Chapter One – Daydreamer
"Daydreamer, with eyes that make you melt.
He lends his coat for shelter because he's there for you. When he shouldn't be.
But he stays all the same, waits for you, and then sees you through.
There's no way I could describe him. All I say is, just what I'm hoping for"
Daydreamer, Adele
Ariel sat upon the rocks staring upon the shore. There he was. The man was so beautiful that she could not believe her eyes. She first saw her prince sailing upon the ocean dancing and being merry with his crew. She had never seen a ship before. She had never seen a human before. She made her way to the surface of the water and climbed her way up the side of the ship to a ledge she could perch herself on. She saw him dancing upon the deck, playing a musical instrument as his furry companion danced along with him. He was so handsome and everything that her heart desired.
After days of searching she found his home upon the shore. Everyday since then she has traveled to the surface to catch a glimpse, hoping to see him. Today she was not disappointed.
She watched as he lay with his back in the sand, soaking up the sun that felt glorious upon her own body. She longed to be the suns rays, kissing his skin lightly as he smiled at the warmth of her touch. His eyes encompassed everything she loved about the sea. They were a bright shimmering blue and full of warmth and made her feel at home. When he gazed upon the water she almost felt as if he was searching for her.
But that would be impossible. He was never to lay eyes upon her. For she was a creature of the sea and he was a creature of the land, a human. Ariel truly loved being a mermaid. It allowed her to explore almost the entire world. Her father told her that the ocean encompassed far more than land could ever dream. One day the ocean would be hers to rule along side her sisters when her father was no longer of this world. While she knew that the ocean provided all of this for her she still longed for more. She longed for adventure. She longed to walk on dry land. She longed for her prince. She wanted to be a part of their world.
Suddenly the giggling of a woman brought her attention back to the prince on the shore. "Eric! There you are. I have been searching for you everywhere." Ariel watched a woman run towards him, her long golden hair flowing behind her. She was wearing a pale blue dress that she hiked up in the front, allowing her legs more movement. Ariel whispered his name, Eric, now knowing what her lovely prince was called.
Eric grinned and stood, dusting the sand off his pants. "And now you have finally found me Marissa." Marissa ran to Eric as he wrapped his arms around her and picked her up from the ground and spun her around, Marissa giggling, as her smile grew wider. "What are you going to do to me now that you've found me?" Marissa leaned in and kissed Eric. Ariel sighed. Oh how she longed to be the beautiful blonde wrapped up in his arms, kissing him playfully on the beach.
"Ariel! What are you doing?"
Ariel cringed as she looked behind her. Her sister Arista peeked her head out of the water, trying to stay hidden from the people on the shore. Her pale blond hair was pulled back into a pony tail, her red tail slightly visible beneath the water. "Ariel you cannot be here. Father would be furious if he saw you." Her sister tugged on Ariel's tail. "Come down from there! What if those humans saw you? They can't know of us Ariel!"
"Shh! Calm down. I'm not going to be seen! I haven't before and I'm not now!"
Arista gasped. "How many times have you been up here Ariel?"
Ariel ignored her sister and continued to watch Eric and Marissa. They were now both sitting in the sand. Eric was speaking passionately to her about something as he pointed out to the sea. She sighed again. He looks good when he talks. Ariel struggled to hear what Eric was speaking of. The ocean starting to roar louder as the tide started coming in. Ariel decided to get a closer look. "Wait here."
The last thing Ariel heard was her sister saying her name. Ariel took off towards the shore, getting the closest she has ever gotten. She peered around the rock, so that Ariel could see him clearer. She could see the dimples on his cheek and his smile radiated warmth all throughout her body. As he smiled to the woman on the beach, Ariel could not help but smile back.
"Eric, let us go back to the castle. I would love to go riding through the kingdom." Marissa caressed him arm lightly as she batted her eyelashes up at him. Eric chuckled as he…
Ariel was pulled back to face her sister Arista. "Ariel stop now! You're coming home!"
Ariel smacked her sister with her tail, pushing her back. "Stop it Arista!"
"Who's there?"
Both mermaids stopped flailing and ducked under the water. "Do you think he heard us?" whispered Arista. Ariel put a finger upon her mouth and looked towards the surface of the water. She swam towards the surface and peeked her head out. She did not see Eric nor the maiden. She went to dive back under the water again just as she heard a splash.
"Ahoy! Are you injured?"
Ariel's eyes darted towards Eric's voice. He was merely a few feet away from her wading in the water up to his knees. Worry was apparent in his brows as he gazed upon her. Ariel was frozen in her tracks, afraid to move, afraid of what she might do. Afraid she was going to dive under the water away from her prince. Afraid that she was going to swim into his arms and kiss him deeply. She snapped back into the present when she saw him inch closer to her.
"Miss. Are you alright? You're frozen."
Ariel cleared her throat. "I—I'm f—fine. I umm…" Ariel bit her bottom lip, her nerves getting the best of her. She tucked her red hair behind her ear as she tried to sink lower into the water to best hide her tail.
"What are you doing out in the water? Where are your companions? A young maid as beautiful as you should not be out here swimming alone." He smiled as he placed his hands on his hips. "In fact," his eyes lowered, "I do not believe I have seen you before in my kingdom. A woman as beautiful as you surely would not have missed my eye. What is your name?"
Ariel blushed as she played with her hair. "My name is Ariel. I am not from your kingdom. I am but merely a visitor. My sister Arista and I just arrived from our kingdom and we were admiring the beauty of your land. We happened upon the ocean and well… we love the ocean and just wanted to take a swim." From the corner of her eye Ariel saw Arista peek her head out of the water. Ariel did not miss the look of fear and hesitation in her eyes.
Eric's smile widened as laid eyes on both of them. "Visitors! I am Prince Eric. You must come to the party tomorrow night that I am hosting. It should be a very grand affair. I would love for you to accompany me Ariel."
Ariel smiled broadly. As she was about to answer Arista spoke. "And what of your lady friend watching us on the shore? Would she not mind you taking my sister to this festivity in your kingdom?" Ariel looked towards the shore and saw Marissa watching them intently, a scowl upon her face.
Eric looked back over his shoulder. "Her?" Eric looked back at the two women and shrugged. "She is but merely a friend. Nothing compared to the lovely Miss Ariel. I have traveled to many kingdoms and have never seen anyone as beautiful as she. It would be my honor for her to accompany me."
Ariel nodded excitedly as she giggled. "Yes! I would love to!" Arista lowered her head and placed her fingers upon her temples.
"Great! I will see you two there." Eric winked as he ran back to the shore to Marissa. She whispered something to Eric as he led her back towards the castle, his hand upon her lower back.
"Have you lost your mind?" Arista bellowed at Ariel. "You let him see you! What is wrong with you? You could have exposed us for what we are! Plus how could you accept his invitation? You do not have legs!"
Ariel rolled her eyes. "Calm down. I admit I spoke in haste but—"
Ariel's sentence was cut off as she was pulled down violently underneath the water. She looked down at her tail and Ariel went pale.
"Daddy…"
