Tired, Ariel fell asleep in bed, with Eric at the nearby desk, still awake, checking over some documents, and it was peaceful for some time, and Eric was getting a bit tired, thinking to go join Ariel in bed when it came.
Eric yawned as exhaustion certainty was starting to take its toll before he decided it was time to sleep and got up from his desk and walked over to the bed to join Ariel in it. He leaned forward to give her a small peck on the cheek as he climbed into bed.
Barely deep asleep, five minutes later, Eric was woken by a gut-wrenching scream of pain, and shot up to see Ariel awake, with tears falling, wrenching in pain, her hands over her belly, and he shouted, "Ariel!", barely hearing shouts and yells in the rest of the palace.
Ariel looked at him with a gut-wrenching look of pain, "Eric, the twins are hurting! It's not labor! AHHHHHH!", screaming again.
Eric quickly cursed and ran towards the bedroom door. "Someone, get the doctor, now!", Eric shouted, certainly drawing the attention of the palace of Ariel's screams before didn't do it.
Eric ran back to Ariel's side, murmuring, "The doctor is coming, Ariel!", his heart clenched in pain and angst over the sight of his wife screaming and sobbing as he tried to massage, to rub her belly, to reassure her...Not now...she can't lose the twins...gods...
In an instant, the doctor arrived, grateful that he was only a few doors away, with his bag and all, quickly making it to the bed, "Queen Ariel, please try to remember anything out of the ordinary that happened earlier today.", opening his bag, looking over the symptoms that Ariel's having, a couple of theories coming to mind, but he needs to check all the facts before confirming. Being a doctor brings good and bad things, and this, it is the worst he could hold to his mind forever.
Ariel quickly told him what had happened, that everything seemed fairly normal, that there wasn't anything off the top of her head that could have caused this that she hadn't done some days before. Eric, on the other hand, quickly kissed her cheek, and whispered in her ear that he was going to get Triton.
Ariel nodded with a sob before screaming out in pain, and Eric narrowed his eyes as he ran to the door, "Grim, Carlotta!", and the staff split away to let Grimsby and Carlotta through, and sharply ordered, "Carlotta, stay with my wife! Grim, talk to the staff!", and Grim nodded as Carlotta passed him into the door, hearing Ariel's scream again, "And you, sire?".
"I am going to do something crazy.", Eric growled, and ran back into the room, grabbing his seashell bracelet, as the doctor called out to him, "Sire, she and the twins are being poisoned!", after having checked under Ariel's tongue, taking a bit of saliva to mix with testing liquids he had.
Eric heard Ariel's screams becoming gut-wrenching as she sobbed, "No, no, no. Get Daddy! Eric, hurry!", as he widened his eyes before growling, "I promise, Ariel!", and then ran to the balcony, hearing Grimsby's call of panic as Eric leapt off the railing, as the sea is literally before the master bedroom, diving into the sea, turning into his merman self, and swam fast and quite furiously desperate.
He can't waste minutes for if he had gone the other way to the ocean steps, he would have lost precious time, and well, what couldn't a desperate husband and father-to-be do?
Eric was swimming as fast as he could; trying to reach Atlantica or some sea creature that could go faster than him and spread the message to Triton. His mind was racing; worried about Ariel and the twins, and wondering just who, if the doctor was truly correct, poisoned her. All he did know was that he certainly was going to tear through every single one of the staff to make sure to find out if it was poison, who did it. Hopefully with Ariel and the twins alright.
Eric made it in record time, glad that with desperation, he is fast as Ariel was before she got pregnant. He barely saw the shocked faces of night shopping citizens as he went in a blur of speed, making it to Triton's throne room, praying that he's still up despite his age, and the late hour.
He didn't have time to bother with guards or anything like that, he was just desperate and at least the guards thankfully knew him, so he wasn't stopped or worse. "Triton! Triton!", Eric was practically screaming. "Ariel's in grave danger!".
Triton was having a few late-night court meetings with Sebastian's aid when he heard Eric's voice, and he bellowed out, "Eric?! Ariel's in danger?!".
Eric looked desperate, "She got poisoned, and the twins are hurting, maybe dying! We can't wait!", and Triton looked thunderous, "Let's go!", grabbing his trident, glowing intensely, and the two mermen swam back as fast as they could.
"What happened, Eric?", Triton growled, and Eric choked out, "Someone must have spiked Ariel's drink or food...Sire, I should have noticed as she was more tired than usual, but...I can't lose her and the twins...the nightmare is coming back...", with a sob...He barely got over that day with Ursula, and now this...
"Any idea who?", Triton asked as basically the two of them were sprinting out of the palace as fast as they could to get back to the surface.
"No idea; any number of kingdoms on the surface perhaps but certainly no one with such a good reason of late; nor any nations we've really had troubles with...", Eric said as he was still trying to figure out how this could have even happened.
Triton frowned, "Perhaps the trident knows once I get to heal Ariel and the twins...Eric, how bad is it?". Eric looked torn and pained, probably the first time he says it, "Dad, she's screaming in pain...", choked with fear and feeling terrified...He will never forget the moment he heard the first scream...
"Then we must hurry, I don't know how long she may have then...", Triton said, dread already filling his mind.
Eric nodded determinedly as he and Triton swam as fast as they could to reach the surface, and upon resurfacing, Eric's heart clenched even harder when he heard the gut-wrenching screams of Ariel, realizing that he had left the balcony doors open when he leaped, and Triton narrowed his eyes, "Hold on!", the trident glowing instantly as water sprouted fast under Triton and Eric, closer and closer, up and up over the balcony, and with another glow, Triton turned to human, wearing trousers as the water returned back to the sea, with Eric immediately turning back to human by way of his bracelet.
"Ariel!", Eric ran right up to her as he squeezed her hand. "Doctor, please... what have you done?".
"I've tried my best, sir... a few known antidotes that I was sure wouldn't harm the babies... I have some more powerful ones, but you might as well say goodbye to your heirs if I used them.", the doctor explained.
Ariel sobbed, voice hoarse from screaming, "Eric. They're not kicking...", before seeing Triton, "Daddy...save my babies...".
Triton nodded, "I will save all of you. This will be hard, but I am strong enough.", before taking a deep breath, and his trident glowed gold-white, laying it on the baby bump gently, and Triton's eyes closed as he chanted in a smoothing, foreign language, and Ariel's body glowed not shortly, but taking a long time as Triton soon had perspiration on his face.
"Something's wrong... isn't it?", Eric finally said as Triton continued but reluctantly nodded. "This... this isn't some normal kind of poison... this is... there's dark magic with it...", Triton admitted.
Ariel gasped in horror, "But that's impossible! Ursula is dead!", and Triton nodded, "Yes, Ursula is dead, but the dark magic here is not hers, yet similar and different at the same time. Powerful it is...", with a groan as he extremely focused, unknowing that his grandson is fighting the poison away from his twin sister, and despite his grandfather's healing, he is slowly becoming sick as he fought. Melody herself was scared, confused, and honestly, terrified for her twin brother.
"So... what does that mean?", Eric asked as Triton shook his head. "I don't know... but right now... I think most of the poison has been purged from your body, Ariel... the children though...", Triton said. "No...", Ariel whispered as she was horrified.
Triton spoke urgently, "I'm not done yet.", with a determined effort as he chanted louder, the healing energy of the trident purging the remains of the poison from Tazio's fighting attempts, and to the relief of him as Melody was untouched, safe, he somehow knew that he has to keep strong, yet in the back of his mostly developed mind, he has a slowly growing bad feeling.
Outside, Triton collapsed into exhaustion, his trident falling on the side of the bed, panting heavily as Ariel gasped in worry, "Daddy!".
"Ariel, stay still!", Eric told her as he quickly went over to Triton. "Sire, are you alright?", he asked as Triton was taking deep breaths.
Triton smiled weakly yet reassuringly, "I am all right, son. Just exhausted...Definitely someone younger, somewhat younger than Ursula, which is why this was a little more powerful compared to Ursula...I will feel much better when I head back to Atlantica. Still, you have to be extra cautious, daughter...no more adventuring beyond the palace...I know it is not what you wanted, but right now, you have to think about the twins and Eric...especially after tonight...".
"Triton... I need the truth... we need to know...", Eric looked at him, wanting answers as Triton sighed. "Which answers do you want? Who poisoned her... or how she and the twins will be?", he asked as Eric nodded.
"Ariel... and the twins... please...", Eric whispered anxiously. Triton sighed deeply with a soft smile, "Ariel is completely healed, but just to be safe, bed rest at most times. And for the twins, Melody is healthy and safe, but...Tazio...he truly has lived up to his name...He had confronted the poison first, fighting it off, protecting his sister...there's a possible chance he might not make it...He's alive and keeping strong, but I am afraid that the aftereffects from the dark magic of the poison is possibly making him sick.", the smile turning into a concerned frown.
Both parents felt like they'd been struck in the gut, hearing that. There was a chance he might live... but there was also a chance he wouldn't live. Ariel rubbed her belly as she started to sob, "I'm sorry, you two... Mama never wanted this for you..."
Eric gathered her in his arms, kissing her through her hair, "It's not your fault, Ariel. It's this person who has done one of the most horrible crimes; attempted murder on the queen and heirs...He needs to be found, Triton.", looking at Triton who nodded, "Agreed, and I will erect a magical shield to cover the entire palace, to eject anyone with evil tendencies, protecting you all.".
"Thank you.", Eric nodded. "I'll make my own inquires to see if anyone saw anything. If the assassin is still in the region... they'll be found and I swear, I'll leave them for the vultures while still alive...", Eric growled.
Triton nodded somberly, sighing heavily before kissing Ariel on the cheek as he leaned over, "I know you've rebelled against me for my rules and all, but I only ask for you to rest and keep the twins healthy, okay?".
Ariel smiled weakly, "For once, I am not arguing...I too want my babies to be safe and healthy.", and Triton smiled in relief with a nod before leaving the bedroom to the balcony, his trident glowing as water appeared like a spout, and he went into it, turning back to his merman self, diving through the spout to the sea, and then resurfacing, with his trident glowing more golden, and a beam came from it, heading to the tip-top of the highest flag pole, and from there, in all directions, spreading over is a transparent gold shield, powerful and only dangerous to people with evil intentions.
With a satisfied nod, Triton then dived down under the sea, heading home, not noticing the cringed faces of the stingrays as they heard the echo of their master's furious shouting in their heads.
"That fast...", Cetus observed from his hideaway. "He might have just saved her life then... perhaps I should've made the poison quicker.", Cetus bit his lip as he was frustrated that his plan might have been stopped.
"And of course, that damn shield...I can feel it from here. Created to keep people like me out. Still, from the glimpses, Triton looks like he is troubled yet relieved...perhaps I am lucky...one of the spawn, perhaps...one out of three in Triton's bloodline is good news for me at least...not extremely good, but still.", Cetus mused thoughtfully.
The stingrays sent more messages back to him. "No, leave them alone for now... too early to make our presence known... but good viewing.", Cetus obviously was eyeing the trident. "For now... we wait... for a better opportunity.".
The stingrays purred, and then disappeared into the sea depths, heading back home to Cetus's lair, curious yet patient, ready for new orders.
Back in the palace, in the master bedroom, after Grim had sent the staff away as they had crowded the hallway, with Carlotta smoothing Ariel's hand, "Don't worry, darling, we will be vigilant more than ever. How dare this person do this to you, to us all? We care and love for you and the twins, Ariel.", as Ariel was still tucked in Eric's arms, red-eyed from tears and all, exhausted in body yet her mind is still in shock, in fear.
"We're going to lose one of them... aren't we, Eric?", Ariel whispered as she obviously was just having a thousand-yard stare at the wall.
"I don't know...", Eric admitted. He didn't want to give her false hope and claim that her father was wrong; there might be a decent chance that Tazio wouldn't survive childbirth or much time after it. "Ariel... I'm so sorry...", Eric was obviously putting blame on himself; feeling sure that it was because of him that she ended up poisoned somehow. He was, of course, unaware that the enemy came from the sea, not the surface.
Ariel blinked out of the stare, and looked straight at Eric, "Don't, Eric, don't blame yourself...How would we have known?", a sob escaping from her as she felt the familiar kicks from the twins, strong and sharp as normal...yet...her son fought so hard...she felt proud yet sad at the same time, realizing that this was probably similar to what Triton felt when he hugged her on her and Eric's wedding day.
"I know. I just... I feel responsible.", Eric said. "Why else would anyone want to harm you if not to get to me?", he asked. Ariel whispered, "Not everyone loves Daddy...nor respects him...", and Eric exhaled, "Somebody from the sea?".
"You remember that creepy lair I had to lead Daddy to?", Ariel asked as Eric went with her, out of support, and Triton destroyed it all, not even wanting to touch the aftereffects of dark magic on the lair.
"Yeah, Ursula's lair, what about it?", Eric asked softly, and Ariel sighed deeply, "What if Ursula wasn't the only one who knows dark magic?".
Eric widened his eyes, "You think she might have taught someone?! But everyone avoided her like the plague until they're desperate...", and Ariel nodded tiredly, "Exactly...What if a desperate person wanted to hurt someone out of jealousy, or something, and well, got roped into the allure of dark magic?".
Eric looked at her for a moment, "Do you...", with growing surprise. "Suspect? Maybe... Daddy did mention dark magic... where else would it come from?", Ariel asked.
"Well, rumors and all of faraway lands...", Eric said. "No, Eric... I think... this was closer to home. Someone...", Ariel shook her head as she started to tear up again.
Eric sighed deeply as he held her a bit more firmly, peeking over her head at Carlotta who nodded somberly, and headed out the door, with Grimsby looking ancient for once before hearing a whining yip as Max peeked around the corner, and Grimsby looked at Eric who nodded slightly, and waved Max in before closing the door, with Max gently jumping, slowly shuffling over to the other side of Ariel, nosing her hand hesitantly.
Max can smell the purity of healing on Ariel, Melody, and even Tazio, but there's a tinge of something similar to death...He whimpered softly, resting his head on Ariel's knee as he sensed Ariel's sadness.
"I think Max can clearly tell that something is wrong.", Eric sighed as Ariel nodded. "Bet whoever did this would've been able to sneak past Max's nose.", Ariel said.
"Yeah... that's probably what happened... this mutt would've been the first to warn us if he caught even the slightest whiff.", Eric replied.
Max whined, looking up at Eric, and Eric ruffled his fur on his head, "It's not your fault, Max...This person must have been really powerful to fool your nose.", and Max yipped softly, sad that he couldn't tell his master and mistress that he was somehow sleeping most of the afternoon and a bit of the evening when he was usually energetic, not knowing that Cetus had slipped a mild yet strong sleeping potion in his dog bowl.
Cetus always had plans upon plans, precautions upon precautions. After all, he learned from the best, his mother.