A/N: Here is another chapter! I hope you enjoy. And thanks to all who have reviewed and read my story. :)

Disclaimer: I don't own The Little Mermaid

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Ariel was asleep now on a lumpy bed nailed to the floor. Sebastian kept vigil on the pillow by her head, his eye on the door. He didn't trust these pirates. They were the kind of people who wouldn't hesitate to kill a poor crab and eat him for supper, nor would they feel the least bit of remorse for harming an innocent girl.

Sebastian found himself wondering why he was always getting involved in troubling situations such as the ones Ariel always seemed to find herself in. One of these days he was going to retire. He was going to put all this perilous business behind him and spend the rest of his days in the comfort of Atlantica, where he didn't have to worry about becoming a crab on a platter.

Until then, it was his duty to look after Ariel until she was safe again. The Sea King was depending on him. Sebastian vowed he would protect Ariel with his life, even if it meant sacrificing his own.

"Da things I do for you, child," he muttered to Ariel. The princess stirred, but didn't awaken from her troubled sleep. Her mind must have been plagued with nightmares, as a distraught expression caused her brow to crease with anxiety.

Sebastian sighed. He could have done with a few winks as well, but sleep would elude him as long as he was on watch duty.

Several hours must have passed, as dawn's new light broke through the sky and poured in through the small, round window above the bed. The sound of the sea water lapping against the hull of the ship aroused Sebastian from his daze. Tired and disoriented, he nudged Ariel's shoulder with his pincer to awaken her.

Ariel stirred. Her eyes fluttered open, and for a moment, she looked befuddled.

"Sebastian?" she muttered in a voice hoarse from sleep. She shivered, Eric's shirt failing to keep her warm in the chill that permeated the tiny cabin.

"I am here, child," Sebastian said.

Beyond the thick door that barred them in came the sounds of a bell being rung, announcing that it was time for a change in shifts. Several shouts rang out in the cool morning air. Boots thumped on the deck, and several foul curses left the mouths of men as they shuffled to their stations to begin their assigned duties.

"I want to go home," Ariel whispered, hugging her arms around her knees. "These men are barbaric. How do I save Eric from them?"

Sebastian didn't have an answer. All he could do was remain by her side, silent and sullen.

The door suddenly swung open, revealing the brute named Luddy. Ariel quickly scooped up Sebastian and stood from the bed, putting on a brave face. Without a word, the man grabbed her by the elbow and escorted her out. Ariel knew it would be unwise to fight him. She went quietly, ignoring the blatant looks of interest she received from the pirates as her and Luddy made their way along the deck to the captain's quarters.

Once their destination was reached, Luddy didn't bother to knock on the door before escorting Ariel inside.

"Ah, there she be," Captain Blanch drawled out.

Eric, who stood before the pirate, and who had been given another shirt to replace the one he'd given to Ariel, spun around. The look on his face was one of both relief and concern. Ariel wanted to go to him, but Luddy kept a firm hold of her elbow in his rough hand.

"Now let me make meself clear once more that we are all assembled," Captain Blanch said. His narrowed eyes bore into Eric's. "Th' key. I need ye to hand it over willingly. If ye do not do as I order—" he made a motion with his hand, and suddenly, Luddy had a knife pressed to the soft flesh on Ariel's neck, "—I will have her killed before yer very eyes."

Eric's resolve was finally shattered. His wife's life was now in his hands, and he wasn't about to watch her die before him because he foolishly hesitated. He'd lost her once; he wasn't going to loose her again.

"Put the knife down," Eric growled. A sweat had broken out on his palms, making his hands slick and clammy. "The key is yours. Let her go . . . "

Captain Blanch nodded, and Luddy released Ariel. He thrust her at Eric. Eric caught her as she stumbled, wrapping his arms around her and holding her close to his chest.

"Are you harmed?" he murmured worriedly, searching her gaze as he held her at arms-length. He saw the fear in her eyes, but was helpless as to how he could reassure her.

"No. Are you alright?" Ariel asked. When Eric nodded, she sighed. "The key. Should I give it to him?"

"We have no other choice, love."

Eric gently slid his fingers around her neck and unclasped the chain. Once the key was in his hand, he slapped it on the desk.

Captain Blanch snatched it up as if afraid it would vanish. He studied the key with a satisfied smirk on his lips.

"Finally. Th' key that unlocks David's secrets."

Eric wondered why the pirate hadn't just slaughtered him to get to the key and be done with it, but the reason eluded him and it made his stomach roil dwelling on it. Perhaps there was something else Eric was needed for. After all, his father, King David, had been a cunning man. He had encrypted his letters in code, his maps like a puzzle to be solved before the secrets could be found, and his orders like a riddle. He had been a wise king. His methods had been passed down to his son, but Eric had yet to find use for his father's confusing ways.

Captain Blanch took down the red leather-bound book that served as a hiding place to the journal that once belonged to Eric's father. The pirate looked calm and expressionless on the outside, but the anticipation in his eyes was easy to see.

Ariel tugged on Eric's shirt until he glanced down at her. "Is that your father's journal?" she whispered.

Eric nodded.

"The one with the dangerous secrets?"

There was a muffled, sharp inhale of breath from Ariel's hand. Eric looked down, surprised to see Sebastian, his wife's loyal friend, glaring up at him as if this entire situation was his fault.

"Silence!" Captain Blanch ordered sharply. He had taken the journal from its hiding place and was carefully inserting the key. Eric inhaled sharply, holding his breath.

The key turned. The lock was undone. The secrets inside were set free.

A big, ugly smile that made the scar on his face appear more jagged stretched across Captain Blanch's lips.

"Ah! At last . . . "

He opened up the journal and removed a folded piece of parchment that was yellowed with age. A map, perhaps? The captain carefully unfolded it and spread it out on the vast surface of the desk.

Indeed, it was a map. Eric recognized the eloquent scrawl of his father and a lump formed in his throat. He was suddenly hit by a powerful force of nostalgic for what was gone, swallowed within the depths of the sea. In this moment, he wished his father was present, because he would know just what to do.

Eric didn't. All he could accomplish was holding Ariel close, protecting her, while his gaze was frozen to the map.

Luddy, curious, ambled over and peered down at the map. He scratched his grizzled beard and frowned.

"That be a strange map, cap'n," he muttered. "D'ye think yer friend was right in th' head when 'e drew it?"

Captain Blanch looked up at Luddy with an expression of disgust on his face. "It is in code, ye blitherin' sea dog." He glanced sharply at Eric. "Only th' son of David can decipher it."

Eric tilted his chin up in defiance. "That is, if I agree to read it," he proclaimed darkly.

"If ye don't read it, I will toss yer woman overboard fer th' bloody sharks."

Ariel bristled in her husband's arms. "I can swim," she bit out.

Sebastian groaned in her hand. "Hush, child. Dat pirate, he doesn't need ta know dat you are a—"

Eric clamped a hand over the crab's mouth to keep him from saying anything more. He was rewarded when Sebastian gave him a good pinch.

"I'll decipher it," Eric growled, jerking his hand away, which was smarting from pain. "But you have to promise that nothing will happen to Ariel."

The captain nodded. "Fair enough. Luddy, take this wench back to her cabin and give her a morsel to eat," he barked. "And see to it that she is kept safe."

"Aye, cap'n," Luddy muttered. He reached for Ariel, but she refused for him to take hold of her elbow again. Instead, she reluctantly left Eric and walked to the door without a backwards glance.

Luddy grunted and followed her.

When the door shut with a thump, Eric resignedly sidled over to the desk. As much as he didn't want to uncover whatever secret his father had kept hidden all these years, he knew he had no other choice. It was either do as the pirate wanted or have Ariel harmed. He was glad she had Sebastian. Although he and the crab didn't see eye-to-eye on much, he trusted that Sebastian would look after Ariel for the time being.

"I'll need a quill, an inkwell, and a fresh piece of parchment," Eric said, glancing back at Captain Blanch, who was hovering nearby. The man did as told and slapped down the requested objects besides the map.

"Anything else ye'll be requirin'?" he asked in a growl.

"Not presently."

Eric picked up the quill and dipped it in the ink.

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Ariel was getting restless sitting inside the tiny cabin. Her attempts at pacing hadn't gone overly well, as there wasn't much room to accomplish that feat anyhow.

She plopped back down on the bed with a sigh. Sebastian was resting on a small table propped up against the wall, and hadn't moved from his post in two hours, even when Luddy brought in a cloth wrapped around stale bread and a mushy apple for Ariel to sate her hunger with. Ariel assumed her friend was keeping watch. But what could he do to protect her, being a small crab and all?

Sebastian must have sensed her gaze, because he turned to look at her. "Young lady, when dis is over, you must pledge dat you will never look for trouble again," he said sternly. "I am getting too old for all dis excitement."

Ariel smiled. "I'm pleased to have your company," she told him. "Even if we are surrounded by dangerous pirates."

Sebastian harrumphed, then continued to keep watch on the door.

It seemed as if an eternity had passed before Luddy came back. When he opened the door, late afternoon sunlight pooled across the floor. His gaze fell on Sebastian, and a thoughtful frown marred his expression.

"Ol' One-Eye Bill would pitch a fit if 'e knew there be a crab on board," he grumbled as he tossed Ariel another wrapped cloth of food. "Bad luck, he'd say."

Ariel was curious. "Why?" she asked, although she didn't expect a decent answer from him. He was a pirate, after all.

Luddy shrugged, and surprised Ariel when he answered her. "One-Eye Bill is superstitious, is all. 'e believes 'n mermaids 'n curses 'n all that."

"Oh. Do you believe that mermaids are real?"

Sebastian shot Ariel a warning look, but she ignored him.

"Mermaids?" Luddy scratched at his jaw. "Hmm. I heard stories." His disposition suddenly changed and he scowled at her. "I shouldn't be speakin' to ye. Ear yer food and keep mum, ye hear?"

The face of a youth suddenly peaked behind the door, curiosity shining in his blue eyes. A mop of red, unruly haired covered his head, and his face was awash with freckles from long days out in the sun.

Ariel saw him and smiled. She wondered what such a young boy was doing on a ship full of fierce pirates.

Luddy turned, his scowl deepening. "Remember what I said 'bout comin' near th' young lady? I'd flay yer arse bare, boy."

"I'm curious, is all," the boy said. "One-Eye Bill keeps sayin' that it be a curse to have a woman aboard. That true, Uncle Luddy?"

"It be true enough fer some people, James," Luddy grumbled. He made a shooing motion with his hand and waved young James away. He was about to leave when Ariel spoke up.

"You seem like a nice enough hum—I mean man. Would you escort me on deck and allow me to stretch my legs?"

Luddy acted like she'd suggested he take a dive in shark-infested waters. "Cap'n would have me hide if I allowed ye to set foot from yer cabin," he growled.

"I'm actually quite harmless," Ariel persisted, flashing him a winning smile.

"Pardon me, but ye be dressed like a whore. Th' men would all over ye."

Ariel wasn't offended by his words. "If you kindly find me more decent attire . . . "

Luddy frowned. Ariel smiled.

"I can tell wonderful stories," she continued. She'd heard tell from Eric that sea men loved a good story. Pirates would be no different.

Luddy surprised her again. He smiled. It wasn't a pretty smile, neither did it make his rough appearance any softer, but it was a smile nonetheless.

"Sit tight, m'lady. I'll see what I can do."