Ariel sighed heavily, her head resting on her arm on the balcony ledge as the wind gently blew her hair. She watched Eric's ship at port, with all the crewmates busily getting things ready. This was one of the worst things about being royalty; there were usual trips to other countries for meetings, and the countries always were so far away. The princess watched the ship sadly, wishing it would just disappear instead of departing for its week-long voyage.
"Ariel," a gentle, familiar voice called her, and she straightened up, turning her head to see Eric standing in the doorway, the same melancholic expression on his face as was on hers. She walked over to him slowly, a blank expression on her face. He opened his arms and she embraced him, burying her face in his chest, wanting to stay there forever.
Eric wrapped his arms around his wife, bending to kiss the top of her head, looking at her long red curls cascade down her back. Both were quiet, saying nothing as they took in each other.
"Don't leave," a muffled voice whispered. It made Eric cringe inside, and he gently pulled Ariel back to look into her sad, blue eyes, begging him to stay. They just looked at each other for a moment, memorizing their faces as if it was the last time they would see each other.
"I'll be back in a week," he said quietly, trying to keep his voice steady. "No longer. I promise." She nodded slowly, heaving a great sigh as she dropped her gaze to the floor. She knew he had to go. He had to attend to his duty as prince. But she wished she could at least go with him. And she would've, if she hadn't been pregnant.
The sailor prince gently moved closer to her again, making her look back up at him, her eyes glossy. Slowly, and gently, he moved closer and closer before finally kissing her softly. They stayed locked in the embrace for a few moments, knowing it would be the last time they would do so for a week, which both of them hated. When they finally, and reluctantly, pulled away, Eric reached down and tucked a red strand of hair behind her ear. "I love you," he whispered, gazing into her eyes. "Do you want to come down to the port?"
Ariel silently shook her head. She couldn't bear to go and watch the ship depart from up close. It just made her want to jump into the water and swim after it. "I love you, too," she said quietly. "Be safe." She hugged him again as the foghorn from the ship sounded loudly. He pulled away and, giving her one last loving look, left Ariel alone in their bedroom.
Ariel sighed sadly, standing still for a moment. Finally, she turned and walked out to the balcony again, returning to her previous position and seeing her husband run across the sand to the ship. His profile soon was out of sight as he ran onto the ship, disappearing from view. The foghorn blew again as a tear gently rolled down her cheek.