Once Upon A Time In Greece
Chapter 1: Shipwrecked?
Long ago, in a time of ancient gods, warlords, and monsters, Megara walked the sandy shores of Greece alone as the sun climbed ever higher in the sky. It was no special day; the gods had smiled on the weather, making for a beautiful day, and the King still sought for a woman to wed his son, the prince, who was nearing his thirtieth year and, dreamer that he was, had turned down every princess and noble that had come to call.
Meg tossed her long auburn hair. She was nowhere near nobility. In town it was whispered that she was a tramp, but if they knew the truth, the rumors wouldn't be so rampant. Meg had given her life for a man who'd left her for a woman who could better satisfy him in the night, and ever since Hercules had returned to Mount Olympus, she had sworn off men. She was lonely much of the time, but by her own admission, loneliness was much better than heartbreak.
Her modest sandals dangled by their thongs in her fingers, and the warm sand tickled between her toes. Meg pulled up the skirt of her rose-colored dress as the tide came in, washing over her feet and carrying away more sand as it lapped at her ankles. She gave a kick and watched the splash in the sparkling blue water. A broken piece of wood floated by, no doubt from a ship that had gotten caught in a storm; Poseidon had been in a foul mood lately. Apparently his nephew's daughter was suspected to have been kidnapped recently, and the search continued to no avail. Meg stared into the calm waters for a moment, watching the way the sun made the gentle waves sparkle.
When she turned to continue along the beach to the rocky cliff atop which stood the castle, proud and strong against the sapphire sky, she noticed a heap of something in the sand. More rubbish from a wrecked ship? Couldn't hurt to see if there was anything useful to her among it. She approached it with a frown, for the closer she got, the more confused she became. A fiery red mound glowed under the sun, and a delicate peach shone with the pale highlights of the midday. What in Tartarus…?
Meg broke into a run. It was no rubbish. It was a person! A woman!
Red hair splayed out across the damp sand, played with gently by waves that rolled in and tugged it to the sea. The fair nude body whose head it was attached to lay crumpled and face-down with no visible wounds. Meg dropped to her knees to further inspect this obvious storm victim, startling a seagull that flew frantically away with a wretched call.
Gently Meg took a handful of hair and pulled it aside before turning the body over onto its back. Her breath caught in her throat and a blush ignited her cheeks when her eyes fell on the perfection before her, half-covered in sand. She gingerly brushed off the slim stomach that dipped into round, perfect hips, luscious breasts tinted at the tips with the palest rose shade, the sweet curve of the throat. The woman lay unconscious before her, and gods knew how long she'd been here before Meg had happened along. Swallowing to get herself together, Meg wrenched her gaze from the beautiful work of the gods' art within her reach and touched the face, the delicate curve of merry cheeks on which long red lashes cast shadows as wide eyes remained closed. Meg couldn't be sure what color those eyes were, but she was sure they'd be the color of the ocean that had brought her here.
No time for thought. Hurriedly she gathered the body in her arms. The woman was still breathing, and she had to do something quickly. Meg hoisted her into her arms, the wild mass of fire-colored hair blowing on the salty breezes, and started quickly back along the beach to her hut.
Chapter 2: Awakening
Meg threw back the cloth that partially hid her straw mattress and laid the woman she'd found on the beach down on the soft wool covers, spinning to grab towels and some clothes that she could let this poor girl borrow. Gods knew when she'd wake up and Meg could find out where she'd come from, but for now, Meg had to make sure that she was warm, dry, clothed, and uninjured. She grabbed a handful of cloth bandages just in case.
She returned to her bedside and lit a candle. The soft glow lit the beautiful contours of the woman in Meg's bed, and once again she swallowed, concentrating on rubbing the heavy mass of hair dry. Why did she tingle with excitement on the inside when she was near this stranger? She shook her head hard, willing it to clear. There was no logical explanation. Perhaps it was the swell of pride that she had done a good deed, something she did not do very often at all. That must be it.
Paying no mind to the fact that it ended up all over her bed, Meg brushed the sand from the pale, beautiful body and began to clothe it. She slid on sheer pantaloons and a slip before pulling a soft blue skirt over those perfect round hips. Carefully she lifted the torso from behind and pulled a bra around the sweet breasts, somehow sorry that she had to restrict them. She found a deep blue blouse and pulled it over the thick red mane, letting it settle onto slightly sunburnt shoulders and fall over the luscious contours to her waist. Meg tore a ribbon from the hem of the skirt and set to work brushing out the long red tresses, letting them fall over the side of the bed and across her knees as she worked, before pulling them back and securing them at the nape of the girl's small neck with the ribbon. She tied it into a bow and took up the candle, letting the stranger rest and wake when she was ready. Meg cast one final glance over her shoulder at the figure asleep in her bed, one arm resting on a tiny stomach that rose and fell steadily with breath, before shaking her head and letting the cloth fall back into place.
"The only way to get what you want…is to become a human yourself."
The words swam in Ariel's mind as she dreamed. She couldn't quite remember who'd said them, but she knew it was important that she try. She struggled to bring back as much as she could, but all she could remember was a deep, thick blue that seemed to swallow her whole, and a sense of longing, of being incomplete. She felt a sense of fascination, of eagerness, of hurt and shame, and of desperation. She missed someone. She longed for something. What was it?
She could see a light…a light dancing before her. She felt herself being gently pulled toward it by no effort of her own, and was frightened. The light became brighter and brighter until…
Ariel's bright blue eyes fluttered open, and she jumped a mile at the face she saw before her. In her reaction she thought she cried out, but she made no sound. Confused, she opened her mouth to speak, but once again she remained silent. Cold fingers of fear slid down her spine, and she clutched at her throat. Why couldn't she speak? What was wrong with her voice?
Soft, gentle hands were upon hers, tugging them away from her throat. "Shh," a low voice soothed. "You're alright. Calm down. You're safe here."
Ariel looked up, gasping for breath, at the face that had floated to her from the light just moments ago. Not a specter, as she'd initially feared, but a woman, a woman with large chocolate eyes on hers, long brown hair settling onto firm, strong shoulders, and berry-red lips set in a smirk. "Scared you that badly, eh?" The other woman chuckled and shook her head. "You've been out for awhile. Just calm down."
She reached into a bowl before her and wrung out a cloth before setting it against Ariel's forehead. Ariel closed her eyes, feeling the soothing cool cloth against the nervous sweat that had broken out over her forehead. The other woman dabbed gently. "Call me Meg." She replaced the cloth, let it soak for a moment, then wrung it out again before dabbing at Ariel's cheeks, which she now realized were on fire. "What's your name? Do you remember?"
Ariel nodded and opened her mouth, but found that she still could not speak. She tried to speak, to shout, to make some sort of vocalization, but she remained as silent as before. Her shoulders sagged, and she noticed for the first time that she seemed to be clothed in some sort of human apparatus that constricted her movement ability considerably.
Meg frowned, watching the girl's struggle. "What, you can't talk?" Ariel shook her head sadly, and Meg rose. "Hold on a sec."
Ariel scanned the cloth that covered her to her waist and found that it ended where another cloth began. She lifted her skirt and gasped at the sight beneath. Legs!
She lifted one and examined it in awe, wiggling her new toes. She had legs! She felt that she would cry out in amazement if she could. She kicked and drew her knees up. She liked the long cloth that covered them, but this thing across her middle…she could do without it.
"Alright, I have an ide—" Meg pulled back the cloth that hid her bed and had, at first, hidden Ariel pulling off the blouse. She hugged herself happily in nothing but the bra Meg had given her, much more comfortable. Meg felt herself blush, a little confused. At last she blew a lock of hair out of her face and decided to let the girl be for the moment. She sat by her on the bed and unrolled a parchment. "Here. Do you know how to write? Write your name. That way you won't have to talk."
Ariel frowned as Meg dipped a goose feather into a bottle of ink. She'd watched her father's scribes often enough that she knew how to write, but she'd never used things like these do so. She took the feather she was handed and studied it, putting it to the parchment she was offered. When she touched the tip of the feather to it, it left a trace of the ink. She tested it, drawing swirls across the parchment, a smile of delight growing across her face.
"Do you know how to write?" Meg asked her.
Ariel nodded eagerly. She'd heard of these things as she investigated the humans. She couldn't believe that she was here with one and using them! There was so much she wanted to know!
"What's your name?"
Ariel frowned, trying to recall how to write her name. She took the feather in her hand and hunched over the parchment, spelling carefully, and Meg read as she did so.
"Ariel?"
Ariel looked up. She had never heard her name said to her in such a way, a way that was musical in and of itself somehow. She looked into the other woman's eyes, a thousand miles deep, and nodded, entranced.
"Where did you come from, Ariel?"
The sound of Meg's voice sent shivers down Ariel's spine. Why? She wasn't sure. She loved the sound of her voice, the way she watched Ariel in curiosity. She hunched over the parchment again.
"The sea?" Meg read, frowning in confusion. "What do you mean?"
Ariel motioned swimming. "Were you shipwrecked?" Meg guessed, and Ariel shook her head, motioning diving into the water. She put her legs together and flapped them as best she could manage to indicate a tail and fins. Meg gasped, clapping a hand over her mouth.
"It can't be. You're…y-you're…"
Ariel felt her heart sink. "You're the daughter of King Triton! The one who was kidnapped!"
Ariel frowned, trying to remember. I was kidnapped? She shook her head, sure that hadn't been the case.
"Then what happened?"
Ariel took up the feather and was about to set it to the parchment, but her mind was blank. She could remember nothing. Her shoulders sagged, and she sighed sadly, shrugging.
"You don't know?" Meg ran her fingers through her hair, trying to think. "All I know is what I hear. Word travels fast from Olympus, even to me. But I don't get it. Why do you have legs? Aren't you a mermaid?"
Ariel nodded, then glanced down at her legs, trying to make sense of what had happened. Finally she simply shrugged.
Meg sighed and put her elbows on her knees, resting her cheeks in her hands. "So you don't remember what happened. I really have no idea where to go from here. I can't exactly throw you back to the tide and hope you find your way home."
Panic seized Ariel, and she shook her head frantically. Meg put up her hands. "I never said I was going to, trust me. I just need to figure out what to do with you. We really should let your family know you're safe. Even if you have legs."
Ariel nodded her agreement, once again examining her legs. Her eyes flicked to Meg's, mostly hidden by her human cloth that was much like her own except a different color. Even so, she could see the form of long, graceful legs that were shapely and fair, and delicate ankles ended in small feet that were perched on their toes on the floor as Meg thought. Ariel felt herself blush as she let her gaze explore the rest of Meg's body, running up her hourglass shape to the full breasts that could barely be contained by her dress and the loose dark hair that cascaded down around her shoulders and over her chest. Her matching eyebrows were low over her dark, tilted eyes as she thought. Ariel looked away, her cheeks aflame, and nearly jumped at a sound that her own body appeared to make.
Meg glanced at her. "You're hungry. When was the last time you ate?"
Ariel tried to recall, but couldn't. Meg stood. "No matter. Let's get to the market place and get you something to eat."
Ariel looked up at the other woman in wonder. How could someone be so kind to someone they had just met and practically rescued? She was a strange sort of Prince Charming. She felt the tips of her ears ignite at the thought, and Meg extended her hand. "Come on. I'll help you stand. I imagine you're not very good on those yet."
Ariel took Meg's hand, and in that moment, electricity crackled between them both and made their eyes meet at the exact same moment. Neither woman could tear her eyes away, and Ariel began to rise without thought.
Chapter 3: A Prince and a Sea Witch
Ariel stumbled forward into Meg, who, surprised, caught her and held her up. Ariel's nose plummeted into Meg's bosom, and she flailed wildly to try to push herself away before she could make this anymore awkward than she already had. She pushed off of Meg and tried to stand on her own again, but just as she noticed that her hands were on the other woman's breasts, her legs wobbled and gave way beneath her and she found herself on the floor.
Meg dropped down beside her. "Here, just let me help you." She put Ariel's arm around her shoulders and stood with her. Ariel's legs flopped and wobbled, and she couldn't keep her balance to save her life, but she did her best, giving Meg a sheepish smile. Meg shook her head, but couldn't help a return smile in amusement. "Come on. Let's get a shirt on you and head to the market. Be careful. I've got you." She took a step. "One foot in front of the other."
The two made it in decent time to the market place, and once there Ariel struck out on her own, discovering that by now she could walk with more ease. The sandals Meg had let her borrow were uncomfortable, as she was not used to shoes, and finally she took them off and carried them along as she followed Meg through the crowded streets lined with vendors, tantalizing smells hovering in the air over it all.
Two children ran by Ariel in a chasing game, and she shied out of the way before hurrying to catch up to Meg. She stopped in her tracks, staring in horror at a vendor selling fish. He wrapped a dead fish and gave it to a woman who put it in her basket and went on her way as a young boy chopped more of the creatures at his side. Ariel covered her mouth; she felt she was going to be sick. Surely not all humans killed her undersea friends! Surely Meg…
Ariel looked up in alarm. Where was Meg? She opened her mouth to call, but once again no sound came out. She looked around and around, her stomach dropping a mile inside her. She was lost and afraid in this new world.
Trembling, Ariel took an uncertain step forward, then another. The sound of thundering on the ground made her jump and whirl around, and she felt hands on her that pulled her away just as a horse-drawn carriage screeched to a stop where she'd been standing.
"Whoa, there!" an elderly driver beseeched the horse team, pulling the reins.
The ebony-haired passenger shot the driver a distressed look. "Did we have to take the new team out today, Grim? You could have killed somebody!"
"I beg your pardon, your highness," the driver apologized hastily as the horses pranced in their hitch. Just before he flicked the reins, the prince clapped his shoulder. "Wait."
"Eric…?"
Prince Eric stepped from the carriage and rushed to Meg's side as she was pulling Ariel back to her feet. "Are you hurt?" she fretted. "People drive like maniacs around here."
"You!" Eric cried in astonishment. Meg's head snapped up and she glared. "This was not her fault!" she protested.
Eric waved a hand. "Not that. I've seen you somewhere before." He reached out to touch Ariel's face. "I'm sure of it."
Ariel's eyes were locked to the prince's in a trance, but Meg felt a surge of jealousy for reasons she didn't know yet. She pulled Ariel away, which broke her momentary hypnosis as she shook her head and ducked behind Meg for safety.
"Don't be afraid," Prince Eric assured her. "You're so familiar. If I could only remember where I've seen your face before…"
Ariel peeked out from behind Meg, and the two exchanged mild glances as Eric brightened.
"It's you!" he cried gleefully. "You're the one! The one who saved me from the storm!"
The prince took Ariel's hands in his and twirled her around as Meg seethed. "I knew I'd seen you somewhere! I thought I was a goner until I woke up in your arms. You have such a beautiful voice," he murmured as he cupped her cheek in his hand.
Meg's jaw tightened. What was he talking about? He woke up in her arms? She could feel her cheeks lighting with an angry blush, but this was the prince. She couldn't exactly bash him over the head with something.
Ariel gazed at Eric in confusion. She couldn't remember him, for his seeming to remember her. She stepped back and shook her head slowly, and the prince frowned. "But…but I'm sure it's you. It is!"
Meg stepped in and pulled Ariel back to her side. "Even if it is, she was in an accident herself. She doesn't remember anything she's been through till now."
Eric looked taken aback. "That…that's terrible. I'm so sorry. What's your name? Let me help you. My servants will take the best possible care of you, I swear it."
Ariel shook her head and clung to Meg. "I'm taking perfectly good care of her," Meg all but spat.
Eric's face visibly fell, but he nodded. "If that makes you happy, then please, stay with your friend." He bowed graciously. "But please allow me to call on you."
Ariel offered the prince a shy smile as he climbed back into the carriage. He gave her a final dazzling smile as his driver flicked the reins and the horses took off. Ariel waved after him, fighting to remember him and what had happened but coming up blank.
After he left Meg spun around and held Ariel at arms-length. "Are you hurt? Did he hit you?"
Ariel shook her head, her eyes on the ground as activity around them resumed now that the excitement was gone. Meg put a finger under her chin and tilted it back until Ariel looked at her. "What is it?"
She couldn't speak, though she had much she wished she could tell Meg, so Ariel huffed and looked at the ground again. "Frustrated with your voice, eh? Never lasts long. You'll be able to talk again. That sometimes happens after being washed up from the ocean. Even when you used to live in it, apparently," she added with a chuckle. "Anyway, let's get you something to eat. I bet you've never had fresh bread before."
Ariel shook her head as she followed Meg, who was headed toward a tantalizing smell. She felt her stomach growl again, and Meg stopped at a vendor whose stand was full of brown mounds that were hot and white and fluffy on the inside. Meg gave the vendor some coins and accepted the food, offering a big piece to Ariel. "It's called bread. Go ahead, take a bite."
Ariel sniffed the piece in her hands. The smell of the warm bread made her mouth water, and she took a big bite. She savored it before she swallowed, her eyes lighting. Humans had very good food on the land! She proceeded to take another huge bite, as though she could never get enough, and Meg couldn't help but crack a smile. "Come on. It's better with cheese and grapes. Let's find some."
Swallowing her bite, Ariel sidled up to Meg and they headed to another vendor for more exotic human-food. Ariel took Meg's hand in hers and gave her a bright smile, and though Meg merely shook her head, she felt her heart melt inside.
Ursula chuckled miles and miles under the sea as she watched the scene on the land play out. "So she doesn't remember," she mused, then cackled as her eels, Flotsam and Jetsam, slithered up to her sides. "She'd best hurry, then, hadn't she, boys?" She scratched Flotsam under the chin as she turned from her cauldron. "She's got two more days to get that kiss before she becomes mine," she purred, touching the shell at her throat. Inside, glowing faint but still strong, was Ariel's voice. Ursula ran her hands over the shell, contemplating. "I could make good use of her, myself," she mused, then shook her head and sneered. "But it's her dear ol' daddy I want. And it looks like once again I'm going to get just what I want. Isn't that right, precious?" she crooned to Jetsam, stroking him. She tossed back her head and let out an evil laugh. The sea witch was indeed used to getting what she wanted.
Chapter 4: First Date
Meg changed her bedclothes and hung the old outside to let the sand run off before she took them to wash. Ariel sat on the bed, taking off her blouse again. She was willing to wear it out because she had to, but it really was an inconvenience. Meg had shown her so much today, but now that night was falling she found herself exhausted. She untied her hair and flopped back against the pillows on the bed, snuggling down into the fresh blankets.
The cloth before her moved aside, and Meg raised an amused eyebrow. "Comfy?"
Sheepishly Ariel grinned and nodded, and Meg turned to go. "Alright. I'll be on the bench if you need me for anything."
Ariel sat up, frowning, and Meg turned back. "What? What do you need?"
Ariel looked at the bed before her, chewing her lip and feeling her cheeks burn. Then her eyes went to Meg and she reached out to her.
Meg's eyebrows went up. "You want me to…sleep with you?"
Ariel nodded eagerly, a big smile lighting up her features even though she blushed a darker red than her hair. Meg sighed, a smile fighting to appear at her lips. "Alright. I guess I can do that. But you gotta promise to let me sleep. I'm scarier than a gorgon if I don't get my beauty rest."
As Meg untied her hair, Ariel watched and was happy for the moment that she could not speak. For if she could, she was sure that she wouldn't be able to stop herself from saying, 'But you are the last person in the world who needs beauty rest, Meg. You are beautiful as you are.'
But she couldn't speak, and so she lay down silently and backed herself up against the wall so that Meg had plenty of room. Meg took off her dress and pulled the covers over them both, feeling the cool bedclothes through her slip and trying to concentrate on that rather than other racing thoughts, every one involving Ariel. Meg closed her eyes to go to sleep, and a moment later a small, soft arm slid around her waist and she could feel Ariel's lithe, wonderful body pressed to hers, unnerving her. There was no way she was going to sleep peacefully tonight.
The next morning, Meg rose to the sound of a knock at her door. She frowned, wondering who it could be at this hour. Ariel yawned and stretched, finally taking away the arm she'd draped over Meg to hold her close all night as she'd slept. Meg hurried into her dress and tossed her hair, running to answer the door.
On the other side was the driver for Prince Eric, the one who had nearly run Ariel over the day before in the market place. Meg frowned. What could he want?
He cleared his throat. "Good morning, miss," he greeted her pleasantly. "I wonder if your friend is about. Prince Eric has come to call on her."
"Ariel?" Meg glanced back inside, where Ariel was hurriedly dressing and looked up with furrowed brows at the mention of her name.
"Yes, Miss Ariel. It seems his highness would like to show her the kingdom and have lunch with her today, if she wouldn't mind accompanying him."
"I…" Meg didn't like the idea, and not for any sensible reason she could think of. "Ariel!" she called. "The prince wants to show you a good time! You up for it?"
Ariel's hand slipped over her mouth, which had opened into a shocked O. What did the prince want with her? Oh, yes, it seemed she'd rescued him although she couldn't remember it. Obviously he wanted to repay her today, now that he knew who she was. She nodded and put on the sandals Meg had given her. Meg swallowed and told the servant evenly, "She's coming."
Ariel appeared at her side and looked over the shoulder of the servant to see Eric waiting for her in his carriage. Upon seeing her, his face lit up, and he waved. She waved back, unable to keep the grin from her face. She hugged Meg in a happy good-bye and waved to her as the servant bowed and took his leave, following the girl racing to the carriage.
Folding her arms over her chest as the horses took the carriage down the road, Meg leaned on the doorframe and watched until they were out of sight. Even then, she didn't move. Ariel's absence was already like a heavy blanket over her, covering her, choking her. Why? She'd only met her the day before. Perhaps she was worried. There was so much that Ariel didn't know, so much that could happen to her. Meg knew she must miss her family. She still wasn't sure what she could do for her, but she knew that she had to do something. She wanted to do something. She realized that she had begun to care very much for Ariel for some reason or other. Wasn't it a rational thing to want to help such a helpless person?
"Well, third time's a charm, Nutmeg."
Meg scowled at the voice and didn't even bother turning to its owner. "What are you doing here? My debt's been paid."
The god of the Underworld slithered up to her side. "What? Can't a god watch out for you? I mean, seriously, you're gonna be that way after all I've done for you?"
"All you've done for me?" Meg snapped. "And what exactly is that?"
Hades shrugged. "Good point. Anyway, couldn't help but notice you've taken under your wing the very girl that my brother took under his. Although these days she seems a bit less…fishy. If you know what I mean."
"I don't know anything about the legs," Meg muttered. "I found her washed up on the beach. I didn't know who she was. I just wanted to help her."
Hades tapped his finger on his chin as he thought. "How to break this to Poseidon, how to break this…Well, obviously she's not about to swim all the way back down there to reconcile."
"No kidding."
"Leave it to me, I'll find a way and we'll just get her right outta your hair, 'kay?"
Meg swallowed at that thought, but kept her eyes averted from Hades.
Still, the god twirled a lock of her hair around his finger. "What's this? Seems to me almost as if…you don't want her out of your hair. That true?"
Meg glanced up at Hades' leer, then back down the road where she'd been gazing after Ariel. As Hades tended to be, though she hated to admit it…he was right.
Meanwhile, the prince had let Ariel drive as he showed her the sights of his kingdom, having left Grimsby back at the castle so they could be alone. Eric was a gentleman, but he needed to figure this girl out. Though Ariel was reckless at first, she proved to be a decent driver and was enthusiastic, it seemed, about everything. The two had a picnic on the grass, danced in the square, drove through the countryside. All the while, the prince felt he never wanted to take his eyes off her.
As the sun began to set on their day together, Eric took Ariel's hand and helped her into his small boat, taking up the oars and steering them into a quiet lagoon.
"Ariel," he began carefully, "I've had the most amazing day today."
Ariel nodded enthusiastically. She'd learned so much just on this one day out. Eric laughed, then cleared his throat. "I hope you won't think me forward, but you mean a lot to me."
Ariel's eyes widened, and the prince glanced into the water as he rowed. "I think that day, when you recued me…it was much more than that. It sort of opened my eyes, and…I've been looking for you ever since. I haven't been able to stop thinking about you."
As she listened, Ariel felt her heart go out to Eric. She knew what he was trying to say even before he could do so.
"I guess what I'm trying to say is…I love you, Ariel. I really do."
Eric took Ariel's hands in his, and their eyes met. He leaned slowly toward her, and she began to lean toward him when suddenly his face changed. She didn't see the prince sitting before her.
She saw Meg.
Ariel gasped and straightened, staring at Eric. She was looking at him again, not Meg, and he sat up, startled. "What? What is it? What's wrong?"
What was wrong? Ariel searched for an excuse, and finally yawned and let her eyes droop, smiling lazily at Eric. He chuckled. "You're tired, huh? I guess it is getting pretty late. I should take you home." He took up the oars again and guided them smoothly back to land. Ariel let out a silent breath, for she'd been holding it.
Chapter 5: Remembering
Eric brushed a kiss across Ariel's knuckles as he dropped her back at Meg's, and she curtsied to him before waving and watching him go back to the castle. She watched until the carriage was out of sight, then went inside, her head swimming.
Meg met her at the door immediately. "Well? What happened? Was he good to you? What did he want?"
Ariel could only shake her head and shrug. She untied her hair and stepped out of her sandals, not seeing what was in front of her as she went to the bed and sank down onto it. Meg knelt before her. "Ariel, what is it?"
Ariel found the parchment and dipped the goose feather into the ink at the bedside. Her hand shook as she began to write.
It felt to Meg as though someone were grabbing hold of her heart and squeezing it. "He loves you…? The prince loves you?"
Ariel nodded, feeling tears sting her eyes. Meg stood and whirled around, clenching her hands into fists. "How? Why? He doesn't even know you!"
She spun back around and stared down at Ariel, who looked up at her as a tear slid down her cheek. Meg covered her face with her hand, then looked up at the sound of the feather scratching the parchment. I'm confused, Ariel had written.
"I'm confused too," Meg finally muttered. "Look, it's late. Just get some sleep." She turned to go. "I'll be out here if you need anything."
As the cloth fell back into place, Ariel threw the parchment and feather and drew her knees up, hugging them and sobbing silently into them. And though Meg had her voice, her sobs were just as silent as she lay on her bench alone.
"Before the sun sets on the third day…"
That voice…Ariel still didn't recognize it, but she knew she had to. It was familiar. It was important. She opened her eyes and looked around her.
She was in the water. She looked down and saw her fins, the fins she was born with, a long emerald tail that propelled her through her home under the sea. How had she gotten back here? Everything that had happened…had it been a dream?
The sea swallowed her then, and in a burst of light so bright she had to cover her eyes, a large figure appeared before her. Black and purple and grinning from ear to ear…Ursula the sea witch.
Her best friends Flounder and Sebastian were restrained by Ursula's eels, and Ursula herself was pouring things into her cauldron, conjuring a spell. Ariel's hand flew to her chest. She knew exactly what she was doing here. She had come in hopes the sea witch would help her. She had been desperate, after saving Eric from a shipwreck in the midst of a storm, to see his world, to see what he saw and go where he went. She'd been fascinated by humans since she could remember, and after leaving Eric alive for his servants to find, she had made up her mind: she had to know. She had to be in his world. The human world.
She had come to Ursula in hopes that the witch would give her human legs so that she could walk on land and be a human. She'd left her family without saying good-bye after a fight with her father, and now she was about to walk with the humans. Except for the deal she'd made…
She'd signed a scroll very much like the one Meg used, one that clarified the deal the sea witch had made with her. She would walk on land, but only for three days. And in that time, she had to give up her voice. That was why she couldn't speak.
The witch's words echoed around her again. "Before he sun sets on the third day."
That was right. She had three days to be on land and get true love's kiss to break the spell so she could stay a human. And today…
Today was her second day.
Ariel couldn't breathe anymore. She looked down in horror as her tail was rent apart, then turned into legs. Flounder broke free and she grabbed hold of him as he swam as fast and hard as he could for the surface, leaving Ursula cackling behind them. Ariel could hold her breath no longer. She had to have air.
Just as her lungs gave out, her face broke the surface…
Ariel woke with a gasp, bolting up in Meg's bed. She threw off the covers. She still had her legs. But not for much longer.
She jumped when Meg pulled back the cloth. "Hey sleepy-head. You slept in. Your visitor is here again."
Ariel wrestled into a skirt and used a dingle-hopper on her hair and was at the door in a flash, her smile bright when she saw Eric. He rushed to her and lifted her from the ground, spinning her before setting her back down. "I missed you so much," the prince said as he tangled his fingers in her hair. "Ariel, I have to tell you something. I…Ariel, I…I want to marry you. As soon as possible. If that's alright with you."
Oh, this was what she wanted to hear! Ariel nodded, putting her arms around Eric's neck. "Yes? Alright! How about we hold the ceremony on the water? Tomorrow."
Ariel shook her head frantically, and Eric frowned. "No? Sooner? Alright then, tonight. Grim! Send out the word. I'm getting married tonight to the most beautiful girl in the kingdom!"
Ariel hugged Eric tightly, but something made her look over her shoulder. Meg was in the doorway, staring at the ground. Ariel went to her and took her hands, trying to meet her eyes.
"He really does love you," Meg murmured. "Heh. Way to go, kiddo. You're movin' on up."
Ariel squeezed Meg's hands, and finally she looked up and met her blue eyes with her own gaze. "I'm really happy for you, Ariel." Meg touched her cheek, and Ariel looked at Meg sadly. How could she tell Meg that she had no other choice?
Meg dropped her hands, folding her arms over her chest and jerking her chin toward Eric, who waited by the road. "Go on. Your prince awaits."
Ariel turned to go, but spun back and hugged Meg tightly and kissed her cheek. The gesture put a lump in Meg's throat, and she swallowed hard. "I'll see you around, okay?"
Ariel nodded, not looking at Meg, and turned to go with Eric to the castle. They had much to do in preparation for tonight.
Meg watched Ariel go one last time, waiting until the carriage was out of sight to let her tears fall. Hades tsk-tsked beside her and leaned in the doorway. "So much for love," he sighed. "Just can't trust anybody."
Meg swung around to slap him across the face, but of course when she did, her hand went right through him. He chuckled and shook his head before disappearing in a little puff of smoke, and Meg closed the door before leaning back on it. It was only a moment before she slid down it to the floor and cried into her knees.
Chapter 6: True Love's Kiss
Ariel looked around her at all the unfamiliar, noble faces. This was the world she was going to be a part of very soon. The priest before her and Prince Eric droned on, and she stared out to sea. Would she ever see Meg again? She didn't know why, but she felt an ache for the loss of her friend. She didn't know whether or not it was permanent, but she hoped not. She wanted to see Meg again. She wanted it very badly.
"I do," Eric said, gazing at Ariel lovingly. The priest asked Ariel if she'd take Eric, and she nodded, smiling.
"Then, if no one has any objection, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride, your highness."
Prince Eric cupped Ariel's face in his gloved hand and pressed his lips to hers. Ariel closed her eyes and savored the salty taste as the sun set behind them. She'd done it! She was on the land to stay!
She put her arms around Eric's neck and their foreheads touched as applause broke out all across the deck, but Ariel suddenly felt a tingling in her legs. She frowned when it became a pain, and it continued to grow until she could hardly breathe. Eric touched her face. "Ariel? What is it?"
Ariel began to sink to the deck of the ship, and onlookers gasped as green fins flopped out from beneath her white wedding dress. Ariel stared in horror. No…this wasn't how it was supposed to have happened!
Frustrated tears streamed down her cheeks as she looked up at Eric, whose eyes were on her in confusion. She lurched away from him and pulled herself up onto the side of the ship, hurling herself into the sea as Eric called after her and the wedding attendees cried out in shock.
She propelled herself down, down, down into the depths, ripping off her wedding dress and pulling her hair free. She had to find Ursula's cove. She had to know why the sea witch had told her falsely of the spell.
She rushed into the cove and stopped with a gasp. A small group of mermen who served her father, King Triton, were gathering the magical contents of the cove. One looked up and dropped what he was holding in surprise at the sight of the lost Ariel before him. Small bottles and shells smashed on the ocean floor, including one that pulsed with light. It shattered to pieces on the rocks, and the orb of light rushed toward Ariel, slamming into her like a nightmare and squeezing off her throat. She choked and struggled to breathe as the other mermen dropped what they were doing and rushed to her side.
"What…what happened here?" she asked weakly. She jumped at the sound of her own voice. It was back!
"The sea witch is being held in the dungeon," one of the mermen reported. "She was suspected to have something to do with your disappearance. Your father had her taken away."
Ariel gasped and fled as the mermen called after her. She had to get home. She had to find Ursula and get her to tell her what had gone wrong.
She swam past surprised guards and undersea nobility as she plunged down into the murky depths of the dungeon. There, cells held creatures who had committed serious crimes and would have to be judged by King Triton himself. Ariel searched each cell until her eyes fell on Ursula, who was lazing in hers. The sea witch smiled from ear to ear when she saw Ariel back in the water with her fins.
Ariel swam angrily to the cell. "What went wrong with the spell?" she demanded.
Ursula batted her eyelashes innocently. "Why, nothing, Princess. Whyever would you say something went wrong?"
Ariel shoved her fins in the witch's face. "I have these again, that's why! I wanted to be human! I kissed the prince! I married him! Why am I a mermaid?"
"Only true love's kiss can break the spell," Ursula sneered.
Ariel opened her mouth to protest, but she fell silent and felt the color drain from her face. She'd made a mistake. She'd made a very big mistake.
A large hand rested on her shoulder, and Ariel began to cry. "I don't know what to do, Daddy," she sobbed.
"Of course you do," Triton whispered. "Of course you do."
Long ago, in a time of ancient gods, warlords, and monsters, Meg walked the sandy shores of Greece alone as the sun climbed ever higher in the sky. It was no special day; the gods had smiled on the weather, making for a beautiful day, and the prince was searching the kingdom for his new bride, whom some said had made off with much of his money. But Meg tended not to believe rumors.
She stopped near the rocky cliff that hoisted the castle into the sky, taking a deep breath of salty air. This was where she had found her little mermaid, the small, beautiful naked mass in the sand that she'd taken home to care for. She'd cried herself to sleep the night before, unable to stop thinking of Ariel. The breezes whispered through her hair, and she thought if she listened, she could almost hear them calling her name.
Meg's eyes widened. She could hear her name called. Where was that coming from?
She squinted out to sea and scanned the horizon. At last her eyes came to rest on a large rock just off the shore, for perched upon it was a figure with a green tail wrapped around the rock and fiery hair blowing on the breezes. "Meg!" Ariel cried again.
Meg took a step forward. Could it be? She took another step, the tide crashing over her ankles.
Ariel rose and opened her arms as a wave crashed over the rock, showering her and making her pale skin glisten under the sun. Her blue eyes called to Meg without making a sound, and Meg began to run, crashing through the water and losing her sandals in the tide. It was Ariel! And she could talk!
She ran as fast as she could go through the water, throwing herself on the rock and clambering up into Ariel's arms. Ariel was wet, but Meg held her tight anyway; she didn't care. Ariel had come back to her. And she had her fins back! "H…how did…?"
Ariel put her finger to Meg's lips. "I have so much to tell you," she whispered. "Starting with…I love you."
Ariel tangled her fingers in Meg's hair and covered her mouth with her own, tickling Meg's tongue with hers as Meg gasped and clung tighter.
Ariel became vaguely aware of the tingling in her tail, and Meg opened her eyes to see Ariel's body shimmering in the sun. A long silver dress flowed down the rock, covering Ariel's legs, and Ariel gasped in delight, looking out to sea.
King Triton floated on the waves, smiling at his daughter with Sebastian perched on his shoulder wiping away a tear. The king nodded to Meg, who smiled back and slid down off the rock. She swept Ariel up in her arms, and as Ariel wrapped her arms around her neck, Meg carried her to shore.
Hades leaned against the cliff, watching the two approach, never taking their adoring gazes off of each other. He chuckled. "So I stand corrected," he murmured to himself. "They're gonna have a fun time explaining this one to Eric." Then he grinned. "That's actually kinda hot."
He disappeared in a little puff of smoke as Meg carried Ariel onto the beach, and they kissed once more.