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Prince Ivan’s ship arrived home four weeks later. A storm had delayed their ship by a week. He worried Ariana would have been waiting for him, but he couldn’t meet her until he talked with his father. As soon as the ship docked, Prince Ivan grabbed a horse to go to the castle right away. He hoped that whatever news that awaited him was good.
The prince met his father in the throne room. He bowed quickly before asking his question.
“I came back home immediately, father," Prince Ivan asked. "I hope that all is well?”
“It thankfully is, Ivan. It is no use asking me.... Even I don’t know everything yet. Richard’s letter said he reached a temporary truce with our neighbor.. but...”
“Did the letter say anything else?” Prince Ivan asked.
“Richard said there is important news he will tell us after he returns,” King Stephen said.
What is my brother hiding? What miracle does he have up his sleeve? Prince Ivan wondered.
“That is good to hear. I am relieved about reaching a truce with our neighbor,” He said to his father. "When can we expect Richard to return?"
“He will arrive this evening. I suggest that you rest after your long journey, son,” King Stephen replied. "I am sure we will hear whatever Richard has to tell us soon."
Prince Ivan thought about Ariana, but considered that perhaps he would go find her tomorrow. He wouldn’t have enough time before Richard arrived, and he was most curious to hear from him. Prince Ivan retired to his room to freshen up.
Prince Richard arrived that evening, eager to share his news. He finally had a breakthrough in his diplomatic efforts. He wanted his younger brother to be the first to hear it.
“Ivan, there you are! I have been searching everywhere in the castle for you!” Richard exclaimed when he found Ivan reading a book in the royal library.
“I hope all is well, big brother. Why were you searching for me and what news do you have to share?" Ivan asked. "Based on your excitement, I can surmise that it is good?”
“The very best! We have reached an understanding with our greatest rival,” Richard said happily.
“That is a miracle, dear Richard. How did you pull it off?” Ivan asked, surprised.
“Yes, think of how happy it will make father, and the kingdom too, as the wars will finally end,” Richard beamed.
“You have not shared the news with our father, yet?” Ivan was surprised again. "Am I the first to know?"
“Why not, dear brother? Aren’t we close?" Richard said, smiling. "I wanted to tell you first... I have agreed to marry the king’s daughter. We have already negotiated a peace agreement, and plans will be underway for the wedding soon.”
“You are marrying our rival’s daughter? But you do not know her...” Ivan exclaimed.
“I will know her once the wedding takes place,” Richard said simply.
“You do not intend to marry for love?” Ivan asked.
“I am duty bound to my country. This will be best for both kingdoms, and with our combined powers, no other kingdom would dare attack our borders again,” Richard said.
“But Richard, a lifetime is a long time for a loveless marriage... are you sure about this?” Ivan asked.
“Yes, I am, dear brother. Please do not be concerned. I also have another thing I wanted to ask you about... Do you remember that they gave me a ring, and yourself a locket, to give to whoever we intended to marry?” Richard said. "You always preferred the ring, so I wanted to give it to you."
“That is kind of you, but you don’t have to do it,” Ivan said. He had already given the locket to Ariana.
“Have you changed your mind, Ivan? You were quite upset when father gave you the locket instead of the ring,” Richard asked. "Do you not want it anymore?"
“It is not that.. You see that I have already given it to someone...” Ivan replied.
“You have already given it to someone?” Richard exclaimed, clapping Ivan on the back. "Are you in love, dear brother? That is wonderful news!"
“I wouldn’t say I am completely in love, but she is wonderful,” Ivan said, flustered.
“Ivan, this is a heart you are talking about, and not a plaything. I hope you don’t change your mind, or get bored like you did with your toys,” Richard said concerned. "I implore you to be honorable, Ivan. If you have given her the locket, then marry her."
“I wish you wouldn’t judge me on my childhood, Richard,” Ivan replied crossly. "I am happy for your news, and hope I can soon share with you my own."
“I am sorry, brother. I spoke out of concern,” Richard apologized. "Of course, you have grown.. but to me, you will always remain my baby brother. Forgive me for treating you as such."
“Please don’t make me feel ashamed for being cross at you, Richard. You shall be my big brother always,” Ivan said. "Come, let us go tell father your big news! Let us announce it to the kingdom. There will be a grand wedding... one that generations will remember!"
Richard roared with laughter. It delighted him to hear his brother being so happy for his success.
The entire kingdom was abuzz at the news. Their prince was marrying, and they no longer were at war. It was a time for immense celebration. Throughout the kingdom, the upcoming royal wedding was all that the people could talk about.
Prince Ivan considered what Richard had said to him about marrying.
Ariana’s beauty mesmerized Prince Ivan, but he wasn’t sure if he was in love with her yet. The more time he spent with her, he realized how different Ariana was.
He learned how curious she was about everything. How little things completely fascinated her.
How she wondered why most humans didn’t sing.
How she found it strange that humans owned animals. How she didn’t understand the concept of a wild animal and a tamed one.
He learned she was bright, but still had trouble understanding basic things about the human world, like money or property.
“She is beautiful, but she would not be father’s choice,” Ivan thought.
Ariana had nothing, no land, and no treasures. If he married her, Ivan knew it was possible they would disown him. All of his father’s kingdom would then be inherited by his older brother. He had a tough decision ahead of him. Should he reserve his heart for love alone? Would it be enough?
Even if their marriage was accepted by his father, marrying Ariana would also mean waging a war against the sea king, Brutus. Ariana had told Ivan about her father’s dislike of humans.
Would Ivan push his kingdom towards war, while his brother had just gotten them out of one?
————-
Victor was pleasantly surprised when Ariana didn’t ask him to take her to the surface anymore. Instead, they explored the oceans together. Victor practiced magic with Ariana, one he couldn't practice alone.
Victor thought with relief that perhaps Ariana finally got bored of the boring prince.
When Ariana asked him to take her to the surface after nearly three weeks, he immediately agreed. He had no reason to suspect that Ariana was going to see Prince Ivan again.
Ariana would go to the surface and return minutes later. Victor thought it odd, but said nothing. After they landed on the fifteenth beach that day and Ariana returned minutes later, Victor finally broke his silence.
“Is there some special place you are looking for, Ariana?” Victor asked. “Or are you going to pop in and out of the water all day?”
Ariana blushed. “I am looking for a beach that has flags with this symbol,” Ariana said. Victor watched as she drew a sun in the sand, with an embellished crown in the center.
“Looks regal,” Victor said. “Why are you looking for this one in particular?”
Ariana hesitated. She knew she would have to tell Victor eventually. Victor would know as soon as he saw Prince Ivan.
“I am looking for Ivan’s kingdom, Kingsbourne. The beach would have flags with this symbol on them,” Ariana said.
Victor went silent. Ariana didn’t know what he was thinking.
“You could have just told me that earlier rather than waste both our times,” Victor said, coldly.
Ariana knew better than to reply, so she waited for Victor to cool down.
Victor was furious, more with himself than anyone else. He knew he shouldn’t be worried about the mortal prince. How long would a mortal live anyway? Victor thought viciously. He would be lucky to live even a century.
Victor was an immortal creature, ageless and powerful. Ariana would bore of the prince once he ages, Victor thought. He longer remain attractive to Ariana, and she would forget about him.
Victor said these things to console himself, but it wasn’t working. He had a doubt in his heart.. that although he sensed little feeling or attachment from the Prince, Ariana was in much deeper. Ariana trusted the mortal prince blindly, Victor worried, and that blind spot could get her hurt.
Victor remembered his mother’s words: She is driven by something far more dangerous... Her heart... and that will be her undoing. Victor only hoped that his mother was wrong about Ariana.
Victor thought it was a mistake to take Ariana to the surface, his gut feeling was warning him against it. But then he thought Ariana stopped going to the surface weeks ago. Perhaps she will get bored once more.
Victor agreed to take Ariana to the surface and to find the prince’s kingdom, but more reluctantly this time. He also changed the terms of their agreement.
To stop Ariana from making a grave mistake, Victor made a graver one. He once again broke her trust.
“I will find the mortal's kingdom, but you will have to spend twice as much time with me,” Victor said to Ariana.
Ariana looked at Victor with shock. She had just started to trust him again. She enjoyed spending time with him, but Victor was treating it as a bargaining chip.
Ariana thought their relationship was becoming contractual, it was no longer natural. She immediately felt suffocated.
Ariana dreaded her free time was no longer in her control.
“What are you thinking? You didn’t say if you accept my condition, Ariana,” Victor said, when he saw Ariana was quiet.
“You don’t leave me much choice, Victor,” Ariana said.
“So, you agree?” Victor said.
“Yes, but I have my own condition,” Ariana replied.
“What is that?” Victor asked.
“You will take me whenever I ask you to, wherever I ask you to... no questions asked,” Ariana replied.
Victor wondered what she meant, but he would not refuse.
“That is fine,” Victor replied.
Victor cast a spell to search for the symbol that Ariana had drawn. He followed the signs and ended up at a beach which had the flags they were searching for.
Victor had been right, Ariana thought. I wasted our time by not telling him sooner. Perhaps I should have been honest, even if Victor hadn’t been totally honest with her.
Ariana and Victor went to the same beach over several days and waited for the prince.
As soon as he could, Prince Ivan went to the beach to find Ariana. He was glad to see her waiting for him.
“I was afraid we would never meet again,” Prince Ivan said. “I said three weeks, but it took ages. I am sorry that I kept you waiting, Ariana.”
Ivan heard Victor mumble something before he took off.
“Did I say something wrong?” Prince Ivan asked. "What is bothering him?"
Ariana shook her head but noticed she was looking worried.
“I really am sorry, Ariana. I had to see my father before I could come looking for you,” Prince Ivan apologized.
Ariana smiled slightly. “I understand,” Ariana said.
“I really missed you,” Prince Ivan said.
Ariana blushed. “This is where your home is, Ivan?”
“Yes! My castle is a day’s journey. I would love to show you my kingdom, Ariana,” Prince Ivan said.
“I would like that too,” Ariana said, happily.
———-
Victor would take Ariana to meet with Ivan. Although he remained cordial to him when Ariana was around, neither prince hid their disdain for one another when they found themselves in each other’s company.
“Stupid, useless mortal!” Victor would hiss at Prince Ivan.
“Despicable, wicked witch!” Prince Ivan would reply with equal venom.
This was the most tame of their exchanges.
Victor often came close to blasting Prince Ivan with his magic. Prince Ivan came close to stabbing Victor with his sword. It was only the thought of Ariana that kept them from killing each other.
Perhaps it was sheer foolishness or arrogance on Victor’s part, but he refused to believe Ariana had anything more than a passing curiosity for the mortal prince. Victor also had a secret agenda of his own for coming to the surface.
He would use the opportunity to dig up dirt on Prince Ivan.
The next time, Ariana and Victor came on the surface, they met with dark, black clouds above.
“Have you seen anything like this, Victor?” Ariana asked, perplexed. “It is so dark. Where has the sun gone?”
“It is strange... perhaps the mortal will tell you,” Victor said, in a bored voice.
“I won’t be gone long,” Ariana promised, trying her best to stop Victor from being moody again.
“Fine. Just call me when you are ready to go back,” Victor said before leaving.
He kept a respectful distance away from Ariana and Ivan. More likely because he didn’t want to punch the mortal when he saw him.
Ariana saw Prince Ivan ahead of her. He was carrying a strange new object with him. It didn’t look like a weapon to her. She wondered what it was.
“What is that?” she asked the prince.
Prince Ivan looked surprised. “Sometimes I forget that you come from a different world, Ariana. This is an umbrella.”
“An umbrella? What an odd sounding name for a weapon. What does it do?” Ariana asked.
Prince Ivan only laughed. “You will see soon enough.”
Ariana jumped when she saw a flash of lightning and then the sound of thunder. She felt water drops on her head. First, they were small drops, then water was pouring down from the clouds.
“Why is the ocean falling from the sky? The sky looks angry today,” Ariana said with surprise.
She liked the feel of water on her skin. She always missed the water when she was away from it. Ariana turned to look at Prince Ivan and saw that he had opened the umbrella and was standing under it. He was not getting wet from the water pouring around them.
“Why are you not enjoying the water?” Ariana asked.
“Because I am not a creature of the ocean. I rather not get sick,” Prince Ivan replied with amusement. “Mortals hide from the rain. We are not completely waterproof you see.”
“Surely that is an exaggeration? You could stand a few minutes in the rain, Ivan, without getting ill,” Ariana said with some mischief.
“I could, but I have a council meeting right after,” Ivan said. "I rather not look like a wet fish."
“Are you saying that I look like a wet fish?” Ariana said with amusement. Her clothes were completely wet, as was her hair.
“I am not sure mermaids are fishes, though there is some debate whether they are people or fishes,” Ivan said.
Ariana stuck out her tongue at Prince Ivan and continued to enjoy the rain. Ivan laughed.
Victor was busy in his mission, he had to find some dirt on that stupid mortal. But the problem was, the more he looked for dirt, he dug up gold instead.
“What do you think about the prince?” Victor asked the nearest human. The mortal he asked looked respectable, intelligent, and likely a nobleman of their kind.
“He will make a great king one day. He is courageous and bold,” he replied.
Perhaps the mortal wasn’t so intelligent after all, Victor thought, annoyed. Victor would have never imagined Prince Ivan to be bold or courageous, so he ignored the first answer and asked another mortal.
“In my kingdom, the prince is an insufferable brat,” Victor said casually.
“Not our prince. We are fortunate to have a kind and humble one,” the human girl replied. "He has not an ounce of vanity."
Again, Victor would not have thought of these attributes for Prince Ivan. Calling him an arrogant bastard sounded better to Victor.
Undeterred from his mission, Victor asked one more mortal. “I heard that Prince Ivan is hardworking and cares for his people?”
It surprised him when the gentleman laughed. “I am not sure where you are getting your information from, but Prince Ivan spends his time only thinking of poetry and smelling flowers in his royal garden.”
Victor smiled. This sounded more like the mortal prince. Still, two out of three of his subjects had said good things about the prince. The worst account wasn’t exactly that bad either.
Victor sighed. He would have to find an alternative method to finding the truth about Prince Ivan.
Victor saw the humans move quickly at the sound of thunder coming from the clouds above. He saw the mortals looking for shelters and going into buildings.
Did the sound mean something bad was coming? Victor wondered.
Victor was as surprised as Ariana was when water started pouring from the sky. He laughed, soaking in the rain. How odd of humans to be frightened of a little water, Victor thought.
Prince Ivan had left for his council meeting, and Ariana set off to find Victor on her own.
She quietly watched Victor standing alone. His face was tilted up towards the clouds and his eyes were closed. He had a beautiful smile on his face. Ariana was glad to see someone other than herself enjoying the rain.
While Ivan's golden hair and blue eyes reminded Ariana of sunshine and a clear blue sky, Victor was the dark storm and lightning. He was in his element today. Victor looked like he was made of the storm.
Victor was completely wet. His human clothes clung to his body, showing his lean muscles.
Ariana blushed.
She kept forgetting, or at least tried to forget, how attractive Victor was. It was a good thing that Victor couldn’t read her thoughts, Ariana thought with relief.
He was beautiful, Ariana realized. Devastatingly beautiful... and he would get more so once he takes over for Ursula. Would Victor become as cruel and powerful as her? Ariana could imagine kingdoms bowing to his might.
But right now, he was Victor. Not the dark emperor he would one day become.
“You look like a wet fish,” Ariana said to Victor.
He opened his eyes and looked at Ariana with surprise. Ariana blushed again.
“I am a fish,” Victor said, confused. “Aren’t I?”
“Yes, you are,” Ariana said as she ran towards the water. "Last one in the water is a sea cucumber."
Victor laughed and chased her, determined to win the race towards the ocean.
——-