She was awake on the boat; her stomach was full of the fish that she had been given. It felt different and unreal, she had never seen her stomach poke out as it did now, it was unusual for her... she hated it. She was still so confused at to what her next move was, and if there would even be a next move. But the thing that had her most troubled was the question of what these men would do with her once they got to the mainland. She had seen it many times, and it seemed very beautiful, but she understood that there was much she did not know. Under and above the sea. So, she started to do what she always did when she was lonely, she started to sing.
"I long for the waves, that rose above my head.... I am searching for a way back to my bed, I am lonely, I am sad, I am crying, and soon I will be dead... dead... dead *whisper*"
Ariel had sat there and sung from her heart, and it was not unheard, as she looked up she saw sailors bunched up around the door, and the captain looking over their heads. Ariel sat and stared at them, not sure of what to do next, but the next move was not her own. The captain pushed the rest of the men aside and walked into the room.
"Shut the door... leave us."
"But Captain..."
"I said shut it!"
"Yes captain."
The crew did as they were told and shut the door as they left. Now in the room stood the captain, and sat Ariel. She was scared, scared of what this man would do. She had heard evil stories about sailors like him and she did not intend to be a victim of his wrongdoing, but he surprised her.
The captain took his hat off showing an almost balding head, and came at rest on his knees in front of Ariel. Then, he looked into her eyes, and beautiful eyes they were, never had he seen such eyes, full of the sky, and full of the sea. As Ariel looked back into the captain's eyes she saw hurt... hurt and pain. His eyes seemed to be drained from the ventures that he had embarked on. He looked tired, just tired.
"My lady... It pains me to see you in such a mood of distress, and it pains me to have to keep you locked in here, it pains me to have you as my prisoner."
"Then why, fair captain, would you have done so."
"Aye that is a fair question that you ask. And the answer pains me... When you first came aboard this boat, you saw many sea hardened men, did you not?"
"I did."
"Well miss, none of these men, not one, have a heart. The only thing they are after is money and money alone. And they would love to have a few women on their way also. If I hadn't told them to keep out of here, you would be in a much worse sense of mind then you are now miss. Even with that order the crew has grown suspicious. Do you understand?"
"No, I don't"
"Sigh.... If I were to let you go, the crew would commit a mutiny... they would overthrow my role as captain and kill me."
"But what about your rank? Surely it must be of a high stature?"
"Aye it is miss, but this isn't no naval vessel that you have been pulled up on. This is a pirate ship, and no such rules apply aboard this vessel."
"But why can't you just let me go?"
At this the captain started to tear, it had been so long since he had cried, and he accepted it now with a passion. He looked away from Ariel for a second and then looked back, now smiling.
"May I ask your name miss?"
"Ariel"
"Well, miss Ariel. Be ready tomorrow when the moon is directly overhead. That is when I will come for you, that is when you shall be free. But in no way must you delay, this is the only time that I can do such a thing, in hopes of not getting caught. So be ready."
Ariel couldn't believe her luck, in that instant she sprung with her tailfin and wrapped her arms around the old man's neck. She was now starting to cry, sobbing and sniffling.
"Thank you... oh thank you!"
The captain stood up and put his hat back on. He had stopped crying, but still had that smile upon his face.
"You are welcome miss, and be ready for I will come."
At that the captain turned and left, leaving Ariel to cry alone her tears of joy.