~The Next Morning~

ARIEL: *wakes up*

ERIK: Ariel? How do you feel?

ARIEL: Sleepy... *yawns*

ERIK: well, you've been sleeping all night. Are you hungry?

ARIEL: *nods lazily and begins to get out of bed*

ERIK: stay. I'll fetch you something to eat. *swims away and quickly returns with food*

ARIEL: *smiles at him* What's this?

ERIK: your favorite dish.

ARIEL: *grins* Seaweed and coral omelet?

ERIK: yes. *gives it to her*

ARIEL: *eats it hungrily*

ERIK: *waits until she has finished it*

ARIEL: *finishes and puts the plate on the nightstand*

ERIK: *smiles* feel better?

ARIEL: Yeah. It feels good to be back in my own room

ERIK: how did he treat you?

ARIEL: Horribly... He pushed me around and treated me like a was nothing at all

ERIK: *growls* I'll make him pay for that.

ARIEL: No... You really don't have to

ERIK: of course I do. No one leaves bruises on you without paying for it.

ARIEL: *sighs, knowing she can't sway him* Erik?

ERIK: yes?

ARIEL: One day more...

ERIK: yes. Tomorrow we wed.

ARIEL: *looks down* Can't you call it off..?

ERIK: why?

ARIEL: I-I'm not ready

ERIK: you'll be my wife but nothing will change.

ARIEL: I don't want to be your wife. I don't even know you that well

ERIK: we'll get to know each other.

ARIEL: I want to do that BEFORE marriage!

ERIK: why? It's pretty much the same.

ARIEL: It's not! When you're married you're devoted for life! And I don't want to be devoted to you

ERIK: why not?

ARIEL: I'm not ready to be devoted to a man. I want to stay free for awhile, can't you respect that?

ERIK: its not like you'd marry anyone else...its me now or later.

ARIEL: You don't know who I'm destined to be with. *glares*

ERIK: yes, me.

ARIEL: *gets out of bed*

ERIK: *watches her* I know you don't love me but I love you. I came after you didn't I?

ARIEL: Yeah... But... I don't want this to happen to me. I'll be married to you and... Then I'll never get out of Hell

ERIK: you are aware that this happens with humans all the time...and, you were looking for a life much like theirs.

ARIEL: *takes a chance and swims out the window and toward the surface*

ERIK: *darts after her and grabs her*

ARIEL: *squirms* Let go of me!

ERIK: no, this is for your own safety. *carries her back to her room*

ARIEL: *slaps him with her tail*

ERIK: *flinches but carries her to her bed* it isn't wise for you to be outside after yesterday's meeting. It is very dangerous!

ARIEL: But I don't want to marry you!! Let me go already!

ERIK: I wasn't even talking about marriage! I'm saying you need to stay here so you don't get kidnapped again.

ARIEL: I'd rather be kidnapped!

ERIK: well, I'm not letting that happen!

ARIEL: *slaps him harder with her tail*

ERIK: *does his best to ignore it and pins her tail down* my dear, I'm much stronger than you. I would not advise you trying to fight.

ARIEL: *struggles* Stop! That hurts!

ERIK: will you stop trying to hit me? *growls*

ARIEL: *slowly stops and whimpers at his pressure on her tail*

ERIK: *releases her tail slowly* actually, you don't want to be kidnapped by Devon again. He is, dare I say, worse than myself.

ARIEL: *a tear streams down her face* I want to be free... I want to be free to swim and explore

ERIK: you will, one day. But, it won't be soon. You need to grow up and use your head instead of your heart.

ARIEL: My heart never lies!

ERIK: its getting you in trouble...your heart wants to swim and explore but doing that will only take away that freedom in a worse way at the moment. So, use your head. I know you have one.

ARIEL: I just want to make my own choices and not have a male decide them for me!!

ERIK: you're going to have to learn some patience! You don't know everything.

ARIEL: I won't obey you! I'm not your slave!

ERIK: no, but I love you and I must do what's best for you.

ARIEL: *sighs and starts to cry*

ERIK: *wraps her into his arms* I know you don't trust me or believe me but I swear I only want the best for you. Right now, you need to stay hidden. Devon will come back and I don't know what he'll do to you.

ARIEL: I wish I was d-dead...

ERIK: I doubt that would be must better.

ARIEL: I doubt you'd miss me...

ERIK: miss you? I'd be following right after you.

ARIEL: *gasps* You'd k-kill yourself?

ERIK: yes. *says simply*

ARIEL: No! You shouldn't do that!

ERIK: why not? My life was a living hell before you came into my life and if you were to leave it would be even worse.

ARIEL: *silent*

ERIK: *looks at her lovingly*

ARIEL: You really love me?

ERIK: yes.

ARIEL: Then you can let me go

ERIK: actually, I can't...

ARIEL: Why not?

ERIK: believe me on this. You would prefer me over what you'll get if I let you go...

ARIEL: I just wish you'd not keep me locked up so tight

ERIK: I have to! When this threat is passed, I can give you more freedom. If you want to be chained back in that pitch black cave with a man who has no morals then feel free to swim out that window. He'll come back for you. You're my only weakness.

ARIEL: *swims out of the room*

ERIK: *darts after her*

ARIEL: *goes into the throne room and gasps* Adela!

ADELA: Ariel! *hugs her*

ERIK: *hangs back watching*

ARIEL: What are you doing here?? *grins*

ADELA: I'm here to rescue you. We all came, but they're hiding just in case the Warlock comes.

ERIK: *hides*

ADELA: Come on! We will stop him! *grabs her hand gently*

ERIK: *watches them*

ARIEL: *looks around and nods* Let's go

ERIK: *hides where they can not find him*

ADELA: *swims with her and guides her away from the palace, her sisters following*

ERIK: *waits until he can follow at a safe distance*

*they arrive at their hideout*

AQUATA: *hugs her tightly* Oh, Ariel, we were so worried about you! Did he hurt you?

ARIEL: No.. He didn't

AQUATA: *looks shocked* he didn't?

ARIEL: He did pull my tail and threaten to have his snakes bite my tail... *is shaken*

AQUATA: *gasps in horror* that is horrible! How could he?

ARIEL: He didn't want me to leave... Ever.

AQUATA: why?

ARIEL: *sniffles* He wanted to m-marry me by force...

AQUATA: *gaps in horror again* how dare he!? *hugs her tightly*

ARIEL: *cries as she hugs her sister just as tight*

AQUATA: why was he forcing you?

ARIEL: He has fallen for me

AQUATA: fallen in love with you...?

ARIEL: *nods solemnly*

AQUATA: oh no...

ARIEL: He will do anything for me... Even kill!

AQUATA: *gasps* we must keep you hidden! He'll come for you! We won't let him!

ARIEL: Thank you, Aquata. Thank you all

*all of her sisters smile and nod in agreement*

ARIEL: *swims over to a soft cot and lies down, resting*

*all her sisters watch over her*

ERIK: *watches them then swims away, planning on how to get her back*

ARIEL: *smiles at them* You all care so much

AQUATA: we all love you very much.

ARIEL: And I love you all. *smiles and yawns*

AQUATA: sleep. You've been through so much for the past few days. Sleep as long as you need to.

ARIEL: *snuggles into the blanket and pillow and falls fast asleep*

ERIK: *swims around the throne angrily* Nadir, I've got to get her back!

NADIR: What happened?

ERIK: her sisters came after her.

NADIR: That's not good

ERIK: No, it isn't. Any ideas for getting her back?

NADIR: Well... Harming her sisters isn't a good plan

ERIK: No, that'll just make her angrier.

NADIR: Hm... Perhaps taking them down with a spell?

ERIK: That might work... I have several that would work on them...

NADIR: Like what?

ERIK: sleeping spells.

NADIR: A good choice

ERIK: It wouldn't harm them and I could get her back.

NADIR: I think it's worth a try

ERIK: Yes, she's sleeping right now so I'll probably try in the morning.