Elaina's POV

True to his agreement, Rhixton came with me the following day and week to meet with Llyr. We spent the whole week getting to know each other. At the end of the week we spent the whole morning talking about our different ways and things in our worlds. Rhixton found Llyr's world just as interesting as I did.

It was after lunch time when Llyr let out a low whistle before the three dolphins from yesterday came towards us. Rhixton was mesmerized and it didn't take him long before he jumped into the water to swim with Rory, one of the boys. I petted Nyla and she made weird clicking sounds. I looked up at Llyr for confirmation.

"She wants you to swim with her," he clarified.

"Can you tell her I can't?" I asked Llyr. As much as I wanted to swim with these magnificent creatures, I knew my muscles won't handle the strain.

"She says she'll help you," Llyr told me after they exchanged a few clicking sounds.

I was scared, I didn't fear water, but after my near drowning I feared what could happen. Llyr must've seen my hesitation because the next moment he was right in front of me.

"You're scared aren't you?" He asked gently.

"Yes, after what happened last time..."

"How about you swim with me? You trust me don't you?" He asked and the look in his eyes left no room for disagreement.

He held out his hand towards me and after a second I took it. I trusted him for some odd reason.

"I'm going to pull you in, but I promise I'll catch you," he said and I nodded. He pulled me in before he grabbed me in his arms. He held me tight and I felt safe in his arms.

"Now put your hands on my shoulders," he said and he guided my hands to his shoulders.

"Then keep you body straight," he said and I let my legs down as I moved them front and back gently.

"How does that feel?" He asked.

"Amazing," I said with a excited grin.

"Good, hold on tight," he said and before I could ask him why he grabbed me around the waist and he swam with me. It felt exhilarating to be swimming, even though wasn't doing any of the work. We swam around for a while before my arms grew tired.

"Llyr?" I said. He stopped swimming and held me steady as we floated in the water. A look of concern crossed his features.

"What is it?" He asked.

"My arms are a bit tired," I said and he nodded, he took me back to the dock where Rhixton was waiting for us.

"Did you enjoy your swim?" Rhixton asked as Llyr placed on the dock with a gentleness that befitted a glass tea set.

"Very," I said as Rhixton placed a towel around my shoulders. He opened a picnic basket Ida must have packed and we ate together. Llyr enjoyed a lot of our food and each new thing he tasted I needed to explain what it was. He loved the spinach quiche the most.

"This green stuff reminds me of seaweed," He said as he savoured the taste.

"I guess it is alike. So is it true that seaweed has healing powers?" I asked.

"Not healing powers exactly, but it helps to keep the wound clean and allows it to heal properly," he explained.

"And it tastes almost like this?" I asked.

"Yes, just a bit sweeter," he said. It was interesting to learn all these things from their world, I only wished that I could see it.

"Is it true that if you eat seaweed, it allows you to breathe under water?" I asked.

"No, the only thing that could allow a land being to breathe under water is a..." A blush covered his cheeks and I wondered what it could be.

"What is it?" I asked.

"Well a kiss from a mer," He said.

"Interesting," I said and I had to stop myself from laughing at his blushing face. Luckily Rhixton changed the subject.

Rhixton, Llyr and I spent the rest of the after enjoying the breeze and each others' company.

We were in the middle of another discussion when Thomas ran towards us with a high speed. His cheeks were red and flushed.

"What's wrong?" Rhixton immediately asked.

"The princes are here," he said. Our eyes grew wide, Rhixton wanted me to tell my family but I guess he didn't expect my brothers to arrive so soon. 

"What's wrong with the princes arriving?" Llyr asked.

"It's just that we're not so sure how they would react to you," Rhixton explained.

"Especially if they know about all our alone time," I added. My brothers were loving and caring but they were more overprotective and they might hang Llyr by his tail if they knew about everything that happened.

"We have to go," Rhixton said as he climbed out of the water and helped me to my feet.

"I'll meet up with you as soon as I can," I told Llyr and after we bid our farewells we started to walk to the castle where my brothers were probably waiting.

Rhixton supported me, but because of my swimming exercise I was to tired and he quickly picked me up when he saw that I wasn't going my normal speed.

When we arrived at the castle my brothers were waiting for me on the steps. When they saw me they both rushed towards me and pulled me out of Rhixton's arms as I was pulled into a group hug.

"I missed you too," I said as I hugged them back just as enthusiatically. It felt so good to be able to hug my brothers again, and judging by their actions they missed me just as much as I've missed them.

"Why are you wet?" Ethan asked as he pulled away.

"It was my fault your highnesses, I slipped from the dock and fell into the water, splashing Elaina in the process," Rhixton said and I thanked him with my eyes. My brothers thought that it was hilarious and burst out in laughter.

"Now let's go grab something to eat and then you can tell us how you stay has been so far," Eldrich said as he picked me up and we all walked together to the doors of the castle while we informed one another of our experience. I told them everything, except about Llyr. I wanted to ease them into that one and not just sprang it on them.

It wasn't like I could possible tell them, guess what brothers, I caught a merman. I had to prepare them for what is to come. The only question was how to tell them about Llyr without them killing Llyr or dragging me back home to get me away from Llyr.

***

It was still early in the morning when I was awoken by both my brothers jumping on my bed, they informed me last night that they were going to spend the day here with me. They wanted me to enjoy their time here and also catch up on lost time.

When my brothers left me to get breakfast and to allow me to get ready for the day. I called Rhixton to stay behind a moment.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"Will you tell Llyr that I won't be able to come today and he should stay out of sight?" I asked and Rhixton nodded. I wanted to tell my brothers about Llyr before showing him to them.

"I will do so, Ida will help you get ready," Rhixton said as he left my room. 

Now all I had to do was think of a way to tell my brothers about my new merman friend.

***

Llyr's POV

I swam as fast as I could to get to the dock, I hoped that Elaina was already there to greet me with her breathtaking smile and those eyes that were my undoing.  Just spending the last week with her has turned my world upside down.

When I arrived at the dock I was greeted by Rhixton and there was no sign of Elaina at all. My heart sank.

"Where's Elaina?" I asked.

"She's with her brothers, their spending the day here and she told me to tell you that she won't be able to make it and that you should keep hidden today," he said. I nodded.

Seeing as I couldn't see Elaina today, I decided to visit Primbroock and to tell him how it was going and how these feelings I felt only increased over the past few days.

I could only hope he found something that could explain these weird feelings.