Ariel and the Winter's Ball

Chapter 1 - The King, the Queen, and the Cold

Winter came quickly and quietly throughout the night. The castle felt the chill before the sun rose into a new day, glistening what little snow that falls upon the balcony of the king and queen's living quarters of the palace by the sea. Above, snowflakes drop slowly from the gray clouds that covered the bright star. Morning shows a winter wonderland.

Ariel, now the Queen of the land, nearly slips on her bare feet when she walks out to feel the snowflakes in her pink nightgown.

Her king Eric grips her hand, keeping her steady by her side. He chuckles and kisses her cheek. His breath is visible in the freezing morning, white and puffy. "Careful, starfish," he warns lovingly. "Why not put on your slippers that Carlotta set aside for you?"

"I love the cold!" Ariel cheers, stretching out her arms to hold her hands high above her head. She sticks her tongue out to catch a snowflake, then smiles happily at Eric. "This weather reminds me of when Flounder and I went hunting for treasure up north and met some penguins that my sisters talked about. We swam so far, but we had so much fun in the cold waters!"

Yet, her body shivers as she continues to smile in the snow.

"Your human body may not be used to such temperatures." Eric rubs her shoulders and takes her back inside their room in the castle. "Let's get warm by the fire."

Wearing her black scarf and earmuffs to match, Carlotta pokes with a stick at the massive hearth of the fine bedroom for the royal couple. The lit logs crackle as the wood breaks apart, the flames coming alive to warm the room.

As soon as the lovebirds come in, Carlotta gasps dramatically and puts her hand over her heart.

She rushes over to the queen. "Ariel! You must put on your slippers, or you'll catch a cold!"

As Ariel giggles, Carlotta unwraps her scarf to place on top of Ariel's trembling shoulders.

Eric goes to spread his hands in front of the fireplace. "She loves the cold, Carlotta. Which means there is no stopping her."

"Not if I can help it!" Carlotta sets the fluffy muffs on Ariel's head to protect the queen's ears. "You two are officially the rulers of our kingdom and need to stay as healthy as ever!" She marches to retrieve the slippers off the floor to hand to Ariel. "Wear the slippers, for my sake, my queen."

Eyebrow lifted, Ariel holds the soft shoes, feeling the fluff with her fingertips. "These will keep me healthy?"

"They will keep you warm," answers Carlotta. "Eric, Grimsby is waiting for you in the war room next door. Ariel, you stay here with me. We have an outfit to pick out for you to wear during tonight's festivities."

Grinning from ear to ear, Ariel claps the slippers in her hands excitedly. "Tonight's ball! I have been so excited about the snow that I forgot about the winter ball!"

"Will your sisters and father be able to make it?" Eric asks.

Ariel bobs her head up and down. "Arista and Alana fought over who will have the best outfit as soon as I told them yesterday! I am so excited for them to see the palace!"

Smiling, Eric rubs his warmed-up hands. "Me, too. The ball will be a magnificent night for them and everyone in our kingdom." He walks to give his wife a kiss on her cold lips. "I love you," he said, and gives her another kiss on her forehead.

Ariel's cheeks blush rosy-pink.

Carlotta can't help but gush. "True love," she smiles. "Now, go on with you, Eric!" She ushers the king out the bedroom meet Grimsby next door.

"See you soon, my love," Eric grins over his shoulder before Carlotta shut the tall doors after him.

She then leads Queen Ariel to the closet that reminds the redhead of her shared closet with her sisters under the sea.

"Wow," Ariel gasps at all the dresses on hangers, sparkling and all bright with colors.

"After you pick a dress, we must tour the castle to make sure the decorations are absolutely perfect," says Carlotta. She goes to the rack, her back facing the queen. "Oh - and we received word back from our invitations! Our invited guest cannot be any more excited to participate in our first winter's ball!" Carlotta pulls out a blue dress with purple bows and green jewels. "What about this one, my queen?"

But once she turns around, Ariel is not at the closet's door.

Instead, the queen is out on her balcony, catching snowflakes with her tongue.

Pursing her lips, Carlotta crosses her arms, choosing to stay inside. At least Ariel has the scarf, earmuffs, and her slippers on.