ARIEL ch 9

Ariel was looking at her husband who was sitting on the stairs with his head in his hands. She was slightly upset with him for getting so angry with their daughter during the ball. It reminded her of when her father used to yell at her and she never wanted that to happen to Melody. Ariel walked over to Eric and sat down next to him.

"Eric, what was that?"

"What was what Ariel?"

"Eric, you completely reprimanded Melody for falling in love."

"Ariel he's not a prince. It's the rules…."

"Since when have you cared about the rules? Honey, we didn't exactly follow the rules…"

"Ariel, this is different."

"How? How is this any different? What if I wasn't a Princess? What were you going to do? Turn me away after everything I went through to be here?'"

"Ariel that was a completely different situation. I didn't have my Father there to set me up with a wife, Grim was doing it and he just wasn't doing a very good job of it…"
"So you're telling my if your Father were alive when we met, we wouldn't have gotten married? He would have set you up with a ball and you would have picked a wife there?"

"Ariel, I love you. You know I do and I wouldn't have picked anyone else to be my wife… It's just… that when I married you there were a lot of kingdoms that were upset that I chose a 'random' girl instead of their daughters. There was a huge mess that I had to clean up. I was trying to avoid that now with our daughter."

"I understand that, but your daughter is in love with a very nice boy. True, they've only known each other for a day or so, but we barely knew each other, yet you knew you wanted to marry me."

"I know…"

"Look, when my Father found out I saved a human, he was furious. Then I let slip that I was in love with you. I didn't know you at all, but I knew that we were meant to be together. I think Melody is feeling the same way. My Father told me 'he's a human, you're a mermaid', but I told him I didn't care. I loved you and I was going to do anything to be with you. Melody loves that boy and she is going to do anything to be with him. If I know our daughter she has already done something to try and save him." There was a long silence before Eric spoke again.

"You're right. I'm sorry. I've been such a jerk. I was just trying to be my Father…the good and the bad parts of him."

"I want you to remember your Father, but I want you to rule like Eric would rule, not your Father."

Ariel patted Eric on the back and held his hands. She was glad that Eric was starting to see the light.

"Ariel, we have to find Melody."

"I know."

"Grimsby!"

"Yes Sire?"

"Prepare my ship. We need to find the Princess. Have my navy ready for departure. I want them to track down this pirate ship that they took Jim on."

"Yes Sire," replied Grimsby as he ran towards the docks.

"I'm proud of you Eric."

"Ariel, what would I do without you?"

"Oh I don't know. Probably be completely helpless and drive this Kingdom into the ground." They both laughed at each other and shared a kiss. Then they both began to get ready to find their daughter and her boyfriend.