This chapter is so darn fluffy, it's a bit of a change, so enjoy.
Ariel left Eric's bedchambers over and hour ago.
After she had, she had thought that since the both of them had run out so unexpectedly, not only would it be pointless to ask to be excused to leave, but it would also make her look foolish.
Which was how she came to be sitting at the very edge of the palace, watching the tide roll in and out.
She felt a hand on her shoulder, and looked up. "Ariel?" he whispered, and instead of saying anything else, he just sat beside her. No questions.
"I'd understand if you want to stay out of palace affairs for a while."
She shook her head, slowly at first, then faster. "No. No. How will I ever become used to it if I'm never here?"
He rubbed her back in soothing, slow, circular motions. "I understand."
She wasn't sure he did, not completely at least, but she wouldn't say anything because he was still trying. Trying to understand.
She leant against him, pulling her hairpiece out and allowing her hair to fall and curl around her face. "Thank you."
He rubbed a dark lock between his thumb and forefinger. "You don't need to thank me, Ariel." He said. "I only wish you weren't so unhappy."
She turned her face against his chest and mumbled, "I wish it too."
"Isn't there anything I can do for you?"
She shook her head. "No, nothing I can think of. But I appreciate it."
He kissed the underside of her jaw and then stood up. "If you ever think of anything, please tell me," he flashed her one of those childish, dark smiles, "And now I should be going, because half the castle will be searching for me by now."
He leant over and kissed the top of her head, whispering, "Stay here. I'll divert them," and then he left her to her own devices, letting the sea breeze run cool fingers over her, at peace for the first time in a long while.
XXX
Ariel woke up to daze and confusion.
She sat up quickly, things just starting to come into focus around her. "Where am I?"
She saw Eric sitting by the large window, and he turned when he heard she had risen. He stood and walked over to her. He smiled, "Shh. You're in your chambers." He said. "You fell asleep again and I brought you here."
She ran her fingers along the side of his face. "Thank you," she said. She swung her legs to the side of the bed, tangling her fingers through her hair in an attempt to smooth it out somewhat.
He reached for her twitching fingers. "No. Don't. You are fine absolutely like this."
She tilted her head and smiled at him. She slid off the bed and turned to her 'vanity'—she'd had something like it in Atlantica, but it went under a different name—and inspected herself in the mirror.
"Don't you have formal gatherings to attend?" She said, starting to frown as she did so.
She saw his reflection shake his head as she began running a brush through her hair. "Are you certain? I don't want you ruffling feathers with palace affairs because of me."
He walked up behind her and took over brushing her hair. "You're not ruffling feathers. You have my word."
She shook her head and started rearranging the many perfumes bottles on the table. "Do I have any formal gatherings to attend? I'm getting into the habit of forgetting."
He laughed, easing the brush through a knot, "Do not fret. You can do whatever you wish." He said. "And I will gladly help you with remembering."
She sighed, a warm sigh. "Thank you."
He set the brush down at kissed the back of her head, but didn't say anything.
"I want you to know how greatly I appreciate this," she said. "I appreciate you."
She was still staring at their reflections, and she saw him tilt his head in confusion. "For what, may I ask?"
"For trying to understand." She turned around, smoothed back his dark hair. "For trying to understand what's wrong with me."
He laughed and kissed her brow. "There is nothing wrong with you, Ariel. Nothing at all." He said. "It is what's wrong with us that is the problem."
She wasn't sure she believed that, or would ever believe that, not when she had an entire palace minus one to go against her. But she just shook her head, smiled at him, and leant into the warm embrace that he offered, the one she had to learn would always be there.
They're so cuuuuute.