AN: Wow, it's been a very long time since I updated. I want to thank you for returning or choosing to read this story 😊
Chapter Seven – In Fear of Heartbreak
Eric looked painfully at the sheepdog. He had raised Max since he was a puppy and he hadn't wanted anyone else to take hold of his dog, his friend. He cared about Max more than he cared about nearly all humans and maybe that was selfish but that was a true human emotion towards a beloved pet.
The guard looked at him, "If you want your dog then you will release the princess," he said and Eric's jaw dropped. He stared at him horrified at the fact that the ocean-dwellers believed he was responsible for Ariel's disappearance. Every choice she had made, she had made for herself. He didn't want to harm her but he couldn't bear to lose Max.
"I haven't taken her!" Eric called out before seeing the helpless position that Max was in and just hearing those whines broke him. This storm was painful to be out of but Eric knew that it reflected the turbulent emotions of the sea king.
The guard looked down upon the scared sheepdog and stared at Eric who was growing more agitated the further away Max appeared to be from him. "We'll have to -"
"Don't take him," there was a voice behind Eric and his eyes widened to see Lana standing there. The guard looked at her suspiciously. Eric found his heart pounding in his chest and as he heard Max's sounds of distress the pain just increased. "Please give me an audience with the king?" she requested. The guard turned to them before giving a confused look.
"Is she important to you?" the guard asked and Eric. He knew the truth about Lana but he had been warned to keep that information private. He did love her but this was something that she could deal with much more than Max could. The guard grabbed her by the wrist whilst letting the sheepdog run over to Eric.
Eric wrapped his arms protectively around Max as he saw the guard pull Lana away from him. He stood but kept Max secure in his hold. "Do you have to be so rough with her!?" he yelled as the rain hit his face. He didn't know what it meant if he were to let her go but he appreciated the way she stepped up so that Max could be safe.
"I know what I am doing, please return to your home," Lana told him and Eric shook his head.
He had left the castle for a reason, he had wanted to start a 'lower-class' life for a reason and that meant that he didn't want to return to somewhere where mermaids were seen as such a show, somewhere where he could never keep her truly safe. Still, his past couldn't escape him forever. He was a prince despite how he protested against it.
"I hope to be back soon," Lana promised him and Eric nodded before seeing her and the guard disappear. Max barked loudly at where they had been and Eric felt his body as wet as when he had met Ariel the first time. He loved the water but this rain was something much harsher against his skin than just a downpour.
As the storm seemed to vanish, Eric turned his attention fully to Max. "Are you okay, boy?" he asked as he placed a hand on the top of his head and pet him carefully. Noticing the way that Max was panting energetically, Eric smiled weakly and ruffled the fur. "Let's get back," he said tapping his leg and telling Max to heal.
Eric just hoped that Ariel would be okay and that one day he would be able to see her again. They could yell at him as much as they wanted and tell him that those who were born on land and those who were born in the ocean couldn't be together but that didn't stop his heart from craving her. Lana. Is that who she wanted to identify as? Would calling her Lana, believing she actually was Lana, would that be enough for them to continue their lives together?
As Eric got back to the bed, he saw the other dog and reached out a hand to pet it. He could remember that fight against the octopus-woman so vividly. This dog had to have originally been a fish. So, not only was he living in a world with fairy tale mermaids but he was living in a world that was full of magic. No, that shouldn't be a surprise to him any more, he had experienced it and witnessed it. If only Ariel had the power of that woman who had hypnotized him.
"She'll be okay," Eric attempted to comfort the former-fish. "I'm sure that she'll be okay."
Max placed his wet furry head against Eric's leg as the prince turned to look out of the window. Would it have been better if he had drowned at sea and she had never rescued him? Had all of their history together been what had been hurting her. He loved her. He had hoped love and acceptance was enough. It didn't seem to be.
TLMTLMTLM
"I wanted the prince!" Triton yelled as he pointed his trident in Ariel's direction. Ariel stared at him and was surprised that he couldn't see her as his daughter despite the fact that she was in Lana's body. She had been given the ability to breathe underwater even if only as a human. The way her father was looking at her was painful, hate, scorn, disgust. Nothing she wanted to experience especially from one she adored so much.
"This woman has been proven to have important bearing upon the prince's heart," the guard said and Ariel swam forwards. She looked at her father.
"I want to remain in this form," she said before allowing herself to speak in her own voice. "Daddy, I will fight for my future even if it is not the future which you have chosen for me!" Ariel yelled at him and Triton's face showed his shock and horror. He pointed his trident at her and the human 'disguise' seemed to fall away from her body revealing the red haired mermaid beneath it.
"So the only way in which to catch this man is with treachery?" Triton asked as he seemed to show a slight pity for Ariel beneath all of the anger that was within him. Ariel lifted her chin. Maybe she was still young and this was the first individual she had fallen for who loved her back. He could say all he wanted about how she had been tricked and treated as someone foolish. It didn't change how much she cared for Eric.
"I took this form because you would never allow a relationship between a mermaid and a human," she said. She wrapped an arm around her belly. "You think that land is dangerous. You think that all humans are the same. He saved those in our kingdom. He put his life at risk to save me and if it wasn't for him, this world would be very different."
Triton's eyes narrowed in fury, "And yet, you fail to see how he caused all of that pain. If it wasn't for him then you would never have been interested in -"
"I have been interested in the human world for years," Ariel attempted to convince him. "Long before I met someone who accepts who I am and where I come from. Yes, I love him but I also wanted to be part of that world. I wanted to have those experiences. He's given up things for me too."
"And you being with him will only lead to our kind being hunted. I thought that I had raised you to be less selfish and much more intelligent than this. It seems that I have failed to even provide you with an education," Triton scoffed and Ariel looked at him with her usual rebellious expression.
"Daddy, I will not stop trying to be with him. I won't stop trying to love him and be with him and be accepted by him," she said before staring right into her father's eyes with unbroken contact. "What are you so afraid of!?"
"Losing you as I lost your mother, you don't know if this man is a pirate!" Triton yelled at her. He laughed bitterly, "Although, I should be thankful as you say to this particular human. So, I'll make you a deal," he said and Ariel stared at him. Her heart pounded in her chest. She knew that her father loved her but he was known for offering some rather tough proposals and agreements. She closed her eyes and relaxed her breathing. No, being with Eric was worth it.
"What are the conditions?" she asked and Triton took a deep breath in and relaxed his breathing.
"You will be able to take on that human disguise and try to win his love, you can tell him whatever you want but you cannot look like yourself. If you discover unconditional love and happiness of the greatest degree you will be a human version of yourself but if you experience pain and heartache even once, you will be unable to ever go to the human world and will live your life as a mermaid and be betrothed to a merman picked out for you."
Ariel felt her tail flip as the chills went through her. So, she was once again pinning everything onto one person. She closed her eyes and let her chest rest peacefully, she nodded. "I trust in Eric, I'll accept," she said before seeing her father point his trident in her direction. She felt a mist clouding her mind and the next thing she knew, she was trying to catch her breath on the sand of the beach and the early signs of dawn breaking were overhead.
She turned to the direction of the place she was sharing with Eric and hoped that he would be able to listen and understand. She wanted to experience the love that her father had mentioned. She knew that he would be able to provide that for her. He was kind and good and she loved him.
Making her way over to the building, she saw him sitting outside with both dogs and he looked up at her with surprise but relief. She grinned as he rushed to her and gently cupped her cheek with his hand. His hand was strong and yet soft, something you'd expect from a young prince.
"Lana!" he said as he wrapped his arms around her. "You're safe," he let his forehead press against hers.
"Eric," Ariel said nervously, "My name isn't Lana, it's -"
Eric kissed her lips and Ariel took a step back feeling how powerful and intense that kiss was. Was Eric falling for her as Lana, was he replacing her as Ariel with Lana. Ariel felt her heart start to twist but shook her head as she remembered the agreement. Eric smiled as their foreheads touched again.
"You don't have to tell me, I love you so much, no matter what name you choose," he promised her.
Ariel stared at him, who was he referring to?
End of Chapter Seven
Thank you for reading
Thank you to the reviewers of Chapter Six
Guest (x2), Kyle, marati2011
