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Ariel dropped her hand into the water, ripples trailing behind and catching the light of the rising sun as Eric rowed them towards shore. "Have you been here before?" she asked, looking up from the familiar, waterborn glimmers to the sight of the island they were approaching. "We're still within charted waters, right?" She blushed a little as she turned to face Eric directly, the muscles of his arms and shoulders swelling with each effortless motion.
"For another day or so, yes, but this island is new to me. Unsettled, by all reports," Eric explained, with a shy smile. Ariel smiled back, just as shyly. The initial rush of emotion between them had settled, and was swiftly turning into something new, something stronger, but she was still finding herself nervous as she learned to navigate their new normal. She thought Eric might feel the same way; being able to talk to Eric was still novel enough, and there'd been no few times already where she'd surprised him with a thought, a preference, that was at odds with what he'd imagined for her in the first days of their acquaintance. And yet she marveled at him, for where a lesser man might be frustrated, even angered, at how she failed to meet his unspoken expectations, each of those moments was treated as a gift: a chance to discover one more thing about the woman he had asked to be his bride.
It had happened so quickly, Ariel mused; within two weeks of her return to land, they had stood with the queen before the people of their island and proclaimed their love for each other. A mere week after that, they had left the island for the first leg of their journey. And so, here they were: traveling together by ship, two weeks out from the island they called home, on a journey to discover what new things in the world they could bring back to help their small nation prosper. "Unsettled? So we're looking for, what, interesting plants? Strange animals? What are we bringing back from here?"
Eric ducked his head, his face a little flushed and from more, Ariel thought, than just the exertion of rowing. "Actually, I, uh. Thought we might have a picnic?" He shifted slightly, leaning just far enough to the side for Ariel to see the basket he'd tucked into the boat. "There's no real way to know when we'll find land next, so I thought... I'm sorry, it was a silly idea. We're out here for a purpose, and here I am-"
"I love it," Ariel rushed to assure him. "And you're right. It'll be nice to get back on land for a little bit, and a picnic with you sounds delightful." She paused for a moment before adding, "Although it might sound more delightful if I knew what a picnic is," startling a laugh out of Eric.
"Fair enough!" Eric said, still chortling. "It's a casual meal, often eaten in, say, a field or on the beach or in a park. We'll spread out a blanket, eat sandwiches and drink cider, and enjoy this beautiful day." He gave a few more strokes of the oars before setting them and letting their momentum carry them the last few meters to shore. "If that's acceptable, of course."
Ariel nodded vigourously. "Absolutely acceptable!" She got to her feet as Eric did, stepping into the shallow water and dragging the boat to ground. "Although I wouldn't object to a little exploration. The crew might appreciate some fresh fruit, if we can find some?"
Nodding, Eric leaned down to grab the basket before striding across the sand. "Then fresh fruit there shall be!" He looked back over his shoulder, his smile bright and eyes dancing. "Come, let's find a good place to lay this out and break our fast."
It didn't take long to find a suitable spot, a flat patch of grassy land just at the edge of the beach, lightly shaded by some tall trees, and Eric made swift work of spreading out the blanket and laying out the food he'd packed. There were no proper sandwiches, as the last of the fresh bread had been eaten within days of their departure, but Eric had butter and berry preserves to spread on hardtack, and salt and pepper for the freshly boiled eggs. By the time they'd eaten their fill, the sun had fully risen, brilliant in the sky, and Ariel let its warmth bake into her skin. "So, two more days and we're in uncharted waters. Do you have a plan from there?"
"Actually, I wondered if you might," Eric explained. "Our maps don't go that far yet, but, well... We're not the only people out here. Do the merfolk have anything to say about the waters out here?"
"Oh, I never even considered-" Ariel frowned, tracing their path so far on the map she'd been keeping in her head. "I think we're coming close to the Fracus sea? That's Tamika's territory, although I think she spends most of her time closer to the centre of it... I can't think of anything she's said about islands in this area. I could-- I mean, maybe I could ask? Not Tamika, she wouldn't be anywhere nearby, but if there are any merfolk in the area, they might speak to me."
Eric perked up. "Could you? I didn't even consider that. Do you have a way to reach out?"
"Maybe?" Ariel frowned, looking out over the water. "I could try singing. Most of our people know our voices. But I don't know if it'll still work, not now that I'm human... I know that Ursula taking my voice was part of her plan and so my father would never, not on purpose, but a mermaid's siren voice is, well, a mermaid's, and I'm not one, not anymore. Not exactly."
"Well, there's only one way to find out." Eric slung his arm around Ariel's shoulders, pulling her close. "And if it doesn't work, well, then we'll know, and we can try something else. Something tells me it'll be fine, though. Your father gave you his blessing, and he wants you to return for the Coral Moon, right? I think he'd have warned you if... Well, if you had to give up that part of you for this."
Ariel snuggled into his embrace. "I would have, you know. If he'd asked first. Not for-- Okay, please, don't take this the wrong way, but it wouldn't have been for you. I don't want to put that kind of pressure on you. But you're part of it? Being on land, being part of the World Above, all of it, and you're a part of it, but I would have chosen this even if you'd said no, in the end. I'm where I belong, and giving up those parts of me are worth it if I need to do so."
Pressing a quick kiss to Ariel's temple, Eric smiled. "I get it, I think. You're meant for the land, as much as part of you will always belong to the sea. Right? Although I am glad to be at least part of your reason for liking my world. Our world, really. This is yours now, too."
"I guess it is." Ariel twisted a little, leaning up to brush her lips against Eric's cheek. "And I wouldn't have it any other way."