Chapter 8: Worries, Concerns, and Feelings
Last chapter Ariel almost drowned because of Flotsam and Jetsam. And it's around that part of the movie too, so I bet you know what to expect. Or do you? Let's see how it will go, shall we? Oh, and this is the chapter for the reveal of the object Eric bought for Ariel. Thank you all who guessed. My apologies again for the lateness, but I am being slammed with school work and added things in life that I need to get done is making me stressed. This story or my other ones aren't far from my thoughts though.
Enjoy the chapter!
The second Eric returned back to the castle, he was instantly greeted by the worried castle staff. His outing with Ariel had apparently taken much longer then expected. Once the castle staff saw what had happened and heard to the story, they immediately set to work to take Ariel from him and assist her. Carlotta instantly prepared a warm bath for the both of them and alerted the castle's medics to look over Ariel to make sure she was fine.
Eric had changed into a soft pair or pants and shirt after his bath and now paced in his room, worriedly anticipating any news of Ariel's health. He instantly turned around once he heard a knock at his door and swiftly crossed the room to open it. Grimsby stood at the door, dabbing his forehead with his handkerchief which he promptly folded back up and placed into his coat pocket as he looked before him.
"Grim. Ariel? How is..."
"She's awake and well Eric, rest assure. However, the doctors said cold seawater did give her a bit of a cold and her forehead is a bit warm, but other then that, she well," Grimsby explained. Eric bowed his head and let out a long sigh of relief.
"Thank goodness," he murmured, before looking up again. "May I go see her?" The man stared at Eric quizzically before giving his response.
"Um, Eric. Might I remind you that you are in your pajamas." Warmth rushed to Eric's cheeks for a brief second, but he shook his head in reply.
"I don't care, Grim. Please, let me go see Ariel. I want to see, with my own eyes, that she is okay," he pleaded. Grimsby stared at the young man's eyes, noting the desperation and worry they held. His years of taking care of and serving Eric had given him the ability to understand what he was feeling and what is heart was saying. As he looked at Eric, he could see the fires of determination and concern towards the girl that, while he had only known for two days now, Eric truly cared for. It made his heart warm to see him so dedicated to someone other then to those who had raised him.
"Very well, but be quiet and make it short. I'm not sure if she'll even has enough energy to stay awake to see you now," he replied. The statement at the end fell upon deaf ears as Eric unexpectedly reached over to hug him before saying a quick 'thank you' and started speed-walking down the halls.
The maidservants, doctors, and Carlotta were just leaving the room when Eric arrived. After managing to convince them to let him come in and dismissing them for the night, he stepped into the warmly lit room. He looked over and saw Ariel cuddled up with several, warm blankets and comfy pillows. Her head was in her hand as she made a miserable face, but as soon as he entered she perked up and smiled.
"Ariel," he called out softly and crossed the floor towards her side. When he got to her bedside, he reached out and grasped her hand, stroking it softly with his thumb. She shivered under the soft touch and her eyes fluttered close.
"How are you feeling," he asked. His response was a silent cough into her elbow and mock pout with her bottom lip trembling. He chuckled. "Oh, you're fine. By tomorrow morning you'll be well enough to join me on a walk around the town again," he said, smirking at her. Her mouth opened and her body began trembling as she laughed. He joined in, providing the cheerful sounds for the both of them.
Eventually they stopped and Eric looked at Ariel. He could feel the warmth rush to his cheeks as he gazed upon her face. The soft light from the candle gave her skin a golden glow. Her cheeks were rosy from the fever, yet despite her slightly sweaty skin and tired eyes, he felt as if he was staring at the incarnate of innocent beauty himself. He could feel his heart beating heavy in his chest, so hard he swore he could see the left side of his chest vibrate with each thump. He felt heat rush to his stomach and he felt drawn to her.
Automatically, he drew himself onto the bed and sat down, grabbing her fingers gently. She stared at him quizzically and he could tell if she could speak there would be a question just right on her tongue. The room was silent except for the flickering candle flame and their soft breaths, but in Eric's mind there was another sound. A sound accompanied by an ache towards the girl in front of him. The moment was right. It was just them. The atmosphere was calm and peaceful. It was time now.
"A-Ariel," he asked, his voice just above a whisper. He dipped his head down slightly and scooted closer to her so he could fully hold her hand. "There's something I want to tell you." She had her full attention on him. His skin bristled with goosebumps despite the temperature of the room. He felt a stone pop down to the pit of his stomach. His mouth and throat felt dry and his eyes wanted to avert themselves from her gently piercing eyes, yet his will wavered over his fear. He inhaled deeply and fluttered his eyes close for a moment before straightening up and meeting her gaze.
"E-Ever since I met you Ariel, I felt as if I've had this connection to you. Ever since I first saw you after you had saved me from drowning in the storm, I've held these feelings towards you." His thumb stroked hers as he continued, "Whenever you're away, you're all that I think of. Whenever you are here with me, I can't help but feel this way towards you." Her mouth opened a bit and her eyes widened, yet he had already started and he would finish it.
"Whenever I think of you, I feel warm inside my heart. When I see you or when you are with me, I feel my heart race. I can't help but stare at you every time we see one another and I think to myself how beautiful you are. Both inside and out. Your kind, sweet attitude makes me happy every time you're near. Your curiosity and innocence is just beautiful. Your appearance makes my heart melt that I can't help but gaze at you. You heart is so light and joy filled that I can't help but feel drawn to you."
He had to turn his eyes away as he felt too bashful to look at her while explaining the last part. "I guess what I'm trying to say Ariel is that I want you everyday in my life. I love you as my friend, but more. I want you to be my friend, my soulmate, my lover, my-," his voice caught in his throat, yet he forced through the lump, "my wife. It's been killing me that I've been holding this all back, but..."
His head tilted up and cobalt orbs opened back up to look at her through a thin veil of blurry tears.
"Ariel. I love you."
He blinked rapidly to look past the wet, salty liquid and at Ariel. Her free hand was over her mouth and she was staring with sparkly eyes, glistening with unshed tears. He felt dread fill his place of the stone as he feared he had upset her instead.
"Ariel, I-"
Her hand fell as a tear streamed down her cheek. A wide smile graced her face and he realized she was crying tears of joy. Her head then rapidly bobbed up and down and she suddenly launched towards him. His arms barely had time before she landed on his lap. He let out a joyous laugh that he didn't realize was caught in his throat and his head looked down at the redheaded maiden nestled against him. Her face looked up towards his and he felt his heart beat in happiness as the same feelings that he felt of joy, longing, happiness, and most of all, pure, whole love, shone out throughout her face.
His free hand that wasn't wrapped around her back came up to her face and he gently cupped the side of her face. Her own came up and pressed gently against his cheek. His eyes fluttered and he could not stop and small moan as he felt the soft, warm hand against his skin. His head dipped and began coming in close to hers. His half-closed eyes started to close as he felt her warm breath mingle with his. He felt her hand shift on his face as she slowly leaned towards him as well.
All of a sudden, he could hear a voice. A soft melody as smooth as silk floated in a caressed his ears and soothed his mind. He felt his hairs bristle at first, but then gently come back down as he felt completely relaxed at the song. He felt his thoughts begin to dissipate as he felt into the grasp of the golden, drawing voice. His mind felt like it was surrounded in the middle of the ocean, silent except for the sound of the music echoing inside of it. He felt his heart settle in his chest, but then resume it's hard thumping as it yearned for the singer's presence. The feeling spread up to his mind and every last one of his thoughts disappeared. All but that of finding and being with the owner of the v-
His eyes widened back open and the yellow glow that replaced the blackness of his pupils vanished in a flash, leaving only a spark behind which quickly died. In the depths of his mind, he became aware of the owner of the voice that was singing the song. The tune's familiarity rushed back to him and he focused on her right before him, eyes closed and still leaning closer to his face.
The music suddenly seemed to flood his brain again, but instead of a gentle flow like before, it now tried to force itself through like overflowing water in a breaking dam trying to hold it back. The notes seem to jab into his brain like knives and the voice no longer felt as sweet as honey like before, but demanding and painful as it tried to pull him back. It sounded so familiar, he recognized the voice, but... but he could not recognize the owner. Ariel was right before him, but her lips were pursed and not wide with notes flowing through it.
He felt the song now move to his heart and he felt a pain ache coming on, as if someone had grasped onto it along with his mind and were trying to pull it out. The once soft, soothing melody had turned into a torment of achingly beautiful, yet painful series of noises. His mind tried to focus on Ariel before her, yet the hold on his mind was trying to pull him away from any thought of her, as if it was trying to prevent him from being with her.
His lungs shakily let out the air inside of them and his arm wrapped around her tighter until she was fully pressed against hiss chest. His arms suddenly burned with pain and fatigue and they felt like someone had stuck tacks into the muscles. He felt excruciatingly tired and he felt like falling back, off the bed, and laying limp on the floor like a broken puppet. Yes, that is what he felt like right now. He felt like a puppet who was trying to resist having strings tied onto it. And through that struggling, there was a goal he tried to reach. The girl who the voice was messing with him to take him away, to keep him away, to make him forget her name and hurt her.
"A... A... Ari-"
His brain nearly gave out and gave in as his thoughts tried to form the name that was on his tongue and he knew was on his heart. The warmth in his heart still there, the warmth he felt towards her.
"She saved me."
A faint image of the sunlight behind a shaded silhouette of a girl right above him came to mind.
"She makes me feel warm just by thinking about her."
The words felt true in his heart. He kept repeating them in his mind even as it felt like someone had grabbed onto his brain and was squeezing painfully.
"I enjoy it whenever she is with me."
The sound of waves against the shore and the silhouette of the girl surrounded by food and sitting right next to him became familiar again.
"I love her."
His eyes shut tight as a pain as sharp as a double-edged sword shattered into his mind and broke his the last of his will and the last images of the girl he felt so close to.
"I love-"
"Ariel," he gasped out, and their lips finally made contact. He stiffened up as another flood came over his brain, as swift and strong as the one before, but he realized it wasn't pulling him in. It was bringing clarity to his mind. Pain vanished completely from his mind and was replaced with the familiar, burning warmth as before. His heart broke through the strong, glass-like shell that had been covering it and became ablaze with fiery passion once more. Sweet euphoria flooded every one of his senses.
His hand on her cheek moved to the back of her head and pressed against her soft, red locks, deepening the kiss. They were so soft and warm, yet they were desperate to be on his. He felt her arms come up from their place on his firm, toned chest and around his neck. They fell upon his nape and her thumbs began stroking him, eliciting a delightful shiver and another moan from him. His hand on his back came up and down her nightgown, rubbing her back softly. He felt her shiver as well and pulled herself tighter to him.
He could feel her own heart vibrating against his chest. His own heart joined in and he felt a sweeping peace and satisfaction at the thumping beats in sync. He had wanted her for so long and now that she was his and him hers, he felt like he was made whole. Like two pieces fitting perfectly together, their hearts were made one.
Speaking of hearts.
As soon as the kiss broke, not as long as the both of them had wanted, the two broke apart, panting heavily for air. They both felt extremely tired right now, but the lingering energy, passion and emotions were still there. Making sure she was still securely on his lap, his hand dropped down form the back of her head and to his side. Reaching down into his back pocket he fished around the space with some difficulty and with the weight coming down on it, but his fingers finally touched the and wrapped around the curve of warm metal. Being careful, he pulled it out into the world and held out before Ariel's line of vision and arm distance.
"Ariel. I want to give you this." Her hand reached out and grasped the piece of ornate jewelry and she stared at it in awe.
A golden heart that fitted perfectly in the palm of her hand met her line of vision and replaced the light of the candle back at her. A chain that appeared to be twirled by all the tiny chains half laid in a pool on her hand and half hung limply off it. A finger came don tp gently touch the gift, feeling around it until it hit a tiny bump on the side. Her finger pressed down on it and there was a tiny click before the front of the heart swung slowly open, revealing a simple mechanism that allowed her to see what was inside.
"Eric," came a tiny whisper. A small, silver engraving was inside both sides of the heart. It was in fancy cursive writing and it said, "To the one of I love - with all my heart." Such a tender, yet impactful message that touched her very heart. Eric smiled as she gazed upon with adoration and gratitude at the gift.
And it was just then that they realized...
"Ariel," Eric asked, "did you just speak?"
"E-... Eir-... Eric," she stammered. Her voice sounded weak and hoarse, but she had spoken. Real human speech with a voice. Her other hand unwrapped from his neck and clasped her throat. A second passed, then another. Then another. Then a smile as wide as a mile came across her face.
"Ariel," he said. His lashes were already becoming wet with tears again as tears of joy stung his eyes.
"Eric," she replied. Her voice was just above a whisper, yet no words could meet the absolute joy they felt. Their heads came in again and they pressed their lips hard against the others, resuming the sweet bliss that flowed over them.
Unbeknownst to the new couple, they were not aware of the two people, a man and a woman, outside of the door, who quickly moved out of the room and were now grinning at each other like idiots, and the small, red crab that had crawled into a knothole and was not hopping up and down in excitement while squealing joyfully into his claw.
Outside the castle, out on the sandy shore where the cold night air began blowing fog from the sea and onto the land, a woman in a a cloak and long dress stared up angrily to the singular lit room in the castle. Her face bore an expression of shock and pure hate as one of her hands clutched the shell necklace around her neck. The light from the full moon revealed the jagged hole that broke out on the surface and crack surrounded it. What once was gold and glowing was now nearly transparent and empty.
In her other hand, hanging limply against her side, was a tattered piece of parchment. Like the necklace, it no longer glowed gold, but now was as grey, dead and broken like its counterpart. Torn edges that almost sliced through the paper were everywhere. The writing was no longer legible and it peeled off and turned to dust in some parts. But the biggest damage of all was right in the middle where a huge empty hole with a crack surrounding around it. A tear from the top reached all the way down, completely shattered through the surface.
The spell had been broken, and with it the contract too. It had become as null and void as the necklace with the payment had become. Now the voice had broken out as the deal had cracked and returned back to its rightful owner.
Behind the woman, two eels surfaced from the water. They stared with fearful expressions at their mistress. Like a boiling undersea volcano, they knew that her silence was the calm before she exploded.
True to their belief, the woman suddenly flung up her head and screamed. The two ducked their heads under the water and swam back away from the shore to evade being part in the crossfire of her tantrum and to avoid the assault on their ears as strings of vile curses were yelled out into the night. They had just managed to duck behind a rock hen the world above suddenly glowed red.
Soon black scorch marks appeared across the sand, still steaming from the fire magic. Across the beach and waves lay scattered pieces of a broken shell and scraps of worn and already beaten parchment paper blew across the wind before falling onto the sea here it dissolved in a matter of seconds.
"So she thinks she's out into the clear, now does she?"
The enraged woman charged full-throttle into the waves. As soon as she hit the surface, her body glowed in a black miasma and when she had completely submerged, she had turned back into her white-haired, purple-skinned and octopus-tentacled self.
"She think she's won. She thinks she's gotten out of the deal, now hasn't she?"
Her form half crawled along the bottom, half swam until she could see her home in the distance.
"She thinks she's so clever, having evaded and outwitted me at every turn."
After snapping her tentacles and eels at a few polyps as she made her way past them, she rushed into a corner of her house. A hole was in a certain spot, hidden by a rock and the darkness of her home. She tossed the rock away and pulled out a chest and thrust the heavy lid open.
"Well, we'll see about that."
Out she pulled a bottle. The bottle was about the size of her palm, made of pure, obsidian glass, and the stopper on top was designed to look like a white skull, complete with two little black gemstones for the empty eye sockets.
Taking great caution with the ominous container, she slowly made her way over to her cauldron and placed it in. She then hung over her cauldron while her pets dove behind a corner, fear ridden across their faces.
White light summoned from her hands as everything around it seemed to grow dark, as if the light was absorbing more of the light then sending it out. Her hands raised above her head before they connected, forming an energy sphere above her. A white orb with a black, sparking center with purple streaks around it gathered and began growing.
Her hands forced down, sending the sphere down as well and into the midst of the claw-rimmed basin. As soon as the energy reached the bottle, the room exploded with a sinister lavender light. The twins wrapped their tails around each others and buried their heads against one another's as the light and sound coming from the room became excruciating. And what more was the sound of their mistress's maniacal laughter above it all.
Welp, Ursula failed. You think that mysterious bottle with the skull stopper is just something she takes to calm down when she's in a rage, yet it has to be heated just right by a powerful, energy orb?
Hope you enjoyed this chapter. I can't guarantee when the next one will come out, considering how much school work has been assigned to me lately, but I promise to stick with you guys till the very end and I hope you'll do the sane to me. Please leave review if you like the chapter and I'll see you again next time. Sincerely, v.t.7
