Summer Days
It was a sunny day in late August, Eric and his best friend Fiotan were out fishing in a rowing boat. Both had their trouser legs rolled up and were bare-chested, their shirts in a pile on the bottom of the boat. Both had been friends since childhood, Fiotan's father was an Earl and a member of William's Privy Council.1 Despite the fact that he had married a mermaid, Eric still ate some fish, as Ariel had managed accept it. As they fished the pair chatted about this and that.
"So Fio, when are you going to find a girl?" asked Eric.
"When I'm good and ready, jeez you sound like my flipping Mother, besides you took long enough."
"I'm just saying. Besides I overheard my mother talking to yours the other day, from the sound of it they were planning something, sounded like match making."
"Oh great, that's all I need, that pair teaming up. They'll have me meeting every available girl in the kingdom. What is it with this rush to have us lads married all of a sudden?"
"I think they want some grandchildren to secure the inheritance, that or else they want us attached so we cannot get up to any mischief" Eric replied with a grin.
"Well they will not be getting any out of me any time soon."
"Me nether, Ariel and I haven't even talked about that, we're both far too young."
"Too right you are, no need to think about that for another few years. I wonder how Shiloh's parents will react when they find out about become grandparents" Fio said.
"I'm guessing at they will hit the ceiling, I would not like to be in Shiloh's shoes" Eric replied as both heard loud barking.
Turning around both grinned as they saw Eric's seal friend Storm. Storm's head was bopping up and down in the water, his whiskery face smiling at them. With a splash Storm swam up to the boat, pressing one wet slipper on its side. Kneeling down in the boat Eric and Fiotan stroked Storm's wet fur, with Storm flicking his tail to show his enjoyment. Then with a splash Storm dived under the water appearing moments later with a large haddock in his mouth. Looking at each other Eric and Fiotan picked up an ore, and with Storm swimming next to them, the pair rowed away into the sea.
A short time later they arrived at their destination, a rocky island that was inhabited by a colony of seals. Seeing the humans in the boat, several of the seals swam over, with some of the fluffy pups looking at them with aw. On impulse Fiotan cast his line into the water, keen to see what fish were swimming around. Moments later he felt a sharp tug, and began to real in, when suddenly the line jerked and Fiotan himself was pulled into the water. With a yell Eric tried to grasp his friends boots, but missed by millimetres. For a nervous few moments Eric waited with baited breath. Then Fiotan surfaced, holding his rod and glaring at a large male seal which held it's end in his mouth. Seeing the sight Eric burst out laughing as he helped his friend into the boat.
"Well well looks like I have caught a fish" Eric said as he pulled Fiotan into the boat.
"Very funny Eric" replied Fiotan, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
While Eric and Fiotan were having fun with the seals, Ariel, Flounder, Aquata and Spot were playing with children on the beach. Children sat on Spot's back as he gave them a ride, with Ariel and Flounder swimming next to them. On the beach others sat with Aquata, listening as she told them stories of Atlantica. On the promenade above the beach adults watched the group, all happy to see both races getting along well together.
"ARIEL AQUATA" came a call and both looked up to see Moina and Rosaline walking down the steps towards them.
"Hi Miona, Rosaline" said Ariel as the pair sat down on the sand.
"So are you both having fun with the children?" asked Rosaline.
"We are, it was wonderful to be able to tell them about Atlantica, they are so curios" Aquata replied.
"Stories about mermaids have always been told, but we never knew you were real until Ariel became human. Children and adults are eager to hear about your world, having you here is good for them" Rosaline said.
"We are glad to tell them, would you both like a ride on Spot?" asked Ariel as she watched some children play with the whale.
"I couldn't possibly" replied Rosaline.
"Yes you could, Spot is friendly Ros, I have ridden him" replied Miona as she walked into the water.
"Come on Ros, one ride" Ariel said.
"No, I have places to go this afternoon I cannot get by dress wet" Roaline replied watching as Miona played with Spot.
That evening Ariel, Eric, Sofia, Miona and Fiotan sat on blankets on the beach, in front of them food cooked over a fire. Each had a plate with food on it and a glass of white wine in their hand. All sat around tell stories of times past, and what they were like as children.
"I remember one week when it was snowing, me and Eric went tobogganing with other children. We were all racing down the hill when the local gamekeeper walked in front of us, Eric and I accidently crashed into him. We all ended up face down in a ditch, he wasn't too pleased with us" Fiotan said.
"I remember that day, we came in soaking wet, your Mother nearly killed us" Eric said smiling fondly.
"Has Eric ever told you about the Halloween when he was thirteen?" Miona asked looking at Ariel.
"No, what happened?"
"Myself and Eric had thrown a party, all our friends and the servants children were there. Well Eric had gone as a vampire, I was a witch and Fiotan was a ghost, before the party started we all hid in the bushes and jumped out at the Privy Council as they were going home" Miona said.
"We scared the life out of them, you should have been their faces" laughed Eric.
"They couldn't believe it, when they found it out is was us they did see the funny side of it" Fiotan said pouring himself another glass of wine.
"Next morning they all told me about it, I have to say I was not too surprised" said William looking at the three in question.
"We had some good times as children" Eric replied as the group watched the sun set.
1 Privy Council was the made up of men who advised the king, the majority of them were earls, barons or lords.