Ariel stared out the window of her room as the ship approached the dock. She stared at the huge crowds of people who were gathered near the dock to welcome the royal family. King Arthur and is wife, Queen Vivienne, had a celebration throughout the kingdom, in honor of the future wife to their prince and her family.

"Come on, Ariel." Arista said. "Put a happy face on. Your future husband is waiting for you out on the docks."

"I can't believe I'm marrying him tomorrow." Ariel mumbled as she got up out of her bed. She looked at herself in her mirror and placed her matching blue bow in her red hair. She slipped on her black heels and headed out of her room with her sister.

The ship came to a stop and the royal family exited off the ship. Ariel stood across from Eric, beside her sisters and father, staring down at her feet. Eric stepped forward and reached for Ariel's hand, kissing it, as he bowed.

"Welcome to Denmark, Ariel."

Ariel didn't say anything to Eric and felt like running back onto the ship to cry.

"Eric, maybe you should give Ariel a tour of the kingdom." Queen Vivienne suggested. "It can give you two some time to get to know each other more before the wedding."

"Ariel, would you like to accompany me?" Eric asked, giving her a charming smile.

Ariel looked up at her father and knew he wanted her to. She forced a smile on her face and looked at Eric. "Okay."

Eric could sense Ariel didn't want to be here in Denmark as they walked to his horse drawn carriage. The way she looked at him, or not look at him. The little talking.

"I can sense you don't want to be here, Ariel." Eric said, ending their long period of silence as he drove the horse into town. "Is there something I could do to cheer you up?"

"That's not what's bothering me, Eric." Ariel finally spoke. "It's the wedding."

"I'm quite nervous about it also." Ariel was quiet again which bothered Eric. "I can see you don't want to be here with me. Would you like me to take you back to the castle? Or maybe there's something you would like to do."

"You know I would prefer that but we'll be married tomorrow and barely know each other." She replied. "We need to get to know each other."

"Well what would you like to know?" Eric asked, pulling the carriage to a stop near a very private park, right outside of town. He repostioned himself so he was facing Ariel. "Ask me anything you want."

"I don't know... Tell me what you like to do."

"I may be mistaken, but I thought I mention to you I enjoy sailing. I also like playing around with my very loyal dog and head into town just to chat with the townspeople. I know you said you like the beach?"

Ariel nodded. "Yes, I do. I love the sea breeze."

"Anything else you like?"

"I like to sing."

"I'm sure you have a lovely voice." Eric replied.

Ariel shrugged. "My sisters don't complain so it must be bearable."

Eric chuckled. "What's your favorite color?"

"Purple. You?"

"Blue. Which brings up your dress. It's very lovely on you."

Ariel smiled. "Thank you."

After spending about an hour together, they decided to head to the castle. The ride was mostly quiet. When they arrived at Eric's castle, a maid showed Ariel to her room. She jumped into her bed and started to cry again into her pillow, like she has been doing each night since meeting Eric, when the wedding crossed her mind again. She was supposed to attend dinner with her family and Eric's family but she was being defiant and stayed in her room, which got her in trouble with her father.

The following day was the wedding. She was woken up bright and early by Carlotta, the head maid, to get her bathed and ready for the ceremony that would begin at noon. Once bathed, she was dried and helped into her wedding dress. Carlotta made the dress very tight that Ariel could barely breath or even move in. She stared at herself in the mirror once she had the veil on, evaluating herself from back to front.

"Can I have a moment?" Ariel asked.

"Of course, your highness." Carlotta said.

"Alright, Ariel, you're getting married." She murmured to herself staring at her reflection.

Ariel could hear a dog outside and went over to her window, seeing Eric playing with his scruffy dog, Max, on the beach. She could see his chest through his white t-shirt with a few loose buttons and his sleeves rolled up, which made her gasp a little. She watched Eric play with his dog for a good couple of minutes, admiring him. She liked seeing him in his normal settings; his normal ways and doings. Maybe that's why she wasn't fawned of him when they met. She thought he was going to be like all the other princes. Eric isn't like most princes. He rather do his own thing and actually talk with the townspeople to see how they are doing. He likes to sail and play with his dog. How many princes does Ariel know who are like that? None.

Ariel's door opened and she quickly looked behind her seeing Carlotta was back. "Your highness, it's time to board the wedding ship. It will depart in an hour and a half, but we must not have everyone see you until the ceremony."

"Yes, I'm ready." Ariel took one last look at Eric and then followed Carlotta down to the wedding ship. She was taken into a private room where she waited for the service to begin.

Ariel stared out her window as the ship was leaving the port. It was five to twelve which means the service would begin very soon. She stared at herself in the mirror making sure everything was perfect; her hair, her dress, her veil. It was. The only thing that would make the wedding perfect was if she was marrying a man she loved.

Carlotta knocked on Ariel's door at exactly twelve, telling her it was time. She didn't say anything but nodded, and followed the older maid out. The wedding march began to play and the guests stood up. Ariel began to walk very slowly down the aisle. When she reached the end of the aisle, Eric reached out for her hand, helping her onto the platform. Ariel managed to take a quick glance at Eric and noticed how nicely he cleaned up. You would have never known he was just out on the beach, playing with his filthy animal.

Eric and Ariel shared their first kiss at the end of the ceremony. Ariel felt very awkward kissing Eric, in the short time of knowing him. The two newlyweds, walked back up the aisle, with Ariel's arm wrapped around the prince's, and headed to the opposite side of the ship to be alone.

"We're married." Eric said. "You look beautiful by the way."

Ariel smiled. "Thank you. You clean up nicely, after all you were just playing with your filthy animal on the beach."

"How did you know that?" He asked.

"I saw you outside my room."

As the day ended and evening approached, the wedding ship was back at shore. Eric took Ariel back to his palace and showed her their new suite they would be sharing. As they were getting married on the ship, the palace maids and servants made sure everything was ready. They had all of Ariel's and Eric's things put away and fresh clean linens on the bed. When they entered the room, all Ariel could do is stare at the bed. The bed she'll be sleeping next to Eric in. The bed they may consummate their marriage in. Maybe not tonight, but probably in the near future.

Carlotta came in the room a few short minutes later. Eric left the room so Carlotta could help Ariel out of her wedding dress and into a night gown. She thanked the older maid when she left. Ariel walked over to the patio door, opening it, and stood on the patio. She leaned against the wall and stared up at the bright stars as the sea breeze blew her long, red locks. She started to sing a little melody, but stopped when she felt a hand on her shoulder which startled her.

"I didn't mean to frighten you. You have a beautiful voice. I wouldn't mind hearing more of it sometime."

"Goodnight, Eric." Ariel walked pasted him and climbed into their bed. She scooted to the very edge of the bed, to be as far as possible from her husband who is still a stranger to her. She had her arm under her pillow and her back towards him. And that night, she silently cried herself to sleep.