A/N: Welcome back :)
As always a big thank you goes to my wonderful beta Wanderlustandfreedom for her precious help with this chapter. And I'd also like to thank my regular reviewers AmethystDragon14, fresh-BLOOD-was-drawn-2night, brimason0201 and SparkyGurly 227 for having left a review for the last chapter and welcome back to Harry Potter Fan 1994 - I missed you! Any feedback (big or small) is always appreciated and is a great motivational boost for me to continue writing so don't be afraid to leave me a message with your thoughts.
This is it, my friends. All the final answers are here and I know you're all super eager to see what is going to happen now that the war is over so let's get to it:
Chapter 43
"Hurry up with those clothes," Uma barked. The two servant girls straightened up immediately and exchanged nervous glances before hurrying up to drop the dresses they were carrying inside the large trunk on the duchess's bed.
Uma turned back to the documents in her hand and bit her lip. These were the last proof of her correspondence with Gaston. One of her informants had brought the news of Ben's victory, and she couldn't afford to be found in possession of anything that could link her with the Eastern territories. She also hadn't heard from Lancelot yet, and the duchess couldn't hide her nervousness. Something was wrong, and she had to get away from Camelot as soon as possible. She walked to the fireplace across her bedroom and threw them inside. She watched, mesmerized, as the documents crackled in the fire before turning into ashes. The chamber's door opened with a bang, and Uma spun around. The servant girls' eyes bulged out in fear before they scattered away in a frenzy.
Two guards entered, followed by Arthur and Merlin, and Uma plastered a smile before bowing to the king. "Your majesty," she greeted.
"I always believed you were a woman who'd never run away from her responsibilities, Uma," Arthur said in a stern tone, frowning deeply.
Uma's heart began to pace faster, but she managed to keep her calm posture. "And what makes you think that I'm not, Arthur?"
"Don't you know?" he asked, walking inside the room before stopping beside her bed. He turned to face her open trunk. "We've won, but you're packing. Where are you going?"
Uma inhaled sharply and twisted her hands. "I've been away from home for too long," she paused. "Now that it's safe, I thought it would be a good time to visit my lands."
Arthur let out a breath to control his anger and steeled his gaze. "I don't think so, Duchess."
"What do you mean?" Uma asked, feigning surprise.
"I had a long chat with Captain Lancelot and he told me all about what he's done for you and Lord Gaston," Arthur scowled.
Uma stiffened and took a step back but kept her gaze fixed on Arthur. "I don't know what Lancelot told you, but they're all lies. He's merely a soldier, but I'm of noble blood, a Duchess respected by all the High Court members. All I've ever done these years is work to safeguard the peace and ensure Camelot's victory."
Arthur marched up to Uma as his cheeks began to burn increasingly red until he stopped and interrupted her, unable to control his anger. "And how exactly did mine and Princess Mal's deaths fit into your plans to safeguard the peace?"
Uma opened her mouth to reply but shut it almost immediately. It was as though time had stopped. Her face turned ashen, and she gulped. She'd been caught. It was over. "I can explain, your majesty," she stammered.
Arthur nodded, taking a deep breath to calm himself. "Yes, you have a lot of explaining to do. But not to me," he paused. "I believed you were my most loyal advisor, Uma. I trusted you. Camelot trusted you," he snapped. "I won't be an impartial judge, but you're lucky it's Camelot's and not Auradon's justice system that will decide your faith. I would take the time you'll have to think about all you've done and repent for betraying your people. Take her away!"
A soldier led the duchess away. Arthur watched with an angry and grave expression while Merlin walked up to the king and placed a comforting hand on his arm with a small smile. Merlin knew it mustn't have been easy for the king to accept Uma's betrayal, but he also knew of Arthur's strength and resilience. He'd get over it in time. "Come, Arthur," he stated. "We've won. It's finally over, and we've brought back peace to these lands. I don't know you, but all I want to do is find Mal and celebrate our victory."
Arthur returned Merlin's smile before spinning around. "You're right as always, old friend," Arthur replied and followed the Fae towards the main hall, eager to have his family back finally and reunited under one roof.
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Mal was going to go insane. It had been a week since Gaston's defeat – a week since she'd last seen Ben – but she'd been unable to get him out of her head. Arthur and Merlin hadn't helped the situation either. They'd been shocked to find out about their sudden and unexpected split and tried relentlessly to get her to open up about what happened, but Mal didn't feel up to it. All she wanted was to forget what had happened these last few months and return to her carefree life at the convent.
Mal sighed as she wandered through the quiet corridors of Camelot's castle. She'd promised herself she'd get over Ben, but images of him and the memories of their time together haunted her sleep. Mal was so exhausted that she couldn't even stand on her own. Why couldn't she forget him? He'd betrayed her with Uma. He'd lost faith in their love. How could she trust him again?
Mal let her right hand trail on the wall alongside her before stopping to lean against it. She pursed her lips, and her shoulders slumped as she recalled Uma's words - Ben was devastated. The woman he'd idolized all this time had turned out to be like everybody else - a liar - just like Gaston. Mal felt a heavy feeling settle in her heart as it twisted with doubt. She remembered Ben's pained expression when he'd seen her kiss Harry Hook. She might have done it to save Arthur's life, but that didn't mean she hadn't hurt Ben. He must've felt so heartbroken and lost and so soon after finding out about the truth about his father's murder. He'd been easy prey for Uma.
Mal exhaled. She wasn't free from fault either. She'd told Ben that she'd never lost faith in him, but she'd also fallen for Uma's ruse when trapped at the mines. She'd believed that Ben wanted to marry Uma, but instead, he'd risked his life to save her. Her heart lurched at the memory of seeing his lifeless body sprawled in the crypt.
The princess was so lost in her thoughts that she hadn't realized she'd picked herself up from the wall and made her way to the Great Hall. The silence was replaced by the loud chattering of the crowd around her. The leaders and dignitaries from all parts of the Fairytale land had gathered at Camelot to mark the end of celebrations for the end of the Great War and witness Ben's coronation. Ten years after King Adam's death, Ben was taking his place as Auradon's rightful ruler.
Mal moved to the hall's far-right corner and tightened the cloak covering her head. The last thing she needed at the moment was for someone to recognize her. Her heart began to hammer in her chest as she spotted Ben standing on a wooden stage talking to Arthur and Merlin. Ben was dressed in formal attire – a blue tunic with golden embellishments and the crest of Auradon sewn in the front while a long cape hung from his shoulders to his ankles. Even though he was far away, Mal could see his eyes shine bright with pride and forgetting herself, Mal's lips stretched into a smile. She was so proud of him – he'd avenged his father and brought peace to these lands like he'd promised Robin.
Everyone quieted down as Arthur moved to the center of the stage and turned to face the gathered crowds with a smile of his own. "Prince Benjamin," he began, motioning for Ben to join him. Ben stopped beside him, and Arthur spun around to face him. "You've shown great courage during the Great War. You stood up to the challenge and faced it with honor. It is with great pride that I stand before everyone gathered here today to return what's been unjustly taken from you all these years." Arthur turned to Merlin, who gave him a golden livery collar. Ben bowed as Arthur placed the collar around the prince's neck and shoulders. "I know Adam would be so proud of you today. Rise, Benjamin, King of Auradon." The room exploded in loud cheers.
Mal watched as Ben straightened, and his gaze flickering across the room until it fell on Chad and Tuck, and he smiled. "Arthur, you've invested in me great responsibility, but I promise that I'll be worthy of the trust you've shown me today. The people of Auradon will no longer suffer and I promise to always govern my lands with justice and honor. I've learned that power and strength aren't achieved through fear and violence but by showing respect and love for one another." Ben paused as his eyes lit up with a deep fire and Mal's heart warmed up, recognizing the man she'd fallen in love with.
"I've grown up surrounded by lies and deceit, but I've also met people like my father Adam and Robin and Marian of Locksley who dedicated their lives to love and protect the innocent. They fought to their death for what they believed to be right, but they'll live forever in my heart. They taught me to let go of feelings of hate and revenge that made me weak, and for that, I'll be forever in their debt. And to honor their legacy, my first order will be to inscribe the words 'Peace, truth and love' on Auradon's coat of arms for everyone to see. It's time to move forward. It's time to let go of all the hurt and pain brought about by the Great War and be driven by love and compassion instead. It's time for forgiveness. It's time for new beginnings. It's time to unite and prosper all together as one nation governed by peace."
The room once again went up in cheers as Arthur and Merlin joined Ben's side and clapped his shoulders. Mal adjusted her cape, lowering her head. She slipped out of the room, unable to handle the turmoil of emotions that had erupted inside her.
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The last time he'd been here, it was a cold autumn afternoon, and Doug and LeFoe had been at his side. Ben looked up at the clear summer skies with a wistful smile before returning his gaze to stare at the stone tombstone in front of him. Ben felt the sunrays on his shoulder as they seeped through the tall trees, and his heart warmed. It was a perfect day for what he'd come to do.
"Father," he greeted, falling to his knees beside Adam's grave. "I hope I've made you proud, dad. I miss you so much, and I'll do my best to honor your memory and govern these lands with justice." Ben removed the golden livery collar from his neck and placed it on the ground. "These are your lands once again, and you can finally rest in peace." Ben lowered his head in respect, and the silence fell on the quiet graveyard.
"I knew I'd find you here," a woman's soft voice broke the moment, and Ben turned around.
He blinked at Mal in surprise and got to his feet. Mal stopped by his side and stared at Adam's grave. "He'd be proud of you for what you've done."
Ben nodded, and an awkward silence hung in the air until Mal continued talking. "Is it true what you said at your coronation?"
Ben was surprised at Mal's question. He'd never expected her to come to his coronation after all he'd done to her. He'd broken her heart, and she'd been right to end things with him. He'd never forgive himself. Ben lowered his head and stared at his feet in shame. "What exactly?" he whispered.
"That power and strength are achieved by showing respect and love for one another. That it's time to move forward, to let go of our hurt and pain, and to be driven by love and compassion instead - that it's time for forgiveness and new beginnings," she replied with a smile.
Ben's head snapped up and turned around and locked eyes with the princess. There was a burning intensity in Mal's gaze that Ben hadn't seen in ages, and his heart filled with hope. "Mal," he trailed, stepping forward. Could it be? Could Mal still love him despite all the pain he'd caused her?
"Ben," Mal whispered, and she settled a hand on his cheek.
"I don't deserve your forgiveness," he breathed.
"Let me decide that." Mal shook her head as her expression softened. "I love you, and together we'll move past it. I want to share my future with you."
"I'll find a way to make it up to you. I promise," Ben murmured. "I love you."
Mal leaned further towards Ben, brought her mouth to his, and closed her eyes as the world around them disappeared.
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It was a bright spring morning. Mal stared at the outline of the distant mountain range from her bedroom window. She then turned her attention back to the long mirror in front of her and twirled a lock of hair around her fingers. Mal's purple hair, which she'd cut short when she'd escaped the Notre Dame convent, was now long, reaching her waist in heavy waves.
"Princess! What do you think you're doing?" Evie scolded from across the room. "I won't let you ruin all my hard work. It took me an hour to comb and braid that hair of yours. Why didn't we leave it short?"
Mal whirled around to face her trusted handmaiden, and the heavy, white silk skirts of her dress swished around her. All that had happened in the previous months, particularly their imprisonment in the Dwarf mines, had made the two women grow even closer. Mal now considered Evie to be so much more than her handmaiden - she was the sister she'd never had, her best friend.
Evie, who was holding a long, lace headpiece in her arms, shook her head at her in clear annoyance, and Mal bit her lip to suppress a giggle and keep a straight face. "Because that's what distinguishes a noblewoman from common folk, remember?" she returned with a raised eyebrow as a mischievous smile pulled across her lips.
Evie let out a long-suffering sigh. "Stop messing around, your highness. If we don't hurry up, they'll be sending a search party to look for us. You don't want to arrive late on your wedding day, do you? King Ben might think that you've run off in the woods again to practice with that bow and arrow you love so much." Evie snorted and walked up to Mal, clipping the elaborate veil in place. The two women turned to look back at Mal's reflection in the mirror, and Evie beamed. "Impeccable!"
Mal rolled her eyes and was about to retort a reply when a knock on the bedroom door brought them away from their good-natured banter. "Come in!" Mal called.
"Mal, everyone's waiting for you. Are you read…" Merlin trailed off, looking completely stunned. "Look at you, child. You're beautiful!"
Mal felt her cheeks go a little pink. "Thank you, Merlin."
"Ready?" he asked. "You know it's not nice to leave a man waiting at the altar."
"Yeah, I'm ready," she replied with a bright smile walking up to Merlin. She took hold of his outstretched arm and left her bedroom in Auradon's castle. They'd chosen to get married in Auradon – in the city's main town square so that everyone, nobleman and the common folk, could witness their happy day. It had only been a few months since Ben had been crowned king, but Mal couldn't have been prouder of him. He'd worked hard, visiting village after village, talking to his people, and vowing to right all the damage and pain caused by Gaston. Ben returned the pillaged farmlands to their rightful owners, passed new laws, abolished unjust taxes, and used his wealth to fix and modernize his lands. Mal listened to him for hours on end with a full heart as he excitedly shared his ideas with her – building schools so that all children could learn a trade and his dream of a unified land where royals and commoners both worked hard to support each other.
Merlin and Mal walked down to the castle's courtyard, Evie behind them, making sure that the long train didn't get dirty. An open carriage stood waiting, and Merlin climbed in before helping his young charge settle beside him. The coachman smacked his horse's reins, and they began to make their way towards the main gate.
The route was quiet for only the first few minutes until they passed the main gate, and then Mal heard a roar as they rode through the main city streets. People cheered as they went by as a soft cloud of white petals rained down on them from the sky. Mal instinctively smiled and waved back at the crowd until her breath caught in her throat and her stomach churned as the realization of what was about to happen hit her full force. She was about to marry Ben and become Queen. These would also become her people, and as she looked at their happy faces, she vowed to help Ben make these lands flourish. Mal then felt a hand on hers.
"Nervous?" Merlin asked.
"Yes, a little," Mal nodded. "Governing these lands will be a great responsibility."
"Just breathe," Merlin smiled at her. "There's nothing to be nervous about. It might seem a lot, but you're not alone. Ben loves you, and Arthur and I will always be by your side to guide you."
The carriage stopped, and the footman appeared and held out his hand. Mal took it and exited the carriage and waved at the loud crowd. The massive square sides had been fitted with an endless series of blue and golden Auradonian banners with rows of long wooden pews stretching to the front of the square where an altar had been set up. Mal breathed deeply and waited until Merlin joined her side and grabbed onto his outstretched arm with a shaky hand. The trumpets blazed into sound, and they began to walk down the long aisle. She let out a deep breath and focused on keeping one foot in front of the other until her gaze crossed Ben's smiling face, and all of her fears and doubts melted away into nothingness. Her heart warmed, and a happy bubble exploded in her chest. Ben loved her, and she'd never felt this way towards anyone in her life. He made her feel strong, safe and secure. She was home.
Merlin led Mal to the main altar where Ben and Arthur were waiting. Ben held out his hand with a grin, and Merlin took Mal's and put it in his. Merlin kissed Mal's cheek with bright eyes and turned to Ben. "Take care of my little girl, Ben." Ben nodded with a smile and turned to face Arthur, squeezing Mal's hand in his.
"Today is a day of great celebration," Arthur began, "and not only because we mark the six-month anniversary from the end of the Great War. It's a day of great celebration because we've gathered here to witness the marriage of King Benjamin of Auradon and Princess Mal of the Moorlands. This union between the Western and Eastern territories fills our heart with hope - hope that our lands that have been divided for far too long can finally start to heal and become all united together under one banner of peace."
"King Benjamin of Auradon, do you take Princess Mal, Heiress to the Moorlands, to be your wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, till death do you part?"
"Yes, I do," Ben stated.
"And do you, Princess Mal, heiress.."
"I do!" Mal interrupted. Merlin rolled his eyes with a smile as the crowd erupted in laughter while Arthur gave her a pointed look. The crowd quieted down, and Arthur turned to Tuck. The friar stepped forward with a little cushion in his hands. Ben reached out and slipped the wedding ring on Mal's finger. Mal beamed, taking Ben's ring and slipping it into his finger.
"What God has joined together, let no man pull asunder," Arthur continued. "I declare you husband and wife. Ben, you may now kiss the bride."
The crowd erupted in thunderous applause as they met in a kiss, with Ben hoisting Mal clean of the ground. "I love you," Ben declared when they broke apart and began to twirl her around. Mal erupted in a joyous laugh as her gaze fell upon their friends gathered around them. She was truly home.
A/N: So AmethystDragon14 did I dissappoint you? :D
I know I've left a few loose ends like what happened to Gaston and Uma. But there's still an epilogue to the story coming up in the next days so please tune in to that. The Bal fans out there won't be dissappointed ;). See ya next time!