lying on that rock near to death. I couldn't come over to you and comfort you." His hands went up to hers and laid over them. "It reminded me of how I couldn't help you when you were alone with that detestable mage."

"Tarhuinn, that doesn't matter." Heat developed in her cheeks. It wasn't the time or place for it, but she couldn't help it. "I just want to remain by your side. I understand how you felt when I left for the cabin. When I woke up, it was painful not to know where you were or if you were alive. It seemed like a void was slowing consuming me, and I couldn't escape. I don't want to experience that again or for you to either."

Tarhuinn squeezed her hands. "Thank you."

Increasing her hold on him, she replied softly, "You're welcome."

All of the council members turned back to them. Aqua spoke before Cetar could. "I'm sure that you two now understand Cetar's position. He's unwilling to change it. The rest of us are still undecided." Both Tarhuinn and (f/n) looked to them, and (f/n) moved herself out from behind him to sit beside him. "We have decided to tell both of you where our hatred comes from, though. We owe you no explanation, but you share our dislike of the five authors.

"I can tell that you, kelremm, intend to show them no mercy even if they answer your inquiry. For that, both of you will have a reason." Both of them nodded, but they readied themselves for a fight. They stayed close to one another even though it probably would've been better for her to warm herself up more by the fire. She had him, though, and she preferred his nearness over the fire's warmth.

"We have lived in these mountain pools for as long as any of us can remember. Few knew of our existence, and few made it back out of our home if they had entered. One of the few that had lived after their encounter with us was a mage. He had insisted living with our kind for a duration of a month. Our ancestors had allowed him to, but they had made no promise on letting him out alive. During that time period, he had charmed and fascinated a few mermaids. A few mermen were even impressed with his magic capabilities. When the month expired, he had convinced those five to guide him out of our home in secret. The moment that he was outside of our home, he had caught them off guard and had murdered them. One of Cetar's past relatives had witnessed the event since they were going to view the moon with their lover. Before either could act, the mage had the five merfolk out of the water and had made his escape."