"We have moved quite a distance. The waters we passed over are not ones I visit often."

Poseidon's eyebrows raised in surprise, "You can tell where we are by barely feeling the water?"

He was sure they didn't get splashed that intensely on the way here—not with the sea being so calm and still.

She laughs, amused—Poseidon hopes he didn't seem oblivious, "It isn't all that hard, though it's easiest to know when we are in the Aegean Sea since it is where my parents reside. It also didn't feel like we ventured south nor east, so these must be western waters."

"Wow... I mean—I see."

"You'll get used to it," She laughs again as she continues to be led along the sandy shores.

Occasionally, the tides would raise up high enough to wash over their feet. A result of Poseidon's nerves.

"We're not in Elis... we're more north than that..."

"Are you?—"

"Kichyros is too far north..."

"Dearest—"

"So we must be in Cor—" The waves crashed up to their waists, making the Nereid squeal a bit.

The two stand in place as the onslaught of waves didn't settle. Not strong enough to knock them over, but enough to advise them both it is better to keep still.

"Please, stop trying to guess where we are!" He could feel his heated face and fingers buzzing to life, "I... really want to surprise you."

He worked hard on this—lost his trident for a short while and everything!—he wanted to at least surprise her with it. Even if she doesn't like it.

Well, he hopes she likes it—his wife deserves a gift like this. Poseidon couldn't think of anything better to give her, since everything in the sea has already been hers.

"Alright, alright, I'm sorry. I'm just... excited and anxious to know why you brought me all the way out here..." Her smile a little uneven, but just as genuine.

Poseidon's heart skips a beat. She is nervous too? Did he not notice before?

His hands tremble a bit, feeling another layer of pressure on this surprise gift that he put on himself. It isn't her birthday; it isn't even their anniversary—they have only been married for five lunar cycles!

He is still getting used to calling her his wife, yet he was the one who wanted nothing more than to marry her...

A wave crashed over them halfway up their torsos.

Maybe this would be too strong of a gift since it's so soon. Maybe he's supposed to wait a few years to show his love for her hasn't dwindle.

Or is it normal to make such grand declarations early into a marriage? He should've consulted Hera before doing this.

Another wave reaches their shoulders.

As long as she doesn't hate it, Poseidon thinks he can recover after a few centuries. No—what is he thinking? Indifference would make him open a hole in the Earth for him to fall into down to Tartarus.

How could he woo his beloved like this? Oh! Woe is him and his accursed feelings for rattling him like this!

The Sun gets blocked out.

Poseidon turns his head up to stare at the sky for clouds, only to be greeted by water.

The tall wave crashes over the two of them with a loud "BOOM", and for a few moments, Poseidon's ears are cleared of all noise except for the sound of the ocean.

Those few seconds wash away as the tides lower.

Cool hands are felt on top of his own.

"If this surprise has you reacting like this," The waves hit the shore much calmer than before, "then I am more excited to see it."

Poseidon could hear the smile in her voice and feel how it is bringing more warmth to his face.

Maybe I'm the one being wooed.

"...I want you to like it," Poseidon whispers, having a strong urge to embrace his wife, but that would require removing his hands.

So instead, he starts encouraging them both to move forward. Their feet buried in wet sand from his not so hidden nerves.

She didn't lower her hands from on top of his. Her cool hands over his heated and clammy ones. And she has to deal with that over her eyes—the thought only sends anxious shivers down his spine.

She takes a step forward, and he follows, letting him guide her. Trusting him. It warms his heart more than anything.

"Keep your eyes closed for me," Poseidon murmurs in order to hide the shakiness of his voice.

The quiet snort she makes implies he did a bad job at it, "Of course."

Poseidon takes a breath before gently dropping his hands from her eyes. They land on her shoulders and give a light squeeze before he walks ahead.

The wind is light. Every inch of land is covered in cypress trees, olive groves, and pine forests. He could spot a few doves sitting in a cypress tree. Vines full of flowers drape pristinely over the cave that's half-submerged in the sea.

His feet step out into the water. It's cold. The vibrant blue color of it is only emphasized by the limestone cliffs and sunlight. The sea seemed to glow from his presence, just like the fish that swam up to his ankles.

Fish that she likes.

Poseidon takes a breath—then two more to be sure—before turning around to face her. Anxiety Kelp tickles his skin as he turns. Seeing the beauty—the calm yet lively beauty—that he gets to call his wife standing there with her eyes closed makes his heart stutter.

She looks so calm and prepared.

Yet as he looks over her more thoroughly, he could see her hands twitching in anticipation.

'I'm just... excited and anxious to know why you brought me all the way out here...'

Her words cross over his mind.

She's nervous too. Just like me.

Poseidon swallows the lump in his throat, quickly mulling over the presentation he's practiced over and over for this very moment.

He turns to his left, seeing a dolphin that whistles in reassurance. He turns to his right, seeing a seal that barks in encouragement. Looking back at his wife, she seemed as still and perfect as a statue.

Yet he desired her liveliness. To see her dance in these very waters. To hear her singing and laughter bounce off the cave walls. To rest next to her in the cove he created.

He wants her to move.

Selfishly, he wants her to go back on her word and open her eyes, so he doesn't have to speak. To not get his hopes up too high. Yet she is waiting.

He could never make her wait on him.

"...You can open your eyes now."

Okay, no going back now.

The moment her eyes start to peek open, everything is set in motion.

The sea moves in bigger waves as fish swim in coordinated patterns. Dolphins click and whistle as they make performative leaps and blow out water. The seals bark, some clap, as they make large circles around the orchestrator. The God behind it all has his arms spread out wide with a wide, enthusiastic smile to match as he booms bombastically:

"Suprise, my ocean's heart!"

Poseidon's heart thumps ostentatiously loud as the showmanship was over and done with, leaving the only movement to be the waters that send waves upon waves of his feelings.

Not one dolphin chatters, nor does a seal clap. The fish move slowly only because they needed to in order to live.

The recipient of this gift stares wide-eyed, looking at one spot to the next and providing no commentary. When her eyes land on him, he becomes as cold as ice.

His skin turns numb and he could feel himself faltering, but he did his best to keep it up.

Though the startled look that appears on her face suggested he didn't look as reassuring. Her mouth agape, opening and closing, like trying to find the right words to say.

The tides go lower and lower as Poseidon's arms droop.

"Poseidon I—what is all this?" Her voice coming out as a stammer while making small steps towards him.

The water level isn't even at his feet anymore.

Using the last bit of his confidence, he musters out, "I made you an island,"

"You made me an island?" She echoes.

Poseidon nods.

Does she hate it?

He couldn't tell with all the shock—whether it was good or bad—still on her face.

She steps closer, "Why the occasion?" Her eyes hold intrigue, curiosity, "I don't think today has any special events."

"That's why I wanted to make it special," Her quiet gasp gives him hope and courage, "—I wanted you to have a space that's for you. You alone. We may have a palace of gold, but it is still full of your lovely sisters. I know you love them dearly, but everyone needs their own reclusive space."

"Oh, Pontus' waters, Poseidon—"

"Anything you wish to do here is entirely up to you! You can enter the caves to see that they are all decorated—well furnished! The critters here are also tailored to your liking with the ecosystem in mind!" He starts to point out specific parts of the island, "In the center, there is a garden of—"

"Poseidon, my dear!" The ocean's heart touches the side of his face; the water rises, "You are rambling," she endearingly laughs when she says that.

Her hands feel colder, or maybe his face is getting warmer.

"I just wanted to make it perfect for you, Amphitrite..."

That makes her—Amphitrite—laugh out loud. Her laughter is a symphony of the sea as waves wash over their feet and ankles. His face becomes heated, and so does hers.

"You make everything perfect," Amphitrite says with such flow and grace that it stops Poseidon's Godly heart for a few seconds, "It's almost too much."

He's quick to respond, "Nothing is too much for you."

She smiles gratefully as she embraces him, and he doesn't hesitate to return the gesture.

It feels so right to have her in his arms. He could become one with the sea just like this.

A wave crashes over them, and this time Poseidon is the one to gasp in surprise while Amphitrite falls into a laughing fit.

He didn't cause that wave.

He laughs with her upon realizing that.

⭒⭒☆⭒⭒☆⭒⭒