Captured By Pirates

This chapter tells what happens to Ben after his conversation with Captain Uma on the deck of her ship.

[Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from Descendants 2 or the dialogue used from the film. Some dialogue from the film has been included in order to tie in the events of the film into my fanfic. No copyright infringement or theft of intellectual property is intended.]

Chapter 9

For over three hours Ben was forced to stay standing against the ship's foremast, while pirates jeered, threatened, and cursed him. Uma knew the power of words and had ordered her first mate, Harry Hook, and several others to give the king a verbal thrashing. But they soon became bored with hurling just insults at the bound king. And although it was against the captain's orders, most of the crew had taken their turn at striking the helpless man. Harry and Gil had been tasked with keeping their shipmates under control, but they were not inclined to do so. They felt justified in making the King of Auradon pay for trapping them all on this wretched island. Not to mention, tormenting prisoners is a favorite pastime for most pirates.

"This is for my father," Gill said as he punched the king in the jaw. The blow split Ben's lip and he spat blood. He would've also staggered and fallen, had he not been lashed to the mast. Once he was able to look up again, the prisoner saw the contempt and hatred in Gil's eyes. Ben knew that his father had ensured Gaston was punished for attacking Belle and trying to kill him while he was still the Beast. But what the former king had not considered was that he was penalizing not just the villains, but also their families. Gil was living proof of this. And just as these young pirates had been condemned for the sins of their parents, now he was suffering because of his father's actions. Ben had to admit that there was a perverse sort of justice in what he was going through. However, in this moment, he felt very little pity for those bullying him right now.

Just then, one of the pirates grabbed his hair, Ben hissed in pain from the savage grip, which forced his head upward. Harry came towards him now, waving his hook in front of the king's face. Ben's eyes followed the sharp point fearing what the first mate intended to do with the curved weapon.

"Now then," Harry said, running the smooth side of his hook along Ben's cheek, "You've got one cut. So, I think you need another to balance out that pretty face of yours."

The king tried to jerk away from the cold metal running along his skin, but Harry seized Ben's sore jaw and turned his face to the side. Then a piercing sting caused Ben to wince, as the pirate slashed him with the tip of his hook. Harry raked the barb down Ben's cheek to his jawline. Although, the cut wasn't deep, it still throbbed painfully. Now blood drip from both sides of the prisoner's face. Agonized tears filled the kings eyes, but he blinked them back, knowing that to show any weakness in front of these men would only serve to fuel their cruelty. Still, it was difficult for him to put up a strong front when he was so depleted from all that he had suffered today and he was still anxious about the captain's other plans for him. She had done nothing to enchant or bewitch him since their conversation. However, he knew that she must be plotting something. As he thought this for the hundredth time that day, another pirate struck him in the stomach and Ben's knees buckled. The ropes around his torso dug into his armpits as he slumped in anguish and exhaustion. Then he heard a voice call out above the vicious laughter of the pirates.

"That's enough!"

Smee had intervened on the king's behalf. Beseeching the captain to leave her quarters and check on her hostage. While reluctant to spoil her crew's fun, Uma decided that the king had probably been harassed long enough. She was also concerned that Harry may have allowed his vindictive side to get the best of him. The men encircling the mast parted to allow their captain to approach the battered captive sagging in the ropes securing him to the wooden column. It looked as though Smee had been right; Ben was a mess, covered in cuts and bruises. Obviously her orders had been disregarded. The captain swelled with rage and ordered those involved to get back to work on preparations for tomorrow's upcoming confrontation with the VKs. Harry and Gil would have joined the rest, had Uma not stopped them first. She saw the blood drying on her first mate's hook and Gil's bruised knuckles. It was clear that they had done more than just condone the crew's violence; they had also partaken in the assault.

"Not you two," she said glaring at the pair. "You're on barnacle scrapping duty."

The two men looked at each other and groaned. Nothing was worse than hanging from a rope, just above the splashing water, prying off stubborn crustacean, while trying to avoid being dashed against the side of the ship. And they knew that it would take them the rest of the day to remove all the cemented parasites from the ship.

"The next time you disobey my orders I won't be so lenient," the captain threatened as the two men nodded and headed for the ship's bow. One thing they could be sure of was that Captain Uma would not tolerate insubordination on her ship. After watching them sulk off she turned to Smee.

"Cut him down, clean him up, then bring him to my cabin," Uma ordered the elderly pirate. "You two," she called to a couple of nearby crewmembers. They looked up and walked over to the captain. "Help him take care of the prisoner," she said before heading back towards the poop deck to oversee her crew's work.

"Well, you heard the captain," Smee said to the others.

One of the men pulled a dirk from his belt and began cutting the ropes holding up the barely conscious king. As his bindings fell away, Ben's languid body sank to the ground. Smee caught the king's head before it hit the deck and tried to lift him back to his feet. The other two pirates helped the old man raise the captive to his feet. Then they slung his arms across their shoulders and made their way towards the stairs leading to the lower levels of the ship.

A cold splash of water revived the unconscious king. He looked up and saw three men standing over him, one holding a dripping, wet bucket. Ben recognized the man standing in the middle. He tried to say his name, but the only sound he could produce was a raspy groan.

Smee looked down at the king with pity. "I'm sorry Your Highness, we need to get you cleaned up. But first we need to get you out of those clothes," the elderly pirate said to Ben. "Do you think you can manage undressing by yourself or do you need help?"

Ben barely had the strength to keep his eyes open, let alone move his sore and aching body. Smee nodded, the king's lack of movement was answer enough. He directed the other two men to carry the king over to a changing area. The old man gently removed the young man's outer garments, until Ben was left wearing just his blue boxers with the gold crown pattern. They were his favorite shorts, ever since they had made Mal laugh on their first date. Smee handed the king's soiled garments to one of his shipmates and sent him to get them cleaned. Then he called the other pirate over and together they bore the weary man to the bathing well.

Being on a ship has its advantages. Especially, when it comes to having access to water for bathing, that is as long as one doesn't mind washing in saltwater. A large bathing cistern had been built into the side of the ship's berth deck, at the waterline, which could be opened and used for bathing when the ship was in calm waters. Being anchored in the harbor meant that the crew could take baths any time they wanted. The best part was that they never had to clean it out, since fresh seawater constantly flowed through the holes in the side of the pool.

The pirates slowly lowered Ben into the basin. Again the cold water roused the king and he immediately began thrashing about fearing that he was being drowned. It took him a moment to feel the bottom of the well and realize that the water only came up to his chest.

"Sorry, Your Highness," Smee apologized, "But you'll need to wash yourself. Do you think you can manage?" He asked looking dubiously at the startled man.

Now that Ben understood what was happening he was able to focus and the chilly water helped to energize him somewhat. He nodded to he elderly pirate and began surveying his surroundings. He found soap and a washcloth by the side of the vat and swam towards them. After a thorough scrubbing Ben was clean and beginning to feel a bit better.

Once Smee was convinced that the king wouldn't collapse in the water, he had sent the other pirate to fetch a spare set of clothes for the young man. He knew that the king's clothes wouldn't be ready until tomorrow, so Ben would be obliged to wear something else in the meantime. His shipmate soon returned with fresh clothes and a pair of boots, just as Ben was ready to get out of the tank. Although a ladder had been attached to the side of the tub, the prisoner was still very weak from the day's trials. Smee and the other pirate helped Ben out of the basin and over to the dressing area again. Once the king was seated, the other crewmember set Ben's new outfit on the nearby table, placed the boots on the ground beside him, and then left the room.

"Would you like some help," Smee asked the young king.

Ben shook his head and then mimed drinking from a cup. The old man understood and went to fetch some water. While the elderly pirate was away, Ben changed out of his wet shorts and began putting on the clothes he had been given. By the time Smee returned, Ben had managed to get the black breeches and knee-high leather boots on. He was just picking up a front-lacing, white shirt, when the elderly pirate came around the partition. Ben turned to him eagerly and took the proffered canteen from Smee. Although he felt like he would die of thirst, the king remembered to take small sips, still it didn't take long for Ben to drain the entire container. He then looked at Smee, wanting to thank him, but stopped when he saw the expression on the old man's face. Tears were welling in the elderly pirate's eyes.

"What is it?" Ben managed to croak out.

"I...It's...I'm so..." Smee said, falling to his knees, weeping before the king.

Ben quickly knelt and tried to comfort the old man. "What's wrong, what's happened, is there anything I can do?" the king pleaded, desperate to ease this affable man's grief.

"No, Your Majesty," the old man managed to get out between sobs, "It's just that, I'm so sorry for all the pain you've had to endure."

The young king's heart filled with love for this genial old man. In spite of being a pirate, there was nothing ruthless or loathsome about him. Had any of his subjects, back in Auradon, ever shown him this level of concern or consideration? Would any of them actually care that he was suffering, as much as, the man kneeling before him now? Ben didn't know. But he did know that if he lived through this, he would do everything in his power to make Smee's life, and the lives of all those on the Isle of the Lost, better. He would find a way to improve relations between Auradon and the Isle, which he hoped would allow him to bring over even more villain kids and their reformed parents. After all, what he was experiencing now was just a small taste of what people on the Isle had suffered for years. And as he thought this, the king decided to see this crucible, as a form of penance for the misery his family had inflicted on the inhabitants of this island. From that viewpoint, Ben acknowledged that this whole ordeal was the price he had to pay in order to gain the wisdom and understanding necessary to be a good king, to both the people of Auradon and the Isle of the Lost. He resolved, then and there, that he would be a good king to all, the good, the evil, and everyone in between.

Gradually, the old pirate's sobs faded and he looked up at Ben. The young man smiled at him. "It's going to be alright," Ben said, "I'm going to get through this. And I'll be a better king for it. Thank you Smee. If I ever get the chance, I will repay your kindness."

The old man's eyes filled with tears again. "I don't need you to do anything for me," Smee said bowing his head, "But, if you ever get the chance, will you promise me that my sons can go to Auradon, just like to other villains' kids?"

Ben nodded, "Yes, I swear it, I will make sure that your sons are part of the next group of kids to join us in Auradon."

Smee spluttered out his thanks and the two men embraced. Then the old man got to his feet and helped the king stand. He looked over the cuts on Ben's face and the new bruises covering his chest and fought back a fresh wave of tears.

"I'm sorry Your Highness, seeing you covered in cuts and bruises all over again..." the elderly man winced and shook his head, "never mind, best not to dwell. Please drink this, it's the same medicine that restored you last night."

Smee poured the honey-rose potion into his small cup and gave it to the young man. The king quickly swallowed the delicious cordial, and sat back down in the chair, allowing the radiant liquid to fill his entire body with healing warmth. Until then, he hadn't realized just how cold the bath had made him. Now Ben felt as if he was wrapped in the warmest of blankets, sitting in front of a blazing fire. He closed his eyes, enjoying the sensation, as it gradually lulled him to sleep. Ben was only dimly aware of Smee tending to his various wounds. The throbbing from the gash he had received from Hook subsided and he no longer tasted blood from his cut lip. As his body's aches and sores faded, the much-abused king drifted closer to unconsciousness. But a calloused hand on his arm shook him awake before he was completely out.

"Pardon me, Your Majesty," Smee said, "But I need to finish getting you dressed and up to the captain's quarters." The king nodded faintly and reached for his shirt.