A/N
Dear Readers,
I have avoided doing an author's note for so long, but I have gotten so many nice reviews lately, I had to say something! I'm glad you are all liking my story! I've always loved thinking from the other POVs of the characters in Disney movies and Eric is basically the best prince ever so I had to come up with a story for him. The only problem with a story like this is you all know how it ends, so I can't really surprise you too much! Enjoy the rest of the story!
Eric decided to end their tour at the lagoon. It was tucked away on the edge of the village beyond the bustle of the town life. They arrived right after sunset. The clouds were blushing pink and the water was still and calm. Eric helped the silent girl into a rowboat that was tied at the docks. No one in the town really knew who it belonged to. Anyone could use it. Eric had never brought a girl to the lagoon before. In fact, he hadn't been to the lagoon since just after his father's death.
Shaking off those memories, Eric pushed off and began to row them slowly towards the center of the lagoon. The silent girl smiled at him, looking around shyly. Something was on her mind, but Eric had no idea what it was. His mind was trying to decide if he wanted to pursue this silent girl or wait like he had promised himself for the mysterious girl that had rescued him. He sighed. There was a chance that he wouldn't end up with either of them. Maybe his heart needed to be broken a few times before he could find the right girl. That thought upset him. He had gotten such a feeling when he opened his eyes on the beach and saw his singing angel. It was a feeling he couldn't quite describe. The feeling he got when he was around his silent girl, however, was equally indescribable. He looked at her. She was beautiful in the twilight, her eyes shining like the sun on the blue ocean water.
Eric's thoughts were interrupted by the squawking of a seagull. "Wow," Eric laughed. "Somebody should find that poor animal and put it out of its misery." He watched her face to see if she found what he said amusing, but she just gave him an uncomfortable smile and looked away, hiding her face in her hands.
Eric went back to his thoughts. A small breeze teased his hair and he could hear the rhythm of the lagoon around him. He leaned his head on his hand and watched the girl, just enjoying the silence.
There was a melody playing near his ear. It almost sounded like singing.
"Kissss the girl."
Eric straightened, puzzled. They sounded like real words. He looked around to see if there was someone there singing as the floated past. "D-did you hear something?" he asked the girl. She shook her head.
Eric strained his ears to hear the words again but all he could hear was the waves gently slapping the sides of their boat, a quiet drum beat, and the wind whistling through the vegetation around them.
Eric looked at the girl, she was playing with a piece of her hair. She looked sad. When she caught him looking at her, he smiled and all sadness disappeared from her face. She smiled back.
Maybe I should kiss her, Eric thought. She leaned forward, her lips puckered slightly. Eric leaned forward, but jerked back. He felt like a ship being tossed up and down in a violent storm. He didn't know which way to sail. And he most certainly did not want to hurt the silent girl by kissing her and not letting it mean something. On top of all that, Eric felt nervous. He'd never kissed a girl before.
The frogs joined in the song of the lagoon. Their croaking was deep and added a pleasant bass sound to the music.
Eric noticed that the girl sitting across from him in the boat was looking sad again. He searched for something to talk about, but it was really hard to talk to someone who couldn't talk back. He didn't even know her name.
That's it! He thought. "You know, I feel really bad not knowing your name. Maybe I could guess." Eric leaned back and thought of all the girls he had been introduced to at parties. "Is it, uh, Mildred?" She made a face at him. "Hahaha! Okay, no. How about… Diana?" No. "Rachel?" No again.
"Ariel. Her name is Ariel," something from the lagoon whispered.
"Ariel?" he responded to the voice, but the girl across from him began nodding her head excitedly. Her name must be Ariel! "Ariel?"
Ariel grabbed his hand and nodded more.
"Oh. That's kind of pretty," Eric said. He had no desire to pull his hand away from hers. "Okay," he placed his other hand on top of hers. "Ariel."
The prince had forgotten all about rowing the boat. They drifted under a tree with vines dipping into the water. They were underneath its bows, floating around. Eric kept his eyes on Ariel. Ariel. The name fit her so well somehow. He held onto her hands, afraid that if he let go, the moment would swim away. The tiny lights of fireflies spun around them. Eric's eyes never left Ariel's gaze. For this moment, no one else, not even the girl who had rescued him, seemed to matter.
"Kiss kiss the girl. Kiss her. Kiss her!" the lagoon whispered.
Eric leaned towards her. His heart was beating hard against his ribs. What if he didn't know how to kiss the girl? What if Ariel kissed him and then decided she didn't like him? He was getting closer to her face, but there was no backing out now. He was going to kiss Ariel. He closed his eyes and...