Hey guys, I enjoyed writing this chapter as you find out a little bit more about Ben and Mal's situation. So I hope you enjoy reading it, much love RSD xoxoxoxoxoxoxo.
It was the eighth of August which meant one thing; it was the day of the trial. We weren't due to leave until half ten as the trial didn't start until eleven; so to help calm my nerves I walked out into the grounds of Auradon Castle to go and draw while Ben was finishing his paperwork for today.
I think another thing that was unsettling me was that Auradon Castle was very busy at the moment; over the last couple of days council members and elders had been arriving. And Ben had offered them to stay at Auradon Castle so the last couple of days involved me hosting with Belle.
So I decided to sit under a tree in Belle's rose garden and I started to sketch Ben and I hoped that this would calm me down. I hated the fact that private information that should be between me and Ben was going to become public knowledge for the council. I started to let myself get lost in my sketch of Ben however I was abruptly pulled out of my train of thought when I heard someone say my name.
"Hi Az" I answered as I looked up at him and I watched as he walked up to me.
"What are you doing out here?" he questioned as he sat down on my left hand side.
"Drawing" I answered as I nodded down to the note pad in my hands.
"I hoped that it would calm my nerves" I added before I pursed my lips together.
"And has it?" he asked fondly.
"Not really" I admitted.
"I don't know how long these things go on for; but I know that it is going to be hard-" I started.
"Especially due to the information that Queen Leah has about me is going to become public knowledge" I sighed as I looked down.
"Is anything between me and Ben ever going to be private?" I asked sarcastically.
"Yes" he answered fondly as he looked down to my sketch and I watched as a large grin spread across his face.
"I hate what they have tried to do to you and Ben-" he sighed.
"But this trial needs to happen; and unfortunately you need to be seen in the public view" he added as he looked up at me sympathetically.
"Yes" I muttered as I looked down. I knew they I had to sit and watch as the council picked apart certain parts of my relationship with Ben; however Ben had stated that they would be tactful as they could. And this did reassure me; but this didn't mean that I liked it - because I hated it!
"But that doesn't mean it is going to be any easier to sit through" I added as I looked up at him and pursed my lips together.
"I know Mal; but we will all get you through it" he replied.
"Mainly Ben" he smiled.
"Yes" I agreed.
"Mainly Ben" I repeated.
"But-" I started.
"Yes?" he prompted.
"If he wasn't with me he wouldn't be going through all of this" I said sadly and I felt a lump start to build up in my throat.
"But what you and Ben have is worth fighting for; you make him better" he urged.
"People say that all the time; I don't know how" I said as I tried to push the lump back down my throat.
"He is a happier person" Az said.
"Ben is a happy person" I answered as my mind went onto my usually happy Beast.
"But you make him happier; he can be himself with you-" he started.
"You love him because of the man he is and not because the crown that is on his head" he added as I placed my notepad and pencil in my lap.
"Of course" I replied.
"I don't care about that; I just care about him-" I continued.
"I am petrified of losing him; but when things like this happen I just keep thinking that there has to be something that stops us from being together. If Ben accidently signed that marriage contract he would have had to marry Audrey" I said sadly as my mind started to spitefully show me what could have happened. I know that if this did happen I wouldn't have stayed around to watch it; I know that would have meant that I was deserting Ben but there was no way that I could watch him marry Audrey.
"No" he answered.
"No he wouldn't" he said as he took both of my hands in his and he gave them a gentle squeeze.
"Ben was very clever with that" he smiled.
"How?" I questioned as I pulled one brow up in confusion at him.
"Ben is already pre-contracted to marry; he can't just sign other contracts" he explained.
"What?" I quickly asked. Ben never mentioned that we were pre-contracted to get married; yes I was annoyed with him for not telling me. But this reassured me and started to calm me down; it just showed me that no one could ever take my Beast away from me - no matter what they tried.
"Everyone knows that you and him have a strong relationship and you have both openly talked about marriage" he replied.
"So this means we are pre-contracted?" I asked slowly.
"Yes" he confirmed.
"But surely Audrey talked about marriage with Ben" I said as I started to worry whether this was the case.
"Yes" he repeated and my stomach started to burn in panic.
"And I think she was trying to make sure that no one could ever take Ben away from her" he sighed.
"But Ben never returned the conversation; he was always able to get quickly out of it" he added.
"As our parents told us to be very careful with that. Yes it is an old rule; but I can still stand" he advised.
"Right" I nodded.
"Yes" he replied.
"And Ben strengthened that pre-contract by putting it as a clause in your knighting paperwork. There is no getting out of it" he stated as he squeezed my hands gently again to reassure me.
"Even if I changed my mind?" I stupidly asked out loud.
"Have you changed your mind?" he asked slowly and when I looked up at him I noticed that shock and panic were starting to embed their way into his eyes.
"No" I advised.
"I just wanted to know my options" I stated and I watched as Az through a concerned look at me.
"I know that just worried you Az; I haven't changed my mind" I assured him and I watched as he smiled meekly at me.
"Ben is mine" I said as my mind went back onto him.
"He's a lucky guy" Az noted.
"You keep saying" I replied as I squeezed his hands as the lump started to return in my throat.
"I just wished all this drama didn't come with being with me" I said sadly as it suddenly became too much for me and tears started to build up in my eyes.
"Hey!" he cooed and he dropped my hands and he pulled me into a hug. I couldn't help it but I let myself cry against his shoulder. I just felt so overwhelmed and embarrassed by this whole situation and it was just too much for me to handle.
"Ben is always going to get drama; and you my dear are more than worth it" he replied as he stroked the top of my back in an obvious bid to calm me down.
"I just wish other people would see it that way" I said as I tried to calm myself down; I didn't want Ben to see me like this. I know that this is a stupid thought but if Ben saw me crying before we left it would make him unsettled; I would tell him about it later on tonight. But I knew that he needed to be focused for the day ahead.
"And they do" he urged and I pulled away and threw him a stern look.
"Well maybe not all of them" he quickly amended.
"But Mal something you need to remember is that Ben is a very wanted man in this kingdom" he reminded me which made me sigh.
"Oh I know that" I said sarcastically.
"Four of them women are on trial today" I muttered before I pursed my lips together.
"Yes but Ben wants you" he reminded me fondly.
"And I want him" I smiled meekly as I wiped my eyes. As I pulled my hands away I watched as Az went to say something but he stopped when we heard Ben say my name.
"What's wrong?" he asked as he quickly walked up to me and Az.
"Nothing" I advised as I looked away from Ben.
"Mal you don't cry for no reason" he stated as he climbed onto his knees in front of me.
"Please tell me?" he begged and I looked back at him and watched as concern flowed into his eyes.
"I'll leave you both to it" Az stated as he quickly got up.
"Thanks Az" I smiled at him.
"Bye Az" Ben muttered as he didn't take his eyes from me.
"Bye Mal, Ben" he answered before he quickly turned and left to probably go and see his parents.
"Mal" Ben said I looked back at him.
"Yes?" I answered.
"Why are you crying?" he questioned and me and Ben threw a concerned look at each other. Both of us look very concerned about the conversation that we were about to have; and yes initially I wanted to have this conversation with Ben later on tonight. However sometimes life forced your hand; and right now me and Ben needed to talk - no matter how awkward it was about to get.
