Ariel

Ariel blinked at the ring: unsure of what to say. Her hesitance spoke the wrong way, as Eric immediately began stuttering out an excuse and rubbing his neck. Ariel pushed her fear aside: she was going to do it. She was going to take the plunge. So, she grabbed his spare hand and clasped it within her own. "Yes, I'd love to marry you," She whispered. Eric's face lit up and he slid the emerald ring onto her finger, grinning. He stood up, her hand still in his, and brought it up to kiss. "My Ariel... my fiance, and my best friend," He smiled.

Ariel blushed. "What do you think of the ring? I'd heard that emerald was your favourite colour next to pink, and there's no pink gem, so I bought an emerald one, but it was a draw between emerald and jade, but-" He rambled. Ariel placed a finger on his lip. "I love it," She smiled. He visibly deflated. "Though, I am surprised by the timing... why now? Why not next year? Or next month?" She asked. "Does anyone truly know when the time is right?" He asked softly. She shook her head. "I suppose not..."

"But, to satisfy your curiosity, with the close call of Ursula and losing you... I don't want it to happen again, and by placing a ring on your finger," He kissed her hand. "You're mine forever and nobody can take that away," Ariel blushed. "Not witches, or curses, or storms, or even parents,"

She chuckled. "Yeah, well... what does my mom think? I bet she doesn't know," She whispered bitterly. Eric led her back into the bedroom, placing a blanket around her shaking shoulders. "Well, that's where you're wrong." Ariel blinked. "How so? My mom wouldn't want me up here... not after what happened to Alisa," She sighed softly, her heart dropping slightly at the mention of her dead sister.

"Well, actually, it was your sisters who encouraged me to do it,"

Ariel blinked. "Wait, what? Which ones?" She asked. "Um... the blue and green ones... Adella and Alana?" She smiled. "It's confusing I know. The blue one is Aquata, and the green one is Adella,"

Eric chuckled. "Well, seeing as they're going to be my sisters-in-law, I better know them better," Ariel smiled at him, still on a high from the ring. It glittered in the lights and shimmered entrancingly. "Maybe we could announce our engagement at the ball tonight," She said. "I've got a better idea," He said. "Why don't we have a quiet ceremony, just us, a priest and your family?" Ariel frowned. "But why? Won't they want to see their future King's wedding?"

"Yes, and that's where the second part comes in. Your family aren't great lovers of humans, which I totally understand, so if we just have an intimate ceremony with them before they leave for the sea, we can host another ball in a week or two for our engagement." Ariel nodded. "Then we can have the biggest wedding possible, with the whole kingdom in attendance. How does that sound?"

Ariel grinned. "It sounds wonderful, future husband,"

Athena

Athena paced in the library, waiting. What for, she didn't know. But waiting nevertheless. Perhaps it was the nerves of the deal? Or being on land after Alisa, or even what her husband was going to do when she returned in the evening. "Madam?" A voice asked. Athena turned, biting her fingernail. "Yes?" She asked. "Breakfast is served in the dining hall. Would you like me to escort you, or do you know the way?" He asked. Athena sighed softly and removed her finger. "I'll manage, thank you." The wirey man nodded and shut the door.

Athena sighed loudly and bent down to sort her... um... shoes? Out properly. She'd taken them off to relax her sore feet, but as needs must, she couldn't walk around the palace barefoot. The gown she was in was a nice soft material as well, surprisingly. Unlike the royal gowns back home, it was soft and comforting. Granted, she knew it was a casual dress, only for use in the castle. Should she step outside, she'd need a new one on.

She made her way to the dining hall, the scent half guiding her there. She lowered herself with another sigh. She smiled at her daughters, of which all were present, save for Ariel and Andrina. "Good morning girls," She said. "Good morning mom," They echoed. "Where's Andrina?" Athena asked, taking a bite of something pale-coloured and crunchy. The taste filled her mouth, sending a noise of surprise out of it. "Asleep still. The maid, Carlotta, allowed her to stay in bed." Attina answered.

Athena nodded, chuckling. "Well, if anybody can treat this as another home, it's Andrina," Attina chuckled back, while Aquata and Alana laughed. "Is Ariel with her prince?" Athena asked, a smile worming onto her face. Adella rolled her eyes dramatically, while Arista sighed dreamily. "Yes. I presume. I don't know, neither of them are here, and Ariel was never a sleeper, she was always up early, so one could assume so," Alana said in place of Attina, who was desperately trying to wipe up a white watery liquid from her chin.

Just then, Ariel clacked in, her pink heels echoing on the marble flooring. Athena nodded at her. "Where's your prince at?" Adella asked, somewhat bitterly. Ariel patted her arm sympathetically.

With Grimsby, going over royal plans. She signed. Athena frowned. "Um... I sort of understand sign language, but is anybody here fluent?" Thankfully, Alana raised her hand. "Yeah, I know a bit,"

She translated when Ariel signed again. "Ooo, what royal plans?" Aquata asked, biting into a crunchy brown thing. "She says there's a ball tonight, and then when it's finished, she and Eric will take us out to sea on a boat where we can go home," Alana said. Athena noticed Aquata's small smirk. "Is that the only royal plan he's sorting?" Athena watched as a large grin stretched over her youngest's face as she displayed an emerald ring.

Immediately, the table erupted into cheers and squeals. Athena laughed, joining in. But her heart ached for some reason. She thought she'd be happy for Ariel when she wed somebody... but... she couldn't find it in her heart to smile sincerely.

Eric

Eric rubbed his brow. "Yes, I know Grimsby. But her family are leaving tonight due to an emergency, and she wants them to watch. If the only way to do that is a small ceremony tonight, then that's what will happen," He said. Grimsby began stuttering. "But what about the dukes and duchesses? Lords and ladies? Other princes and princesses? It's not just about her," Eric glared. "We will have a large, formal, ceremony as soon as. Including, her becoming my future Queen consort. A double whammy, if you will."

"But neither of you are twenty-one yet, sir," Grimsby said. Eric pursed his lips. "Strangely enough, I'm aware of that," He snapped. "Ahem," Eric turned to see Carlotta glaring. He sighed. "Sorry,"

"How would you even plan it? You'd need a priest to officiate," Grimsby asked. "Look, it's simple. Tonight, after the ball, we'll set sail out onto the water, as per both of our wishes." He began. "A priest will come with us, along with you and Lottie to watch. He will marry us there on the boat, so her family get to see before they leave. Then, however long later, as is your call, we will have an official wedding of the state, where everybody and anybody can attend, how's that?" He said. Grimsby began grumbling as he ran it over in his mind.

"I don't see why it couldn't work," He conceded. Eric grinned. "Perfect, I shall go and tell my bride,"

Ariel

Ariel sighed shakily as she descended the steps to the beach. Her mom followed just behind, with Ariel having to reach out occasionally to stop her from falling. "I'd hide that ring, darling. Your father defiantly won't allow it if he knows," Athena warned. Ariel nodded, taking the ring off and hiding it in her dress. "How mad is he?" She whispered. Her mom grimaced. "Very,"

Ariel sighed. "Oh, joy,"

She exhaled as her toes met the ocean water. "Triton? We're here," Her mom called. She didn't step into the ocean, as it would turn her back into a mermaid, which would be rather unfortunate. The water seemed too still for a moment, before it rippled and exploded, revealing her father in all his glory. She bowed her head, not meeting his face. "Take it easy on her, yeah? Remember your last conversation," She heard her mom say. "Look at me please, Ariel," He said.

She steeled her nerves and met the furious gaze of her father. "Are you ok?" He asked. Ariel blinked. Her mom leaned in close. Her father's face turned red. "She took your voice?" He hissed. "Sort of," Ariel whispered. "I can whisper and sign, but that's it," Her father scoffed. "You knew going to her was a bad idea! Why would you even think about it, Ariel? We raised you better than this!" She looked down. "I wanted to be here, and you wouldn't let me," She whispered. Her father sneered. "Do I need to remind you of Alisa?" He asked.

"They were pirates, daddy, Eric has problems with them as well! They killed his father!" She whisper-yelled. Her throat stung. "One less to worry about," He hissed. Ariel reeled back as if she'd been struck. "How can you act so hurt that they killed Alisa, and yet, when they kill another human, it's ok? How is that fair?!"

"Because they're barbarians!"

"No, they're not!" Her voice cracked as she cried. Athena sighed heavily. Ariel sniffed. "Well you're gonna hate this then," She snapped. "Ariel... don't do it," Her mom warned. Ariel glared. "Why not? He's already mad, why not now?"

"Because it will just make it worse! Lest you forget, he is still your father!" Her mom yelled. Ariel's lip wobbled. "I don't care. How can you be on his side? I'm happy here! Don't you see that? I don't want to be trapped in the castle, just used as a political alliance marriage!" She cried, angry tears running down her face. "I. Am. Happy. Here!" She enunciated each word. "What do you mean a political alliance marriage? What's going on?" Her father yelled. She pulled out her ring. "This! I'm marrying him daddy and there's nothing you can do about it!" She sobbed.

Without turning back, she ran back to the castle, barefoot.

Attina

Attina sighed as she watched the argument from her balcony. The sun was beginning to set, and she was all dressed up to watch her baby sister marry a human.

And yet... Attina didn't feel any negative emotion toward him. He spoke to her, and treated her like she was his sister. He never once asked questions about Atlantica, and neither did he tell anybody about it either. He bought them gowns, served them food, gave them maids, and even allowed them to wander about the castle as freely as they chose, aside from his bedroom, his parent's old one, and the man called Grimsby's.

She didn't even have that much freedom back home.

A part of her wanted to hate him for taking Ariel away. But she knew it wasn't fair... Ariel was long gone, long before she developed feelings for him. Attina shut her eyes as Ariel raced back to the castle, sobbing. Her mother and father argued animatedly before he disappeared back under the water. Her mom stayed there for a while, just watching the sun. Attina chose to retreat back into the room to finish her final look. She made sure her crown was securely in place, alongside the necklace Eric had given her as a wedding gift.

Each of them received a small piece of glass, a gem, he called it. Only a fragment, but very valuable. Alana's was called Amethyst, Adella's was a yellow tourmaline, Aquata had sapphire, Arista had a ruby, Andrina had pink quartz, and Attina's was Spessartite garnet.

They held great meaning to the human world, but none to the mermaid world, so it was safe.

She took a deep breath to steady her emotions, ready to send her littlest sister off down the aisle at sixteen years old... The youngest, and yet, the first to begin her life.

~

Attina wiped a tear from her eye. Ariel shined beautifully in an emerald green dress, the same green as her tail. Each of them had been given a custom-made gown to match their tails. Ariel glowed with happiness as she said I do to the... priest, they'd called him.

She glanced worriedly at the sky, concerned by its black colour. At least if the ship went down, most of them could survive. Attina could get Ariel back to shore while her mom, no doubt, helped Eric and her sisters helped the other three members on top of the vessel. Something darted in the corner of her vision. She turned and squinted.

A woman in a purple, off-the-shoulder gown grinned wickedly at her. Attina frowned. Something about the woman's face was familiar...

It wasn't until the woman cackled loudly and a giant octopus sprang forth did everything fit into place.

It was Ursula...

And she was here to stop the deal from being won.