Eric ran his hand through his full black hair, exhausted. Since he had landed again, he had felt that he had only had a few hours' sleep. The days had flown by, but his efforts were slowly but surely bearing fruit. He had just examined the work of the blacksmith he had commissioned shortly after his return. Before him, spread out on one of the boards, lay a dozen long iron rods. They were so thick that he could just about grasp them with one of his hands to take a closer look. The blacksmith and his apprentice had done an outstanding job. No inclusions were visible and the bars showed neither imbalance nor curvature, just as he had asked.
"Very well done. Sir Grimsby will reward you for your excellent work, Mr Blacksmith," the Prince praised the work of the craftsman and referred him to the waiting servant.
"Please, gentlemen, follow me so that I can hand you your well-deserved payment," Grimsby then also immediately took the two men out with him.
When the other three had left the room, the prince allowed himself a brief moment of rest and lowered himself into one of the chairs.
"Your Highness, you should allow yourself some rest, you are endangering your health," the motherly concerned voice reached his ears.
"Carlotta, I appreciate your care, but I cannot rest until I have ensured that my daughter is not in danger of harm," he replied, his eyes closed and his head tilted back. That Melody's safety was only one of the reasons why he was putting himself under so much pressure at the moment, he tried to hide from the servant. But he couldn't fool himself. Eric knew only too well why he had been torturing himself so much the last few days with organising and supervising the work. He tried desperately to keep himself from drifting too much into his own musings.
Since his feet had set foot on solid ground again, he bypassed his parents and threw himself into all kinds of papers and other errands as an excuse. He even skipped meals together wherever possible. Ariel had taken to preparing a plate for him herself and bringing it to his study to ensure that her husband ate something proper at least once a day. Since the vain Louis saw his pride as a cook deeply wounded by Eric's absence from the main meals, the former mermaid had to speak to him with the tongues of angels and endure his tirade of abuse every day anew, while the chef de cuisine finally conjured up a small meal for the prince.
"If you overwork yourself so much that you are sick in bed you can't protect your little princess either," Carlotta continued to admonish him and Eric knew she was right in what she said.
"I know, Carlotta," he agreed with her and exhaled a little exhausted air.
"Let it go for today and allow yourself some time with your family," she continued to advise him.
That she was far exceeding her authority as a servant with this, they both knew, and yet Eric let her have it as usual. Carlotta only meant well and after all, she had always been there for him. After all, it had been Grimsby and her who had raised and educated him to be the man he was now, while his parents had been conspicuous by their absence. He was more than grateful to the counsellor and the housekeeper for their efforts. While his parents were on one of their numerous state trips, the two servants had always made him feel not alone in this residence of the ruling family, which was far too big for a small boy.
"All right, I'll just take these poles here to where they are to be installed and then I'll join my wife and daughter, I promise," Eric replied as he sat up straight again and opened his eyes. Carlotta shook her head gently, but seemed to agree with the compromise, judging by her smirk. So Eric grabbed the first of the sticks and set about carrying them away.
As he was about to pick up the second load, two other servants met him on the big staircase leading up to the main entrance of the castle. They had jammed the remaining poles under their arms.
"Thank you very much. Please put them down there so that they are available for further work," he asked the two of them and could not help smiling gently at Carlotta's further interference. She just had far too good a heart.
Done, then, it was now up to Eric to keep his end of the bargain and, as promised, he headed for the castle wing where Ariel and he shared quarters.
Eric opened the door carefully, not wanting to frighten his wife, after all, she would not be expecting him so early in the day when he had recently made a habit of sneaking into their marital bed late at night. Ariel had always caught him doing it anyway, no matter how hard he tried not to wake her. He was absolutely sure after a while that she didn't sleep a wink until he was by her side. She was worried, not only about her daughter, but also about him. He knew it, saw it in her looks and still he couldn't change his behaviour. He always lacked that last bit of courage, that last jolt to address what had been on his mind for so long. He needed to confront his father, but he resisted what that conversation would bring to light.
"Darling, how nice of you to make it early today," Ariel greeted him joyfully and hurried towards him as soon as the door had fallen into its lock behind him.
He joyfully took her in his arms and gave her a kiss before breaking away from her again and walking towards the cot where her little daughter lay with rosy cheeks. Melody instantly began to chuckle joyfully as she recognised her father leaning over her and tenderly stroking her cheek with the index finger of his right hand.
"She's missed you, too, Eric," his wife spoke into his conscience.
"I know, I'm sorry," the prince apologised sincerely.
"How is the work coming along?" the princess asked with interest.
"Very well. We got the missing iron bars delivered today. Now the inlets can be secured, that should keep unwanted sea creatures out of the palace grounds until your father has apprehended that witch," he told her but his saddened expression hardly changed in the face of this good news.
"What is the matter with you? You've been burying yourself in work since you got back. You know you can talk to me about anything, don't you Eric?", Ariel tried to fathom where Eric's strange behaviour was coming from.
"I... it's something I need to discuss with my father," Eric finally blurted out, instantly noticing how some of the weight seemed to lift from his shoulders.
"That's good," Ariel gloated, earning an incomprehensible look from her husband in return.
"What's good about it, please?", Eric asked her.
"Well, I had thought it had to do with the whole Morgana thing. If it had, I'm afraid I wouldn't have been able to help you, after all, you're so diligent in protecting our family's safety, what more could I contribute, but like this...", Ariel grinned and shrugged light-heartedly. This behaviour elicited a slight laugh from Eric.
"You're wonderful," he said simply, looking at his wife with love.
"If you're afraid to talk to your father about something, maybe I can do it?" she suggested.
"No, that won't work, I'll have to do it myself," the prince denied her suggestion, "but, knowing you have my back gives me the courage to face him."
"Then you'd better hurry up, Eric. Your parents are leaving on a state visit later. I assume it would be best if you don't put it off any longer," Ariel advised him to hurry.
Eric let out a low groan and shook his head gently. Once again, you would leave him here without bothering to let him know ahead of time. Was he really surprised that he had not known about these letters until then? Eric's suspicion that the pirate had indeed been telling the truth grew stronger.
"Thank you, then I'd better try to speak to him now," Eric thanked Ariel and said goodbye with a fleeting kiss on her cheek.
The prince headed straight for the throne room, even though he feared he would not find his father there. When he glanced through the large gilded double doors, his suspicions were confirmed. Disgruntled, he turned away again and closed the heavy door behind him. As he turned back into the corridor, Grimsby happened to run into him, carrying two large suitcases.
"Ah, Grimsby, where can I find my father?" asked Eric immediately.
"He is in his chambers, your highness. Come, accompany me, I am on my way there too," replied the servant, already running on.
Eric, as helpful as ever, took one of the suitcases from him without being asked. As he knew that his good-natured prince would not listen to him, he let him have it and gave him a grateful smile. And so, with their burdens halved, they set off together for Eric's father.
Grimsby raised his fist and knocked on the door a few times in a rapid rhythm before verbally announcing himself.
"Your Majesty, your trunks," he rasped through the still closed door.
"Bring them in, Grimsby. Quick, quick," the king's voice came through the wood.
The servant was about to comply with the request and push down the handle when Eric stopped him. He raised his index finger to his lips and then took the second of the suitcases as well. He then pushed the handle open himself with one of his elbows and carried the two suitcases into the room.
"Put them there," came the instruction as soon as Eric had made his way into the room. Standing with his back to the door, he had not noticed that it was his son who had just stepped into his chambers. The king was studying several arrangements of clothes put together for him, which lay spread out on the imposing four-poster bed.
"Which way?" asked Eric, causing his father to wince.
"Eric!" he snapped at him as he turned to face him.
But the prince was not fazed by this.
"Why do you frighten me so?" his father asked when he had recovered from the fright.
"Why don't you tell me you are going away?" asked Eric the counter question.
"You would have known when the time came, what's with this behaviour?" the king retorted and Eric could see the vein pulsing on his forehead that always came out when he threatened to overstep his bounds. But that was exactly why he was here, after all, so this time he didn't let it go and kept talking.
"From you or about third parties?" provoked Eric, unimpressed.
"I resent that tone! I don't have to put up with such things from my own son. Go and let me prepare my journey in peace. This is urgent state business, you should know better than to take my time now with such banalities," the king made his point and waved his hand to shoo Eric out of his room like a persistent fly.
Grimsby, still lingering in the doorway, gave Eric a pitying look, but Eric didn't see the point of pulling up stakes.
"What state business, Father?" he inquired inquisitively.
"Eric!" his father hissed again threateningly, "what is this rebellious behaviour?"
"You leave me out of this, father. I am your heir, should you not trust me more and include me in all the affairs of the kingdom? Just imagine if you did not return from this journey...", Eric confidently submitted.
"I must have misheard! Was that supposed to be a threat?!" the king interrupted his son angrily at the last of his remarks.
"No, that was not my intention, I did not mean it that way, sorry father," Eric instantly rowed back as he realised his mistake. That had indeed been very clumsily worded on his part. How was he supposed to get the information he wanted from his father?
"Father, don't you trust me?" he asked, skilfully masking his prevailing anger with an expression marked by sadness.
Seeing this, the king sighed heavily once.
"Oh, Eric, of course I trust you. Be glad that the burden of the kingdom does not yet rest entirely on your young shoulders. You will know soon enough what it will be like to be in my place. We'll talk when I get back, please go now, boy," the king actually struck a conciliatory tone.
"I must discuss this with you now, please father," Eric asked.
"All right, you won't give in with your stubborn head after all. What is this really about?" the king finally relented and sat down on the edge of his bed.
Eric cheered inwardly, but tried not to let it show outwardly.
"Why did you issue letters of marque?" he finally asked the question that had kept him from resting for days.
The shock was written all over his father's face and for the time being there was a tense silence in the room.
"Grimsby, close the door," the king finally ordered, waiting until the door had closed and he was alone with his son before turning to Eric, "How do you know about these letters?"
"So you admit it, father. The pirate captain who held Ares captive was in possession of one of these very documents. What prompted you to draw up such a document? How many of these letters are in circulation, father?!", Eric became more and more urgent.
The king was visibly uncomfortable in his skin, he ran the flat of his hand over his face and broke eye contact with his son.
"Eric,..." he began, but then seemed to be searching for the right words.
"Yes, father? I'm listening. Explain. For I cannot understand how you could allow these barbarians to rob and murder at sea with royal blessing! You yourselves sent me to the navy to learn how important the sea trade routes are to our kingdom," Eric explained his lack of understanding.
"We all make mistakes, my boy. Unfortunately, those of a king are more unforgivable and serious than those of a common man. I was young then, about your age. The kingdom was in a catastrophic situation. The first signs of an approaching war with one of the most powerful naval powers were emerging. It was a rash move to try to strengthen our position on the seas, Eric. I issued these letters to a handful of sailors loyal to me. Each and every one of them had proven their loyalty to the crown," the king told his son of the events of the day.
"Well at least one of them does not seem to have earned your trust, or how could such a document fall into the hands of such an unscrupulous man?" surmised Eric, seeming to hit the mark absolutely.
"You are right, one of them deceived me. He stole some of the letters I had prepared for other eligible candidates. All they lacked was my signature. He probably forged those and resold the letters at a high price," the king admitted.
"Why didn't you ever tell me about this, father?" echoed Eric regretfully.
"I was ashamed, my son. I hoped that this mistake on my part would never affect our lives again, but I guess I was wrong. I hope you can forgive me," the king revealed his hitherto well-kept secret.
Eric remained silent for a moment and gave his father a pitying look. He could see how difficult it seemed for him to admit these things in front of him.
"I forgive you,..." he said and immediately his father's expression brightened.
"Thank you," the king responded happily, but Eric stopped him to wait.
"...On one condition, father," he added.
"What's that?" the king asked uncertainly.
"Promise me that from today onwards you will no longer keep secrets from me and inform me of such things. I want to be involved in all decisions concerning the kingdom. Only in this way can we ensure the continuity of our kingdom. Furthermore, you will allow me to rectify this mishap. We will retrieve each and every one of these letters," Eric demanded and the king looked at him with pride.
"Agreed, I promise," the king replied with satisfaction and smacked Eric's outstretched hand.