*Now a core member on Deviantart! Take a look as I fixed some things around on my gallery, still aiming to work on the others day by day. Now, back to the story, and enjoy even if some chapters are sad including this one. -Traveler

(Athena's P.O.V.)

I couldn't stop thinking of Ariel's last comment and how she looked when she said it. I was both relieved and concerned when I overheard some of my daughters talking to themselves about Eric visiting and saying that Ariel wanted to stay away for a while to cool off. I was hopeful that she'd come home soon as it was felt all around to not see Ariel flitting around the castle, sitting down for meals, or chatting happily.

That feeling grew a tad bigger as I sat down for breakfast, my other daughters joining in here and there, and I soon felt strange when my heart felt very anxious as if there's something happening to Ariel, and not a moment later, a trumpeting horn sounded out, and I recognized it as a emergency call, and just as I was to grab the Trident, I heard faint shouting in the hall.

I looked over, and I gasped in horror as I saw Eric carrying a very sickly Ariel in his arms, his screams and shouts for help lessened when he saw me. "Ariel's unconscious! I can't wake her up! There's something wrong! Please help her, please!".

For a brief moment, I thought I saw Triton in his place, screaming for help when I was in sudden labor with Ariel, then it faded, but I recognized the terrified and helpless look in his eyes, and I knew at once that Ariel's in serious trouble. I grabbed the Trident quickly, and ordered Eric to put Ariel down, and he was reluctant, not wanting to leave her alone, but I told him that I have to heal her with no one in the way, and he backed away, laying Ariel down gently as possible, whispering to her about something.

My other daughters were all sobbing, crying, murmuring as they hugged each other in horror and terror, and I took a deep breath as I glanced at my beloved little princess upon the floor, and I aimed the Trident at her with a steady flow of magic, and after the rule of two minutes, I stopped the flow, but to my horror, she remained sickly as before, and Eric darted to her side, touching her forehead.

He shook his head, "No, no! It was supposed to work! She's still burning and freezing at the same time! Please, Ariel, don't leave me!". He sobbed, cradling Ariel into his lap as I ordered fast and loud for the first time ever, calling for all the healers and nurses to help Ariel. I couldn't stop staring at the obvious actions of Eric as he cradled Ariel ever so gently, sobbing and whispering.

I realized that Eric truly loves Ariel and she to him as well, and I wanted to stop it for the kingdom. I swam to them, asking Eric of what he knows what could have happened out there. Haltingly, Eric told me that Ariel wanted to explore, be free as a normal mermaid, to have fun. Racing, exploring, talking, eating. Eric weakly told me that he kept Ariel from being reckless, but he was afraid that Ariel must have touched or eaten something that made her sick.

I told him to carry Ariel and he, again, was gentle about it, love and pain in his eyes as he glanced upon Ariel, and I was so downhearted, so brokenhearted that I could lose Ariel completely because of that stupid fight yesterday, and it would be the greatest pain ever since I lost Triton, yet to Eric, it would be the most terrible and greatest pain for him as he loves Ariel with all his heart.

I knew this day would be long, finding cures for this curious ailment I couldn't heal for some reason. To block the magic like that, it must be a powerful and dangerous illness as I felt and heard her symptoms. My other daughters were distraught and upset which they had left the castle, undoubtedly spreading the news to Sebastian and Flounder.

Yet with each attempt to cure Ariel, I failed her this day, my heart twisting in a tight knot, making it hard to breathe yet it was a painful sight to see Eric looking so small as he held Ariel's hand, kissing her softly on her cheek or forehead sometimes, and his pained look as he heard Ariel's moans and whimpering.

I was partly relieved when she woke up at sunset, the fever and chills disappearing strangely, hearing her sore yet bewildered voice as she saw Eric and me. Her pale body still scares me, and I hope with time, she'd bounce back to the bubbly, wonderful daughter I love, and Eric seems to feel the same, hugging Ariel so gently yet tight as he doesn't look like he wants to let go of her right now which I bitter-sweetly smiled at, wishing I had Triton back to hold me again like old times.