Eric toyed with the ends of Ariel's hair as they sat on the steps of the castle again and looked toward the ocean. They were to be married in a month, and had quickly begun a routine that provided little time to see one another. They did their best to see the other, and often tried to sneak away to be together.

Grim had become a grumbling presence, but besides his obvious disapproval he seemed to have accepted that they were going to go through with it whether he liked it or not. Ariel loved the human world, and never grew tired of learning about it. Eric never grew tired of Ariel, and was content to sit with her in his arms while they watched the tide.

Just as he was softly kissing her forehead something in the distance popped out of the water. Ariel perked up and strained to see.

"Ariel!"

Her eyes widened and she jumped up to run out into the water.

"Arista?!"

The girl swam forward and they embraced. Eric could only assume that this was one of Ariel's sisters that she had mentioned. When they parted the girl looked over at the Prince and backed away in fear.

"What have you done?!" She demanded, "How did you-?"

"I don't know," Ariel shrugged, "It just… happened."

The worry never left Arista's face, "You must come back with me!" She glared at Eric and came to grip Ariel's arm, "He'll kill you!"

"I would never harm her!" He growled at her in outrage.

"Arista, listen to me. I love Eric. I want to stay with him. Even if I didn't I couldn't return with you! I'm human!"

"We'll figure it out somehow!" The desperation was thick in her voice, "Please, if father find out-"

"You're not gonna tell him are you?!" Ariel gripped her shoulders and forced her sister to look at her. When she didn't reply straight away she began to panic, "Arista, Daddy will kill us both! Promise me you won't say anything!"

"He thinks you're dead, Ariel! I've never seen him so upset!"

"You can't say anything! Let him think I'm dead, unless you truly want me to end up that way."

Eric gently tugged on Ariel's arm until she let her sister go and turned to let him hold her. Her sister watched them in disgust.

"How could you do this to us?"

"She didn't," Eric argued, "It just… happened, but I won't lose her."

"You don't get a say, human!" She snapped, "She belongs with us!"

Turning, Arista dove back into the waves with Ariel calling after her. She shook with fear as Eric hugged her and let her burry her head in his chest.

"It's alright."

She turned her head back and forth, "You don't understand, Eric. Daddy will kill you, and probably me as well. He'd rather see me dead than a human."

"Shhh," he quieted, "That won't happen."

Eric might believe in mermaids now, but there was no way he would understand the power of the Trident without seeing it firsthand. Ariel feared that if he ever did, he'd never see anything again.