Ariel walked down the steps of the palace that led down to the beach and found her husband sitting on a rock, gazing out to sea. "What are you doing out here?" She asked. Ariel walked over to him and stood beside him.

"Just thinking."

"About what?"

"I got word my father is ill, very ill." Eric replied. "He's not getting any better. The doctors are unsure what he has."

Ariel placed her hand on Eric's shoulder. "I'm sorry. This must be so hard for you. One minute he's well, and the next he's ill."

"Apparently we'll be becoming rulers of this country much sooner than expected."

"How soon?"

"Within the next couple of weeks. Grims is making plans for a ceremony."

"Oh... That is sooner than expected."

Eric forced a smile on his face and looked up at Ariel. "How are you and our baby doing today?"

"We're doing great, but I'm more worried about you now."

"Don't be, darling. It's just life and it's not perfect."

Ariel rubbed her arms when she felt a breeze. "It's getting chilly out. Maybe you should come inside. I don't need you getting ill too."

"You go inside. I'll be in in a little bit."

"Alright."

Ariel walked back up the stairs of the palace. When she reached the top, she turned around and stared at Eric. She wondered how Eric actually felt about this whole thing. He wasn't showing any emotions. If her father was dying, she would be a complete mess. She would be crying continuously. Ariel at least has sisters, unlike Eric, who is the only child and has no siblings to lean on. He only has her, just barely. Ariel is still being protective over herself and is still not fully comfortable being around him. It's still new. She finds it strange he already loves her. How could someone fall in love that fast? Maybe Eric doesn't know what real love is. Ariel just knows she needs to be there for Eric and help him get through this tuff time.

Eric came back in thirty minutes later when it began to rain. He sat in his office, continuing to think about the near future. He'll be king. He'll be a dad. Everything was happening really fast. Starting with getting married, to now becoming king not that long after. Eric assumed he had at least another five years or so before he became king. He thought he would have more time to prepare and just enjoy being married to Ariel and continue to get to know her.

"Eric, we must go over many things before the coronation." Grimsby said. "I've scheduled it for three weeks from now."

"Three weeks?" Eric repeated.

"Afraid so. The king is just not getting any better and we need you sworn in. We need you to start making all the decisions concerning this country now."

"How is father?" Eric asked.

"Worst."

"Mother?"

"About the same."

"I'd like to have a carriage ready tomorrow to take me to see father."

"Eric, you are much too busy to see him." Grismby said. "He has requested for you not to see him."

"Be sure a carriage is ready tomorrow. I'll be leaving at dawn."

The following day, Eric and Ariel got into a carriage and were driven to the king's and queen's palace which is about an hour away from Eric's palace. Eric told Ariel she didn't have to come, but she insisted. She wanted to say bye to the king if it turns out to be the last time she'd see him.

They arrived to Eric's parent's palace a little after eleven. They were greeted by Eric's mother, Queen Vivienne, when they entered the palace.

"How's father?" Eric asked.

"Same as yesterday." She replied. "He's currently resting peacefully in our room."

"I suppose you wouldn't want us disturbing him then."

"When he wakes up, you may see him. How are you Ariel?"

"I'm well." Ariel smiled. "I'm sorry to hear about your husband."

"Grimsby told me the coronation will be in three weeks."

"Good. Hopefully your father will be able to make it another three weeks to attend it."

"Do the doctors know what he has?" Ariel asked.

The queen shook her head. "He's just very ill."

A middle age maid entered the room they were in and told them the king had woken up. The three of them headed up into his bedroom and found him laying in the bed, looking like he could die at any moment. King Arthur's body looked very fragile and he was very pale.

"Eric, my son." The king coughed.

"Father." Eric approached the bed.

"Eric, I'm dying." The king continued to cough. "I need you to take care of this kingdom/"

"Father..."

"Eric, I don't think I'll be lasting much longer. I know you'll make a good king, my son." Ariel walked over to Eric and wrapped her arms around his. "Ariel, thank you for marrying my son."

She smiled and hugged onto Eric tighter. "Thank you for wanting me to marry him."

The king began to gag and cough.

"I think it would be best for you both to say your goodbyes." Queen Vivienne said.

"Goodbye, Your Majesty, safe journeys." Ariel said.

"Goodbye, father."

Ariel and Eric said bye to his mother and headed back to their carriage to head back to their palace. She looked up at Eric, as they sat in the carriage, and could sense he was fighting his tears back. Ariel reached up and gave Eric a kiss on his cheek and wrapped her arms around his, laying her head on his shoulder.

"I love you, Eric."

A few weeks went by and it was the coronation. Unfortunately King Arthur died a week prior. It affected Eric really bad when he got word about his father's death. He wouldn't talk to anyone. He was isolating himself out of the world. He would mainly spend his days out at sea, sailing. Ariel hated seeing the state Eric was in. She wanted to help him, but he was just not allowing her in.

After the coronation ceremony, Ariel found Eric down on the beach, sitting on a rock, staring out into the sea as the sun set. She walked over to him and sat down beside him.

"I know you miss him. I barely knew him, but I miss him." Ariel said. "It's okay to talk about it, Eric. It's okay to show your true emotions about it. It's not healthy to keep it all in."

"He's gone..." Eric started to cry and Ariel wrapped her arms around him, trying to comfort him. "He's gone..."

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