Ariel and Erik

Chapter 4; The Castle

Ariel entered the grand castle. Her eyes were amazed. She has never seen something so big, not even her own house. She twirled around trying to soak up all the details. Eric guided her to the bathroom to wash up. "You can take a bath here. Carlotta will help you." Eric left Ariel in the hands of his attendance.

"My name is Carlotta. My dear, what is yours?"

"Ariel." Ariel told the woman.

"Ariel. That's a very beautiful name!"

"Thank you."

Ariel stepped into the bath. She relaxed because it felt like home; being surrounded by water. Ariel put her hands on the bubbles. Her hands sank through the bubbles. She balanced the bubbled on her fingers, and she raised them and they floated across the room. Ariel giggled at the sight. Carlotta sat down beside Ariel. "It's like you've never had a bath."

"You have no idea." Ariel said. Carlotta held a pink dress to shwo Ariel. Carlotta handed Ariel the dress and Ariel put it on. Ariel saw a fork in the corner in her eyes. She grabbed it from the table and she brushed her hair. Carlotta gave her a grin.

Ariel met Eric in the dining room.

"Ariel." He said.

"Hi!" Ariel said in her cheerful voice. Ariel walked towards him. Eric pulled a chair far enough, where she could slip through. After she sat down, Eric pushed the chair towards the table. Ariel was surprisingly light. Carlotta came out with trays ad served it to the prince and Ariel. Pasta lay on Ariel's plate. She grabbed the knife and tried to eat it with it. Eric helped Ariel. He grabbed her hand and the fork and guided the pasta in her mouth.

"Thank you." She blush from embarrassment.

"Ariel. Where are you from?" Eric asked in curiosity.

"Atlantica." She replied.

"And where is that?"

"Far beyond the land, below the sea."

"The sea?" Eric giggled.

"You don't believe me?" Ariel slouched.

"I'm sorry Miss. But I don't. You're human. The only thing I can think of it that you must be-." Ariel smiled with glee. He'll know she's a mermaid! "You must be a fish." Ariel frowned.

"No! I'm a mermaid."

"But you have legs." He reminded her. Eric's councilor joined them moments later and heard of of this.

"Yes! There was a sea witch that transformed me into a human. That night when you were hit, I rescued you from drowning!"

"Let me guess, you're a princess!" The councilor asked in sarcasm.

"Yes! I am! My father was King Triton and I had 6 sisters. The oldest is Attina, I'm the young-."

"Miss. Ariel, you mist be joking." The councilor said. Eric sat listening, interested.

"No, I'm quite serious."

"Ariel, would you like to go for a walk?"

"Of course!"

"So, you're from the sea?" Eric asked.

"Yeah."

"Well, that would explain how you saved me."

"So you believe me?" Ariel asked.

"Yes. Very strongly." Eric put his hand on his neck. "My councilor is very strict, and.... Um..... I guess what i'm trying to say is..... That you shouldn't say things like that in front of him."

"Whatever for?"

"Well, he is a little on the weird side."

"Eric, I'll be fine!" Ariel told Eric. "Eric, it's late, and I'm a little tired from my journey. I'll be going to bed now." Eric kissed Ariel's hand and wished her happy dreams. She ran back to her room. She looked out the window, dreaming what was happening at home.

She heard a knock on the door. Ariel ran to the door and opened it.

"Hello." A voice said. "May I come in?" Ariel nodded her head. It was a man, someone familiar, actually, it was Eric's councilor.

"Ariel tell me more about your kingdom underwater." He sat down on her bead beside her.

"Well, my mother was killed by human's Her name was Athena, she looked a lot like me. I have 6 sisters; Attina, Alana, Adella, Aquata, Arista, and Andrina.

"You're the youngest?"

"Yes."

The man spoke into his shirt. "It's ok guys. She won't put up a fight. Come on in!" A bunch of people burst into the room. They grabbed Ariel's arms and pulled her away. She squirmed away, trying to break free. But their grip was too strong. Her arm was red, from all the pressure.

They shoved her in the back of a truck. It was similar to a hospital truck, but a little different.

Ariel slammed on the door. "Where are you taking me?!" She demanded.

"To an aslam asylum." He said. Ariel stopped hitting the truck, and pressed her back against the wall. Her back slid to the ground, and she started to cry. She had read about asylums. They thought she was crazy. The truck started to move, and rode off into the darkness.