3 months earlier, Princess Grace's POV:
"Great job out there, your Majesty"
"Spot on fighting Madam"
"It was an honor to fight alongside you, your highness"
I smiled and thanked each soldier as they stopped by to compliment me, I appreciated these compliments so much more than the meaningless ones that were given to me at the castle, those I couldn't bare. The whole while Sir Walter and Major Swift on either side of the log which had become our sofa for the night around the campfire, chuckling and talking as if they were brothers reminiscing, which they somewhat were. We had won in the battle against the hallow men, and the brigade seemed to recollect the fight as me single-handedly taking out a world of the undead, while the truth was that the soldiers had fought just as valiantly, if not more so.
Major Swift and Walter left my side as one particularly young soldier with russet curls, still a boy and probably younger than I, began bashfully murmuring compliments.
"Excuse me, but what's going on over there?" I interrupted the 3rd disturbingly descriptive comment about my hair by gesturing to the group gathered around what I assumed was a soldier or two. I didn't wait for the budding stalker to answer and strode forward to find two soldiers, one named Samuel and the other, Captain Ben Finn, partaking in a drinking game, I'd arrived in time to watch Samuel slump to the ground unconscious while Captain Finn challenged the group for more contenders with cries of triumph.
I shrugged with a smug smile "I'm game" the men fell silent as I crossed my arms and watched Ben give a shocked look before grinning. I'd drank in the past, sneaking into kitchens and cellars to swipe the best drinks I could find before downing them with a hesitant Elliot.
"Is that so, your Highness?" he used the term as if it were an insult and I simply nodded in refusal to let him phase me, straddling the stump where Sam had previously sat with a challenging look. Ben chuckled "C'mon, don't kid yourself love, you're a Princess, doubt you can hold your liquor"
"Don't wanna play? Afraid you'll be beaten by a girl?" I teased; our eyes locked with playful glints as Ben paused, thinking over his response. Swift and Walter had shouldered their way through the crowd and both seemed flustered as to what I, the Princess, was doing, before exchanging grins... And what I thought was a bet.
"Pour the shots" Ben called and the men erupted into yelling and clambering to bet what they had on the two opponents. A soldier I didn't know poured what I assumed was gin or some other alcohol into two shot glasses, and the two of us got into ready positions "Rules are simple, we both take a drink, then another and so on until you get so pissed drunk you can't take anymore"
I raised an eyebrow "Me? I'm offended" I gave a teasing smile and adjusted on my stump, ready to start
"Oh yeah, one more thing: do you happen to like stripping when you're pissed drunk?" I was surprised by how truly interested in the question he seemed and hid a small laugh at his sincere curiosity coupled with a playful smirk.
"Ben…" Walter growled a warning from the sidelines and Ben threw his hands up in defeat
"Thought I'd ask"
"Let's just start you idiot"
We were both at six pretty quickly, and I could tell the dashing Captain was become as hazy as I was in our drunken state. Ben took a deep breath and downed his seventh shot, quite impressive considering I felt like giving up at four.
It took everything I had not to burst into unexplainable giggles as I reached for the small glass, the surrounding crowd holding their breath to watch me. Much to my own amusement I suddenly fell off the stump Id been perched on in a fit of laughter.
Ben's POV:
The crowd responded with cheers for me as I mumbled something about calling it a night while helping the strikingly gorgeous Princess to her feet. The giggling girl stumbled against me and let her fingers play along my stubbly chin in her completely trashed state, performing her drunken version of being flirty. I chuckled; amused by her in my wave of tipsy-ness, despite my state her coy fingers sent me hungering for more of her touch.
"Time for bed" I was slightly less affected by the alcohol than my friend was, but when she shot me those flirty looks I knew I was drunk enough to fall victim to her, but tried my best to keep innocent. We walked side by side by side with my arm around her to my tent, stumbling too much to make an effort to find Walter.
"Did I ever tell you how fetching you are? There was this one boy back at the castle that was fetching too, but wanna know a secret?" The Princess's voice dropped to a whisper and I was quickly intrigued by the compliment "You're much more intriguing"
"Mm, look who's talking"
The next morning, Grace's POV:
I shifted under the blankets slightly, feeling sore from where I'd lay on the hard bed, but oddly warm despite the early spring chill that nipped at my nose.
I pulled the blankets back slightly, going to change into suitable warm clothes when I realized I was missing my shirt, though luckily my brassiere was still on. Panic crashed through me and I searched the room for Walter, whom I'd suspected to share a room with me but wasn't in this tent, much to my relief. I relaxed and closed my eye with a sigh before opening them again and standing.
I stretched and started to search for my shirt and something to help me clean up a bit, puzzled when I found a Man's boot and shirt on the floor. I shrugged it off and turned in search of what I was looking for and my whole body froze.
Ben Finn was lying on his stomach on the bed which I now realized was his, shirtless and still smirking in sleep. I was close to leaving him and simply using his shirt as cover, when I found my shirt. I was stunned and already blushing at the fact that I'd spent the night in bed with him and anger was threatening to enter my thoughts.
I was grabbing my shirt from where it was half under him when his eyes snapped open and I let out a scream, trying desperately to cover my upper body. The man let out a shocked cry as well and jolted backward, only to fall off the bed with my shirt still pinned below him, causing me to tumble after him with a squeak.
I heard the men start to come toward the tent as I wriggled against Ben, obviously sending him the wrong message once he grinned and starting kissing my neck, sliding on top of me.
"Get the fuck off of me!" I screamed, and suddenly what seemed like the entire fort was there before Ben could climb away from me.
The soldier didn't even pay attention to a retreating Ben, watching me in simply pants and brassiere as I fumbled around for a blanket only to realize it was on the bed and I'd have to retrieve it in a half-naked state. The men were pushed aside suddenly and for the first time that day I was thankful for someone else in the tent.
Walter was quick to toss me his coat and push the men out of the tent before turning on Ben with an unmistakable look of anger.
"You" he growled, throwing Ben's shirt to him "Get out of here" Walter wouldn't hate Ben, but he was mighty pissed off now and it was better once the Captain was out of his sight.
My mentor turned and I yanked on my shirt, I was hesitant to face the inevitable awkward conversation I was going to have with Walter
"Did he hurt you?" The first question he asked made my heart swell but sadden at the same time. I was happy because I understood that I had a protector who would guard me no matter what we might face, but felt bad because... Walter had never had children, but now he was stuck with me as a responsibility as his adopted daughter, who was admittedly harder to watch after than either of us liked.
Walter was suddenly furious at my silence, mistaking it for an answer "I'm going to kill that basta-"
I was jolted from my thoughts and placed a comforting hand on his arm, noting how dark his eyes were after the outburst "No, no, he didn't hurt me" that was a lie and we both knew it, I was pissed at the man who'd taken me to his bed without a second thought and probably tried for more. How dare he try for a one night stand with Albion's Princess?
Walter seemed to notice my anger and stepped back, offering me the door with a grin "He deserves a good slap, Princess"
I couldn't help a smile at the older man's words "Thanks Walter" I dipped my head before walking out and into the daylight. I felt every single soldier's eyes on me, and I knew that I was being undressed in their thoughts, but I wasn't here to model for them.
I shoved Ben's shoulder so that he was facing me, then stuck him with an icy glare "We need to talk" I spoke in a strained voice, trying my best not to lay a hand on him in the presence of the fort.
I ignored the men as they made suggestive comments "Sounds good, Princess"
So I decided to make it a fanfic! *yay* Sorry it was a bit long, but I wanted to fit everything I needed in. The next five or so chapters will be leading up to the prologue, which I thought was needed to add more depth to our beloved main characters. Expect the next chapter soon my dears!
- GracieNiems xx
