The lush garden, sheltered by towering stone walls, was an oasis of calm. At its heart, a grand water fountain stood, billowing a misty cool aura. The King spent his time here, his solitude echoing in the quiet rustle of the leaves.

Monna was a dazzling sight amidst the garden's tranquility, her wrinkled aquamarine tail shivering as she shifted in her chains. She looked at the King with pleading eyes, her discomfort palpable.

The King would often converse with Monna, reminiscing about his deceased queen and their lost children. Monna listened silently, her attention divided between the King's mournful tales and the discomfort in her belly.

Each touch of the King to Monna's swollen belly was gentle, but it caused her to wince. The King seemed oblivious to her pain, engrossed in his own world of sorrow.

As days passed, Monna's condition worsened. The pressure in her womb was unbearable, and the chains that bound her seemed to tighten around her wrists each passing day.

The King, in his melancholy, barely noticed the mermaid's suffering. His own pain overshadowed everything else. Monna's despairing cries merely echoed the suffering in his heart.

Lost in his grief, the King continued his routine. Each day, he'd sit by Monna, lost in thought, seeking solace in the mermaid's silent companionship.

Monna's condition soon became critical. Her groans grew louder, her belly throbbing with the heightened movement of her unborn. Her gaze to the King was a silent plea for mercy.

The King had begun to notice Monna's condition. His heart ached as he watched her struggle, a parallel to his own heartache. His concern for Monna was slowly birthing a sense of empathy in him.

The King ordered his servants to bring a skilled healer to help Monna, a decision driven by compassion rather than the initial desire for companionship. He realized he didn't want Monna to suffer like he did.

The healer arrived, an elderly woman with knowledge of both human and mythical creatures. She approached Monna with a bag of herbs and tools, her brows furrowed in concern.

The healer worked with gentle precision, easing Monna's discomfort while the King watched. His protectiveness over Monna was slowly replacing his constant sorrow.

As days turned into weeks, the bond between the King and Monna began to deepen. Their silence was replaced by concerned glances and hesitant smiles, a departure from their melancholic existence.

Monna's condition improved under the healer's care, her shivering tail now rested peacefully in the water. Seeing Monna's comfort brought a minuscule of contentment to the King's grief-stricken heart.

The King began to seek the healer's counsel, understanding more about Monna's condition, and her species. In learning about her, he realized the injustice of her captivity.

Monna finally gave birth, six little mermaids squirmed in the fountain's shallow pool. The King watched, awestruck as life took form before his very eyes, something he hadn't experienced in a long while.

Witnessing the miracle of life triggered a transformation in the King. His melancholy began to yield to a newfound sense of responsibility towards Monna and her daughters.

A revolution of kindheartedness swept over the King. He ordered for Monna's chains to be removed, granting her the freedom she deserved. It was his step towards redemption.

Monna, now free, chose to stay in the garden with her daughters. The King had become more than a captor to her; he was a companion, a confidant, a beacon of hope in her confined world.

The garden was not just the king's retreat anymore. It was a sanctuary, a home for Monna and her daughters. The sorrow that once saturated the air was replaced with laughter and splashing of little mermaid tails.

The King found solace in his interactions with Monna and her daughters. His grief for his lost family became more bearable with the laughter and joy that now filled his garden.

Monna and the King had become a family of sorts, bound by shared grief and newfound happiness. The King's heart which was once heavy with despair was now teeming with warmth.

The King, once a solitary figure, found himself surrounded by love. His heartache had led him to Monna, and her captivity had led to their unexpected bond. From their shared pain, emerged an unlikely yet beautiful family.

The garden witnessed the metamorphosis of the King. From a grieving widower, he transformed into a compassionate figure who made amends for his actions and found new purpose in his life.

The King had found his solace, not in melancholic solitude, but in the company of a once-captive mermaid and her lively daughters. The shared sorrow had given birth to an unlikely family, and most importantly, to hope.