Chapter 7

"Welcoming Prince Adam"

When the Free French fleet arrived at Eric and Ariel's castle, there was no doubt in the minds of everyone in the Danish royal family that help had come in the utmost form of an old friend of Eric's that was not loyal to a dictator. Eric and his family watched with beaming eyes as Adam and Belle stepped down the gangplank.

"My friend, you've come at last," remarked Eric as he walked over and embraced Adam. "Thank God you are here. It's been so long."

"Indeed it has," replied Adam as they broke apart. "I couldn't wait any longer to come to your aid when I received your message. The time has come to maintain the traditions that our empires are supposed to maintain."

"We can discuss all of this after," said Eric, who led Adam over to introduce his family. "This is my lovely wife, Queen Ariel and our lovely daughter, Princess Melody."

The mother and daughter curtsied for Adam as he kissed both of their hands while Belle looked on. Adam then motioned over to Belle so he could introduce her to them.

"Well, this is my lovely wife, Princess Belle of the Free French Empire," said Adam as Belle curtsied in front of the royals.

"I'm delighted to meet all of you," she remarked. "I have been told wonderful stories about all of you and I was eager to join Adam on this adventure. I want to maintain orders of stability in Europe just as much as all of you."

Eric then clapped his hands and two servants came forward at the command. Eric then motioned for the servants to take any belongings that Adam and Belle had brought with them. As soon as they began to help in removing the belongings, Eric turned his attention back to his friend and his wife.

"Why don't we all go in and you both can rest after your long journey?" suggested Eric and the whole group minus the servants made their way back into the castle. As they left, Lumiere tried to aide in removing the belongings from the Free French ship, but was met with opposition from one of the servants.

"I can do that, young man," said Lumiere, taking a trunk that contained serval of Belle's dresses. The weight of the trunk was tough on the old Frenchman, but much to the amazement of the servants, Lumiere was able to carry the trunk with relative ease. "You see, nothing doing for a man like me."

Meanwhile, the two royal families went into a reception room where they were met by several of Eric's naval officers as well as several British navy officers, including John. Upon stepping foot into the room, the officers stopped what they were doing and saluted Adam and Eric along with Ariel, Melody and Belle.

"I assume these are all the men who are helping you," said Belle. "They all look very well fit if you ask me."

"The best of our navies, Belle," chuckled Eric. "These men are some of the best that England and Denmark have to offer. If you would follow me, Adam, I can introduce you to them."

So, Adam followed Eric and the young Danish king introduce each naval officer and military commander to him. They were all very well built and carried with them a sense of dignity and passion for what they all would do. As they walked down the line, Adam could only wonder if his own naval officers would live up to the standards of these men.

"This is Sir Colin Campbell of the Highland ship, the HMS Nightingale," said Eric, as the burely Scotsman shook Adam's hand. "And over here, we have Sir John Scarlett of the heavy brigade ship, the HMS Revenge; Sir George Brown of the light cavalry ship, the HMS Fame; and Sir Richard England of the reserve ship, the HMS Maria."

Adam shook each admiral's hand with the utmost respect as he continued to be amazed at how these men were shaped and minded.

"They are all very well built, Eric," remarked Adam as he was then introduced to John. "And who is this young man here?"

"This is the junior admiral of the British fleet, Admiral John Nelson," explained Eric as his introduced John to the young Prince of the Free French Empire. "He is commander of the HMS Victory and is also courting with my daughter."

Melody gasped at her father saying that John and her had a romantic relationship, however her mother motioned for her not to worry about what her father had said.

"Indeed, well congratulations, John," said Adam, shaking the young man's hand. "And I am sorry to hear about the passing of your father at Trafalgar."

"Thank you, sire," replied John. "He was a good man and is still watching over me."

Just then, the doors opened and Admiral Cardigan came into the room, supposedly unaware of Adam and Belle's arrival. His tardiness did not bode well with John, who only gave the red mustached Admiral a hard glare in the face.

"I apologize for being late," said the Admiral, saluting his young commanders. "One of my men was doing something unbecoming of a sailor and I had him flogged."

"First of all," said John, walking over and pointing his rapier at Cardigan's throat. "You don't flog disobedient men without my command and second of all, how dare you show up late to welcome a Prince?"

Cardigan then looked over to Adam who was confused as to who this man that would come in late for something as important as this. To Cardigan, however, Adam was nothing more than a young man who was inexperienced at what he was doing.

"Prince Adam," said Eric, motioning for John to step aside, trying to not let this little interruption ruin the moment. "I'd like to introduce you to Admiral George Cardigan of the light brigade ship, the HMS Freedom."

"Delighted to meet you," said Adam, shaking Cardigan's hand. "You must be honored, having the duty of commanding the finest brigade ever to leave the shores of England."

Cardigan didn't say anything and merely walked away. With the introductions completed, Eric decided that the time had come for him and Adam to get together and catch up with one another as well as find ways to prepare their fleets for the impending confrontation at the Crimea.

"Now then," said Eric. "Adam and I have some important matters to catch to so in the meantime, if you could show Belle her room, Ariel and Melody that would be great and remember that we are holding a celebration in your honor tonight, Adam."

Both Adam and Belle were delighted to hear this as Adam followed Eric out of the reception hall while Ariel and Melody led Belle to where she and Adam would be staying while at the palace.

However, John still had a few choice words for Cardigan's unprofessional behavior along with trying to figure out a way to ask Melody's hand in marriage…