YEAH this is really late X_X I'm so sorry! Bleh. And I can't say it's really worth the wait =( I've just been really busy, but I really do miss writing this fanfic! D=

But anyways, I hope you can find it in your hearts to enjoy this at least somewhat XD

D= so sorry again.

But =D Only three more chapters to go!333

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CHAPTER 7: "Something for tempting the palate!"

All of a sudden, there was another knock at the door. Sebastian hurried behind the pillow once again as Ariel called "Come in!" Carlotta opened the door, accompanied by another maid.

"Sorry to interrupt you, honey! I've just brought Mildred here to come get some laundry, 's all!" she beamed at the little redhead. Before Ariel could say anything, the woman walked over to the bed and yanked up the pillows.

"Wait!" Ariel exclaimed…but there was nothing there.

"What?" Mildred asked, in a scruffy, yet, not exactly harsh voice.

Sebastian?

"Umm…thank you, Mildred," Ariel smiled, her voice trailing off a little. "But I'm sure you have a lot to carry, so…maybe I could…help you!" Mildred lifted an eyebrow at the young lady. None of Eric's guests had ever offered to do that before. She examined Ariel's face for a look of ulterior motive or some sort of sign that the girl was faking it, but there was nothing. She seemed…honest, at least in some aspect.

"No, it's all right," Mildred finally answered, clearing her throat. She pulled the covers off the pillows, while Ariel watched for a flash of red. She wrapped them up in her warms, winding the fabric round and round before placing it on top of her large basket. Worry appeared on Ariel's face when she couldn't find her friend, but Carlotta misinterpreted it as an expression of anxiety after Mildred's coarse words. But as the laundress walked by, Carlotta was certain she caught a glimpse of a smile. Well…that certainly was a first. She chuckled. And to think that Vanessa had simply muttered a "thank you," with a tone that indicated she was brooding over something, while this little girl, the one who wasn't the one for Eric, had made even the most disgruntled maid in all of Italy smile at a single statement. Carlotta smiled and placed her hands on Ariel's shoulders.

"Come on now, dearie, it's time for supper!" she said in a cheerful manner. "Chef's been fixing his specialty—stuffed crab!" Ariel's eyes widened, larger than they had ever been before. Stuffed…CRAB?! Sebastian!!!

--

Meanwhile, Sebastian was pushing and squirming his way through the laundry. It wasn't easy, but he managed to snap his way through, with the help of his claws. He peered outside, looking for a good place to land, and he spotted a cart nearby, with a bowl filled with something green that looked kind of liked seaweed. Spongy enough for a landing! Sebastian jumped out quickly, before the basket was whisked off somewhere else. The metal bowl made a clattering sound against the cart, but the young boy who was pushing it was too busy thinking about a life of fishing instead of catering to notice. Sebastian peeped out and watched as they entered another room that was warmer than the hallway…filled with strange smells. Like if a fish was caught in a hot sea vent or something!

--

As Ariel walked downstairs, she couldn't help but wonder where Sebastian was. Had he escaped from the basket? Or was he being cleaned with the rest of the laundry?! If it was anything like the water Ariel had been cleaned in earlier, she hoped Sebastian didn't breathe or swallow the burning soapy water!

But all her worries dulled to a point when she and Carlotta reached the doorway. Ariel could see Eric sitting at the head of the table, with Vanessa at his left side, and empty chair on the right, and Grimsby seated on the side of that one [the English gentleman had figured that it would be best to have the guests sit next to Eric]. Ariel began to feel nervous for a whole 'nother purpose…and for some reason, it was a familiar feeling.

Carlotta chuckled and gently pushed Ariel forward. "Come on honey. Don't be shy!"

Ariel slowly stepped into the light. Eric was talking to Vanessa…but then…as if there was a magnetic pull, his glance fell away from her and he turned to Ariel. Grimsby had already heard the two enter, on the other hand, and he spoke first.

"Oh, Eric, isn't she a vision?"

Though he hadn't eaten or drunk anything yet, Eric swallowed. "You look – wonderful," he stated, stumbling a little on the words. Ariel grinned, although her cheeks were quickly budding red like roses.

Vanessa glowered. She noticed Eric's hand was resting on the table, and she swiftly moved to place her own on top of it, smiling as prettily as she could while she did. His attention was back to her again, but it took a bit longer than Vanessa would have hoped. Ariel's smile faltered a little.

"Come, come, come, you must be famished. Let me help you, my dear," Grimsby said as he stood up and helped Ariel over to her chair. She sat down, her smile once again broadening. "Thank you!"

Eric couldn't help himself—he moved onto his feet, hand leaving Vanessa's, and pushed the chair in. His mind was trying to convince himself that he was only being polite to this visitor…yet his heart seemed to be trying to tell him something else. Ariel turned, and for another moment of the day, their eyes not only met—they locked into each other, her teal with his gray-blue.

"There we go - ah - quite comfy?" Grimsby spoke, breaking the spell. Eric's eyes widened, feeling those odd emotions stirring up once again, and he returned to his chair. Grimsby glimpsed questionably at the young lad, but continued. "Uh. It's - It's not often that we have such lovely dinner guests, eh Eric?" Ariel was about to say something, when she noticed the dinglehopper on the table! Just look at it all, look how it gleams! Did humans brush their hair before dinner? She knew her sister Alana did, but she thought that was just because Alana cared a lot about her appearance. Her other sisters only brushed their hair in the morning, or before bed. Either way, Ariel couldn't believe that she was actually seeing one inside a human's house! It looked a lot cleaner than the one she had found in the shipwreck!

Ariel picked it up and immediately began running it through her hair excitedly. Eric had been in the middle of taking a sip of his water when he saw the flash of red, and now he raised his eyebrow. Grimsby blinked, and Vanessa turned away so she could hide a triumphant laugh. Ariel hastily set it back down. What was wrong? Wasn't that what dinglehoppers were for? Oh no, had she brushed her hair at the wrong time?!?! Scuttle didn't tell her all the details. Maybe humans brushed it after dinner!

"Uh…well…I…" Ariel began, trying to explain herself, when suddenly, she saw Grimsby holding up a snarfblatt! She gasped. Grimsby noticed her staring at it with her eyes almost glittering.

"Uh, do you like it?" he began, handing it over to the young lass for her to see. "It is rather…fine--" Before Grimsby could finish, Ariel blew the snarblatt hard, expecting to hear music. Since the one she had found in the waters had been filled with kelp and sand, she couldn't wait to hear what sort of sound it made! But instead of a sound, some sort of smoke blew out right in front of Grimsby's face, making it turn as black as…well, a blackfish!

Vanessa's lips curved up noticeably. Oh, this was too easy! This girl obviously was incapable of claiming Eric for herself, what with these continuous blunders she—

Eric burst out laughing. It wasn't a jeering laugh like the one Vanessa had hid earlier, but a nice one, like someone had just told a very good joke.

"Oh my!" Carlotta exclaimed. Remembering his manners, Eric thumped his chest and cleared his throat.

"Ahem. So sorry, Grim." Ariel pursed her lips, sorry herself, and ready to apologize when--

"Why, Eric, that's the first time I've seen you smile in weeks!" Carlotta beamed.

Ariel brightened.

--

Back in the kitchen, Chef Louis was happily preparing the meal for the prince and his guests. Sebastian, on the other hand, wasn't so happy to see fish that looked like his friends being MURDERED right in front of him! King Triton was right! Humans WERE barbarians, in every way! Not that he ever really questioned His Majesty, but really. This was just too true! This human was cutting off their heads and pulling out their bones! And speaking some sort of VOODOO language in a funny accent!

Chef Louis turned to the cart to get some more greens to stuff into the prepared crabs. "ZUT ALORS!" he exclaimed when his eyes fell on the bright red crab sitting in the salad bowl. "I have missed one!" Chef Louis plucked Sebastian out and dropped him into a bowl of sauce. He cheerfully flung some flour on the crab (making Sebastian sneeze in the process) and stuffed him with bread and greens (making Sebastian wheeze). Oh, how he loved this job! Chef Louis tossed him into the boiling pot of water. Or, he thought he did, but Sebastian managed to grab the side of the pot. One of his legs hit the water though, causing the crab to yelp and hop out onto the table.

Chef Louis slowly turned around to the sound, seeing the familiar red figure on the table. He frowned and approached it, picking it up carefully.

"What is zis?" he said, staring at it.

Sebastian dropped his jaw. Now was his chance! He quickly reached up his claw and pinched the human as hard as he could on the nose.

Chef Louis yelped! He dropped Sebastian right on the pot of hot butter and lunged for him again, but Sebastian dodged the hand, leaving the poor chef with a burned one instead. Pots, knives, and sauce were flying everywhere!

--

Grimsby and Carlotta exchanged a glance as various noise could be heard.

"Oh…dear, I think I'd better go see what Louis is up to," Carlotta said with a nervous smile, and she quickly headed off towards the kitchen. When she opened the door, Chef Louis was throwing out everything from under the table! He had gone stark raving mad!

"Come out, you little pipsqueak, and fight like a man!" he barked.

"Louis! What are you doing?" Carlotta scolded, placing her hands on her hips. Chef Louis leapt up at the sound of her voice, hitting his head on the table.

"Well - I - I was just - er, er," Chef Louis stuttered, and then gave in. "I'm sorry, madame." Carlotta simply shook her head and took the dishes away.

--

Ariel stared at the shiny round thing in front of her. What in the name of Poseidon was this?! She glanced around, and everyone else lifted them up…and a crab was inside! Eric and Grimsby were already beginning to eat! Ariel gulped and tried to copy their movement, when she heard a "PSSST". Ariel turned and found no one other than Sebastian…on Vanessa's plate, to boot! Sebastian lifted his claw to his lips. "Shh!" he warned. Suddenly, Vanessa looked down. The crab glanced back up at her…and a crafty smile formed on Vanessa's features all of a sudden. Sebastian's eyes widened. Wait a second…she was going to—

Sebastian inwardly shrieked and shrunk back into his shell as Vanessa's swiftly diving fork aimed for his head! It screeched against the plate loudly.