ARIEL and Lottie did not speak much to one another as Lottie relieved Violet and Tandy of their duties for the moment and pulled up a chair to sit alongside Ariel as she found the object of Prince Eric's affections perched on the edge of her bed, a dazed look in her eyes and slick tears pouring down her face. She was in shock, Lottie tried to rationalize and approached her slowly and reverently, not wanting to frighten her more than she already was.
"Let me see your neck, Ariel," Lottie spoke to her new friend in a comforting tone as she scooted her chair even closer, taking the young woman's small hands in her own and squeezing. "Gerald had a pretty hard hold on you, didn't he? Are you hurt?" she asked softly.
Ariel stared down at her feet, studying the ground in too intently a manner, wanting to avoid looking into the maid's eyes, for she was confident of the disgust and fear she'd see in her friend.
She felt so wretched. She should have known better than to accept something from Aunt Ursula, the pendant around her neck was slowly but surely revealing to the human world what she was, she was sure of that much, and even now, she felt the strength drained from her, as though it were somehow eating away at little bits of her soul.
She should not have cried out when she'd felt the forming of the gills upon her neck, though they had appeared so suddenly and without any warning, and had caused her pain, that she could not help but to make a noise.
Unfortunately, the unpleasant guard had heard it and had spotted the gills that had magically formed on her neck that gave away what she was before she could toss her red hair over her shoulders to hide it.
She should have been smarter and stronger. She should not have cried in front of the knight, and particularly not in front of Lottie. What Carlotta's niece must think of her now!
Even if the maid wasn't presently disgusted by her, she probably most assuredly was now that she had seen the truth. Ariel had seen the shock in Lottie's dark brown eyes. It wasn't her fault and Ariel tried to remember that, but she still felt hurt, and in more ways than just the places the guard had hit her or grabbed her too harshly. Her feelings and pride were hurt, and the look of disgust in Ser Gerald's eyes had been too much to handle.
Ariel had never particularly cared if people liked her or agreed with her actions, though now, in this alien world, Lottie was one of few people whose opinion of her did matter, and not knowing what the maid thought of her now, hurt worse than anything the knight could have possibly done to her, Ariel knew.
Lottie did not bother to ask for Ariel's permission as she reached for her arm.
Lottie pushed up the sleeves of Ariel's blouse she wore underneath her dress as the mermaid stayed quiet.
"Well, thank the gods, it doesn't look like anything is broken, Ariel, so that's good news," the maid chirped as she ran her fingers gingerly over the temporarily stricken mute woman's wrists and forearms. "Though I can see bruises on your arms."
Ariel shrugged and swallowed down hard. "Y-you're very sweet to worry for me, Lottie, b-but I'm okay," she stammered with a sigh, but she still refused to meet her new friend's stare.
She did not want to risk becoming emotional. Speaking too much about this would probably only result in more tears and she knew she had embarrassed herself enough by this point now.
"What happened, Ariel?" Lottie wondered as she scooted closer to sit next to her friend. The maid put her hand lightly on Ariel's knee and leaned forward to better make eye contact with the mermaid. "Hey."
Her voice was smooth and softer than silk. She could swear she heard Ariel whimper as one of her hands shot up immediately to cover the gills that were on her neck.
"You-you don't have to be afraid," Lottie reassured her. "Your secret is safe with me. I won't tell anyone, Ariel. I know you were the one who saved Eric's life. I'm sure of that now. He talks of you, has talked of nothing but finding you since he washed up on shore that day. I don't care how you got...er...like this, or what your reasons are for running from your home, your people, but you have my word that I won't breathe a word of this to anyone else."
Ariel's wide eyes blinked rapidly in hesitation as she slowly lowered her hand from around her neck, of course, but her hands found their way to rest in front of her. She looked more than shocked by Lottie's kind reaction to the fact that she was a siren of the sea. Ariel sniffled and nodded, grateful for her friend's words. They meant more to her than Lottie could ever possibly know.
Ariel considered turning her head away as she kept a firm hand clamped over her neck if only so she wouldn't have to look into the kind maid's dark eyes. Lottie's care and concern over her wellbeing might just break the fragile hold Ariel was just barely maintaining over her emotions.
But the mermaid also felt that not meeting her friend's questioning gaze would only make things more awkward between them, and would only make Lottie worry even more about her, so she forced a smile she did not feel genuine about.
"I-I'm fine, Lottie, honest," Ariel boldly lied. "Just a little bit shook up." She swallowed, looked away, and took a lock of her red hair in her hands to twist. But Carlotta's niece did not look at all convinced. She pursed her lips, frowning.
"I could tell Gerald was hurting you, Ariel, and he had no right to lay a hand against you, no matter what you are or aren't," she said firmly, shaking her head find disapproval, dismissing Ariel's claims that she was fine. "You don't need to lie to protect him. There's no use. I can see that he did something." Lottie reached towards Ariel's cheek, causing the mermaid to flinch away slightly as the maid moved to touch the bruise now purpling on her cheek.
Lottie froze in place for a moment, looking into Ariel's wide, tear-filled eyes before touching her fingers gently to her friend's face, wiping away Ariel's tears.
"Would you like me to leave you alone?" she asked, to which Ariel vehemently shook her head as she gripped onto Lottie's dress with both of her hands.
"No…" she really didn't want to be left on her own now. What if Gerald came back and found her again? "Could you stay with me?" she pleaded. "Please?"
Lottie opened her mouth to speak when the flash of movement caught her eye from her window. Curious, she rose from her bed, and behind her, out of the corner of her gaze, she saw Ariel do the same as the pair of women moved to stand in front of the windowsill. Ser Gerald, she was pleased to see, was being escorted by a pair of guards and Father Kristoffer to the gates, where Eric was waiting at the entrance, his arms folded across his chest.
Ariel stared, overcome with a strange emotion.
Much to her surprise, she found she pitied the guard for fearing that which he did not understand. It seemed that all he had accomplished throughout his time as a guard in the service of the Prince was the mastering of fear and manipulation. Perhaps Gerald himself had never known what it was like to be loved wholly and without conditions.
Suddenly, Ariel felt compelled to do something for the guard who had hit her. Anything at all.
Hate had to stop with someone, lest it consumed all those touched by it.
"Thank you, Lottie, for checking on me, b-but I have to see him before he leaves," Ariel murmured, her decision made, and there was no changing the mermaid's mind once it was made up.
Without even waiting for Lottie to respond, she turned heel and fled from Lottie's bedroom, leaving her new friend unable to call for her to come back in utter defeat.
THE closer Gerald approached, the angrier Eric become. Kristoffer had come to him when he had been in the midst of getting ready to take Max for a walk and stretch his legs and then had planned to find the lady Ariel and ask her himself if she had not given Kristoffer an answer on whether or not she wished to come with him to Ipswich's festival celebrating the annual harvest. But when Kristoffer had told her what Ariel had been subjected to at Gerald's hands, how this man had humiliated his new chambermaid, his previously good mood had promptly vanished.
Vindication and anger coursed through his limbs, along with the overpowering need for justice to be enacted. He could not allow the soldiers in his ranks to get away with this sort of behavior and have it go unpunished.
Before he could help himself, the Prince let his anger get the better of him and was reaching down into the sand, collecting a handful of the little grains, and was fully prepared to pelt it into the man's eyes and made to swing it at him. Had it not been for Grimsby catching him by the wrist, it would have landed all over his face and in his long black hair, which the man was so foolishly proud of.
Eric kicked out at Gerald and bared his teeth at the man in anger, but Grimsby managed to keep a firm hold on Eric's wrist, looking down at the young Prince in disappointment at the way Eric was behaving.
"You would behave in this manner? To one of your own men, Your Highness?" he asked.
"You—you don't know what he did to Ariel, Grims!" Eric snapped, his voice was hoarse. "You—"
"—Know perfectly well what he did, Your Highness," Grimsby snapped back just as harshly. The Head of Household's voice was cold. "There is no excuse for his actions, sire, but reacting with physical violence is not the way. He is defenseless, he has been relieved of his weapon and he is no threat. We're not animals."
"No, but he is," Eric reasoned, the sand still gripped in his hand, though a few of the grains were trickling through the webs of his fingers as he struggled to keep a hold on it.
"You would kick a defenseless man, sire?"
"Kick me all you want, Your Majesty, it will not change the fact that your newest chambermaid is not human, Prince Eric. She's a siren, a heathen creature from the depths of hell itself. A man-eater, Your Highness, you'll see."
They both turned to look at Ser Gerald at the sound of the unpleasant man's deep rasp of a voice. There was a cold little smile on his warped lips, and a hateful glint forming in his dark eyes.
"No one is talking to you, so I suggest you stay quiet," Eric growled threateningly. Before Eric could say anything further, the sound of Lottie's voice rent through the air, causing him to tear his gaze away from the soon-to-be-former captain of his palace guard.
"Eric!" he heard Lottie call and he looked towards Lottie. He saw Gerald look up too, sharply, and astutely, but Eric ignored him. "I-I'm very sorry, sire, b-but I couldn't stop her! Sh-she says she wants to see him, Your Highness!"
"Stop who…?" he started to ask, though the blood drained from his face as he caught sight of Ariel hurrying towards him, having kicked off her shoes and had to pick up the skirts of her dress a bit in order to avoid tripping on the hem.
He was shocked to see Ariel outside, seemingly wanting to speak to him about Gerald, for that could be the only logical explanation. And he was not the only one taken aback by her actions. Father Kristoffer was looking puzzled, and Grimsby's expression was incredulous, his white brows furrowed into a frown of confusion.
"Oh, please wait," Ariel begged, heaving to catch her breath as she came to a sudden halt a few paces away from Ser Gerald, clutching at a stitch in her side. "I—I was hoping that I could…speak with him before you sent him away," she pleaded, her blue eyes solemn as she lifted her gaze to the Prince's.
There was something else behind the young woman's irises, but what that thing was, Eric could not place it.
"I…" Eric trailed off, sparing an uneasy glance towards Ser Gerald, who was now flanked by the pair of guards who had escorted him out. The guard was now looking at Ariel with a blank expression.
Eric bristled, gnashing his teeth together that he heard his molars click.
This brutish pig of a man was the last person that Eric wanted Ariel even remotely close to at this moment. Especially after the hurt and suffering and humiliation, he'd inflicted upon her. However, when he turned back to face Ariel, the redhead's expression was austere, her lips straight, and her blue eyes were pleading with him to allow it.
Eric swallowed as he felt his chest constrict to the point where it was almost painful, rendering him feeling lightheaded, unwilling to give in for fear that Gerald would attempt to hurt her again. His mind could not help but flit through the unlikely possibilities that could happen if he granted the lady this one request.
Yet, he also wanted her to know that he would give Ariel anything she asked for, if only she stayed with him and told him the truth.
"I…very well, Ariel," Eric sighed reluctantly. Stepping forward, he offered the redhead his arm. Ariel looked stunned for a fraction of a second and then wound her arm around his, allowing Eric to lead her towards her tormentor.
He stopped approximately three feet in front of the guard and shot the older man a withering look of immense distrust and hatred. However, he kept his hands firmly on Ariel's shoulders in case the lady felt rather faint.
He watched for a moment as Ariel and Ser Gerald simply stared at each other, neither one making a move towards the other, yet neither backed away. The guard lowered his head slightly and looked at her in an impassive way. It was as if Gerald did not wish to truly show what it was that he was feeling if it was anything at all.
Ariel too kept her expression serene and difficult to read, though the look on her face was more about attempting to keep her emotions in check. "Who are you, Ser?" Ariel finally asked, her voice soft and barely audible. "Why are you the way that you are? Is this what the gods intended for you?"
Whatever Ser Gerald had been expecting of Ariel, to scream, rant, and rave, and cry at him perhaps, this was not it.
Yet, Gerald retained his blank expression, though his eyelids began to blink rapidly as if the guard were trying to process Ariel's words. Eric swore he saw a flicker of an emotion dart through the man's eyes. It was brief, for, in the blink of an eye, the emotion was nowhere to be found. Ser Gerald did not answer Ariel at all.
"I don't think this was the path the gods intended for you, Ser," Ariel continued, her voice still soft and so very quiet. Her blue eyes reflected a strange sadness that came when looking upon something that no longer had any hope left for itself. "Yet, it's the path you've forged for yourself. I can't help you with whatever comes next, though I admit, after the way you have treated me, part of me doesn't want to."
She emanated a rather tense breath and ducked her head low to hide whatever emotion was showing through.
Eric gingerly rubbed her shoulders, trying to relay some sort of comfort to her, and hoped the gesture would soothe Ariel. She was not alone. Eric wanted nothing more than to draw her away from Gerald, from here, to tell Ariel that she did not have to cause herself further distress by putting herself through this. She did not have to confront her attacker. And yet, it seemed to the Prince, that Ariel, in her own way, was looking for closure. The redhead raised her eyes after a moment and summoned enough courage to look the guard in the eyes, a new strength in them.
"I know you do. But whatever help I could possibly give you, I don't think would be enough, nor do I think it could ever be." Another pause. "I…I don't forgive you for what happened. Perhaps in time, I will. But now…" Ariel's breaths hitched in her throat as she drew in a breath and Eric could feel her shoulders begin to shake. "Now all I want is for our worlds to have peace. For this fighting and fear to end. There is nothing that I could do to help you. If it was in my power to do so, I'm not sure I would. I-I don't know," she confessed, a pained look flitting across her features. She ducked her head again, but this time, she lifted her hands and pulled something over her head.
She held it out for Gerald to receive. "It's a token of the gods. It's not much if anything. Meant to bring you good luck and their favor. I hope that you can find it in your heart to become a better man, whatever happens next for you, Ser." She frowned as for a moment, the gold chain swung slowly back and forth between them. Ariel made no move to take it back, yet Ser Gerald made no motion to accept her gift.
Finally, after hesitating, Ariel sighed and withdrew her hand, and slipped the necklace back around her neck.
Eric's gaze was drawn to an odd purple jewel around her neck, and frowned, wondering where she'd gotten that, as she seemed a woman of simple tastes. He'd not even seen her wearing any sort of earrings or rings like some of the other maids in the castle tended to do, having a fondness for trinkets. Ariel slowly turned towards the Prince.
"Please don't be too hard on him, wh-what happened was a…a misunderstanding," Ariel pleaded in so soft a tone that only Eric could hear as she leaned closer into his embrace.
Eric nodded, a muscle in his jaw twitching as he gave thought to the fates of this man and his family, knowing he had a wife and children.
"Ser Gerald," he directed authoritatively towards the guard who'd humiliated Ariel.
He was still overcome by how Ariel could possibly forgive this man after what he had done to her, though he hoped that she would tell him the truth, but he did not want to pressure her for a reaction right now.
Perhaps that was a conversation best saved when they were alone.
"You have turned your back on the crown, and as such, you are dismissed from my service," he told him. "Since you have shunned your responsibilities as a member of my personal guard a number of times, and due to the complaints from several of our maids, you can forfeit your pay," Eric affirmed. "You and your family will leave Ipswich within the hour," he commanded. "Take only what you need, and do not expect assistance from anyone here. An escort will escort you to your home and ensure that you and your family are on your way. You will make out a life for yourself somewhere else, but I never want to see you again, Ser," he said, and with that, motioned with a snap of his fingers for the two guards now flanking Ser Gerald to see him through the gates and back to his family's home at the edge of town.
Kristoffer frowned and stiffened as Lottie moved to stand by him, the pretty brunette's expression also one of equaled disbelief.
"That's it, Kristoffer? What on earth is going on?" Lottie whispered to Kristoffer, confused.
She could not understand Eric's, or Ariel's lenience on the vain pig of a guard.
"This is Ipswich, Charlotte," Kristoffer assured the maid, feeling a strange warmth start to spiral throughout his body at the nearness of Carlotta's niece. His cheeks flushed and he swallowed down past a lump in her throat as he tried to ignore the intensity of the pretty maid's stare and looked away from her to continue explaining. "Out on the streets with no resources, and no means of support, Gerald does not stand a chance, Lady." He dipped his head in satisfaction. "His wife will probably be in a tavern somewhere or in one of the brothels, selling herself for their coin, and he'll likely be taken in by one of the coastal gangs," he whispered.
A fitting end for the man who might have cost the life of the object of Eric's affections, Kristoffer silently judged and begged the gods for their forgiveness at thinking such a thought.
Kristoffer stiffened as Lottie, perhaps without realizing it, rested her hand on his palsied hand and did not recoil or flinch away in disgust. He drew in a sharp breath that pained her lungs. "Y-you're not afraid to touch it, Lottie? It doesn't bother you? My…my hand," he stammered, careful to keep his voice low as he leaned in to whisper into the shell of Carlotta's niece's left ear. He felt Lottie give a visible start, as Lottie slowly turned her head to look at him.
"No, Kristoffer, why should I be bothered?" she questioned, quirking a thin dark eyebrow at him in utter disbelief.
She snorted and looked as though she had something more she wanted to say on the matter regarding the poor priest's severe self-confidence issues but thought better of it and looked instead to the Prince and Ariel as they watched Gerald being escorted by a group of guards off the premises. Lottie frowned, noticing how Kristoffer seemed to be almost shaking in anticipation, but she tried to ignore the behavior as well as she could.
Though the maid was pulled from her thoughts of Eric's best friend and counsellor as the Prince spoke, only after they watched the guards who had not escorted Ariel's tormentor off the premises escort Grimsby personally back up to the castle.
"Now that that matter is settled, I do apologize, Lady. No one will be bothering you like that again. You will get better protection, I assure you, and it would mean the world to me if you would consider moving beds. There is a spare room two doors down from mine, it serves as a room for guests. I would be honored if you would take it, it would put my mind at ease." Only when Ariel shyly nodded and accepted his offer did Eric continue, beaming this time. "Wonderful. And I...I realize this might not perhaps be the best time, but I thought...maybe, considering, i-it might take your mind off things. H-have you given it any thought, Ariel? The…the festival, going with me, I-I mean?" Eric stammered, exhaling a shaking breath and running a hand through his messy black hair in anxiety.
Ariel felt her mouth start to drop open in shock, though before she could refuse, Lottie immediately interjected, perhaps sensing the look of shock on her friend's face, or the hopefulness that was brimming to life behind Eric's blue eyes, a look that she and Kristoffer, to say nothing of the others in the castle, Grimsby, Carlotta, and the others, had seen in the master for years, and would see it again.
"She would love to, Your Highness," Lottie chirped, flicking her gaze to the side, and giving Ariel a warning look and a little shake of her head before returning her attention to that of her master. "Won't you, Ariel? It's the least that you could do for the Prince in return for this kindness. He did as you asked and was lenient on Gerald, though if you ask me, Kristoffer, you should have broken his nose, you promised me you would," she pouted, her tone only halfway teasing as she reached up and playfully gave his good arm a little pat.
Ariel and Eric were both suddenly certain that they were the only ones who noticed the tremor that went down the priest's rigid spine at the gesture, though it did not look as though Kristoffer had enjoyed it. She looked to Eric for confirmation and was surprised to see that his eyes were smiling.
The blue depths were awash with a strange smugness as he was content to observe the priest and maid.
Ariel was left to wonder at the bond between them and wondered if perhaps she was to be subject to an evening of the Prince's company, she would not have to go it alone, and it was then that an idea came to her mind just then.
"I…" Ariel stammered, her voice trailing off. She swallowed hard. "Y-yes, of course, whatever you ask. I, ah suppose that is agreeable, b-but only if Lottie and Kristoffer come to this…festival, with us, Eric, I-I would feel better about going then," she mumbled after hesitating.
Eric nodded, pleased, ignoring the look of shock that was forming on Father Kristoffer's face and Lottie's look of confusion. He turned towards his two friends, smiling.
"Could the two of you be ready on Friday by dawn?"
The pair nodded, not bothering to nod or bow, or in Lottie's case, to curtsy. Kristoffer and Lottie promised that they would be there and fled the castle's Courtyard as fast as their feet could carry them, the priest heading towards the temple and the maid, back to the servants' entrance, leaving Ariel and Eric to watch the two of them depart.
Though neither one could sustain their small smiles that tugged their lips upward at seeing Lottie look curiously back at Kristoffer as she paused by the door before slipping inside, with Kristoffer doing the same, a fraction too late.
"He seems nice. He's good-looking enough. He frets too much, though. Your priest, your friend. Do you think Lottie likes him?" Ariel blurted her question out of the void, to which Eric allowed a small smirk to flit across his face.
"I hope so, Ariel." Eric frowned, furrowing his brows in thought. "He's a kind man, but quite timid and shy due to his…er…well, his hand. It's ah, caused some problems for him and is a point of contention among others, though thankfully none in the castle treat him any differently. They know better around me. It's the villagers of Ipswich that fear the man," he explained, gesturing towards his one hand not clutching onto his crutch to emphasize his point, which Ariel nodded in understanding. "He's been alone too long, as long as I've known him at least, and we grew up together. I would see him find his own measure of happiness, and our country is not so backward that we don't allow our priests to marry." He crinkled his nose in disgust at the thought that any realm could forbid such a practice and c continued speaking. "Whether he's aware of it or not, I've seen how he looks at Lottie during mealtimes when he thinks no one else is looking. I don't know if he's aware of it, but I think Lottie harbors feelings for him. I'd hoped she would agree to come to the festival alongside us. I'd invited Kristoffer, hoping she would, and now…" Here, Eric paused and turned to look down at Ariel. "Thanks to you, they are. My plan is working."
Ariel smiled coyly, unable to help herself.
"A devious matchmaker indeed, Your Highness, that's what this is all about," she told him with a teasing lilt to her tone. She flashed him a shy smile that had Eric's heart careening in his ribcage. "Hmm. You're loyal to your friends, Your Highness. Handsome, brave, and loyal to a fault. What's a girl to do with you?" she questioned in a moment of boldness and wit that surprised even herself.
It was already too late to take back her words, and she did not want to, besides.
Eric shivered at her words and leaned in, his breath tickling the back of her neck as he spoke, summoning every ounce of bravery he had within himself to ask the one question he wanted an answer to, to hear the answer directed at him, from her lips.
"You could… let me take you to the festival, my lady?" he murmured, his tone full of earnest hope. "You had mentioned to Lottie you would go, but I want to hear you say it to me. Please. Will you?" he pleaded, biting down on his lip, and falling silent. Eric's blue eyes danced over her mouth, and something seemed to spark to life inside of him. "You did promise me anything I asked, Ariel," he murmured. "Will you keep your promise, Lady?"
For a few seconds, Ariel was lost in the Prince's stare, and she swore her heart stopped beating. The man in front of her truly was an enchanting sight.
"I—Eric, oh, we—we can't…"
To her surprise, Eric chuckled lightly.
"Fear not, lady. I am not asking you for a kiss or demanding your body. All I ask of you is for you to spend a day with me, my lady. Kristoffer and Lottie will be with us, and who would know? I've given them explicit instructions not to tell Grimsby as he's never let me go in years past. He thinks the festival is too dangerous for someone like me, but what's life without a little risk?" he breathed, exhilarated. "Please, Ariel, I've never been allowed to go, this is the first chance I've had to go and share in the experience with someone else. I-I would be delighted if that someone were to be you, Lady. Please, Ariel. I…I don't admit, I don't know what part of the world you come from, but I can see the look in your eyes that you want me, so let me show you a part of Ipswich, a part of my world, Lady. Please let me."
"I…" Ariel inwardly cringed and mentally slapped herself for overstepping her boundaries, and had a blush rise to her cheeks out of sheer embarrassment to find that she wanted this, to linger, more than anything, however improper it might be.
And paired with the man's glowing sunset of a smile and earnest hope in his eyes, how was she to resist? "I…I would love to, Eric," she whispered.
She pulled away from the Prince as though the ground around her were on fire.
Remembering her courtesies, she added, "Thank you…for not being too harsh with your soldier. I-it was an accident, what happened. People fear what they don't understand. I—I still can't tell you much of me, and I hope that you understand, b-but it's for a good reason, sire." She bashfully turned her head to eye Eric from the corner of her lowered gaze. "Thank you again, and…for listening." She added, truly grateful, but overcome with awkwardness.
Before Eric could answer, she turned her heel and disappeared towards the beach, leaving the Prince to watch Ariel disappear. He watched her silhouette grow fainter and fainter as she walked along the shores of the beach until he could no longer see her.
He was more than tempted to follow her, though he recognized that after what she had just endured, Ariel might need the space. He sighed blissfully to himself and ran a hand down along the length of his face.
Turning to face the door and tugging on the sturdy handle and disappearing inside, the Prince smiled to himself. The next few days would be better days, and then Friday, he would have the lady Ariel all to himself.
The Prince had trouble getting through the rest of his tasks that evening, his mind too overcome with possibilities to come during his outing with her.
All the while Ariel could not bring herself to come inside until well after the dinner hour had passed, too overcome in both fear and exhilaration for what awaited her come dawn's first rays on Friday morn.