Ben stood and left the area with the rest of the jury and stopped just short of where she stood, standing just under Fairy Godmother. "Besides last night, what's the worst thing you've done since you've been at the summer castle?" He asked and he hoped no one else could tell he was fighting back a smile.
"I stole the King's horse," She explained, and he could see her fidgeting against the iron bars, the burns on her arms darkening, growing redder just by the mere closeness of the iron. "Your horse," She clarified, "Several times."
He knew he had to get her out of there as soon as possible. "And what were you doing with my horse when you stole him?" He asked. "Where did you take him and what did you do?"
Come on Mal, work with me here.
Mal caught his eye and he tried not to get too smiley. "I took your horse and stolen goods from the kitchens to the poorer provinces," She explained.
Ben was actually having a little fun coming to her defense. He began pacing, like he had seen several lawyers do in the movies. "So you're saying you stole food from the kitchens to take to the poor and hungry of the provinces?" He asked, "With no financial gain or claim to fame for yourself?" He went on, turning back to face her for her answer.
"Yes," she answered.
"Then why, Miss Blackheart," he made a mental note to change her last name as soon as he could, once everything else was taken care of. "Did you do it?"
"It seemed like a waste," Mal explained. "To see all that food being chucked away to rot." He hoped she would elaborate more on the good deed aspect of it. "I know it all ends up on the isle, but I figured there are hungry people closer that could use it more."
"So by stealing the horse and food that was already going to be thrown out, you did a good deed for the poor people of the provinces," He voiced. Then an idea struck him, and he moved closer to her, leaning on the iron bars that surrounded her. "Mal," he said, just a bit quieter due to their closeness. "Would you kiss me right now, in front of all of these people?" He asked, though he already knew her answer.
"No," She answered and he couldn't help but smile at the blush that came to her cheeks.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, my girlfriend won't kiss me," He said, turning away from her and toward the others. A small wave of laughter from a few people floated through the room. "I wouldn't say I'm unattractive, or that I stink, so Mal," he turned back toward her, "Why won't you kiss me?"
He could see her trying not to scowl at him. "Because first kisses hold special power and you promised me your kingdom for a kiss while under the influence of a love spell," She explained, watching him carefully.
"Would it work the same if I offered you the crown?" Ben asked, "If I promised you the crown I mean," He added, and he watched her face morph into fear.
"With all these magical beings and fairies in the room, it would definitely be a binding promise," She explained. "But I don't-"
"Promise me you won't lie for the next ten minutes," He cut her off before she could get any further. He knew it was a bit low, but he knew exactly what everyone else was looking for in their hunt for her true morality. "Trust me," he mouthed to her, hoping that she would be the only one to see it.
"I promise that I won't lie to you for the next ten minutes," Mal answered, her eyes catching his, the fear evident.
"Are you good?" He asked her, watching her carefully.
"Yes," Mal answered, the words flying from her mouth as if she couldn't keep them in if she tried.
"Would you ever do anything to willingly harm me or the crown?" He asked.
"No," Mal answered, unable to contain the words for too long.
"You once told me something about the only way you would ever take the crown," Ben spoke and he could see that Mal has screwed her eyes shut in embarrassment. "What was it that you told me?" He asked.
Mal resisted, trying to keep her mouth shut, her hands clamped over her mouth, the words fighting to be released. Eventually she lurched forward, her hands flying forward and gripping the iron around her hard.
"I told you the only way I would ever take the crown is if we shared the rule," She practically shouted, then came to her senses and pulled her hands from the iron around her, balling them into fists, but he didn't miss her twinge of pain.
He closed the distance between them, standing barely a foot from her. He pulled the crown from his head and pushed it toward her, watching her eyes grow wide with fear. "I'm handing over the rule of Auradon to you," he spoke, hearing everyone in the room gasp. "Will you take it?"
"No," She answered, shaking her head, her eyes screwed tight in fear. "The kingdom belongs to you."
That was good enough for him. He put the crown back on his head and took her hand. Her eyes popped open and he led her from the enclosure.
No one else seemed to want to argue with his decision.
"One last question," Fairy Godmother spoke and both Ben and Mal turned toward her. "Will you have that tea party with the little girl?"
Ben looked from Fairy Godmother to Mal. "Yes," Mal answered, "I have to show Mr. Stuffington his favorite color," She spoke truthfully.
"Very well," Fairy Godmother answered with a smile. "The votes if you please, Ladies and Gentleman," She continued, turning to the eleven members in the jury box. "All those who believe Mal to be good?"
Ben turned toward the other eleven, his hand raised high. All of the magic users raised their hands, and the only student still with her hand down was Audrey.
"Audrey," Fairy Godmother turned toward the Dormant's daughter. "Please explain your decision."
Audrey kept her arms crossed tightly against her chest. "She's the daughter of Maleficent, the mistress of evil!" She explained, "There's no way she can be good. Especially after all that she did last night!" She didn't even look at Mal, or Ben. "She practically tore my father's arm off!" She pushed, "What else could she do to Ben?" She asked.
"Ben?" Fairy Godmother turned back to him, and Mal, who he felt shaking beside him. "The ultimate decision comes down to you, our King," She explained.
"Mal is good," He spoke, "I trust her with my life," He declared, then he turned and pulled her from the room and the iron, knowing its effects on her.
As soon as they were out in the hallway, he could feel Mal heave a sigh of relief. "Stay here," He told her gently, releasing her hand from his and returning to the room with the others. "The council of the seven kingdoms with begin tomorrow," He spoke standing tall, he knew Mal was weaker than she had let on, and by his count he still had three minutes of complete truth from Mal. He wasn't about to let that go to waste.
He found her out in the hall, where he had left her, crumpled on the floor in weakness, her skin more pale than usual. He knew the others would exit the doors in the other side of the courtroom, so they were basically alone.
He leaned down and offered her his hand. "What can I do, Mal?" He asked gently, as she took it with reduced grip and tried to stand. "Don't try to stand up," He told her, leading her back down to the floor. She was weak, like he had been before after working out too much, or rough tourney games, especially when he didn't eat.
"I'm fine," She answered, trying to stand again, but he held her down gently. "It's just too much magic in a short period of time," She explained.
"And the iron," He guessed, worried about her. He had never seen her so weak, so exhausted. "How about lunch and a nap?" He suggested, "Or is there something else that you do after so much magic?" He asked.
"I could do lunch," She answered, "but what about the council?" She asked, and she sounded disappointed almost.
"Tomorrow," He explained. "You need your rest after your travels to the provinces, the reunion ball, and the morality case." She watched him carefully. "I'm thinking we have lunch delivered to my bedroom and we watch movies all afternoon."
She smiled. "That sounds good," she agreed, "Though I have to be somewhere before eight tonight," She explained as he helped her to her feet slowly.
Ben smiled. "Is the password still Lemon Drop?" He asked as he wrapped his arm around her waist and they started moving down the hall. "She's been trying to get me to tea party since we got here, but I've been too busy. I guess Mr. Stuffington will have to move over," Mal laughed weakly. "But first you need food and rest."
"I would kill for some strawberry pancakes," Mal answered.
Ben laughed. "People who were just were declared good probably shouldn't say they would kill for food," He said, they turned toward the kitchen "but I can definitely make pancakes happen."
She could feel a warmth spread across her back and her shoulders with a perfect pressure between pain and pleasure. It started out as light, timid touches, then the pressure built until it hit the perfect balance. She opened her eyes to see the familiar wallpaper panels of Ben's room, the sunlight casting long shadows across the blue and gold wallpaper.
"Glad to know I can wake you without dodging fists," Ben told her, moving his hand in a figure eight pattern against her spine. She sat up and looked around, not quite remembering falling asleep, or even making it back to his room. "You passed out halfway through Princess Bride," he explained, "Though you were pretty much a zombie after the morality trial," He continued with a gentle smile, sitting up to join her.
She had been dreaming, though she wasn't sure where reality had ended and her dreams had begun, or vice versa. Had she really faced all of the magic users and her closest peers in a morality trial?
Had she really been deemed good?
"I was going to let you keep sleeping," Ben admitted, "But I didn't want you to miss the tea party."
That part she did remember, the little girl and the tea party she had agreed to attend. She smoothed her hair down, or tried, knowing it would be quite tangled with the dreams she had been having.
"What time is it?" She asked, brushing her fingers through her bangs. "How long was I out?" She asked.
"It's just after four," Ben explained with a small smile as he moved closer to her. "And you passed out at around 11," He told her, pulling a feather from her hair.
"And you just watched me sleep?" Mal asked, her eyebrow raised in suspicion.
"Not the whole time," Ben answered, but she didn't miss the blush that rose to his cheeks. "I had some kingly duties to attend to, and a tea party to set up." She knew that wasn't exactly the whole truth. "So what were you having nightmares about?" He asked, trying to change the subject.
She stared at him. "Who said I was having nightmares?" She asked. She was, but she wasn't about to tell him that. He had enough to deal with already, and his own nightmares from what she had seen.
Ben fought back a laugh. "I can tell when you're having a nightmare because you get this cute little crease right here." He placed his index finger gently against her forehead, right between her eyebrows. "And your fists ball up against the blankets, or my shirt," He explained.
"Just how long were you watching me?" She asked. "Or do you know from personal experience?" She continued. "What does the king of Auradon dream about?"
"Summer Solstice," he admitted smoothly, though she could see that it wasn't exactly the truth, "and kissing you," He continued, brushing his thumb across her cheek gently. "When you have good dreams you get these little dimples right here" He brushed across her cheek again, then he stood. "Ready for a tea party, my faerie princess?" He asked with a slight bow, extending his hand to her.
She took a deep breath. "I would be careful throwing around the F word," She told him, "and the P word," She continued after a few seconds of thought, taking his hand and standing.
He laughed. "I can think of several F words that I shouldn't be throwing around," He said. "Faerie is not the worst by a long shot." She could feel her face starting to become warm. "And as far as Princess goes, I only speak the truth," He reminded her.
"I've never been to a Princess luncheon, or dress fitting, or even a tea party," She admitted, reminding him of her past, even though she had no doubts he didn't easily forget.
Ben smiled and gripped her hand as he led her from the room. "The trick with kids," he told her as they traveled down the hall and toward the stairs, "is to believe them." She looked to him for more explanation. "If they say their stuffed animal likes to whisper secrets, don't tell them they're wrong," He explained as they traveled toward the kitchen and the servant quarters.
They stopped at a door with pink foam flowers stuck to the door along with several stickers. Ben gave her a reassuring smile and then knocked three times.
"What's the password?" The same little girl's voice came from behind the door, deeper, like she was trying to be someone else. Mr. Fluffytail, perhaps.
"Lemon drop," Ben spoke clearly through the door, keeping Mal's hand in his.
The door opened quickly to reveal the little girl from before, holding a worn fox stuffed animal around the door handle, her face alight with surprise and excitement. "Ben!" She exclaimed jumping up and down in excitement before she ran toward him, nearly begging to be picked up.
Mal remembered those days, when she was that young and wanted her mother to pick her up in a moment of weakness after she had been roughed up by some older kids. Her mother had chastised her for not fighting back. Ben picked up the little girl with a big gesture and swung her around before resting her on his hip. Mal wasn't sure whose smile was bigger. She definitely wasn't on the island anymore.
"Mal," he said, turning back to her. "This is Charlie, Chip's daughter," He explained. "Charlie, this is my girlfriend, Mal."
"Hi Mal!" Charlie exclaimed, brushing the straw colored hair out of her eyes, "Mr. Stuffington and Princess Lollipop are making the tea now."
Mal could feel Ben's eyes on her. "I hope they make the tea really hot," Mal answered with a little smile, "and I hope there's enough for all of us." It felt fake, and forced, but Ben gave her a reassuring smile at least.
"I'll go check!" Charlie said, wiggling from Ben's arms. He set her back down "Stay here and then we'll do the introductions." Then she ran back into the room and shut the door, leaving Ben and Mal alone in the hallway again.
"She's really into princesses," Ben warned her, "Last Christmas break she would only refer to me as Princess Puppy." Mal laughed at that. "I can't wait to hear what she comes up with for you," He admitted.
"Aww, Bennyboo." Mal answered, pinching his cheek, "You can't come up with your own nickname?" She teased.
He smiled. "You are definitely the more creative one in this relationship," He told her. "Though I'm quite surprised 'Bennyboo' has stayed around so long."
Mal narrowed her eyes at him. "The compliment insult combo," she said, "Classic villain technique. Nice." She laughed. "I am definitely rubbing off on you."
"I would rather you-" Ben started, then stopped when Charlie joined them again, her arms laden with several dress up items.
She handed Ben a plastic crown and a pair of disguise glasses and he put them on without question, making Mal laugh. Then she turned to Mal and handed her a plastic silver tiara with an array of pink gems and a pink boa with neon bright feathers.
The tiara was easy enough, since she didn't have to see the pink and she placed it on her head as best she could. "It hides the horns well," Ben said as he laughed through the large glasses and fake nose and Mal laughed too, swinging the boa around her neck.
"I'm sorry," Mal joked back, "Do I know you?" She teased, grabbing onto the plastic nose and wiggling it slightly.
"Follow me please," Charlie spoke with a gentle bow and Ben and Mal bowed back. Then she led them into her bedroom. "May I present Prince Footstool and Princess Featherduster." Charlie introduced them to about a million stuffed animals all around the room, all in various states of wear.
Mal had never seen so many stuffed animals in one place, or had so many plastic and glass eyes staring at her. She hadn't ever had a doll or a stuffed animal, her mother considered them weak and childish, but she had always wanted to play with them when the other kids of the island had them.
"This is Mr. Stuffington, Mr. Fluffytail, and Princess Lollipop," Charlie continued, indicating to the three stuffed animals, a bear, a fox and a pink unicorn, crowded onto one of the little wooden chairs around a small wooden table. "Please take your seats and I will make sure the tea is hot enough for Princess Featherduster."
Ben pulled out the little wooden chair for Mal and she sat, then he took his seat. Always the gentleman, even during pretend tea parties. "So Princess Charlie, I heard someone has a birthday coming up," Ben, or Prince Footstool began.
Charlie nodded. "Daddy says that once I'm six, I can start learning to ride a horse like a real princess!" She exclaimed, setting an empty plastic teacup in front of Mal. "Do you know how to ride a horse, Princess?" She asked looking to Mal.
"I just recently learned," Mal explained with a smile, "but your daddy will be a good teacher," She answered, sneaking a look to Ben, remembering her first experiences on his horse.
"What do you want for your birthday, Pretty Girl?" Ben asked as Charlie set a teacup in front of him. Mal looked around the room, taking in all of the toys and games, it seemed like there was nothing Charlie didn't have.
"I want a Pretty Pink Princess Castle with the light up windows and Prince Charmand, and a happy pony riding saddle, and a Little Miss Princess dress," Charlie answered without even having to think about it. "Does anyone want cream or sugar?" She asked, looking from Ben to the stuffed animals to Mal.
Nearly an hour and a half later, Ben and Mal left Charlie's room as themselves, off to get ready for the banquet dinner with about a thousand or more guests.
"She likes you," Ben told her, taking her hand, "And I have to say, Princess Featherduster, you make a very cute pinkette."
Mal instantly reached for her hair. "Did I miss a spot?" She asked, worriedly, running her fingers through her once again purple tendrils.
"You're all purple again," He assured her, tousling her bangs. "And thank you for doing that. Charlie is the only kid here in the castle and no one really has a lot of time to just play with her," He explained.
"Thank goodness," She breathed a sigh of relief. "And it was actually fun," she admitted, "Who knew stuffed animals could talk so much?" She laughed as they moved down the hall toward the main stairs.
He watched her move with a lightness that made his heart beat just a little faster and he caught up to her with a few short steps. "Hey Mal?" He asked, stopping her before she hit the stairs. And she turned to face him, "Summer Solstice is coming up." As if she didn't know. "After the council tomorrow will you meet me in the library?" He asked.
"Of course," She answered with a smile. "I can't believe you still think that you think you can find the solution in a week and that you think you're going to find it before I do," She teased. "I can't have you showing me up by running a kingdom, speaking pretty much every language, and finding the solution to a magic problem."
"I do the best I can," He explained. "And I was the one who got us into this mess with the 'my love for you is ridiculous' fiasco."
Mal tried not to be too harsh and he could see that. "You're going to have to teach me those dance moves sometime," She said, mostly in jest. "After I find the solution to our magical problem.".
He laughed. "I will," He answered, "After I find the solution. I have to save you, remember?"
Mal rolled her eyes. "What exactly do you have to save me from?" She asked, "The brink of death?" She joked.
"If it's required, yes," Ben answered, not even wanting to think about that possibility.
She laughed a short laugh. "Race you to the dining hall?" She asked him, but before he could respond she was darting down the steps. "Ready Go!" She shouted as she sprinted.
"That's cheating!" Ben shouted, chasing after her and catching up pretty quick.
"VK!" She shouted back, breathless, as he caught her and wrapped his arms around her as they reached the hallway to the dining hall.
He turned her to face him, and she didn't resist at all. He caught her eyes and she gazed back at him. "I know I messed this part up under the love spell with the whole 'did I mention that?' thing and then our date," he started, knowing his cheeks were pink, if not a dark red. He was rambling and he knew it. "And I know we've only been together officially for less than two months," he took a deep breath, "But I really do love you. You are the only one for me."
Mal stared up at him, her eyes full of questions. "You didn't mess anything up," She told him gently, her focus moving from his eyes and to the hallway. "It's just not the right time for me to say it back," she admitted, breaking away from his arms and moving toward the dining hall.
He could understand that.
He would give her all the time in the world if he could.
If only his own body wasn't working against him.