(Ariel's P.O.V.)

I had never imagined that Eric would be exiled after confessing the truth and the attempt to be killed by the law. I just prayed that Eric is right that the warlock is waiting for us, even if we are two days and a night early, and I was very relieved that the Trident is back home as it was Daddy's in the first place. I couldn't imagine what he would have been thinking or feeling if he saw all of this.

I cannot leave Eric like this. I must not have him stolen from me! He's my soulmate if the stories are right, and Sebastian is usually very knowledge about these things. I know that I taught Eric a lot of things about my world, and he learned about the rest while being in my classes with Sebastian. Sebastian was actually delighted to have another student learning and listening about the undersea world. But I know that he haven't heard about the soulmate effects after the bond is made upon a moment of special contact, which would happen upon the tail, or the skin, or finally, the lips.

There are three ways to do about it; for the special contact upon the tails, there is a unique dance, not quite like the way that seahorses do it, but still. For the special contact upon the skin, there is the synchronized palm touch of hearts. Both hearts must beat to the exact time. And finally, for the special contact upon the lips, there must be a unique song resonating in each one's soul, and it must be in harmony, equal on all levels.

But before doing one of those ways, each of us would have to recite the words. 'I am taking you as my soulmate. Do you accept to be mine?'. And of course, the answer, 'Yes, I do.'. I really wanted to do it badly because by the time I return home, I would always be bonded to Eric forever no matter what.

"Ariel?". I hear Eric's voice in the middle of my musing, and I blinked, refocusing to see his concerned look directed at me, and I exhaled, "Eric, I have to tell you something very important to me.". Eric smiled encouragingly, "What is it, Ariel?".

I licked my lips nervously as I looked at him, "I don't know if you have this up there on the mainland, but under here, it's a traditional thing. All girls and boys learn about it when they're 15, so they could have time to think of it before they marry someone. But you haven't, so that's why I am telling you.",

"You see, it's a bonding ritual that binds a couple to be true soulmates, never to be separated by heart or mind ever again. There are ways to tell if someone or anybody else is a soulmate, like for example, the exact color of the tail or fins, or a unique birthmark.". Eric looked gobsmacked, then his eyes widened as he breathed, "My fins to your tail.".

I nodded lightly, and I sighed heavily, "To make the soulmate bond official and never-breaking, a couple has to make the ritual if they're truly committed to each other in love, true love, that is.". Eric blinked in surprise, "Is the ritual a sorts of marriage?".

I blinked in surprise, then thoughtfully mused on it, "I suppose as it's a private yet known tradition, but it's not like the public marriage sort. I suppose you can say that it's a secret marriage of sorts.". Eric nodded, "And is there a procedure to do this secret bonding ritual?".

I then explained everything I could remember from my thoughts, memories, and emotions, and Eric never once interrupted which I appreciated as it's exhausting to get this off my chest, and I clearly had all those thoughts and feelings for a year and half ever since I was told by Mother and Sebastian.

Eric then gave me the biggest shock after making about the craziest yet romantic suggestion. He wanted to do the three ways at once, saying that we can go all the way into a magic-proof, danger-proof, and full-understanding soulmate bond, for he'd do anything for me as he loves me. I believed him as I always had been.

I actually asked him first which was never done before, as mermen has asked it first of their girlfriends and such, and to my happiness and love, he gave his answer in love and confidence. He then asked me, and of course, I said yes.

Of course, I've danced with Eric before, in parties and such, but not like this before. We matched perfectly in rhythm, and once we moved to dance in the moonlight, we then did the heart palm touch. It was strangely wonderful as our hearts thundered in sync, sounding like a drum to my ears. Then I felt warm, pleasantly warm as we kissed passionately, our hearts beating together and our tails intertwined together to our souls' songs.

Unknowingly, the couple didn't notice that the magic, the power from the copper coin engulfed them in merely a few seconds at their completion of the ritual.

I could never imagined that I could hear my family's lullaby in Eric's soul, but I did. I realized that he belonged down here as I could belong up there in his old world, for my soul sings a human song I've somehow heard Eric singing often to me when I was unconscious during the days, fighting the poison.

He once said that his mother used to sing it to him when he was young, calling it 'Over Where the Road Makes a Turn', and it's quite a beautiful, vocal song. And yet when our hearts, our souls, our tails entwined together, I felt like I was reborn anew, and I somehow knew that Eric wouldn't leave me as I am part of his family.

We can now only wait to see our gifts from this bond, the soulmate effects, and I pray that Eric would like them as I would. After all, Sebastian said in every soulmate bond, the effects are verily different yet magical, all the same.