Eric's mind went blank for a few moments as Ariel looked a bit nervous, "Eric... sorry, was that too much for you?". Eric shook his head. "No... that... that was fine. I... I liked that.", he said.
Ariel smiled softly in relief before looking at him, "Go ahead...we're not royalty right now, just a merman and a mermaid. No problems to concern ourselves.".
"Well then... I guess... I should return the favor?", Eric asked as he leaned forward while putting an arm around her and taking her lips into his as he kissed her.
Ariel imagined a lot, yes, but she never thought a kiss with the man of her current life would feel like...what was that word for the exploding lights he said? Fireworks? Yes, she felt so much emotion all at once exploding in her heart as she kissed him back earnestly, instinctively wrapping her tail around his tail as she tightened her arms around his shoulders.
The two of them kissed for a few moments before Eric finally broke it off, "That... that was...", trying to think normally again. "How you dreamed?", Ariel gave him a knowing look as Eric glanced around again, "This... this isn't real... is it?".
Ariel smiled gently, "Well, you're a merman, Eric. You know, I think ice blue on your tail, along with dark blue fins is perfection, more than I dreamed of...Besides, dreaming for myself as human is harder since I only know from your knowledge, as there hadn't been books about that with pictures in my collection at all...This is easier...", with a blush.
"Wait... are you saying... are we sharing the same dream?", Eric asked. He was surprised to even think that as it just sound... outrageous, even after the discovery of mermaids and the like.
Ariel nodded softly, "My sisters always told me that after turning 16, if I meet my soulmate, I am able to share my dreams with them...I just never thought it'd be a handsome human like you, or that it would happen so soon after my birthday a few months back then...They'd be jealous of that.", with a giggle and smile.
"S-Soulmate...", Eric was stunned to hear that as Ariel suddenly realized what she said. "Oh, Poseidon...", Ariel blushed deeply red as she thought about what she had said.
"Are you trying to tell me...", Eric started to ask. "I don't know!", Ariel argued. "I mean, my sisters always said but...".
Eric asked softly, "Are they ones to lie about important things?", and Ariel shook her head, "They aren't. They lie about small, silly stuff, but when it comes to important things, they never lie. And my eldest sister, Attina was told by my mother who never lied either on important things, giving it down sister by sister by the age we begin changing into women, about 11-12 years old.".
"So... do you really believe that what we're doing... what's happening?" Eric asked as Ariel didn't know how to answer. Eric... her soulmate? He was having the same question.
Ariel took a moment to think before replying, "Well, we're both here in my secret cavern outside of Atlantica. This has always been my safe place to relax and be my real self. And besides, haven't you said that you sort of didn't believe in the myth of mermaids until you met me?".
"Yeah... I guess... maybe your sisters are right... but... soulmates?", Eric said as Ariel nodded. "Do you... do you not believe that?", she asked as Eric sighed as he glanced away.
"I... I don't know...", Eric spoke quietly. Ariel frowned softly before remembering something, "Did you feel something different when we kissed? Something that feels all too real?".
"It... it did...", Eric admitted as Ariel smiled, "It did for me too... maybe that's what my mother was saying... what my sisters were saying...". Eric smiled shyly, "Do you want to try again?", and Ariel nodded.
Gently caressing her cheek, Eric leaned in, kissing her more tenderly yet passionately, and Ariel closed her eyes, feeling so much once again as she tussled her hands through his hair, returning the kiss with fervor, as Eric realized that Ariel was right...He's feeling the incredible sensation once again, almost like lightning.
It certainly hit Eric all at once. As he said before... it hit like lightning. But part of his mind was arguing with it. Ariel? She couldn't be the one... they... they were just so different!
Yet they are so much similar...They are human in emotion, dreams, feelings, and much more, they love the sea, they love adventure, they love music, they love animals, and they are both family-oriented, and of course, royal as well...
After some long moments, Eric pulled back, looking at Ariel, whispering, "I believe you now...", and Ariel whispered anxiously, "Really?", with a tiny smile of hope.
Eric nodded, and Ariel smiled so brightly, so happily that Eric's heart swelled up in joy and relief, realizing that he is now determined to see a smile every day on her face no matter what, for he hates it when she's sad or depressed, and slowly recognizing that he's truly falling in love with her, not that he's ready to voice it now, but it's there...
The two of them leaned forward once again for another kiss, before everything went black as Eric found himself waking up. His mind still reeling from what had happened and the sudden change of the environment around him. Once more seeing that he was in the cave rather than in Ariel's grotto before he quickly felt his legs. "Not a dream...", he whispered to himself as he could see the starry sky from the opening in the cave's ceiling.
Ariel woke up similarly, gazing at the stars through the water, and exhaled softly, "Wow...", smiling tenderly as she touched her lips with a hand, realizing that she hadn't actually kissed him in real life, yet the kisses in her grotto was beyond anything she imagined...
Deciding to resurface, Ariel swam up, breaking the surface to look at the shore, seeing Eric lost in thought, staring at the starry sky above them, and she spoke hesitantly, "Eric?".
Eric only blinked, and whispered, "What color was my tail?", and Ariel spoke, "Ice blue.", and Eric lowered his head down to look at Ariel, "We dreamed together...I was a merman and swimming in your grotto...".
"So... it was a dream we shared...", Ariel sighed as she looked up. "Seems that way... that's... I said it before in the dream I think, but... that doesn't seem... natural.", Ariel chuckled at that.
"Well, maybe it doesn't work for humans unless they're close with a merperson.", Ariel teased. Eric chuckled and smiled at her, "Then I am glad to be the first human to be close with a merperson as far as we both know. After all, you're right. Anything's possible now since you are real, Ariel.".
Ariel smiled, giggling as she looked at him, "Well, you can blend in Atlantica pretty well with your tail...", and Eric chuckled, "Good to know. It's still late. Are we going to dream together again?".
"I don't know, but anything's possible.", Ariel smirked, taking Eric's words back at him, and Eric laughed warmly, "Fair enough.", before yawning. Ariel yawned as well and waved to him with a smile as she then ducked back under the water, taking her spot again to sleep.
They dreamed together again, for the longest dream adventure without waking up again, and turns out, upon waking up in the morning, they were well-rested and all which is strange, but they went with it, and after breakfast, Eric went out with Max, with Ariel swimming to the canal that leads to the sea for the first time, watching the boys as she followed the coastline, sticking to her promise that she will not leave Eric alone even if she can't help him thanks to being a mermaid, it's the thought that counts.
To her relief, after some hours, Eric made it close to the village, enough to hear the language of the villagers, reading the signs and such before leaving, taking a hidden, easier path without all the climbing, and Ariel kept an eye on him, watching his back in case anyone followed him.
Eric waved to her as soon as they are in reach of the cave, and Ariel went back into the cove bay through the canal, and as soon as Eric was safe inside with Max, "Good or bad news?", Ariel asked immediately.
"Well, not really sure how to make of it." Eric admitted. "I'm fully confident thought that at least we're maybe in friendlier territory than originally thought. The villagers are Greek."
"Greek? So, not your people?", Ariel asked in surprise, and Eric shook his head. "No, all the Greek lands excluding the Peloponnese Peninsula are all under Ottoman rule. The Venetians hold Peloponnese but they're now at war with the Ottomans over it... and expected to lose it.", Eric explained.
"So, what does that mean for us?", Ariel asked worriedly. "For starters? I don't understand them. I don't speak Greek nor ever learned it. Maybe a few words, but if everyone speaks Greek, then we're pretty much not going to be able to get much in terms of help.", Eric sighed with a shrug.
Ariel frowned lightly, "They look friendly?", and Eric nodded, "As far as I know. No pirates or undesirable places. Perhaps there might be books with maps, or maybe one of them is a translator for visiting ships and such...If I somehow show them that I am from Italy, got shipwrecked on this side of the island, and was mainly injured for the most part which is why I never gotten to their side until now...I know the last part is a lie, technically, as it was you instead, but I swore never to hurt you, and that includes never telling them about you. You deserve to go home without trouble following you.".
"I suppose you're right... we don't know if those villagers might not try something... aggressive.", Ariel replied. "Exactly.", Eric nodded. "Of course, there really is just the hope that maybe they can understand me and that maybe we can get back home soon."
Ariel smiled, "We need all the hope we can get, Eric.", and Eric smiled back at her, "Yeah. I'll go again tomorrow, but for now, I am going to get more fruit and some meat for lunch and dinner. It sure was a long walk both ways.".
"That's fine. I've kinda gotten a bit used to you being out and about... but I am so bored sometimes while you're gone.", Ariel sighed as she laid her head against the stone ground next to her little pool.
Eric sighed lightly, "It isn't the same as in our dreams together, huh?", as the longer dream last night after the one in the grotto was in Atlantica, empty of other merpeople yet full of resonating music from somewhere, exploring the city between kisses and having fun at merpeople games Eric never tried before.
Ariel shook her head, "No...But I know you're trying, Eric.", giving him a grateful smile, and Eric smiled before frowning as something came to his mind, "How come you couldn't go talk to the fish around here?".
"Caught that, huh? I just don't want to risk the chance of Daddy finding out that even if I can go out to sea now, he could get here fast, and well, I don't want him to hurt you or worse...", Ariel fretted worriedly.
"I see...", Eric nodded. "I'll, I'll think of something once we find our way off.", Ariel sighed as Eric sat down next to her.
Eric reassured her, "I know you will, Ariel. After all, you are clever.", with a warm smile, and Ariel smiled thankfully at him, and so, they kept company for a bit before Eric felt ready again to head out to grab the food he mentioned earlier.
Like any other late afternoon and evening, conversation was around, enjoying the food, playing with Max, and bedtime was early once again, with Eric soon discovering that the dreams was back on, changing here and there in adventures, and somehow, he is getting used to the fact that he might just be soulmates with Ariel, even falling in love more than ever, and it's the same thing for Ariel.
The few days afterwards were spent by Eric carefully venturing into the village, with Ariel occasionally keeping an eye on him on her trips out to the sea, successfully finding a bit of help with a translator, and with Max watching his back as he accompanied Eric, he reunited with Ariel, returning with town made food, map books and news of a ship visiting the village in a few days' time.
The nights were spent in their dreams and deep conversations, with their love deepening for each other that Max can smell so obviously now, glad for them, and eventually, it came to a crescendo on the last day when Eric returned from the village, sadly informing Ariel that the ship is coming in the morning.
"So Menelaos is fairly certain the ship can take me back to Tirulia, it's a Venetian trader and they usually stop in Taranto before going to Sicily and Sardina. They think that I might be able to get them to take me to the kingdom or at least I can get some passage back home in Taranto.", Eric explained.
Ariel exhaled deeply, "Then this is our last day on the island...Is it bad that I don't want to leave?", having enjoyed Eric's company so much, and the dreams every night was incredible, with all so many kisses, affectionate touches, and having adventures with him to every spot she knew in the sea.
"I know... it's weird... but... we've kinda gotten used to it. Almost surprising, it really hasn't been that long.", Eric laughed softly. "Maybe our dreams have been the ones making it take longer.", Ariel chuckled.
Eric smiled warmly, "I don't blame you for that...I really enjoyed it all...Especially our relationship growing together...I...I wish I could make it special since I don't know when I will see you again...".
Ariel whispered softly, "I know you have your chivalry to keep intact in the real world, but in our dreams, you don't have to...", feeling the same as she doesn't know when she will see Eric again as she has a bad feeling that she will be grounded big time once she returns back to Atlantica, even if his kingdom is only a couple of miles away, right on the edge of the sea.
Lately from all the kissing and all, she has been growing tense, waiting for something to happen, and she has been forever patient for Eric's sake... "Ariel... you're not suggesting...", Eric turned red. "You are...".
"It's only dreams, Eric... and well... obviously we can't really... embrace those feelings.", Ariel looked down at her fins as Eric sighed. "I... Eric... I know what we've done in our dreams... but... it... fate feels so cruel right now... the fact that we're going to have to...", Ariel put her hands to her face as she started to sob.
Relieved to know at least they're alone in the cove, Eric wrapped his arms around her, shushing her, "Hey, hey, it's okay, Ariel, we aren't going to be alone technically when we get back to our homes...I got Max, Grimsby, and Carlotta, and you got your father, your sisters, and your friends. I know it isn't the same, but we will see each other sooner or later after you get out of whatever your father's putting on you, and yes, it will be hard not to embrace those feelings in the real world, but in our dreams, I am so happy with you...", exhaling deeply as he searched his heart, and then spoke at last, "I love you, Ariel.", finally feeling ready to say it.
Ariel looked at him for a few moments before she teared up once again with a smile on her face as she wrapped her arms around him tight and leaned against his head. "I love you too, Eric...", she whispered.
Eric smiled, burying his nose in her hair, holding her tightly as well, just enjoying the peaceful moment as his heart swelled in love, gods, so much love for this woman, this mermaid, his little mermaid...The moment ended with Max's belly grumbling, and the couple laughed gently, looking at Max as he looked sheepish and upset that he interrupted the serene moment.
"You better get going before Max gets really hungry.", Ariel giggled, and Max barked as Eric chuckled, "Alright. I'll be back soon with some dinner.", letting go of her, getting up with a smile.
Eric hurried out as she was left alone with Max and gently petted the dog. "You knew... didn't you?", she smirked as Max barked. "Of course... I guess it should've been obvious weeks before that Eric and I..."
Max nudged her with a yip, and Ariel giggled warmly, "I appreciate that you're happy for us, Max. I love you, boy.", kissing him on the head, and Max yipped happily.
Ariel smiled brightly, hugging him, and then started to start the campfire, and after some minutes, Eric returned to the cave with a load of peaches, and some meat, smiling warmly to see Ariel relaxing with Max snoozing, with a ready campfire to cook the meat.