Ariel sat upon the edge of her bed, replaying the day's events in her mind's eye. The sheer plethora of things she had done that had only yesterday been unfathomable was enough to stun the former mermaid. Ironically, had she still been in possession of her voice, she would yet have been left speechless. How she could possibly be expected to sleep was beyond her, though the lingering buzz did admittedly battle exhaustion now that the opportunity for sleep presented itself. Carlotta had aided her in dressing for bed, noting Ariel's weariness at dinner and lightly scolding Eric for keeping her out so late, before escorting her to her room. Prior to leaving her, the housekeeper had pressed Ariel's hands in her own.
'I don't know how you've done it, my dear'—there may have been tears in her eyes as she spoke—'you've transformed our Eric. Truly. I can't recall seeing him smile so in a long time. Thank you.'
Ariel continued to ponder her words now, slipping beneath the covers and revelling momentarily in their softness. Whilst it saddened her to think that Eric had been unhappy, it pleased her that she was able, in part, to rectify this—though had she realised that her own absence had triggered his melancholy she would perhaps have felt less pleased with herself.
The former mermaid had no sooner closed her eyes than was startled to alertness once again, her subconscious reminding her of a single terrifying fact: she had but one day left, less than! Her heart began suddenly to pound, it too seeming only now to realise how quickly three days could pass and the consequences that awaited her. Tomorrow, she thought, tomorrow I meet my fate. She sat up and turned her attention to the west facing glass doors, through which the ocean, shattered moonlight atop its waves, watched her. She thought of Ursula, felt the weight of her gaze. Was she confident? She thought of her father and sisters, perhaps searching for her this very moment. A sudden desire to be comforted, to be held, overwhelmed the Princess then. It was maddening, sitting idle in the darkness, allowing precious moments to slip by. She wanted to snatch at them, to pull them back, and yet every second mourning their loss saw another escape unchallenged.
Ariel wondered whether Eric would still be awake, and where he would be if he were. She recalled Grimsby stating that he had papers awaiting him, but where he would attend this business she did not know, the palace and its many rooms being still new to her. Still, she resolved, she would try to seek him out, if only to occupy her mind for a short while. Her legs wobbled at the sudden activity as she rose and walked slowly to the door. It gave a gentle creak as she eased it open, presenting her with a dimly lit hallway at the end of which a tall object ticked ceaselessly. Ariel wondered if she would ever know its name. She proceeded down the hallway with only a slight tremble in her step. How surreal, to be always grounded. In Atlantica she would have darted through the nearest opening and swept with ease to her destination; here the layout must be followed, the halls traversed methodically in turn. It seemed limiting to a mermaid used to travelling with such freedom and made her feel a little claustrophobic. She desired to be outside, the sky limitless above her.
When she came to the stairs she paused, having already formed a dislike for them. The precision they required she did not yet possess, her legs being still new to her, and as a result she had tripped thrice already. The first upon the sweeping white steps that connected the beach to the palace when she had first arrived. Eric had been with her then, his steady grip ensuring that she hadn't fallen; still, it had startled her. Then twice more with Carlotta today, once up and once down; the latter, though it had only been two or three steps at most, resulting in a dark bruise at her hip. With these incidents in mind Ariel gripped the railing and proceeded with an uncharacteristic cautiousness, each step receiving first one foot and then the other. It was a slow process, but Ariel beamed at the accomplishment upon safely reaching the landing of the first floor.
All appeared quiet at first. Then Ariel began to notice a metallic clanging in the near distance, the almost imperceptible chatter of idle maids—no doubt finished for the day—, and a rhythmic scrape, click, scrape, click somewhere below her, accompanied by a dull but equally persistent thud. She walked forward and peered over the banister. There Eric strolled, Max beside him. They were passing directly before her and, though the Prince's gaze remained downcast, Max seemed to sense that they were not alone and stopped to scan his surroundings. He lifted his nose in Ariel's direction, spied her with an excitable wag of his tail, and barked, dutifully alerting his master to the welcome intruder.
Eric turned first to the dog, his brow creasing in an admixture of surprise and confusion, before following his attention upwards, his features relaxing into an easy smile.
'Hey,' he greeted. Then, with some puzzlement, 'Carlotta told me you'd retired for the evening.'
Ariel offered a sheepish smile and a small shrug. She held up one finger, imploring him to wait a moment, hurried to the stairs that would take her to him and started quickly downwards. Too quickly. Her desire to be with him made her careless. The last step was not where she thought and she fell with a silent cry, saved only by Eric's quick reactions. He had mirrored her journey to the foot of the stairs, and now closed the space between them in three long strides; thus, she fell harmlessly against his chest, caught in his arms.
'Steady,' he chided softly, setting her upon her feet once more.
Ariel's thanks existed in the shy smile she offered then. There was such warmth in his eyes, she observed, studying his features in the candlelight, such kindness in his smile.
'Actually,' he continued, looking suddenly sheepish, 'I was hoping to speak with you. Will you walk with me?'
Something akin to nervous excitement shot up Ariel's spine. She nodded. They set of across the chequered floor at a leisurely pace, for which she was admittedly glad, her new feet aching somewhat owing to the day's excursions.
'Did you enjoy today?'
Her reply came in the form of an enthusiastic nod, one which made him smile. After what she had no doubt been through it was a comfort to know that he had been able to provide a period of happiness, if only fleeting. Of course, of this he truly had no idea.
'I'm glad.' Then, in a more sombre tone, 'I'm afraid, so far as we know, there's still been no word of your ship. We'll keep trying though, of course, and you're welcome to stay here as long as you need.'
It took Ariel a moment to comprehend what he was saying, before remembering that he and the palace had assumed her shipwrecked and she, being unable to conjure a more feasible explanation let alone articulate one, had allowed them to believe this. She acknowledged his words with a grateful smile, although there existed no small amount of guilt on account of the trouble her silence had caused. Silent she was though, indefinitely.
They proceeded in comfortable silence, both glad of the company, though the Prince's thoughts were somewhat conflicted. Since that moment in the lagoon—a moment for which he had cursed his own presumptuousness ever since—his mind had been a warzone, desire and decency fighting for dominance. These feelings of adoration had caught him entirely unaware; not quite like lighting, more akin to a sunrise—what had begun as a faint glow upon the horizon now shone bright and enveloped him entirely. He was, in a word, smitten. Her vibrancy, her spirit, had been such a breath of fresh air, the very thing he needed to relieve his mind of its recent captor. What was a spectre when compared to she who now walked beside him, she who had filled his day with such joy and so swiftly captured his heart? Still, he felt he owed her an apology for his advancements. He had no right to presume her feelings, especially given her inability to voice them.
Ariel remained oblivious to this inner turmoil and, as they reached the doors that lead to the beach, and Eric pushed them open to allow Max freedom, she breathed in the sharp scent of the ocean, her heart beginning unbidden to ache. Pleased was she, then, when Eric suggested following the pup, now happily romping upon the soft sand. They stepped out into the moonlight; but, finding herself once again at the summit of those sweeping steps, Ariel froze, overcome suddenly with self-doubt.
Eric noticed her hesitancy and wordlessly offered his arm. She accepted with a thankful smile, gripped the balustrade to her left, and the pair descended steadily. Only when his boots hit the sand did Eric look down and realise that his companion was barefoot beneath her nightgown. The night was a mild one, the sand maintaining a little of the warmth it had absorbed during the day, but still he worried.
'Shall I fetch you some shoes? A shawl perhaps?' he offered, cursing his own lack of perception. He ought not to have brought her out like this, prying eyes would make assumptions. Carlotta and Grimsby would shame him, everyone else her, for impropriety.
She refused though with a soft shake of her head, and flexed her toes in the soft sand, a contented smile upon her face, seemingly unaware—or perhaps just uncaring—as to the risk to her honour. He watched, captured by her beauty, as she took a series of cautious steps forward, coming to a halt a yard or so back from where the waves rolled onto the sand. There she remained, her eyes on the silver horizon.
Eric moved to stand beside her. There were tears in her eyes and she made no acknowledgement of his arrival.
'Are you alright?' he asked tentatively.
She nodded.
'Don't lose hope, I'm sure we'll hear something soon enough,' he continued, drawing his own conclusions as to the cause of her sudden melancholy.
This time a weak smile, though noticeably forced. She appreciated his sympathy, his optimism, even if it were a response to untruths.
'Do you have family?'
She affirmed that she had.
'You must miss them.'
Ariel blinked and a tear rolled down her cheek. She did miss them. Whatever their differences and regardless of the circumstances under which she had left, the thought of never seeing them again was too painful a possibility to consider. Desperate for comfort, she turned to Eric, wrapping her arms around his waist and hiding her tears against his chest.
Eric noticed the moonlit trail upon her cheek as she turned to him and instantly regretted broaching the subject at all. He looped his arm around her, albeit hesitantly, hoping to rectify, at least in part, the hurt he had unthinkingly forced to surface. He uttered hushed reassurances in her ear. Her body shook with silent sobs for a short while, and then she became still, calmed by the pleasantness of the moment. Eric chose this moment to confess he reasons for wanting to see her.
'Ariel, about earlier,' he ventured, 'I want to apologise.'
Ariel took a step back and regarded him with perplexity.
'I shouldn't have... I mean so soon. I had no right t-to act the way that I did. If you can forgive me—'
Suddenly Ariel was shaking her head and clasping his hands in hers. There was an imploring look in her eyes, he thought, but couldn't understand the meaning of it. Ariel slowed and then paused, considering how better to articulate the way she felt, what she wanted to say.
Eric gave a sad smile and tucked a strand of hair—fallen across her face amidst the enthusiasm of her efforts—behind her ear.
'You know,' he sighed, 'sometimes I think it would be much easier if I could just read your mind.'
Ariel mirrored his expression; it would certainly be easier. She took a breath, wiling him to decipher the meaning of what she was about to do, and slowly placed her palm flat against his chest. His heart skipped beneath her fingers, his eyes never leaving hers. Then, with an equally cautious movement, she retook his hand and guided it to her own breast.
Eric flushed at the intimacy of the contact and swallowed hard, though the night did well to hide his embarrassment. He held her gaze and felt suddenly that she had spoken with a clarity no mere words could endeavour to achieve.
'Ariel, I...' he breathed. They were so close. He moved his hand from her heart, sliding his fingers to the soft tresses at the back of her neck, his own heart now pounding. She stared up at him, deep blue pools beneath sweeping lashes, nodded with a slow and slight movement, and Eric's world seemed suddenly to snap into place. The confusion and contradiction that had clouded his mind cleared like morning fog. He owed his life to his rescuer, yes, but his heart belonged to she who stood before him, eyes sparkling in the starlight. He closed the space between them with only a little hesitancy—owing, he thought, to his nervousness—and suddenly the soft pressure of her lips met his own. A warmth spread through them both and all else vanished. When, after several seconds, they pulled lingeringly apart, both were breathless and beaming, their focus on one another unrelenting.
Ariel's mind raced. She had done it; hadn't she? She had won.
Overcome with joy she tried her voice, Eric's name upon her lips. Silence. She tried again, only to be met by the same outcome. What constituted a kiss of true love if not that? It occurred to her then that there had been no mention as to what would happen now, other than her humanity becoming permanent. Ursula had never promised to return her voice, regardless of the outcome. Payment, it had been, not a loan. Ariel touched her fingertips to her throat, her face falling. She looked despairingly out to sea.
'Ariel?' Eric's voice was tentative, his crooked finger under her chin returning her eyes to his. 'I love you, voice or not,' he assured her.
How could she not smile to hear those words? And yet... interwoven with these feelings of ecstasy—owing to the opportunity she now had to experience all humanity had to offer with a man she cared so deeply for—was the realisation that she'd never be able to say those words back; that her former home and all who dwelled there were now inaccessible. These conflicting emotions would exist inside her without her being able to disclose the reasoning behind them. She could never tell Eric the truth, never confide in him; instead, she would be forced to carry her burden alone. She didn't regret her decision, these past two days had been wonderful, and she was certain that there would be many more like it; but the reality of the choice she had made weighed suddenly upon her shoulders. Not wanting to make Eric think himself the cause of her threatening tears, Ariel pressed herself against him, circling her arms around his midriff. She was comforted a little when he promptly returned her embrace, strong arms providing a sense of security.
There had been several heart-stopping moments when Eric had thought his advances unwelcome, had thought that he had entirely misunderstood her silent communications. Her initiated closeness dissipated those fears, and he perceived that her sorrow stemmed from something else, perhaps something beyond his current comprehension. He thought to ask whether there was anything he could do when a figure, part hidden in mist, caught his attention. He squinted, straining to determine exactly what, exactly who, he was seeing. It was a person, a woman, gliding across the sand towards them, her hair and the skirts of her dress being whipped about her by the wind. Eric frowned, surprised that anyone else would come here so late. There was nothing wrong with her being here, and had she walked by them he would have assumed her, albeit suspiciously, of simply taking an evening stroll. As it were, she appeared to be headed straight for them.
'Can I help you, Miss?' he called.
Ariel startled, looked first to Eric and then followed his gaze to the intruder.
A fine mist had settled on the sand and curled like smoke about the hem of her nightgown as she approached. She came to a halt serval meters from where Ariel and Eric stood, eyelashes fluttering and chocolate waves settling around her shoulders, glossy in the pale moonlight.
'I'm the one who rescued you,' she purred, violet eyes batting coquettishly as they met the Prince's.
Ariel's blood ran cold as she spoke, both at the lie and at the familiarity of the voice which spoke it.
Eric too was somewhat taken aback. After all the searching and longing he hadn't expected his rescuer to simply waltz up to him, and so immediately after he had moved on too.
'W-well I,' he stammered, 'I can only thank you.'
Despairingly Ariel gripped his shirt, forcing him to meet her gaze and shaking her head vigorously, desperate to alert him to the falsity. It was me! She wanted to scream, her lips moving soundlessly. Eric placed his hands over hers, his confusion at the situation evident and, really, who could blame him?
Ariel did not relinquish her hold, but turned to face the imposter, her eyes pleading. It was then that she noticed the glowing shell which hung from her neck. Ursula! Sensing the danger that they were in, Ariel sought to drag Eric further along the beach, to put distance between themselves and the sea witch. She should've known it wouldn't be that easy, that Ursula would manipulate the deal to suit her. Frustratingly, though, no matter the effort she exerted, Eric simply would not move, his feet firmly rooted to the sand. Ariel repositioned herself, standing directly in the Prince's line of vision, silently begging him to grasp the gravity of the situation. She froze. Eric didn't so much as blink, his eyes glassy and his irises rimmed in a haunting luminosity. His features were expressionless, entirely devoid of emotion.
Max too, sensing that something was very wrong, barked fearfully and planted his front paws against Eric's chest, the force enough to unsettle his balance momentarily, but nothing more.
The little mermaid whipped round and saw the shell poised between Ursula's thumb and middle finger. She tapped it with her forefinger and smirked.
'He won't move,' she informed, 'not unless I tell him to of course.'
The sound of her own voice made Ariel shudder.
'My dear, sweet child, why the long face? You won, you have what you signed up for. To have your humanity made permanent, I seem to recall. Nothing more, nothing less.'
Ariel blanched, shook her head disbelievingly.
'Now,' continued Ursula, 'what to do with him?'
Stepping back, Ariel spread her arms as though to shield Eric, willing him to break through whatever spell he had been drawn under.
Ursula cackled. 'Pathetic,' she sneered. She inclined her head seawards and immediately the Prince turned, sharp, and began as his puppet-master had instructed, legs carrying him towards the surf in a slow yet relentless march.
Ariel tugged at his arm, Max at his trouser leg—the canine succeeding only in ripping the material—to no avail, the power that commanded him was too strong. Forgetting her lost voice, Ariel tried begging, pleading with the sea witch to release him, but she merely cupped a hand mockingly behind her ear.
'What was that Princess?' she teased, 'I didn't quite catch that.'
Ariel's despair only increased. The waves rushed over Eric's boots now; how far would Ursula take this? Did she truly intend to march him to his grave? Guilt weighed heavily upon Ariel's conscience. Eric was innocent. She had dragged him into something far bigger than himself, put him at the mercy of a power he didn't know existed, never stopping to consider what repercussions her actions could have upon his life. She mentally cursed her own selfishness and rounded the Prince once more, desperate to push him back, to return him to safety—if such proximity to the sea-witch could be called as much.
A frantic barking and subsequent shriek caught the former mermaid's attention, her eyes leaving the stricken Prince and following the commotion back to shore. Max, seeming to sense that something was amiss, jumped about Ursula's disguise, growling and baring his teeth in a way that Ariel hadn't seen in the normally docile animal before.
'Get away from me!' demanded Ursula. 'Filthy creature!'
Proud though she was that Max wanted to help, Ariel sensed the danger that he was in. Was she, therefore, to stay with Eric, or to return to the beach and try to ensure the safety of his pet? What could she do for either? If there was to be a plus side amidst all this, it was that Eric seemed to have slowed in his advancements, Max's antics sufficing to distract the sea-witch from her control of him. It was with a hope that she could achieve something similar that Ariel waded from the surf, momentarily leaving Eric, waist deep, alone and without asset in the black and unpredictable ocean.
A white shape against the night sky drew her attention upwards. Scuttle!
'Don't worry sweetie!' he trilled, 'the cavalry is coming!'
Baffled, and uncertain as to what her friend had in mind, Ariel froze, following his path with amazement. He swooped at the sea-witch, beating his wings in her face while she clawed wildly at the air in an unsuccessful attempt to dismiss him.
'Why you little—' Ursula's protestations were cut off by an ear-piercing scream, Max taking the opportunity to sink his teeth into her arm as she lowered it to take another swipe. At the same time, Scuttle promptly redirected his attentions to the shell that hung from her neck, snatching it easily amidst her agony and dropping in at length into Ariel's hands.
The Princess stood stunned.
Ursula eventually managed to deliver a sharp kick to Max's side, leaving the whimpering animal cowering—Ariel hoped that he was alright. Wild eyes landed on Triton's youngest, on what she clutched within trembling hands. Holding a bloodied wrist to her breast, Ursula extended her hand.
'Give it to me Princess,' she ordered, her voice slick.
Ariel took a step back, unnerved.
'Give it to me,' she repeated, 'if his life means anything to you.' Here she pointed to Eric, caught as he was, it seemed, on the cusp of the witch's control.
Ariel looked from him to the shell and wondered whether Ursula could—and would—hurt him if she failed to give it back. She wouldn't play with Eric's life; but she couldn't help but wonder how heavily Ursula's power relied on that which sat nestled within her cupped palms?
'Hand it over!'
Her own stolen voice, edged with a sharpness that didn't become it, snapped her from her thoughts. There was a desperation to those words though, which made Ariel realise that the shell acted as more than simply a prison for her stolen voice. Ursula needed it. Her threats were empty, for without this she could not carry them out. No matter what it meant for her, thought Ariel, she simply couldn't allow this to reach Ursula's possession again.
'Brat! Drop it!'
Drop it… Ariel considered these words, cast a lingering glance to Eric, prayed that he might forgive her if this didn't work, and threw the shell against the nearby rocks with all the force she could muster.
What happened next existed in a series of blurs that Ariel would have to recall to memory later. It shattered in an instant, shards of gold exploding from the rocks and raining harmlessly to the sand, and Ursula howled as though it had been her own beating heart turned to dust. A sliver of celestial mist snaked upwards from the shattered remains and shot to the base of Ariel's neck before she could react—though in truth her attention was elsewhere. Mission accomplished she had rushed across the sand towards Eric, so that she might at least try to protect him if Ursula made good on her promise to enact her revenge on the Prince. At first, Ariel was thrown into panic as Eric jolted and staggered sideways, his hand clasped to his head as though he were in pain. When there came no further repercussions, her heart lightened in relief, but still she could not relax until he was safely back on land.
Ariel tugged the bewildered Prince to shore, where he promptly lost his footing on the soft sand and tumbled backwards. He blinked once. Twice. Three times. Tried and failed to make sense of his circumstances.
'Ariel I… I don't… I-I couldn't,' he struggled, clearly shaken. 'Ariel, what happened?'
'It's okay,' she assured him, kneeling beside him and watching as his eyes widened. Ariel touched her fingertips to her throat, in truth as surprised as he was.
'You can talk?' Eric's voice sounded faint, far away, as though suddenly he wasn't quite certain as to which side of consciousness he had landed.
'I can, and I promise I'll explain everything,' affirmed Ariel. Then she frowned, wondered what exactly Ursula had done to him. 'Are you hurt?' she worried.
Eric was quick to deny this. He wasn't hurt as such; freezing, yes, and he sincerely hoped that this light-headedness was only temporary. Whatever that woman had done to him still lingered. He wouldn't trouble Ariel with it though. It would pass, it was passing, albeit at a frankly pathetic rate of knots. He couldn't begin to guess what had just transpired, nor would he try, trusting that what Ariel had said—what she had said—was true, that she would eventually enable his understanding. There was, however, something that he could piece together unaided, what with her knelt beside him whilst he lay prostrate on the sand.
'It was you all the time, wasn't it?' he stated, 'you saved me that night.' And possibly this night as well, he added mentally.
Ariel nodded, confirming his theory, and laughed as Max attacked his master with an onslaught of wet kisses, undeterred by Eric's somewhat unconvincing attempts to push him away. She took this opportunity to quickly survey her surroundings, aware suddenly that the danger may not yet be over, but Ursula was gone. In fact, rather disconcertingly, there remained no trace of her at all.
Noticing her sudden frown, Eric pushed himself into a sitting position and placed his hand atop hers.
'Are you alright?' he asked.
Ariel ducked her head, seeming suddenly sombre. 'I put you in so much danger,' she acknowledged, tears blurring her vision as she looked remorsefully up at Eric. 'Can you ever forgive me?'
'Forgive you! Listen, I know I … I can't pretend to have even the slightest understanding of what just happened, but as far as I can tell I owe you my life. Barely ten minutes ago I told you that I loved you, that hasn't changed Ariel.'
It was comforting to hear those words, and Ariel squeezed his hand in response. There was still a great deal to figure out, but first and foremost she felt she owed Eric the truth; if there was a place to begin then that was it, and yet… the prospect of exposing her true identity to him frightened her. He had told her that he loved her, that much was was true, but how could he do so when all he thought he knew about her was a lie? What if he changed his mind?
A tear caressed her cheek and was met by the gentle touch of Eric's thumb. His eyes patiently implored her to disclose the reason behind her sadness.
'Eric, I haven't been honest with you,' she admitted tearfully, 'and I'm afraid that you'll hate me when you learn to what extent.'
'I don't think I could,' came Eric's immediate assurance. He rose to his feet with only a little unsteadiness and helped Ariel up after him, maintaining her hands in his thereafter as they stood upon the silent shore. 'You say you haven't been honest, but you haven't lied either; without a voice, how could you? Ariel, I think you're the most extraordinary person I've ever met, and whatever it is you have to say I promise to listen without judgement.' Here he raised her hands to his lips, alighting upon her porcelain skin the softest of kisses. 'Do you trust me?'
Ariel nodded without hesitation. 'I do.' She did trust him, completely and utterly. So too did she worry about him, noting the way he trembled with the cold. Both were soaked through and, when Ariel suggested that they change and get warm before talking, Eric readily assented. Together they made their way back across the sand and up the marble steps; one a little anxious as to what he might learn, and the other as to how she would be received. Both, however, felt keenly the love of the other, and could not foresee much that would possess strength enough to alter it.
At the top of the steps Ariel turned, cast her eyes across the ocean once more. Ursula's disappearance perturbed her, but the possibility of seeing her family again now bloomed with a comforting warmth within her breast. She would make this right, first here, and then at home; she would correct her mistakes in turn.
Eric interwove his fingers with hers, hoping to provide some small solace to counteract the longing he perceived in her gaze. 'Your ship?' he guessed.
Ariel gripped his hand, held his eyes in the moonlight and spoke with an innate softness. 'My home.'