Ariel's POV

It has been almost a whole day since I had left the life of legs behind me. I was laying on a rock in the grotto staring up at a hole. Flounder swam around in circles throwing suggestions of what to do. I sighed and sat up looking at him.

"Now's not a good time Flounder," I swam past him.

"But Ariel," he whined. "Sebastian is going to tell your father about you moping around."

"I don't care. Maybe I'll wind up on land again."

"Don't say that! I missed you the day you were gone. No one wanted to go exploring." Ariel smiled at the yellow and blue fish. She pinched his fins and began spinning him in circles. She smiled for the first time in a long time.

"Let's go to the ships please!"

"Fine," she smiled and swam after Flounder to the entrance.

We had swam to a ship that looked familiar. Once past a few sharks, we slipped in a battered side and came upon a large chest. Do all humans travel with there jewels, I thought sighing. Flounder swam ahead uninterested. "Hey Ariel. Look over here!"

"What in Neptune is that," I stared wide eyed at a statue that looked way to much like Eric.

"Isn't that the man you were with?" Flounder swam around it almost memorizing it.

"Yeah. But that means that this is," I began to panic and swam searching for any bodies that may have gotten trapped. Flounder tried to keep up but in the end I lost him.

There was no sign of Eric anywhere other then the statue. I sat on one of the chairs and let out a held in breath. Flounder was panting when he swam up. "What was that all about?"

"I was worried Eric was trapped on here."

"I'm sure he is safe Ariel. He doesn't seem like one of the dumber guys who get caught."

I smiled weakly and nodded. Flounder took one of my hands in his fins and escorted me back to the palace.

Eric's POV

It's been one day since Elisa told me the truth. She didn't want to be forced into a marriage, especially with a guy who isn't in love with her. I felt guilty as Mother bid her far well from the side of her carriage. I watched from the steps, my hands shoved in my pockets. Mother kept a plastered smile on her face till the carriage was far out of sight. She then turned to me and gave a glare that could wake the dead. I swallowed and headed inside, not wanting an argument.

"Grimsby," I called and he was at my side. "Do you recall where that ship went down?"

"No sir. That storm seemed to come out of no where."

"I'm going to take a smaller boat out and go looking for it."

"I would rather you didn't. Or at least take some of the crew with you."

"Oh come one Grimsby. Don't turn into a second mother." We reached my room where I grabbed different shirt and swapped out my shirts.

"I'm not trying to be your mother," Grimsby added as we went back outside to the docks. "I'm am simply attempting to keep you safe."

"Thank you for your concern, but I am sure I'll be better off with some time to myself."

"To think of Ariel? That's why you wanted to go sailing last time."

"Listen it's not what you think. I know she's gone, Grims," I said as I boarded the small row boat.

"Oh Eric. I hope your mother never finds out." I shook my head at him and pushed off the shore waving at Grimsby who just waved back smiling.