It didn't take long for the town's people to start wondering about the strange naked girl the Prince was so fond of. About as quickly as Ariel started asking to be shown around, people started asking to meet her. Everyone seemed to love the beautiful young girl with flaming hair.
The women were surprisingly kind to her, asking for her to join them and offering to braid her hair or show her how things worked. Eric couldn't help the dangerous glares he threw at all the young men who competed for her attention. One was so bold as to offer his arm, and Ariel was left trying to figure out how to politely say no when the Prince stormed forward and stepped between them. Message received. None of the others made the same mistake.
Of all the new and exciting things she had encountered, none were as interesting as flowers and dancing. The plants were so different here, and dancing was not done in Atlantica. In the town square Eric showed her how to move to the music while trying not to stare at how beautiful she looked with her hair piled on top of her head and wild flowers tucked in the mass of flames.
She laughed when he placed his hands on her waist and lifted her during a song. It was the most beautiful sound in the world, and he couldn't help but smile. As small young girl ran forward and tugged on the edge of Ariel's blue skirt, eagerly holding up a blue flower for her. With a wondrous grin she gently took it, bending down to look at her.
"Hello, little one." Her voice was warm and musical.
The blonde little girl looked at her with large green eyes, "Are you gonna be the new princess?"
Her tinkling laughter was delighted and amused, "I don't know, but can you keep a secret?" With a thrilled grin the girl nodded eagerly and Ariel leaned in to whisper in her ear, "I'm already a princess."
Eyes as big as saucers she looked at her with new found amazement and excitement, "Really?" She looked at Eric who nodded with a smile. Suddenly she looked somewhat sad and insisted, "But I want you to me our princess."
Ariel blushed, beaming from ear to ear, while Eric chuckled and said, "Don't worry, Brynn, She will be."
Sternly, the little girl he had called Brynn challenged, "Did you ask her?"
Amused he knelt down, resting an arm on one of his legs, "Now, what does that matter?"
"Because she has to say yes!" Brynn huffed as thought it were the most obvious thing in the world.
Ariel looked at Eric, thoroughly enjoying the quarrel on her behalf, "Yeah," She said sarcastically, "Do I get any say in this?"
Laughing heartedly and looking up toward the sky he shook his head, "Okay," He held his hands up in defeat, "My mistake."
Satisfied both girls nodded at him. Brynn grinned excitedly and hugged Ariel before running off to join the other children.
"Oh I like her." She said, watching her giggle while a young boy chased her.
Eric hooked an arm around her and she leaned back against his chest. She sighed when he tucked her head under his chin, "Me too."
James could have killed the small human for putting the idea into their heads. Curling his hand into a fist he watched the two from a distance, hiding in an ally. He'd made the transition this morning and been following the two ever since. Every time the man touched her it was difficult not to burst out of hiding and drag Ariel back with him.
Glaring at the little girl he knew he was running out of time. He'd have to act soon.
Hi everyone! I'm back to the land of the living after the past two weeks of enormous papers and finals. My creativity was completely squashed with the twenty page undergraduate thesis I had to write. (Can you believe they made us do that?) Anyways I'm back and ready to keep on writing!