"Good morning," Eric whispered in Ariel's ear before giving her a soft kiss right below it. With her eyes still closed, Ariel grinned contently, still in love with the feeling of waking up to her prince every morning.
"Your highness!" there was a knock at the door which made Eric groan.
"Don't you wish we could go back to the days where we could stay in bed all morning?"
"You mean the days before Melody?"
"Yes. Before the late night crying, feeding and diaper messes."
"Hey, you wanted to do those things. We had several wet nurses available to tend to her so you could sleep. But, you wanted to do it yourself."
"I couldn't let her go," Ariel smiled to herself, remembering her beautiful baby girl. Ariel would never forget the feeling of carrying a child and truly bonding with her. When Melody was born, it was the first time in her life Ariel could say she loved someone more than her own life, even more than Eric's. "She was my entire world."
"Was?"
"Eric, she hates me!" Ariel groaned, burying her face in her pillow again.
"Come on, darling, she doesn't hate you," Eric comforted her, rubbing on her shoulder.
"I don't think she realizes that I would do anything for her."
"I think she knows that."
"Does she?" Ariel asked, her voice filled with doubt. Eric was silent a moment while he thought.
"Maybe you can go riding with her today. You know how much she's been wanting to and I'm sure you can have a great time. Besides, when was the last time you were on a horse? I can't even remember."
"Good morning," Ariel cheered, drawing the drapes in Tristan's room. Tristan groaned from bed, slamming a pillow over his face to block the sun. "You should probably wake up and get outside a little more today."
"Could I sleep for a few more hours? I had a hard time falling asleep last night," Tristan muffled through the pillow. Ariel paused for a moment, remembering the images of why Tristan didn't get much sleep.
"Oh, come on," she said, before walking over to him and taking the pillow off his face. Tristan looked up at Ariel with sleepy eyes and a small grin. Ariel felt suddenly frozen- by him, by his face. She could barely think, let alone move.
"Please, Ariel," he pleaded, turning over and shoving his face into the sheets. Ariel noticed that the bruises on his sides and back were looking much better.
"Tristan, we're going horse riding. You should join us!" she cheered. Tristan groaned.
Footsteps echoed against the floor of the bedroom and Ariel turned to find Melody standing near the door with her hands folded in front of her.
"Good morning," Ariel smiled at her, straightening her skirt.
"Good morning," Melody responded, a little shyly.
"I'm trying to get him out of bed," Ariel said before pushing down the mattress with her hands several times, shaking Tristan in bed.
"I neeeed sleeeeep!" he muffled groggily from beneath the pillow. Melody giggled, knowing firsthand how annoying it was to have her mother try to wake her on a weekend.
"Mom," Melody started, walking in a little closer, "I'm really sorry about yesterday." Melody waited for Ariel to say something, but Ariel only looked at her. "I'm sorry about that night with Elizabeth, it was careless of me."
"It's alright," Ariel told her, "We can talk later- during our ride."
"Really?"
"If you want to go, that is."
"Yes, of course!" Melody ran up to Ariel and gave her a big hug.
"Great, I'll have them get the horses saddled and ready," Ariel said before making her way toward the door, "See if you can get him up."
Melody walked over to Tristan and looked at his bare back and shoulders. His arms were up above his head, resting against the pillow. She stared at them too, thinking of a man's naked body in a way she never had before.
"What, Mel," Tristan muffled, letting her know that he knew she was standing there. Melody placed her hand palm-down on his side and Tristan immediately jumped up.
"Your hands are freezing!" he shouted. He rolled himself to the other side of the bed and pulled the covers over his body again, curling up in a ball and then shutting his eyes. "Get out." Melody laughed.
"I apologized to my mother. Did you hear me?"
"I don't care. Get out."
"Look, if you pull all the way back and hold before releasing… like this," John said a couple hours later near the stables. He was correcting Tristan's form before he shot an arrow at a wooden target. Tristan missed pretty badly, the arrow falling against some rocks. "See? It went that time," John encouraged him. Tristan laughed.
"Ok, I'll try again," Tristan said, making a serious face and taking a grounded stance. John lifted Tristan's elbow up slightly.
"Steady," John told him, "Be calm." Tristan released the arrow, making it glide across the air and having it pierce the edge of the wooden target. "See? Better. Now, let's work on your aim." Tristan got excited as John handed him another arrow. "Thank you, for helping me last night," John said as Tristan began to load his bow.
"We've all had nights like that," Tristan told him with a smile and then shot another arrow, this time hitting the top of the rim. John handed him another arrow.
"My father- he's, he's difficult to talk to," John said suddenly. Tristan stopped and looked at John; John was about an inch taller than he was and they were both tall in stature. John was a lot more muscular and had a larger frame.
"If you could talk to him, what would you say?"
"You know, I've never thought about it. I haven't the slightest idea," John said thoughtfully, but almost to himself. Tristan loaded the bow and released another arrow. This time getting closer to the center. "Good," John encouraged him stoically, "This time, take your time and think about what you're doing. Imagine where you'd like the arrow to go. Don't forget to breathe." Tristan shot the arrow and got it two rings away from the center of the bullseye. "Nice job!"
"Look at that!" Tristan beamed from ear to ear, before taking another arrow from John, shooting it quickly and then missing.
"See, you rushed that one. Make sure you pull back enough," John coached, "Try again."
They both turned to the chattering of guards and maids behind them near the servant's entrance. Tristan spotted Helena and she gave him a wink, making him smirk bashfully.
"My apologies, but I must go now," John said to Tristan hurriedly.
"Aren't you going to come on the horse ride?" Tristan asked, but John had already began to walk toward the castle.
"So, what happened with Elizabeth that night?" Ariel asked Melody as they rode along the plateau of a small mountain near the castle. It was midday and the sun sat high up in the sky. Melody rode Ocean and Ariel was on Antony. Melody wore her loose and down her back for the first time while riding.
"We just went to the tavern," Melody replied in an attempt to end the conversation. Ariel continued to look at her and then down at her lap. "Mom, really. Nothing happened. It took longer to get there than the time we were actually there. The guards found us anyway and said they'd take us back to the castle. I went to find a bathroom but found Tristan instead- with the crabs."
"But why did you go there?"
"I don't know," Melody shrugged, "It wasn't my idea. But, I was also curious."
The horses stopped and the two began dismounting. They lead the horses across the grassy, lightly forested terrain. Ariel couldn't help but to look at Melody often, trying her best to understand what could possibly be going on in her mind.
"Do you know that my first kiss was with your father?"
"Yeah, mom," Melody responded, disinterested.
"I had spent 3 days feeling feelings I never had before," Ariel continued, "Whenever Eric was around I could feel my body becoming- excited and hot."
"Gross," Melody muttered underneath her breath.
"When he'd touch me I would just completely melt."
"But you waited for marriage, I know."
"We didn't wait for everything," Ariel confessed, slowly. They approached the edge of the side of the mountain and barely reacted to the most spectacular view. You could see the sparkling, calm ocean, the castle, and town way off in the distance to the left. They had been there so many times together and individually that they hardly ever mentioned it anymore.
"Really? You did more than just kiss?" Melody's eyes widened, suddenly interested in what her mother had to share. They sat on a large boulder near the edge, their feet dangling off the side.
"Yes," Ariel giggled to herself bashfully, almost reluctant to say anymore.
"Mom, tell me?" Melody asked sincerely, turning her body toward her mother and bringing her legs in on the rock.
"Your father-"
"Could you not call him my father?" Melody interrupted, cringing a bit.
"Eric," Ariel corrected, "His kisses are so strong and powerful. The night that he proposed to me, we rode Jacques along the beach under the moonlight. Your father kept kissing me, my neck, my shoulder. He'd hold me tightly and squeeze his fingers into me. It made my desire for him grow so much. That night, he was kissing me goodnight in front of my bedroom and we couldn't stop."
"Really?" Melody crossed her legs and propped her head up in her hand with her elbow on her knee in front of her.
"Yes," Ariel smiled to herself, face a little red.
"Well, what happened?"
"I don't know if I should be telling you this."
"Oh, come on, mom. I'll be sixteen soon. I'm not five!" Melody whined.
"Alright," Ariel laughed and brought her legs in as well. "Your father- Eric, is a very handsome man and in those days he was silly and bold. Very charismatic. He was very serious about us waiting for marriage, but that night we were uncontrollable. Also, keep in mind that we were engaged to be married before any of this occurred."
"Just get to it," Melody hurried her excitedly.
"Well that night we couldn't stop kissing and we continued to kiss into my room. It was so wonderful. He threw me on the bed in my big, beautiful, sparkling gown and took his jacket off-"
"Mom, too much detail," Melody winced, a little uncomfortably. Ariel laughed.
"Too bad, you asked for it," Ariel laughed, "He kissed me in bed and I wanted him so much. My body wanted him on top of me, touching me, kissing me, inside of me. Melody, your f- Eric has this magnet that drives me completely wild for him." Melody smiled, being able to relate to desiring someone that badly.
"Did you take your dress off?"
"Not exactly, he ripped my dress!" Ariel continued, "Then he put his hand up my skirt and up my thigh and pretty much all over."
"What? What do you mean?"
"He touched me- inside me."
"Oh," Melody's eyes widened, "How did that feel?"
"Amazing. Being touched or kissed there can be one of the best feelings in the world."
"Kissed there?" Melody sat straight up, her mind imagining someone standing and another person on their knees planting small pecks between her legs.
"Yes," Ariel giggled bashfully, "Kissed, licked, sucked. Honestly, having a tongue tasting me is one of my most favorite things."
"You mean dad, right?"
"What?
"You said 'a tongue' as if there could have been other people," Melody explained lightly.
"Yes, of course, Eric," Ariel smiled, afraid of how perceptive Melody was. It was a little terrifying for her. "After I met your father and even after I became a human, I used to spend hours every day fantasizing about him. I used to imagine what it would be like to kiss him and have him just wrap his arms around me."
"So when a tongue kisses you down there, doesn't it feel wet?"
"Haha, yes!" Ariel laughed.
"How did it feel on your wedding night?"
"A tongue?"
"No- you know," Melody said, gesturing with her palms up.
"Ah- oh! Uhm," Ariel tried to find the words.
There were sounds of rustling coming from the woods behind them, followed by deep voices. Ariel and Melody looked into the woods and then at each other. There was suddenly laughter before Eric and Tristan appeared on horseback. Eric was riding Cleopatra and Tristan was on Julius Caesar.
"Oh, great," Melody muttered to Ariel, annoyed that their conversation had to be cut short. When Tristan spotted the two he smiled and jumped off the horse sloppily and fell straight on his backside. Ariel gasped and both Eric and Melody laughed at him. Without missing a beat he got up and ran toward the edge near the boulder.
"Wow! This view is incredible! Eric, come see this! You can see the town from here!" He approached the edge and just stood there in silence, admiring the landscape below. He turned and noticed that Ariel and Melody were also quiet and sitting oddly close to each other. "What are you ladies talking about? Me?" he asked smugly.
"Menstrual cycles," Melody responded dryly and Ariel burst into laughter.
"Gross!" Tristan's face contorted as he clutched his stomach.
"You boys should set up lunch while Melody and I have a chat," Ariel said loudly enough for Eric to hear. Tristan walked back over to Eric and helped him lead the horses by the others. They then began to unpack their things, starting with the horse's cool water. Tristan and Eric began chattering about something and then Ariel looked at Melody.
"Think they can hear us if we talk?" Melody asked.
"I don't think so," Ariel shook her head.
"So, how was it?"
"Well, our first time, he was extremely gentle."
"Where was it?"
"After our wedding at the Meridian house."
"With all of those people there?"
"Oh, no- they didn't live there then. No one lived there. But a few days after we arrived, we told them the house was theirs to use. None of Alice and George's children were born yet."
"Were you scared?"
"I didn't think I'd be because I had wanted it so badly- but I actually was, yes, very afraid."
"How come?" Melody asked curiously. They both turned their heads because they heard the clanking of swords and sudden grunting. Eric and Tristan were sword fighting and Eric was giving Tristan pointers on the ground.
"I was worried about how it would feel. Also worried that I wouldn't be any good."
"Was it his first time too?"
"Eric?" Ariel scoffed and rolled her eyes, "No. He and your uncle had slept with half the kingdom before I arrived."
"Uncle Adam? Really? With anyone I know?"
"Alice, for one."
"No! Really?" Melody gasped and then lowered her voice, "Even daddy?"
"Yes," Ariel nodded, "They were around your age."
"Wow," Melody covered her mouth with her hand, "That's weird to think about. I mean, she's kind of really big." Ariel laughed to herself.
"She didn't use to be. She was very attractive- I was a little jealous."
"But mom, how does it feel?"
"Well, hopefully, you're with someone who is kind and gentle. When it goes in, you want to have as much wetness as possible or it will hurt more."
"It hurts?"
"Yes, at first. It hurts until you get used to him and his size. But if he goes easy and allows your body to adjust, it should also feel amazing. It should be with someone you love- and, of course, you're married to," Ariel added.
"What if it's not a prince?" Melody asked and looked out toward the castle.
"You mean, someone like Tristan?"
"What if it were Tristan?"
"Well," Ariel's smile grew wide, "What about it?"
"Could I marry someone who isn't a prince?"
"Uh- I'm not sure. Maybe we should ask your father that question. Underwater we can because we don't merge kingdoms like they do on land- underwater marriages are less political. But I've seen that changing among many kingdoms over my time here."
"Mom, can I ask you something?"
"Of course, sweetheart. I want you to be able to ask me and tell me anything. So I'm going to try my best to be open and honest with you from now on."
"Do you like it when you and dad- you know?" Melody asked timidly.
"Oh, well, yes. I really like it. I get to make love to the love of my life for the rest of my life."
"How often?"
"What? How often do we- do it?" Ariel suddenly felt a bit more uncomfortable, but she tried to be braver.
"Every night?"
"No, not every night. Well, sometimes every night. Sometimes in the mornings or again in the afternoons- or right before dinner."
"Oh, gross, mom that's too much! I don't want to know," Melody shook her head, wishing she hadn't asked. Ariel laughed and pulled Melody closer into her. Melody sat beside her mother and rested her head on her shoulder.
"Remember when we'd come here when you were a little girl? One day we were sitting right here and you asked me if people could fly," Ariel told her.
"You said that one day I will," Melody responded, reminiscing of that fall sunset.
"Yes, and you will and it will be amazing."
"I always wanted to be just like you."
"Good thing you're not," Ariel told her, leaning her face against the top of Melody's head on her shoulder and taking her hands in hers. "You're so much better than me in so many ways."
"But I'm not."
"You are! Melody you're so smart and educated, much smarter than I'll ever be. You're also so talented. You can play the piano and violin and your paintings are phenomenal- why do you think I have so many of them framed all over the castle?" Ariel began feeling emotional talking about her daughter in that way and Melody could feel it too. "You're so brave and free-spirited, you care about other people, you love animals and nature, you love the ocean and your family. Everyone adores you, your family underwater and on land, all love you very much."
"They love me because I'm your daughter."
"No, they love you because you are you. Do you think people care for Elizabeth the way they care for you? Do you think you make people feel the way Elizabeth makes people feel? And she's the daughter of the king. Think about that. Not to mention that you're beautiful- inside and out," Ariel turned her face and placed a kiss on Melody's head. Melody felt a couple tears rolling down her face as she was silenced by her mother's kind words. "I love you so much it hurts. I've never loved anyone or anything as much as I love you. I love you more than I love your father. Until you have children of your own, you'll never know a love so strong. Melody, I would do anything for you. You're a part of me- a part of my soul. When you're hurting, I hurt too. I just want you to be happy."
"I love you, mommy," Melody said quietly, wiping her eyes. "I'm really sorry. I've been unfair to you and you don't deserve it."
"Are you happy?"
"I am happy- really, I am. I just look at Tristan and he's so free. He can do anything, say anything, and go anywhere without any restrictions and people all seem to love him."
"Melody, we don't know Tristan."
"Come on, mom, yes you do. You know him well enough."
"No, Melody. Where is he from?"
"I- I don't know. I've never asked him."
"Where is his family?"
"I have no idea."
"Are they alive? Did he run away? Does he know his family? How old is he? What's his favorite food? What's his most favorite thing to do? How did he grow up? Was he loved or has he been hurt his entire life? People who are very open and charming sometimes mask other pains from their past. Sweetie, we don't know Tristan."
"Hmm, I've never thought of that. Well, I know he's a good person."
"Yes, I get the sense that he is a good person, too." Ariel looked behind her to find Eric and Tristan huddled near each other while Eric demonstrated how to tie a complicated sailing knot. "If you want to marry Tristan, I would support you wholeheartedly."
"Thanks, mom," Melody laughed, "But, I don't want to marry Tristan."
"Then who?"
"Ladies! Lunch is served!" Eric announced loudly.
"Dad," Melody started later on as they had their picnic on a large purple blanket, "Can I marry someone who isn't a Prince?"
"Uh, what?"
"Can I marry someone who isn't a prince?" she repeated. Eric looked at Tristan who looked confused.
"Why are you looking at me? I don't want to marry her," Tristan blurted out.
"Technically no, but if you were to meet someone you really loved and they were suited for you I suppose no one can really stop you from getting married," Eric told her.
"You can't help who you love," Ariel smiled and placed a hand on Eric's lap. Eric smiled and covered her hand with his.
"However, there may be some stipulations."
"Like what?" Melody asked.
"Well, you may have to renounce your royalty."
"What?" Ariel frowned.
"Really?" Melody asked.
"Well, traditionally, yes."
"Don't worry, Melody- don't worry about anything," Ariel reassured her and she stood to collect their items.
"I'll clean it up, dear," Eric told her, taking the plate from her hand.
"Yes, I'll help too," Tristan offered immediately and began to tidy up the blanket, ridding it of food and napkins.
"Thank you, Tristan," Ariel smiled at him. Once the blanket was cleared, Eric sat back down beside Ariel and brought her in closely to him with one arm.
"I love you," he told her.
"I love you," she echoed and looked up at him to meet his lips for a quick kiss. "Mhh," she purred and kissed him again. It always made Tristan happy to see the two of them so in love while Melody winced in disgust.
"Can you guys stop it for just a little while?" Melody curled her upper lip, looking away. Ariel giggled.
"We can go for a walk if you'd like," Tristan suggested to Melody.
"No, please stay," Ariel said, pulling away from Eric's lips. Eric whispered something in Ariel's ear that made her giggle. "Eric!"
"I'm sorry," Eric apologized to the young spectators.
"Tristan, has Melody told you the story of how we met?" Ariel asked.
"You and melody? At her birth, I'd assume," he laughed. They all laughed at his playfulness.
"No, me and Eric."
"She saved me," Eric added.
"Could you guys tell this story some other time? When I'm not here? I've only heard it a thousand times," Melody complained.
"Oh, alright," Ariel said swatting her hand at Melody, "How about Tristan tells a story."
"Me?"
"Yes!" Melody's face lit up, "You probably have a lot to tell."
"Not really," Tristan said, rubbing the back of his neck and looking down at his lap.
"What's your mother like?" Ariel asked anxiously. Eric looked at her disapprovingly.
"My mother?" Tristan repeated and then paused, "Well, she's- she was sweet, very kind."
"Was?" Melody asked.
"Yeah, she died when I was a young boy."
"Oh, no!" Ariel gasped, "I am so sorry, Tristan! That must be so hard for you."
"Yeah, I suppose- I mean, I've kinda have always been on my own anyway."
"And your father?" Ariel asked him quickly.
"Ariel!" Eric nudged her.
"It's ok, Eric. My father? Well, I don't really know my father."
"Tristan, why don't you and Melody go for a walk?" Eric suggested.
"Actually, dad, Tristan and I are going to start heading back to the castle," Melody said to Tristan as she got up from the blanket.
"We'll be right behind you," Eric told them.
"Yeah, right," Melody muttered to Tristan and he couldn't help but smile.
"Riding is pretty fun, Mel," Tristan said to Melody as they rode along the sand back to the castle.
"You know what's even more fun?" Melody asked, pulling Ocean's reigns, "Woah, girl." She stopped Ocean and jumped off the saddle and onto the warm sand.
"What are you doing?" Tristan shouted, watching Melody run toward the water.
"Swimming! Come get in!" Tristan immediately brought one leg to meet the other and tried to land on his feet as best he could, to no avail- his bottom landed flat on the sand again. He quickly got up lifted his shirt over his head as he chased her into the water. Before reaching the waves, he stopped and took off each one of his heavy boots.
"Wait!" he called out to her while running into the water. Melody turned around and laughed, watching him try to keep up with her.
"I'm going to that rock over there- think you can get there?" she shouted back but didn't wait for a response. She made her way toward the rock, her dress feeling heavy and wet. She should've taken it off on the sand, but it was too late now. She swam as fast as she could toward the rock and once there lifted herself onto it, feeling her hands slipping a bit. Her soaked dress made it difficult to get on. She sat on the rock and faced the sun over the ocean. She loved coming to that exact same place and watching the sun setting properly into the water. Melody sighed and squeezed the excess water from her hair back into the ocean.
"Tristan!" she finally remembered that he was behind her. She turned around and looked but saw no sight of him. "Tristan?" she began to worry, searching the water for any sign of him.
"Hey!" he popped out of the water near her feet.
"Hey! How did you get here so quickly?"
"Man, the water feels great," he said, as he pulled himself up on the rock beside her. When he finally go on, he shook his head violently, purposely splashing water all over her face.
"Stop!" Melody shrieked with laughter, shielding her eyes. She placed her arms behind her to prop herself up and leaned back against them as they gazed silently into the distance. Tristan looked at Melody and then at the water again. He realized that he really enjoyed spending time with her.
"Your hair looks good when it's down," he said to her, lightly tugging on a strand of her hair. Melody, feeling genuinely flattered, began to comb through her long black hair with her fingers.
"Thanks, you think so?"
"Yeah. He'd be stupid not to like you."
"You think so?"
"I saw you both walking out of that staircase today. What happened?"
"You did?" Melody groaned, her face turned bright red. "Well, I knew when his shift started and he usually uses the spiral stone stairway- like most of the help. I ran into him there this morning after I left your room and we started talking. Then we sat down on the steps for a bit…
Melody knew it was wrong to be alone with Andrew in such a tight space earlier that morning, but she couldn't resist the way her heart felt when he was near.
"You know, your father would kill me if he saw me here with you like this," he said, resting his elbows on his thighs, while he sat with his legs spread open as males do.
"No, he wouldn't," Melody giggled. She found herself giggling often, even if what he was saying wasn't funny.
"Princess-"
"Melody."
"Princess Melody," he smirked, and she rolled her eyes, "When is the big party?"
"In 5 days."
"Are you excited?"
"I guess so," she shrugged.
"You guess so? Aren't you thrilled to turn the big- what is it? Thirteen?"
"Sixteen!" she shrieked at him, a little annoyed. How could he ever believe that she was only twelve? Do I look twelve? she thought to herself.
"Sixteen?! Wow! See, that's a big deal," he said enthusiastically. She knew that he was only humoring her.
"Yeah, except that I'm turning sixteen and I've never even been kissed," she muttered, and then looked over to him with hopeful eyes. He didn't react to her words, at least not right away. "Didn't you have your first kiss by the time you were sixteen?"
"I had a little more than that," he laughed to himself.
"You see?!" she groaned, slapping her lap dramatically with her hand.
"But, it's different for men. Besides, you're a princess."
"So what? Why does that matter?"
"You're supposed to wait, aren't you? Until marriage," he laughed.
"Stop it!," she screeched in a high pitched voice with a giggle, playfully nudging his arm with her elbow. Her actions surprised even herself. He made her so nervous just being near. He looked over at her and smiled, the first time he had made any extended eye contact with her since they had been there. Melody suddenly stopped laughing and looked down at her lap.
"What is it?" he asked her.
"Could you?"
"Could I what?"
"Could you kiss me?" she asked shyly, eyes still on her lap. Her heart was pounding as she read every little thing on his face, his eyebrows, that lump in his thick neck that would move in an almost hypnotic way, the muscles in his temple that would flex when he'd clench his jaw.
"What? No, I can't do that, princess," he said regrettably, he repositioned himself and sat up straight, further away from her.
"Why not? Do you think I'm- ugly?" she asked, a little disappointed. He turned his body toward her, his knee almost touching the side of her leg.
"Princess," he started, taking her delicate hand and clasping it in between his. Melody sat up straighter nervously, anxiously waiting for what he'd do or say. He leaned his face to hers and Melody closed her eyes, feeling a soft, warm kiss being placed on her cheek. Melody sighed, disappointed and embarrassed. "You're going to have your first kiss with some lucky prince, and it will be very special for the both of you."
"Ouch," Tristan said to himself when Melody was finished telling him the story.
"What?"
"I mean- I'm sorry, Mel," Tristan said softly.
"Sorry? What for? Do you think it means he doesn't like me? I mean, he could still like me but maybe just not want to get involved with the whole royalty thing. Or maybe he's afraid of what my dad would do if he knew." Melody seemed so hopeful for the possibility of Andrew that Tristan didn't have the heart to tell her otherwise.
"Hmm, maybe," he replied. Melody groaned and sat closer to Tristan, resting her head against his strong arm. Tristan nestled her body closer into his side and wrapped an arm around her shoulder.
"Tristan?" Melody broke their silence after a few minutes.
"Hmm?"
"Am I ugly?"
"Just a little bit. Nothing too grotesque," he said casually. Melody gasped, sitting up off his shoulder and slapping him hard against his chest. "Ow, Mel! You asked!" She crossed her arms and scowled. "What?! Come on, princess, you know you're beautiful. Stop asking silly things," he nudged her with his shoulder.
"I want people to stop seeing me like I'm a little girl," she said angrily.
"Well, look at you," Tristan pointed out. Melody realized her arms were crossed and she was pouting, so she slowly uncrossed her arms and pursed her lips. Tristan laughed. "Just relax. Take it from me."
All of a sudden, a seal jumped out of the ocean in front of them and back in again.
"Wooo! There she is!" Tristan shouted with a big grin on his face. The seal swam toward them and then popped its head out of the water. "Hi!" Tristan said cheerfully. The seal shook her head and didn't say anything back. "Oh, so now you're mad at me too? It's just not my day."
"Hi," Melody said to the seal from above, "Come sit with us." The seal looked at Tristan and then at Melody and then at Tristan again for reassurance.
"This is Melody. Melody this is Celia."
"Wait- you named her?"
"What? No. I didn't name her- that's her name."
"Hi, Celia. It's good to meet you," Melody said to the quiet seal. The seal smiled back shyly. "Oh- this is the seal that's been swimming around the castle. You helped me save Tristan that night, didn't you?" The seal nodded. "How do you know her?" Melody asked Tristan.
"Celia and I go way back- right?" Tristan said to Celia, but Celia rolled her eyes at him and sighed.
"She can't speak?"
"Well, of course not, Melody she's an animal for god's sake."
Melody found it peculiar that Tristan had a friend who was a seal- a seal so loyal she didn't seem to want to leave his side and can sense or smell whenever he's near the ocean.
"That night I met you in the tavern- with the crabs. How did you know they were in there?"
"What do you mean?" he asked, as he pet Celia's head and made faces at her.
"Did you happen to find them there or did you follow them- from the sea?"
"Hey Celia, let's go for a swim, yeah?!" he cheered, and Celia gave a big smile before splashing back into the water. Tristan dove off the rock and into the ocean.
"Wait!" Melody called out, but he didn't listen. He suddenly disappeared into the water and everything went quiet. Melody sighed to herself, not willing to chase after him. After a few minutes, a hand suddenly grasped around her wrist from the water and pulled her in, making her shriek with laughter. Tristan took a hold of both of her wrists and held them down forcefully at Melody's side.
"Show me your fins," he commanded sternly.
"What?"
"Your fins, show them to me!"
"Show me yours first!" Melody barked back. Tristan was taken back a moment and paused. The two of them felt scared and vulnerable and all they could do was stare at each other. Tristan squeezed her wrists more tightly and closed his eyes. When he opened them he found that Melody's dress had disappeared and was replaced with dark green seashells across her chest. Melody looked nervous and frightened, her eyes went wide with shock when she felt something lightly touch her fin beneath the water.
"Is that-?" she started and Tristan nodded with a smile. "But how are you-?"
"How are you a mermaid?" Tristan cut her off, "Do Ariel and Eric know?"
"Yes, they know," she responded quietly, "But how are you- both?"
"I just am," he said tersely but then released her. "Look, Mel, you can't tell anyone."
"I won't- not if you don't tell anyone about me."
"So," Tristan said as he circled around her, "You can understand the animals, too?"
"Yes."
Celia suddenly popped her head out of the water and smiled at Tristan.
"Hi, girl. I'm only back for a little while," he told her before diving back into the water. Melody followed behind them. She was still shocked that Tristan was actually a merman- a green fin merman. It all felt like a weird dream. "Celia can't speak."
"Where are we going?" Melody asked.
"I'm not sure," Tristan responded, "Hey girl, I don't really want to see the gang right now."
"The gang?"
"They're my friends. We play in a band together."
"A band? What do you play?"
"Guitar and I sing," he said proudly. Melody laughed.
"You sing?! What's your band's name?"
"AquaSonic, we're really good," he said.
"Yeah, right," she rolled her eyes, "What a terrible band name."
"Melody is a terrible name," he told her, "They should've just named you Harmony or Symphony or even Accompaniment."
"Shut up, Tristan!" she laughed, pushing him with one arm.
"Why must you always get so physical?" he said dramatically, with a heart to his chest.
"We are meeting your friends?"
"You know, it would be best if we didn't," he stopped suddenly.
"What? Why? Come on, let's go," Melody encouraged him, hoping to convince him. She had had few successes at being able to convince him of doing anything. Tristan stopped and looked at her for the first time as a mermaid. Her coral tail, green seashells, long dark hair, and her curvy mermaid body made her look beautiful underwater. For once he had noticed her as someone of the opposite sex and not just a little girl. "Tristan, please?" she swam up to him and placed both hands on his arm. Her big blue eyes pleading to his own.
"Let's go, Mel."
"Tris!" a voice called out from around a bend. Celia popped up from around the bend followed by a yellow tailed merman with light brown skin and jet black hair. "Tris! Where have you been, man. We've been worried." The merman swam up to Tristan and gave him a friendly push on his shoulder.
"Hey, Franky- look, I gotta go," Tristan told him as he began to swim back a bit.
"Hi," Franky looked at Melody and smiled.
"Hi," Melody said bashfully, with a small grin on her face while beginning to fidget with her hands in front of her. Tristan watched as Franky stared at Melody almost hungrily.
"What's your name?" Franky asked, moving in a bit closer.
"Come on, Mel," Tristan rushed over and grabbed her by her wrist.
"Tristan, stop!"
"Hey Tris, we got a gig. A pretty big one."
"Oh, yeah?" Tristan said, still holding on to Melody's wrist.
"Yeah, we've been looking for you." Melody suddenly pulled her hand out of Tristan's grasp.
"That sounds great, Franky. Look, we have to go," he said as he began to swim away, "Come on, Mel!" He shouted and then swam away.
"I guess I should go," she said, feeling her face warm.
"That's too bad," he said, flashing a smile, "I'll have to catch you next time you're around."
"Goodbye," she said hesitantly.
"See ya."
"Mel!" Tristan called.
"Ariel, you shouldn't have asked him all of those questions," Eric said, laying down beside her on the blanket feeling the outdoor breeze on their skin. Eric wrapped a second blanket around them more tightly and pressed her naked body against his.
"You mean with Tristan? Eric, I was curious."
"Yes, but his mother died. That's not usually something someone wants to talk about unless they share it first."
"Have we gotten any more confirmations for the party?"
"We're expecting at least 200 guests. All of the rooms of the castle will be occupied and so will most of the town. All of the docks will be full of ships- many of which will ship out once the ball is over."
"Oh, Eric, I'm so excited!"
"Don't get too excited. Remember the last big ball we threw for Melody? When she turned twelve."
"Don't remind me," Ariel groaned. It was the ball they threw before Melody escaped to the ocean. "Are there many princes coming?"
"A few."
"Are George and Alice and the kids coming?"
"Yes, they're all staying at the castle."
"What about Aladdin and Jasmine and their children?"
"I haven't received any news. They are pretty far away. I hope they received the invitation in time," Eric said, adjusting himself and leaning on top of her body. He kissed her cheek and slowly brought his hand to cover her breast.
"I hope they can make it," she said, watching him as he lowered himself to be face to face with her chest.
"I hope so, too," Eric said, taking both of her breasts in his hands and touching her hardened nipples with the ends of his fingers.
"Eric," Ariel smirked, "Do you think Tristan was really upset because of my question?" Eric brought his tongue to her nipple and began to gently suck on the tip of her breast as he squeezed it. "He didn't seem very upset," Ariel continued. Eric gently bit down on her soft skin causing her to moan loudly.
"Mhh, you taste like cake."
"Cake?!" she laughed. Eric reached over to a piece of cake that was sitting on a plate near the blanket and swabbed some frosting onto his finger. He looked at her and smiled before swiping the frosting across her free breast. Ariel gasped with surprise, having no idea that Eric would do that. He lowered his head and began to slowly lick the frosting off her skin. "Ohh, Eric," she moaned, "Again?"
"I can't get enough of you," he huffed with a chuckle, wedging his legs between her knees before sucking the last bit of frosting off her skin. He could feel himself swelling, ready to be inside of her again.
"You know, Eric," she began as he raised one of her legs with his arm, "You've been like this ever since Tristan arrived."
"Like what?" he wondered aloud, placing the tip of his dripping head at her warm entrance with his hand.
"This- this hungry for me," she smirked, "You know, he'll never steal me away from you- with his young, tight body and that luscious hair." With that, Eric drove himself deep inside of her abruptly, making Ariel inhale sharply. The nerves all over her body tingled with desire for him. Eric clenched his jaw before pulling back slowly and ramming himself inside her again.
"You're mine," he growled inches from her face, "You belong to me." Seeing him that rough and possessive always excited Ariel.
"Oh, Eric!" she moaned with deep sighs, stretching her hands over his strong arms and shoulders.
"Tell me you're mine!"
"I'm yours! I'm all yours!" she called out with a giggle, pulling his head down to hers for a sloppy kiss as Eric continued to make her his. Eric brought his hand to her cheek and then shoved his thumb into her mouth, letting her tongue dance around it and sucking on it for a bit as he pulled it out. He traced it down her chin and to her chest. He tugged at her full, heavy breasts and thought about how much more womanly her body had become over time.
"Maybe when we get back you can ask Tristan for some advice on some wild positions," she teased him. Eric's eyes shrunk with fury as he felt himself slamming forcefully against her walls. "Ahh, ooohhh, Eric! Yes! Yes!' Ariel buried her fingers into the flesh of his back and gripped onto his skin as he moved. He could feel her piercing fingernails scratching their way across his shoulder blades. He cupped her face with one hand and squeezed her cheeks together tightly, making her lips pucker up. Eric drove a finger into her mouth again and Ariel bit down on it sharply.
"Ow!" Eric yelled, retracting his hand as a large grin spread across Ariel's face.
"Turn around, you're misbehaving," he commanded, pulling himself out of her and turning her body over. Ariel giggled wildly at Eric being clearly bothered. "Get on your knees," he barked, pulling her hips up toward him and then slapping his penis against her backside a few times while on his feet.
"Oh, this again?" she joked. Eric looked at her dripping opening and slapped it with his hand. "Ahhh!" she cried, but before she knew it Eric was slapping her again even harder. "Eric!" Eric spread her vaginal lips open with two fingers and began to penetrate her with the tip of his member, moving it around in circles and slipping it barely an inch inside. He could feel her becoming wetter, craving him inside of her. She began to move her hips back toward him, wanting him to go in deeper. Eric struck down on her soft cheek with his open hand. "Ooooh!" Ariel howled.
"Tell me you'll behave and I'll put it in," he told her. Ariel was so used to him treating her like a delicate flower that she loved it when he was rough with her.
"I wonder how big he is," Ariel said devilishly. Eric thrust himself into her as far as he could go and then slowly pulled himself out completely.
"You're officially punished," he informed her, getting up to his feet and finding his pants.
"Eric? No, please," she begged him, turning over on her back and spreading her legs wide open. Eric stopped and stared at her for a moment, loving how helpless she looked naked and on the ground. All he could see between her legs was swollen pink lips sprinkled with short red hairs. He slid his pants on and began to put on his boots. "Eric!" she cried, moving toward him as he moved away. "Fine!" Ariel began to reach for her dress that was on the grass beside them.
"Leave that. You're not getting dressed, you're punished."
"Eric!" she laughed. Eric rushed to her dress and picked it up, rolling it up and then tossing it in his leather saddle bag. "Fine, what am I supposed to wear?" Eric took the rope from the bag and smiled to himself as he had a sudden idea.
By the time the teens made it back to shore, the sun was almost completely set in the horizon.
"Oh, no! It's so late!" Melody cried, swimming toward the beach. "I forget about ocean time moving so slowly."
"I'm sure it's no big deal," Tristan told her nonchalantly.
"You don't know my parents," she said, "And besides now I'll be soaked. They'll know where I was."
"Look, if you change your fins once you're out of the water, you can stay dry. It's what I do," he explained.
"Huh, I guess you're right."
"Just can't let anyone see you."
The horses weren't where they had been left on the beach, which could have meant that Ariel and Eric took them back on their way back to the castle. The castle was merely a few hundred yards away from where they changed back. Tristan helped her off the sand with a tug of her arm and then began to put on his shirt and boots. Melody watched his movements, almost sensing some familiarity in the way he moved and walked or even his facial expressions.
"What do you think I should do?" Melody asked Tristan on their way back.
"I already told you, Mel, he's too old for you."
"But I'm serious! Should I wear my hair up or down?"
"Just shave it all off."
"Tristan! You can never just be serious."
"Seriously? It doesn't matter, forget about him. You can do much better."
As they reached the base of the stairs up to the castle, they almost collided with Eric from behind. He was walking backward carrying something large in front of him. As he turned they found that it was Ariel. She was wrapped in the large, purple picnic blanket and appeared to be naked underneath. Her ankles were tied together with a thick rope and she had a handkerchief wrapped around her mouth to keep her from speaking.
"Oh, hi!" Eric looked nervous and surprised, being caught by his teenage daughter and their new young guest. Ariel's eyes widened as she tried to speak but it was muffled. Tristan laughed awkwardly while Melody rolled her eyes at them. "Your mother wasn't feeling well. She can't walk on her own, so I had to carry her. I found your horses nearby on the beach, so I brought them back as well."
"Why is her mouth bound?" Melody interrogated.
"Well, her tooth started hurting. Anyway, I should get her inside. I'll see you both for dinner," Eric said quickly and rushed up the stairs. Melody and Tristan could hear them giggling loudly on their way up the stairs and then the echo of laughter once Ariel and Eric were inside the castle.
"They're pretty- wild," Tristan laughed.
"Ugh, they're so embarrassing!"
"You should be happy they're so in love."
"Too in love," Melody responded.
"You know, you almost sound jealous."
"Jealous? Of my parents! That's nonsense," she snapped at him, "It's just kind of gross to think about."
Melody turned toward the stables and felt suddenly frozen in place.
"I'm starving. Let's go eat something," Tristan said, starting up the stairs. He turned when he realized she wasn't behind him. "Mel? Mel, come on." Tristan looked in the direction Melody was facing and saw Andrew and Helena in the distance. She was leaning against a large wooden post and Andrew was leaning against her, kissing her and holding her near while one hand was well up her skirt.
Melody felt her heart sinking as a lump in her throat grew- she could only stare.
"Mel!" Tristan shook her, "Breathe!" Tristan waved a hand in front of her face and then tapped on her nose several times.
"Stop that!" she snapped out of her trance. She suddenly felt everything moving rapidly as her breath caught up to her. Tristan watched as her eyes filled with tears.
"Please, don't cry," he begged her, hoping he could change the inevitable.
"Just leave me alone," she said quietly, with a slight crack in her voice. Melody quickly pulled away from him and darted up the stairs.
"Melody?" Ariel knocked on Melody's door a few hours later.
"I'm not hungry, mom!"
Ariel opened the door and found Melody curled up in bed with her head on her pillow.
"Oh, honey," Ariel said sweetly and closed the door behind her.
"Mom, please, I don't want to talk to anyone right now. Just go away."
"We don't have to talk. I won't say a word," Ariel told her.
She slowly made her way into the room and onto Melody's bed. Melody, who was facing away from Ariel, tried to hold back the tears she had been crying for the last couple hours. Ariel laid down beside her with her face right behind her head on the pillow and wrapped an arm around her little girl, cuddling Melody into her own body tightly. Melody felt her body tense for a moment, part of her felt uncomfortable that Ariel was even there, she was also embarrassed to be seen crying. But she slowly exhaled and couldn't control it. She sobbed deeply and heavily into her pillow, heaving in deep breaths and exhaling short cries. The pain she felt was unbearable.
Ariel just held her and would gently stroke her arm or squeeze her hand as Melody cried heavily. It pained Ariel to see her daughter hurting and to feel like she could do nothing about it, she decided that all she could do was be there for when Melody was ready to talk about it.
It wasn't long before Melody could no longer cry and began to settle down. After about ten minutes, Melody turned to face Ariel with tears in her eyes. They were both on the same pillow with bodies still closely huddled into one another. Ariel touched Melody's face tenderly, drying a few tears off her cheeks with her thumb.
"It's Andrew, Mom," Melody broke the silence and revealed her secret.
"Who?" Ariel asked, confused, "Is that someone you've met in town?"
"Not exactly," she said.
"Is he a merman?"
"No, he's a human," Melody said quietly, "He's one of the guards here at the castle."
"Oh, ooohh! I see," Ariel responded. Her immediate reaction was to lecture Melody and warn her about men, but she held back. "Is he handsome?"
"Yes. He's too handsome."
"Does he like you?"
"No. He doesn't care about me," Melody whined pitifully.
"Why do you say that?"
"Because I saw him kissing Helena near the stables."
"Oh, I see. Has he kissed you?
"No, no one has. I'm hideous, mom!"
"Melody, you're not! You're beautiful!"
"Then why wouldn't he kiss me- or anyone else," Melody asked. Ariel leaned forward and kissed her forehead. "Oh, mother, nevermind."
"I wanted to kiss you," Ariel smiled. "I'm sorry you're having such a hard time right now. It will hurt for a little while but it will pass."
"It's easy for you to say, you and dad met and were just inseparable."
"Oh, you'd be surprised at the things I went through to marry your father. Being married isn't easy either. We were also young."
"You were my age, weren't you? When you got married?" Melody asked. It suddenly dawned on Ariel that Melody was much older and capable than how Ariel saw her. Ariel imagined Melody telling her she was leaving home and marrying someone she hardly knew and her heart tensed up. No wonder her father was the way he was, she thought.
"Yes. But times were different then."
"Different how?"
"I don't know. Just different," Ariel lied. "What do you think will help?"
"I don't know," Melody sighed, turning onto her back and looking up at the ceiling. "I think I look like a little girl. All of these dresses and ribbons in my hair. Look at this room. It's a little girl's room. All of this pink all over the walls and these stuffed animals and dolls I never touch."
"Melody, you love pink! And you used to love your Mr. Sully Bear!"
"Used to, mom," Melody pursed her lips and rolled her eyes. Ariel looked at Melody as she looked up at the ceiling and realized that her little girl was a young woman. She had her own thoughts and feelings and urges. "You know, I just wish he would notice me. I wish I stood out and men could look at me when I walk by the way they look at Elizabeth or Helena."
A knock came at the door and Melody gave the permission to enter.
"Wow. The two most beautiful women in the world," Eric said in the doorway, "It was getting late and I wasn't sure where you were."
"You can go to bed if you'd like, Eric. I'll join you when we're done here."
"Ok, darling. Goodnight, Melody."
"Goodnight, dad," she smiled and Eric closed the door. Melody suddenly rose from bed and walked to her dresser. "I should probably start changing for bed."
"How do you feel about Tristan?" Ariel asked.
"Tristan?" Melody echoed, almost in a chuckle, "What about him?" She began undoing her dress from behind and let it fall to the floor, revealing a sleeveless undershirt and pantalettes
"Don't you find him attractive?"
"Tristan? Not as much as you do," Melody teased.
"Me?!" Ariel laughed, "He's a baby, like you. You're both babies." Ariel watched as Melody picked out a nightgown and then removed her undershirt, revealing two bouncy, young breasts; bigger than Ariel's at that age. She had never realized that her daughter had developed so much right before her eyes. Melody quickly draped the nightgown over her shoulders and then pulled her pantalettes down.
"He's fun. I like having him here. But, I just don't think we see each other that way. Also, he's kind of too silly for me, I don't know. It's like having an annoying cousin or something," Melody said, neatly folding her undergarments and storing them in her armoire and then hanging up her dress. Ariel smiled at Melody's neatness, Eric was definitely the neater of the two, but every morning the couple would wake up and practically have to step over the clothes they wore the day before.
"He might care about you more than you think," Ariel told her. "There will be so many princes at your ball!"
"I don't know, mom," Melody said getting back into bed, this time under the covers, "Princes are so weird. I mean, look at John. They never seem like real humans. Almost as if they all have something to hide."
"I've never thought about that," Ariel wondered out loud as she snuggled in closer to Melody over the covers. "Would you like me to stay with you here tonight? We haven't slept together since you were a little girl."
"No, it's alright, mom."
"Can you promise me one thing?"
"Oh, no," Melody groaned.
"When you have your first kiss, promise to tell me about it?"
"I promise," Melody chucked. Ariel leaned forward and kissed her cheek. "Goodnight, darling. I love you."
"I love you, too, Mom. Goodnight."
Ariel stood in the door frame of Tristan's room and watched as he stood shirtless, looking at himself in the mirror over the dresser.
"Are you coming or going?" she asked him.
"Oh, hi! You scared me," Tristan said loudly.
"I just came from Melody's room."
"How is she doing?" he asked.
"Well, she told me- about the guard."
"She'll be alright," he said and began walking toward the bed.
"So are you staying or going?"
"Huh?"
"In the room," she smiled.
"Oh, no- I am staying. I'm exhausted, I'm going to hit that pillow so hard I might just die. Don't wake me up until lunch tomorrow, or maybe even next Friday." Tristan leaped into bed with all four limbs sprawled out over the linens.
"You look like a starfish," Ariel joked. Tristan laughed to himself and then climbed his way into the covers. Ariel walked over to him in bed and sat down with a knee up on the mattress. "Get some rest," she said, tucking the covers under his arms and then smoothing them over his body.
"Uh, thank you," he said, a little taken back by her action and proximity.
"I'm sorry if asking too many questions earlier hurt you in any way. I didn't mean to bring up hurtful memories."
"It's alright, really. I don't let too much bother me. That is all part of my past," he told her reassuringly.
"Either way, I'm sorry. I'll let you sleep in tomorrow, I won't come by until lunch," she told him.
"It's alright. This is the earliest I've gone to sleep in a very long time."
Ariel reached over and gently caressed the side of his face with a smile. Tristan smiled back at her, the two of them not saying a word for several moments. She then leaned in and placed a long, tender kiss on his cheek. She felt the warmth of his smooth skin against her nose and found it difficult to pull away.
"Goodnight, my darling," she whispered as she finally did detach herself. Tristan felt the urge to almost kiss her. He loved the feeling of her skin touching his. He wanted to pull her back in, bury her beneath the covers with him and just hold her until they both fell asleep. He didn't want that warmth to leave him. When Ariel dimmed the candles and left the room, he felt suddenly cold in that big bed all alone.
"Tristan!" Melody whispered roughly, "Tristan!"
"What?! Why do you have to say my name so much?" he groaned sleepily several hours later in his bed.
"I can't sleep."
"So?"
"Can I lie down here with you- only for a bit?" she asked quietly. Tristan actually liked the idea of that.
"No, go back to your own bed," he told her. He didn't know what Melody was up to and he didn't want to be involved.
"Please, Tristan!"
"I said 'no', and stop saying my name so much!" he turned his head and faced away from her.
"Fine. I only saved you from dying and had my family take you in and feed you and nurse you back to health," Melody said as she walked away toward the door slowly.
"You know, you're such a brat," he said, "Get in." Melody raced back to his bed and jumped right in. "Not under the covers!" he shouted with a moan.
"But I'm going to get cold," she whined and pulled the blanket covers up over her shoulder as she curled up in a ball, with her back to his. Tristan turned over and pulled her into his chest, her head resting on the pillow right beneath his chin. He could smell the ocean in her hair and it made him feel at ease. Melody felt safe with his big, strong arm wrapped around her, resting over her own arm across her stomach right beneath her breast. She had never been that close to a male before and part of her felt like it was almost wrong.
The thought of it being wrong excited her. She wondered what her dad would do if he found her in bed with Tristan. Not only would she be grounded, but the questions would never end. She inhaled and exhaled deeply, pushing her back against him more firmly. Tristan held her more tightly and sighed softly, feeling himself dozing off to sleep.
Melody wondered if her feelings for Tristan were beginning to change. She wondered if she felt nervous or excited or anxious or any of the other feelings she had felt in Andrew's presence. She decided that none of that existed with Tristan and all she could feel was a sense of relief and calm. She closed her eyes and finally began to sleep.
Sorry it took a while to update! Thoughts? Comments? I can see I have some several hundred visitors of this story who never really comment or share. I encourage you to! Next update should be soon!