Prompt: continuation of the first Little Mermaid fic
Nikola gathered quickly that the dinglehopper was not meant to be used as a hair-styling device after all, when serious Queen Helen herself dissolved into hopeless laughter at the dinner table when he tried, but he was half-tempted to keep going just to keep hearing her beautiful ringing laugh.
She laughed again when they were standing in the courtyard, waiting for the carriage to take them on a tour of her kingdom, and a flock of pigeons flew down and settled on his arms and shoulders, and one daring bird even landed on his head.
But later, when they were on their way back to the castle with a blanket tucked over them against the night's chill, it was a softer smile that came over her face as she leaned closer to him, answered in kind by Nikola when their fingers interlaced gently.