Post by Coral on Apr 28, 2009 17:54:42 GMT -5
After reading that horrendous OOC piece that Jodi found, I have to provide everyone some brain bleach! So I present Until We Meet Again. I've decided not to completely rework it, since it's nearly done anyway. The formatting is not the usual chapters. I just felt like doing it a little differently.
Part I- Longing
“Why do fathers have to take so long to make up their minds?”
The young girl who’d spoken shivered slightly, and the young man next to her wrapped his cloak around her and rested his cheek on her silky red hair. “He just wants to make sure he isn’t making a mistake. You are his youngest.”
The girl sighed and looked down. The couple was sitting on the edge of the dock, watching a storm come in. High tide was rolling in, and the water was lapping at her companion’s toes. “I should think about getting home.”
“Not yet, Ariel. I’m leaving in the morning and won’t get to see you for a few days.”
Ariel reached up and brushed a strand of his jet black hair away from his eyes, then kissed him. “Alright.” She snuggled closer.
The couple sat there, gazing at the storm clouds for several minutes, until they were interrupted by a loud splash. Ariel sighed. “Just a minute, Urchin!” She then turned her gaze upward. “How long will you be gone?”
Eric started to say he’d be back by Saturday, but then caught himself. They used different names for the days of the week, and they hadn’t yet broached that subject. “At least five days. Some sort of trade treaty.”
“Boring?”
“Very.” Eric looked at Ariel, one eyebrow raised. “I’ll be heading west if you get the urge to go exploring or something.
Ariel smiled, and as Eric leaned down to kiss her one more time, there was another splash. This one got them both wet. “I better go before he gets you soaked. I’ll come see you off.”
Eric nodded and stole one last kiss before Ariel dove into the water to chase Urchin down for splashing them. He stood there for several minutes, trying to imagine Ariel swimming home. He finally gave up and turned to go inside. No matter how many times she described it to him, he just couldn’t wrap his mind around the fact that there were entire cities and kingdoms on the ocean floor, with thousands of merpeople flitting about carrying on their business and raising families.
He really and truly was trying not to be angry with King Triton. It was a big decision for the man to make. But as each day passed, it was getting harder and harder to hide his growing anger and frustration. He felt as if his entire life was on hold. Eric’s future happiness hinged on the decision of a king who couldn’t quite grasp that a mermaid and a human could be in love.
“Eric! There you are. I was just about convinced that you’d swam off with her.”
Eric saw his housekeeper, Carlotta, hurrying towards him. “I thought about it. Can’t hold my breath that long.”
“You have just enough time to get changed.”
He looked over his shoulder at her as she pushed him towards the stairs. “Changed for what?”
“Besides the fact that you are soaking wet, there is a state dinner starting in 15 minutes.”
“I completely forgot!” Eric then ran up the stairs and straight to his room. This dinner was incredibly important to his kingdom’s economy. He smiled in relief when he entered the room and found his clothes already laid out on the bed. Quickly, he changed into them, knowing Carlotta would appear at any moment with his dress boots.
Just as he did up the last button on his shirt, she appeared with his boots. He smiled gratefully, then sat down to pull them on.
“Would I be correct in assuming that King Triton still has not made a decision?” Carlotta asked gently. In the three short days Ariel had been with them, she had watched the young prince fall head over heels in love with her, even though he hadn’t realized it until it was almost too late.
Eric’s shoulders drooped slightly and he nodded. “I can’t help wondering if he’s doing it on purpose.”
Carlotta patted his shoulder. “I’m sure he isn’t. It’s a big decision.”
“That’s what I keep telling myself.” He stood and pulled on his jacket. “Am I presentable?”
“If you’ll run a comb through your hair.”
Eric did just that, then forced himself to leave the room and go downstairs. He was imagining that Ariel was at his side.
At that same moment, Ariel was knocking on the door of her father’s study. “Daddy?”
“Come in, Ariel.”
The girl took a deep breath, then swam into the room. Triton was leaving the next morning for Pacifica, and that was the exact area Eric was going to. She couldn’t bear the thought of not seeing him for five whole days. “I was wondering if you’d like some company on your trip.”
Triton looked up from his desk. “I’d love some company. But won’t you miss seeing him?”
Ariel sighed softly and shook her head. Triton had yet to refer to Eric by his name. He was always “him” or “the human”. “Eric has to leave for a few days.” She emphasized Eric and stared at her father.
Triton flinched inwardly, getting the not-so-subtle hint from his daughter. He was still hoping that one of his daughters would marry Prince Waverly of Pacifica. The only problem was that he only had eyes for Ariel and she clearly did not return his feelings. And never would. “Is Eric going in the same direction?”
Ariel smiled. He said Eric’s name! “Yes, Daddy, he is.”
“I knew I wasn’t the real reason,” Triton said with a smile. Then he turned serious. “I know that you are both angry with me for taking so long to make this decision.”
Ariel nodded. Eric had been careful to not say anything, but she could see the frustration in his eyes. “Eric’s entire life is on hold, Daddy. Under their laws he cannot be crowned king until he is married. He’s tired of having to fight everyone to do what he knows is best for his people.”
Triton held his hand up. “That is precisely why I am taking my time, Ariel. I have to be convinced that he wants to marry you for love, and not to make things easier for him.”
Ariel swam closer to her father and took his hand. “Daddy, if you would just talk to him, you’d see that it’s for love. Remember that Eric risked his life to save us from Ursula.”
“I haven’t forgotten. When we get back from Pacifica, please arrange a meeting with him.”
Ariel threw her arms around Triton’s neck and hugged him tightly. “Thank you, Daddy!”
The next morning, Ariel rose early, eager to tell Eric the good news. She had gone to the surface the night before to tell him, but when she’d seen the ballroom lit up, she remembered the state dinner and knew it would be well after midnight before he got to bed.
She swam to the cove and let the tide carry her up on the beach. This was the same beach she’d brought him to the night she saved him from drowning, and the same beach where’d he collapsed after killing Ursula. It was also the beach where he had cried when her father refused to let her go to him.
But those thoughts were banished from her mind as she caught sight of Eric coming down the path towards her. When he saw her, he broke into a run, then dropped to his knees in the sand next to her and pulled her into a passionate kiss.
When the two broke apart, Ariel let Eric pull her into his lap and snuggle his face in her hair. “Long night?”
“The longest! Stefan has a daughter my age, and she would not leave me alone. I almost crawled under the table to hide from her!”
Ariel couldn’t hold it back and a giggle escaped her.
“What’s so funny?”
“Just imaging my hero hiding under a table.” She looked up at him and he rolled his eyes at her, then kissed her nose. “I do have some good news though.”
“Your father’s going to appear at any moment and let you come with me?” Eric searched her face expectantly.
“Not that good.”
The cloud of sadness came back into his blue eyes and he frowned.
“Daddy wants to talk to you when you get back.”
“Really?”
Ariel nodded. “Really. But that’s not all. Daddy has to go to Pacifica, and I’m going with him.”
Eric’s eyes lit up. “And that’s where I’m going!” He traced his thumb over Ariel’s cheek. “That is good. When will you get there?”
“Sometime late this evening.”
Eric opened his mouth to reply, but was interrupted by Grimsby calling. “Eric, it is time to leave!”
The couple turned to look at him and Eric raised one hand to acknowledge that he’d heard. “Guess I better go. If I get there tonight, I’ll come down to the beach. If not, I’ll see you tomorrow night.”
Ariel nodded. “You better get there tonight!” She smiled, then threw her arms around Eric’s neck as he stood up. “What are you doing?”
Eric nodded his head towards the open sea. “Tide’s going out.” He walked to the edge of the water, then they kissed one last time. “I love you,” he whispered.
Ariel whispered the words back, then dove beneath the waves. Instead of watching her swim off as he usually would, Eric turned and walked back up the path to where Grimsby was waiting for him. Grimsby could tell by the look on Eric’s face that the sea king still had not made his decision. He squeezed the prince’s shoulder, then hurried him towards the waiting ship.
Ariel waited just out of sight of the dock for the ship to set sail. The king onboard, Stefan, had no idea of Eric’s connection to the undersea kingdoms. Oh how she wished she could go with him! “Maybe next time,” she said softly to herself.
“Maybe next time what?”
Ariel looked down to see Flounder. The little blue and yellow fish had been her closest friend for years, and had been the one to get the statue of Eric for her after his ship had exploded the night of his birthday celebration. “Maybe next time I can go with him.” She turned her attention back to the water just as the ship went by. Eric was standing on the deck and he waved to her as they went past. Ariel blew him a kiss, then slipped beneath the waves as the ship disappeared from view.
“I don’t understand why Daddy is taking so long to make up his mind!”
Flounder darted around a school of minnows. “It hasn’t been that long, Ariel.”
Ariel sighed and tugged on a piece of seaweed as they passed over a bed. “I know.” She twisted it around her fingers, then began tying it in a love knot. Eric had shown her how to do it a few days ago. “I know Daddy wants to make sure I won’t get hurt, but I think Eric’s already proven he’ll do whatever he has to do to protect me.”
“Yeah.” Flounder agreed, remembering that night two months ago. Eric had proven his love for Ariel that night when he’d taken on Ursula, knowing she could kill him in an instant. “He’ll see, Ariel. He does want you to be happy.”
Ariel smiled and hugged her friend. “Thanks, Flounder.” Then they parted ways and Ariel swam back to the palace.
When she entered the courtyard, the conch was being loaded. The princess waved to the guards, then entered the palace. All of the windows were open and the diffused sunlight from the surface was glinting off the walls. Ariel swam to the main salon to tell her sisters good-bye.
“I can’t believe you’re voluntarily going to Pacifica, Ariel,” Attina said as they hugged. “You’re just going to break Prince Waverly’s heart again.”
Ariel smiled and laughed. “Maybe.”
“Eric’s there, isn’t he?” Aquata asked gently.
Ariel nodded and accepted her sister’s hug.
“Daddy will come around, Ariel. You’ll see.” Aquata smiled.
“I just wish he would do it soon!”
Arista spoke up then. “Maybe you can talk him into it on the way there.”
Ariel accepted Arista’s hug. “I’ll certainly try!”
Triton entered the room then with some last minute instructions for Aquata. She took her position as future ruler very seriously, and because of that Triton was completely at ease with leaving Aquata in charge of the kingdom. Once he’d finished, he bid his daughters farewell, and he and Ariel settled themselves into the conch for the trip.
Part I- Longing
“Why do fathers have to take so long to make up their minds?”
The young girl who’d spoken shivered slightly, and the young man next to her wrapped his cloak around her and rested his cheek on her silky red hair. “He just wants to make sure he isn’t making a mistake. You are his youngest.”
The girl sighed and looked down. The couple was sitting on the edge of the dock, watching a storm come in. High tide was rolling in, and the water was lapping at her companion’s toes. “I should think about getting home.”
“Not yet, Ariel. I’m leaving in the morning and won’t get to see you for a few days.”
Ariel reached up and brushed a strand of his jet black hair away from his eyes, then kissed him. “Alright.” She snuggled closer.
The couple sat there, gazing at the storm clouds for several minutes, until they were interrupted by a loud splash. Ariel sighed. “Just a minute, Urchin!” She then turned her gaze upward. “How long will you be gone?”
Eric started to say he’d be back by Saturday, but then caught himself. They used different names for the days of the week, and they hadn’t yet broached that subject. “At least five days. Some sort of trade treaty.”
“Boring?”
“Very.” Eric looked at Ariel, one eyebrow raised. “I’ll be heading west if you get the urge to go exploring or something.
Ariel smiled, and as Eric leaned down to kiss her one more time, there was another splash. This one got them both wet. “I better go before he gets you soaked. I’ll come see you off.”
Eric nodded and stole one last kiss before Ariel dove into the water to chase Urchin down for splashing them. He stood there for several minutes, trying to imagine Ariel swimming home. He finally gave up and turned to go inside. No matter how many times she described it to him, he just couldn’t wrap his mind around the fact that there were entire cities and kingdoms on the ocean floor, with thousands of merpeople flitting about carrying on their business and raising families.
He really and truly was trying not to be angry with King Triton. It was a big decision for the man to make. But as each day passed, it was getting harder and harder to hide his growing anger and frustration. He felt as if his entire life was on hold. Eric’s future happiness hinged on the decision of a king who couldn’t quite grasp that a mermaid and a human could be in love.
“Eric! There you are. I was just about convinced that you’d swam off with her.”
Eric saw his housekeeper, Carlotta, hurrying towards him. “I thought about it. Can’t hold my breath that long.”
“You have just enough time to get changed.”
He looked over his shoulder at her as she pushed him towards the stairs. “Changed for what?”
“Besides the fact that you are soaking wet, there is a state dinner starting in 15 minutes.”
“I completely forgot!” Eric then ran up the stairs and straight to his room. This dinner was incredibly important to his kingdom’s economy. He smiled in relief when he entered the room and found his clothes already laid out on the bed. Quickly, he changed into them, knowing Carlotta would appear at any moment with his dress boots.
Just as he did up the last button on his shirt, she appeared with his boots. He smiled gratefully, then sat down to pull them on.
“Would I be correct in assuming that King Triton still has not made a decision?” Carlotta asked gently. In the three short days Ariel had been with them, she had watched the young prince fall head over heels in love with her, even though he hadn’t realized it until it was almost too late.
Eric’s shoulders drooped slightly and he nodded. “I can’t help wondering if he’s doing it on purpose.”
Carlotta patted his shoulder. “I’m sure he isn’t. It’s a big decision.”
“That’s what I keep telling myself.” He stood and pulled on his jacket. “Am I presentable?”
“If you’ll run a comb through your hair.”
Eric did just that, then forced himself to leave the room and go downstairs. He was imagining that Ariel was at his side.
At that same moment, Ariel was knocking on the door of her father’s study. “Daddy?”
“Come in, Ariel.”
The girl took a deep breath, then swam into the room. Triton was leaving the next morning for Pacifica, and that was the exact area Eric was going to. She couldn’t bear the thought of not seeing him for five whole days. “I was wondering if you’d like some company on your trip.”
Triton looked up from his desk. “I’d love some company. But won’t you miss seeing him?”
Ariel sighed softly and shook her head. Triton had yet to refer to Eric by his name. He was always “him” or “the human”. “Eric has to leave for a few days.” She emphasized Eric and stared at her father.
Triton flinched inwardly, getting the not-so-subtle hint from his daughter. He was still hoping that one of his daughters would marry Prince Waverly of Pacifica. The only problem was that he only had eyes for Ariel and she clearly did not return his feelings. And never would. “Is Eric going in the same direction?”
Ariel smiled. He said Eric’s name! “Yes, Daddy, he is.”
“I knew I wasn’t the real reason,” Triton said with a smile. Then he turned serious. “I know that you are both angry with me for taking so long to make this decision.”
Ariel nodded. Eric had been careful to not say anything, but she could see the frustration in his eyes. “Eric’s entire life is on hold, Daddy. Under their laws he cannot be crowned king until he is married. He’s tired of having to fight everyone to do what he knows is best for his people.”
Triton held his hand up. “That is precisely why I am taking my time, Ariel. I have to be convinced that he wants to marry you for love, and not to make things easier for him.”
Ariel swam closer to her father and took his hand. “Daddy, if you would just talk to him, you’d see that it’s for love. Remember that Eric risked his life to save us from Ursula.”
“I haven’t forgotten. When we get back from Pacifica, please arrange a meeting with him.”
Ariel threw her arms around Triton’s neck and hugged him tightly. “Thank you, Daddy!”
The next morning, Ariel rose early, eager to tell Eric the good news. She had gone to the surface the night before to tell him, but when she’d seen the ballroom lit up, she remembered the state dinner and knew it would be well after midnight before he got to bed.
She swam to the cove and let the tide carry her up on the beach. This was the same beach she’d brought him to the night she saved him from drowning, and the same beach where’d he collapsed after killing Ursula. It was also the beach where he had cried when her father refused to let her go to him.
But those thoughts were banished from her mind as she caught sight of Eric coming down the path towards her. When he saw her, he broke into a run, then dropped to his knees in the sand next to her and pulled her into a passionate kiss.
When the two broke apart, Ariel let Eric pull her into his lap and snuggle his face in her hair. “Long night?”
“The longest! Stefan has a daughter my age, and she would not leave me alone. I almost crawled under the table to hide from her!”
Ariel couldn’t hold it back and a giggle escaped her.
“What’s so funny?”
“Just imaging my hero hiding under a table.” She looked up at him and he rolled his eyes at her, then kissed her nose. “I do have some good news though.”
“Your father’s going to appear at any moment and let you come with me?” Eric searched her face expectantly.
“Not that good.”
The cloud of sadness came back into his blue eyes and he frowned.
“Daddy wants to talk to you when you get back.”
“Really?”
Ariel nodded. “Really. But that’s not all. Daddy has to go to Pacifica, and I’m going with him.”
Eric’s eyes lit up. “And that’s where I’m going!” He traced his thumb over Ariel’s cheek. “That is good. When will you get there?”
“Sometime late this evening.”
Eric opened his mouth to reply, but was interrupted by Grimsby calling. “Eric, it is time to leave!”
The couple turned to look at him and Eric raised one hand to acknowledge that he’d heard. “Guess I better go. If I get there tonight, I’ll come down to the beach. If not, I’ll see you tomorrow night.”
Ariel nodded. “You better get there tonight!” She smiled, then threw her arms around Eric’s neck as he stood up. “What are you doing?”
Eric nodded his head towards the open sea. “Tide’s going out.” He walked to the edge of the water, then they kissed one last time. “I love you,” he whispered.
Ariel whispered the words back, then dove beneath the waves. Instead of watching her swim off as he usually would, Eric turned and walked back up the path to where Grimsby was waiting for him. Grimsby could tell by the look on Eric’s face that the sea king still had not made his decision. He squeezed the prince’s shoulder, then hurried him towards the waiting ship.
Ariel waited just out of sight of the dock for the ship to set sail. The king onboard, Stefan, had no idea of Eric’s connection to the undersea kingdoms. Oh how she wished she could go with him! “Maybe next time,” she said softly to herself.
“Maybe next time what?”
Ariel looked down to see Flounder. The little blue and yellow fish had been her closest friend for years, and had been the one to get the statue of Eric for her after his ship had exploded the night of his birthday celebration. “Maybe next time I can go with him.” She turned her attention back to the water just as the ship went by. Eric was standing on the deck and he waved to her as they went past. Ariel blew him a kiss, then slipped beneath the waves as the ship disappeared from view.
“I don’t understand why Daddy is taking so long to make up his mind!”
Flounder darted around a school of minnows. “It hasn’t been that long, Ariel.”
Ariel sighed and tugged on a piece of seaweed as they passed over a bed. “I know.” She twisted it around her fingers, then began tying it in a love knot. Eric had shown her how to do it a few days ago. “I know Daddy wants to make sure I won’t get hurt, but I think Eric’s already proven he’ll do whatever he has to do to protect me.”
“Yeah.” Flounder agreed, remembering that night two months ago. Eric had proven his love for Ariel that night when he’d taken on Ursula, knowing she could kill him in an instant. “He’ll see, Ariel. He does want you to be happy.”
Ariel smiled and hugged her friend. “Thanks, Flounder.” Then they parted ways and Ariel swam back to the palace.
When she entered the courtyard, the conch was being loaded. The princess waved to the guards, then entered the palace. All of the windows were open and the diffused sunlight from the surface was glinting off the walls. Ariel swam to the main salon to tell her sisters good-bye.
“I can’t believe you’re voluntarily going to Pacifica, Ariel,” Attina said as they hugged. “You’re just going to break Prince Waverly’s heart again.”
Ariel smiled and laughed. “Maybe.”
“Eric’s there, isn’t he?” Aquata asked gently.
Ariel nodded and accepted her sister’s hug.
“Daddy will come around, Ariel. You’ll see.” Aquata smiled.
“I just wish he would do it soon!”
Arista spoke up then. “Maybe you can talk him into it on the way there.”
Ariel accepted Arista’s hug. “I’ll certainly try!”
Triton entered the room then with some last minute instructions for Aquata. She took her position as future ruler very seriously, and because of that Triton was completely at ease with leaving Aquata in charge of the kingdom. Once he’d finished, he bid his daughters farewell, and he and Ariel settled themselves into the conch for the trip.
