Eric leaned against a bedpost at the foot of his mattress and watched Ariel sleep. She was curled up and hugging a pillow. The sight made the Prince never want to leave that spot.
"Are you painting my portrait or something?" She mumbled into the fabric under her.
A soft chuckled rumbled in his chest and he leaned his forehead onto the wooden post. "I just like watching you."
"Mmmm," She sighed and rolled over onto her back, "That's only a little creepy."
He looked up at the ceiling and openly laughed that time, "Says the one who watched me from the side of a ship for hours."
Tossing her pillow at him, Eric playfully knocked it aside. Crawling forward he pinned her down gently before rolling her over on top of him. A half hearted wrestling match ensued until they were interrupted by a knock on the door. Looking down at themselves and realizing neither were dressed Ariel leapt up too quickly to hide and fell flat onto the floor.
"Ooof!" She grunted, but continued on toward the closet.
"Will you never learn how gravity works?" He teased.
Sticking her tongue out at him she dove into his closet and tried to be quiet. The door opened and Grim's voice floated through the door.
"Eric? Is everything alright?" He asked.
"Of course Grim, Why?"
"Because you have yet to come out of your room this morning! You can't spend all your time moping about, you need to get out!"
He scoffed, "I haven't been moping."
"I knew having Ariel here was a bad idea. We need to send her away Your Highness!"
Fear clutched at her chest and she held her breath.
"She's not going anywhere." Eric growled. His tone warned that he shouldn't push the matter, but the old man didn't listen to it.
"But-!"
"Grim!" He snapped, "She's staying. If you have such a problem then YOU can leave."
Ariel would have given anything to see his face, but settled for the pleasant sputter he let out. "You- You can be-"
The sound of the door opening again came, followed by, "Say one more thing about her and that's it. Good day Grim."
"Eric!"
"GOOD DAY!" He snapped, and the old man scampered out the door.
Once she heard it close again Ariel emerged, feeling happy that he had defended her, but guilty that she had created such a divide between the two men.
"I'm sorry you had to hear that," He said as he closed the distance between them and pulled her close. Though she wanted to say something, she couldn't help but be content with his arms wrapped around her. Sighing, she let him stroke her hair, until the situation changed, and he lifted her onto the bed again.