Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Disney characters of that magical world but I enjoy writing about the, and lets me do so!

Wonderment- Chapter 15

Stalkers and Sentiments

I wished I could turn back time for just a couple of hours, so I could be seated on the banks of the lake next to my mystery customer. So many questions came into my mind as I walked home. Who was he? Where did he live? Why did he have to disguise himself?

I realized that I had divulged all of my own personal information, but I failed in pressing him to reciprocate.

"Next time!" I said out loud to myself as my fingertips brushed the pendant he had given me, which I wore around my neck.

I went up the steps to the dormitory and headed toward my room, eager to confide in Ariel about all these confusing feelings I had. She would tease me now and then about Adam's assertive advances, but I knew we were nothing more than class project partners. Perhaps it was a budding friendship, but nowhere in comparison to the budding connection I was feeling with my mysterious cloaked customer.

Turning the corner of the hallway, I was shocked to see a dark-haired man trying to pry his way into our room. Ariel was in utter disarray, trying to push him away from the doorway.

"How did you get in here? You have to go! My father will kill you too!"

"Ariel, please don't push me away. Do you know what it took for me to come here?" said the stranger.

"Please get away from here!" pleaded Ariel.

Ariel has a stalker! I thought, shocked. I certainly knew what it was like to have to fend off unwanted advances from strangers – but to think he had barged into our own dorm!

Furious, I took action to defend my friend. But the only "weapon" I had was my sonnet book. I raised the book in the air and ran towards the back of the man, ready to smash him over the head with it.

Ariel gasped as she looked up seeing me charging in her direction. "Belle, no!" she exclaimed, as the man moved out of the way just in time. To my dismay, I came crashing right into Ariel. We both fell, and I landed on top of her.

"Oh, my goodness! Ariel, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to hurt you," I pleaded as I got up quickly. I began to help her up, while the man came to the other side of Ariel, helping her up as well.

"Darling, are you okay?" he inquired lovingly.

"Eric, please take me to the bed," she whimpered.

I flushed with embarrassment as I realized this man was not some unwanted creep as I had thought. "I'm terribly sorry, Ariel!" I cried as the man carried Ariel over to her bed.

"No, no, it's okay," Ariel chuckled as she let her head fall back on her pillow. "Seems like any time this tall, dark, and handsome fella comes around, I get into some bad luck."

The man – whom I presumed was named Eric, since Ariel had just called him that - rolled his eyes and planted a kiss on her forehead.

"Take that back, love," he challenged as he lightly tickled her belly.

I looked on, perplexed. "Am I missing something?" I asked, feeling awkward at this very intimate moment.

"Sorry, Belle. This is Eric, the love of my life," Ariel said as she sat up in bed. "Who's supposed to be Cyprus!" she added.

"I just couldn't stay from her!" Eric smirked as he cupped her face with one hand and held her hand with his free one.

I smiled. "You two are adorable! I'm sorry, Ariel - when I heard you telling Eric to leave so adamantly, I took that as a signal to protect my dear friend and roommate, fearing you were in trouble."

"Thanks. I appreciate that," Ariel said with a smile. "Belle, I'm not sure if you know the history of Cyprus, but it's not all as beautiful as the island looks to be on the surface. My family and I are Greek Cypriots-"

"And mine are Turkish Cypriots," Eric finished. "And never the two shall meet!"

Ariel pounded his chest lightly. "Make it sound more dramatic, why don't you?"

"Well, it is kind of serious," he pointed out. "Long story short, Belle: her people and my people have fought over the ruling of this island for centuries. We've lived in periods of peace, then periods of conflict."

"Yes, and currently now, I would say a little more on the conflict side," Ariel chimed in.

"Indeed. So Ariel and I being together would be totally frowned upon our kingdoms."

"Totally," Ariel confirmed.

"So you're a prince!" I exclaimed. Even the guests that come here are noble or aristocratic!

Eric nodded.

I looked at the couple in admiration. Their love for each other was so compelling. I just wanted to hear more and more about their story. I completely forgot about my angst, although the pang of being separated from the cloaked man never fully dissipated.

"My university at Cyprus was on break, and I just had to come see my sweet girl. Our academic calendar is quite different from the rest of Europe's," Eric explained.

"How long will you be here to visit Ariel?" I asked.

"Not too long, I'm afraid," Eric replied. "And don't worry, Belle – I won't inconvenience you. I'm staying at an inn not too far from here."

"Tomorrow is Friday, Ariel. You should go be with Eric while he's here," I encouraged her.

Ariel looked conflicted. "I'd love to...but if my father, King Triton, knew that I was spending the weekend with Prince Eric of our enemy kingdom, he would bury us both alive!"

"Trust me, Ariel! I was very discreet," Eric assured her.

"I insist," I said. "Tomorrow is Friday, and you have no classes till Monday. It's the perfect time for you to spend time together."

"That's true," Ariel thought out loud. "Do you think anyone will notice me? If word gets backs to my father-"

"Here. Take my shawl," I offered, grabbing one off the bed. "I have plenty. This will hide your identity. You'll have a whole weekend with your prince!"

Ariel thankfully accepted my shawl. "But what about you? Will you be okay here by yourself while I'm away?"

"Of course! It will give me a chance to have all this luxurious space all to myself!" I said jokingly, spreading my arms wide.

Ariel giggled. "All right, then! I'll do it! Thanks, Belle. "

As I helped her pack some things into a tiny suitcase, her eyes caught my pendant.

"Belle! That's the most beautiful charm I have ever seen!" she said in awe.

I smiled as I brushed the pendant, holding it between my thumb and index finger.

"It was a gift, actually," I said with a smile.

"From your mother?"

"No, from my cloaked customer." Looking down at the pendant, I mused on what it meant to my mysterious customer. Something so dear and beautiful could only have been given to him by a close family member or loved one who cherished him. Something told me that this pendant was not just one of his usual jewels in an overflowing chest that he had in his home. (That was how I imagined him – a regal man surrounded by riches in a big mansion, yet lonely, which was why he so often ventured in disguise to the tavern for company and entertainment.) But this pendant looked so personal to me, as it clearly did to Ariel as well. I could understand why she thought it could be from my mother.

"Eric, come look at this," Ariel said, gesturing him over. "I wouldn't mind receiving a lovely gift like this – hint, hint!" She winked at him.

As Eric came over for a closer look, I took off the necklace and held it out to him. Eric took it from me and peered closely at it. His eyes widened.

"Where did you get that?" he asked in an almost accusatory tone. Ariel gave him a questioning look. Even I was a bit taken aback by the way he had asked.

"It was given to me by a customer. I work at a tavern," I sheepishly admitted.

Ariel could sense my embarrassment. "She works really hard, Eric. She studies all day and works all night. She hardly has any time to sleep or hang out with her lovely roomie," she teased, trying to make me smile. It worked; Ariel always knew how to cheer me up. She brought me into a half hug.

"I have no choice but to work to help pay for the tuition at this university," I admitted. "Not all of us are wealthy like you."

"Hey, I'm not judging or anything," Eric said, calmer now. ""I think it's very noble of you to be working so that you help your family pay for tuition. And that is indeed a beautiful pendant. Enjoy it."

Ariel smiled in approval of Eric's kind words. "Well, I'm going to let you two talk while I finish packing a suitcase to take with me," Ariel said as she excused herself. She went to the washroom to collect her toiletries.

Eric made himself comfortable in Ariel's desk chair. "One of my good friends goes to this university. I haven't seen him in a year though. I would love to catch up with him."

"I'm sure there are many royals here you would know," I affirmed.

"Yes, this university is known for its royal and aristocratic students. Do they give you a hard time for working in a tavern?" inquired Eric sympathetically.

"I work there secretly," I admitted. "I'm not proud of it, but it pays well, and I am poor. "

"There's nothing to be embarrassed about not being as wealthy as others," Eric said reassuringly. "And there's nothing dishonorable about doing an honest day's work, instead of lying around all day being waited on hand and foot as so many royals do."

I smiled gratefully at him. "Thank you. But not everyone feels that way, so please don't tell anyone."

"I would never say anything to anyone," Eric promised. "If it's any consolation, my mother was poor too. When she married my father, a wealthy royal, it caused quite a scandal. Their marriage was looked down upon at first, because she came from a poor, no-name family. I guess being Greek wasn't the only bad thing!"

I nodded in understanding, feeling more comfortable talking to him about this personal issue now that I knew he wasn't a snob.

Eric went on, "My mother worked very hard for every penny she earned. She, too, went to a university in Cyprus attended by a lot of aristocrats. It never stopped her from reaching her dreams. She started out as the personal accountant to the royal family. My father saw her around the castle, and couldn't help it but find her alluring. And look where she is now: a queen! You never know what will happen, Belle. But it's important to be true to yourself, always. My mother taught me that. She was never ashamed of who she was. If you keep being embarrassed about who you are and where you come from, you'll only limit yourself."

"That is very intriguing," I admitted. "Thought-provoking as well." Eric's family story gave me a lot to think about. I trusted him with the personal information I divulged in him, and was happy that my dear friend Ariel had someone so wonderful to be with.

Feeling more comfortable with him, I confided, "There IS one silver lining to my job: even though I'm technically a barmaid, in reality I've been assigned to exclusively serve only one man. He's very mysterious, though: he always wears a cloak, so I can't see his face. He keeps his identity a secret, for reasons I don't know."

"Really," said Eric, looking intrigued. "You don't know who this customer is?"

I shook my head. "But what I DO know is that he is very kind. He's been so generous and understanding."

"Is he the one who gave you that pendant?" Eric asked.

"Yes," I said, smiling. "As I said, he is very generous."

"Indeed," Eric murmured, almost to himself. He seemed to be trying to work something out in his mind. Then he said, "Well, your 'mysterious customer' certainly does sound very kind, as well as mysterious. Perhaps one day he will reveal his identity to you."

"I hope so," I agreed.

I watched Ariel darting back and forth from the washroom to the bedroom, happily throwing items into her suitcase. From the corner of my eye, I saw Eric watching her too, smiling lovingly, and adoring her mannerisms and her fun-loving frenzy.

Hearing his personal story made me realize how brave and courageous he was, coming all the way out to France to see Ariel. He would do anything for someone he loved, just like his father had, even if it meant not being supported by the people around him. I was glad that my dear friend Ariel had found such a wonderful person to be with.

As if on cue, Ariel popped back into the room. "Ready!" she cheerfully exclaimed. "Sorry it took a while." She pulled the suitcase up with some difficulty.

"I can take it for you, my love," offered Eric as she pulled her baggage out into the hall.

"Belle, I'm off. Now, you're sure you'll be okay? Not afraid of any Adams lurking behind any corners, are you?" Ariel teased.

"Adam? The Duke of France's son? You know him?" Eric asked. He looked almost triumphant, as if confirming what he already knew. I looked at him in bewilderment.

"Yes...Oh! I'm sorry, how could I have forgotten?" cried Ariel as she slapped her forehead. "He greeted me at the Welcome Dance and asked about you! He has his eye on this, one you know," she added, gesturing at me.

"Ah! I see," Eric said. "Well, that's Adam for you: if he sees something he likes, he goes for it."

"Ariel is exaggerating!" I protested. "We're nothing more than partners for an English project. In fact..." I smiled mysteriously. "Lately I've been intrigued by a whole new person altogether."

"Ooh, really?" Ariel flopped down on the bed, looking at me eagerly. "Who?"

"I'll tell you later - don't you have to go somewhere?" I said innocently.

Ariel pouted jokingly. "Leaving me on edge, huh? Well, I'll let it go this time, but only because I have a handsome prince to run off with!" She gave me a tight squeeze. "But I expect to hear EVERYTHING when I get back!" She jumped up. "Come on, Eric."

"Coming!" Eric stood up and picked up the suitcase. "It was nice meeting you, Belle."

"Likewise," I agreed.

As Ariel and Eric left, I couldn't help but contemplate what a lovely couple they were, and how sweet with each other.

Then I felt something in the pocket of my skirt. I pulled it out. It was the rose-embroidered handkerchief my cloaked customer had given me the first night I worked at the tavern. I felt a longing pang for the owner of this fabric. That made me think of Eric's longing for Ariel that had made him risk everything to come here to see her. Was this feeling similar? The separation and the absence of his warm hold and attention were becoming unbearable.

"I won't see him till next Thursday," I said to myself sadly.

Wanting to distract myself, I thought about Adam. Secretly, I had to admit that Ariel wasn't totally wrong – I did like him much more now than I had when I had first met him. And I would be lying to myself if I said that I didn't find Adam attractive as well. Any girl with half a brain would find Adam to be completely alluring. But truth be told, I still longed for my cloaked customer more.

I tried to imagine what the cloaked man might look like. Was he dark and handsome like Eric? Was he young or old? He might have been far older than me, considering all the rumors I'd heard about him at the tavern – all his romantic conquests. Could he ever be contained just to me? Would he be satisfied with just me?

Then I had an unexpected thought. Maybe he's ugly...or even disfigured! Like Gaston Leroux's "Phantom of the Opera"! Maybe THAT'S why he keeps his face hidden!

The idea didn't repulse me – in fact, it made the mysterious man and his secret past even more intriguing. But it saddened me to think that he might feel so self-conscious of his appearance that he needed to keep it hidden. Maybe he was even more of an outcast than I was, I speculated. Maybe he was taunted for his appearance when he was younger, and so learned to hide it.

I hoped that someday, he would trust me enough to reveal himself to me. I don't care what he looks like. I only care about his inner character, his kindness and gentleness. Surely he must know that I don't judge people on anything as shallow as their looks!

I imagined being the only person who knew what he really looked like, the only one he could truly trust and give his heart to...

Then I shook my head, laughing at myself and how silly I was, romanticizing about this unknown man I knew nothing about! I was letting my imagination run away with me.

I decided to put this foolishness aside and read for a while. I was too alert to sleep.

I went to the bookshelf and caressed the back spine of one of my favorite stories. My books would always be my one true love. I changed into my nightgown, picked up my book, and climbed into bed. I began reading and soon dozed off into a restful slumber.

So how did you like it? Please comment and review! Eric and Ariel are a couple I adore and I was having a lot of difficulty with making Belle though weary with Eric at first finally trust him enough to share about working at a Tavern.

Hmmm and what does Eric know? Did anyone catch on to that?

This Chapter wouldn't be complete without thanking TrudiRose once again for her amazing edits and putting up with my horrendous drafts! I also want to make a shout out for her because the "Phantom of the Opera" reference was totally her and HER idea, and I think it added so much to the story.

Thanks Trudi