I stared at him by the threshold leading from our bedroom to the balcony. His short, dark hair lifting a little in the cool breeze as he gazed pensively at the courtyard and the land reaching far beyond. I didn’t want to join him there and break his thoughts.

 “I can feel you staring.”

 I grinned, stepping forward. My long, rosy garb slid along the floor. He had donned me in the finest silk, yet I hadn’t ever known what the poorest felt like.

 Eric held out his hand for me to take. I laid my head on his handsome shoulder and gazed with him. “It never gets old, does it?”

 “No,” he said. “I wouldn’t wish for another view. Well, except...” He turned me into him, his hands on my waist. Eric's eyes beheld mine. “That’s better.” His finger slipped under my chin, causing me to blush. “That’s the view I'll never tire of.”

 My eyelids lowered as I waited for him to deliver on the kiss he promised with his eyes.

 “Ariel.” His tone was sharp.

 I looked at him, bemused. “Eric?”

 “Why did you lie to me?”

 I stepped backwards, out of his touch. “Eric... I didn't mean to hide who I am. I just wanted you to love me—”

 Eric shook his head as all the light in his blue eyes fled. “I’m not talking about that.”

 “Then what? That's the only lie I've told.”

 “You told me you loved me.”

 My eyebrows folded together, “I do.”

 He turned his gaze way from me to rest it on the land again. “We are more alike than you know, Ariel.”

 “What does that mean?”

 He continued to be lost in his dangerous thoughts, thoughts I wish I could hear to put an end to them. “Read to me, Ariel.” He pointed at the table behind him. A book of poetry sat on it. “Please.”

 I glanced back and forth between him and the table, then gathered my skirt and walked over to it. I sat down and opened the book.

 “The 48th verse. Then read on.”

 I flipped through to where he instructed, then started reading:

 In this heart lies a fire.

In yours lies the same.

What shall become of us if we

Would meet flame with flame?

Selfish is the heart's desire.

Little did we try

To see beyond the gain of love,

That love would never die.

I slapped down the book, immediately. “I will not read this! This is not us.” I stood up and approached my husband while his back faced me. “What we have is real love.”

 “I’m sure you believe that.”

 “Eric!” I held my hand to my chest. “Say another word and it will kill me.”

 “Have you forgotten, Ariel,” he finally faced me, “that I've already killed you?” His words shot through my heart. “I was terrible to you.”

 I embraced him at the waist as I buried my face in his chest. “You aren't terrible. You just made a mistake. And so did I.” My eyes dripped.

 “Perhaps the mistake was getting—”

 “No.” I lifted my gaze to his and held the side of his face in my hand. “What has become of my brave prince? Please, Eric. Give me some kind of hope.”

 He grinned somberly as his head dipped lower. “Can you kiss a dream?”

 “Let me find out.” I closed my eyes again as his lips slowly traveled to mine...

 I attacked the shadow above me, feeling that my hand hit directly between his eyes. A roar ensued out of the officer.

 I opened my eyes, the water was now a true blue with light from above pouring in. I saw the merman who helped me.

 “I suppose I deserved that,” he said, holding his forehead.

 I waited and stared at him. He had taken off his helmet, exposing his blonde hair. He seemed very understatedly handsome in appearance. But it was enough to compliment his courageous demeanor. I was hesitant to thank him for rescuing me, even with my eyes, not sure what his plan was for me.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

 He regarded me with intrigue. “I had to get a closer look at you now that I can see you better. I don't believe it. Former Princess Ariel.” His tone hinted at a slight astonishment, until he said, “How incredibly stupid of you to be here.” He shook his head at me. “How did you even get your tail back? Did...” He moved close to me with interrogation in his eyes. “Did they send you? As a spy?”

 I knew once he said it that there was no point in shaking my head. He believed it.

 “Why don’t you speak?”

 I contemplated the pain I would feel to demonstrate my issue. But alas, I dropped my jaw with a popping sound; a harsh shut, thereafter.

 The officer scratched his chin. “Puzzling Pisces.”

 I rubbed the sides of my cheeks, gently.

 He eyed me with what seemed like concern. “You know I will have to arrest you, right?”

 I frowned and nodded. I had been waiting for this.

 “You will go willingly?”

 Another nod.

 He pulled out two metal bracelets from the chain on his hip. “Just in case.” He slid each on my wrists. A gravitational pull forced my wrists together. He then placed a hand on my shoulder. “Come with me.”

...

 Even though I was swimming through as a criminal, I was still excited to see the kingdom I had long missed.

 Passing through the last stone passageway, I was greeted with a school clouding my view of the common grounds. The glittering fish moved by, and there it was. The community I left long ago.

 We were modest and lived our lives in peace. The echoing sound of a sacred blue whale was always nearby. Common merpeople had no sheltered homes to themselves the whole ocean was a shared home. Some lived underneath rocks, some among coral. Others, very special mermaids, could tolerate the sting of anemone, so there they dwelled.

 But here, the people came together for trade and services. My people were metalworkers, farmers, educators, artisans, and healers.

 However, the metal workers were rarely in the common grounds, for all their work had to be done over the nearest seamount.

 The young minnows we passed on the right were now attending their lessons in the ditch. The teacher held up a pearl for them to observe, no doubt teaching a lesson on the mermadic currency system. Ah, I remember that.

 To the left, there passed a group of mermen carrying a shark who was limp in their arms. Probably taking it to the healer’s hut, made out of a domed assimilation of rocks. This way, know one could miss it.

 I quickly noticed just how many fish were here, this far down. Even humpheads, clownfish, eels... All of these species are usually never down here.

 “Keep moving,” the officer urged with a nudge.

 I had to keep on. Though as I went by, more mermaids caught sight of my familiar bundle of hair swaying around in the water. I turned my gaze away from their shock, and ahead toward the blazing structure reaching high. The palatial work of art I once lived in. It was placed right in the spot that caught the most light from the surface, drenching the silver in a golden glory. Even the sand surrounding it appeared gold. Every room was hidden in the tubes that were connected by twisty bridges that made trails down the body until finally extremities stretched outward as is if in a manner welcoming to the people. Not far from the palace was the opera house, made out of the same glistening material. It was a round open structure held together by pillars around a large ditch.

 As we swam further to the palace gatehouse, I felt so many things. I couldn't tell if I felt ashamed, excited, or scared to be here after all this time. I was home, finally.

 We stopped under the skinny archway, so close to the palace that I shivered anxiously. The guard in the gatehouse took one glance over at me, then afforded the officer a nod. We passed through, a firm hand guiding me from behind though I already knew the way.

...

 We were a good ways into the palace, encased by the seaweed-garnished walls. Colorful plants lined the floor. Where the halls intersected, I could hear the euphonic medley of laughter sounding. I immediately halted to my apprehender's puzzlement. My bones went stiff at the sight of my beautiful sisters chatting on.

 “I am telling you the truth. I saw them togeth—” Aquata was in the middle of saying as Arista tapped her shoulder, peering over at me and the merman behind me.

 My sisters regarded me with blank, incredulous stares. Aquata lingered forward with wide eyes.

 “Well, look who's back,” the unfitting remark was Andrina's which I actually didn't mind because it somehow served to lighten up this otherwise bitter reunion.

 Aquata did not mind the officer as she took hold of me. “Ariel. Is it... really you?” She moved aside, beckoning the others.

 They all made faces. “I don’t believe it,” said Adella.

 “Shouldn’t you be on land with your prince?” Alana added with raised eyebrows. “Why would you ever come back?” There was a detectable quaver with her question, and underlying proof of unresolved pain. Pain that I caused. All I could do in response was frown.

 “I’m afraid she won't be able to answer any of your questions,” the officer spoke for me. “There is some kind of issue with her prohibiting her speech.”

 “What? Why?”

 “I couldn't tell you, but I need you to move out of the way. Now.”

 “If you mean to take her to father, you must know that both he and Sebastian are outside of the kingdom at the moment.”

 This news relieved me immensely. I almost sighed, though I did not want to seem any more guilty than I already was.

 “Well that can only mean the king has left The Princess Attina in charge, I assume.”

 There was a hint of hostility in Aquata's answer, “Yes. He has.”

 “Then may you please... step aside.” He waved a shooing hand at her. His tone was patronizing.

 Aquata slowly positioned herself out of our way, and so did my other sisters. With that, I continued being guided forward and away from my sisters' presences.

 The shivering I felt calmed a bit, though a trace of it still tickled my spine. I wasn’t sure how I could possibly face Attina after all this time. And after the reaction of the others, I doubted Attina would have forgiven me most of all.

 I held my breath as we made it further down grey hall to grey hall. More blue whale sounds echoed in my ears from some place afar. I could never be fully ready, could I?

 “We are here,” I heard the officer say. I then noticed the entrance we stopped at. Inside was a circular space shielded below a decorative skeletal dome. The area was clear and full of unmoved sand. The sturdy pillars, adorned in spirals of seaweed, guarded the center most spot where the crystal throne sat. And hovering beside it, honorably, she was magnificently surveying. In her opulence, her bangles, breastplate, nose ring, and tiara. Every part of her glistened. But something new had been added to her appearance. Right in the top of her auburn head, keeping her hair in it's place... my comb.

 My longing and adoration vanished in seconds. In the same time, her faithful scorn caught sight of mine.