"What are we looking for?" Eric asked as Ariel searched the bottom of the grotto floor frantically.
"An egg, Eric. It's round," she snapped.
"But how big is it?"
"I don't know! I don't know!" she cried, plopping her fin down on a large rock that jut out of the center.
"Ariel," Eric swam over to her and placed a hand on her back. "There is nothing here. You probably never released an egg. Did you see it? Or feel it come out?"
"No," Ariel said quietly, a little defeated and trying to recall.
"Well, then everything is fine," he reassured her, wrapping his arm completely around her waist. Ariel felt a bit silly. She didn't know herself what an egg looked like or what size it would be. Ariel felt a big lump forming in her throat before she collapsed her face into her palms and quietly began to sob. Eric held her closely to his chest, rested his cheek to her hair and rubbed her back gently.
"Let's go back to land," Ariel whispered quietly after several moments.
"What do you mean you're leaving? So soon?" Athena asked the young couple as they swam toward the throne room together. "Is there something wrong?"
"I'm so happy you're safe and that I got to spend time with you," Ariel looked at her mother, "Eric just has some things to sort on land. We've been away for so long now and no one has heard from us."
Eric gave Ariel and piercing glare.
"Oh, I see," Athena said slowly and then smiled. "Well, before you do that. There's someone here for you." Ariel's heart skipped a beat and she swam ahead into the throne room.
"Flounder!" Athena and Eric heard Ariel shout from the hall.
"Why does she want to leave?" Athena whispered to Eric.
"She thought she released an egg. But there was nothing there when we checked."
"Hmm. If she did, and if the egg was fertilized and hatched, I'd be able to sense the existence of an offspring in my bloodline."
"Eric," Athena stopped him before they entered the throne room, "I want you to try to keep her here for as long as you can. I haven't seen her in almost fourteen years.
"I'll try my best, Queen Athena. I'd like to stay as well."
"Thank you, my son," she smiled and placed a hand on his cheek before leaning in to kiss the other tenderly. Eric felt suddenly uncomfortable. Athena was an older and similarly attractive version of Ariel. But every time she touched him, he felt a way that he could not explain. Her stares would linger as well as the feel of her touch on his skin.
"Let's see what she's up to," Eric said a little loudly, pulling back from her hand.
Athena felt a little nervous as she fixed herself up in front of her large golden vanity. Triton's reflection suddenly appeared distantly in the mirror. They made eye contact and then he swam away without a word. Athena sighed to herself. They hadn't spoken in more than a week since the incident with Attina.
"Mom?" a voice came from the door. Athena immediately recognized it to be her youngest daughter's.
"Ariel, my darling. Come in," she called sweetly. Ariel swam over to her mother's side.
"Mom, have you seen Eric?"
"I believe your father and Sebastian were going somewhere with Eric," she said while adjusting her hair in the mirror.
"Do you know where?"
"No. I haven't the slightest idea, my love. Is there anything wrong?"
"No. I'm going to Flounder's for a long while. I won't be back until long after dinner- before bedtime," Ariel reassured her. "Could you let Eric know?"
"Of course, dear. Be safe out there."
Athena smiled to herself in the mirror. She took out a seaquill and a piece of parchment and jotted down a few words before folding it up and placing it on her vanity.
"She won't speak to me, Eric," the King said a little flustered as they reentered the castle a few hours later. They were out hunting down a wild shark that had been terrorizing Atlantica the last few weeks.
"Your majesty, if I may," Sebastian interjected, "You have to remain calm. Stand your ground and be firm. She will come around- you are the king."
"You're absolutely right, Sebastian," the king gruffed.
"King Triton, sometimes it's best to just let things go. When we get back, you look at Queen Athena, pull close to you and kiss her in a way she's never been kissed before. She's going to forget why she was ever upset."
"You must not know Athena," the king jeered. Sebastian chuckled.
"Alright," Eric shrugged with a smile, "I'm going to go find Ariel, she's probably worried about me."
"Flounder, why are we here?" Ariel called out to her small, yellow friend.
"You'll see!" Flounder's voice echoed, but Ariel could no longer see him.
"Flounder? Flounder!" she giggled, swimming around a bend and seeing no sight of him. "Flounder, I'm not chasing you!"
"Ariel?" a deep, manly voice asked softly behind her. Ariel turned to see a handsome blonde merman with a dark green tail. Ariel squinted a bit. "Ariel!" the merman beemed.
"Urchin?!" Ariel couldn't believe that the merboy she had grown up with for so many years had grown up into such a handsome, strong merman. "Urchin!" Ariel met her friend and pulled him near for a long, warm embrace. Urchin sighed deeply.
"It's so great to see you," he said, kissing the top of her head.
"Where did you go? How have you been? Did you move back to Atlantica? Urchin, I have to know!" she squealed, taking a hold of his hand and leading him to a large rock.
"Okay, okay! You'll hear all about it. What about you?! I've heard some pretty big stuff has been going on. You're married?! Queen Athena is back?!" Urchin cheered, still holding Ariel's hand. Ariel giggled.
"You first!" Ariel laughed.
"No, you go!" Urchin nudged her with his elbow. Ariel found herself blushing at the way his green eyes lit up when he'd smile.
"I'll- race you for it!" Ariel shouted, taking off into the ocean waters.
"Hey!" he darted after her, "I'm not so little anymore!"
"Arista, have you seen Ariel?" Eric asked, peeking into the mermaids' room.
"Not since this morning. I think she went with Flounder somewhere," Arista answered.
"Do you know where?"
"No. Sorry, Eric. No one really knows where those two take off to," Arista shrugged.
"Alright, thanks," he said before turning to leave.
"Eric?" Arista stopped him. Eric turned and looked at her. "How did you know? How did you know Ariel was the one?" Eric smiled to himself and tried to remember the feelings he'd get when when Ariel was around.
"I felt- complete. Like I could stop searching. She made me feel alive and whole. She made me feel loved. And I knew I would love her for the rest of my life," he beamed.
"Thanks, Eric," Arista smiled at him. Watching Arista look happy made him feel good inside. He considered for the first time that Ariel's sisters couldn't be as bad individually as they were when they were together.
"Eric!" a voice called from down the hall.
"Oh, hello Queen Athena," he said politely as he swam to her.
"Are you looking for Ariel? She left a note for you on my vanity. Think she has something special planned," the queen smiled.
"Uh, thanks!" Eric quickly swam over to the royal bedroom and grabbed the note off the Queen's vanity.
"I can't believe it, Urchin! You found out who your father is? What's his name? Where does he live?"
"In the caribbean. It's where I am going for a while when I leave Atlantica again."
"You're leaving again?"
"Yeah, but I'll come back- I promise. You're on shore now anyway. If you're ever in the warm caribbean waters- swim on by. My father has a restaurant named Lee's Harpoon, he's Lee. I helped him build it," Urchin grunted, flexing his muscles.
"You're silly," Ariel laughed, casually pushing her hand against his chest. Urchin grabbed her hand quickly and clasped it with the other.
"You're beautiful, always have been."
"Oh," Ariel blushed shyly, trying to pull her hand away lightly.
"You know, I had the biggest crush on you growing up," Urchin confessed, leaning his face in closer to hers. Ariel felt her heart starting to race and her face becoming warm.
"Urchin," she whispered as she watched him come closer. He tilted her head up by her chin.
"I have someone of my own I'd like you to meet," he said, green eyes beaming.
"Urchin, that's wonderful! Who is she?"
"They're back home right now. But promise you'll come visit if you're ever down there."
"I promise," she smiled and hugged him tightly. Was I about to let him kiss me? she thought to herself.
"It's getting pretty late. We should start heading back. It's past dinnertime."
"Urchin, are you hungry? Come back to the palace with me, you know you're always welcome with us. You know Daddy loves you," Ariel reminded him.
"I am staying with some old friends for now."
"Stay with me. We'll get you something to eat and you can meet Eric!"
"Hello?" Eric's voice echoed in the large golden room up the ramp. "Ariel?" he called out as he began to look around. Athena swam quietly behind him and wrapped a blindfold around his eyes. "Hey!" he laughed, "What is this?" Athena wrapped her arms around his neck from behind and traced small kisses behind his ear and down his neck to his back. "Mmhh," he sighed softly. She slowly moved both his arms behind his back and quickly wrapped some seaweed to tie his wrists together. "Oh! I see where this is going!" he joked.
Athena sat Eric down on a giant seashell nearby.
"You're trying to get back at me for the other day, aren't you," Eric chuckled.
"Ssshhh," Athena whispered, sitting down on his lap. She hesitantly wrapped her arms around his neck. His skin made hers feel burning hot, a feeling she had missed since being rescued. She brushed her nose to his gently, making Eric crack a smile. He pushed his lips to hers and Athena hesitantly invited his tongue into her warm mouth. His kiss was nothing like Christoff's, not even close.
"I love you so much, Ariel," he said softly. Athena felt her stomach suddenly churn. Am I insane? she thought to herself. How could she ever betray the king and especially her own daughter? She smiled to herself for a moment and thought of how lucky Ariel was to have someone like Eric. She let out a regretful sigh and placed a firm kiss on his forehead before quickly swimming off Eric's lap out of the secret golden room.
"Ariel?" he wondered aloud and puzzled, "Where are you going?" he heard the closing of a door and immediately broke apart the seaweed that bound his wrists together. He went through the door in the floor and down the long curved ramp. "Ariel, wait! What are you doing?"
Suddenly, Eric found himself alone in the royal bedroom. He went out into the hall quickly, to find Ariel casually swimming in his direction with a blonde merman.
"Eric!" she called to him and waved when she saw him. Eric looked around, confused as the pair made their way to him. "Eric, this is Urchin," she said with a big smile, he's one of my bestest friends.
"Hello, Eric," Urchin extended his hand.
"Hi, Urchin?" Eric shook it hesitantly, still a bit puzzled. Ariel and Urchin nodded. "Ariel, did you just get back?"
"Sorry I was gone so long. Flounder surprised me and we were catching up for a bit. We're getting some yummy kale wraps from the kitchen, want to come?" Ariel asked perkily. Athena calmly came out of the royal bedroom and went the opposite direction.
"No, I just ate," Eric lied, "I have to find Sebastian, but I'll join you both in a bit."
"Are you ok?" Ariel placed a hand on his chest.
"Uh, yes. I'm fine," he turned his head down the hall in Athena's direction. She giggled and started to make her way down the hall with Urchin on her arm.
"We'll see you soon!" Urchin called out. Eric nodded and smiled. He had his own business to take care of.
As soon as they were out of the sight, he quickly tried to catch up to Athena. Once tracking her down, he followed her into a small, triangle sitting room with dim lighting.
"What did you do?" Eric asked sternly.
"Oh, Eric. Hello, dear," Athena said nervously as she sat down, avoiding eye contact.
"What did you do?!" he demanded, moving closer to her.
"What do you mean-" she began.
"Stop it!" he hissed harshly between his teeth, trying to be quiet. He stopped a foot away from her face. Athena collapsed her face into her hands and began to cry.
"I'm so sorry," she sobbed heavily. "I- I'm sorry. I just miss him so much."
"Miss who? The king?" he wondered out loud, "He misses you too!" Athena shook her head and looked down at her lap.
"No. Not Triton- C-Christoff," she could barely utter the name.
"Your captor?" Eric questioned, completely baffled. Athena cried even harder.
"I loved him, Eric. I- I killed him!" she shrieked. "You reminded me of him a bit. Humans have this certain way to them. I'm so, so sorry." Eric stared in disbelief. How could someone fall in love with the person who held them prisoner and kept them away from their family for years?
"What is going on in here?" King Triton's voice thundered at the door. Athena looked down at the ground and remained silent, afraid he had overheard.
"Your majesty," Eric said quickly. He put his body between the two with his hands outward, as if to stop the king from charging forward. "The queen is upset," he whispered, "She needs you to work things out with her. She misses you and she doesn't want to fight any more."
"Oh," the strong sea king's face softened.
"She wants to talk to you about it, your majesty. But, just not right now. Let's give her a few minutes to get herself together and she'll meet you in the bedroom."
Triton was a little skeptical, but had no choice but to accept Eric's words. He had missed her terribly and had wanted more than anything for her to forgive him for his actions.
"Athena," Triton said before turning to leave with Eric, "I love you. There is nothing I wouldn't do for you. I need you to forgive me. I need you in my arms again. I- I can't lose you again." A tear escaped the king's eye before he turned to leave the room, Eric followed along behind him.
"What happened out there, Eric?" Ariel asked curiously at the table with Urchin at her side.
"It's just your mother and father. They should be making up soon," Eric smiled and focus suddenly turned to Urchin, who was tugging gently at Ariel's hair.
"Hey!" Ariel shouted playfully and pushed his hand away. Ariel and Urchin suddenly broke into a fit of laughter.
"So, Urchin," Eric started, taking his place across from them, "You and Ariel were friends?"
"Yeah, best friends!" Urchin said enthusiastically, putting an arm around Ariel and squeezing her against his side. Ariel nodded, a little too happily for Eric's liking.
"I thought Flounder was your best friend," Eric raised an eyebrow.
"Urchin's my best mer-friend," she scrunched her nose at Urchin.
"I better be!" Urchin mimicked her face.
"I thought that was Gabriella," Eric pretended to ask innocently.
"Eric!" Ariel scolded him with pursed lips. Urchin and Eric made eye contact with each other and held stares for an extended period of time.
"It's getting pretty late, Ariel," Urchin yawned, stretching his arms up in the water. "I'm so glad I caught you this time."
"But you're leaving tomorrow," she frowned.
"Like I said, Lee's Harpoon. If you're ever in the caribbean, stop by. You'll be VIP," he smiled.
"Alright," she pouted with extended arms, "Can't wait to see you again." Urchin hugged her tightly and then placed a slow kiss on her forehead.
"Eric, she's incredible. You're a lucky merman- or human," Urchin said as he pulled away from her.
"Have a safe trip," Eric waved patronizingly from a distance. After a last few goodbyes from Ariel, Urchin swam away out a window.
"Eric! How could you? He's my friend!" Ariel slapped the back of her hand against his chest.
"What? What did I do?"
"You know what you did," she glared at him. Eric swiftly pulled her small body near, he held her chest to chest, lips inches from her face.
"He knows that you're mine, right? All mine," he growled with a smirk. It turned her on how possessive he was over her.
"Yes. And I'm yours. Only yours," she said quietly before Eric drove his tongue deep inside her mouth. "You're so great for helping my mother the way you have. She seems to really love you as she would one of us.
"Let's go back on land tomorrow?" he suggested. Ariel nodded, excited to be dry, warm and in Eric's arms.
It had been nearly two months on land since Queen Athena's return to Atlantica, but to the two young lovers making their way to shore, it had seemed like mere weeks. Days under the sea were longer, mostly because they were not heavily dependent on much sunlight. Fish also seemed to have more energy and not a strong sense of time. The sun was almost completely set and the Autumn air was chilly and crisp.
"It's so cold," Ariel rubbed her arms across her chest, her skin still a bit wet.
"Woah," Eric laughed, almost tripping over his own two feet, "I need to learn to walk again."
"You see why I could barely do it when you found me?" Ariel laughed. She was back in the long undergarments she had worn when she went into the water. Eric was completely nude and shivering.
"Ariel, could you run inside and get me some pants or a sheet or something?" he laughed, covering his soft genitals with his large hands.
"Nope!" she giggled and began to run toward the castle, red hair trailing behind her.
"W-what? Where are you going? Ariel!" he stammered a bit and started to chase after her. She ran across the beach and up the long stairs to the castle with Eric not too far behind. Ariel's hysterical laughter and Eric's heavy footsteps echoed through main hall and up the stairs. "Hey, when'd you get so fast?" he humored her as he chased behind, knowing he wasn't really trying hard to catch her. Ariel suddenly stopped, just a few feet away from their bedroom. Eric stopped beside her, immediately recognizing the tall, lanky figure that stood before him.
"Grimsby?" Eric asked curiously. "What are you doing here? How are you?"
"Hello, Eric," the pale man said calmly with a raised eyebrow. Grimsby looked straight ahead uncomfortably, making Eric realize he was still completely naked. "I have an important matter to discuss with you."
"Important? What's going on?"
"It may be best if you were dressed."
"Right," Eric covered his private parts bashfully, "We're both going to get dressed and I'll meet you downstairs in the study."
"I'll wait here by the door. I cannot stress its urgency," Grimsby said as he looked at the ground sadly. Ariel couldn't help but notice something was off with Grimsby. He seemed depressed and out of sorts.
"I'll be right out, Grimsby," Eric led Ariel by the hand and into the bedroom, closing the tall door behind them.
"What do you think is wrong with-" Ariel began to say but Eric immediately pulled her near and kissed her. Ariel felt the intensity in his kiss flow throughout her body as she kissed back rapidly, trying to keep up.
"It's been too long," he huffed as he began to lift her under garment above her head and dropped it to the floor. He ran his hands across her shoulders and spread them down her bare back, taking a firm hold of her perfect firm bottom as his tongue explored her mouth. He lifted her light body off the ground and Ariel wrapped her legs around his strong frame. Eric lifted her slightly higher, positioning his face in line with her full, perky breasts. He ran over the light pink center with his tongue and opened his mouth wide to take in as much of her whole breast in his mouth as he could roughly. He moved from one breast to the other sloppily. The amount of pressure he used to suck her aching breasts drove Ariel wild.
"Oh, yes!" she moaned, hugging his head into her chest as she rubbed her heat against his body. He used a hand that was holding her up to slip a finger inside her moist slit. "Ohhh!" she yelped loudly, shocked at its instant pleasure. Eric smiled sinisterly at her, finally detaching his mouth from her breasts. She cupped his face and bent forward a bit to kiss him hard- so hard their lips hurt. It was all happening so quickly.
"I want you," he growled. Ariel licked over and around his lips as he walked them both toward the bed. He tossed her against the cool sheets and immediately pulled her legs down off the side of the bed and spread them open. It took no time for his tongue to find her moistness. She let out sharp whimpers as his tongue explored her soft, warm insides. He spread her lips open with one hand and stuck two fingers in with the other, flicking her throbbing bulb with his tongue and then sucking on it violently as if he'd detach it from her body.
"Ahhh!" Ariel screamed in ecstasy. She took ahold of Eric's hair and pulled his head more tightly against her, rubbing her hips against his face; she could no longer think, she could only feel. She forgot how much pleasure her woman parts brought her. She felt as if she'd explode.
"Prince Eric!" a hurried knock came at the door, making Eric open his eyes from between her legs and look over in disgust. "Eric! It's urgent!" the pounding continued. Eric groaned against her body.
"Maybe you should go to see what's going on. It sounds serious," Ariel suggested, a bit worried.
"I'll be right there!" he shouted at the door. Eric rose from his knees on the floor and completely hovered her body. "I'll be right back," he said before giving her a deep, wet kiss, darting his tongue in and out of her mouth. Ariel's eyes looked small and drunk with pleasure. "You like the way you taste, don't you," he jeered. She smiled coyly. The sounds at the door didn't cease.
"Hurry back," she said softly. He placed a light kiss on her nose.
"I will."
"It's your father, Eric," Grimsby said solemnly, placing a hand on Eric's shoulder. Eric sat down almost automatically and felt the color leave his face.
"Is he- dead?" he almost choked up on the word.
"No. But he has fallen very ill. He requests his sons to be by his side. Incase he doesn't-," Grimsby voice trailed off.
"This is terrible," Eric sunk his face in his palms. Growing up, he had adored his father. They had always maintained a strong relationship with each other, despite distances.
"There is another thing," Grimsby said. Eric looked up at him with desperate eyes.
"What? What is it?"
"He has some news," Grimsby looked down at the floor and swallowed hard, "He says he can only share with the two of you present. Also- Prince Adam. No one in the kingdom has seen or heard from him since we returned from the wedding."
"Oh, please," Eric scoffed, remembering almost wanting to strangle his brother just a couple months prior for trying to convince Ariel to marry him. "Did you check his castle? Or a whorehouse? Maybe someone finally gave him what was coming to him. I hope he's dead." Grimsby, in one swift motion, slapped Eric hard across the face.
"Stupid boy! He's your flesh and blood! Don't you realize he could be in serious danger?!" Eric had never seen Grimsby so upset or riddled with emotion. "If something were to happen to the King and Adam is nowhere to be found, do you understand what that means?" Eric glared at the wall, angry from being struck. "It means you would be King, boy!"
"Me? No way!" Eric rose from the chair and walked toward the window. "I don't know the first thing about being King."
"Which is why we must find Adam," Grimsby followed behind him. "Despite your differences, you must come together and put that aside for the good of the kingdom. Your kingdom!" Eric crossed his arms and stared out the window at the foggy moonlight in the distance. Grimsby put a hand on Eric's shoulder. "He's your brother, Eric. I know he cares as much about you as you do for him. You're very different people- you each possess great strength and passion. But he is proud and stubborn, always has been. His biggest threat is himself. Which is why he needs you, to help him." Eric turned and looked into Grimsby's pleading eyes. He had never seen this softer side of him before.
"If he's not at his castle, I don't know where he could be. He could have taken a ship somewhere," Eric said, looking for an explanation.
"All of the ships are accounted for."
"Grim, Adam disappears all the time- for months! What makes this time so different?"
"His horse, Rothbart- is still at his castle," Grimsby explained. Eric's concern began to grow. Everyone knew Adam would not go anywhere without Rothbart. The two men were silent a moment. It hurt Grimsby to know he could never call Eric "son" and that Eric would never mourn for him as he did the king. "We'll ship early tomorrow for the Palace."
"I am ready for you," Ariel called in a sing-song like voice from the bed. Eric walked over in a daze and sat on the edge of the bed. Ariel crawled over to him and threw her arms around his back. She gently kissed her way up his spine with small, soft pecks. She loved the musky ocean scent of his neck. She pushed her lips against his skin and purred softly, kissing her way to his cheek, red hair falling over his shoulder and chest. "What's wrong?" she asked, realizing that he hadn't reacted. Eric sighed deeply, put a hand over hers and looked over his shoulder.
"We're leaving for the Kingdom tomorrow," he informed her.