Chapter 19
"Meeting Admiral Nelson"
As morning dawned on our kingdom, the main fleet of the British Royal Navy docked on the port as we all awaited the arrival of England's most feared and admired admiral. Making our way down to the docks, neither us nor Anna and Elsa were aware of how this meeting was going to go. The weather was foggy and cold, typical for March in Denmark.
"There it is, everyone," said Eric, dressed in his dark blue naval uniform. "The HMS Rose, Admiral Nelson's flagship and one of the best in the British navy."
"Is that Admiral Nelson?" gasped Melody, amazed by the sight of the famous admiral. "Who's that behind him?"
Melody then directed her attention towards a younger man that stood right behind the admiral. He was a boy roughly around her age and dressed in a similar uniform.
"It must be his son or an officer," Elsa said as the admiral and his son stood at attention.
"Kind of reminds me of Hans," Anna whispered.
But Admiral Nelson remained steadfast as he saluted us, but focused a majority of his attention on Eric.
"Are you Eric, one of Denmark's many kings?" he asked in his heavy British accent.
"Yes, sir."
"I am Admiral Horatio Nelson of the British Royal Navy. I have been instructed by his majesty, King George III, to escort you and your family to safety. I also hear that you are quite the sailor, sire. How long have you been a sailor?"
"All my life, admiral."
"Indeed," he muttered, pacing back and forth looking at us over like a general over an army. "And you must be the Queen?"
"Um, yes," I answered, leaning back slightly at the admiral's intimidation. "I am Ariel, formerly of Atlantica."
"I can see you have mermaid in your blood, your highness. Daughter of King Triton of Atlantica?"
"Youngest."
He then proceeded over towards Anna and Elsa.
"And who are you, might I ask?"
"Queen Anna of Arendelle," Anna said, curtseying to him along with Elsa. "And this is my sister, the former Queen."
Admiral Nelson then looked over at Elsa's hands as strains of ice emerged from her hands.
"What is this sorcery?" he asked, looking intently at Elsa. "Do you have powers of ice?"
"I do," Elsa answered, remaining steadfast to the admiral's intimidation. "I was born with these powers."
"Can you freeze ships if needed?" he asked, but Elsa, feeling intimidated, said nothing. He then looked towards Olaf and Sven. "And who is this?"
"Hi, I'm Olaf and I like warm hugs," Olaf said, trying to diffuse the situation.
"Father, please!" said the boy. "These are rulers fleeing for their own safety. Don't make the situation difficult for them."
Melody couldn't help but feel enraptured by the young man's comments.
"I'm sorry about my father," he said, directing our attention towards him. "He's been…cautious lately."
"John, know your place, son," warned Admiral Nelson. "Remember who is in charge here!"
But Melody still kept her eagle eye on him. After all, both he and Nelson's son were roughly around the same age as one another.
"Admiral, I'm sorry I couldn't help but notice," Eric remarked. "You seem troubled."
"Because the French Navy have committed a grievous attack."
None of us couldn't really understand what the Admiral meant, but we would find out soon enough.
"What kind of an attack?"
"A ship that drifted into their waters and was left unspared."
Admiral Nelson then reached into his pocket and pulled out what appeared to be a seashell necklace of gold. The necklace seemed all too familiar to me and Eric for this is what Ursula wore around her neck at all times, even as the human Vanessa.
"Where did you get this?" Eric asked.
"Follow me," Nelson answered and led us all aboard his ship.
…
Once aboard, we were directed down below and came towards a stateroom. Before he opened the door, he turned to Melody.
"What I am about to show you might be disturbing to you," he warned. "John, keep the princess away."
Melody then found herself next to John and then the door to the stateroom opened. Inside the stateroom was a young woman with black hair, seemingly unconcisous.
"What happened, Admiral?" Eric asked.
"A wedding ship had been attacked by a Fleet of French Ships," he answered as I walked over to the woman. "The bride was the only survivor."
I couldn't help but feel a sense of deja vu looking down at this human woman. In a way, she looked just like Ursula's alter ego. I didn't know whether to react or sympathize with her.
"How was she found?"
"Floating facedown in the water," answered Admiral Nelson. "We had to cut away her wedding gown because of the weight of it. They showed no mercy…the foul scum."
"What kind of French ships was it?" Eric asked.
"We don't know, but it could be Admiral Villeneuve," answered Admiral Nelson. "Half of my fleet has been chasing him ever since the attack. He's ruthless."
The more I looked down at the woman, I could see Ursula in her face. But, this was different. Ursula was long dead and so was her alter ego, Vanessa. But there was something else that I needed to see.
"Where's her wedding gown?" I asked, turning back to face Admiral Nelson, who was slightly taken aback by my request.
"Why do you wish to see it?" asked Admiral Nelson. "It's…"
"Show me it!" I demanded.
Now, you might be wondering why I would want to see this woman's wedding gown. Well, that's because ever since my father destroyed my grotto in a fit of rage over saving Eric, I couldn't help but feel a sense of anger over anything sentimental being destroyed. This woman, whoever she was, had something sentimental snatched away from her and I needed to see for myself.
"Father, what's going on?" asked John only to be met with a hard stare.
"Stay here with Princess Melody," he ordered as he led me, Eric and the Ardenelle sisters away.
…
Following Admiral Nelson, we came down to the cargo hold of the HMS Rose and inside the cargo hold was the woman's wedding gown, hanging like something on a clothesline. I was shocked at what I saw: it was the same type of wedding gown Ursula's alter ego was wearing on that fateful third day. Next to it was a cream colored slip that the bride was likely wearing under her wedding gown. Next to it was the bride's long wedding veil.
"She didn't deserve this," I whispered to myself. "This wedding dress and everything else, it symbolizes her happiness, everything that was taken away from her, just like when my father took away my grotto."
All I could feel was anger…anger for the conflict we had been dragged into, anger for the people who were most likely dead, anger that the woman would never have her happily ever after. I could feel that ocean dampness on her wedding gown, dampness that will probably ruin the gown soon if not already.
"Where was the wedding ship attacked?" I asked.
"Off the coast of northern France," Admiral Nelson explained. "Villeneuve was last heading west. If I know him, he's probably hiding behind the rest of his fleet."
But Eric seemed to have his reasons.
"Then we have to find him, wherever he is. If we find Villeneuve, then we might have the opportunity to deliver Napoleon a crushing blow."
Nelson had heard enough and decided that the time for action was now.
"Ensure that everyone and everything you need is aboard," he ordered as he made his way out of the cargo hold. "We sail on the next favorable wind."
…
For the next few hours, we had loaded all of our supplies, food and clothes aboard the HMS Rose and once the wind was in our favor, we left our kingdom behind and began our pursuit of Villeneuve.
And as my father had promised, he had several platoons of mersoldiers accompanying us underwater. As I stood on the deck of the ship, I couldn't help but think to myself of just how far this war was going to last. My fellow princesses were also probably thinking the same thing, but one thing we knew for sure: that this was going to be a long war that would change our lives forever.
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TO BE CONTINUED
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