Eric widens his eyes in amazement, "Whoa...How many eggs exactly?", and Ariel smiled softly, "Usually one, rarely two. My mother and father wanted to have a big family, so they decided on seven children as it turns out on their seventh courting year, my father asked my mother to be his intended wife.".
"That explains why you and your sisters are a year apart in age, one by one.", Eric whistled lightly, and Ariel nodded, "Yep. And human pregnancies?".
Eric exhaled, "About nine months.", and Ariel nodded, "So, similar in a way of timing. And I assume the men fertilize the egg?".
"So, I've known and always been told. If there are other ways to do it... I've not heard.", Eric said as Ariel nodded. "But it honestly doesn't sound too much different.".
Ariel hummed, "No, not really much...So, does human men have a reproductive organ like a gonad, or is it different? Like mermaids, merman hide them behind scales, and when it's time to do it, the scales recede back.".
Eric blushed at the thought as he gave a nervous chuckle, "Uh, no, that organ is... exposed, like all the time. You actually could see it right now if I wasn't wearing pants.". Ariel raised an eyebrow as Eric shook his head. "No, I'm not going to show you... that would be wrong and not really something a gentleman should do. Chivalry might be all but dead, but I at least plan to keep it alive if just for me alone.".
Ariel smiled softly, "Okay, that's more than fair since you're a prince and all, and besides, your kingdom doesn't need a...what's the human word? sc-scancel?".
"Scandal.", Eric said. "And certainly wouldn't help; the kingdom is already in a precarious situation as is with Naples and Sicily being ruled by Savoy and Austria. My kingdom stands right at the middle of the two for the most part.".
Ariel nodded, "Understandable. One last question...Does humans do it face to face? My sisters told me that merpeople do it face to face because it strengthens their bond as mates for life upon marriage.".
"Yes... usually.", Eric admitted as Ariel looked at him. "Well, apparently it's possible to conceive a child from different positions but the one I was told about is similar of looking face to face.".
Ariel nodded, "Oh...I guess that makes sense since it's different with legs, huh?", and Eric rubbed the back of his neck, "Yeah, pretty much.".
"Thank you for explaining all of this to me, Eric, even though I wasn't making it easy for you...", Ariel said, and apologized. "Yeah... that... uh, that wasn't as bad to say.", Eric admitted. "I mean, once we kinda started, it felt fairly easy to say.".
Ariel thoughtfully hummed before smiling, "I guess it's because we are comfortable with each other.", and Eric nodded, "Exactly...I just feel like I can talk to you about anything, and I listen to you when you talk about anything...".
"I feel the same way too, Eric.", Ariel nodded with a warm smile to Eric, and Eric smiled softly before checking the time of the sun, "We still got some time before it goes dark. I better get some meat for dinner.".
Ariel smiled, "Sounds good to me.", and Max barked excitedly as he joined Eric once again, and Eric nodded, "Alright, be right back.", leaving the cove, and Ariel sighed lightly as she headed back to the water, relaxing and swimming around in the sun as much as she could with the sunlight through the opening of the cove bay.
She hummed to herself as she did flips and leaps, having fun, the new information whirring in her mind, and trying to imagine herself as a human, but without the most viable information which was hidden behind Eric's pants, it was difficult to imagine what it would be like to do it with him as she has no idea what would happen in true intercourse...It was easier for her to imagine herself as a mermaid, and she would be technically stuck on one position, but would it be different with Eric as a human?
Oh, she isn't going to be that woman who causes a scandal and ruin his chivalry, and besides, she is satisfied enough to imagine and dream...If he wasn't a prince and a merman, would he be curious to imagine and dream as well?
Ariel took a deep breath as she looked at herself in the water. The past few weeks had been more about just trying to at least survive and recover from her injuries which were healing very nicely. Perhaps he had been right about not scaring up from those shards. But now that she was having moments alone to herself... her mind was finding itself quickly drifting back to thoughts of him.
As for Eric, his mind was half distracted by all that happened while he was following Max who picked up a rabbit scent. He has been so busy as the sole provider of the trio, finding food for all of them to survive, and today is probably the last day of true survival as he would perhaps get wonderful food, and some help in the village, leaving him to wonder about Ariel...
He didn't blame Ariel for being so heck curious as he would have done the same thing if he was a merman...well, maybe less bold than her, but still...What kind of color would his tail be, with his fins and all? Ariel's tail is gorgeously beautiful, glossy emerald-green, with translucent mint green fins, and it looks so strong to swim fast and help her move across the water...
Maybe it would be inky black like his hair, or ice blue like his eyes, or something else he wouldn't expect like maroon red...He wouldn't have so much trouble hiding his organ as he was quick to think of something else every time Ariel comes out of the water, droplets streaking across her flawless, pale skin, her fire-red hair remarkably luscious, and her tail shining under the sun, remembering too well of the accidental reveal of her vent...similar to where a human woman's maidenhood would be...
Eric quickly shook his head, trying to purge those thoughts. Ariel... she wasn't that sort of girl, and he wasn't that sort of man. He had the weight of his kingdom on his shoulders and couldn't act that debauched. Maybe other monarchs would do that, but he wouldn't. It certainly would help compared to diplomatic relations of showing that he is a man of good morals and can be trusted to keep a word.
Max barked loudly to grab his attention, chasing a rabbit back to him, and Eric grabbed a branch, going for the kill. Eric hated it, but he knew that it's a world of survival for everything as he worked to skin it and cut the head off as it's really creepy for him and Ariel to see the eyes of dead animals, and sighed heavily, "Alright, boy, let's head back to Ariel.", and Max yipped, heading ahead of him.
"Shame you ain't a wolf... make this much easier.", Eric said as Max whimpered. "I know, I know... you do good, we just have to do this sort of thing to survive. Hopefully we'll find our way back home.".
Max nudged his hand with a bark, and Eric chuckled, "Yeah, you're right, Max. Everything will turn out right as long as we have hope.", smiling softly. And so, soon enough, they made it to the cove through the cave, initiating the secret code, before hearing Ariel's voice, "Eric?".
Eric smiled as he exited with Max from the inside of the cave, seeing Ariel trying to rub the sticks together in the campfire, and he chuckled, "Let me help you there.", before sticking the skinned rabbit, and held it against a rock as he then sat down next to Ariel, taking over her hands on the sticks, showing her to do it properly.
"Maybe it's because I'm always damp.", Ariel chuckled as Eric shrugged his shoulders, "Perhaps, but you certainly are trying very well... just needs a little more force and-". The sparks come and ignite the fire. "There we go.".
Ariel beamed excitedly, "I did it!", smiling at him, and Eric smiled warmly at her, "Yes, you did, great job. You're a natural.".
Blushing warmly, Ariel grinned before glancing at their intertwined hands on the sticks, "Eric...", and Eric blushed, "Oh, sorry!", letting go, and Ariel shook her head, "Don't be...it's okay. I don't mind.", smiling gently as she liked being warm under Eric's hands like that, strangely enough.
"I... uh...", Eric rubbed the back of his neck as Ariel gave him a teasing look. "Do you often have these moments with young ladies?", she chuckled as Eric shook his head.
"Actually... not really. I've... never had much connection with any other women aside from, say, the nursemaids or helpers of the castle. The closest that you're probably joking about is other princesses or noblewomen and... well...", Eric sighed wearily with a shrug.
"Not really any spark with them?", Ariel asked as Eric nodded, "I've always told Grimsby that if I meet the right girl-", before getting interrupted by Ariel. "It'll be like lightning.", she finished his sentence.
Eric looked at her in shock and surprise before nodding, "Yeah...Right, I forgot you were there for a moment...", barely realizing in the back of his mind that the first bolt of lightning technically brought Ariel to him...
"I really like that sentiment as it actually reminds me of true love in a way...I really wish I'd find true love like my parents did.", Ariel smiled warmly before sighing, "I think all the mermen are afraid of Daddy, along with the fact that I am the youngest, not that I blame them for liking my sisters better...I guess I'm too headstrong and stubborn for any merman...".
"Your father trying to set you up with any mermen?", Eric asked as Ariel nodded with a sigh, and started to explain why she was out that night.
"Well, before that night, I mostly was in trouble with my father for ruining the concert for him by not showing up. I was busy collecting some trinkets from a sunken ship and Daddy would've been furious if he knew that. Anyway, the plan was for me to spend some time with this young prince from another kingdom; more than likely who he probably would try to court me with.", Ariel explained.
Eric blinked, "But you didn't like the idea?", and Ariel scoffed, "It was on the pretense of hosting the royal family from that kingdom for a whole week after I got grounded and was to shuck barnacles which I hate, and the curfew was cut down to 10 pm when it was usually 11 for me, and Daddy wanted me to be stuck inside Atlantica to spend time with the prince for the whole week without going for adventures and all which would be awful at some point for me...especially when I thrive on discovering things.".
"Sounds rough.", Eric admitted as Ariel nodded, "It really probably is that I'm so much like my mother, I've been told... that's why Daddy probably has such a watch over me compared to my sisters. As well as the fact that as I've told you, they're not troublemakers.".
Eric nodded, "At least you're lucky, Ariel, to have so much family...Only Max, Grimsby, and Carlotta is like family to me for the past few years...I sure wish you would have met my mother...She was the one who believed that there is a grain of truth in myths and fables. Father was more obsessed with real facts and all.".
"I envy you that at least you really got to know your mother...", Ariel said as both of them sighed. "Sorry, I think we're just both depressing each other right now.".
Eric smiled reassuringly at her, "It's okay. Let's have some dinner.", grabbing the rabbit on the stick and went to lean it against the fire, occasionally turning it as it cooked slowly and carefully while Ariel reached for the pile of fruits.
The mood improved for the two of them as they ate, their discussions not dwelling on the past and morning for those long gone now. Instead, it was more like it had been for the past week or so, the two of them just enjoying each other's company.
Eventually, as they need an early start in the morning, they headed to bed early since it made sense, with Ariel slipping back into the water to sleep on some soft sea moss, as a 'bed', and Eric taking a spot near the campfire, staying warm reasonably.
Little did they know was tonight, everything started to change, and it started with a joint dream that didn't care about the difference between the shore and the water, and of themselves.
Both of them were sleeping fairly pleasantly, Eric still was a bit uncomfortable with sleeping on the stone floor, but he had gotten used to it some days prior at least. Both were allowed to dream and dream they did.
Eric found himself in a cavern, underwater, and to his shock, he was breathing without drowning, and tried to swim normally until he clumsily fell back into the sand, groaning softly before widening his eyes when he saw scales, not skin before him, a glistening ice blue tail with complete translucent dark blue fins, "Whoa...", before hearing a familiar, beautiful giggle, "That's not the right way to swim.".
Eric looked over instantly that it's a wonder he didn't get whiplash, and gasped almost breathlessly as before his eyes, in her natural element, Ariel is beautifully angelic, with her fire-red hair floating around her, her skin seems more radiant than ever, and her tail, wow, glistening like emeralds, as she hovered in the dim sunlight through the hole in the ceiling, faint human things in the distance around her.
"Ariel...?", Eric asked as she giggled. "Who else could it be?", she teased as Eric tried to regain himself. "You're as much of a mess swimming as an injured shark.".
Eric rolled his eyes playfully, "I ain't a natural at being a merman in the first place...Used to legs.", and Ariel chuckled, smiling as she swam over to him, "It's easy, Eric. First, push yourself up, and hover with flicks of your tail, like me, see?", flicking her tail occasionally.
Eric took a deep breath, which was weird since he was underwater, but it still felt like air he was breathing rather than taking in water. He then followed her lead and after a few moments, he seemed to have been getting the hang of it.
Ariel beamed proudly to Eric, "That's good, Eric! Now, to go forward, flip your tail up and down.", swimming on, and Eric followed, slowly at first before getting better. "Huh, it's almost like legs locked together.", Eric commented, and Ariel blinked, "Really?".
"Covered in scales and in a tail, but yeah.", Eric nodded, and Ariel smiled, "Well, if it's similar to legs locked together, you could learn fast to go backwards, sideways, and around.", swimming with said examples.
Eric followed suit as he tried to keep up, obviously having some difficulties but was catching on fairly quick. Ariel smiled at his progress, "You're almost a natural there.".
"Not bad for a landlubber?", Eric joked. Ariel giggled, "Nope. Heck, you're even better than a lot of humans who swim normally with legs off the shore.".
Eric grinned, "I'll take that as a compliment. So, what is this place, Ariel?". Ariel smiled happily yet proudly, "This is my secret cavern of human stuff. You're the first man ever to see this.", with a blush.
"I'm... I'm honored...", Eric said as he looked around, seeing her collection. "Quite an assortment you've collected. Never realized so many ships had sunk so near.".
Ariel sighed, "It was much of Daddy's work in the early years since Mom was killed, and well, he was so angry and grievous that a couple of my eldest sisters told me that at the time, for Daddy, a human is a dead human...he didn't care...He eventually moved on, and it happens sometimes, still, if he's in a temper or nightmare...but it's rare now, fortunately.".
"I suppose that's understandable... I'd probably do the same if I was in that sort of position.", Eric admitted. "Would you do it with a powerful artifact like the Trident?", Ariel raised an eyebrow. She has told a bit why her father's a legend.
Eric paled, "No, definitely not...I may be a royal prince, but I am not one for power.", and Ariel gave a small smile, "Daddy would have liked you instantly if he knew that, and not that you're a human...not that I don't care that you're human, I mean! I really like you, I do!", starting to babble.
Eric chuckled as he swam up and grabbed Ariel by the shoulders. "Slow it down, Ariel... you're... you're speaking too fast." Ariel blushed, "You're right... I'm rambling there.".
Eric smiled, "It's okay...it's adorable when you're excited like that. I like it, and I really like you too.".
Ariel looked at him, realizing that he's so close to be kissed and touched, feeling the warm heat radiating off his perfectly handsome tail, and quickly moved to kiss boldly yet shyly, not on the lips, but on the cheek, not wanting to scare him too fast into making him feel nervous or worse...