Nastasya felt numb. Eric's failure to return home that morning hadn't surprised her. He had every right to despise her, to keep his distance, but when she made the decision to check the caves having worried all night long she truly had expected to find him here. It's emptiness filled her with dread. Where could he be? She pondered the likelihood of him being at the shipwrecks, or amongst the kelp, allowing himself time to think. Perhaps it was his desire to make her uneasy, perhaps he felt that she deserved it for upsetting him so last night? She tried to put herself in Eric's shoes, so to speak, but found to her distress that she didn't know her boy at all.

The wind whipped about her, prising away loose tendrils of her hair and setting them in a flutter. Was it any wonder she'd gone grey what with all she had to contend with?

A new possibility presented itself then, and she had to clutch at the rocks to steady herself. What if Eric had turned to another with his questions?

That name, the one he had mentioned last night—Oh! how it hurt to think of it now—would Eric have sought out its owner in search of the answers she had denied him? It had floored her yesterday, to hear a name so long suppressed spoken where she least expected. To think that those two parts of her life had clashed without her knowing! How much did Eric know?

She sincerely wished that she had controlled herself last night, that she had contained her emotions instead of lashing out. Eric hadn't deserved to be the recipient of her anguish. Would she ever get the chance to tell him how sorry she was? If something had happened to him in the village would never forgive herself.

That at that moment he was in fact locked beneath Atlantica didn't so much as cross her mind. In her imaginings he had gone in search of answers following her departure last night, and the fact that the sun had already risen without his return could only mean that he was in trouble.

Her tears flowed unchecked as Nastasya struggled to decide on the next course of action. She had to find him, wherever he was. She couldn't lose another child.

The dungeons were rarely guarded from above, the guards being stationed only at the archway that connected them to the palace. It was easy then for Ariel to slip in unnoticed via the tall trench that ran along the edge of the city. The walls were close either side, and the little mermaid cringed as her descent brought her into contact with slick seaweed and slippery creatures, no doubt irritated by the disturbance.

She needed to see Eric, to tell him that she and her sisters were going to get him out so that he might not have to wait in bleak despondency. She would give him hope, even if it came to nought. She wouldn't dwell on such possibilities though—she couldn't, it would destroy her to think on her father's intentions.

The trench widened gradually towards the bottom, and Ariel was careful to scan for drifting guards. There were none. She began her search, checking each cell in turn. This wasn't a place she chose to visit on her adventures, and the gloom and lingering chill reminded her why. It was joyless.

It didn't take long to find Eric and, though she had prepared herself for the worst, the sight of him still stole her breath away. He sat half hidden in shadow, back to wall and eyes downcast. She hated to see him so dejected.

'Eric?' The Princess kept her voice low, cast another quick glance down the trench to where she knew the guards to be stationed.

Eric startled, lifted his eyes and stared at the intruder for what seemed like an age, as though struggling either to recall who presented themselves to him, or whether this was not some apparition of his own making. Evidently he decided that, yes, it was Ariel before him, and rose from the seabed to meet her. His voice was hoarse when he spoke her name.

Ariel grimaced at the dark scattering of bruises to his ribs, her guilt at being the one to lead him to such unprovoked brutality multiplying tenfold. She gripped his hands through the abrasive, fortified coral, relieved that he appeared to have sustained no serious injury.

'Oh Eric, I'm so sorry,' she said remorsefully, sliding her fingers through his hair and cupping his cheek. 'This is all my fault, I should never have brought you here.'

Eric shook his head. 'You did nothing wrong,' he assured her. 'You warned me, my mother did too... I didn't listen.' It was, he felt, his own folly that had landed him here, his ignorance of the risks after they had been so clearly stated by those who cared about him. He should have listened, he wished he'd listened, instead of acting so recklessly. 'Ariel I hate to ask, but will you tell my her... my mother? Will you tell her that I'm sorry?'

The Princess faltered, pained by his apparent acceptance. He couldn't lose hope, not yet. 'You can tell her yourself. We're going to get you out Eric.'

'We?'

'My sister's and I.' Ariel hesitated. She needed to tell Eric what her sister's had revealed, he deserved to know, but time was fleeting and the longer she stayed here the less time she would have to formulate an escape plan. 'Eric, I... I learned something about you, about your past.'

Eric sighed and then said, to Ariel's surprise, 'So did I.' He looked tormented. 'I've never felt less connected to myself.'

Ariel pulled him closer, their foreheads touching now between the coral. 'Tonight,' she began, 'tonight we'll talk properly. I'll tell you everything I know. We'll fix this Eric, I promise.'

He nodded in response, though it lacked any real conviction. What did it matter now?

The sun was high in the sky when Ariel rejoined her sister's; they had less than six hours. If they hadn't come up with anything by the next turn of the tide they would have cause to panic. It was, thank Neptune!, a day without lessons for all, and so their prolonged seclusion was unlikely to raise any major suspicion. Their gathering would be assumed to pertain to idle gossip, as was natural for siblings their age, royal or otherwise. Their father would hopefully be engaged in his own duties all day without need nor leisure to interrupt their scheming. All that was left was to figure how they would retrieve the keys to cell from the guards and return Eric to the surface without being seen—or at least without being stopped. They would worry about the repercussions later.

They sat, as they had that morning, on and around two adjacent beds, filling the space with half-formed suggestions as to how they might go about their plight.

Ariel settled beside Aquata, who shook her head to convey that she hadn't missed much, that an sensible or feasible plan was yet to be achieved.

'What about the trident?' suggested Alana, 'Attina's been learning how to use it. Then we wouldn't need the keys!'

Attina was quick to rule out the possibility. 'Absolutely not!' she exclaimed, much to her sister's chagrin. She had been having lessons, it was true, but to steal it was out of the question and she was far from confident in her ability to wield it accurately. It was too dangerous.

'Well I don't see you coming up with a better idea,' Alana exhorted.

'Better to have no ideas than stupid ones,' jeered Andrina.

'At least she's trying!' Adella chipped in.

Aquata rolled her eyes and Ariel sighed beside her. This bickering was getting them nowhere, they didn't have time for it; Eric's transformation would occur at sunset whether they were ready or not.

'Enough!' All were silenced by Aquata's outburst. 'This is ridiculous.'

The sister's looked down sheepishly. They owed it to their mother and to the boy she had loved as a son to at least make an effort. But when was the last time they had actually worked together?

'We'll be in such trouble if Daddy finds out about this,' fretted Arista, brushing aside blonde bangs.

'He'll find out one way or another,' stated Attina. 'Girls, you have to understand how much this is going to hurt him.' Aquata looked set to interject, but she silenced her with a raised palm and continued. 'I know his hatred is misplaced, I see that now, but he doesn't. In his mind Eric as good as killed Mother, when he learns that we helped him he'll... it may well break him. Have at least a little sympathy.'

A thoughtful silence followed. It was difficult to understand why their father felt the way he did, but it couldn't be without reason. Attina was right, they needed to take care.

'You understand him Tina, and he trusts you because of it. Maybe you could distract him whilst we free Eric?' Andrina suggested.

Attina looked daunted by the idea. Distract him how? Six pairs of eyes looked to her expectantly though, buoyed by the possibility that they at last had the foundations for a plan. She took a measured breath and agreed to assume the part.

After that it was easier, not immediate, but over the course of the afternoon they were able to gather sufficient ideas to lay out a loose scheme. Attina would keep their father, by way of conversation, away from the dungeons. Alana, Adella and Andrina would distract the guards whilst Arista, possessing the ability to move with ethereal silence when she chose to, plucked the keys from their belt. Aquata would receive them and then she and Ariel would free Eric and make sure he got to the surface. It was a plan peppered with uncertainty, so much could go wrong, but it was the best they had.

They all, though apprehensive as Aquata explained it one last time, dared to hope that it might just work. Then, as the tide turned and they readied themselves to put it into action, a servant—Medina—appeared at the archway to their room.

'Your father requests that you all join him for dinner,' she announced.

No daughter had ever looked so distraught to learn such a thing, but in that moment there existed seven, their faces ashen. Ariel felt physically sick, and looked desperately among her sisters for some idea that would see them excused. None were forthcoming.

Aquata squeezed her youngest sister's hand as they filed down to the dining room.

'There's still time,' she whispered, 'we'll make this quick.' Then, raising her voice a little to be heard by the others, 'Everybody act normal, don't give anything away, we can still do this.'

Never had sunset approached so rapidly. Eric was certain that even the winter solstice had never pulled the sun down with such swiftness. It was difficult to determine from his current residence, but over the years he had developed something of a knack for predicting the time, it was necessary, though today he would much rather have remained ignorant. But the temperature dropped and the light faded and he knew that time was fast slipping away. He couldn't bear waiting, and took to swimming fretful circles around his cell, his trepidation ever climbing.

Ariel had promised, and he trusted her entirely, but how late did she want to leave it?

He practised holding his breath, hoping that he could buy himself at least a few more seconds, before realising that he would have no breath to hold and abandoning the exercise with a huff of anguish.

The waiting without knowing coupled with being, at present, utterly helpless felt to Eric like some form of torture. Certainly a person could be driven to madness placed in such a situation.

In his desperation he thought to call for the guards. They had ignored his pleas thus far, but it seemed in that moment like it might be worth another effort. He pressed himself to the coral, filled his lungs, faltered when a shadow passed over him and looked up to determine its source.

'Ariel!' His relief was palpable.

'Oh Neptune! Eric I'm so sorry!' cried the Princess, taking his hands. 'My sister's are getting the keys, they won't be long.'

Never had a meal been eaten so quickly than that which had just passed. Ariel hadn't eaten a thing, those of her sisters who had had done so at such speed as to raise their father's suspicion. Adella had fabricated some excuse for their swift departure, stating that they had been rehearsing something for him all day and were keen to get back to it. Ariel had not looked his way once, certain that his scepticism towards her sudden recovery of sprints would only lead to further questions should he read her expression. He had, albeit reluctantly, allowed them leave, suggesting that he would look on their progress presently. Attina had held him back with a rather demure, 'Father, may I speak with you?'

Ariel relayed this to Eric as they waited, but the merman simply shook his head.

'It's too late,' he fretted, 'Ariel you have to leave, I don't want you to—'

'Stop that. Don't say that, it's not too late,' insisted Ariel, cupping his cheek. 'We'll get you to the surface one way or another. I won't leave you down here.'

Muffled voices found them from the passage outside, shrill and familiar to Ariel, followed by the deeper, imploring voices of the exasperated guards as they sought to quell the faux disagreement.

The longer this went on the more agitated Eric became. He was scared, terrified of what would soon be upon him. He didn't want to die.

'Ariel, please,' he whimpered, trembling fingers caught still within hers. It sounded pathetic even to his own ears, but he could not conceal his fear, certain that his racing heart was set to burst through his chest.

'Hold on,' Ariel implored, looking fretfully to the arch through which she hoped to see her sister. What would she do if they had failed? The absence of a backup plan suddenly struck her, but any time she may have had to consider it was then snatched away.

Eric gasped, inadvertently crushing her fingers. The sheer panic that conquered his features in that moment would haunt Ariel for the rest of her life.

'Ariel!'

Triton's youngest whipped her head in the direction of the cry. It was Aquata, holding aloft the fruit of her endeavours.

'Quickly!' Ariel urged her. She turned her attention back to Eric, who was doubled over in agony, though whether his cries were more out of pain or fear she couldn't be certain.

Aquata darted over, fumbling for the correct key amongst the selection in her hands. At the sight of Eric she faltered, her breath momentarily stolen from her at the sight of the little brother she had held in her heart for so long. To see him now brought back a flood of memories, and only when Ariel screamed her name did she snap out of her reverie.

The second the gate was open Ariel grabbed Eric by the arm. His tail split with a final groan as Aquata did the same, and his breath was stolen from him. Neither of the two sisters had ever swam with such determination as they did then, driven by the fact that between them Eric's struggles grew ever more frantic. They had not a care who saw them as they ascended, bursting from the trench and continuing straight up—there was no time to make for land, the surface was their only destination. The violent convulsions which wracked Eric's body were difficult to witness, but when he seized and promptly fell limp both Ariel and Aquata wished for their return. The former cried out in anguish, propelling herself faster.

When at last they breached the surface, neither paid heed to the initial discomfort of filling their lungs with such lightness, their only goal was to get Eric to fill his.

'Eric breathe!' begged Ariel, cradling his head against her shoulder. 'Please! Eric please!'

Her pleas came to nought. Eric did not move, made not a sound as the Princesses fretted over him.

'Ariel we have to get him to land! We can't help him here,' Aquata entreated, scanning her surroundings for the nearest shore. The tide was high, lapping at the palace steps. If they could get him there perhaps someone could help?

Ariel agonised over the lifelessness of her beloved, willing him to take a breath, to show her that he had not yet given up. That swim to shore was the longest of her life, and when they finally lay him upon the marble steps Ariel couldn't but weep. She pressed her head against Eric's and clung to him.

'Please wake up.' Her words came as only a broken whisper. She couldn't lose him. They had been so close. The rest of the world slipped away, her screams drowning out the ocean itself. Only when Aquata gripped her wrist and did she notice her sister's alarm. A door above them opened with a heavy groan, and Ariel had no time to react before she was pulled back into the ocean.

A stout woman, her hair bound atop her head, paused at the top of the steps, then disappeared for a moment before hastening downwards.

The two mermaids pressed themselves against the balustrade, kept themselves low in the water and out of sight as she approached Eric.

'Oh merciful heavens!' she exclaimed, kneeling at his side and turning his face towards her. She lowered her ear to his chest as two men appeared above her. 'He's not breathing,' she informed them, as they too came to a halt at his side.

Ariel watched with alarm as one lay his hands upon Eric's chest, repeatedly leaning into him with a force she feared would cause injury.

'What are they doing!' Her voice strained under the weight of her concern, but Aquata shushed her, lest they should be heard.

The dreadful silence was at last broken, first Eric choked, then he retched, and at long last he drew a sharp, shuddering breath that made Ariel lightheaded with relief. The woman beside him spoke softly all the while, her words indiscernible, her hand upon his head. Ariel chanced to peer from her hiding place in time to see his eyes flutter shut. The women looked round, forcing the Princess's retreat. She stood and turned to the men.

'Take him inside,' she instructed, sending a pang of alarm through the hidden sisters. 'Goodness knows what the poor thing's been through.'

Ariel and Aquata could only watch with bated breath, looking to each other in horror as the men lifted Eric between them and carried him from view.

The woman remained, looked out across the ocean, unaware of her company. 'I was sure I heard someone else,' she muttered to herself. Then she too took off, the doors to the palace shutting with a twin thud behind her. The mermaids were left alone, frozen in the deepening twilight. Each had the same question in her mind; now what?