Chapter 12
"Destruction of the Formidable"
It was not until after sunset did the feeling of the Battle of Ortega's end start to sink in on both sides of the battlefield. The British and Danish fleets were victorious and the French and Spanish suffered the agony of defeat. But the true end of the battle was soon to come as all of the French and Spanish ships were captured and their crews were either pressed into the British or Danish navies or put to death for refusing to pledge allegiance to the respective empires.
On board the HMS Victory, Ariel was examined by a military doctor for injuries she had sustained in the attack against her by Pelley. Fortunately, she had only suffered mild cuts and bruises on her body, but her spirit was shaken up as a result of her ordeal. To her, this wasn't a battle anymore, this was an attempt on her dignity being destroyed, the dignity she had built up as a mermaid and as a Queen of an entire nation.
"Ariel, how are you feeling?" asked Eric, walking into their private quarters.
"I feel relieved to be away from that…monster," she replied, her voice filled with exhaustion. "I can't believe humans would do that to one another."
"Unfortunately it's true," sighed Eric, sitting next to Ariel. "Sometimes, random people will attack on another and force their legacy onto someone else. But, if there is one person you need to blame for what happened to you, it's me."
Ariel was surprised to hear this for as far she was concerned, Eric had asked her and Melody to come along for moral support. However, it now seemed clear that Eric was having second thoughts about his decisions.
"Why would you say that?" she gasped, rubbing her hand on his hand. "I thought that you wanted me to come with you on this adventure."
"That was until when I saw on the ground at the mercy of that Frenchman," replied Eric, sadly. "I thought that after what happened at Trafalgar, you would be put into the best protection possible. I failed to protect you and that's all there was to it."
"You would only fail if I was killed or worse," remarked Ariel. "I thank God for your intervention that saved me from being harmed any further. It's too bad my gown was damaged. It holds great value."
"That's why we have seamstresses who will repair it," laughed Eric. "It's also my personal favorite as well. As soon as we get back to Denmark, I'd like you to wear it at our royal dinner."
"I'd be honored to, my love," laughed Ariel, playfully. "It would be just for you, the man who saved me tonight."
The two royals shared a chuckle as they once again reflected on the old days of Ariel's first three days on land. To Eric and Ariel, reflecting on that first dinner that they had with Grimsby was refreshing to both of them and it took their minds off of the events that had transpired recently.
Unfortunately, they had to get back to reality when news came that Pelley was to receive his first punishment for his savage and deplorable attack on Ariel. As night fell, the fleets were preparing to make their way to England to bury Admiral Nelson, but not before the Formidable was to be destroyed. All of the French soldiers who had refused to be pressed into the service of the English or Danish Navies were brought aboard the Formidable and placed in the brigs down below.
"At last, my time is at hand," thought Triton as he readied his trident for the blast that would destroy the ship that killed his wife and caused him to develop a hatred for humans. Taking a deep breath, Triton rose up through the waters and came out with a thunderous splash whose noise pierced the quiet night sky. "Athena, my love, you will be avenged at last!"
A loud cheer came from the British and Danish soldiers as Triton emerged and after briefly acknowledging his appearance, Triton turned his attention to the Formidable, its bow red with dried blood. But, it wasn't just any blood, it was the blood of Queen Athena, which had been on the bow of the ship since the day she was killed.
"Don't hide your eyes from what is about to happen, Pelley," snapped Sir Percy, holding his head up. "This is what will happen when you attack a Queen and try to rob her of her dignity and respect. Now, you will have the honor of watching the king of the Merpeople destroy the ship that you love and desire."
Pelley shook his head and struggled against the bonds that now held him, but there was nothing he could do. He had been defeated fair and square and forced to watch his enemies celebrate their victories. At that moment, Triton powered his trident with a glowing gold color and aimed it at the Formidable, while speaking in a loud and thunderous voice.
"FOR THE GLORY OF ATLANTICA AND THE MEMORY OF QUEEN ATHENA, I SHALL DESTROY THE SHIP THAT SLAYED MY LOVE ONCE AND FOR ALL!"
With one thunderous blast, the trident's powerful beam fired at the ship, causing it to explode into a large fireball whose heat was felt to the people on board the victorious ships. Triton had placed all his energy into this blast, and as the remains of the ship sunk beneath the sea, it seemed that the guilt that he had inside of him for so long was gone. At the same time, Ariel could not help but cry into her husband's shoulder once again, as a painful chapter in her life was closed forever.
With his ship and his men now gone underneath the sea, Pelley was led back to the brig where he was placed in isolation from the rest of the French captives, including Villeneuve, who now held a grudge against Pelley for his actions.
"I hope you suffer the consequences for what you have done," Villeneuve said to himself that night. "I may be a prisoner of war, but I hope you are treated a traitor for defying us and disgracing what it means to be a man of France."
Villeneuve would have no idea of the repercussions his counterpart was about to face in the days that followed…