~The Next Morning~

ARIEL: *wakes up sleepily, rubbing her eyes*

ERIK: *is hiding in the seaweed where no one can spot him*

ARIEL: *swims and grabs a brush and begins to brush her hair, singing softly*

ERIK: *watches her and enjoys her singing*

ARIEL: *finishes and sighs, looking at her sleeping sisters*

ERIK: *smiles at how well the sleeping potion is working* *glides up from the seaweed and towards her*

ARIEL: *sees him and immediately starts to swim away*

ERIK: *swims towards her*

ARIEL: *hides from him*

ERIK: *finds her* Ariel, I've come back for you.

ARIEL: Go away

ERIK: Yes, I will. But, you're going with me.

ARIEL: I will not

ERIK: yes, you will.

ARIEL: I won't! *says defiantly* I'll write my own destiny, thank you very much!

ERIK: Yes, what destiny do you have? All you have is that gaggle of sisters. Your father isn't coming back unless I bring him back... you have no kingdom... you have nothing.

ARIEL: I have family and love! And that's all I need to be happy!

ERIK: you can have love with me too! And, your sisters are welcomed back into the kingdom as long as they don't try to take you away.

ARIEL: *gasps* *realization* Oh no... It's today isn't it?

ERIK: our wedding? Yes, it is. And, I need a bride for the wedding to continue.

ARIEL: *shakes her head* Find a different bride

ERIK: Do you think one of your sisters would like to fill the position?

ARIEL: *eyes fill with dread* I-I don't know

ERIK: No, and I wouldn't ask them. You are the only one I could ever want. *smiles lovingly*

ARIEL: *looks down* Fine... I surrender...

ERIK: *takes her hand gently in mine* I love you. I'll never hurt you... *leads her away*

ARIEL: *sniffles as he leads her back to the palace* I've sealed my fate... *sees a veil and a silver queen's crown in her room along with a white skirt that goes over the top of her tail*

ERIK: *smiles* I'll send Nadir him to help you. *calls for the snake*

NADIR: *comes in* You called?

ERIK: Yes, I want you to help Ariel prepare for our wedding. *swims away*

ARIEL: *frowns* This is it...

NADIR: Ariel, this is not your death sentence.

ARIEL: I know, Nadir... I just don't want this... but he doesn't care. *goes to fix her hair up to make him happy and try to please him*

NADIR: *sighs* He does care. He loves you greatly. But, let me tell you something, Erik is a very possessive man. He doesn't let go easily.

ARIEL: Possessive... *sniffles, holding back tears* Great. *puts it up and proper, placing in coral hairpins*

NADIR: He won't hurt you though. He'll just keep you close. It's his way. You never know, you might fall in love with him...

ARIEL: *puts on the veil and covers her face with it so he won't see her and slips on the skirt* My wedding day... *goes to put on makeup*

NADIR: you are a beautiful bride... *says softly*

ARIEL: *hears him* T-Thank you Nadir... *lifts the veil and is about to apply concealer*

NADIR: Is there any way I can help you?

ARIEL: No... Go tell him I'm r-ready... *decides not to and pulls her veil down so none of her face is shown*

NADIR: *shakes head* actually, I'm supposed to escort you to him.

ARIEL: Oh... *sighs* Then let's get this over with...

NADIR: *leads her out towards where Erik is waiting* I have everything you need. Reza has everything that Erik will need.

ARIEL: *nods and sees Erik in the middle of the ballroom where all human objects are on display and are beautifully added to the wedding as decoration*

ERIK: *grins as he sees Ariel coming closer*

ARIEL: *frowns, secretly tearing up behind the veil as she swims next to him*

ERIK: *holds out his hands to her*

ARIEL: *hands shake as she takes them and she offers her tail to him so they can intertwine*

ERIK: *intertwines his tail with hers* *begins to say his vows*

ARIEL: *cries silently underneath the veil as he does and then continues to say her short vows*

ERIK: *gives her a pearl ring, a bracelet, a necklace and her crown that Nadir had brought along with him*

ARIEL: *gives him the black pearl ring, the wrist chain, and shakily slips the tail band onto his fin*

ERIK: *smiles gently at her* I do.

ARIEL: *hesitates* I... I do...

ERIK: *lifts the veil and leans forward, kissing her forehead* I love you. *whispers against it*

ARIEL: *looks at him and smiles slightly to please him* I know...

ERIK: *leads her towards his room* why are you smiling to please me?

ARIEL: I-I... I just want one of us to be happy today... And I don't want you to be upset at me.

ERIK: you think I am? *turns to look at her

ARIEL: *nods* I messed up on the vow and I didn't but on your band right

ERIK: *laughs slightly* its alright. I can fix the band later and as for messing up on the vow, I can imagine lots of merfolk have in the past. I'm not upset with you. You were very brave tonight. *arrives in his room*

ARIEL: *goes inside his room* Brave? *raises an eyebrow*

ERIK: *nods* yes, you were. You didn't scream, faint, or cry too hard. *reaches forward and wipes a few tears off her cheeks*

ARIEL: I-I had to suck it up... There's no use whining and complaining about what can't be fixed

ERIK: *smiles sadly* very true. Is there something I can do to make you feel better?

ARIEL: *sighs* No... You can do what you want. I've given up on basically having any say now that we're married

ERIK: what do you mean? *looks confused*

ARIEL: Nadir's already told me you're possessive... You must be controlling as well. *looks away from him*

ERIK: my dear, I am very possessive. When I have something or want something it becomes mine. But, you are no inanimate object to be controlled.

ARIEL: But you do say I'm yours... I don't belong to you, Erik.

ERIK: *eyes soften and a contented smile covers his face*

ARIEL: Is something the matter? *notices the change*

ERIK: you said my name. *smiles* for once I liked my name.

ARIEL: just because I said it makes it amazing?

ERIK: yes. I hate my name. I gave it to myself because I needed one. I never much cared for it but it stuck to me. Now, I like it.

ARIEL: Is that so... Erik... *puts emphasis on his name, making it roll off her tongue*

ERIK: *grins broadens* yes, it is.

ARIEL: *smiles a bit* So what happens now?

ERIK: what do you mean?

ARIEL: Why have you brought me here?

ERIK: well, this is your new room.

ARIEL: Wait... What? *is a bit startled* But this is your room

ERIK: you're now my wife. That means this room is now yours.

ARIEL: I-Id rather stay in my own room

ERIK: why? What's wrong?

ARIEL: I don't really trust you when it comes to... Being so close in a bed

ERIK: that's why I had a larger bed brought in yesterday.

ARIEL: *shakes her head* I really don't want to sleep with you...

ERIK: you're my queen. You're expected to sleep at least in the same room.

ARIEL: *sighs* I want to sleep in my room

ERIK: if its any comfort, most of the time you'll be sleeping alone here anyway.

ARIEL: Fine

ERIK: very good. I'll have all your things brought over.

ARIEL: *sulks and sits down on his bed*

ERIK: so much for the trying-to-be-happy-for-me idea...

ARIEL: *quickly breaks out a grin*

ERIK: *sighs* forget I said that. I would prefer you to be you instead of faking everything.

ARIEL: I thought you'd want the doll me...

ERIK: that's not who I fell in love with. No, I'd prefer the fighter.

ARIEL: *looks into his eyes* Have you been planning this?

ERIK: planning what?

ARIEL: Our marriage

ERIK: yes, for about a year.

ARIEL: Erik? Why? Why do you love me?

ERIK: you're everything I'm not.

ARIEL: What do you mean?

ERIK: you're beautiful, I'm not. You're good, I'm not. The only thing I'd say we both share is intelligence.

ARIEL: We can both sing...

ERIK: but, you better than myself.

ARIEL: That's really not true.

ERIK: perhaps it depends from who's viewpoint you see it. I believe your voice is the most beautiful thing ever heard under the sea or above it.

ARIEL: *blushes and begins to smile*

ERIK: *smiles* is that a real smile I see?

ARIEL: *blushes more and lowers her head as she smiles*

ERIK: *grins as he sees it is real*

ARIEL: *looks at him, trying to hold back her giggles*

ERIK: what's so funny? *swims towards her*

ARIEL: Your... Your hair. It's all messed up

ERIK: *soothes it down* well, at least you were laughing.

ARIEL: *slowly pats the spot next to her*

ERIK: *moves slowly towards the spot*

ARIEL: *smiles at him*

ERIK: *sits down beside her*

ARIEL: I... I want to work on being friends

ERIK: sounds like a good plan.

ARIEL: I don't even know if I'll ever love you, but at least a friendship

ERIK: yes, that is better than you forever hating me. If you want... *swallows* you can ask me questions to get to know me better. Though, I retain the right to refuse to answer if I please.

ARIEL: I understand. I'll keep them basic, I promise.

ERIK: thank you.

ARIEL: So... When's your birthday?

ERIK: I don't know the real date of my birth. I've never once celebrated it and if I needed a date I've always used New Year's Day.

ARIEL: Oh... I bet you know mine since you've stalked me for years...

ERIK: yes, I do. Its June 5th.

ARIEL: You're good... What's your favorite color?

ERIK: I'm not sure I have one. But, I do prefer black.

ARIEL: I love the color green. *smiles*

ERIK: you look gorgeous in green.

ARIEL: My tail is already my favorite color! *beams*

ERIK: *grins* it is. I guess you could say mine is the same. *swishes his black tail*

ARIEL: Your tail is amazing... It's almost a shark's

ERIK: *arches an eyebrow* that is supposed to be a complement coming from a mermaid?

ARIEL: I've just never seen anything like it...

ERIK: *stretches it out for her to look at* well, nothing about me is truly normal.

ARIEL: *reaches out for it* May I?

ERIK: if you wish.

ARIEL: *touches his tail and strokes it gently, feeling his scales* It's a beautiful tail... Fins and all

ERIK: *starts laughing* *eyes show shock though*

ARIEL: Is that ticklish? *smirks*

ERIK: *shakes his head* no, it does feel nice though. I'm laughing because you're the first person to say any part of me is beautiful. I find it terribly ironic.

ARIEL: *smiles and strokes it one last time before stopping* I think it's a great tail.

ERIK: thank you. *swishes it around* yours is quite beautiful as well.

ARIEL: It's just a plain green, nothing special

ERIK: that is a lie! It's very special! The color is quite unique.

ARIEL: *confused* it's green...

ERIK: there isn't just one color of green. You know that! Yours is a pretty shade of green that the sea takes only during a storm at a certain part of summer when the algae is the most plentiful. That is a rare color indeed.

ARIEL: *blushes and swishes her tail out for her to see* It does seem to be that color

ERIK: it is exactly that shade. The sea is only like that once or twice a year, depending on the storm frequency of that year.

ARIEL: *swishes her tail happily next to him* I think you're right. *smiles at him, her tail hovering in front of them*

ERIK: *smiles and lets his float beside hers* how odd...both our tails are the color of the sea during a storm. *chuckles slightly to himself*

ARIEL: *laughs a bit* Erik?

ERIK: Yes?

ARIEL: I thought you'd be evil and heartless but... You're alright... *smiles genuinely at him, and softly lays her tail on top of his*

ERIK: *smiles genuinely back at her and gently intertwines their tails at the end* Don't always believe what you hear, my sea angel.

ARIEL: *blushes and looks away as he calls her that*

ERIK: you have a very fetching blush. *remarks kindly*

ARIEL: You have a very flattering language... You seem to speak it to me whenever you talk

ERIK: I'm not flattering. I mean every word I say. *says honestly*

ARIEL: *looks back at him* So... About tonight... What are the plans?

ERIK: sleeping. Unless you had other plans? *looks at her inquisitively*

ARIEL: No! No, of course not! I was just wondering if we were going to have dinner or a dance or something of that nature.

ERIK: *laughs* I thought not. If you want.

ARIEL: Could we? I didn't really smile through the ceremony. *reaches to take off her veil*

ERIK: *halts her movements and takes it off for her* yes, we can. What would you like to do? Name it and we can do it.

ARIEL: I... I'd like to have a banquet and I want my sisters to be here for it

ERIK: well, since we're married they can't do much about taking you away. I guess that can be arranged. Shall we go to them now?

ARIEL: *nods* Just please... Don't hurt them

ERIK: as long as they don't try to take you away, they are perfectly safe.

ARIEL: I cannot guarantee that they won't try

ERIK: they won't if you tell them not too.

ARIEL: You don't know my sisters... *sighs* anyway, let's head off

ERIK: I can always put them to sleep again... *reaches out for her hand* lets go.

ARIEL: *doesn't take it and swims by herself*

ERIK: *swims beside her*

*they both arrive at the cavern*

ERIK: *swims in* Where are your sisters?

ARISTA: *the smallest, swims out and hugs her* Ariel!!

ARIEL: *smiles* Hey Arista.

ERIK: *smiles at the sister*

ARISTA: *looks at Erik and grins* Hi, Mister! I like your tail!

ERIK: *smiles* Thank you. Your sister was just admiring it earlier.

ARISTA: I'm Arista. I'm only five but... I'm the smartest one of my other sisters! *smiles happily*

ERIK: *smiled gently* I'm sure you are. It's a pleasure to meet you, Arista. My name is Erik.

ARISTA: Cool name. My other sisters are hiding in the seaweed.

ARIEL: Thank you, Arista. *picks her up and holds her, smiling wide*

ERIK: *nods* Well, would you go get them and tell them to come peacefully? We have some things to tell them...

ARISTA: We are not coming out!

ALICA; Give us back our sister!

ERIK: *sighs* girls, that will be very hard to do now! *shouts to them*

*they gasp*

All Sisters: WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!?!?

ERIK: I married her. And, that is permanent. You all know that.

*all girls start weeping*

All: You MONSTER!

ERIK: Yes, I've heard that before. It's nothing new. We came to invite you to dinner. My wife *emphasizes the terms* wanted it. She wants it, she gets it.

AQUATA: We aren't coming

ERIK: *turns to Ariel* I'm sorry, my sea angel.

ARIEL: *tears up and sets Arista down* I-It's fine...

ERIK: *lays a hand gently on her shoulder to calm her* *speaks to her sisters* Won't you come for her sake? I promised I wouldn't hurt you as long as you didn't try to take her back.

ALICA: She doesn't belong with you! You forced her into marriage!

ERIK: Perhaps. But, I will tell you this. I love her. I will do everything in my power to make her happy. *turns to look at Ariel* *eyes soften* Won't you come to make your sister happy?

All: Fine...

AQUATA: But only for Ariel!

ERIK: thank you. Now, if you'll come out of hiding, we'll go back to the palace.

*they all swam back to the palace*

ARIEL: *sighs* I wish you didn't have to force me into marriage

ERIK: I wish I didn't either. But, you wouldn't have married me otherwise.

ARIEL: *sits down at the table*

ERIK: *sits down beside her and orders the snakes to fetch dinner*

*sisters tremble at the snakes*

ERIK: *notices the tremble* They won't hurt you without a reason.

*only makes them more scared*

ERIK: *sighs* Nadir, Reza, you are dismissed for the evening. I will be expecting both you to report to the throne room in the morning. *waves a hand for them to leave*

ARIEL: *smiles* Seaweed salad with coral encrusted salmon! My favorite!

*they leave after playing dinner and go to his room to rest*

ERIK: *nods* I trust it will be good. *begins eating his* *gestures for the sisters to eat theirs*

*they shakily start to eat*

ARIEL: *eats happily*

ARISTA: *chows down*

ERIK: *smirks* I didn't poison it. You don't have to worry. *says to her other sisters*

*they eat*

ARIEL: *eats only half*

ERIK: is it alright? *asks Ariel*

ARIEL: It's fine. It's just filling

ERIK: alright. Do you have room for dessert?

ARIEL: I'm sure I do. *smiles*

ERIK: well then... *waves a hand and by magic a plate of delicious dessert appears in front of everyone*

ARIEL: *grins* *takes a few bites*

*they all pick at it*

ERIK: how is it?

ARIEL: Delicious!

*sisters mumble*

ERIK: *looks at the sisters*

*they all sigh and stand from the table*

ERIK: *rises as well* Now, what wasn't such a trial, was it?

ARISTA: *swims to Ariel*

ATINA: I want to speak with Ariel

ERIK: if you wish. *swims a little ways back from her*

ATINA: *takes Ariel aside and chats with her*

ERIK: *watches*

*the girls then leave*

ARIEL: *is stiff*