"Hello, miss." Catherine picked up her skirts and tried to move closer to the princess, but Ariel was advancing down the beach still.

"Oh, hm? Hello." Ariel turned around, shaken from her reverie.

"I'm sorry to make your acquaintance this way," the maid curtseyed deeply. "But Prince Eric said you would be in your room, and I must have missed you there. I thought it was my best if I got on with my duties."

"Your duties?" Ariel furrowed her brow.

"I am to be your maid, and help you care for the baby when he comes."

"Or she."

"Yes, indeed." The maid nodded.

"Oh, well, tell me your name. And a bit about yourself, if you don't mind." Ariel smiled.

"Of course, your highness." Catherine took in stride, walking a step behind her. "I've been a maid here for three years now, but I've normally just been tidying things and the like. My name is Catherine, I'm twenty-one years old, and I live only a quick walk from town with my husband and our babies – which is probably why I was selected."

"Babies!" Ariel exclaimed. "You already have more than one?"

"Why yes, your highness!" Catherine said, a little flustered. "I have three! Once you have your child, I'll likely be pregnant with my fourth." She smiled.

"Oh, my…" Ariel said a little nervously. She couldn't imagine! Was that what her life was going to be? Having child after child after child, and never having her body back to herself?

"Come, Catherine, do you go boating? I want to go row out."

"Your majesty, if I may, I don't believe it's wise for you to do so."

"What, do you want me on bedrest too?" Ariel snapped.

Catherine was quiet for a moment, and then said. "Yes, actually, your majesty. If you would allow me to escort you-"

"I'm so sick of this. Eric promised he'd drop this bedrest nonsense – and as if he can boss me around anyway!"

"Ma'am, we're all only concerned for the baby-"

"I know! That's the issue! That! There!" Ariel snapped, jabbing at empty space. "Everyone is concerned for this baby, but no one cares about me! It's like I'm just some carrier, some eggshell that's ignored because I don't have emotions or concerns, or needs and opinions of my own. I'm not a person, I'm a mother!"

"Your highness-"

Ariel shook her head. "I'm sorry. That was too harsh of me. You didn't deserve that."

"Worry not ma'am, that's what I'm here for." Catherine smiled. "I am to be your maid, and your confidant when you need me."

"I'm not in the mood to discuss much of anything." Ariel said coolly. "I'm sorry for being short, I'm just-I'm just tired.

"Then perhaps it'd be best if you rested."

…

"She was raving, absolutely raving!" Catherine said, stirring her tea.

"Tell me honey, what did she say?" Bethany patted her friend's hand, soothing her.

"Oh, she was going on and on about how no one cares about her – as if she isn't a princess, waited on hand and foot!" Catherine said, annoyed.

"How ungrateful."

"That's what I'm saying! I worked up until the births of all of my children, and she doesn't have to lift a hand if she doesn't want to!"

"Well, Eric just announced that expecting mothers will be given a month off before their births – with pay." Bethany shrugged.

"Oh." Catherine paused for a second. "That's…a huge help, actually." She smiled a little.

"But regardless," Bethany waved her hand. "What else did Ariel say?"

Catherine sighed and continued. "Well, I took her back up to her room and she was clearly upset there too. It's like she didn't want to rest! As if she'd rather be doing anything else! Did I tell you she tried to get me to come boating with her?"

Bethany stifled a laugh. "Did she say anything about Eric?"

"Not too much. She seems frustrated with his majesty – apparently he's the one behind all these new rules. Which would make sense – he's just being a father."

"Has she said anything to him about it?"

"Not that I know of."

"He doesn't deserve this." Bethany sneered, sipping her own tea. "You know, I've read these books of a sea witch, who comes to shore every night from midnight to one am. If you're brave enough to seek her in the shallows, she'll come to you and make a deal. I bet I could see her, and find some sort of way to wretch that little redheaded brat from him; free him at last."

"Bethany, Ariel is still our princess." Catherine blushed. "And why are you reading of such awful things?"

Bethany realized she had said too much, and merely shrugged. "It's just lore, Catherine. Don't be so concerned."

"I know, but still! Even just the thought! That's alone enough to keep me spooked from the sea." Catherine shuttered. "You shouldn't say every thought you have, you know."

"I'm sorry if I spooked you." Bethany said sincerely. "It's nothing for you to worry about, I promise."

"Is it real? Tell me honestly."

"I don't know." Bethany said truthfully. "I've never tried to…summon her or anything."

"What does she look like?"

"Oh-ho! Who's curious now?"

"Just answer me!" Catherine rolled her eyes.

"I don't know. My mother used to tell me stories of the sea witch who would grant wishes to desperate girls, and drag down ones who snuck off to the beach." Bethany leaned in a bit closer. "One of my sisters went down to the beach late at night – she was very young, only thirteen, I think – but she went with a boy. My father went out and dragged her home and that's when my mother told her the story."

"Oh, so it's a fable!" Catherine nodded.

Bethany shrugged. "I thought so too – a way for my mother to ensure that none of us would sneak off with boys when we weren't supposed to. But I found a book in the shop in town – it was real old, and covered in so much dust in a corner so unnoticed it was clear that no one had touched it in years and years. When I showed it to the bookseller, she didn't even remember purchasing it in the first place, and let me buy it for a steal!"

"How nice!"

"It was, but that's not the point." Bethany shook her head. "It had the same story in it – almost down to the perfect detail. Lots of stories of the witch. She works with mermaids, with humans, with anyone who needs her help."

"So you think she's real?" Catherine pressed.

Bethany shrugged. "Like I said, I've never seen her."

…

It was only midafternoon – not even four – and Eric was exhausted. He wasn't even fully sure why, but the past few weeks had been very hectic and stressful, and he figured that was finally wearing on him. Ariel was hopefully resting right now, and he figured he would check in on her later. For now, a nap sounded heavenly.

It seemed that no sooner did he lay down to sleep that he was awoken. He groggily opened his eyes with full intent to snap at the intruder, but immediately relaxed and reined himself in when he saw it was.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know you were in here." She said, tucking her hair behind her ears.

"No, it's nothing you would've known. I don't usually nap at this time – or at all." Eric chuckled.

She smiled sweetly at him, and took a step forward before pausing. "Would you like me to go? It's fine if you just need to rest-"

"No, no, I should go-"

"No!" she held up both her hands and walked closer. "This is your room, you shouldn't be chased out of it.

"Oh," Eric yawned. "Well, thank you Bethany."

"Of course, Eric." She paused, as if she was testing to see if he'd rebuff or scold her for calling him Eric.

He did not.

"Are you just in here to clean? Do you mind if I stay in bed?"

"Of course not."

"I'll go back to sleep once you leave."

"Yes, of course." Bethany got her dust rag and began going over the furniture. "I just want to say, from myself and the rest of the maids, thank you for that new policy about the month off before our due date." Bethany smiled, leaning up against the left side of his bed.

"Oh, uh, no problem." Eric smiled tensely. "I'm working on spreading the rule across the kingdom, but of course I can implement it immediately in the palace."

"How wise! Now, I'm unmarried, so I'm not a mother myself-" Bethany said, shrugging a bit.. "But I'm sure one day I'll be bearing children – I can't wait to actually – and their safety is my top priority. In fact, I'd say it's more important that my own safety. It's clear you're just trying to help women like me."

"Yes!" Eric exclaimed, sitting up a bit and shifting his weight to his side. "That's it, I just want to help!"

Bethany sat down on the bed, and leaned towards him. "I know, I know." She cooed. "You're doing your best. You're always doing your best."

Eric was taken aback by the fact that she simply…took a seat! On his bed! His and Ariel's bed! Such a thing was improper certainly – but was she even thinking about it that way? Was he just reading into this? Surely she had been on her feet and working all day, so maybe she just needed a second to rest - yes, that was surely it. He shouldn't be rude.

"It must be terrible having to fight Ariel every step of this pregnancy." Bethany said softly, pushing her brows together and pouting a lip. "All she talks about is how she misses doing things, and hates sitting around."

"And I feel bad that she's missing out on these things, I do!" Eric insisted. "But it has to be done!"

"I'm sure if you explained, she'd agree." Bethany said quickly. "But enough about her."

"It's just…I have explained. We have talked about this. It's like she doesn't even want to be pregnant."

"Hey." Bethany said warmly but firmly, leaning over to touch his cheek.

Eric balked at this. "Bethany-"

"Shhh…" she said softly. "You just need to relax. Remember, not all women are that stubborn. I can't speak for everyone, but I know I'd listen to all your counsel, and I'd be thrilled to carry a heir."

"Bethany, you shouldn't say things like that." Eric sat up, pulling himself away.

"Don't take it at face value Eric, I'm just trying to reassure you." Walk the line, walk the line…mustn't push too far… "I'll come clean the rest of your room later. You need to rest."

The door shut behind her, and Eric wanted to yell. What was wrong with him?

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