Chapter 23

Ariel was pulled away from her balcony's view by the sound of someone knocking on her bedroom door. She promptly opened it and found Elsa looking slightly nervous and slightly eager. "Do you have a minute?" Elsa asked.

"Sure," Ariel replied.

"I was hoping to hear more about how you integrated the merpeople with humans."

Ariel felt a flicker of worry for the seriousness this conversation could call for. But she wasn't about to refuse. Ariel opened the door further and said, "Please, come in." Ariel led Elsa to her room's balcony where they could view her people living together in harmony.

"It's not about what they look like," Ariel began. "It never has been. Differences leading to violence, I mean. It's not because they looked different."

Elsa said, "I'm sure it came from misconceptions or fears."

"That's part of it. But the real thing, the big thing, is what they believed. Some humans believed that merpeople were evil, some merpeople believed that humans were evil."

"So you convinced them otherwise."

"Most of them, yes. But there was more to it than that," Ariel said sadly. "Elsa, before I tell you this story, I want to make something clear."

"Alright."

"In Atlantica, people of different religions are welcome."

"Of course," Elsa said. Elsa never forced her religion on people; not when she was a queen and not when she lived among the Northuldra.

Ariel continued, "But there's a difference between a religion and a cult. There are a few ways you can define it. One way is to say that religions can help people and cults only hurt people."

"What kind of cult is there in Atlantica?"

Ariel said, "Well, we don't have any cults . . . anymore." Ariel's voice took on a hint of anger when she said, "There used to be a bunch a freaks called the cult of the deep. They believed that people born ashumans should be slaves to people born as merpeople, they believed that naturaly born humas were inferior, they believed that a human loving a merperson was a punishable offence, and they believed that merpeople should either believe the same things as them or die. The cult of the deep even staged attacks on humans."

"You were able to stop all that?" Elsa asked excitedly. "How did you do it?"

Elsa was expected Ariel to tell her she convinced the cult of the deep to abandon their wicked ways. But instead, Ariel told her, "All of their leaders; life or death in prison. And all of their followers; banishment." Whoa. "Yep; banishment. As in, 'Pack your bags and don't come back.' Banishment. I can accept that some people believe in a different god than mine; we've never disrespected Mulan for being a Buddhist. But I can't accept what the cult of the deep believed in."

Elsa asked, "Was there really no way they could have lived peacefully with humans."

"I tried at first. It took me too long to realize that their . . ."

Elsa finished for her sentence, saying, "That their redemption wasn't worth endangering innocent people."

"And here I was worried that you wouldn't understand." Ariel smiled in relief. "So, no more cult. They've been in hiding ever since. Scouts of mine even say they've been dying off. And it worked in getting some peace around here. Merpeople got the message about what kind of behavior is acceptable and humans saw that I wasn't going to just allow them to suffer. Some people worried I would let naturally born merpeople get away with things because calling them out on their crimes would hurt the narrative. They thought I'd let them burn because they're just naturally born humans. Now they see that I care for people of all races without favoritism. I mean, sure, there were a few crybabies who called me 'intolerant' while the crime rates dropped and everyone felt safer going outside. Definitely worth it."

Elsa understood why Ariel wanted to use a BIG solution to a BIG problem. But there was something questionable about banishing people for their beliefs. Elsa asked, "Were they all so violent?"

"They were all either violent or advocates for the violence, I'm sure. They all believed the same things."

"Beliefs by themselves aren't crimes. We can't just punish people for the way they think." Elsa spoke calmly and patiently. Her tone put Ariel at ease; thankfully, they could speak respectfully about such a topic.

"On their own, no. But they spread their teachings. And that led to more violence."

"Ariel, we both know that belief systems of all kinds can be misused for violence. The Bible is constantly misquoted and twisted to excuse terrible things."

"That's exactly it," Ariel said excitedly. "The Bible and other religious books don't actually tell people to kill nonbelievers. The book that the cult of the deep believed in did. There's no misquotes about that."

"That's true. That's an interesting way to define the cutoff point." Elsa continued amusingly, "Though, a book might tell its followers to kill the nonbelievers, but the Bible tells Christians to love our enemies and how many of us actually do that?"

Ariel chuckled at the observation. "Not a lot," Ariel admitted in a laugh. "But we should. Shouldn't we?"

"We should."

Ariel put aside the laughing and become solemn once again. "You know, Elsa; I think part of being wise is knowing that you don't have all the answers. Sometimes I wonder if I went just a little too far. But then I take a look at how happy everyone else is, and I don't know what a better solution would've been."

"They do look really happy," Elsa said.

This conversation gave Elsa a lot to think about. Earlier, she had been starting to think that maybe the spirits of the Enchanted Forest should be able to see more of the world. But that would yield a few massive problems if the spirits continued to BELIEVE themselves superior to humans. And Elsa didn't know how to convince them otherwise; Heaven knows she's tried.

"But . . . other merpeople could change what they believed about humans? Right?"

"Yes, they did," Ariel answered. "But we didn't let anyone get away with murder to change their mind."

"Tell me more about how you did change people's minds."

"Understanding, mostly. Finding someone who hates you and not hating them back. Not returning anger with anger and all that. Listening, and giving everyone a chance to speak even if you're not going to do what they say. A big thing is never showing favoritism."

Ariel went on and on as Elsa soaked in every word. There was only one problem with Ariel's advice. Much of it was something a queen should know. And Elsa wasn't a queen at the time.

"Did she say how long the last challenge took?" Phillip asked.

"I think she said around fifteen minutes, but she wasn't sure," Merida replied.

"Sounds like enough time for us to get comfortable."

Eugene said, "That's a great idea because I've been wanting to talk to Merryweather about that wand." Eugene approached Merryweather and asked, "Is it possible that this wand of yours can grant super strength?"

Unable to answer that question with a quick yes or no, Merryweather replied, "Well, it-"

"Or could it maybe teach me new skills in a matter of seconds?!" Eugene asked excitedly.

"Well, it-"

"Or maybe it could build me the best weapon in the history of weapons!"

"Well, it-"

"Or maybe-"

"Or maybe you could let me talk!" Merryweather said, scowling.

Eugene cleared his throat. "Sorry."

"I think they could use a little privacy," Merida joked to Phillip.

"I think so."

Merida said, "Eugene, Merryweather, we're gonna have a look around, make sure there aren't any more nasty creatures about."

"Alright, have fun," Eugene said.

Phillip and Merida walked the other way through the path between the bamboo. As they walked, Phillip said, "I heard your birthday is just four days away."

"Yep," Merida confirmed. "And I'll be a proper adult." Without being caught, Merida looked dreamily at Phillip. "Pretty good timing, isn't it?"

Taking her words for sarcasm, Phillip said, "Yes, I'm sorry your birthday had to happen right in the middle of a war."

Merida wasn't sure if she should tell him that's not what she meant.

As they walked, Merida told a story and, for effect, she waved around her sword dramatically, emphasizing the more exciting moments. "Then he lifted his might hammer and-" Swinging a little too dramatically, Merida's grip loosened and her sword flew off into a lake. "Oops. . . . Well, I better go in after it."

Phillip said, "Wait. Let me get it for you."

"Wha . . ." Merida stared quizzically at Phillip, raising her eyebrow. "I throw muh sword in the lake and you think that you should be the one to go in after it? I am capable of gettin it muhself."

"Well, it will be a lot harder for you to swim in that dress of yours," Phillip explained.

Merida was conflicted about what to do. On one hand, she didn't really need him to do it for her, but on the other hand, it was really nice of him to offer. Then, Merida got the perfect idea. "I'll race ya fer it."

"You'll . . . race me?"

"That's what I'll do."

Phillip couldn't stop grinning at the ridiculousness of it. "Alright then," he said, removing his weapons. Merida also removed her bow and quiver of arrows.

Merida said, "On three. One . . . two . . . THREE!" Merida and Phillip dove into the lake and looked around for the sword. It didn't take them more than a second to see the weapon lying at the bottom. When they swam for it, Phillip had the lead initially, but Merida gained on him and eventually passed him. She impatiently grabbed the sword and jumped from the bottom of the lake. Merida exploded to the surface of the water and was quickly joined by Phillip. "I GOT IT!" Merida declared, triumphantly holding the sword above her head.

"Congratulations."

"Huh. Prime, proper, and a good sport, are ya?" Merida wondered why there weren't any other men like THAT in Dunbroch.

Merida looked to the side a little shyly and said, "Phillip, I've a confession fer ya."

"What would that be?" Phillip asked curiously.

"I threw the sword in the lake on purpose. I was just after a swim."

Phillip shook his head, laughing. "I know."

"You knew?! How?"

"You must take me for a fool, Merida. You thought I'd believe a highly skilled fighter such as yourself would lose her grip on a sword like that?"

Merida pushed some of her soaked curly hair behind her ear and asked bashfully, "You . . . think I'm highly skilled?"

"Of course I do. How couldn't I?"

Merida gave the reaction women often give upon being called beautiful.

"Merida, I have a confession for you, too."

"What's yours?"

Phillip admitted, "Well, I let you win that race."

Merida almost exploded with astonishment. Her eyes and mouth opened wide as she stared at him. Did he really just say he LET her win that race? If he was lying, that was astonishing, but if he really did let her win, that was even more astonishing.

Phillip elaborated, "It felt like it would have been a hollow victory considering that dress slowing you down."

Merida playfully said, her eyes still bulging, "Pr-r-r-r-r-rince Phillip, you are a liar!"

"I am not!" he said just as playfully. "Shall I beat you in a real race to prove it?"

"I do want you to try provin it." Merida tossed her sword to a pier and said, "First one to the sword this time is the REAL winner!"

"As you wish," Phillip said, shrugging.

"One . . . two . . . THREE!"

Merida and Phillip swan hard toward dry land. Merida pushed herself, trying to prove she could win without being let win. She reached the edge of the pier and saw Phillip already sitting on the pier, holding and inspecting the sword. "Where did you get this thing, anyway?"

"WHA . . ." Merida looked back, just in case there was a second Phillip behind her that would explain how the other one was there already. But no such impossibility existed. Phillip had legitimately beaten her in the race. "You really did let me win?"

"I'm a man of my word, Merida," Phillip boasted.

Phillip got up on one knee and offered his hand to help her out of the water. Merida got a little breathless at the premise of holding his Phillip's hand. She reached up and accepted his hand, relishing the feeling. He began pulling her out, but Merida said, "Wait," and he stopped. "Phillip, how much would you hate me if I pulled you back into the lake?" Merida asked mischievously, still holding his hand.

Phillip had to think about that one. "I would say I'd have just a small amount of hatred. Why do you ask?"

Merida considered his response carefully. "It's worth it."

"WHOOOA!"

SPLASH!

Having been pulled back into the water, Phillip resurface and stared at Merida with fake anger and an exaggerated frown. Giddiness grew inside Merida until she couldn't help but laugh at him. Likewise, Phillip couldn't resist joining her for long. But that didn't stop him from splashing some water in her face. Merida screamed with laughter and splashed water back at him. On and on they kept laughing and splashing each other until Phillip said, "Alright, alright. We should probably get back now in case that challenge is over." Phillip climbed onto the pier and stood up.

Merida hated how right he was. She wanted to stay a little longer. But if nothing else, she had the opportunity to hold Phillip's hand again. "Phillip?" Merida called from the water. She held up her hand and said, "No tricks this time. Honest."

Phillip gladly reached down and took her hand, helping her climb out of the water onto the pier.

"How did you two get so wet?" Merryweather asked.

Phillip explained, "We had ourselves' a swim in the lake. I don't suppose I could trouble you to help us get dry again."

"Sure." Merryweather flicked her wand, casting a spell on Phillip and Merida. The water they were drenched in came off like a coat and then fell onto the ground.

"Oh, sure. When they ask for a spell, it gets done right away," Eugene complained.

Merida asked, "Is Rapunzel done in there yet?"

"No," Eugene replied, a hint of worry in his voice. "I have no idea what's taking her so long."

Author's Note: Wow, Elsa and Ariel's conversation about religion, and cults, and belief systems is . . . kind of uncomfortable to talk about. So let's talk about Phillip and Merida instead.

As I said before, the idea to turn Aurora evil came to me before the idea to pair up Phillip and Merida. I actually never shipped them before I started writing DPE. After I made the decision to make Aurora join the Enchantress, I started thinking about who Phillip would be with without her. At first, there didn't seem to be many viable options because most of the princesses are in relationships already. Then I thought about Merida . . . and at first, I thought that was a crazy idea. Phillip from Sleeping Beauty and Merida from Brave? "That's crazy!" But the more I thought about it, the more I liked and thought, "Actually that's not crazy. . . . Actually, that's perfect." Arguably, Merida is a symbol of female empowerment and, arguably, Phillip (from Sleeping Beauty, not Maleficent.) is a symbol of male empowerment. And I liked the idea of those two things not being opposing forces. There was also the fact that Phillip is a character that was being forced into an arranged marriage and Merida is a character that escaped being forced into a marriage, so there's a sense of a shared theme. You can also say that Merida is good for Phillip because she doesn't make him do all the work. Merida has both the education to rule with him and the skill to fight with him. In Brave, we see Merida not being interested in her options for a suiter who are far from charming. And I thought that Phillip might be just what she was looking for and never found in Dunbroch. I think their personalities work well off each other. I'm quite happy with the part where Phillip offers his hand to help Merida out of the lake and she pulls him back in because it's a great use of Merida's mischief working with Phillip's chivalry. So, yeah. Phillip and Merida: the pairing I never knew I needed.