Epilogue

IN the timeless castle that belonged to Prince Eric and Princess Ariel, the years seemed to have treated it well. As Ariel stood on the ramparts, gazing over the bailey, courtyard, and the vast sea beyond, she couldn't help but feel the weight of the castle's history.

The sturdy walls seemed to whisper tales of their past, reminding her of the trials they had endured together. Among the memories that resurfaced were the scars caused by her aunt, Ursula, and the subsequent destruction.

The Prince's nephew Lucas had been returned to them after a year had passed, though once he was reverted to his normal human form, the boy never spoke again, and instead took himself off on a ship within a fortnight of returning. Ariel and Eric never heard from him again. Ariel never did find out what exactly the boy had witnessed under the sea during his time spent in her father's company under the sea, but she knew better than to ask him.

Ariel smiled as she shook her head to herself, shaking away thoughts of the Prince's nephew, and brought herself back to the present moment. Thankfully, the present day was cool and autumn had arrived early, painting the foliage around the nearby fishing village of Ipswich with golden, red, and brown hues. Ariel often regarded the changing temperatures as an omen, a sign that her time might be approaching, prompting her to fulfill her oath to the gods. Yet, she quickly dismissed such thoughts, deciding it was best to keep them at bay for now.

She turned away from the ramparts and strolled along them, her autumn-red hair billowing gently in the wind. Noticing strands of gray hair mingling with her auburn locks in the mirror, Ariel acknowledged the passing of time. While not yet fifty, the past decade had been challenging.

The loss of their second child in a distant war weighed heavily on her heart, especially during solitary nights.

Despite the hardships, Ariel cherished the thirty good years of marriage she had shared with Eric, their love for each other growing stronger with each passing year. After leading the valiant defense of their homeland against a group of invading Danes, Eric made the ultimate sacrifice to protect their daughter, Melody.

He bravely took an arrow to the chest, giving his life to save their beloved child. Now, as Ariel sat, she couldn't help but feel the weight of her grief and exhaustion, her eyes heavy with the burden of sorrow. Gazing out at the vast sea, Ariel found herself tempted by its hypnotic call, as if the waves were beckoning her to join them, to find solace in the depths. But she knew there was something she had to do first—she had a mission to fulfill before she could reunite with her love, Eric. Her heart trembled with emotion, tears welling up in her eyes, but she pressed on.

In her mind, she could almost hear Eric's voice, as clear as if he were standing right beside her, encouraging her to be strong. With a tender smile, she acknowledged the connection that transcended time and space, knowing that their love still bound them together, even in the face of loss. Eric's sacrifice had been a profound revelation for Ariel. It had cost him his life to save another, an exchange of life for life, and she now felt a deep understanding that her own time might draw near. Yet, she was determined to honor his memory by carrying on with purpose and courage.

The weight of responsibility pressed heavily on her shoulders, but she drew strength from the love they had shared and the memories they had created together. It was this love that fortified her as she faced the uncertain future. She knew she had to fulfill her duty before she could find peace and be reunited with Eric. Wiping away her tears, Ariel stood up resolutely, her heart resolved to face whatever challenges lay ahead. She would not let grief or fear consume her. Instead, she would embrace her destiny, just as Eric had embraced his. With a deep breath, she turned away from the sea and walked back towards the castle, ready to take on the tasks that awaited her.

As she ventured forward, she carried Eric's spirit with her, knowing that he would always be a part of her, guiding her steps and giving her strength. Together, even in the face of loss and uncertainty, their love would endure, lighting the way for her journey. And when her time finally came, she would join him once more, hand in hand, in a place where their love would shine eternally. Ariel's smile brightened as she heard the familiar footsteps on the cobblestoned ramparts. Turning around, she welcomed the sight of their dear friends, Darius and Helena, whose hair seemed to be graying just as quickly as her own, if not faster. The memories of their past together flooded her mind.

She reminisced about the day of her wedding when Darius and Helena had tearfully and earnestly pleaded to repay the debt they felt towards Eric and Ariel. It was a debt of gratitude for the sacrifice the couple had made, as they had saved Darius and Helena's lives through a heartfelt plea to Ariel's father. Eric, being the kind and selfless soul he was, had simply smiled at his best friend and his wife, urging them to repay the favor not with any material payment, but by living their lives to the fullest. He wished for them a life filled with joy, fulfillment, and happiness. Ariel's heart swelled with love for her late husband as she remembered his wise and generous words. The bond between their group of friends ran deep, forged through shared experiences and unyielding support for one another.

Darius and Helena reached Ariel, their eyes reflecting a mix of emotions—gratitude, love, and understanding. They didn't need to speak aloud; their connection went beyond words. Ariel saw in their eyes the commitment to honor Eric's wish and cherish the memories they had shared.

As the sun began to set on the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink, the trio stood together on the ramparts. They felt the presence of the one they had lost, the love they had found, and the strength of their enduring friendship. With a shared understanding, they silently vowed to carry on Eric's legacy, to live each day with purpose and love, and to treasure the bond they shared. As they stood shoulder to shoulder, they knew that even in Eric's absence, he would forever be a part of their lives, guiding them with his wisdom and love.

The evening breeze carried a sense of peace and unity as they looked out at the horizon together. In their hearts, they knew that no matter what challenges lay ahead, they had each other, and Eric's spirit would always be with them, inspiring them to live their best lives, just as he had wished for them on that momentous day of their wedding.

"Darius, Helena, it's truly wonderful to see you," Ariel murmured with genuine warmth as Darius embraced her tightly.

"Princess, did you honestly think that my wife and I would miss this occasion? Of course not, Your Highness," Darius replied with a wide grin as they separated, and he stood proudly next to Helena, who looked much healthier than when Ariel had first met her years ago as a young maid.

"Then come," Ariel said, taking each of her friends' hands, and leading them down the stairs. "Mel will be thrilled to see both of you, I'm sure."

Darius nodded, his expression softening as he turned to Helena and planted a tender, chaste kiss on her cheek. He then linked his arm with hers, and together they followed their ruler's lead, descending the stairs.

The three friends moved through the castle, their steps accompanied by laughter and shared memories. Ariel's heart swelled with joy to have her dear friends by her side once again. Melody, Ariel's daughter, eagerly awaited their arrival, as did the rest of the castle, grateful for the return of their long-lost friends.

As they reached the main hall, Melody rushed forward, a radiant smile lighting up her face as she embraced Darius and Helena tightly. The reunion was filled with tears of happiness and stories of the years they had spent apart.

At that moment, surrounded by the people she loved, Ariel knew that the bond between them would endure, just as it had withstood the test of time. Their friendship was a testament to the strength of love and loyalty, and Ariel was grateful for the unwavering support that Darius and Helena had shown her throughout the years.

The castle was once again filled with laughter, warmth, and the reassurance that, no matter what challenges lay ahead, they would face them together as a united family, just as they had done in the past.

As the evening wore on, Ariel knew that Eric's spirit was smiling down upon them, his wish for their happiness and fulfillment fulfilled in the love and camaraderie that surrounded them.

Ariel reached her daughter, who was a spitting image of Eric in almost every way except her nose and her brows, which came from Ariel, but everything else was all Eric.

She stood in the feast hall, eighteen now, calm, dignified, and collected. As Ariel approached her daughter, she met Melody's gaze and smiled.

The throne will not be too much for her. Eric and I trained her well. She is ready, and then I go home to Eric, at last, where I can finally rest, and my spirit will sing once more.

Ariel stood in front of Melody and the mother and daughter stood facing one another. Neither one had words to say, yet none were needed. She reached for the bronze crown that sat atop her head and Melody, without words, sank to her knees, bending her head in reverence.

Then, Ariel raised the crown on high, and with every eye of the hall upon them, the very realm seeming to hold its breath, she lowered the brass crown and set it upon her sweet Melody's brow.

The hall stayed silent for a moment more then as Melody rose to her feet, the crowd gathered around them erupted into a great cheer and greeted their new ruler as power was transferred from mother to daughter. Ariel briefly met Darius and Helena's gazes and smiled, offering her friends a curt nod as they settled down to the feast.

As the evening advanced and the festivities began, Ariel felt a yearning for fresh air and a longing to stroll along the shores, just like she used to do with Eric and Melody in their younger days, accompanied by their loyal, departed friend, Max, who had been with them until Melody's thirteenth birthday.

Stepping to the water's edge, Ariel noticed a flicker of movement in her peripheral vision. Turning towards it, she couldn't help but gasp as she laid eyes on her beloved. Ariel found her sweet Eric staring there, simply watching her, a little smile on his face as he kept his arms folded across his chest.

Surely, she tried to tell herself just like she did all other nights when Eric would come to her, she was dreaming, indulging in the happy fantasy of being with her sweet prince in his eternal Heaven.

Why Ariel continued to allow Eric to ghost her like this, she did not know, but deep down, she thought she knew. When the sickness had come and combined with his old age and the fever that ravaged his body, when her husband had taken his last breath and his soul departed this world, there were still things left unsaid between them.

To her, her prince was everywhere, nearly haunting her, and every night when she lay down to sleep with difficulty, she could feel her husband's icy fingers ghosting along the skin of her cheekbone and he whispered to her softly.

"Do you remember when I found you on the beach, Ariel? Near this very spot?" he asked her, communicating with her in almost impossible telepathy, yet she heard her husband's words as crystal clear as if he had spoken them out loud. She remembered she owed her prince an answer as she looked at him expectantly.

"Of course, I remember, Eric, you silly man, how could I forget it, but what I remember most of all…was you," she whispered, feeling tears begin to sting and prick the edges of her eyes. She swallowed down past a lump in her throat and she could feel her chest beginning to tighten. "It isn't right, Eric, that you left me. You left us."

This time, Ariel thought she saw the light crystals forming at the edge of Eric's eyes as he looked down, the image of his face becoming distorted by his efforts to stem his tears. The pain in her heart worsened as he spoke again.

"I never left, Ariel, dearest. I've waited in the shadows, I've looked after you and Melody. And now, I come to bring you home."

No sooner than did the words resonate in her mind did a searing pain in Ariel's chest begin to burn and tighten. A fatigued ringing filled her ears and she faltered, grasping at nothing as she groped for something to steady herself. She could hear the sound of her heartbeats slowing down and her breaths were coming to her in short, ragged gasps as her lungs beseeched her for air, yet she could not comply with her body's demand.

When the ringing slowly died down, Ariel breathed slowly and managed to open her eyes.

Ariel looked back and immediately wished she had not, for she was seeing herself—outside herself—slumped on the ground like a frozen and she knew then, why Eric had come.

He'd come to bring her home.

Her time was upon her, as she had suspected. She had lived long enough to see Melody crowned princess and now, the gods were calling upon her to fulfill her oath. A life for a life, as Eric had done for Darius, now she did the same for Helena. She turned questioning eyes towards Eric, whose hand was outstretched as he waited for her to take it, a loving smile playing on his lips. She went to him without hesitation, slipping her hand into his, and was surprised at the warmth of his touch. She nestled her head against his and let out a content sigh.

Eric held her close, as though fearful even in this ghostly form, she'd vanish. Ariel smiled as her fingers entwined with his as he brought her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles. She stared longingly into his eyes.

"Come, my love," he whispered to her affectionately and led her from the shores of the beach upon which they had met, which had since become her second home.

Ariel nodded her readiness as she allowed her love to lead her away, his arm wound gently around her waist. Ariel did not understand why all of it felt so comfortable to her. She had died seconds ago, but even that knowledge did not shock her. Perhaps it was the sweet, sweet release for which she had waited these last few agonizing years without her husband by her side. And now, the only thing which would keep her from her prince was no longer a problem. Ariel could feel the ocean that surrounded them begin to dissipate yet Ariel had never felt readier.

Her daughter was grown now and had her own life to live. Melody was well surrounded by friends. Darius and Helena would look after her, as they had no children of their own and considered her like a daughter when they had none.

Melody was ready, and so was she. She twisted at the neck and nodded to Eric to communicate her want to go with him without the need to speak. Her sweet prince's loving expression welcomed him to their Heaven. In the mere blink of an eye, she could feel the wind tousling her hair as she felt herself being transported to lands that were strange yet familiar to her. When she next looked down, she once more found herself in the bailey of the castle, yet Ariel could not explain away the sudden peace that had begun to wallow in her soul. Her body felt healthy and healed. She seemed much younger, more energized, and once more a beautiful young woman. As she glanced over wildly at the strange newness of a body of a young woman in her early twenties that was almost unfamiliar to her, Ariel noticed it in the strands of her hair which were no longer white, but once more autumn red.

In awe, she lifted a hank of her hair and examined it in between her thumb and forefinger. She lifted questioning eyes towards Eric and felt her breaths catch in her throat. The wind around them ruffled his wavy black hair lightly and he ran a fast hand through his hair out of anxiety. She had missed him so.

"I never left you, Ariel, dear," Eric confessed, bringing his hand to her cheek and leaning his forehead against hers. The wind ruffled his hair lightly and blew his bangs away from his forehead. "Every second spent watching you, waiting for you was torture, worse than an arrow to my heart, Ariel, my love. No Heaven is complete without you by my side. And now you are here," he whispered hoarsely, feeling his eyes begin to tear up. "I have kept you and our daughter safe and nothing will ever part us again. And Melody, you need not worry about our little girl, darling. We will see her again one day, but not for many more years to come yet. Her story is not yet finished, and for our friends, we will see them in a few years, but I am not at liberty to say when. The gods have forbidden me to speak of it. "

Eric cupped her chin in his hand and tilted her head to the side as he pressed his lips to hers in a kiss. Time itself seemed to come to a grinding halt as they stood in the center of the bailey, there was no wind, no sounds, only their love. Even as she basked in her husband's presence and she could not deny that her heart had wished for this, she could not help but shiver. She realized a part of her was still homesick for the family who had come before her love.

Ariel broke their kiss unwillingly and looked up at Eric with sadness in her eyes.

"Eric, my love?" She clung to his arms, unwilling to go any further with her husband, whatever their Heaven might look like and whatever might be waiting for them there until she knew the truth. "What of the rest of my family?" she questioned softly, tears forming on her lashes and spilling over. "My parents, my sisters, what of them?"

Despite Ariel marrying Eric and allowing herself to remain on the surface world and embracing a life of a mortal woman on land with her sweet prince, a part of her still refused to let go of her heritage as a mermaid.

She bit down on her lip as a wave of sympathy seemed to settle over her handsome prince's features.

"They are well, Ariel, and they await you at a different place altogether, and you are free to come and go visit them as oft as you'd like. The gods have seen to that," he told Ariel.

"You have met my family? My...my mother, even, my sisters?" Ariel gasped, hardly daring to believe it and a part of her was sorry she had missed being able to introduce the man she loved to her sisters and her mother.

She felt certain that they would have instantly loved Eric once they saw how much he had loved and adored her in life. She stared, slightly slack-jawed as Eric flushed a deep cherry red and sharply looked away, suddenly unable to bring his eyes to her as the wind continued to tousle his hair.

"I have," he gruffed after a moment of silence, a slight edge to his voice that was not there before and one that made her look at her sweet Eric in surprise. She was surprised to hear her love's normally quiet and mild-mannered tone had turned somewhat defensive. "Your mother gave me a hard time at first, wondering about my love for you but I convinced her, and now, I think she likes me well enough. She told me to tell you that she thought that there is no one she would see her youngest daughter joined to but me," he grunted, though he swelled with pride.

Ariel nodded, ashamed that her sweet Eric had nearly had to face her mother's fierce protectiveness over her alone but felt an enormous swell of pride well in her chest as she looked upon her eternally youthful husband, proud of her sweet prince for holding her own against Mother when Mother could be in one of her 'moods.'

"My mother did not give you too hard a time, I hope?" she acknowledged, wistful she could have not been by Eric's side, and yet as she looked upon the face of her handsome prince, she began to wonder if Mother had given him just as hard a time as Daddy had when her father had first met the prince who would have done anything for her.

"My dear, your mother could not keep me from your side, not in a million lifetimes. Our bond is one that no mermaid, merman, witch, mortal, or weapon could ever break."

After a moment's hesitation, Ariel let out a sigh and clung to his arms. "I am glad that she…that she and my sisters approve of you," she whispered shyly. She inhaled a deep breath and spoke to Eric, hoping he would understand her words. "I love you with all of my heart, Eric, I always have and I always will. You do not need to doubt that my place is in our Heaven with you at my side. But there is a part of me that will also want to see my family from time to time if I can and if you cannot go where their souls linger, then I would go alone if it makes you uncomfortable, my love. Even if it is just once, I need to see them, to know that they are well and that they are happy."

He shook his head yet he smiled. "Ariel, my dear, you need not fear being parted from me. Where you go, I go too. We will see your family tomorrow. I would never ask you to give up your heritage, or your family, for me. I am forever grateful to your parents, my love. They gave me you, and by extension, our daughter," Eric passionately swore as he leaned closer to Ariel, itching to press his lips to hers.

She welcomed his kiss, her eyes saying what her words would not, as the two of them needed no words to express the love they felt for one another, and all that was left for Eric and Ariel was to enjoy an eternity in their Heaven, forever young and with no worries for they had an eternity with one another in a paradise with no death or sickness, all the time in the world afforded to them to bask in the love they had given each other.

Ariel felt the ghost of their home fade away and they soon found themselves affront a lush meadow, one she did not recognize yet she instantly felt at home surrounded by wildflowers of various colors. She thought she could make out a faint feminine figure in the distance if she squinted to see.

She was tall, with her dark hair that was strikingly like Eric's pulled back into a low ponytail as she kept her back paraded to him. Ariel stared and turned questioning eyes to Eric. His eyes twinkled, and a deep chuckle escaped from the back of his throat as he brought her hand to his lips for another kiss and began to lead her forward.

"Come, my love. Come and meet my mother. She has heard much of you and wishes to meet the woman who holds her son's heart."

Ariel's heart thrilled at the idea of meeting her love's parents and was eager to speak with the woman for whom their daughter was named, yet something gave her pause and she hung back, biting down on her lip.

Eric sensed that his wife was not following in his footsteps, and he paused, turning slowly to regard her.

"What is it, Ariel, my love?" he asked as he came to stand in front of her and stroked her pink cheek with his thumb. "If it is my mother and father you are worried about, they already love you. And Melody," he added, a slight teasing lilt to his voice as the edges of his lips twitched as he smiled and moved to kiss her forehead. Eric pulled back to look at Ariel with concern. "Are you alright, dearest?" he asked softly.

Ariel hesitated as she met her love's worried gaze.

She was almost afraid to ask, but she had to know.

"Your mother, Eric, will she like me?" she asked hesitantly, nervously flicking her gaze over her husband's shoulder as she ran her fingers through his thick dark hair. She did not want to tell him how nervous she was at the thought of being introduced to the woman who'd given him life. She'd not known what his mother or father's views on her people had been like, and Eric had not known either.

Sensing her apprehension, Eric reached for Ariel's hand and kissed her fingers gently before beginning to lead her by the hand to where she waited. "She will love you, dearest," he told her, leaning close to her and kissing away her worries.

Ariel's relieved blue eyes smiled back at him as she pulled apart, and told Eric without the need for her to say a word that she trusted and believed him. All the pain and regret that had weighed upon them in life as Ariel walked hand in hand with Eric to meet his parents disappeared in their little slice of Heaven.

They were young again and vibrant and full of life and so hopelessly, desperately in love. Though they walked through the tall reeds of grass, Ariel felt like she was floating as she let the pads of her fingertips ghost along the ends of the colorful wildflowers, relishing in the delicate little plants' softness as they approached his parents.

She had told Eric several times throughout their marriage that she was with him, always, and he was with her, and they had kept their promise to one another. What they now shared was sweeter than either of them could have imagined. She faced an eternity in this place, if this be her Heaven then she did not want to leave it at all.

She would be able to visit her family if she so wished and Eric could come or go if his mood struck him.

Ariel paused and damped her lips against his, the kiss they shared now was just the beginning of the eternity of love and peace and joy that followed.

Eric hung back and patiently allowed Ariel her time with his mother as his mother Leofwynn gushed over his wife, a faint little smile playing on his lips as in the distance, he could see Father approaching yet taking his time.

Eric's eyes glinted as he returned his gaze to the women in front of him and let his mind wander while Ariel spoke of their lives and the children their love had blessed them with and stared as the faint warm breeze tousled Ariel's autumn hair. Her hair was a striking feature, but it was not his wife's best feature, though it was fiery red and the only thing anyone had ever commented on when they had been alive.

But it was Ariel's eyes that were her true prize, among other things. As Eric looked at Ariel now, younger than he had ever seen his wife, and happy to be in the company of his parents, and tomorrow, she would revel at seeing her beloved family, her mother and father, her older sisters, whom she had missed dearly.

As he looked at her now listening intently to whatever it was his mother was telling her, his mind took him back to that day he had found her on top of the boulder, Max nipping and barking at the strange redhead's bare heels.

The way she would smile at him sweetly or the way she would arch an eyebrow whenever trying to make up her mind on something had always delighted him. When he'd first asked Ariel to marry him, he'd known then that he could not imagine life—or Heaven—without her by his side.

Eric knew that Ariel's wintry blue eyes could see right through him, those eyes that had bewitched and ensnared him like a sorceress's spell with just the power of a single look. The windows to his wife's gentle soul. Ariel looked past every single flaw to the man inside, to the proud husband and even prouder father to their children that he was. In life, she had given him something worth fighting for. A home, a family, something he had thought he'd never have.

Ariel sensed she was being watched, for she twisted to lock eyes with him, and as Eric met her gaze, Ariel smiled at him. He felt his legs move of their own accord as he came to stand beside Ariel and wound an arm around her waist, thinking how blessed he was that Ariel had gifted him the gift of her heart.

As their fingers slotted together, he knew that Ariel's promise still held weight, even in their Heaven together.

That she would be with him, always. As he lost himself in thoughts of his wife as he rested his chin on top of her hair, Eric allowed himself to further reflect on the young woman in his arms.

He enjoyed feeling her heartbeat as his hands rested over her chest without shame. In his arms was where Ariel belonged. He closed his eyes as the breeze tousled his hair and blew his dark bangs off his forehead and allowed his mind to imagine an eternity in this Heaven with his beloved at his side. There would no longer be any further fears of Ariel not being by his side due to her heathen background, no fear that she would be stolen from him.

Eric was pulled from his thoughts at the sound of Ariel's shy voice reaching his ears. He blinked and glanced down at his wife in his arms, turning her about to face him.

Out of the corner of his gaze, he could see his mother move to greet Father.

"What is it you find so humorous, Eric, my love? You were smiling while your mother and I were talking, dearest," Ariel asked lovingly, her blue eyes sparkling with happiness.

Eric chuckled as he placed one more kiss on her temple and answered sweetly. He brought his palm up to tenderly caress Ariel's jaw.

"I dreamed of you, Ariel, dearest, and the eternity that we have with one another. How forever even in our Heaven does not seem nearly long enough, and yet it is a start," Eric sighed, his dark eyes turning heavy and clouded with desire as he enfolded Ariel in his arms and drew her into his passionate embrace.

Never before had Eric been happier. He felt his body flush warm as their kiss deepened, as he understood that Ariel was his peace, his happiness, the beauty with hair like winter fire in his arms whom he had married was a woman Eric could love forever. And so, he did. Ariel had kept her promise to him as their time in Heaven was their time, and she was right by his side.

She was with him, always.