"Lily.. how perfect a name that is for her.", Esmeralda was tearing up at the sight of her; obviously tears of joy as Guido rubbed her back. "It's okay, Esme... she's here now... you did wonderful.", he whispered as he kissed her cheek.
Esmeralda gave a tearful, happy smile as Mira gestured to Arcadia after she had cut the cord, clipping it off, and Arcadia nodded, "We'll leave you two lovebirds alone, and Lily, such a great name! We will tell the others the news.", with a warm smile, and then the two women left the room, closing the door.
Lily gurgled before whining hungrily, and Esmeralda chuckled, taking her bra off, adjusting Lily closer, instantly latching into a nipple, suckling up her first meal of the day...Esmeralda whispered softly, "We're parents, Guido.", with a happy sob as she kissed Guido on the cheek.
"We are...", Guido chuckled as he looked at their daughter. "I... it feels so unreal almost... holding a life in our hands that we created. Is this often what it feels like?", he asked.
Esmeralda smiled wryly, "Mama said that nothing compares to the feeling of being in charge of a whole human being, always a great responsibility, yet it seems less scary when we give love, compassion, and care...Lily is ours, all ours.", leaning her head on her husband's shoulder contentedly as she watched Lily suckling.
"Yeah... she is...", Guido sighed. "Just... it's just a wonderful miracle.", with an awed smile. "Funny too... considering she was born on your birthday.", Esmeralda smiled.
"Supposed birthday, they just guessed how old I actually was.", Guido reminded as she rolled her eyes. Esmeralda smirked, "After all those years, you ain't going to let that go, are you?".
Guido sighed, "I suppose I should, but it's a mystery, an unsolved mystery that is...I better leave it alone, anyway...I wouldn't want to be obsessed over a silly thing...just celebrate her birthday every year...see Lily grow up...oh, God, now I know how Tazio feels when he was protective of you...".
Esmeralda giggled, "Nothing changes too much, yet everything changes a lot...", kissing Guido on the lips, and Guido smiled warmly, "I won't argue on that, my beauty.".
And so, the newfound parents learned to be there for Lily, and soon, after a formal announcement of Lily being a minor princess, still royal, but not viable for the throne, maybe a week later, Eric is starting to feel nostalgic, beginning to realize that he's slowing down at last...he has a suspicion that his time is coming...yet he is not strangely scared, deciding to tell Ariel so she would know that Eric wants to go peacefully without making the rest of the family stressing out...
"How long do you think?", Ariel asked him once he admitted his thoughts. "Who's to say, I know age really has caught the both of us now, but, aside from the normal stuff of age, I don't feel too bad... just... slowed down.", Eric explained. "For all I know, I might still have another two decades of life left in me.".
Ariel nodded and smiled, "I understand, my love...", and Eric smiled tenderly, kissing her on the lips, "Ariel, could you do me a favor?".
"What is it, Eric?", Ariel asked softly, and Eric exhaled, "Would you stay long enough to witness Tazio's ceremony to become king if my time comes before you?".
"I'll try...", Ariel told him as he looked at her. "Eric, we're soulmates... I don't really know how long I could go on if I lost you... for good this time.", she pointed that out since they were apart for a while at one point.
"I know you'd try... and I know what you mean, I'd feel the same if you died first...", Eric murmured, kissing her on the temple gently.
Ariel smiled sadly, kissing him on the lips, "Naturally.", and Eric cuddled with her for a moment before exhaling, "I think we should have a repeat of our first dates, a day in town, dancing and swimming in the lagoon...I feel spry enough for it.", with a warm, loving look.
"Yeah, I agree. I'm not bed ridden just yet, after all.", Eric chuckled as both he and her made their way out of the castle. Not in a hurry, obviously, but at their own manageable pace; they still felt healthy enough to keep going for a few more years at least and they were going to live like it for sure.
The town is incredibly happy to see the love between the king and queen staying so strong between them...Many stall vendors was kind enough to show the developments of food, furniture, and technology at a low price...the elderly villagers remember their first venture into the town together, and how Ariel was enraptured by everything, with Eric having joy and love in his eyes for the first time they'd had remembered...and now they swore that they are as graceful at dancing and singing as before...the lagoon animals witnessed their playtime, almost acting like teenagers in love, with laughter and joy as they swam.
Blissfully happy and exhausted, the couple strolled down the shore to the palace, enjoying the sound of the waves and the beauty of the sunset, and made it in time for a chaotically entertaining and content dinner with the whole family in the dining hall.
With cuddles and kisses, the couple went to sleep, yet one of them will sleep forever in peace...It was near midnight when Eric heard a bark.
He figured that it was Leo barking in his sleep, but when the bark became clear and strangely familiar, Eric realized that Leo wouldn't sleep in the room with them as Guido was his master, protective of Lily for his master and mistress. And there was always one who slept in the room with the king and queen long ago..
Eric heard the bark again, and opened his eyes to see Max bouncing and pouncing on the floor before him, and Eric smiled brightly and laughed as he got out of bed, ruffling his old best friend's fur, "Max!", before realizing that he felt younger than ever, and he looked back to see his mortal elderly body tucked in, a smile on his face...He saw Ariel on the other side, and he exhaled, smiling tenderly as he walked around the bed, and watched Ariel lovingly, leaning in, kissing her on the cheek yet she only felt a breeze, scrunching her nose.
He chuckled warmly, "I love you, Ariel...I'll be waiting for you, my little mermaid.", before hearing a bark, and glanced to see Max at the balcony doors, whining.
Come morning, it was quiet in the palace for a bit before Tazio realized something was wrong when neither of his parents had come to breakfast. He went to their room where he found Ariel at the end of the bed with her hands in her face as she was sobbing. Tazio knew immediately what had happened.
"Mom...", Tazio muttered as she looked up to see her eldest son. She put on a tearful smile as she tried to at least keep herself from losing it.
"I thought... I thought we still had a bit more time...", Ariel said as Tazio walked over to check Eric, to make sure that indeed he passed on. "I hope you'll be alright with me joining him soon...". Tazio looked right back at her. "I don't expect to live very long without him... you know what I said about soulmates growing up.".
"Mom...", Tazio walked over to hug her tight as she just started to sob again.
Ariel hugged him tightly, sobbing and some minutes later, there was commotion before silence came, and Ariel managed to peek over Tazio's shoulder to see her other children staring in shock before Arcadia ran over to Ariel, hugging her as she cried, and that started all the mourning...
Before the sun even reached the highest flagpole, the horns bellowed out with the announcement of the king's death.
"Hey...", In the next morning, Melody walked into Tazio's room as already some servants were quickly preparing him for the coronation that's going to happen in a few days.
"Hey, Melody...", Tazio sighed as he quickly dismissed the servants for a few minutes before she bowed to him. "Don't do that... I... I don't like to see my own family treat me like I'm no longer related just because of my position.".
Melody nodded, standing up, and replied, "Dad would be so proud of you...", and Tazio opened his arms, "It's just me, sis..The servants will fix it up, but right now, I don't care. You look like you need a hug.".
"I do...", Melody sighed as she walked up before Tazio hugged her tight. "For more than a few reasons...".
"I know. It's not just Dad, it'll also be Mother too in a few weeks at most. She's fairly confident that she'll pass away too.", Tazio said.
"There's a tiny part of me that's angry at Mom for saying that, but most of me...I don't fault her...I mean, Dad lived a full life with Mom at his side...and now...there's a lot of people waiting for her to come home...", Melody sighed deeply, and Tazio nodded softly, "And today...it's his burial...Mom will need all of us at her side...".
"You're not mad at me, are you?", Melody asked as Tazio gave her a look. "For putting you in this position? I could've easily taken the throne even after you came back; Dad easily could've decreed that the first born no matter the gender could assume the throne if I wanted it and you wanted to do something else, if our roles were reversed.".
Tazio smiled gently, "Melody, I don't regret my choices of following in Dad's footsteps, choosing to be king, learning how to rule with a fair heart and a sharp mind. And how was I supposed to know that your wanderlust was stemmed from being afraid to fail Mom and Dad? I am so proud of you for facing that, and look at you, you became Attina's court composer, and you didn't fail Dad or Mom for wanting to be just royal without duties or responsibilities. Sure, he was disappointed about not being able to give you away when you were getting married, but he loved you so much, and he would never have forced something of that decree to come true.".
"I'm still going to regret that for the rest of my days...", Melody admitted about her marriage and how basically none of her family was around for it. "It's alright, Melody... it's alright.", Tazio continued to assure her as he took her in for another hug.
Melody sighed deeply as she relished in the familiar sibling love, and sniffled as she pulled back, wiping her tears, "Are you almost done with the fitting for the coronation ceremony? The hour is approaching for the burial...I have to see to the younger ones to make sure they're outfitted properly, and if you're wondering about Mom, Arcadia and Guido's keeping her company...and Bascus, I still can't believe he is not going to sing in honor for Dad ...he usually loves to sing...".
"I can understand why he wouldn't... solum time. He's as heartbroken as the rest of us. I mean, I'll be honest, Mel... even I don't want to be there right now. It's just... it's just so painful to see him gone and for him to be buried.", Tazio admitted.
Melody sighed heavily, "I know, Taz, but the kingdom needs to see us all...after all, he was the king...the kingdom would want to pay respects during the march...and they need to know that their future king can be as much as human as them...at least Dad died in peace with a smile on his face...that's a far better outcome than being killed in war or dying from sickness.. Right now, he's probably playing with Max or having a conversation with family long gone.".
"Yeah... and certainly waiting on Mother for sure.", Tazio sighed as he closed his eyes. Melody gave him one more hug before finally backing away, "Thank you...".
Tazio nodded, giving her a small, understanding smile, "Of course. I'll see you soon for the march, and the burial...", and Melody nodded, squeezing his hand in comfort, before leaving the room.
The servants returned, fixing and finishing up his formal suit for the coronation ceremony in quick time, and with absolute focus, Tazio got out of the fitting, and then went to wear his black mourning formal clothes.
Like Melody said, the kingdom came out to pay respects for King Eric as his burial casket, pulled by horses, passed by the villagers, either bowing their heads with their hats on their hearts, or curtsying with gentle hands to place flowers into the cart, all the way on the main street, with all the royal family marching, with some of them holding up the younger kids/babies in their arms, with the grown up heirs surrounding the Queen Mother, for the kingdom knew that Ariel wouldn't be Queen anymore as soon as Tazio and Mira becomes king and queen in a few days, only being Queen Mother to Tazio, widowed now...
The mood was somber, as was expected of many funerals but especially like this. Ariel was coldly reminded of when her father died and how that went. But strangely, this time, she was taking things a bit better, maybe because she knew she would be joining Eric soon.
It was so lonely without him the next couple of nights, and yet with his shirts from the wardrobe, Ariel managed to fall asleep, holding all the shirts into a messy nest, and she sought strength to come down to eat meals and hold all her grandbabies, adoring and watching them do little things that just is too precious not to forget...
Finally, it was the day of the coronation, and Ariel started to feel the same feelings Eric told her about, and she exhaled deeply, telling those feelings to wait just a bit longer...After all, she promised she'd try to witness her son becoming king.
"You okay?", Ariel asked Tazio as she was with him for a few moments before the ceremony, obviously wanting some last things to know from his mother before truly being king. Tazio obviously was way more nervous than even on his wedding day as Ariel noticed.
Tazio bit his lip, "I guess I am, Mother, but I'm scared that I'll mess up...", and Ariel smiled affectionately, "Oh, Taz...Your father felt the exact same way.".
"He did?", Tazio looked at her, and Ariel chuckled, "Oh, yes...He strived to be king his own way, with some tricks learned from his father...And now, look at you...So handsome like your father...He will be so proud of you, and he wouldn't mind if you became king your own way, after tradition, of course, and you can find his personal journal about being king in his old private desk which will be yours now...But you don't have to follow him exactly in his footsteps, just borrow his advice once in a while, hmm?".
"I know.", Tazio nodded as he sighed. "I really wish now he had abdicated though; I never wanted the throne like this... after having to bury him.".
Ariel sighed deeply, "I know, sweetheart, but you have to look at this another way...Eric knew that if he had fully abdicated, he would make the kingdom look weak, and it may have sounded stupid, but some kingdoms think that abdicating is the coward's way out. But making you the second king next to him, if not in name all those months, it was the smartest move he thought about, and somehow, it made the kingdom stronger in a way that Eric was then able to pass away in peace...That's what he told me when he made his decision to tell you that day in the family meeting.".
Tazio nodded as he understood, "I know.". He took another deep breath as Ariel kissed his cheek, "Tazio, I know you'll do well; I trust you and so did your father. You'll be a fine king.".
Tazio smiled softly, "You think so?", and Ariel cradled his cheek with a motherly smile, "I don't think so, I know you'll be a fine king, and I believe in you, and all the family believes in you.", before a knock on the door sounded out before Esmeralda's voice sounded out, "They're ready for you.".
Esmeralda had decided to become Tazio's head of the household, with Bascus as Tazio's majordomo and adviser.
Tazio exhaled deeply, and Ariel smiled at him, "You got this, my son. Go. I will follow you shortly with Mira.", and Tazio nodded before walking to the door and opening it to walk down the hall to the throne room.
Bascus noticed him coming, and announced, "Crown Prince Tazio, son of King Eric and Queen Ariel!", and Tazio subtly took a deep breath, and then entered the throne room.
Tazio started to move to take his place on the throne as was expected, to take his oath while his family watched. Tazio took another deep breath as he relaxed and awaited to say his oath.