Chapter 12
"Departing Denmark"
At the first stroke of light, the English and Danish fleets were preparing themselves to go after the French and Spanish navies. Instead of sunlight, a light rain was falling on the kingdom of Denmark as the armies were directed towards the ships just off the coast.
"Too bad there is no sunlight," remarked Eric as he and Admiral Nelson watched the British soldiers walk towards the docks on horseback. "We could sure use it right now."
"Indeed," agreed Nelson. "I suppose this is God's way of telling us that we could expect a hard fought battle against our enemies."
Eric had a two sided thought about this statement from Admiral Nelson. On one side, he wanted to destroy the people responsible for committing a cowardly act against his country and his kingdom. But, at the same time, Eric was not someone who was willing to sacrifice human lives for the glory of Denmark.
"That doesn't matter, Admiral Nelson," interjected Eric. "I just don't know how I am going to expect this battle to turn out when the time comes."
Both men then looked out towards the horizon to see King Triton out in the distance not far from the Royal Navy fleet. Eric could see that his father-in-law was also going to join the battle against the French and Spanish. Although he could see Triton up close, Eric sensed a look of anger on Triton's face, but it wasn't just any anger. It was an anger that was sparked by an attack that was made on his family.
"There is one who can't wait to meet our enemies," said Eric, turning back to Nelson. "He's out in the middle of the ocean."
"Who?" asked Nelson as a servant on horseback handed Nelson a telescope, allowing him to see what Eric was seeing. Looking through the telescope hard, Nelson saw Triton sitting in the middle of the ocean, his trident glowing.
"I see that the great King Triton is going to join us in our battle," he remarked, putting the telescope down. "We could use all the help we can get in our upcoming fight, King Eric."
After a brief nod from Eric, the two men then looked down towards the regiments of British and Danish soldiers marching towards the docks and towards the ships of their respective fleets.
"Madness," remarked one soldier. "It's all madness, they know what they are doing."
"Look, I keep asking ya," said another soldier. "If Bony could kick the Prussians in the arse, why are we doing all the running?"
News of the Prussian attack of the Spanish coast had quickly reached Denmark and the British navy was quick to criticize why they were going after the French and Spanish when they had attacked the Prussian Navy.
"Kicked the Prussians?" asked Eric, astonished by what he had just heard. "What exactly was he talking about, Admiral?"
"A pair of Prussian navy ships were attacked yesterday," answered Nelson. "Rumors say that a few men were executed, but we can't confirm that intelligence yet."
Eric could not believe what he was hearing. He could only think of the Prussian people as his kingdom was very good friends with the Prussian royal family. This only made him grow more and more determined to find who was responsible for this cowardly act and destroy them.
However, the train of thought was interrupted by the sounds of bagpipes and the sounds of the Scottish soldiers singing a traditional Scottish song called MacPherson's Rant. Eric noticed Nelson enjoying the singing and couldn't help but also hum a few bars as well as the Duke of Gordon rode up to the two men and saluted them as he joined them.
"I like the cut of your men, Gordon," said Nelson.
"Ah, damn forward fellows with a bayonet, Nelson," replied Gordon. "Meat and Eggs from the cradle up and a lemon a month."
The three men continued to listen in to the joyful and upbeat song that the Scots were singing, enjoying it every step of the way.
"All from me own acres, bred 'em me self," remarked Gordon. "Some of them could call me something more than 'colonel,' eh?"
This caused the three men to break out into a small laughter, for none of them knew what the Duke of Gordon meant by calling him something more than 'colonel.' After a few moments, Gordon saluted Eric and Nelson before leaving to join his men aboard his assigned ship.
By now, the rain was now starting to come down even harder and the wind was starting to die down. This was the decision by the two men that they needed to depart at once. After several more regiments had boarded their ships. Admiral Nelson gave the order to begin the journey to find and destroy the Spanish and French fleets.
Ariel and Melody also were coming along as well as Vanessa, who was determined to find and rescue Victor from the clutches of the French and Spanish navies.
"I'm sure going to miss it," sighed Ariel, as she watched the Danish kingdom fade into the fog. "If only we can get back soon."
"You'd better get down below, your highness," said a Danish soldier, as the wind blew at Ariel's hair. "Your husband doesn't want you to become sick."
So, the Danish soldier led Ariel into her quarters that she shared with Eric and Ariel took off her long black cloak that was soaking wet and sat down at a desk, looking out over the water. Ariel was worried about the events that were going to transpire soon. It was her fear of the unknown that had caused a dark cloud to form over the Royal Navy fleet.
After all, the French were a dangerous threat to Europe and that they had to be stopped at all costs. The one thought that everyone in the fleet was thinking of was what if there would be more attacks like the one on the wedding ship off the coast of Ariel and Eric's kingdom.
"Perhaps all we can do now is do what Vanessa did the other day," thought Ariel. "I don't know how I can talk to God, but I will try my best."
Ariel then got down on her knees and began to silently pray the best she could to God. She didn't know if that he would listen, but it was a prayer that she hoped God would listen to for the sake of her family and her people on both the land and the sea…
