A/N: I apologize for the long wait. But here is the next chapter, which I hope you enjoy. Thanks to all who have stuck by me and this story. Without further ado, I give you chapter eight. :)

Disclaimer: I don't own The Little Mermaid

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It didn't take long to reach their destination. But the journey was a difficult one, especially when a storm began to brew on the horizon, bringing with it forceful winds that billowed the sails.

Eric was once more in charge at the helm. Ever so often he would take a glance at his crudely-drawn map, hoping his calculations were accurate and that they sailed in the right direction.

By mid-afternoon, when the sun was beating down and sweat dripped into his eyes, Eric withdrew a spyglass and took a peek at the horizon. His heart leapt.

Land.

Refolding the instrument, Eric frowned and wondered still if it would be wise to continue to sail until they reached the island. He couldn't help but feel anxious. The anxiety was so deep within him that it caused his stomach to lurch and dread to stab at his heart.

The mer people were in danger. If Eric continued to sail toward land, he would be leading the pirates to a treasure that could mean harm to Ariel's race. But if he didn't, what would happen to his wife? He shuttered thinking of what the pirates would do to Ariel if he refused to honor the accord made between him and Captain Blanch.

Eric was suddenly awash with guilt. Perhaps he should have told Ariel what Blanchard was after. After all, the treasure did belong to her mother, and she had a right to know.

But if she knew, Eric reasoned, she would act impulsively to stop the pirates from getting their hands on it.

He couldn't allow that. He also knew he couldn't let Captain Blanch take the treasure. But how could he stop the inevitable from happening?

Eric clenched his hands on the wheel. He wanted desperately to do what was right. But either way, someone would get hurt. It was a situation where the evil prevailed and the good was left to fight for their lives.

Frustrated, Eric wracked his mind for a plan of action. He would continue to sail. When the island was reached, there he could make his finale choice. If it meant he died trying then so be it. Compared to the many innocent lives that would be exposed if the treasure were to find itself in Captain Blanch's grasp, Eric would rather die protecting Ariel's people than save his own life.

With his mind made up, Eric sent Luddy down with a message to Captain Blanch.

Land had been spotted.

They reached land as the sun started to set. A flurry of activity broke out on deck as the men prepared to lay anchor and disembark.

Ariel was allowed to come out of her cabin, but Eric kept her close to his side. He wanted to keep her safe for as long as he could. It was also a comfort to have her warmth against him. He was then reminded of the love they had shared, and drank in the sweet memories to give him strength for the hours to come.

The pirates were too busy to notice the couple. Eric took advantage of the moment to give his wife instructions.

"I need you to promise me that, if anything should happen to me, I want you to leave me and go back to the sea, where you'll be safe."

Ariel looked startled. "What are you saying?"

"I can't let Blanchard get his hands on the treasure," Eric murmured softly. "If this means I die trying to stop him . . . "

Ariel's eyes filled up with tears. She gripped at his shirt, holding on to him with all her strength.

"I don't want you to die," she whispered tremulously. "I love you, Eric."

Eric cupped her chin in his hand. He ran his thumb over her cheek, wiping away her tears.

"And I love you, too. But please promise me, Ariel. It will relieve me to know that you are safe."

Ariel nodded. "I promise."

"Good."

Eric dipped his head to capture her lips with his, kissing her softly. It was a kiss of farewell. If he didn't make it, he wanted her to remember their last moment being a tender one full of love. No regrets, although he could feel a blooming sorrow in the way Ariel clung to him.

"It's time fer ye to go," Luddy announced from behind the couple.

Eric drew away from Ariel. He saw the look of tenderness in Luddy's eyes as the pirate gazed upon Ariel, and suddenly he knew he could trust the man.

"Take care of her," he said, before turning and walking away.

Once he was settled in the row-boat with Captain Blanch and several of his men, Eric stole a glance to the ship. Ariel stood with Luddy on deck, watching him go with tears streaming down her cheeks. He smiled at her. It was his finale act of letting her known that everything was going to be alright.

When the boat neared shore, a broadly-built pirate with a permanent scowl on his face jumped out and tugged the boat to shore. Several other of the men gathered up their wits and followed suit.

Captain Blanch took a thoughtful look around him at the verdant island. It was a fair-sized area of land so thick with trees and vegetation that to trek through it would require a sword to clear a path suitable enough for ease of passage. The air was thick and humid despite the chill in the air, alive with the sounds of bird calls and other species who called the island home.

Eric unrolled the parchment where the map was drawn and quietly studied it. He had unraveled the riddles his father left, but they still continued to puzzled him. He looked up and glanced around at his surroundings.

"Well?" Captain Blanch said impatiently. "Where be th' treasure?"

Eric smiled grimly and pointed to a thick strand of trees. "Through there, I believe. If I'm correct, the treasure you seek lies in a small cove in the rocks."

The Captain made a sweeping motion with his hand, and several of his men started to hack at the vegetation with swords drawn to make a wide enough entrance in which to enter the jungle beyond.

Captian Blanch waved Eric through with a flourish of his hand. "Lead th' way, prince."

Eric refolded the map and started through the trees. He had to wade through branches thick with leaves and hack at the brambles with his sword, but soon, a narrow trail appeared on the ground and he began to follow it.

The men behind him followed silently. Eric would have forgotten they were there if it weren't for the occasional curse that left their lips when a branch snagged at bare flesh. He felt their presence as well. It left a prickling sensation on his neck, one that sent images of being stabbed in the back by a dagger if he made the wrong move.

The sounds of animal life grew louder. The crash of waves against the shore faded with every step. The trail soon grew difficult to trek as it inclined upward into a cluster of large boulders. The ground underneath became rocky and slippery.

Suddenly, Eric could hear the soft trickle of water cascading down. He followed it until he came upon a small waterfall carved into the rocks. There, he stopped, certain they had reached the hiding place of the treasure his father had wanted to remain hidden.

By this time, Eric was exhausted. Sweat ran down his forehead in rivulets and stung his eyes. His skin was scratched and bleeding from where several brambles had snagged at him. But despite his weariness, he summoned up the last bit of strength he had in preparation.

He wasn't going to let these pirates take the treasure. If he had to fight until the end, then that's exactly what he planned to do.

Captain Blanch stopped and stared expectantly at Eric. Eric stepped aside and motioned to the small waterfall.

"What you seek lies through the water," he stated simply.

Captain Blanch sidled through. He studied the trickling water, then brought his hand up to let it hover only a scant few inches away. Several droplets trickled on to his thumb and slid down the sleeve of his coat.

As the moments ticked past, the other men grew antsy. They shifted on their feet and eyed the waterfall with wary frowns, as if afraid the water was poisoned.

Finally, Captain Blanch plunged his hand within the water. A look of triumph lit up his face as he withdrew an old and tarnished chest.

The men took tentative steps closer, their curiosity winning over their unease.

Eric watched them from the side with mounting apprehension. His anxiety was building up like the storm that was gaining momentum in the distance as the sun began to set in the sky. The wind had picked up, blowing tendrils of his hair about his face.

"At last," Captain Blanch muttered. With some effort, he pride open the rusted lock with his knife. The lid opened with a loud creak.

The men drew closer.

Inside lay a gold crowd, that despite the years of being forgotten within a trickling waterfall, gleamed gold in the fading light. It seemed to hum. Eric thought he heard soft music, sung by an angelic voice, and was drawn to the beauty, the unmistakable magic, that emanated from the crown.

"It's beautiful," Captain Blanch muttered. A rumble of thunder sounded in the distance. "Can ye feel that? It be power, men. The power to rule the sea . . . "

Eric's state of dazedness caused by the crown suddenly vanished upon hearing those words. His attention snapped back until he realized the storm had grown closer, more threatening and dangerous. A flash of lightening zig-zagged ominously across the sky.

Although his mission had been to make certain the crown didn't fall in Captain Blanch's hands, he was suddenly at loss for what to do. It was as if all rational thoughts had been erased from his mind by the power of the crown. The only thing he was capable of was wordlessly following as the men set off back down the slippery path.

The crown continued to hummed. The storm intensified. And in those moments, Eric dreaded what was to come. He could feel it in his bones.

Another boom of thunder rumbled through the air. When they reached the beach, the waves were violently crashing to the shore. The ship bobbed precariously on the water, and on its deck stood Ariel. Even from the distance Eric could see her relief when she caught sight of him.

Captain Blanch stopped in his tracks. He held up the crown. "I now hold th' power of all th' ocean," he cried, raising his voice to be heard over to howling wind and the crashing waves.

Eric's next actions were purely on impulse. He yanked his sword from its sheath, lunged at the pirate captain, and thrust the tip at his neck. "Drop the crown!" he commanded. "Do it now! Or I will plunge this blade in your black heart!"

The men around him drew their swords, scowling at him with the urge to kill in their eyes.

Eric held tightly to his courage. To have it waver would mean to succumb to his death.

Captain Blanch spun around to face Eric. "Yer outnumbered, boy," he growled. "It should be ye who lays down yer sword before ye do somethin' both of us regret."

Eric held firm. "You don't want to provoke the wrath of forces that you cannot possibly fathom. Surrender the crown and we all live."

"I be not afraid of a mere fish," the captain spat. "He should fear me."

"Fear you? I think not. You don't know the Sea King as I do."

Captain Blanch's eyes narrowed. "Ye speak lies. All lies. Not a soul has ever set eyes on King Triton, much less a mere prince such as yerself." He took a step back, holding the crown to his chest as if afraid Eric would snatch it from him. "I mean to summon this fish and plunge a harpoon through his heart. It's power I seek. Ye can either be apart if it or find no mercy at th' bottom of th' ocean."

Eric leveled his sword with the captain's heart. "I won't ask again, Blanchard. Drop—"

Suddenly, the crown started to glow. It was so bright it blinded Eric. He shielded his eyes, stunned by its magnificence. It lit up the fading light like the brightest star in the sky.

Eric was momentarily stunned, and his guard had slipped. His mistake caused him to be besieged on all sides by Captain Blanch's men. They grabbed hold of his arms, disarming him of his sword.

"Let us not waste anymore time," Captain Blanch growled. "Back to th' ship, men!"