p style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Snow bounced lightly in Belle's arms, chubby arms waving as she tried to grasp the ribbon tied in her hair. Betty had fussed and bustled about, doing her best to prove good food could make up for almost any problem. Chip was tucked contentedly over his second helping of stew. Belle thought it was quite amazing, he had been so lively and confident in the face of a horrible monster, but turned so bashfully shy when asked a simple question. He had done wonderfully, though, protecting Snow, and Belle was glad the little boy was now safe and content, eating whatever he pleased./p
p style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"She turned as Philip entered the kitchen, and sent him a kind smile. Marcus had ridden out almost instantly, to share Philip's discovery with as many fellow kingdoms he could trust. Philip had stayed, wanting to be with his sister though they knew nothing could be done./p
p style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Betty came bustling over, getting him to sit, pressing food in his hands, but he stared at it without eating. He noticed the boy across from him, eyeing the sweet roll in his hand, and with a light smile he handed it to the boy. Belle's heart went out to him. She had thought him rude, and arrogant, but he had cared for this boy despite the fact that he was a homeless orphan beneath the notice of many royals. She thought perhaps she had misjudged him. She had come upon him at the worst time in his life, as he was hit with constant loss. A little short temper was to be expected./p
p style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Belle came to settle beside him on the bench, turning the baby so she could see the prince beside her. She babbled, and reaching out and grasped his shirt./p
p style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"He looked down with a smile, "Hello, little one," he looked up and caught Belle's eye "So Belle, why didn't you just tell me you were palace guard?"/p
p style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"He looked pointedly at the scratches she had gotten trying to fight off the beast, and she laughed a little before accepting the roll he handed her, and the four of them shared a quiet meal in silence./p
hr /
p style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Ariel stood before her father, chin still raised despite how badly it trembled. She had stood through his relief that she had been found, his outrage that she had risked endangering them all, as well as what the Enchantress had done to her. Now she plead with him for Eric's life./p
p style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""His heart only failed because he saved my life." she persisted, tears falling now, and the king's face softened./p
p style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""I know, my daughter, but he is human, our healing would not work on him. We can keep him sleeping before death, but for how long? he can not live without a heart."/p
p style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"One of the mermaids beside the King, who served as adviser, cleared his throat suddenly and leaned in to say something low to the king. The king stiffened, looking at him in some surprise, before regarding Ariel thoughtfully,/p
p style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""That's an idea," he said, stroking his chin./p
p style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""What?" Ariel demanded, looking between the two./p
p style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"The king sighed, his hand coming to rest on his trident beside him, "The human, Eric, has shown bravery protecting one of our own. It may be possible, in place of his failed human heart, to share a piece with him from the heart of the sea."/p
p style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"There was a murmur gone through the court as many had gathered here to see the decided fate of the human Ariel had brought among them./p
p style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Ariel's eyes had widened beyond belief as the king continued, "This would mean, my child, that he would in part belong to the sea, he could never leave it for it long. Nor would he fully become one of us, he would be something between. If he were to do this there would be no full life for him in either place, he would live a half-life in both."/p
p style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""But he would live." Ariel said through tears, and the king nodded./p
p style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""So this is your wish?"/p
p style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Ariel frowned, wondering how she was to decide for him, without asking what he would wish, but she knew to do nothing was to let him die, and resolutely she nodded her head./p
p style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""It is."/p
hr /
p style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Marcus bowed to the king of Eidle before turning and leaving the hall. This was the third and final ally he had taken his news to, and the only one to say they would join him in war. It did not matter now that they knew who the Enchantress was and where to find her, the others too well remembered the deaths their countries had suffered when last they had ridden to war against the Enchantress. They liked better to live in the current uneasy peace, despite the constant threat of her moving to their lands, then face her again./p
p style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Eidle did not share this belief, but it was by far the smallest kingdom around. They would fight, but the forces they could muster would not be nearly enough./p
p style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Marcus rode heavily back toward his own kingdom. He entered the quite hall, swept free of any broken remnants from the fight. Things had not yet been replaced, and it stood strangely bare. He walked, not yet noticed by the others, into the room at the end of the hall, where Aurora lay sleeping./p
p style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"His magic had been weak since his curse had been broken, and he could not see the faint glow of the armour she still wore, though it could not protect her now. He sat quietly beside her, simply holding her hand, guilt and exhaustion rolling within./p
p style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"He had done this. He, in some beastly form, had come after her, forced her to this place and into this curse. Why hadn't he fought harder? Stronger? now he couldn't do anything. The Enchantress had forced him so far down with that spell that his connection to this magic of this land had been practically severed. It angered and saddened him. It would return, he knew, slowly, but he wanted it here, now./p
p style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"He did not know, as he sat beside her, that he was not alone. Word of what had happened to Aurora had spread throughout the fairie kingdom, and fairy and nymph alike had crept in, ignoring the rules that they must not, and gathered about her bed./p
p style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"As the king eased out into his chair, and dropped off to sleep, nymphs gathered about him and lay careful hand against him, giving him softly what magic they could, helping to restore their king./p
hr /
p style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Eric did not so much as awake as slowly restart. He had been frozen, bound in a magical hold of preservation, and now he fell heavily to his knees, gasping, hands grasping at his chest. It took time for him to realize he was not in the last moment he remembered, something had changed./p
p style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Land was beneath him, but it was dense, yet he sank slightly into the sand that shifted slightly around him. Yet he could feel no wind, just the subtle shift of warm and cold air against him, but it pressed harder than air should./p
p style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"He blinked, staring around him at the stones that littered the ground, the strange plant-life waving beside it. A strange creature darted suddenly from the green and Eric screamed as a school of fish swam by his head./p
p style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"He whipped around, panicking, staring at what he now realized was the ocean floor. He was on the ocean floor, how was he still alive? How had his heart not stopped, how was he breathing?/p
p style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"His name echoed behind him, and he turned sharply, blinking at the mermaid before him. Ariel floated a little above him, worry and relief and wonder all flashing across her face./p
p style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Eric!" she cried again, the voice reaching him as if it had passed through being heard and simply entered his mind. She floated forward, crashing into him, and they spiraled backwards as her arms locked exuberantly around his neck./p
p style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""I was so worried about you" her voice caught on a sob, but then she pulled back, scowling at him firmly, "Why did you not tell me about the cost of the covenant! what taking me here would do to you!"/p
p style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"She was hugging him again, but Eric was frozen./p
p style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Ariel..." he began slowly, trying not to distracted by the water that must have filled his mouth, although he could not feel it, "You're speaking."/p
p style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"She bounced back again to smile at him exuberantly, "You broke the curse! Eric, my voice was returned because of you!" She was breathless and delighted and for a moment he just stared, wishing beyond anything that he could just close his eyes, and listen to the sound of her voice, the inflections, the little nuances that he had learned so well to see in her expression, now he could hear as she spoke, but Eric shook his head, and settled a hand on each of her shoulders, trying to get her to focus./p
p style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Ariel." he spoke slowly, letting the word float to her, "We're under water..."/p
p style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"she nodded, looking excited,/p
p style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""...and I'm not dead." he shook her lightly with each word to emphasize his point, and Ariel's gaze dropped a moment, and her shoulders curved slightly under his hands,/p
p style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Your heart had given out, Eric," he voice was barely a whisper, and Eric almost shivered as it entered into him, carrying so much more weight than if it had been spoken above. He could span style="border: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"feel/span her words. "I bound you in magic, but it wasn't enough, as soon as it released you, you would die."/p
p style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"The strangest thing happened, Eric could see no tears, but he sensed them as soon as they entered the water around him, swore he could see the trail they made as they passed through the water, drifting away./p
p style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""I brought you to my father, I told him what you had done for me, given your life to keep me safe, and he decided to give you the heart of the sea. Not, not all of it, but to share it with you, so you could live."/p
p style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Eric blinked, somehow stuck on one detail, "Why does your father have the heart of the sea."/p
p style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"She looked at him as if it was a silly question, "The king always holds the heart, it's how he reigns."/p
p style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Ariel watched his mouth form a small "o" and she realized she had never told him of her lineage./p
p style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""You're... A sea princess?" he gawked, and Ariel reached up, tapping his jaw closed,/p
p style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Calm down or you'll catch kelp," she quipped, feeling suddenly embarrassed./p
p style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""I just, I just didn't know." he stuttered, "I thought" he let his sentence hang and Ariel smiled,/p
p style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""You thought I was a poor unfortunate mermaid, nothing but a little sea urchin?" her brow rose as if she thought the assumption was comical. Eric was torn between telling her she could never be nothing, and defending himself./p
p style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""You were wearing rags!"/p
p style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"She laughed, a warm, swirling sound that sparkled through the water around them, he felt the warmth of it, the joy of it as the mild current pressed it against him, and all thought of their conversation fell away. He reached out, taking her hand, and drawing her to him. His hand raised and lay featherlight on her cheek, she blinked at the contact and there was a flash to Eric's senses, the sea came alive around them with lights and floating wisps./p
p style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"His eyes widened, half in fear, have in amazement, as her skin began to glow, scaled glowing lines of emerald appeared, running over her entire body, her eyes flashed and deepened, vast as a cavern that seemed to hide the secret of the sea./p
p style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"She smiled as curling waves of color passed by them, catching them in the midst like a cloud./p
p style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""This is the sea, Eric," she whispered, watching it reflect in his eye as he stared around them, "The life and energy of the magic that flows through it, and now in you."/p
p style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"She dropped a hand on his chest, and Eric looked down. He saw beneath the white of his shirt, the pulsing, beating glow of the heart in his chest. "I can share this sight with, but you will come to learn how to see this, move as a part of it, on your own."/p
p style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"His gaze left the spiraling magic and found her own, smiling softly up at him./p
p style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Thank you," he whispered, and her head cocked lightly to the side, her eyes asked the question "For what?"/p
p style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""For saving me," he whispered, drawing her closer. Ariel's hand lay on his heart, the rhythmic pulses of light beneath her fingers becoming faster and faster until Eric held just a breath away, then his lips met hers and the sea about them sparkled with new life as love entered the heart of the sea./p
p style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Eric pulled back after a moment, resting her forehead on her own. Then suddenly he drew back,/p
p style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Wait a minute, am I going to grow a tail?"/p
p style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Ariel's laughter was heard almost to shore./p
hr /
p style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Marcus woke with a groan, moving stiffly as he stretched in the uncomfortable chair. His gaze settled on Aurora, so peaceful looking, but so still before him. He had laid her here, covered her as if just for the night, and his heart squeezed sharply at the thought of how many nights she may lay here unchanged, if she would ever wake again./p
p style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"There was a scuffling at the door and he turned to see Philip standing there, watching him, a speculative look in his eye, but he chose not to comment on finding Marcus asleep by his sister's side. Instead he asked, "Any change?"/p
p style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Marcus shook his head, looking at his friend, he knew there wouldn't be. There was nothing to break this curse, not unless they found Andrianna and forced a curse to overpower this one./p
p style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Philip blew out a frustrated breath, hand raking through his hair as he came into the room./p
p style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""And this isn't a curse that can be transferred?"/p
p style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Marcus frowned, "It could be," voicing thoughts that had spun at the back of his mind since lying Aurora here. "But I don't have-"/p
p style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Have what?" Philip interrupted, "That connection?"/p
p style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Marcus hung his head. There was a connection, Aurora had formed one when she broke his curse with her own. He should be able to do this effortlessly, but, "-my magic." he finished in full but quiet voice./p
p style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Philip looked at him, and Marcus could see him warring to find understanding and compassion when he was so consumed with anger and worry over his sister. Marcus understood the frustration. Andrianna's curse had forced down a part of him that had always been there, always flowed as a separate force behind his blood. His connection to the magic of this land had been so effortless, so powerful, but his hold had never been strengthened, never been tried. Someone who practiced their magic regularly would have recovered by now. It may be many days, even weeks, before his returned/p
p style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""What about your fairy folk," Philip asked, waving a hand at the window towards the distant wood, "What about all those magical creatures that were supposed to protect her, why can't they pass the spell?/p
p style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"No one could see all the tiny creatures gathered in the room, wince and hang their head in sorrowful shame./p
p style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""They don't have a connection to her curse, I do, and I can't communicate with them, Philip. Right now, until my magic returns or we defeat Andrianna, there is nothing to be done." His voice was stern and one may think unfeeling, and Philip scoffed at his friend before turning away. But the fairy in the room crowded closer to their king. They had seen the care with which he had danced with their Aurora, seen the light more than magic that flashed in his eye when he held her. They understood, and almost mournfully a song began to flow from each tiny one, and fill the little room. It was unheard, but they hoped in some way the king could feel it./p
p style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Philip paused in the doorway, hands on either side of the frame, he let his head hang a moment before sighing. Straightening, he turned,/p
p style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""I'm sorry Marcus, I shouldn't be short with you."/p
p style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"The king waved a hand as if dismissing the necessity of an apology./p
p style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""What did the other kingdoms say?" Philip asked, knowing Marcus had just returned last night./p
p style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Only Eidle will join." he answered calmly./p
p style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Philip cursed, and his fist plowed into the door, knocking it back into the wall. It left a scuff that Andrew would grumble over later, but Marcus did not even bat an eye./p
p style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"With Andrianna in charge, Philip could not alert his own armies without her learning of it, and they could not risk tipping their hand. They had no doubt his kingdom would rise up once they knew, but they must already have a considerable force and Eidle was not considerable. He was grateful they were willing to join, but it was not enough./p
p style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Marcus could not raise his own forces until his connection with his kingdom was restored, but even then Philip was not sure what the king would decide. They had discussed it many times during their first battle with Enchantress. He had come to fight as a man but had refused to enter his kingdom into war./p
p style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Marcus frowned, tired despite having just woken. He could order his kingdom into battle, and they would go, but the magic they used on the battle field would be pulled from this land, at risk of depleting its energy more quickly than it could be restored. He would be risking the lives of everyone in his kingdom whether they journeyed into battle or not./p
p style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"What's more, if they joined in war against the forces of the Enchantress, it would open the magic of this land up, and if they lost, they could risk losing their power itself to the Enchantress./p
p style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"It was a terrible risk, one he may be willing to take if he knew enough forces stood on his side for certain victory./p
p style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"But now they stood quite alone. /p