Eric paced in the dining room while Ariel was being taken care of upstairs. He still didn't know her name or anything about her. Grim stood behind him, trying to help calm him down.

"Your Highness, please. Did you find the girl after all? Against all the odds."

Turning toward him angrily he snapped, "I didn't find her soon enough! Did you see the markings? She can't even speak!"

"I'm sure there's a reasonable explanation."

Eric scoffed, leaning on the window, "Yeah and when I find out who it was I intend to be very reasonable."

Grim sighed, though he was happy the prince had finally found someone to genuinely care for. "and the girl? What will happen to her?"

The prince smiled to himself and said firmly, "I'm gonna marry her."

At the back of the dining hall, Ariel's soft footsteps padded toward them. When he looked up, Ariel was standing in the light wearing a pink dress and beaming from ear to ear.

Eric's mouth gaped and closed for a few moments before he could speak, "You look wonderful."

She blushed, shrugging. The red marks were still evident around her throat, but her arms were covered. Reaching up, Eric cupped the nape of her neck and ran a thumb lightly over it. Without looking away from her he asked, "Grim, would you mind leaving us?"

The old man sputtered in surprise, "Well I suppose, but it isn't really-"

"Now, Grim."

He left, glancing back at them uncertainly as he did. When the door to the hall closed Eric pressed his forehead to hers, "You are so beautiful."

Placing her hand on his chest, she nodded at him and then cupped his cheek, as though returning the compliment. They kissed softly but broke apart when the kitchen door opened and dinner was brought to the table. Leading her to the table, Eric pulled out her chair for her. She sat and looked down at the objects in front of her in wonder. The fork seemed to be the most exciting item on the table.

"You don't use these where you come from?" Eric guessed out loud.

Ariel shook her head, poking at the prongs curiously. The prince smiled and began to explain how each item worked. She listened eagerly and mimicked him as they started to eat their meal. Eric talked, and Ariel did her best to communicate. When she got frustrated, she puffed an annoyed breath, and her bangs would flutter adorably. If he guessed utterly wrong, she was glare at him and raise an eyebrow.

By the end of the meal, they were both laughing until their sides were sore. Eric leaned over and tucked her hair behind her ear before kissing her firmly.

"I feel really bad not knowing your name." Ariel's blue eyes looked at him sadly. Leaning back she made a sweeping gesture in the air and Eric jumped up to find pen and paper. When he handed them to her, she looked up expectantly.

"Okay," he laughed, "What's your name?"

Quickly she scrawled Ariel.

"Ariel," he said out loud, and she beamed, "That's kind of pretty."

I like Eric too.

"Did you save me that night?"

Yes.

"How did you find me in the middle of the ocean?"

I was there when the ship went down.

He looked up at her in shock, "How?"

Chewing her lip, Ariel wasn't sure how to answer. She was forbidden from even seeing humans, much less talking to them, or becoming one. Revealing the merpeople on top of everything else seemed like a terrible idea.

It's forbidden.

"Forbidden? Where are you from?"

Ariel sighed and wrote again it's forbidden.

Eric looked at her in confusion, knowing that there was so much more going on inside her head. Taking a deep breath, he asked, "Did someone hurt you?"

I was… She stopped and thought for a long moment about the word she should use to explain before deciding on

tricked.

"Tricked how?" the Prince growled low. His jaw clenched in anger.

Again, Ariel thought about how to answer without revealing too much. She decided to say simply

I had to return to you, but it was not so simple.

He pressed her still for more answers, but Ariel would not say anything else. When he gave up, she stood, taking the paper and pen with her. Watching out the window, she marveled at the sea from a humans' point of view. Part of her missed it already.

The prince walked up behind her and covered her shoulders with his hands. He tucked his face into the base of her neck they both sighed. Ariel arched her back as he ran kissed her skin. His hands ran down her torso, and she turned roughly in his arms. She had barely faced him before his mouth found hers and she was pressed against the window.

Reaching down, Eric lifted her again with one leg on either side of him. His hips jerked forward and back, lifting her up and down. Feeling bold, Ariel clawed at his shirt until it came loose. Stopping, he raised it over his head and tossed it to the ground. Carrying her with him, the prince pressed her down on the dining room table, shoving items out of the way as he did.

Ariel ran her hands over his bare chest again, leaning forward to kiss his pecks and trail down to his stomach. Undoing the front of her dress, Eric worked until one of her breasts was bared beneath the yards of fabric. She cupped his head as his mouth covered her nipple.

Leaning back, Eric watched her intently as his hands slid down to her thy again. They both breathed heavily as he found the bottom of her skirt and slipped his hand inside. Ariel shuttered but made no more to stop him. Never taking their eyes off each other, the prince slowly ran his hand over her bare skin and up. She gasped when his fingers suddenly slid inside and began to move in and out slowly.

As his pace became faster and harder, she arched her back and pulled his face down to hers again. He kissed her fiercely, using his free hand to cup the back of her neck. Feeling bold, she reached down and moved his hand with her own. He shuttered, surprised and pleased by the action.

"Ariel." He breathed, pressing his forehead against hers again. He watched her lips mouth his name and just before he lost all restrain the door opened and Grim gasped, as the two broke apart.

"Get out of here!" Eric growled, and the old man scampered to close the door. Ariel covered her face in horror and tugged her skirt back down. Softening, Eric pulled her to his chest and stroked her hair, "It's okay, don't worry."

After a moment, Ariel gathered herself and grabbed the paper she had been given.

What will he think of me?

The prince scoffed, "Anything he wants." He cupped her face and looked at her seriously, "I don't care. I looked everywhere for you, Ariel."

She wished he could understand just how much she had given up to come back to him. Without realizing it, she traced the markings on her neck and furrowed her brow. Anger burned in his chest, knowing someone harmed her. Pulling her to him, he closed his eyes and rested his cheek on her head. She wouldn't need to worry again. He'd never let anyone touch her.