A/N: Surprise! Thought I'd post an extra mid week chapter to celebrate D3 release. Enjoy!
Once again thank you to everyone who has read, faved, followed or reviewed my story.
Chapter 4
An owl hooted as it landed on a low branch of a tree, just outside the abandoned forest cabin Ben and Mal had found to rest in for the night. The moon peeked briefly through the rumbling clouds. Ben tried not to give too much attention to the sound of the wind whistling through the cracks in the wall as he concentrated on vigorously rubbing two sticks together over the pile of dry leaves he had placed inside the stone hearth. A smile worked its way across his face as the leaves easily caught fire. Wasting no time, he added small fragments of wood which began to catch fire and burn. Carefully, he continued to nurture the small fire by gently blowing into the flame until the heat from the fire slowly began to warm up the room.
Mal kept a safe distance between them, trying not to shiver from the cold. The dampness of the room had seeped into her bones and she felt frozen despite the fire in front of her.
No one spoke and an uncomfortable silence fell between the pair as they both gazed intensely at the small crackling fire.
Ben lowered his shoulders, a slight heaviness settling into his heart. "My father taught me how to light a fire," He murmured after a while with a little smile. "It was actually one of the last things we did together before he died," he confessed softly, his gaze taking on a far-off look.
Mal glanced in Ben's direction and subconsciously leaned towards him, torn between curiosity and her better judgement. She involuntarily closed her eyes as she thought about her own father and wondered if he'd ever built a fire for her mother and herself to sit around during the cold moor winters. She shifted her weight back and forth as she considered what to do or say. "So, Gaston isn't your real father?" she blurted out, curiosity winning over.
Ben shook his head, taking a deep breath as he continued to stare at flames. "My father, King Adam, was murdered by the Black Arrow when I was ten." He revealed softly, his eyes growing a little dull as they took on a far-away look once again. "Gaston then became ruler of Auradon and took me in, making me his heir."
Mal stiffened at his confession and immediately dropped her head, returning to look back at the fire. Why was her throat so dry all of a sudden? She then shot Ben another subtle side glance, carefully avoiding his eyes this time. What had come over her? She had to be careful around him. It was true that he'd promised to release her as soon as she took him to Sir Galahad, but he still couldn't be trusted. He was her enemy and she wasn't safe around him - especially if he accidentally found out who she really was. She narrowed her eyes as she examined his forlorn expression. Could it all just be a trick to make her drop her guard around him? She wouldn't fall for it…she wouldn't be fooled by his sad story or his apparent gentle and kind disposition.
"That makes sense. I really didn't expect the great Lord Gaston to waste his time lighting a fire using two sticks when he has an army of servants who could do it for him!" Mal replied sarcastically.
Ben's head snapped up at Mal's statement and he stared at her, momentarily speechless. Her words slowly sank in and his face started to go red. Both of his hands curled into tight fists. How dare he? He didn't know anything about either Gaston or him! Ben opened his mouth to retort but stopped, noticing the boy had started to visibly tremble from the cold despite the ongoing fire. He blinked. "You're shivering!" he exclaimed with raised eyebrows.
"It's okay." Mal snapped back. "I'm fine!" She turned to face away from him, hands curling in indignation even as they took on an icy touch.
Ben looked around the cabin and stood up to pick up a cloak hanging beside the door. It was one of the only things in the cabin besides a length of rope, an old pair of hiking boots, and a pickaxe. "Here, take this." He offered, tossing it in her direction.
"I don't need it!" Mal retorted, poking at the cloak with her toes disdainfully.
"Of course, you do." Ben paused, giving her a hard look. "I need you alive."
"I'm tougher than I look!" she quipped back confidently. Nonetheless she put the cloak around her shoulders.
Ben gave a snort of laughter. "Sure you are." He shook his head, a bemused smile on his face. This archer was very different from anyone he'd ever met before. He certainly wasn't scared to voice his thoughts and for some unknown reason, Ben found this to be surprisingly refreshing. It had sparked his curiosity to get to know him. And besides they were going to be stuck together for the next couple of days anyways so Ben figured they could at least get to know each other and maybe avoid an entire trip spent in silence. "So, how old are you?" he asked.
Mal shifted position and lifted her head to focus on the opposite wall across from the fire. Why did he want to know? "Twenty. I'm twenty years old!" she replied, trying to hide the tension in her voice.
Ben took a step closer to glance at Mal's features. His eyes flickered up and down her frame, examining her with a sceptical brow. "You seem younger." Ben commented. Definitely younger than twenty, and very small too. He seemed much too young to be fighting in a war, meaning he was either in for sheer skill alone or the son of someone important. Ben examined the purple locks and furrowed his brow.
Mal felt his eyes upon her and a sudden redness coloured her cheeks, the air around her becoming too hard to breathe. She needed to get away from him. "And what does it matter to you how old I am anyways?" Mal retorted, jerking away from him. She pulled the cloak off her shoulders and tossed it a few inches away, landing at Ben's feet. "And take this thing back. I told you I don't need it." She snapped.
Ben frowned. He stood, picked up the cloak from the floor, and placed it back near the door. "Are you always so nice to people who want to help you?" He paused, his frown deepening. "What's your name?"
"John." Mal replied, not looking at him.
"John?" Ben asked, "And?"
"Just John." Mal responded, biting her cheek.
"Okay, Just-John." Ben exclaimed in a hard tone. "You know, you're getting out of the dungeons for basically nothing after being there for only hours. I think you could be a little more grateful."
"Grateful?" Mal exclaimed. "You're the one who captured me in the first place!"
"You let your guard down," Ben shrugged. "Maybe next time you'll keep a better eye out. And besides, your folks are the ones who are attacking us."
"That's just not-" Mal huffed and turned away from him pointedly. Gosh, he made her so angry she couldn't speak and now her tongue was all twisted and… ah! "Any other meaningless questions you have?" She demanded.
"Yeah, actually," Ben's expression took on a mystified tone as he knelt on the floor beside her and pointed to her head. "Your hair, is it natural?" He picked at a strand carefully, and Mal smacked his hand away with her cheeks burning.
"Yes, it is," She replied carefully, narrowing her eyes at the young prince.
"Do lots of people have colourful hair in the West?" Ben asked.
Mal swallowed and shook her head. "No, I'm an… interesting breed, I guess." She pulled at her hair a little and caught her breath as Ben's eyes traced her face and features. For several seconds, no one said anything.
Finally, he picked up a piece of rope and knelt back down beside her. "We need to get ready for the night. And this time, I won't give you any chances to escape." Mal bit her lower lip as Ben roughly pulled her arms behind her. He tied her hands together before securing the other end of the rope to a wooden column. He then stood up and made his way across the room, not uttering another word.
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Claudette took a seat beside her vanity and turned to stare at the last rays of the fading sun from her bedroom window, lost in thought. With the setting sun came a sky of fire as the blue gave way to deeper pinks and orange. The sun's hue dimmed from a bright yellow to a deeper gold as it sank below the surrounding hills. She reached out for the brush she'd previously discarded and returned to combing her hair, a vacant look in her eyes. The sound of the creaking door alerted her to Gaston's arrival. She turned her head towards him, her gaze never leaving him as he slowly approached her. He stopped right next to her and rested his hands on the wooden surface, letting out a sigh.
"The patrols have just returned. No news of Ben." Gaston stated.
Claudette lowered her head and ran a jerky hand through her hair. "What happened, Gaston? Why did he leave?" she asked in a pained voice.
"Claudette, look at me." He paused, waiting for her to lift her gaze towards him. "He didn't leave," he continued.
"But something isn't right." She stood and rested a hand on his arm. "Yesterday, he promised to come and see me as soon as he'd returned from the battle, but he didn't. He wouldn't have forgotten if something wasn't wrong," she replied, her voice wavering slightly.
Gaston shook his head. "The only thing that's wrong is that a stupid prisoner has managed to escape from our dungeons. That's what happened." He smiled and gave her hand a gentle squeeze before turning and walking over to the window, stopping to gaze outside.
Claudette felt a tightness in her chest. "Gaston," she whispered. "Promise me that you really believe it. That it's simply about an escaped prisoner."
Gaston turned and locked eyes with her. "Of course, it is. You'll see." He replied firmly with a little smile. "Ben will be back here tomorrow morning. I promise."
Claudette wrapped her arms around herself and walked closer to her husband. "I'm scared," she confessed.
Gaston immediately stood and went closer to her. He placed his hands on her shoulders. "You don't need to be. I'm right here by your side." Claudette leaned over and buried her head into his chest as she began to shake. Gaston reached out and wrapped his broad arms tightly around her.
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When Mal opened her eyes, Ben was still lying across from her, asleep, resting on the sacks they'd used as cushions. Her eyelashes faintly batted against her brow line as she blinked. Turning to her side, she noticed the early morning sun pouring through the wall cracks. She shifted her position to get more comfortable and twisted her bound hands behind her. A smug, amused smirk lit her up face, feeling the loosened bindings around her wrists. Ben's father might have taught him how to light a fire, but certainly not how to tie a proper knot. She twisted her fingertips to pull the bindings apart and then dropped the rope to the floor with a soft thud.
Mal gingerly stood once she was free and silently made her way towards the door, her eyes trained on Ben for any sign of movement. He stirred in his sleep. She stopped, her hand on the door's handle, and let out a little sigh of relief when he didn't move. "Damn!" she muttered as the door made a little squeak when she opened it. There was no way she could open it without alerting Ben to the lack of her presence. Without looking back, she pushed through the door, heading for the forest, hoping the trees would give her enough cover to escape. The door slammed against the frame behind her.
Ben jerked, startled, and looked around the cabin, disoriented at the sudden noise. "No!" he shouted, fully awake instantly when the door banged against its frame. He caught the glimpse of Mal's shadow just as she made it to the outside. He jumped to his feet and rushed out after her, cursing under his breath.
Mal rapidly snaked her way downhill through the trees. She breathed heavily as she ran, feeling an overwhelming sense of adrenaline flow through her veins. The surge of energy pushed her to her limits, the sound of her feet thumping on the ground echoing in her head. The twigs snapped and the leaves crushed loudly under her feet.
"Stop!" Ben yelled.
His voice sounded awfully close. Mal looked back and spotted him just a few feet behind her. Her heart started pounding, threatening to explode in her chest, but she pushed forward. She had to get away from him at all costs. But her efforts proved futile and she'd barely ran a few more metres when Ben tackled her from behind, both of them falling to the ground. The wind was knocked out of her with the force of the impact. "Argh!" she groaned.
Ben rolled her over and grabbed both of her wrists tightly. Not sparing a second, Mal began to thrash against him trying to get away. "Let me go!" she yelled but Ben kept a firm grip on her.
"Don't you dare try anything like that ever again!" he shouted. "I need you to take me to Sir Galahad!"
Mal stiffened at his angry tone, looking up to take in his curled lips and cold, hardened eyes. She swallowed. She didn't have much time to think. Meeting Sir Galahad appeared to be really important to Ben and trying to escape again would now only end badly for her. She'd have to play along.
"Now get up!" he ordered, pulling her up. He straightened himself and gripped her tightly by the shoulders. Before he could continue to yell at her, the sound of horses, followed by at least 2 human voices, came from the road above them. They both turned to look upwards. "Quick, let's hide!" Ben whispered in an urgent tone, pulling her along.
They climbed up until they reached a group of large boulders and hid behind them, carefully lifting their heads to watch the passers-by without being caught. Mal raised her eyebrows. A group of Auradonian soldiers on horseback were dragging along what appeared to be three prisoners. They stumbled, nearly falling to the ground as they tried keeping up with the trotting horses. They look severely malnourished, but the worst thing was that one of them was a child, not more than 10 years old from the looks of it. She heard Ben take a sharp intake of breath and turned to look at him.
He'd flinched backwards and his face turned a little white before he blinked. His incredulous wide-eyed stare slowly narrowed as the soldiers disappeared from view. "Come on," Ben instructed. "Let's follow them. I want to find out what's happening." Mal didn't move and it dawned on him that the archer thought he was going to take him back to the dungeon. "Don't worry…its safe. They're not heading to the castle. It's on the opposite side of the forest." He paused. "There's a village close by. That's where they must be going. Now let's move!" he repeated.
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Arthur's eyes narrowed as he continued to stare at the busy castle outdoor courtyard. He turned away from his office window and began pacing the room. He was silent for a few moments until he stopped and faced his guest. "It's a good thing you've come to give me an update from the battlefield, Duchess. The information you have given me might be fundamental for the outcome of the war. More than you know." He explained.
Once Arthur was facing her, Uma's sharp gaze immediately noticed his drawn eyebrows and stooped posture. She tilted her head to the side in mild curiosity. Something was definitely worrying him. "What do you mean, Sire?" she asked.
"Duchess, the young purple-haired archer you met at Sir Galahad's camp was Princess Mal." He revealed.
"Princess Mal?" Uma sputtered, her jaw dropping. "The heir to the moorlands? That's impossible. Isn't she dead?" She paused. "And what was she doing on a battlefield?"
"In order to protect her, I've let everyone believe that she'd disappeared with her parents all those years ago." he explained. "She was safely hidden in the Notre-Dame convent all these years but she ran away when she found out that Lord Gaston had discovered her existence." Arthur sighed.
Uma hummed as she silently processed what the king had just revealed to her. Arthur was right. This could really change the outcome of the war, especially if the East were to capture the princess. She smiled inwardly. If she played her cards well enough, she could turn the whole situation to her advantage. "Has anyone ever discovered what happened to her parents?" she asked.
Arthur exhaled and closed his eyes. "No. They were probably killed. But where? And by whom?" He shook his head and sighed. "If only I had one single lead on what happened to them that day. I would've never stopped searching for the truth." He paused, locking eyes with the Duchess. "I love that girl as if she were my own daughter. She's somehow filled the gaping hole left by my Guinevere when she passed away."
"Arthur," Uma stated. "Let me go to Auradon and try to negotiate her release. We must do all we can to save her and protect the secret of the moorlands."
A long pause followed as Arthur silently pondered Uma's suggestion. "Do you really think Gaston will release her, just like that?"
"If we're lucky enough, he might not have discovered her true identity yet." She assured him. "Leave it to me. Have I ever disappointed you Sire?"
"Okay, you have my blessing." Arthur replied.
"I'll set off straightaway." Uma stated before giving Arthur a little curtsy. She straightened herself and turned away from the king. A smirk split her face as she made her way towards the door. This was it. This was the chance she was looking for.
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Ben and Mal hurried up the dirty road leading to the main village square where a large crowd of people had assembled. The usually busy marketplace had been emptied of its stalls and a simple gallows structure had been set up instead. Three rope nooses hung ominously from the top wooden beam. Ben stopped at the edge of the crowd and pulled Mal beside him. They watched from a distance as the three bound prisoners were led up the brief flight of stairs and then forced to stand on stools.
Silence fell upon the village as an Auradonian officer began to speak while another pulled the ropes and tied the nooses tightly around their necks. "Citizens of Auradon, these three prisoners have been caught and found guilty of the crime of smuggling. They've hereby been sentenced to be hanged as punishment for their crimes."
All heads turned to the side as a woman fought her way through the crowd, her loud, wailing voice echoing throughout the square. "No! Please! I beg you! Release my son!" she screamed. "He's just a boy! He was only hungry!" She was held back by the soldiers and loud murmurs erupted all around Ben and Mal. The commanding officer ordered a roll of drums.
Mal stared at the scene in front of her, horrified at the idea that someone could kill such a young boy. She had to stop it somehow. But how? Could Ben do something? Was the apparent gentle nature which he displayed last night by the fire simply just a facade? Or did he really possess the goodness and integrity to stop the execution? She had to try. She swallowed and gripped his arm. "Ben, stop them!" she exclaimed.
Ben stood completely still, his gaze moving across the three prisoners. His face visibly paled and his eyebrows furrowed as he tried to understand what was happening. This wasn't what Gaston had taught him. Auradon was a just and fair kingdom where criminals were imprisoned for their offences, but rarely executed, unless on grave murder charges. And especially not children. All sounds became muffled around him as he was engulfed by a feeling of paralysis. He blinked only when he felt a firm hand on his arm. A voice broke out through his fogged mind and he turned to his side to look at Mal. "Why is this happening? It can't be!" he mumbled.
"These are your laws, Ben!" Mal countered.
Ben closed his eyes and shook his head. "No, these aren't our laws. It's impossible. These can't be our laws!" he stuttered.
"Stop them then!" she exclaimed. Ben shifted his gaze sharply towards her and their eyes locked. He blinked and took a small step back. "Then stop them, Benjamin of Auradon!" she repeated. "Show everyone you'll be a good and fair ruler one day!"
Ben merely stared at her, his expression unreadable as he absorbed her words. "Okay. I'll do it!" Ben stated, squaring his shoulders. He started to push the people in front of him. Mal smiled.
Seemingly coming out of nowhere, an arrow flew across the air and hit the commanding officer in the chest just as he gave the execution order. The officer fell to the ground, instantly dead and more arrows flew around, this time coming from every direction. One of the soldiers managed to ram his foot into one of the stools which wobbled dangerously before tilting sideways. The prisoner's face quickly started turning a dark shade of red as he tried desperately to breathe while struggling to balance himself on the stool using his toes. Time seemed to slow down to a trickle and people around Ben moved in slow motion as the crowd dispersed in panic. "The Black Arrow!" one of the villagers screamed.
Ben's knees weakened and a mixture of surprise, fear and anger clutched at his heart like a vice. He involuntary took a step back as his wide eyes took in the scene in before him. The Black Arrow was here, the group of outlaws that had killed his father. He froze, unable to move his limbs as if an invisible force kept him routed to the ground beneath him.
Seeing his transfixed stance, as if he'd just seen a ghost, Mal gripped him tightly by the arm and jerked him away. "Move! Do you want to get yourself killed?!" she exclaimed.
Ben blinked, allowing Mal to pull him towards the safety of the houses as all hell broke loose around them. He turned his head as he was dragged away, watching as the Black Arrow attacked the soldiers and freed the prisoners from the gallows.
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"I don't know who you are, but I don't want any trouble!" A peasant stated, eying Ben's fine clothing warily as he gave him and Mal a piece of bread. Ben and Mal had ran through the dirty streets of the village during the commotion and the villager had been kind enough to offer them a temporary shelter. "We'll have enough trouble as it is with the Black Arrow's attack." He continued.
"Why? They've freed the prisoners?" Mal asked, slightly raising her voice.
"Lord Gaston will revenge himself on us." He replied.
Ben swallowed shaking slightly his head. He jerked backwards as Mal shot him a side-glance. This can't be. This peasant must be mistaken. Gaston would never hurt innocent people without any reason.
Loud screams sounded from the outside and the peasant hurried to look out from his window. "Auradon's soldiers are here!" he stated.
Ben's head shot up recognising the familiar voices. "Those are Dopey and Hook!" he exclaimed. He quickly reached out for his belt and brought out a few coins giving them to the peasant. "We need to hide. Here take these!"
The peasant pushed them towards a ladder in the corner of the room. "Hurry! Climb up!" he instructed. Ben and Mal wasted no time and climbed up to the attic and pulled up the ladder once these were safely hidden. They huddled in a corner as loud crashing noises sounded below them, the soldiers trashing the villager's home.
Mal stood up, left Ben's side and hid in the opposite corner from him. "Is that why you want to conquer the West? So that you can impose your laws on to us?" she exclaimed, her voice raising slightly in tone once the soldiers left the peasant's dwelling.
Ben remained silent, just staring at her. "Are you even listening to me?" Mal continued. "How can you not feel responsible for all of this? These are going to be your lands, your people one day!"
Ben stood, walking across the attic and crouched beside her. "And what do you propose instead?" he challenged. "The justice of the Black Arrow?"
"I've been raised to believe in a world where no one is hanged for a crime and farmers and their children don't die of hunger!" she replied.
Before Ben could utter his response, the hatch of the attic opened, and the peasant reappeared. "It's safe. The soldiers are gone!" he stated. "Now come." Ben and Mal climbed back down the ladder and joined the peasant's family. "Here, take these." The peasant said, giving Ben a worn-looking brown woollen tunic and a hose made from what appeared to be homespun cloth. "These belonged to my son. Dressed like this no one will imagine you're of noble blood. You'll be able to blend in easier with the common folk."
"Thank you." Ben replied, moving close to the window. Mal took a seat a few metres away while the peasant left the room.
Ben took off his doublet and undershirt and turned to pick up the peasant's clothes beside him, but stopped as he noticed Mal staring at him with a strange expression. "Did you hear that?" he asked.
Startled, Mal instantly turned her head to the side. She had felt a shiver run all along her spine as she'd caught a glimpse of Ben's smooth bare chest. What was happening to her? She didn't understand why her pulse had suddenly started racing or why she felt her cheeks starting to redden. He was her enemy. The adopted son of the man who wanted to capture her and hurt the people she cared about. She swallowed, taking a shaky breath and turned back to him, trying to keep a neutral expression. "What?" she whispered.
"Noises." He replied.
She lowered her eyes, avoiding his gaze and trying not to stare at him again. "I'll go check!" she whispered even though she hadn't heard anything. But she instantly exited the room, glad for the excuse to leave.
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Claudette gazed, mesmerised, at the cracking flames in the fireplace's hearth. A knock sounded on the open door behind her and she turned to greet Lonnie.
"You've asked to see me, your majesty?" Lonnie whispered, biting the side of her cheek nervously.
"Come in, dear." Claudette greeted with a smile.
Lonnie looked down as she entered, stopping a few meters away from her.
"You care for my son deeply, don't you?" Claudette asked after a few moments of silence.
Lonnie shuffled back a step, startled at the question, and her head shot up.
Claudette smiled. "Don't worry. No one will know. A mother can just feel these things." She walked up to her and the two women locked eyes. "I beg you, help me understand. Maybe he's confided something to you." Noticing Lonnie's fearful expression Claudette gently rested her hand on her shoulder. "I won't tell a soul, I promise. You have nothing to be afraid of." She reassured her.
Lonnie stared down at her feet as her stomach painfully knotted. What should she do? Should she betray Ben's trust and tell Claudette the truth? Lonnie had watched Claudette all these years and it was clear that she loved Ben with all her heart even though he wasn't her flesh and blood. And she could see the sincere worry in her eyes as she just pleaded with her. It was impossible that she would've lied to Ben about something as important as the truth about who had killed his father. Just impossible. 'Ben please forgive me,' she thought to herself. "He was worried about the truth." Lonnie muttered, raising her gaze back up.
"Which truth?" Claudette breathed.
"The truth about his father's killer." Lonnie replied.
Claudette felt a sudden feeling of coldness expand from her stomach and take over her entire body. She swallowed, her knees starting to shake and took a seat on the chair of her vanity turning to stare hollowly at her mirror.
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Ben and Mal made their way through a cornfield. They'd resumed their trek to Sir Galahad's Castle and had even received a ride from a passing farmer before continuing on foot. Luckily for them, his castle was relatively close to the West border. They hadn't spoken a word to each other since leaving the village, still shaken by the recent events. Ben's mind continued to relive the execution scene he'd just witnessed while Mal was still trying to come to terms with the unfamiliar feelings that Ben had stirred within her.
Mal stole Ben a side glance. What was it about him that made her feel so strange? She had to understand. "Why do you want to meet Sir Galahad?" She blurted, out of the blue.
Ben looked down, debating whether or not he should answer the purple-haired archer. There was something in this archer, in the way he thought and spoke that made Ben feel comfortable, despite his sometimes challenging tone towards him. Ben just couldn't explain it…it was as if he'd found a kindred spirit, someone he could trust and reveal all his fear and doubts to. "I need to ask him about my father, King Adam." He paused. "During the battle, Sir Galahad told me that he knows who my father's real killer is. That's why I need to find him. I need to ask him about the truth."
Mal swallowed, taking in his tormented expression as he let his guard down. If there was one thing she could understand, it was the torment and anguish you feel when you know that there's a missing part of your life waiting for you to discover it. She walked closer to him and smiled. "You're closer to the truth than you think! Sir Galahad's castle is just up that hill." She lifted her hand and pointed to the hills just ahead of them.
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The sound of clashing swords vibrated loudly across the great hall as Gaston and Hook trained. They stopped when a servant opened the door announcing a guest. "Duchess Uma of Seaside." Gaston gave his sword to his captain, who nodded following the servant out of the room.
Uma stole a side glance at the retreating men as she entered the hall, her long elaborate blue and green dress swishing around her as she walked in.
"You have asked for a private meeting!" Gaston stated. "Well, here I am. I'm very impatient to find out why."
"Do you want to get rid of me already?" She replied in a low voice, smirking slightly. "Am I really that unpleasant to look at?"
Gaston's eyes narrowed. "Not unpleasant at all." He continued, walking a few metres away from her. "Just dangerous."
"I'll get straight to the point then." She walked up to him and stopped. "King Arthur himself has entrusted me to take care of the negotiations for the release of the war prisoners."
Gaston snorted. "I don't see what advantage I'd have in releasing them."
Uma smirked. "There are other ways of winning wars." She continued in a low voice "Apart from the simple military strategy of course." She walked to his side and leaned her head towards his ear. "I can help you defeat King Arthur and conquer the West Territories." She whispered coyly.
"And why would you do that?" Gaston asked, his lips stretching in a slow smile.
"To gain King Stefan's trust of course." She replied.
Gaston's smile grew bigger and threw her a knowing look. "So that he would give you full control over Camelot once it's ours, I suppose!" he quipped.
Uma lowered her eyes for a moment and then returned to look up at him. "I've seen you fight during the battle at Bald Mountain. I was greatly impressed" she commented walking behind him until she stopped on his other side. "And I thought that one day, together, we could join Auradon and Camelot under one rule." She spoke softly.
"And why should I trust you? What could you give me as a guarantee?" He asked turning to look at her in the eye.
"All of myself" she breathed. Raising her head, she then walked away. "But before that, you need to release that purple haired archer you captured during the battle."
"Why is he so important?" Gaston asked, his curiosity perked up.
Uma smirked. "Because that archer is Princess Mal, heir to the Moorlands."
Gaston swallowed and his expression instantly darkened.
"Arthur cares for her as if she's his own child." Uma explained. "He'll be easier to manipulate if you return her to him."
Gaston shook his head. "I'm afraid I can't do that." Gaston replied. "Princess Mal has managed to escape. I believe this throws your plan out of the window?"
Uma sighed loudly. "No, my proposal still stands. Things have just become more complicated." She smiled at him before making her way towards the door. "This will be our last official meeting." She stopped just behind the door. She turned back towards him. "Next time we meet it will be in a more informal and private spot." She knocked on the door and waited for the servant to open it. She gave Gaston one last coy smile before walking away.
A/N: That's it. It looks as if Uma is starting to show her true colors. And that is only the beginning. Meanwhile Ben and Mal have arrived at Sir Galahad's castle. Check out the scheduled weekend update to find out what happens next. I'd love to hear what you think about this chapter and the story in general through a review. See ya soon!