Publication Date: Unknown (Minor Emendations: Sunday, September 13th, 2015)


Sael

Chapter 9 – A Vanishing Quiet

~Being All About Ariel ... From the Hearts of Those Who Love Her~

~~~ Saturday, the 16th of November, 1805 AD ~~~

~ 2:00 p.m. ~

Christiansborg Palace – Christiansted, Sankt Croix

Out upon the channel and far beyond the colonnade of Christiansborg Palace, little whitecaps began to array themselves along the long curve of Prince Frederick's Bay. Almost imperceptibly they rose at first, being driven inward toward the shore by a breeze that had sprung up from the north Caribbean Sea, the same breeze that had freshened ever since mid-morning. Mounting up in long slender rows they came, such that were any to have looked out upon the changing morning sea their pale crests might have called to mind ranks of blue-clad soldiers marked with plumes of white, marching into battle beneath a cloudless azure sky. In toward the palace their legions strode, mounting ever higher until waters that had just hours before stretched to the horizon in a sheet of placid turquoise now grew restless, darkening the bay into something more gray and uncertain.

"Prince's Bay" it was called and had been since scores of Danish craftsmen had built the Christiansborg upon its margin many years before. Some denizens of the isles remembered the old name for it though, and out of either habit or sheer defiance refused to honor the new.

The shallow waters of Prince's Bay lay beyond a strand of fine sands of gold and white; a shore secluded from the rest of the island by sheer rock cliffs, and it was at the easternmost end of the bay that the great palace stood. From what had once been a natural outcropping of golden stone it rose, a small peninsula which had mostly been hewn and blasted out in the building of the palace; its ghosts still seen not only in the long sloping of the land down to that point, but in the golden hued stone of the palace itself.

As far as one could see both east and west along the shore lay the estate of the Prince, encompassing in its breadth four little bays of which the Prince's Bay was third most easterly. It was a fief that comprised a private demesne for the young man who ruled not only the Isles, but all their trade as well under the terms of the Arrangement. That the young man's given name was actually Christian Frederick mattered only to a few, for it was under his chosen name of Eric that he reigned, and by which his subjects knew him. His was a happy rule for the most part, for Eric's hand was light and the Isles, at least those that were still left to him, mostly governed their own affairs.

The shores of those bays had for long been his private retreat, indeed they had been his and his alone since even before he had first visited the isles nearly a decade before. With his father Prince Frederick he had come, first as an enthusiastic guest and later as a would-be explorer, but after the events of 1801 and 1802, Eric found himself compelled to remain not as a guest, but as a resident, possibly in perpetuity. Indeed, were one to have closely inspected the terms of the Arrangement, one might have been drawn to the surprising conclusion that Prince Christian Frederick was actually a prisoner of sorts, albeit … a most comfortable one.

By the early afternoon, the same freshening breeze that drove the marching seas out upon the bay found its way through the doors of the guest room balcony. For a while it busied itself in diaphanous curtains at the balcony's sides, teasing them into a subtle dance round each other before it finally stole across the room. Briefly it tickled at the back of the prince's neck before it finally tired and slipped away, then came at last to play within the loose tresses of the sleeping princess's hair. For all gathered there, even she, it proved a refreshment against the incessant and still growing heat of the day.

Together at the northwest corner of the bed the Prince sat with his Princess, the maiden leaning almost upright against the young man's chest and nestled safely within his arms. It was a moment of vanishing quiet that had proven welcome to Eric if for no other reason than that it had ended the odd confusion and cacophony of the day's earlier conversations. It seemed to last forever, that moment, with only the little wind disturbing its silence.

For who knows how long, minutes perhaps, Eric just sat there like that, holding and caressing his fiancée as though she could feel his loving touch in her sleep. Perhaps he held her so out of hope that he might somehow forestall what awful memories and dreams that this day might bring; for of those Ariel already had enough, dreams that troubled her from her ordeal with the Witch and the days that had preceded it. Her face now lay so close to Eric's that he couldn't help but to look at her, this young woman whom he hoped and prayed would soon become his wife.

"A mermaid." he thought and smiled, then slowly shook his head as though he could still hardly believe this simple yet incredible fact about Ariel, let alone that his love was actually there and safe with him, this despite the many hardships and dangers they had both faced just be together. It was a quiet truth Eric had to remind himself of every day, sometimes several times a day, that this all wasn't just some dream. It was real, for she was there lying in his arms, and beyond all belief and chance he felt as though she loved him every bit as much as he loved her. And Eric's love for Ariel … was boundless.

As he looked upon her, the young prince saw that his little mermaid's face had grown peaceful now, and so unlike it had been when he had first seen her that morning. Eric wanted to give her that peace, wanted to let her sleep. He looked over to Sael and then Carlson, and each in turn looked up at him noting that his attention had shifted to them. Each had kept his quiet while the Prince had sat there holding the Princess, respectful of his time with Ariel as they tended her still-bleeding leech bites.

"How is she?" Eric asked quietly.

Carlson looked to Sael, then to Eric. "There seems to have been no bodily harm done to her, though the bite wounds could bleed for hours. No thanks to our good Doctor."

Hans nodded in apparent agreement. "Well, if it's jus' me a sayin', I fer one am glad tha' lubber is gone, an' a good riddance to 'im." Hans said, "Didn' care none a' all 'fer his beside manner."

Derek nodded. "I can't say that I disagree, Hans. Eric, does she still feel warm to you?"

Eric nodded as he considered Carlson's question, noting that Ariel did still seem a little warm, with her fair skin dryer than normal, though not so much as before. She had cooled notably since he had brought her inside, when she was afire and parched from the morning sun. Eric shook his head slowly, "She's cooler now, though a little warm still. She may need something more to drink when she wakes." he said, looking to Carlotta.

As she had stood behind the three men earlier, Carlotta had found herself in a moment of confusion, and Carlotta Grimaldi was a woman who was very seldom if ever confused. The Housekeeper felt terribly for Ariel and would have been at the girl's side in a heartbeat had the Princess not already been surrounded by three men who obviously cared deeply about her. Though she knew and trusted Captain Carlson from his past three years of service with the Prince's Household, she hardly knew this Master Sael, having only heard mention of him in passing as a certain "Hans" when Eric would regale her and Aubrey with the tales of his voyages. Watching now though, how tenderly the old sailor cared for her little girl, Carlotta couldn't help but be both moved and impressed, but also dismayed by the red stains spreading across the back of the man's torn shirt. She was going to do something about that soon.

What Carlotta had felt most conflicted about were the men's misgivings concerning Doctor Østerby. Yes, she too was angry, even livid at first that the Physician had frightened Ariel so badly, but he hadn't meant to, had he? More importantly, he had tried so hard afterwards to amend the terrible situation and comfort the poor girl that he had finally succeeded in calming Ariel enough to complete her treatment. She would be well now, with no edema or whatever the man had said troubling her any longer.

"There should be more water outside in the Gallery and the east guest room. It's well past luncheon now too and I'm sure the poor dear hasn't had a bite to eat today." Carlotta replied, looking up and stepping past Privates Lund and Thomsen, who had at some point returned to their posts. She found this curious, having not remembered the men either leaving the room or being dismissed, but otherwise paid it no mind. What she did notice was the conspicuous absence of a certain Aubrey Beauclerk. "Oh! Where has that man gone?" she wondered with more than a little irritation.

"I'll be right back." she said in a kind voice to Eric and the others as she stepped out onto the Gallery, but her smile faded the moment she passed the bedchamber door. Stepping out of the room Carlotta felt a wave of terrible guilt well up within her, one that she had tried to hold at bay until now; guilt that she had not explained to Ariel what the alternative to the instrument the Doctor had offered actually was. In fact, that Ariel might actually need to be bled in some way had not even occurred to the Housekeeper before Nils arrives, and his kind and gentlemanly manner had left the Carlotta feeling quite comfortable with what he was doing. Nils was a Doctor and a gentleman after all, and a very handsome gentleman at that, she smiled, caressing her left hand … without quite being aware of it.

But why hadn't she intervened more forcefully when Ariel had become so fearful? Grimaldi raised her hand to her eyes, wiping away her tears, then reached down to the tray of fresh water and ice. Much to her dismay she found that while the silver pitcher remained quite cold, the ice had mostly melted, yet she had left it filled with crushed ice when she had returned to Ariel's room. How long … had it been?

"We need to let her rest … I need to let her rest." Lowering his lips Eric kissed the sleeping girl softly on her left temple, then realized that she was still sitting upright, her legs tucked neatly beneath her. That wouldn't do. At the very least he would make her comfortable. "Hans, Derek, I'm going to lift her and lay her down so that she can rest more comfortably."

The Captain nodded and slowly stood, reaching for a fresh handkerchief and handing another to Sael.

"Aye, tha' I can." Hans said, looking sidelong to Carlson. "Have ta' do it quick less'n she get blood on tha' pretty dress o' hers."

"Is she still bleeding much?" Eric asked, looking back to the sailor.

Derek quickly looked to Hans, then reaching over carefully lifted the edges of the handkerchief the old salt was tending to inspect the other two bite wounds. Finding them still bleeding he seemed to compare all four, pressing upon them at their edges with experienced fingers. For a moment Hans thought he heard the Captain whisper something under his breath then looked up to see the soldier open his eyes. Looking back Derek smiled at the old man, "Nothing like a little prayer now and then to wash away one's sins, eh Hans?"

Hans, not necessarily being much inclined to prayer, nevertheless nodded and smiled. "Ay, canna' hurt I s'pose, no' given tha' Hell the poor maid ha' been through t'day."

"Her bleeding has slackened quite a bit, sire." Carlson instead answered the prince. "But Master Hans is right, you'll need to lift her quickly, so we can keep a tight press on all four bites."

Carlotta stepped quietly back into the room, replacing the previously used tray, pitcher and glasses with a fresh one.

Looking to the Housekeeper, Eric continued, "Carlotta, I'm going to lay her down, would you turn back the bedcovers?"

The Housekeeper nodded seeing what Eric was preparing to do, then leaving the trays on the nightstand slipped down to the lower side of the girl's bed beside the gathered men. In a smooth motion she neatly pulled back the bed's soft blanket and sheets.

Eric nodded to the men. "Ready?" he asked again almost in a whisper. Seeing the two nod and Carlotta take her position, Eric crouched beside Ariel and slipped his hands slowly beneath her motionless form. Then with the gentlest of motions he lifted her, keeping her head resting against his shoulder and taking great care that his movements remain smooth. Lowering her then, he laid her slender body upon the soft mattress of her bed and her head upon her silken pillow, causing her to stir slightly and murmur for just a moment. Then as smoothly as he had lifted his fiancée, he now gingerly slipped his arms back out from under her knees and shoulders and allowed her to settle softly back into sleep.

As Eric finished, Carlotta took Ariel's folded legs into her hands and slowly drew them outward and down the bed, extending them until the girl's bare feet and toes pointed to the ceiling. Again, the girl stirred only slightly in response, for she was now deeply asleep. As a final measure Grimaldi turned the covers up to Ariel's waist as Hans kept up the pressure on the girl's wounds. Sael noticed that her bleeding indeed seemed to have slowed substantially which surprised him. From experience though, Hans knew well not to remove the handkerchiefs he held still at the young woman's neck.

Eric knelt down beside Ariel's bedside as he reached out to stroke her long red tresses and look into her serene face. Though the others couldn't have seen it, for Eric had by then turned away from them, a tear ran down his cheek as his mind once again reeled silently at what had happened to his love today, what had happened to them that he had failed to prevent, and that he had made so much worse. Once again, he leaned over and kissed the sleeping girl upon her forehead, desperately wishing now for the day that they would finally wed, when he could at last hold her as closely as his heart desired, and he could chase away all of her nightmares and fears.

No sooner had the four settled Ariel down to sleep when they heard a pathetic whine from behind them. Turning his head Eric sought its source, finally discerning a shape lying in the shadows beneath a plush corner chair near the balcony. All of the others, Jens included, peered over there as well, following Eric's startled glance.

"Max …," he said quietly. "Come here boy." By the frightened tone of the dog's whine Eric immediately knew that something was amiss, for Max only whined so when he was deeply upset ... or afraid.

Out from beneath the chair the dog crawled, and then standing onto all fours came walking slowly over to Eric, his stub of a tail wagging back and forth only slightly and he passed between Carlson and Sael.

"Max, boy, what's wrong?" Eric whispered, reaching out to stroke the trembling sheephound's long white and gray hair. Taking his place between Eric and Ariel, Max looked at the sleeping girl and gave her face a gentle lick, then laid himself on the floor beside her bed and softly whined once again.

"Max …?" Eric asked, looking down to the distraught dog and then back up to Carlson, Hans and Carlotta in puzzlement and dismay. Then looking back down, he tried again, even more gently, "What's gotten into you boy?" he asked. Looking to Ariel the prince frowned for a moment, then smiled hesitantly as he continued, "Ah, I get it. Don't worry boy … she'll be alright." Strangely, the sheephound remained silent and depressed as he lay protectively at the Princess's bedside.

As Hans sat there watching and listening to the goings on beside him while placing fresh handkerchiefs against the sleeping girl's neck, he began to think about the circumstances that had brought him to this point. Here he was, an old seadog, not only inside the palace for the first time in his life, but sitting right beside the Princess herself and tending her wounds. When he had risen that morning, Sael couldn't have possibly even imagined himself in such an incredible situation … yet here he was. Had he overstepped his bounds when he daringly took this place by the girl's side? Yes, perhaps, but that was all done with, wasn't it? Yes, she was a Princess, but she was still a girl too, just like his little Elna had been, and even less than Eric's age Sael thought. What was important now was that he help Eric and his young love hew their way out of the anti-Gallican hitch that awaited them below.

"Ya' know Eric," the old man started in a hoarse whisper, not wanting to wake the Princess when she so obviously needed to sleep, "I been a' thinkin'."

Eric looked up, still puzzled at the state of his loyal friend. As though unwilling to speak but still desiring Hans' counsel, he stared expectantly at the old sailor, who took the Prince's cue and continued.

"I think if the lads were ta just see ya' fer a bit like yer normal self, it migh' go a' long way to settin' their minds a' ease."

Carlson looked over to the old sailor, his attention now drawn slightly from the two weeping bite wounds on Ariel's neck which he had resumed tending. While his concern had been drawn to the young woman before them, he too had been wondering how the four of them might overcome the doubts and fears of not just the sailors and men on the quay, but those the people of the Isle as a whole must be harboring.

Direct confrontation seemed the wrong approach, but so was remaining where the Princess could not be met or even seen by the people she would one day rule over with Eric. Ariel was still young, but the girl had such a loving and winning manner about her that she couldn't possibly be disliked, let alone hated, if only people could be allowed to get to know her.

"What do you suggest?" Eric asked

"Well, they's a'bound ta be good work a' goin' on ou' on th' quay. Ough' ta be getting' ou' they m'self ta' be checkin' up on i'."

Eric looked at the man a bit puzzled. "I hope there is." He said, looking down at Ariel and smiling as he continued to gently stroke her hair with his right hand. "What are you suggesting Hans?"

Hans noticed now that Eric still held the Princess's left hand in his own, though in an even more tender and loving manner than he had before. For a moment Hans considered the rumors about the girl again. It seemed unbelievable to him that she could actually be a mermaid, just like his father had told him of so long ago, but now Hans himself had heard her speak in that beautiful and strange tongue, like words set to song. Thus, if she was a princess in her own right as Eric and everyone else there seemed to believe, what else could this little Ariel be other than a princess of mermaids, just as Sael had surmised when he first saw her?

The old salt smiled, happy to see that Eric seemed to have found not only a young woman with whom to share his life, but one who seemed to truly be worthy of not only his love but everything else that the boy had to offer her. But a mermaid! Hans grinned to himself. No one would ever believe that sea story. Hans though was eager to find out anything more that he could about the tale, and how this young woman had come into Eric's life.

Sael had sailed with Eric for nearly ten years now since the days on Najaden, and he knew him to be a fine young man with a loving heart just waiting to be stolen away by the right girl. From what little Hans had seen of this maiden though, he suspected that Eric was equally fortunate. Just watching how the two seemed to have come to depend so deeply and naturally upon one another after only little more than a month convinced the old salt that a love somehow deep and sublime must lay between them.

And it wasn't just the Princess that needed Eric, though that was most certainly the case at the moment. No … Hans could see how much Eric needed her, if nothing else than by just by how the boy looked at her, that incredible tenderness in his eyes the likes of which Hans had never before seen. It was so very obvious to the old fellow now; why the boy had been so strong and commanding in the young maiden's defense, again in a way that Hans had seldom if ever before seen him. He had shown the demeanor of a king, a true and valiant king. Now though with the girl sleeping there beside him, Eric was once again just the same dreaming young man Hans had met all those years ago.

"Well, jus' tha' i' migh' do ya' some good ta get yerself out there too an' up them spars, or else jus' be yerself helpin' get Lyn a' ready fer the morrow."

Eric nodded and smiled slightly, understanding now what Hans suggested, and why. "Get out there and let them see that I'm my normal self? Is that what you mean Hans?"

"Aye, tha' be m' tack lad" Hans smiled back. "Get ou' there w' Henrik an' the' men an' puts some good turns on a line 'er two, ge' yerself aloft workin' that splintered mast an' th' yards. Really put yer' back in ta' it like ya' always do." He paused. "Maybe even tweak tha' mule Henrik a bit ta show 'im ya ain't under no spell er such."

"But what about Ari … the Princess, shouldn't she be there too?" Eric asked, now questioning his earlier determination to go alone, not wanting to leave her alone, even with Carlotta, after all that had happened.

"Aye, maybe later, an' I'd let the lass sleep after wha' she's had ta' stomach so far, but I thin' from wha' I saw this morning, ain't nothing she can say tha'll help 'er, on account that th' men has suspicions an' all. Th' only way ta' prove she's innocent o' any darkness is ta' show yer friends jus' by a bein' yerself … tha' they ain't no witchcraft afoot."

"Eric, I agree dear. The poor girl needs to rest, maybe just for a little while like you said earlier." Carlotta interrupted in a polite but motherly voice, now reaching out and placing her hand on Eric's left shoulder. "Why don't you let her sleep for just half an hour or so. I wouldn't be surprised if the poor dear woke up at sunrise this morning to start her day. She must have hardly slept last night at all." Carlotta smiled softly, her expression betraying a mind that was somehow somewhere else in time and place.

"Sunrise!?" Eric paused, a look of shock on his face, "Carlotta, why do you think she was up that early?"

"Oh," the Housekeeper smiled sweetly, looking down at the sleeping girl beside her, "Well, we were going to wash her hair this morning before she joined you for your day together."

Eric just stared back at Carlotta, his brow furrowing. "Obviously I'm missing something." Eric wasn't the only one, for both Hans and Derek were also looking at the Housekeeper in obvious confusion.

"You three! Don't you see? Just look at her! The poor dear's hair was perfectly clean, dry, and brushed out when I first saw her this morning." She paused, realizing she would have to explain what was so obvious to her to the three ignorant men.

"I wake Ariel almost every morning around seven to help her get ready for her day, sometimes earlier, but today I let her sleep in after you kept her up so late last night Eric." Carlotta laughed softly, her sparkling eyes rising to meet Eric's for just a moment before returning to Ariel. "But she wasn't in her room when I came today." she added, a regretful sadness barely audible in her voice.

Eric and Carlson looked at each other and then to Hans, each obviously hoping the other was following the Housekeeper's line of thought. It was obvious to each that they were equally lost in the woman's line of reasoning.

"Well, she must have washed and dried her hair all by herself of course! And dressed herself mind you."

Eric nodded. "Yes, but Carlotta, I still don't see how that means she must have risen so early."

"Oh, Eric! Don't you know that it takes her two, sometimes even three hours to get that beautiful mane of hers washed, dried, and just a little under control?" The Housekeeper smiled sweetly at the sleeping girl, then at Eric. "And she does it every three days or so by the way … just for you."

The blood drained slightly from Eric's face as he counted back the hours in his head. "Oh." he paused, looking down at his bride-to-be, "Tha … I had no idea Carlotta." The young man looked down at Ariel with no small amount of awe in his eyes as he reached out and caressed her face and hair.

Carlson and Sael looked at each other, sharing a grin as they too found a surprising and sweet end to the Housekeeper's observations. It was definitely not something that they or Eric would have ever thought of.

Carlotta paused, letting her words sink in with her boy, then went on. "Those washing days are the ones I make you wait until later in the mornings before you can start your day … and I get to have a little time of my own with the dear." The Housekeeper smiled proudly as she looked back to Ariel. "She does love the water so …" The Housekeeper smiled and laughed softly again at her dumbfounded prince and shook her head. "Eric, I hope you make it a point to compliment her about it then, after all of the effort she goes to for you. It can't be easy for her after all, learning to be human."

A broad grin crossed Hans' face as he looked over to Derek Carlson and saw the Housekeeper's words reflected in the slight nod the Captain returned him. "That's it, a mermaid she is!" Hans thought gleefully, insufferably pleased with himself at having known the truth all along. The old sailor beamed like a new grandfather.

Now at least at this, Eric knew he had no reason to feel guilty. One omission he was certain that he had never committed with Ariel was failing to tell her how lovely she was, how she was always in his thoughts and what those thoughts were. It was almost as though he couldn't help himself, telling and sometimes teasing her about how wonderful he found her hair, her eyes, and everything else that he could somehow politely express his delight in. In fact, he usually made her blush furiously when he did so and sometimes even embarrassed her. It was as though his former little mermaid really had no idea of how beautiful she was, and not just in her lovely appearance, either. Eric absolutely loved that about her.

Usually he made sure he emphasized the truth of his words with the softest of kisses, which Ariel always seemed to be happy and even eager to return with equal tenderness. Other thoughts and gestures would have to await their wedding night, but they were there as well … and no less true.

That his little mermaid went to such effort for his sake though, it simply amazed him … and made him feel not only deeply, even profoundly, happy; but also more than a little bit guilty. He found himself looking at the sleeping girl, this young woman who was to be wife and was surprised to feel his heart pounding. He wondered how he could ever return that sort of love, the sort of self-sacrificing love that had brought her to him in the first place.

"For what it is worth Sire, I agree with Mistress Carlotta and Master Hans." Derek added, drawing another fresh napkin to replace the blood soaked one he had for the past few minutes held at Ariel's throat. "The Princess needs to sleep as you said before." He stopped for a moment as he gingerly replaced his now scarlet napkin with a fresh white one, taking great care to not wake the girl beside him.

"I think that Hans is right about you getting out and among the men." He continued. "Let them see you out among them, being yourself. The Lyns have been away at sea for weeks now. All that they've had to go on about you and Princess Ariel are the very same rumors they carried away with them when they left. At least my men have seen you and the Princess strolling and talking around the Palace and grounds, and more than a few had the opportunity to dance with her. Believe me, none of the Guard doubts her now."

Eric listened quietly and smiled as he remembered the night weeks ago when one of Ariel's explorations had led her to the Barracks of all places. She had danced and sung half the night with the rowdy soldiers before Eric had found her there singing and laughing in the Barracks' common room, all the while having been under the watchful eye of both the Captain and even more formidable Sergeant Lundgren. After Carlson had spoken, Eric nodded and smiled softly, then looked to Carlotta.

"Carlotta, please take care of her and if at all possible bring her out to the dock when you think she is ready, but if she needs to rest until tomorrow, please let her." Eric gently kissed Ariel's left hand before laying it upon her breast. "I know I don't need to tell you this; her well-being comes first, but I've got to get out there again. If she wakes and is able to come but needs help walking, then either of the soldiers here can assist." Eric looked to the doorway, then stepped over to Carlotta, reaching out and wrapping both of his arms around her.

If anything could have made the Housekeeper blush at that moment it was her boy's loving embrace … and it did.

"I love you Lottie," he whispered, "That hasn't changed, and I'm sorry if I've been preoccupied with Ariel. We need a little time together too, don't we?"

Carlotta smiled back at Eric, wrapping her arms around him in return and patting him on his back like she used to when he would come to her so upset years ago. She struggled to blink back fresh tears that now welled up in her eyes. "Oh, Eric … I know that!" she whispered lovingly, "You're doing just the right thing. The poor dear needs as much love and attention as you can give her, as we all can give her; it has to be so hard for her." She paused. "I'm so proud of you Eric, and you know that I love you too, with all of my heart. We'll have time, just you wait and see!"

Eric smiled back at Carlotta as both gradually relaxed their embrace.

Turning back to Ariel, he knelt gently at her bedside and kissed the sleeping maiden on her forehead, all the while caressing her face with his right hand. "Come to me if you can love, but if you can't, I swear … I will make this right for you." Then he paused and closed his eyes. If he prayed, it was a silent prayer for not even a whisper strayed from his lips. That is, not until he whispered his final words to his dream who now lay beneath him. "… I love you."

Eric stood slowly then, never letting his eyes leave Ariel. He hoped he could be with her again soon, but something had to be done about this impasse now, and maybe Hans and Carlson were right, the answer for now must lay with him, not Ariel. These were his people, after all.

"Derek, Ariel will hate it but I want her escorted wherever she goes until we can settle this with Henrik and the others." Eric shook his head in dismay. "I never thought that this day would come but I didn't like how some of them looked at her down there, Henrik especially. I need to know for sure that she's safe when I can't be with her."

"Do you wish me to stay here with her then, Eric?" the Captain replied.

Eric thought for a moment, then shook his head, "No, I'm going to need you outside. She should be safe up here. Of course that was what I thou ..." Eric's words came to a sudden stop as a puzzled look filled his eyes. "Why … why did I say that?" he said quietly, looking back up at Captain.

Carlson returned his gaze, sharing his puzzlement. "Say? Say what Eric? You're right, I'm sure she'll be quite safe here. The Doctor frightened her, but no real harm came to her? She'll be fine." But Carlson too now felt that there was something to what Eric had said, had begun to say. Something seemed odd … amiss.

Eric nodded in reply, then looked sternly down at Max. "Max, stay with her boy. Take good care of Ariel and Lottie. Promise?"

Max looked up at the prince and their blue eyes met. If a dog could nod, Eric could have sworn that was exactly what Max did after Eric spoke to him, accompanying the gesture with a low "woof."

At this Eric smiled, bending down to his longtime and loyal friend and gave the sheephound a good solid neck rub and scratch behind the ears, to which Max happily arched his back and craned his head in appreciation. "Good boy!" the prince finished before standing again and striding off through the door.

"Guess i' be a time ta' be goin' then." Hans added, looking at the Captain, having carefully watched and listened to the others' conversations with no small amount of curiosity regarding his young prince's other life … and that of this pretty little mermaid.

Sael and Carlson made way for Carlotta now, surrendering their watch over Ariel's bleeding bite wounds to the Housekeeper. The two men stood quickly, each taking a glimpse at the sleeping Princess and nodding respectfully to Carlotta as they left the room.

As he did so, Carlson turned to the two soldiers who saluted him just as they had the departing Prince. "Private Lund, Private Thomsen, the Princess is to have an escort wherever she goes, either you or your reliefs. Her life may be under threat, though we cannot be certain, so I wish you to exercise the greatest degree of caution with her. If possible though, try not to impede her unless the need is both immediate and obvious. Oh … watch her carefully around stairs, edges, and other places where she might lose her footing; you'll need to stay close at her side in such circumstances."

Both soldiers nodded and saluted once again. Carlson returned the honor with a respectful nod to the men. He turned on his heel and quickly followed Sael down the stairs, his fading boot steps muffled by the rich purple carpet.

The Housekeeper nodded and smiled as the men departed, knowing now that the girl would finally have some respite from the storm she had endured since that morning. Letting loose the handkerchiefs for a short moment, Carlotta slipped her hands under the blankets of Ariel's bed and neatly folded them across the girl's breast, then sat upon the edge of the bed and began to gently stroke the sleeping maiden's hair as she tended her wounds. Somehow, Carlotta Grimaldi just knew then that this was going to turn out for the better, or at least … she dearly hoped that it would.