“She lightly traces a finger along the side of his face, observing him now in the morning light. She wishes they could sit together and talk about all the wonderful places they dream of exploring. She could tell him how limiting being the sea king’s daughter is sometimes. Ariel is aware she doesn’t really know him, but after listening to his words on the ship, she feels like she could share all her deepest thoughts and he’d understand. She never had that before.”
“Ariel allows herself a moment to gaze at his face. She suddenly realizes that this is the first human she’s seen up close. How marvelous! And he’s quite beautiful, she thinks, her face heating slightly. It’s the hunger in his expression as he views the open sea. It’s the longing in his words. Nothing at all like the barbarians, with sharp teeth and hate in their eyes, that her father described. No, the more Ariel stares, the more she recognizes pure wonder in this human’s eyes.”
