Eric felt like he was floating, lapping at the shores like sea foam. He felt light, and free, and absolutely elated. He had woken up earlier than usual, untangled himself from his wife, and headed down to the fateful spot he had met Ariel, and re-met her just yesterday. Rounding the corner, he felt a pang of disappointment she wasn't there, though he knew he should've expected it. She said three days, so he would see her in three days. He couldn't wait, but he had to.
Of course he was thrilled to see her at all, but she was too late! If only he had looked truly everywhere, if only he had wandered that extra 300 feet down to where she perched the next year, his fate might be different. But now he was married, now he was bound and obligated to Cora.
Which is why this was okay, he reassured himself. You know you have a wife, and you love your wife. You love your wife. He repeated it like a mantra, and nodded to himself while staring out to sea. You just need to thank Ariel. She did save your life, after all. It's the least you can do.
But, he knew he had a lot to learn. Every bit of her was shrouded in mystery. Ariel just kept appearing, out of seemingly nowhere! How could a person even do that? It was if she was there only when he needed her most; she rescued him continually, in every human way. She was there, against all odds, during that terrible storm, and she had stayed with him, singing and soothing. She was there every year on their anniversary, and she was there on his third anniversary, when he couldn't quite sort out his head. Could something that powerful truly be coincidence? Was he supposed to think that?
He couldn't believe it. She belonged in his life, to some extent. He had never been so eager to see a woman again, and brushing that off as nothing seemed foolish at best. Eric didn't know exactly how Ariel could fit into his life, because he wasn't truly aware of how much space Cora took up.
Cora was his wife, and, of course, that meant she was the first woman he needed to be concerned about. And Eric knew he had made a promise to understand and uphold that on their wedding day. But he was allowed to have friends, guests, and acquaintances. Cora may be the first woman in his life, but she didn't have to be the only one.
"Eric, you can't just spend all this time moping about! Get up, do something, have a life!"
Eric was at his desk, where he had been stationed every day before. He picked his head up and swiveled around. "Grim, I've been up! I've been doing things! I'm trying to find her!"
"Eric, you've been looking for weeks!"
"And I'll find her. I know I will." Eric said firmly. "We've searched the whole town, we've scoured the beaches, she must be close by."
"Eric, you need to settle down soon. It isn't just me-"
"I know, Grim. It's the kingdom. The gods themselves!"
"Your parents would've wanted you settled down by now."
Eric stalled a little at this.
Grimsby took this as a sign to continue. "They did want love for you, Eric. And you're avoiding it in pursuit of a hallucination. I don't know how you lived through that wreck, but you were fortunate enough to somehow be washed ashore, and you're wasting it in order to look for some girl that happened to be taking a dip hundreds of feet from the shoreline."
"She's real, Grim. I know she is. She has to be." Eric insisted, looking up.
"Write to Cora again, Eric. Please. Push this mystery girl out of your mind and look for someone who is real, and sweet, and deeply caring."
"Grimsby, she isn't interested. More importantly, I'm not either."
"Eric, you never gave her a chance. That girl listened to you talk about boats and water and whatnot for weeks. She is interested."
"Grim-"
"Invite her. She'd make a good wife Eric, but you need to at least be willing to give her a chance.'
"But-"
"Marriage isn't this romantic ideal you've built it up to be. If you have two caring people, who put enough time and support into a union, love will blossom, in tandem with passion. I swear to you, Eric. You will not regret writing to Cora."
He remembered almost hoping that she wouldn't come. That she was too put off by his aloofness, or his never-ending interest in the sea. But her response was timely, and she followed promptly after. Once he started paying attention to her, it became very clear that she indeed was everything Grimsby had sworn. She was very sweet, and charming to be around. She laughed at his quips, seldom though they be. She remembered most everything he said to her, and would bring it up in later conversations.
She was not the mystery girl, she was never Ariel, but she was a wonderful woman. So, later on, when Grimsby brought up the idea of proposing, Eric could not produce a substantial reason as to why not.
So he did and, three years later, here they were.
…
"Ariel, darling, are you okay?" Aquata shook her baby sister's shoulder.
"You look like death!" Attina swam over, feeling Ariel's forehead. "You're so pale!"
"I'm fine, really!" Ariel swore, sitting up quickly. Oof, head rush.
"Are you sure? You were out last night, no?" Andrina quipped, raising an eyebrow.
Oh, shut up! Snitch! "I just needed some air is all. I wasn't feeling too well last night, but now I am absolutely fine. I promise." Ariel smiled bitterly.
"Then let's go to breakfast!" Artista insisted, adding another coat of mascara.
Ugh. Food does not sound good right now. "Sure thing, darlings." Ariel rose up, still feeling lightheaded.
The group of girls swam out to the dining hall, Ariel bringing up the rear. She just had to keep up. After today, it got better. It was worth it. Just keep up.
Ariel heard quiet snores come from all around her. They were all finally asleep. She snuck out quietly, down the hall to the music room. It was such a cluttered, obvious space. Ariel knew she could hide anything in here. She scooted one of the boards to the side, revealing a hole that had been dug out. Resting inside, to be freed only once a year, was a lilac dress.
The seven girls sat at the table, and with every one of their laughs, Ariel felt her head pound. But she couldn't ask them to be quiet. Then they'd go back to questioning her, demanding to know what was wrong, and why something was wrong. She just had to make it thought the meal, then she could leave. Go to her grotto. Lie down.
She then moved to the grand hall, where she saw her father's throne. Sitting next to it, as it so often was, was his trident. She could remove it, and she could use it, being of royal mer-blood, but she knew she had nowhere near his power. Not yet. Still, she knew this was important, and that she had to transform herself. She only wished it didn't hurt so much.
Another round of platters and the like were brought out, and Ariel felt faint again. "You know," she mumbled. "I'm really not hungry."
"Why, are you ill?" Andrina piped in.
"On second thought, pass the kelp." Ariel challenged her.
She felt the initial zap of the power, and the rest of the transformation flowed through her. She dropped the trident and rocketed to the surface, breaking it just when she was sure she had no breath left. Panting, she paddled over to her rock – their rock – and slipped into the dress. She was exhausted, she was in pain, and she was, once again, reminded why she could only do this once a year.
Breakfast did eventually come to a close, thank Poseidon. Ariel excused herself, crying of errands and trips and chores. The girls bid her goodbye, and Ariel swam off as quickly as she could manage to.
She had only 'til sunset. The power was gone too soon. But, as the sun rose, Ariel was still filled with hope that this year, their third anniversary, would be the year they could finally, properly, meet. So she pulled herself up, took a deep breath, and began to sing.
Ariel could only roll the stone that blocked her grotto back a crack; just enough space for her to swim in. She laid on the floor, head spinning, stomach flipping. She was exhausted, she was worn though, and she was pained. But she was also in love, and she would return to Eric, just like she promised she would.
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