Ariel felt a bead of sweat roll down her forehead, the side of her nose, and down her neck. She would've wiped it away, but the day was too hot to possibly exert any effort. There was a slight breeze that barely drifted in and she leaned her head back to greet as much of it as possible.

"Are you still on that sofa? You've been there all morning." Artista came in, scolding. She shut her fan sharply on her left hand and stared down at her youngest sister.

"'s very hot" Ariel slurred, yawning and stretching.

"Don't be lazy. Weren't you supposed to be in the store today?"

Shoot! Ariel's father had been very understanding – with six older sisters, it was highly unlikely that Ariel would ever be able to run the store, so he tolerated her disinterest in it. Attina was in the store almost every day, learning the business of trade. Ariel was only expected to come in once a month, just for the sake of pitching in and socializing.

"Is he furious?" Ariel sat up suddenly, pulling her feet beneath her.

"He's calmed down." Artista sighed, sitting down where Ariel's feet were stretched out just a moment before. "He's been really understanding, you know. He doesn't want any of us to feel like we're doing everything."

"Even though Attina does do everything." Ariel smiled a bit.

Artista cracked a smile. "True." But she still pursed her lips. "I know you don't care about the store-"

"It's not that I don't care! It's just-"

"That you'd rather be out in the shed, or visiting all the trinket stores, or rummaging through whatever people will let you." Artista smiled. "Or gardening, or sewing, or horseback riding, or doing anything else. You don't really care about the store, Ariel."

"I just don't prioritize it." Ariel stressed, hoping the connotation for that would be better received.

Artista rolled her eyes. "Yes, how silly of me. Different words, but same meaning. I'd just be careful. Next thing we go to, no matter what function, or meeting, or anything, you have got to be there. Even if you hate it."

"Even if I hate it."

"And no forgetting, even if it's for real."

"I've never faked forgetting!"

"You so have!" Artista said, but raised her hands. "Unimportant. Just keep that in mind. Daddy does so much for us, Ariel. Making sure we represent the family well is the least we can do."

…

"-and on your coronation day, having a wife beside you would be not only stately, it would be soothing."

Eric knew that he had been groomed to be king from birth, it wasn't exactly a secret. Still, the words 'coronation day' had so seldom be spoken freely in front of him that he felt himself jolt.

"What is it, m'boy?" Grimsby asked, placing down his cup of tea.

Eric shook his head. "Nothing. I guess everything just hit me for a second."

Grimsby smiled. "There's been a lot of preparation leading up to this stage in your life, Eric. I can't begin to tell you how honored I am to have been in it."

Eric gave a shy smile. He knew the feelings were sincere, but still, it was so much! "You know I appreciate everything you've done, Grim. You've…you've been like a father to me."

Grimsby beamed at this. "Thank you, Eric. That really does mean a lot."

"So that's why I know I can talk to you about these things – do I really have to be married to be crowned? I don't remember ever hearing that."

"Oh, no not at all!" Grimsby said hurriedly. "As prince and heir, you have every right to ascend to the throne by yourself. But, you parents had always wished for you to find the right person to marry before that day was to come."

"I just haven't met her, Grim. You know that. I have no reservations against getting married." Eric sighed, sinking back a little.

"I think you're approaching it the wrong way, Eric. You're looking for love before anything else, and that's…not what princes do. The love for your queen will grow, but you also have to look out for your kingdom."

"Of course, but-"

"But your kingdom is the most important element here. They need a queen who cares for the people, who will rule with a steady hand, and will do as good of a job ruling as you have, and will continue to. Royal marriages are more about politics than love."

Eric grimaced a bit at this. He knew that Grimsby was right.

"We don't want you to end up with someone completely wrong for the country, but we also don't want you to end up with someone completely wrong for you!" Grimsby assured the man, leaning forward. "Let Carlotta and I help you."

Carlotta and Grimsby were not Eric's parents but, at least since his eighth year, they might as well have been. Both tended to him from infanthood, exceeding their roles as maid and servant when his parents perished so suddenly. They had stood by and with Eric for the ten years since that tragic accident, comforting and supporting him. They had never done him wrong.

And, of course, there had been decisions made by Grimsby and Carlotta that Eric didn't agree with, throughout all stages of his young life. All too many times had he insisted he be allowed sweets before dinner, but he would be lightly chided. When he was thirteen he insisted he didn't need school anymore, but Carlotta made him go against his will. He had tried to enter dangerous competitions, sail on rough seas, and grew a very unsuccessful patchy beard. For each of these missteps, he was corrected. Even if he couldn't see that they were right at the time, they proved to be correct.

A marriage was a much more important decision than facial hair or poor weather judgement, but Eric was confident that his faux-parents knew that. They had exercised wonderful sense for so many years, and they would surely handle this delicate situation with care.

"Alright." Eric gave a curt nod. "I trust you, Grim. And Lottie too. I think I'm ready to be married, and we must all go towards the future, so no point in going kicking and screaming."

Grimsby gave a little chuckle at that.

"Any match you think is suitable, I think is suitable." Eric nodded. "You have my complete trust and permission to do whatever you think is proper."

"Eric, I would never do anything that wasn't proper."

"For a man who sleeps in an ascot, I suppose that's true."

Grimsby dismissed the comment with a wave of his hand, but Eric saw him smile a bit. "Now, I'd say we get right on this. Every week more and more women are marrying off, which decreases the chances of finding someone right for the country and you."

"Alright, what exactly are you proposing?"

"We throw a ball, and invited anyone who could really be…capable of the job. High ranking families within the kingdom, prominent business families, royalty from nearer counties."

"Okay…" Eric said, nodding.

"Now there's a lot of ways to approach this, but we don't have to get into this right now. Marriage to a local would reaffirm your already clear commitment to this country. Perhaps unnecessary, but it certainly couldn't hurt. Especially if it was someone from the business community – that would open an avenue for business and government to be on friendlier terms than they typically are. Marriage to a royal from another country would create an alliance. A marriage to the Norwegian princess, for example, would turn a tepid alliance into a strong partner. A marriage to the princess of Glauerhaven would ease relations between our countries – we have been to war several times in the last century."

"I know." Eric nodded. Those history lessons were part of the reason he wanted to quit school.

"A marriage to the duchess of Sweden would also allow for a significant trade boost. While she's not a princess, her father holds many business partners throughout the continent. There's all sorts of advantages, we just need to consider what exactly is best – yes for the country, but also if you are able to stumble into any romance."

Eric suddenly felt very hot. He and Grimsby never talked about this subject much, and it suddenly felt so uncomfortable, existing in a world and a room where romance was real and it was supposed to come for him. Eric had never loved anyone romantically, he had never really had the chance. He had known familial love and platonic love – he was never short of playmates or council, but he was always so busy and engrossed in other things. He had always appreciated love as a concept: as something from afar. It would be very lovely when it happened, but not matter how old he was when he thought of it, it was always something for the future. When he was older, wiser; when it happened naturally.

But that was not his fate; Eric was a prince and he was scheduled to fall in love. In two Saturdays; the seventeenth. The invitations would be sent out the next day.

…

Ariel thought she represented the family just fine, thank you very much. She was the only one making sure that the whole of the family was being represented. Away from the main house was a small structure that could be best described as a shed. It was so unused that her father had had no issue in merely giving it to Ariel for her use, and Ariel made very good use of it indeed.

She had almost no memories of her mother, so she collected what she could here. Ariel's mother had died in a carriage accident when Ariel was only four, and she had virtually no memories of her. Her mother was a haze, existing in a smile or a one-sentence quip. Every other sister had more memories than her, especially the eldest sisters. Ariel combatted this terrible inequality by rummaging through every bit of the house, collecting notes and possessions and even a large painting.

The painting was the fixture of the room, almost three feet long and two feet wide. Ariel's mother was the spitting image of her youngest daughter. Her hair was done up with curls and a wide-brimmed cobalt hat. She had a fine ruffled gown and resting on her décolletage was the most unique necklace Ariel had ever seen. Small sapphires were arranged in the shape of a wave, surrounded by clustered together diamonds. The whole things was shaped loosely like a star and it hung from a silver chain.

She had asked her father where the necklace came from and he said he wasn't sure. She had always had it, ever since she was little. It must've been a fine gift from a family member, but he didn't remember her ever telling him which one. Ariel then asked where the necklace was but, once again, he wasn't sure. It wasn't found with her body, but her mother had gotten caught in a storm that forced her down a large hill, so it could've rolled away. It could've been stolen by thieves. All that can be sure was that it was never found.

Lifting her skirts Ariel sat on the wooden floor. There were papers tacked all to the wall and she knew that without context, she must've looked quite mad. It didn't matter. She was visiting her mother.

…

Duchess Ursula received an invitation not out of any respect or desire for her to be there, but merely because Duchess Ursula had always received invitations. She had been planted into society since her marriage to the late Duke Morgan, and with such a prominent position came the eternal perks. She was most pleased to find she received no tangible shift in social situation, especially considering the…mysterious conditions under which her husband perished.

It was wise of them, anyway, to not displease her. Though she of course did not share this fact, Ursula had a most unusual skillset. It had been hard to hide from her husband, but her skill with potions was easily hidden from the world. Tucked away in a room behind her bedroom she was able to keep her few servants away, and do whatever needed to be done.

She had lost any shame she once felt at arriving to a ball unescorted. She had grown old, and with that came any confidence she may have once yearned for in her youth. With this confidence, came the ideas for audacious plans. As a duchess, she was already one of the most high-ranking women in the kingdom.

In fact, it would be only a short leap to be queen.

…

Ariel had promised that she wouldn't forget, so she didn't, and here she was. Prince Eric's castle…it is beautiful. She had been here before, we she was quite young, so she didn't really remember many details. Like her mother, this too was but a hazy memory. She wasn't royalty, so it wasn't as common for her or her sisters to be invited to these sorts of things. In fact, he made her sort of wonder why her family had been invited at all. While the party was large, it was also strangely intimate. Most of the people she had befriended from other trading families were not there. Ariel furrowed her brow at this but knew it would be best not to ask – all she would really earn herself was an eyeroll or a scold.

Ariel looked around and saw the prince making his rounds, getting even closer to her family. He had such blue eyes, and when he smiled his dimples would come out. She watched him talk and laugh with the other attendees, moving quickly but not too quickly, as to not be rude.

"You've heard the rumors, I'm sure." Alana whispered, just loudly enough that the sisters nearest to her could hear.

"Which ones?" Adella pressed.

"That this whole ball was organized so that Prince Eric could find a wife."

For just a second, Ariel let herself imagine what exactly it would be like to be Prince Eric's wife. It was a silly thought – she knew nothing about him other than that he seemed to be good with crowds of people, and he seemed to do a fine enough job running the country. But she still didn't push it out of her head – it was pushed out for her, by Adella's squeal.

"Oh, you're not lying, right?" Adella pressed. "It would be so cruel if you were lying right now!"

"I'm only passing on information I've heard, though I can't necessarily speak to the truth of the statements. But yes, I promise I'm not just making it up." Alana shrugged, opening her fan.

Ariel smiled. She wished Adella the best of luck, but the girl could be won over in a second by any man who was proclaimed 'single'. Even if the prince didn't look her way tonight, Ariel was sure that Adella would bounce back by the morning.

The prince was not the focus of her night, though. Tonight was about keeping a promise to her family and proving that she could show up. Tonight was about minding her manners and representing her loved ones well. And tonight, since she had been doing those first two so well, was about enjoying all the lovely touches in the palace, and exploring whatever new and interesting things would be inside.

With a slight nod to her family, Ariel set off to do just that.

She would still represent her family well, and wouldn't try to go in anywhere she was sure that she wasn't supposed to be – places with locked doors or places that had things that looked expensive or fragile. Ariel didn't want to be a nuisance, and she would definitely slip out before anyone would even notice she left the ballroom. But how often was one in a palace? Who wouldn't be curious?

…

Eric didn't hate balls, or, to speak more correctly, Eric didn't hate the first two hours of balls. For that period of time he was lively and happy to spend time with people he did genuinely like. He enjoyed discussing some light politics and business – most everyone was too polite to turn it into a real conversation. In spite of the pressure of the evening, he was even enjoying this ball.

"-but I'm not really sure what exactly she expected to happen with that!" the Swedish duchess went on, laughing at her own joke, clearly with the hope that Eric would laugh as well.

Eric laughed, not really sure exactly what she said; his mind was wandering, but he really shouldn't be so rude.

Those two precious hours had ended and Eric found his energy draining very rapidly. Now the faces were all blending together and he found himself lagging just a half-step behind in conversations. He knew he wasn't being nearly as lively or engaging as he could be, and if Duchess Aina hadn't noticed by now, she surely would soon. Hopefully, she would be able to forgive him.

"Excuse me." Eric gave her a warm smile and she dipped her head a little, signaling that it was okay for him to leave.

Eric slipped through a few crowds of people but stopped when he felt a tug on his arm.

"Eric, you're doing splendidly. I've heard so many wonderful things about you, really." Grimsby smiled.

"Thanks, Grim. I'm just gonna-"

"You must come over here, you still need to meet a few more women! Dinner will be served in an hour, and mingling will be more difficult after that."

Eric knew protesting was no good. He shrugged a little and followed Grimsby. Grimsby brought the boy to two girls who were gossiping. One was a slight young woman, with hair so blonde it was almost white. The other was darker and more curved, and she bobbed a quick curtsey in her pink dress.

"Eric, this is Annabelle."

"Pleasure to meet you."

"Charmed."

"Eric, this is Margaret."

"Lovely to meet you."

"Lovely to meet you as well."

"So, Prince Eric" Margaret cocked her head, letting her dark, short hair graze past her shoulder.. "What is the occasion for this grand ball?"

While Eric was confident rumors would fly, it was never announced that the ball was for the sake of introducing him to his future wife. While Eric understood the importance of a political marriage, he also knew that proclaiming that was his purpose would only cause trouble. He did, also, hope that by concealing this he would maintain some level of authenticity. That maybe a woman would love him tonight, just for the sake of having a nice dance together.

"What is the point of having a ballroom, if not to sometimes fill it with people?"

She smiled at him, and he couldn't help but notice how nervous she was.

…

Ariel crept up a flight of winding stairs. The steps were quite small and narrow, to the point where she couldn't even fit her whole foot on them, and had to walk up on tip toe.

"There better be a treasure trove at the top of this, for all this effort." She mumbled to herself, wheezing.

She wished she had counted how many stairs she had to go up, just so she could tell her sisters later, but she had already walked too many to be worth going back down to count. But they ended eventually, as they were bound to do, and she found herself in a room that was almost unworthy of the climb. There was a very large couch and a braided rug. There was a big window with some simple drapes, and a table with a few candles on it. This was it?

Walking over to the window, she got a better sense of clarity. Oh.

The tower had a perfect view of the seaside part of town, still lit up with the candles of the early evening. The sea lapped against the shore, tugging a few small sailboats that were tied to a pier.

She didn't know why the room was so simply finished – how could anyone not want to come up here? The whole point of having legs was to climb to views like these. Ariel leaned out the window and rested her chin on rolled-up hands.

Cicadas hummed through the night and Ariel was so overtaken by the sights the tower provided that she could only focus on one sound at a time. The cicadas, the frogs from the pond below, the tide crashing in, the last few carriages coming home. She was too far removed from the party to pick up on even the existence of conversation.

…

Ursula twirled a long strand of pearls between her fingers, surveying the party. But mostly watching the prince, like how an octopus hid from its prey until just the right moment. He had flitted around the party, talking to so many women that he may as well have just announced that the purpose of the ball was, in fact, to find a bride. He also didn't seem to speak with any of them for more than fifteen or twenty minutes, so it was beyond her how her expected to pick a wife from such a small sampling.

Then again, his foolishness would only help her more, so who was she to scoff at the boy? It would be a terrible disposition to get herself into, especially seeing how he was growing closer, practically clawing his way over towards where she had planted herself for the duration of the cocktail service.

"Why hello, Prince Eric." She purred.

Eric had never wanted that to be his name less. He only needed fifteen minutes alone, to rest and recharge. But it seemed that just as soon as he found a way to end a conversation, another one would pop up.

"Hello, Duchess Ursula." He said smiling.

"What a lovely party. You certainly know how to throw them." Ursula said, surveying all around. "Come, tell me more about the castle. Give me a tour, won't you dear? Just around the room a bit, nothing to extravagant. I would hate to exhaust you."

It was a question, but there was really only one answer.

"Of course." Eric grimaced, allowing her to take his arm.

Ursula raised her chin and made eye contact with the Prince's manservant, Grumbly or something. He was studying the two, with an intrigued look on his face. Ursula flashed her brightest smile at him and the man looked away, ashamed to be caught staring. If they were standing close, Ursula would've assured him he shouldn't feel poorly. There's nothing she wanted more than for people to notice them together.

…

Eventually, Ariel stopped focusing on sounds at all and used all of her energy to see. Which created the most awkward disadvantage when she was unable to hear the increasing noise of someone coming up the stairs.

She sighed and hummed, letting one harm drop from her chin to dangle and sway out the window. She arched her back and spread her feet. She could stare at this forever. Ariel knew she shouldn't have even been here and she'd overstayed her invitation regardless. It was time to go.

"Hello?"

Ariel gasped and spun around, locking eyes with Prince Eric. "I just wanted to see." She spilled, saying words before she had even thought about what to say. She grimaced a little. That was probably the wrong thing to say.

Eric looked out the window. "I don't blame you." He smiled a bit, folding his hands behind his back and approaching. "I like to be here, too."

Ariel settled back a little as she looked up at him. He was very handsome, and she felt almost silly for noticing that. His face wasn't boyish at all and even in the dying light and rising moon she could tell her had lovely eyes. She wanted to touch his face but she did have some impulse control, so she didn't.

"I didn't know what'd be at the top, I-I-" Ariel searched for the right thing to say.

"It's fine." Eric smiled turning to look out the window himself. He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. "You can catch the sea even from here."

"I love it."

"If I could change one thing about this castle, I would move it closer to the ocean. Maybe even in it."

Ariel giggled a little. "Maybe put it completely under the water?"

Eric gave a quick smile. "It'd certainly make it much harder for people to sneak around my home."

Ariel flushed a little, overcome with the reality of her own actions. "Thank you for being so kind. I really shouldn't have snuck up here."

Eric smiled a little. She was right – it was weird – but he still appreciated her company. He genuinely enjoyed it. "It's fine." He smiled. "In fact, I wouldn't even mind if you wanted to come back."

Ariel's mouth dropped open; she couldn't help it. "Do you mean it? Can I really?"

Eric laughed. Yes, most of his guests were on business only, but no one had ever expressed such a desire to return. "Yes, I really mean it. In fact, can I show you around a bit now?"

"Please!" Ariel exclaimed, practically bouncing over to him.

"Here, if we go downstairs I'll show you my bedroom. In my option, there's a better view from my bedroom window."

Eric moved down the tiny stairs with the quickness of a man who had climbed them many, many times and Ariel found herself slightly out of breath and frustrated with his skill. He held a finger to his lips and the two crept down the hallway that passed by the still bustling ballroom, the entire event carrying on without the man most vital to its functioning.

"We'll go back soon, I promise." Eric said, peering over his shoulder.

"Oh, believe me, don't feel any need to rush." Ariel said excitedly.

She couldn't see, but Eric smiled at that.

"Here," he pushed open a set of double doors and revealed a large bedroom. He tugged her over to the window, pushing it open. "look."

The bedroom was on the ground floor and the water perhaps fifty feet from the castle.

"During high tide you can practically jump into the ocean." Eric smiled. "Tide pools form over there!" he pointed to his left.

Ariel was amazed – imagine having the whole ocean at your doorstep!

"It looks better in the daylight." Eric said, after only a moment of silence.

"I'd sure like to see that!" Ariel said, no real meaning behind it.

"Then I suppose you must."

…

She did. Of course, Eric was practically king and could not dedicate all his time to tide pools and flower bouquets. When he had a free hour, any time, he sent a letter and a carriage to Ariel's home. It was quite funny to her – Daddy was always at the shop, Attina, the stand in mother, was always with him, and none of her sisters had even a hint of the authority to tell her what to do.

And she wouldn't tell them where she was going, either. The first time the note and carriage appeared Alana demanded that Ariel give her at least some sort of hint, and tried to snatch it from her hand, but Ariel shoved the letter down the front of her dress and laughed as she hopped into the carriage. She felt rather fancy, leaning back in the ornate carriage. All by herself. Headed to the palace. She felt strange for not being nervous – she was going to the castle to spend time with a prince, after all. This wasn't an everyday occurrence. But she couldn't bring herself to dread it, or worry. She was just taking a carriage to meet a boy. It happens, right?

The carriage pulled up in front of the castle, at almost the same time Prince Eric was walking out.

"I saw you coming." He beamed at her and Ariel was secretly relieved that she hadn't imagined him looking better than he actually did. He was beautiful.

"I suppose you would recognize the carriage." Ariel spoke as Eric held her hand and helped her disembark from the carriage.

"Is there anything in particular you'd like to see?" Eric asked.

"Everything." Ariel breathed, looking around.

"Here, let's go through the palace first."

Ariel laughed. "All in one day?"

"You can come back." Eric said, a little more quietly than he probably intended.

Ariel looked up at him, staring down at her. "We should probably get started."

Eric pulled Ariel into the westward tower to show her another aerial view of the kingdom. Ariel sighed and pointed out different shops and houses she could recognize, even from way up there.

"That's baker Johnathon!" Ariel exclaimed.

"How can you possibly tell that?"

"Well he's coming out of the bakery, and I don't know any other man that round!"

Eric laughed at this and Ariel began pointing out people and making elaborate backstories.

"That's Marina McMolald-"

"That's her name, huh?"

"Yes Eric, that's what I said. Anyway, Marina McMellon is a-"

"Hold on, you just changed her name."

"She changes it whenever someone interrupts me, actually."

"Does she know whenever you're interrupted?"

"Yes she's a witch and she can see everything, thank you for asking."

Eric laughed and stepped closer, pushing the top of Ariel's left hip to turn her towards him. "Come on, let's go outside."

"Where to?" Ariel said, walking next to him.

Eric shrugged. "The beach?"

"I love the beach." Ariel said, taking his hand to go down – yet another! - set of too-small stairs. "A lot more than I like these stairs."

Eric laughed. "Carlotta used to tell me that the stairs were built for elves. I think she just didn't want me sneaking off somewhere she couldn't find me, but who knows."

"Maybe that's why all the people in town below looked so small. They were secretly elves."

Eric nodded vigorously, as if this was even remotely possible. "I'd say that's the most likely explanation."

Ariel laughed and the two walked down the hall, through the foyer, and out to the beach. Ariel gathered her skirts some six-odd inches off the ground and ran sprinting into the water, laughing at the familiar cold.

Eric kicked off his boots and rolled up the hem of his pants, wading in right up to the tip of the fabric.

"Hey, no fair!" Eric yelled after Ariel, noticing how she was able to gather her skirts up to her knees and wade in far deeper than he could.

Ariel laughed at him, standing basically ankle deep. "I thought you said you liked the beach!"

"I do! I just didn't know we were going to go in the water!"

"Afraid to get your princely hems wet?" she smirked.

"You're the one with your skirts all bunched up!"

"Seems like you've got something bunched up too."

"All right, you asked for it."

Now, Eric was a prince who was practically king. He was eighteen years old. He had shown strength, resilience, and confidence unmatched by many people twice his age. He still deeply feared the scolding he was going to get from Carlotta for getting his clothes wet. But he couldn't lose this opportunity. He ran-lunged towards Ariel, meeting more resistance from the water and unable to fully run.

She screamed, and it trickled off into a laugh as she hugged her skirts to her thighs and tried to run away, run deeper.

"Oh no, you don't!" Eric laughed, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her down.

"Nooooo!" Ariel laughed as he dragged her.

"Afraid to get your hems wet, eh?"

Ariel shrieked when he released her and dropped down into the water, dunking herself under completely and tossing her hair when she came back up.

"Help me up?" she asked sweetly, so sweetly that if Eric had known her better it would've been a ruse.

He reached down his hand and with one sharp tug, Ariel pulled him down on top of her. Eric righted himself and gave up any remaining possible hope of keeping any part of his outfit dry. He looked down at Ariel, who was beaming up at him, and he felt the breath positively sucked out of him.

Ariel looked up at Eric. He wasn't moving, he was just so perfectly still. She reached up and touched his face, sighing gently before she could stop herself. Eric reached out and cupped her chin with his wet hand. She scrunched up her nose to laugh but Eric brought his face to hers before she had a chance. Still, he could feel her smile.

Ariel reached her arm up to twine around his neck, forgetting that her arm was the only thing still keeping them partially above water. Startling them both, they tumbled back and plunged the rest of their bodies in the water. Ariel swallowed a gulp of seawater and emerged spitting it out and catching her breath. Eric pushed his dark hair back with his hands and laughed as Ariel dry heaved.

"Are you alright?" he asked, rubbing her back softly.

"Peachy." Ariel wheezed.

"Good." Eric said softly, taking her face in his hands again. Each fully supporting their own weight, they kissed again.

…

Glowing, beaming, Ariel slid back inside the house. No one was waiting for her – like her father would do when she missed curfew or got in trouble at school. She gave a victorious smile to the open air and turned down the hallway and into the parlor room, where five of her sisters sat, very clearly waiting for her.

"We're gonna tell Daddy." Aquata said smugly.

Ariel's heart bounced back with dread. But she gave a slight shrug. "If you must."

Andrina's face deflated. "We won't if you tell us where you went. Who sent the carriage?"

Ariel shrugged. "I don't want to tell you if you're just gonna run to daddy."

"Aw, Ariel! You knew we wouldn't really do that!"

"Do I?" Ariel said, only half-teasing.

"Ariel!" her sisters screeched. "You have to tell us."

"It was nothing." Ariel shrugged. "Maybe I was just taking a ride in the country. Maybe I was alone."

Her sisters leaned forward, waiting for her to continue.

"Then again," Ariel tapped a finger to her lips. "Maybe I wasn't."

She turned on her heel and ran upstairs, laughing at the piercing "Ariel!" that was yelled at her escape.

…

"I love this color." Ariel said, stroking the satin of the loveseat she sunk down upon.

"It is nice." Eric nodded, turning back to all the items on the shelf, hoping to pick out one interesting enough to show Ariel.

"My mom had a dress this color, I think it was her favorite."

"Oh? What happened to it?" Eric asked, his mind still on the objects.

"I'm not really sure. She died some time ago."

Eric put down the small bust he was holding and came to sit by her. "I'm sorry to hear that. What makes you think it was her favorite?"

"She was wearing it in a painting I have of her. I have this whole shed full of things that were hers."

"I'd like to see that, if you'd like to show it to me."

Ariel smiled at this. Far too many people clammed up and became uncomfortable when she started talking about her mother. She understood why, but she resented it. "I think I would like you to see that, yes." She nodded.

"Would you like to tell me more about her?"

Ariel nodded, slowly, trying to think of the right words to say. "I love her, I still do. But she died when I was very young – about seven. I hardly remember her."

Eric nodded, leaning towards her.

"So I'm trying to get parts of her back. There's this shed on our property, and I keep anything in it that's associated with her. I like being in there. I'm always trying to put whatever I can in there. Some days I'll just hunt through the house, go through every container in the storage rooms. My dad didn't get rid of much stuff, he says, but it's been spread all over the house and tucked away. I can't always tell if something was hers, or in Attina's – that's my oldest sister."

"Do you think I could see this shed?" Eric asked.

Ariel felt very warm. Her sisters didn't even want to see the shed, they thought it would only be dressing, even though Ariel had tried so hard to not make it that way. She felt as though she had succeeded.

"Yes. I would like that a lot." She said softly.

…

There was never much time in between their visits, but each firmly agreed that there was always too much time. Ariel had expressed this sentiment first, leaping out of the carriage and into Eric's arms.

"I miss you, too. So much." Eric ran his thumb across her jaw.

Today, they were going to a nearby meadow. Eric had asked one of the chefs to pack him a picnic lunch. And, as he was prince, after all, the chef happily obliged – without asking any questions. The prince never owed anyone an explanation.

It was in walking distance – a little north of the castle and up a hill with a slow incline. Ariel took it at a quicker pace than Eric, who was the one carrying the basket, but that gave her a chance to set up the blanket and get things ready.

"It's beautiful up here!" Ariel exclaimed, plopping down and looking around.

"That's why I wanted to bring you." Eric said, placing down the basket. "I hoped that you would love it."

"I do!" Ariel said, with great sincerity.

Already a month had passed, but neither of them were keeping adequate track of the time passing – rather, they were hardly aware that time was. Every day was part of an endless summer afternoon, stretching into each other.

"I love your hair." Eric said almost absentmindedly, running his fingers through it as Ariel giggled.

"Am I a dog?"

"No." Eric said, very seriously. "That's Max. I've seen Max. You two don't look alike."

"Oh Eric, how you flatter me. I'm going to get a big head." Ariel batted her eyelashes.

"I doubt it. If I haven't made your head swell up by now, I think you're immune."

"Okay," Ariel said, dropping the conversation to lean in and kiss him. One long kiss, peck on the lips, peck on the cheek, peck on the other cheek.

"Oh no, come back here." Eric said, reaching out for Ariel as she leaned away.

She laughed lightly and freely, and it was carried away on the summer breeze.

…

A week after their romp at the meadow, the two had spent the day at the beach. This time, Eric was much more properly attired and the two had a roaring time. Ariel made several attempts to tackle him down into the waves and all but one were successful – that time, he was able to scoop her up and march her out to deeper

"Come late tonight." Eric had whispered that to her as they were parting, even though there was no one around them to possibly overhear.

Ariel's heart dropped into her stomach. She had had a brief, awkward talk with her father and several veiled discussions with her sisters. Surely that wasn't what he was implying?

"W-why?" she stammered, a little more nervously than she had hoped.

"I want to see you." Eric said, dipping her head back to kiss her. "I have a dinnertime meeting I can't miss, but today wasn't enough." He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her onto his lap.

Ariel melted into him, pushing her hands into his hair. "Mmm…okay."

Eric kissed her jawline. "I have to go."

Ariel had been miffed the first few times he had cut their time together short, but she had learned to not take it personally. He wasn't trying to be rude and he did care about her, but more than anything he was a prince, and that meant he had to attend to whatever the country needed before anything else.

She would always be able to see him again, anyway.

…

Most of the time, Ariel liked sleeping in the same room as her sisters. The seven of them seldom all agreed, but they loved each other and usually were able to get along reasonably well. They'd be able to stay up and talk when something exciting had happened, and if one sister was down, the others were often quick to cheer her up.

Ariel liked the girlish closeness they never lost. Even as she and her sisters grew older and matured, they never stopped being friends. Sure, they fought and spat and Ariel sometimes felt like the odd one out, but she loved them and they loved her. She liked being able to be close to them.

Today, it was only an obstacle.

Ariel wished that she could float across the ground, but instead she was resigned to creeping across the floorboards, praying that she didn't hit the ones that creaked. She held her shoes in her left hand and held up her skirts with her right. She watched her sisters as she walked by, crept by, up on the tips of her toes. Attina was sleeping, face in pillow. Good. Alana was snoring, making the first time Ariel was grateful for that, as it helped to cover some of the noise she made.

Her goal was the window – it was right between Andrina's and Adella's beds, but it led out to a flat window covering, and she had leaned a ladder against the side of the house next to it so she could shimmy down and back up. Ariel held her breath as she took the first step between her sisters' beds.

"Where are you going?" Adella hissed.

So close.

"Nowhere bad." Ariel said. Vague, but honest.

"Tell me!" Adella said, a little louder.

"Sh!" Ariel said sharply. "You'll wake everyone up."

"I'll go back to bed as soon as you tell me." Adella sat up, looking Ariel squarely in the eyes. "Is it a boy."

Ariel was quiet.

"It is!" Adella squeaked.

"You know! Now be quiet!"

"I understand." Adella smiled. "When are you coming back?"

"I don't know. Soon. Please don't tell." Ariel implored her.

"I won't. I promise." Adella smiled.

Ariel grinned at her sister and slid the window open. Ducking out, she was gone. Scot free.

…

"Hello." Eric said, scooping Ariel out of the carriage, as opposed to just helping her down.

There was no shame in his being with Ariel, but Eric wasn't ready for this to be an official royal courtship. He wasn't ready for them to be supervised and talked about and have every person in the kingdom hunting for different facets of their relationship and discussing it with their friends. He knew that Grim and Carlotta would be happy, eventually, but he also knew that Carlotta would throw a fit about him 'growing up' and Grimsby would make everything more formal and structured than it needed to be.

Eric liked being able to just relax with Ariel, to just spend time on the beach or in a meadow. He liked being able to be loud and laugh and be informal, and he knew that that would stop as soon as it was official. He knew he'd start that official process soon, but, in all honesty, he hadn't given it that much thought. The summer, as it was, was too important.

"What are we gonna do?" Ariel asked, breaking their kiss.

"Whatever you want." He rubbed little circles on the small of her back.

"Is there anything in particular that you wanted to do?" Ariel stressed again.

"Just be with you." Eric kissed her cheek again.

"Honest?"

Eric chuckled a little. "Why would you doubt that?"

"It's just it's late, and I've never been here at night and-"

"Oh," Eric said, suddenly realizing what she was implying. "Ariel I wasn't trying to have sex with you." He flushed very red. "I mean, not that I – um, if that was even what you were implying, oh God."

"No, no!" Ariel held up her hands to stop his rambling, relief rushing over her body.

Eric felt hot all over, mostly with embarrassment. He didn't want to talk about this. But before he could stop himself, he laughed. Look at him, a man mature enough to be king, to command himself, was unable to even bring up the topic of sex with a girl he fancied without being absolutely beside himself.

Thankfully, Ariel didn't misinterpret his laughing at the situation as laughing at her, and she actually smiled too.

"Oh, I feel silly now." She said.

"Don't." Eric said, kissing her temple. "You know I want you."

Ariel flushed at this, and opened her mouth to say something, but ultimately kept quiet.

"I just want to see you as much as I can, as often as I can." Eric said, categorizing the manic fever that swept their summer.

"Agreed." Ariel nodded, pressing her lips to his again.

…

"I got you something." Eric said, a shot of excitement in his voice.

"What?" Ariel pushed her bangs back, looking up from her sketchbook. She had never taken too keen of an interest in drawing but Eric had given her some charcoal and one of his empty sketchbooks and, upon trying it out seriously, she found that she liked it. The charcoal was messy and left a spot or two on her dress, but Adella always helped her get them out.

Eric held out a package, wrapped up in thin paper.

"Oh, a gift! Eric, you shouldn't have."

"I wanted to."

"But you always give me so many gift, and I can never find anything good for you-"

"I want to give you these gifts. You don't have to get me anything."

Ariel sighed and looked up at him, but there was no point in making a lovely gesture into a fight. "Thank you."

She tugged the ribbon that was wrapped around it and unfolded the paper. "Oh!" she said happily, holding the present up to the light.

It was a ribbon, light purple, with starfish patterned throughout it.

"Your hair kept getting in the way when you would draw or when we would do anything, so I hoped this would help.

"I love it!" Ariel said, leaning over to kiss his cheek.

Eric took the ribbon from her and braided her hair down her back, tying it off with the ribbon at the end.

…

They never made plans beyond 'they next time I see you'. To Ariel and Eric, the here and now was so consuming that there was no need to plan for the future. Not once, did either of them mention next year, next season, or even the next month. It was one jump ahead, always only one jump ahead.

Eric's dreamy disposition did not transfer well to his work, and he had to shake himself out of any reverie in order to get into his work, often with Grimsby right by his side. Neither Grim nor Carlotta were even aware of the existence of Ariel. They probably knew of Mr. Triton, and would be vaguely aware of the business he dealt it, and would probably assume that he had children, but beyond that was beyond them. They certainly had no clue that Eric was associating with the family.

"Eric, I have good news!" Grimsby said one day, as the summer was coming to an end.

"What is it, Grim."

"It's amazing what a few simple letters will do." Grimsby settled himself down. "Eric, you have a fiancé."

Every muscle in Eric's body clenched. Of course this was still happening. He had given Grimsby full and free rein to arrange a marriage, but he had gotten so swept up in Ariel, so swept up in the summer…he had completely forgotten.

"Who?" he spat out, a little more angrily than me meant, a lot more angrily than one should respond to an engagement.

"Princess Margaret, of Glauerhaven."

"Does anyone else know?" Eric asked.

"Just the princess and her family - and Carlotta" Grimsby smiled, clearly unaware of Eric's dark mood. "Congratulations."

In only a moment, in just a few simple letters, his entire world had changed.

Hi all! I'm trying some new things with this story – for one, actually planning the entirety of the story out to the very end, instead of 'well I've got a good idea let's just see where it goes. I've also structured what will be in each part. As it says in the description, this story is in four parts/seasons. No more, no less (unless I write an epilogue. We'll see what happens there.) I believe this is my first all-human AU, so that's also new. Feel free to make comments or suggestions via review or pm, I love reading all of them! I love writing as is, but my favorite part is the feedback for sure. Hope to post again soon, though I could always use encouragement ;)