So sorry about all this reposting...the new chapters I post do not update in the story. I'm sorry for anyone who is getting alerts for new chapters, you may be getting emailed twice.
In shock, the assembly realized that the cry had originated from the King himself. To everyone's surprise, His Majesty jumped up from his throne and began to propel himself forward as quickly as his fins could carry him.
As Athena had suspected, he had paid little attention to most of the trials. His hardened heart had made him blind and deaf to the long faces and sobs which were present everywhere in the room. But when Marina had started to question the last prisoner, he had felt the tone in the room shift. Most prisoners cried out for mercy loudly, but he had to strain to hear this prisoner's replies. Her voice was calm. His curiosity was awoken.
He had tried to catch a glimpse of the sea-creature who appeared to feel no fear despite Marina's threats, but he could not see past his chief-of-staff, who was floating directly in front of the accused. He could only listen, and although he hated to admit it, the prisoner's words seared deep. Atlantica was so terrible that she did not care if they placed her in the sea's deepest dungeon? It sounded like what Ariel had said the previous evening.
And then, Marina had moved ever so slightly and he had caught sight of auburn hair, intermixed with a few streaks of grey. Then he noticed a blue tail. And then Marina had floated a little to the right, and he saw the mermaid's face. And her green eyes.
His mind began to tumult, his eyes began to stare, and he began to piece together what the mermaid was saying.
Captured by pirates…ten years.
And then he heard Marina's voice saying to his wife.
"I sentence you to OBLIVION!"
Instinctively, he had screamed out his veto of that horrendous plan.