Eight
Ariel was an anxious mess.
Eric could easily tell that she was anxious; the feeling was practically radiating off of her. He grabbed her hand and looked at her, a way of telling her it was alright. He hadn't told King Lionel that he was bringing Ariel, but he had told him that he'd invited someone to come along with him.
Ariel was dressed in an elegant off the shoulder ball gown. Her skirt was poofy, her feet covered with a pair of heels that matched the shade of her dress. Her hair was pinned up in an elegant manner, a sparkling amethyst hair clip had been placed on the right side. Her mask was a mix of white and lavender, and it had been tied around her face for most of the evening already. An amethyst ring graced her right ring finger over the white silk gloves she wore. A gold bracelet on her left wrist, a necklace with the same purple mineral around her neck.
Eric was in his formal suit. White tailcoat with gold laced into it, black trousers that were lined with gold on the sides, and his black boots. He had combed his hair back, forcing it out of his face. He figured he might as well make a good impression. The last time he'd been in Glowerhaven, it hadn't ended well.
His gloved hands encased Ariel's shaking right one. His white and blue mask was laying on his lap, completely forgotten for the moment while he tried to calm Ariel's nerves.
Why had she said yes? Why had she agreed to do this? Why had she thought that it was a good idea? She had to interact with other humans! It was hard enough to interact with Eric, Grimsby, and Carlotta. Granted, Eric understood all of her wild gestures now, and Grimsby and Carlotta were catching on rather quickly, but that didn't mean the others attending the masked ball would.
"Hey, hey, it's alright," he whispered. "You don't have to interact with anyone if you don't want to."
At that, she calmed down a little.
"If it makes you feel any better," he mumbled as he released her hand, grabbing his mask, "I didn't want to go anyway. These things are never much fun. But you like dancing, so it might be for you."
He tied his mask and sighed.
"And the Princess of Glowerhaven isn't going to leave me alone tonight," he added as an excuse as to why he really didn't want to go. "So… I'll try my best to stay by your side, that way you're not surrounded by strangers."
Ariel smiled gratefully. The carriage lurched to a halt, which did jolt Ariel quite a bit. Eric only sighed and rubbed his temples. It was going to be a long night.
Upon entering the castle, Eric immediately squirmed in discomfort. The air was thick and stuffy; there wasn't a single window or side door open. Eric knew that it was autumn, and that meant it was chilly outside, but when inviting well over one-hundred people to an event, there needs to be something opened to allow some fresh air to leak inside.
Ariel glanced around, seeing the magnificence the castle held inside. Artifacts, paintings, portraits, and vases filled with bright flowers lined the halls. Eric cleared his throat awkwardly beside her, causing her to look up at him.
"Why did I agree to this?" he muttered quietly. Ariel suppressed a silent laugh. She had the same thoughts, and she considered it to be pretty ironic. "Keep your hand in mine. Don't let go, or we'll get separated in this mess."
Ariel nodded and tightened her grip on his hand. Eric weaved through the crowd of lords, ladies, counts, countesses, princes, princesses, queens, and kings, Ariel right behind him. Ariel didn't see any children, and that confused her. She had seen several children the days they went to the village, yet there wasn't a single child within her sight at the ball. Perhaps it was something meant for adults?
"Oh! I am so - Claudia," Eric gulped, pulling Ariel closer to him.
"Eric," the young woman named Claudia sneered. She was tall, her fair skin tanned by the sun. Her blonde locks cascaded in luscious curls down to her mid-back, nearly blending in with the gold of her dress. Her hazel eyes were sharp and accusing as they scanned Eric's frame. "You look nice."
"Um, thank you," he forced out. Ariel could tell that Claudia was the Princess of Glowerhaven. If Eric's discomfort didn't give it away, her attitude certainly did. "Well, I'm afraid I - we have to find your father. Excuse us."
"Without introducing me to your guest? Why Eric, that's rather rude," Claudia placed a hand over her chest.
Eric lowered his head for a moment, rolling his eyes and taking a deep breath. He needed a plethora of patience to deal with Claudia, and he most certainly did not have it.
"Ariel, this is Claudia, Princess of Glowerhaven. Claudia, this is Ariel," Eric grumbled, knowing it would only cause trouble. Claudia's eyes gave that away. She had every intention of making a scene.
"Pleased to meet you." Claudia's forced smile looked murderous to Eric. Maybe it was just his imagination, but he could've sworn Ariel tightened her grip on his hand.
The smile on Claudia's face reminded Ariel of the one that had been plastered on her aunt's face before she gave her her voice. It made her uneasy and she squeezed Eric's hand a little tighter, trying to forget it.
"It's rude to not speak, you know," Claudia huffed.
"She can't, Claudia," Eric cut in, sending the princess a glare. Ariel sucked in a breath and slightly bounced on her heels, hoping they'd get away from the princess soon.
"I think she's faking it," Claudia shrugged.
"Believe me, she isn't." Eric's ice blue eyes seemed to become colder. Ariel fiddled with the fabric of her skirt, trying to ignore the judgmental looks she was receiving. Eric mentally groaned. Of course, Claudia had her friends nearby. Of course, they'd heard the entire thing. And of course, they would be the ones to start a scene.
"Who's to say she isn't?" one spoke up, one with dark brunette curls that framed her face. Her gown was a royal blue that reminded Ariel of the sea at night.
"Yeah," another with a high pitched voice that (frankly) annoyed Ariel piped up. "I'll bet she's a faker!"
Heads started turning toward them. Eric didn't know Claudia's friends that well, only that somewhere in their names was a title.
"Ladies! Not everyone has the privilege of being able to speak!" Eric exasperatedly tried to explain. "I'm sure she'd love to be able to speak!"
Ariel only nodded slightly, her stomach starting to churn as people began to gather around to see what was amiss. She swallowed, trying to shake the thoughts of something terrible happening away. Eric noticed and gave her hand a gentle squeeze, a way of saying it would be alright. He knew that she couldn't talk. Claudia and the other ladies she associated with didn't, but that was fine. Eric would stick up for Ariel no matter what.
"So… tell me, what's her royal status?" Claudia pursed her lips and placed a hand on her hip.
"As far as I know, she doesn't have one," Eric responded curtly.
"A commoner, then?"
"What's wrong with being common? I would love to be common!" Eric exclaimed, gradually losing his temper with the princess. He wanted to leave, but she wouldn't let him. She and her group of friends had blocked each entrance carefully. He had to admit, they were smart when it came to things like that.
"Of course you would," Claudia rolled her eyes. "You would be on the sea all day and all night."
"That's the truth," Eric whispered, not loud enough for anyone to hear. Then, he raised his voice to where his words would be audible, "I honestly don't see why you're making such a fuss."
"It's a royal's masked ball, Eric! It's not a place for common folk who've never danced or even worn a suitable dress!" Claudia exclaimed. A few murmurs began to buzz about them.
Eric took a deep breath, his eyes closed for a moment as he tried to suppress his anger. Why hadn't he just made up an excuse? He could've gotten out of it easily. Feeling a gloved hand touch his forearm, he knew why instantly. He wanted her to have fun. To experience something that she hadn't before.
"What do you know about her? Nothing!" Eric could feel his control over his anger slowly slipping. "She's done nothing to you and yet you attack her as though she's committed a heinous crime! What's wrong with someone being different?! She's unique and I love it! Who cares if she can't speak? It doesn't mean anything! Words are usually useless anyway!"
Ariel's grip tightened on his hand. She hung her head, forgetting for a moment that her hair had been pinned up and couldn't hide her face. So, instead, she focused her gaze on the floor, shifting her weight from foot to foot.
"Maybe some people would like to understand what she's saying," Claudia shot back, her voice filled with disdain.
Ariel flinched. Words could hurt, she discovered quickly. Words could be wondrous and they could be disastrous. She found that when Eric spoke to her, they were wondrous. She hadn't ever heard him say anything like Claudia was, and she was thankful that he was kind. Claudia, on the other hand, was the prime example of what her father had been talking about, she was sure. She wasn't nice at all. She was judgmental and (as Eric had put it) stuck up.
"I can understand her! It's really not that hard if you try!"
Ariel bit her bottom lip. The air had become awkward and she wanted to get out. She'd gladly leave the ball if it meant the tension would disappear.
"She hasn't done anything!" Claudia argued. "How can I even guess if she doesn't try?"
Eric couldn't help but think that Claudia was acting like a spoiled brat. Sure, he'd had a childhood that could compare to no other, being spoiled by Carlotta and Grimsby and his parents (when they were living), but that didn't give him the right to act like he was better than anyone else. The subjects of the kingdom were what kept it alive. If you treated them poorly, chances were you had a revolution or a dying kingdom on your hands, and no matter what happened, all of the blood that was spilled would be your fault.
Yet he wouldn't say that aloud. Grimsby would certainly kill him if he did.
"Maybe she doesn't wish to speak, Claudia."
"Maybe she should, considering it's rude if she doesn't."
"I don't see how! I told her she didn't have to talk if she didn't want to," Eric shot back quickly, determined to close the conversation and get away from Claudia. Claudia scoffed in disbelief. "Now, if you'll excuse us, Your Highness, we must find your father."
Ariel clung to Eric's side, observing the many people in the ballroom. The tension was still high, but King Lionel didn't seem to notice. The king was casually chatting with Eric, who looked like he was desperate to get out of the conversation, but continued with a smile that didn't reach his eyes. He couldn't be rude to King Lionel. After all, it was the first time in months the man hadn't degraded him for something he said.
"And the lovely young lady with you," King Lionel laughed, which made Eric force one. "Is she Royal?"
"No," Eric responded. He was mentally begging the man not to say anything about that. He and his daughter were alike in many ways, he knew, and he most certainly didn't want another thing to go against him that Grimsby would more than likely hear about.
"She isn't? That's… interesting."
The way his voice dropped told Eric that he was in for it. Eric could easily back up his side of it by saying he never said his guest was a royal, but he kept his mouth shut. He had learned when to speak and when to keep silent, and that was certainly a time to do the latter.
Ariel tugged on her left glove slightly, not looking up at the two royals. Eric glanced over at her several times, hoping he'd be able to catch her glancing up. He didn't know what to do, so he did the first thing he thought of.
"Would you like to dance?"
Ariel's head snapped up. She smiled lightly and nodded, allowing the prince to lead her to the floor. He placed a hand on her waist, and she placed hers on his shoulder. Their hands entwined as they glanced at each other, a small smile appearing on each of their faces. Ariel's eyes met his, and their gazed locked. As they whirled around the ballroom, their smiles only grew.
Eric drew in a deep breath of surprise when Ariel laid her head against his chest as they rocked back and forth. No one seemed to notice (and if they did, they didn't say anything), and Eric chuckled lightly once he was over the initial surprise.
Ariel listened to his steady heartbeat. It always helped her calm down, and she was sure that there wouldn't ever be a time when it wouldn't. It assured her that he was fine, that he was living and breathing. It was a steady melody to her ears, one that she would never tire of hearing. Sort of like the melody he always played on his flute.
"Are you enjoying yourself?"
She pulled back and nodded. She was sure that this was the best part of the evening.
"I'm glad. I'm sorry about earlier. Claudia can be… What's the word?" His voice dropped to a whisper, trying to keep the conversation as quiet as possible. "Um… discourteous? I think that's the word."
Ariel gave a huff of amusement and rolled her eyes.
"You know she was," Eric laughed quietly. "I told you she was stuck up." Ariel nodded at that. He had perfectly described the Princess of Glowerhaven, she had to admit, but she didn't think she was discourteous. At least, not yet. She didn't think much of the encounter, other than she didn't like it when Eric lost his temper.
"What's so funny?" A glint of amusement had sparked in Eric's eyes. Ariel used her left hand to poke him. "Me? Why, M'lady, how could I amuse you?"
Ariel's silent laughter caused him to laugh. That caused a few people to turn and look at them, but Eric brushed off their inquisitive and judgmental gazes.
"Clearly some of these people have never laughed before," Eric whispered in her ear. Ariel laughed again. "I'm not sure some of them have ever had fun. Silly, isn't it? Living your life in a boring way, I mean."
Ariel playfully rolled her eyes at him. He chuckled.
"Too much?" He quirked a brow. Ariel shook her head in amusement.
"Eric! Give the poor girl a break."
Eric sighed heavily and rolled his eyes before turning to see Claudia, who had her friends trailing behind her again. For a second, he wondered what would happen if they ever defied her orders. He quickly shook the thoughts away, keeping Ariel's hand in his.
"Claudia," he grimaced. He figured that forty-five minutes was better than nothing, and he really should have expected Claudia to appear again. It wasn't like the princess to give up so easily.
"Enjoying yourself, dear?" Claudia faked a smile as she looked at Ariel, who nodded. Claudia gave a small laugh. "I take it as balls aren't your thing?"
Ariel's brows furrowed. Ariel hadn't noticed the young woman that had stepped up behind her, untying the laces that held her mask in place. Ariel gasped as the mask fell from her face, quickly releasing Eric's hand in an attempt to catch it. It shattered on the floor, making her flinch as soon as it hit the marble floor.
"Here," Eric quickly untied his own mask and handed it to her. Ariel hesitantly took it, knowing he wouldn't let her refuse to take it. Claudia looked angry, though Ariel figured her anger was probably but a small ember compared to Eric's. She had seen it ignite in his eyes, but he had suppressed it.
"Clumsy, clumsy," Claudia drawled, shaking her head.
Eric bit down on his lower lip. He didn't want to lose his temper again. This time, it would most certainly attract the king's attention, and he didn't want to do that. If he attracted King Lionel's attention, then Grimsby would hear about it, and then Eric would be on the receiving end of a very angered lecture.
"Let me tie it for you, Ariel," Eric gently turned the girl around, helping her adjust the mask and tying the strings for her. Once the mask was secured, Ariel turned and smiled gratefully.
"Hmm… Blue isn't really her color, is it, girls?"
"And white isn't your color, apparently," Eric retorted without even thinking about what he had said. The collection of gasps was enough to make him realize that he was in for it.
"That is rude, Eric! I tried to get you to accept my proposal, but you wouldn't! And all because the sea means too much to you!" Claudia shouted.
"It's an escape!" Eric retaliated.
"An escape from what?! A glorious, luxurious life?!"
"Yes! Because maybe I don't want to be royal! Maybe I'd like to be a normal human being! Maybe I'd like to be able to do what I want when I want to do it!"
"We rule kingdoms, Eric!" Claudia exclaimed exasperatedly. "We are supposed to be the ones in charge! We get to do so many things that the people like her don't!"
"What's the issue with not being royal? Not everything is in wealth or a title, Claudia! You don't even know her and yet you look down at her like she's nothing!" Eric's voice started to rise in volume. If it was a shouting match Claudia wanted, it was a shouting match she'd get. "I just don't understand you!"
"And I don't understand you! You and the sea and this-this commoner that you found! I don't understand why you'd want to mingle with sailors and commoners!" Claudia practically screeched.
"Because maybe they understand me! Take away this stupid title and I'm just a commoner! The same for you! Without your title, you're nothing, Claudia! Without your precious title, you'd be a member of the lower class!"
Claudia was fuming. Her hazel eyes seemed to burn through Ariel, Eric's icy cold ones seeming to burn her. Ariel shifted uncomfortably.
"Well, I'm not a member of the lower class! I'm a princess, and I'm proud of it!"
"I never said I wasn't proud of who I am," Eric lowered his voice. Ariel could hear the hurt he masked in his voice. She let out a huff of anger. She was starting to agree that the Princess of Glowerhaven was discourteous.
"What would your parents think if they saw you now? Here, at a masked ball for royals with a commoner that can't even speak?" Claudia spat.
Eric was silent. What would they think? Grimsby and Carlotta always told him that they would be so very proud of him, the way he had grown up. Now… now he wasn't sure. Sure, they'd always told him to follow his heart, to never let anyone take away what made him happy. Yet he wasn't sure if they would be proud to call him their son.
"I don't know," he whispered so quietly, Ariel barely heard him. "I don't know what they'd think of me."
He looked at Ariel, his eyes filled to the brim with sorrow. He knew that they'd like her. He knew they would support him, whether he married a royal or not. He knew that they wouldn't have minded that she wasn't royal.
"But they wouldn't have cared about a title. They wouldn't have judged her so harshly because she isn't a princess, or a countess, or a lady of the court. They wouldn't have insulted her, they wouldn't have had someone sabotage her appearance. They wouldn't have acted the way you are."
After that, Eric and Ariel departed. Eric had made up an excuse that easily slid past the dimwitted king, who had not been in the room when Eric lost his temper.
Now, sitting in the carriage, Ariel untied the mask and gave it back to him. He chuckled sadly and took it. Ariel grasped his hand, just as he had done for her earlier. She gently rubbed the back of his hand, watching the silk fabric wrinkle and unwrinkle each time she glided her thumb across it.
Eric couldn't get Claudia's harsh words out of his head. What would his parents think? He certainly hadn't done anything for them to be proud of. Sure, he'd worked out a few trade deals, but that was all he had done. He had seen how the council looked at him. He had seen the judgmental looks from foreign kings and queens, he'd seen the hopeful princesses that would be flung in his direction, each of them being turned down. Why would his parents be proud of him? They certainly had no reason to be.
He barely noticed Ariel as she placed her head on his shoulder, fighting to stay awake. He hadn't yet noticed that she had let go of his hand, her arms wrapped around his arm instead. Eric's gaze shifted to his lap, and it was then that he noticed.
"Ariel?" His voice was a hoarse whisper. She lifted her head, blinking a couple of times. "I'm sorry."
Her brows furrowed. Why was he apologizing? He'd done nothing wrong.
"This is all my fault. I shouldn't have dragged you into this mess. If I had declined the invitation, none of this would have happened."
Ariel shook her head. She wished that she could speak; that she could tell him that it wasn't his fault. Nothing that happened was his fault. Claudia had been the one to start each argument.
"I'm so, so sorry," he mumbled. "I thought she'd ignore me for at least an hour. I didn't know she'd say everything that she did. I'm sorry."
Ariel moved her hand to his shoulder. He sighed as he took her other hand in his.
"I swear I'll make it up to you."
The carriage slowed to a stop. Eric was still awake, gazing out the window in thought. Ariel, however, was not. She had leaned against Eric's arm and fallen asleep shortly after their conversation. The door opened and he carefully slid out, then gently shifted her to where he could easily get her out of the carriage. Ariel didn't stir.
Eric carried her inside and was immediately greeted by Grimsby and Carlotta. They hadn't received word about what had happened, and Eric knew that by the time the sun rose, they would know what had happened. He dreaded it with every fiber of his being, but there wasn't much that could be done about it.
"Oh my, she must be exhausted," Carlotta chuckled. "Just take her to her room, dear."
Eric nodded and did as he was told. After covering her with her thick blanket, he made his way to the hall, carefully closing the door behind him. Eric sighed and went into his own room, kicking the door shut as he started to unbutton his coat.
"Well," he sighed to himself, "that went extremely well."
