Later that evening, the new couple walked the battlements of the castle. They had gone inside after returning home and acquainted Carlotta and Grimsby with the events of their outing. Those two had showered them with kisses and embraces and congratulations, and, in the case of Carlotta, with tears. After the two loyal servants had managed to express themselves satisfactorily upon the happy occasion, Ariel and Eric found that they were not sleepy and had no desire to relinquish each other's company for a few hours yet. Therefore, they allowed Carlotta to wrap warm cloaks around them, and went up to the roof of the castle.
They wandered about, occasionally kissing and whispering sweet things to each other. After a little while, Ariel sensed that Eric was becoming more pensive, and he soon broke the silence to say,
"You will have to give me directions to your home, so that I may go and speak to your father."
"Wha—what?" Ariel gasped out, as if a barrelful of cold water had been poured upon her.
"I need to speak to your father – so that he may grant us permission to marry."
The former mermaid nearly choked.
"Do…do we need his permission?" she gasped out.
Eric gave her a strange look.
"Well…strictly speaking I suppose we do not need it, but it is a well-established tradition for the groom to ask the father of the bride for his daughter's hand." He gazed down at the panicked redhead next to him. "Is…is there any reason I should not?"
Ariel thought rapidly. She wanted to tell him the whole truth, but feared that he would think her mad and break their engagement. Therefore, she decided on what she believed would be a more prudent, but still honest, course.
"Eric, I am sorry, but I must ask you to refrain from asking to meet with my father ever again. The place I come from is very different from this one, and my father holds very strong prejudices against your people. I shudder to think of what he would do if he knew I was here. And if he ever saw you, there is no doubt in my mind that he would kill you on sight."
Eric looked horrified.
"But why?"
"He considers customs which you hold barbaric."
"Such as?"
"Fish are far more prized in my culture than in yours, for instance; killing one is tantamount to murder." Surprise, but also understanding, began to dawn in Eric's eyes. "If you cannot marry me without Daddy's consent, then do not; but I cannot risk your life. Let me live in your kingdom or a neighboring one, and I will never trouble you again."
"Ariel, no!" Eric cried. "As I said, we do not need his consent. I will gladly marry you without it! But will you be happy, leaving behind your whole family for me?"
"I have not been content with my old life for quite some time. In the last two days, I have been happier than I have been in many months."
"Then," Eric said, relieved, holding her close, "if we can dispense with the formalities of asking your father's consent and your relations to the wedding, then perhaps we can be married tomorrow? Would you be alright with that?"
"Yes, if it can be arranged."
"I will make sure that it is."