AN: Sorry I took so long to update. Unfortunately for me, summer vacation's over and I've been busy packing to go back to university.

Thank you all for the reviews, story alerts and favourites! I appreciate each and every one of them!

Chapter 36

They continued to drift aimlessly while Ben sobbed into Annabelle's shoulder. From the way that she was trembling, it was a pretty safe bet that she was crying as well. Suddenly, he felt a sense of misplaced male pride and a surge of embarrassment for crying in her presence.

"We should reach the mainland later today if we hurry," Ben declared as he stubbornly scrubbed the evidence of his tears away and detangled himself from her arms, all the way avoiding her gaze. "You should eat something…That bloodloss-"

"Ben, don't do this," she whispered, placing a hand on his cheek. "Look at me."

He pointedly ignored her touch. "From the sun's position-"

"Stop acting like it's wrong to feel something!" she cried, cupping his chin to force him to look at her. "Stop acting so damned proud! You're allowed to cry over the death of your brother! In fact, I'd be damned worried if you didn't feel anything!"

"It's not that I don't feel anything! It's that there's absolutely nothing I can do about it!" He took a deep breath. "I'm sorry, Bells…It's…I found him after so long and now…I killed him…I killed my own brother…"

"William was gone, Ben," she said gently. "It's what he would have wanted."

"He didn't deserve that…He didn't deserve to be turned into that…thing!" He dropped his head into his hands and he felt Annabelle placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Why not me?," he whispered. "Why did William have to suffer for his whole life, while I got to live?" He looked at her, his expression dark. "I've done so many bad things…I've killed, I've robbed men blind, I've committed adultery…Why do I get to live and he doesn't?"

"Ben…"

He went on undeterred. "I got to meet you…You have the purest heart out of anyone I've ever met. You would have given up your life so that others could live…And yet, for some inexplicable reason, you fell in love with me. Me…A man that merely saw you as a woman that would be a challenge to get into bed when I first met you."

"Precisely." He looked at her in shock. "Precisely," she said again, her eyes burning with fierce emotion. "When you first met me. I fell in love with you because you proved that you were more than that. And I know that you didn't fall in love with the girl that I was back then. We both got to know who the other person really is."

A small smile played on her lips. "I thought that you were the most arrogant and rudest man I'd ever met. But like I told you before, I now know that despite all those things you did, you are a good man. You've saved my life on many occasions and William hadn't destroyed Reaver's control stone, you would have died so that he and I could live. I know that William saw that in you as well and if you were in his situation, wouldn't you have wanted him to grant you the same mercy?" She kissed him softly on his lips. "I wish I could make you see the man I see when I look at you," she whispered, resting her forehead against his.

"A misguided bastard?" he said dryly, smirking slightly.

She kissed him again. "I'd rather go for overconfident buffoon, but that works as well," she said, rolling her eyes.

"If you don't mind me asking, what did you talk about when you were in the dungeon?" he asked suddenly as he picked up the oars to start rowing to safety. "You and William I mean."

"The first thing he said to me was that I had to trust that he meant me no harm." A small smile played on her lips. "Now that I think of it, you were so alike. The first sign was when he commented on my unwillingness to cooperate while being kidnapped, claiming that the men at the castle must have loved me like that."

Ben couldn't help but smile in memory. "That sounds like him."

"He was so happy to hear that you were alive, but he begged me not to tell you what had happened to him. He knew that you'd try to save him if you found out." Her fingers absentmindedly toyed with the pendant she still wore around her neck. "He also said that you must really love me to have given me this." She seemed to be deep in thought for a moment. "I still couldn't understand why he wanted to help me so badly."

"We Finn men have always had a predisposed weakness for beautiful women who happened to be in distress," Ben replied. "William was also a good man."

She gripped his hand tightly. "I know he was. I wish I could have gotten to know him better…"

"I wish so as well…" He quickly shut out the dark thoughts that threatened to consume him. There was no point in dwelling on what could have been. He was still upset. He'd probably always be, but he'd work through it on his own, later. When I get back, I'm sure as hell going to the pub. "Thank you, Bells," he said sincerely. "I don't know what I would have done without you."

"You would have been a lot better off, believe me," she laughed. "Even I'm starting to think that I'm more trouble than I'm worth."

"Never." He flashed her his most charming smirk. "Now let's get you home."

oOoOoOo

"Anna! Thank the Light you are unharmed!" Walter pulled Annabelle into a tight embrace that lifted her off her feet.

"Walter!" she gasped. "I can't…breathe!"

"Sorry." He put her down and finally released his vice-like grip on her.

"If you are done crushing her, can I greet my sister now, Walter?" Logan asked, a small smile on his thin lips.

"Logan!" she cried, pulling him into a tight hug. Logan stood dead still for a moment, probably shocked by her passionate display, but then wrapped his arms around her in a tight embrace.

"I'm glad you are well, Anna. I was prepared to send the whole of the guard to find you."

"Ben did just fine on his own," she said, shooting a glance to where the blond general was leaning against her desk. He returned the look a wink before his expression turned serious.

"It was Reaver that took her," he said, gritting his teeth.

Logan's hands dropped to his sides and balled them into fists. "What I don't understand is why. Surely, he would have realised that taking the bloody queen was completely idiotic," he said coldly.

"He wanted to sacrifice my youth to the Shadow Court to retain his immortality. Apparently, the ritual is much more powerful if a Hero is the sacrifice," Annabelle admitted and sank down into one of the couches. Suddenly she felt bone tired and she realised that she hadn't eaten more than a piece of dried meat or slept more than a few hours in the last two days.

"Why would you…Why would he think that you wouldn't try to escape?" Walter asked, deep frown lines etched into his face.

"Because he offered me all the money we need to protect the kingdom," she admitted. "And he threatened to take the sacrifice from one of you if I refused."

"I'll tell the guards to look for him and arrest him at once. This will be the last time Reaver tries something like this," Logan declared and swept out of the room.

After he left, Walter studied her intently. "You need to go to bed, Anna. You look dreadful."

"Why thank you, Walter," she managed, struggling to keep her eyes open. Her leg still throbbed intently and she wanted nothing more than to soak it in hot bath.

"I'll send the maids up to draw you a bath. Ben, let us leave her alone." Walter turned on his heel, but stopped when he realised that Ben wasn't following. "Ben, come on."

"I'm staying, Wally. The last time I left her alone, she got snatched in the middle of the night," Ben argued.

"There is no way I'm letting you spend the night in an unwed woman's bedchambers, Ben Finn!" Walter roared, turning bright red.

"I promise that I'm not going to sleep with her. I know that I'm still on probation," Ben said in an almost bored voice.

Walter was unconvinced. "Ben. Out. Now!"

Ben rolled his eyes and signed off a mocking salute. "Yes, sir. Can I at least kiss her goodnight?" he asked in a sarcastic tone.

"Fine!"

"Goodnight, your Majesty," he said, pointedly raising his voice and he kissed her cheek. "Leave your window open. I'd hate to climb all the way up only to find it locked," he whispered so that only she could hear.

"Goodnight, General," she replied equally formal. She couldn't help but smile when he winked and followed Walter out of the door.

As she waited for the maids to fill the bath, she hesitantly removed the now bloodied piece of cloth around her thigh. She couldn't help but wince when she saw the scar that the Half-breed had left on her leg. She had been lucky that it didn't tear off the chunk of flesh entirely.

She could only imagine how it would have felt if she didn't heal as quickly as she did.

After the bath, she felt a hundred times better and when she finished donning a clean nightgown, she gladly fell onto the soft bed. "Don't wake me up until next year at least," she muttered to no one in particular.

"Sorry, Sleeping Beauty, but we still need you to fight that little problem in a few months," Ben's voice sounded from her window.

"It didn't take you very long to get up here," she remarked, sitting upright.

He chuckled before sitting down next to her. "It's just a tower that I need to climb. How's your leg?"

"Better." She tried to stifle yawn, but failed miserably and Ben laughed out loud.

"Very well, I can take a hint. Go to sleep, sweetheart."

She sank down gratefully and settled into his embrace. She fell asleep almost the moment her head hit the pillow.

oOoOoOo

"Bring Reaver in!" Walter announced loudly. Annabelle fixed her face in a stony mask as she waited for Reaver to enter the throne room.

"I can walk myself, thank you very much!" Reaver swept into the room as if he owned it and fell into a deep bow at the throne. "Your Majesty! So good to see you again," he declared, an annoying smirk plastered on his face.

"Master Reaver. Do you know why you are here today?" she asked, her voice echoing throughout the stone room.

"I won't pretend to know, Majesty," he replied, still smirking.

She had to bite her cheek to stop herself from saying something inappropriate as she waited for Walter to read the charges.

"Master Reaver, you are hereby on trial for the kidnapping and assault of the queen, as well as the illegal experimentation on the citizens of Albion. What say you against these charges?" Walter asked

"This is atrocious!" Annabelle had to admit that Reaver was an excellent actor. That, or he clearly believed that he was innocent. "Where do you come off accusing me of such things?"

"Master Reaver, do you honestly insist on going against my own word?" she asked tightly. "These are crimes committed against myself!"

"And what of this claim of "experimentation?", my Lady?" Do you insist on going on only your word as well? You have no proof that I did any experiments," Reaver declared haughtily.

"This is not my word alone, Master Reaver. This is also on the word of General Benjamin Finn, as well as the now deceased William Finn. Deceased, because he died one of your experiments," she declared icily, her eyes narrowed in anger. A loud gasp sounded throughout the room.

"Order! Order!" Walter called.

"My lady, we all know that General Finn has been performing certain…favours…for your Majesty. Forgive me if I do not trust his word," Reaver sneered.

She felt a hot blush creep up her neck as the whispering voices increased in volume and several looks of disbelief were thrown in her direction. As embarrassed as she was that they found out about their affair, somehow, she didn't care anymore. On the other hand, Annabelle was glad that she'd convinced Ben not to attend the trial since he would probably have killed Reaver by now.

"The nature of my relationship with General Finn is none of your concern, Master Reaver," she ground out. "All that matters is that I trust his word. Besides, this is my ruling and what and who you find trustworthy is none of my concern!"

"I'm just wondering if you are truly being fair…your Majesty." She wanted to wipe that smirk off his face so badly. "But it seems you've already made your decision…What will it be? Will I be sentenced to death?"

"That would be too simple, wouldn't it?" She smiled sweetly at him. "Reaver, you are hereby banished from Albion and all of your assets will be sold and donated to the poor in Bowerstone that you exploited. If you ever set foot on Albion soil again, you will be killed on sight."

She saw his eyes widen slightly. "Your Majesty-"

"My word is final. Guards, take this man to the first boarding ship."

"You will regret this, Annabelle. Maybe not today or tomorrow…but one day, you will regret it," he hissed as the guards dragged him out of the room.

"You are adjourned," she announced as she swept out of the room. She didn't doubt that Reaver would be back, but at least this gave her time to prepare. She so wanted to kill him, but he was still the only other Hero beside her. She didn't know if she'd need his help in the future.

Of course, it will be difficult to convince him to help me after today, but that is not a problem right at this moment.

She couldn't help but smile in satisfaction at her small victory.

oOoOoOo

"Logan? Can I speak to you?" Ben asked carefully as he knocked on the door of the room that Logan was using as a temporary study.

Logan looked up from the account ledger that he was studying at Ben surprise. The surprise, however, quickly changed to confusion. "What is it, Mister Finn?"

"Please, call me Ben," he said as he walked inside. "Can I sit down?"

Logan tilted his head in an empty chair's direction and Ben sat down. "What can I help you with, Ben?" he asked, his voice as cold as steel.

"It concerns Annabelle. It sounds silly, but I promised myself that if I found her, I'd…try to make amends," he said vaguely. "Clear the air between us if you will."

"Oh?" Logan raised a dark eyebrow. "Why is this sudden change, Ben?"

"I…lost someone recently and it reminded me exactly how much she means to me. I love her, Logan and I now know how much she means to you and you to her." His gaze turned hard. "Don't misunderstand, I'll never forget what you did to Swiftie…but I am prepared to put it behind us. For her sake."

His thin lips quirked in what could be called a smile. "From what I know about you, Ben, you are not one to easily concede a battle. I'm…startled to say the least, but I appreciate it."

"There is also something else that I wanted to ask you. Do you mind if Walter joins us?"

Logan nodded his head and Ben quickly called him to come in.

"What is this about, Ben? We all have things to do before next week," Walter said, clearly irritated.

"I'll be quick. You are Annabelle's only male relative," he said to Logan before turning to Walter. "And you are like her father." Ben took a deep breath to steady his resolve. "I want to ask her hand in marriage," he rushed out.

The former monarch looked startled to say the least and Walter turned bright red.

"Ben, I said that I'd tolerate this infatuation you've developed, but to speak about marriage? That is preposterous!" Walter thundered. "I will not accept this!"

Ben decided to quickly interrupt him before he went off the rails again. "I know that I'm not the type of person that a queen is supposed to marry, or any woman for that matter and I know that there are hundreds of men who are more suitable for her, but I love her. I don't know where I'd be if not for her. And I know that I can at least try to make her happy. I-"

"You can stop, Ben. You've shown me by rushing off and risking your own life to save her that you love her and want to protect her. If you want to ask her, you have my permission," Logan interjected.

Walter turned an even deeper shade of red. "Logan! He is a-"

"Perfectly loyal, trustworthy and honourable man by my standards," Logan finished for him. "I don't see any reason why he can't marry my sister."

Walter continued to splutter loudly and Logan merely quirked an eyebrow in his direction. "Or what do you say, Walter? By this point you know that anything you say will simply be a formality seeing as the decision to give permission is mine alone. The General is probably only asking you as a gesture of goodwill towards you."

"Fine," Walter huffed loudly. "But you will wait at least two years!"

"Agreed." Ben couldn't keep the smile off his face.

"I need to…I need to go plan something." Walter left with a loud sigh.

"Don't mind Walter. He'll come around eventually." Logan had turned his attention back to the ledger in front of him. "He's just upset at the possibility that he won't be the one that Annabelle will go to when she has a problem. Or it could be the fact that he's losing her to another man."

"I bloody well hope that you're right. It would be mighty uncomfortable being around him if he's going to grumble every time I see him."

Logan smiled slightly, not lifting his eyes from the book. "That, unfortunately for you, General, is never going to go away."

oOoOoOo

The night before the Crawler would attack, Ben made his way to Annabelle's room. He didn't want her to be alone, especially considering the amount of stress she'd been under.

To his confusion, however, he couldn't find her in her room.

There is only one place she'd be on a night like tonight, he realised.

Sure enough, when he approached the tomb of the old Hero king, he could hear a voice talking quietly.

"Please, Father…Help me to be strong enough to overcome the challenge laid before me. Help me to be strong enough to protect those I love…I know you said that you'd always be with me, but I'm scared. I'm so scared about tomorrow," he heard Annabelle admit and he felt his heart break. He so wanted to take all of her problems away, but he couldn't.

He heard a sharp intake of breath as if she was struggling not to cry. "What if I fail?" she whispered.

"I wish you were here, Daddy…But I know that I need to do this on my own. I need to prove to myself that I can be the Hero Albion needs." From the way that her voice trembled, it was clear that she was now crying openly.

"I hope you're proud of me…"

He couldn't leave her alone like this. "Of course he is," he declared quietly and despite the low volume of his voice, it echoed disconcertingly in the tomb. Annabelle looked at him surprise. She was sitting on the ground next to her father's tomb, streaks of tears running down her cheeks.

He closed the distance between himself and the distraught queen and knelt down next to her. "Don't you dare doubt that he is anything less than proud of you."

"Ben." She scrubbed away the remains of her tears. "I…You're not supposed to see me like this."

He took both her hands in his. "Stop doubting yourself, sweetheart. You'll do amazing tomorrow."

"What if I fail?" she asked in a tiny voice. "We could very well die tomorrow.

"You won't," he insisted. "We won't. Wally, Logan and I won't allow you to. And I don't know about Logan, but Walter and I are too stubborn to die."

"Don't leave me tonight…please," she whispered almost pleadingly. "Make me forget…just for one night."

Without saying anything more, he wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her into him in a desperate, forceful kiss. She clamped her arms around his neck, pulling him as close as she possibly could.

Somehow they made it up to her room without being seen. Hands fumbled to remove pieces of clothing. Each touch was frantic as they memorised every detail of each other's bodies. With every kiss and every caress they tried to convey what they couldn't with words.

For the moment, they were the only two people in the world.

"I'm so scared," she whispered, still shaking uncontrollably as she laid cradled in his arms.

"You've faced it before, Bells," he insisted, but she shook her head forcefully.

"Not about the Crawler…About losing you…any of you."

He held her even tighter against him. "Nothing scares me more than the possibility of losing you, too," he admitted, equally quiet.

He felt her hot tears against her chest. "I never told you what scared me about my nightmares…Why I couldn't look at you…" He almost couldn't bear to hear what she'd say next. "Almost every night for the last year, I saw you die in my arms…I try to stop the bleeding, but there's so much blood…You ask me…You ask me why I left you…" Her sobs drown out the rest of her words.

"I won't die, Bells," he said fiercely, pulling away slightly and tilting her chin so that she looked at him. "I promise you that both of us are going to make it." He smiled encouragingly. "I have something to ask you when all of this is over."

She looked at him with a questioning expression. "What-"

He silenced her with a kiss. "You'll have to come back to me to find out," he breathed against her lips.

I'm not going to let the Darkness get you, sweetheart, he vowed silently. Nor anyone else.

oOoOoOo

AN: I just wanted to wrap up all the loose ends before the Crawler attack.

Please, tell me what you think!