Chapter 30

One Year Later

Eric and Ariel got married on July 20th 1824. The wedding was a memorable ceremony with the humans and merpeople all coming together to celebrate with Ariel and Eric. The wedding was on the surface but out to sea, just a few 100 metres from Eric's kingdom. It took place on the very same ship that Eric was about to marry Ursula on but it was hardly recognisable. Those of us with fins were able to come up to the surface to watch the happy couple get married.

King Triton was a completely changed merman although it took a while. He had learnt to accept that humans were not that bad after all. After seeing how well Prince Eric was treating his daughter and after hearing about how William and his two sailor colleagues Jack and Frank looked after me when i was injured. He would never forget the kindness that has been given to Ariel and myself.

I remember hearing the conversations between Ariel's sisters "Do you think we will get to see her daddy?" cries Andrina, "Don't be silly of cause we will Andrina!" cries Attina, "I bet she is looking so beautiful!" says Arista, "Ariel looks so different now on legs!" cries Adella, "Wonder what she is wearing?" asks Aquata, "She would be wearing what is it called...a dress now?" asks Alana. As the daughters of Triton gossiped and giggled, their father looked over towards me.

"Thought you would be use to the girl talk by now your highness!" i said to him with a giggle "21 years Urchin and i am still not use to it!" he answered back to me "I do admit it will be nice having you around the palace a bit more!". When i heard the King say that i remember looking at him confusingly, i then remember asking him what he meant by that. Then what he said to me next changed my life forever.

One Year later, i am now training to become a palace guard and was offered by the King himself full time residency within the palace in which he had offered to me on Ariel's wedding day. King Triton told me that had been so impressed with my heroic skills, courage and my desire to protect that he had no choice but to offer me a place in his palace guard program.

I was stunned by the news but i was happy to accept, from that day onwards i realised the merman i had become. I was no longer the skinny nervous jokester. He had always said to me that i was like a son to him and he wanted to see me continue and grow into a bright strong merman. "You've got courage and bravery young man! Don't you let it go to waste!" King Triton were the words he said to me that day.

Since then i have been slowly adapting to palace life. Although i do tend to miss my old cave at times and seeing Ariel. One things for sure i am no longer alone and was surrounded by heaps of friends and i now had a family!. King Triton has been acting like a father towards me and more and more he calls me son. Ariel's sisters still sometimes roll their eyes but have accepted seeing more of me around the palace even sometimes when i pull the odd prank or two!. When the King wasn't looking of course!. My new role did mean i had to reduce my pranking but the odd one wouldn't hurt would it? As long as i do not get caught? (silently giggling).

I got to tell Ariel the news a couple of weeks after their wedding when she and Eric came back from their Honeymoon. I saw her walking the beach with Eric one afternoon and i called out to them. Ariel ran into the ocean to greet and hug me. Completely forgetting that she was wearing a long dress and struggled swim. I immediately went into action to help her.

"Oh Urchin! How nice it is to see you! I'm must've got too excited! I am still learning how to swim with legs!" she said to me as i smiled and laughed at her. She began to laugh too as Eric came in also to save her. She then introduced me to her new husband. "Eric this is Urchin, he is my best friend! Well one of my best merman friends!" i remember her saying to Eric. "Nice to meet you Urchin!" he politely said to me before us boys helped Ariel back to the shore.

After that i went to pull myself on to a nearby rock while Ariel and Eric climbed onto the same rock. That's when i told them my fantastic news. Ariel was thrilled with the news and wished me good luck with my new future role "You'll be great Urchin! I just know you will!" she said to me before giving me another massive hug. I also got to have a reasonable conversation with Eric to get to know him a bit more.

I could tell by looking into his eyes that he had a lot of love to give and will do anything to protect his new wife. Like the same way i felt about Ariel a year ago. What's that you say does it still hurt me to see Ariel with another man?. It use too, i will not lie but after seeing the love & bond Eric and Ariel have for one and another, i slowly came to my senses and began to understand love. Oh and did i mention that they have announced that they are now expecting a baby?.

The news was spread around Atlantica like a disease! The whole kingdom was thrilled by the news but the one merperson who was the most excited was no other then King Triton himself. He was overjoyed when he heard the news and was over the moon about becoming a Grandfather for the first time. I presume that there will be a big celebration for when the baby arrives between merfolk and humans. Just like the wedding. I wonder if it will be a boy or a girl?.

So what now for me? Well between you and me i feel that i might've caught the eye of a few mermaids during my training particularly of a certain brown haired and pink tailed mermaid. I look back now and felt awful for my behaviour towards her 12 months ago. Gabriella allowed me to apologise in sign language and we made make up. I'm not so scared about going up to the surface anymore, not to only visit Ariel but to keep in touch with the three sailors who saved me William, Jack and Frank and since then we have become good friends.

Whenever i see Ariel now, i get more and more proud of her each day. I admire the strong young mer ahh human she has become. I know i may not be able to protect Ariel so much anymore as she has now Eric but if she ever returns to the sea I'll be there to protect her once again. Now bigger, better and less clumsy!.

My story concludes and thank you for reading my story.

The End