Chapter 5
A pair of knights on horseback, robed in the distinctive golden and red colours of Camelot, made their way across the stone footbridge leading out of Sir Galahad's Castle. Mal, followed by Ben, stopped walking and moved to the side, allowing them passage. Mal stole a side glance at her travel companion as they entered the outer gate, and a small smile worked its way across her face.
"What?" Ben asked, arching his brow.
"Nothing," Mal answered in a soft voice. "I was thinking of how different you are from what I imagined." She stopped and gazed up at him. "I mean, you're my enemy, so I expected the crown prince of Auradon to be an arrogant and spoiled brat, whose only focus is to get more power, ready to do anything to win the Great War." She paused. "I'm happy that I was wrong."
Ben stared at Mal in mute silence, unsure of what to say. The archer's statement made his thoughts wander off to Princess Mal and the promise he'd made to Gaston to marry her. Was it so wrong to marry someone who you've never met before if that would mean ending the war and saving innocent lives? He dropped his chin to his chest and slumped his shoulders, feeling a sudden thickness in his throat. It didn't mean he was power-hungry by accepting this arrangement. He shifted position, feeling the urge to defend himself even though this archer was his captive. "There's something I haven't told you," He muttered.
Mal tilted her head to the side, waiting for him to continue.
"Gaston wants to capture a princess from your lands so that I can marry her. And I accepted," Ben whispered with his gaze still fixed on the ground beneath his feet.
Mal's eyes widened. "Who?" she asked.
"Her name is Mal, and she's the heiress to the magical Moorlands. That's all I know about her," Ben scoffed, looking up at her. "I hope she's nice." He paused. "So, yeah, I guess I am willing to do anything to end the war. I don't want more people to die."
Mal blinked, a knot forming in her stomach. Even though she knew of Gaston's plans, hearing them coming from Ben's mouth made them even more real, and this left her with a sense of vertigo. She shifted her weight, trying to regain her composure. She hummed. "I'm not sure how she'd feel about marrying an heir of the East, though. Shouldn't she get a choice in all this?"
Ben flinched. "Yeah, I know. Of course, she should, but-" He paused. "But this arranged marriage could end the war and save so many innocent lives."
"So, you would force someone to marry you against their will?" Mal challenged.
Ben frowned, crossing his arms, his gaze hardening. A lump had formed in his throat. Where was the sudden guilt about his decision coming from? The safety of his people is more important than the happiness of this princess. And this archer had no right to judge him. They might have spent some time together, but that didn't mean that he knows him at all. "I must protect the people of Auradon. If that means that I've got to marry this princess to do it, I'll not be the one to back down from it," he replied, clenching his teeth. "Besides, I don't need to explain myself to you. Remember that!" He snapped. "Now take me to Sir Galahad as you promised. That's why we're here after all."
Mal rolled her eyes. "Sir Galahad, Sir Galahad, always about Sir Galahad. Do you think I've forgotten? If you could get outside your head for a second and quit making the same demand over and over when I'm already carrying it out, you might be surprised by what you could find. If you had bothered to look outside your own needs, you could have stopped Gaston from executing your precious people."
"I do think about others!" Ben challenged. "I could give you a list of-"
"The same way you've been thinking about this princess you want to kidnap from her homeland, steal virtue from, and desecrate like some sort of valuable possession?" Mal crossed her arms and watched Ben's mouth drop as he fumbled for a response.
"I'm thinking of all the people I could save!" He protested. "I'm thinking of my father!"
"Funny to do something for a man you've run away from, who has been executing people without justification and who may have been lying to you," Mal responded. "I hope he turns out to be as honest and open as you hope he is. Otherwise, you sealed the fate of both kingdoms to death or execution under the bitter laws of tyranny you saw in place." And then, turning away from him, she added: "There're other ways of ending a war anyways."
"Stop talking," Ben hissed, feeling like his head was about to split into two. "I don't need a… peasant telling me what to do!" The moment the words left his mouth, he felt immediate regret. Why had he pulled rank on something so small and meaningless?
Mal's lips flattened to a thin line as her muscles tensed. "As you wish, your majesty!" she scoffed, turning away from him and storming up the rest of the way to the castle's gate. Ben followed her without another word.
"Stop!" A guard shouted, stopping them. "We're under strict orders not to let anyone through."
Mal remained stone-faced. "I've fought beside Sir Galahad during the battle at Bald Mountain. I need to speak to him. It's important!" she insisted, her voice rising a little.
"John! John of Notre-Dame!" a voice rang out, from behind the guard.
Startled, Mal turned to look at her side.
The guard turned to face his captain and bowed to him with respect as he walked up and addressed Mal. "We all thought you'd been captured during the battle."
Ben lifted his eyebrow in surprise at the mention of the familiar place. Wasn't Notre-Dame the site were Arthur kept the moorland's princess hidden? Could it be that the archer knew her somehow? That would explain why he was so defensive of the princess. Could they be close friends or lovers or something?
"I was lucky and managed to find a way to escape," She replied to the captain, not noticing Ben's surprised reaction. "My friend and I here need to talk to Sir Galahad."
The captain cast them a strange, forlorn expression and turned towards the castle's keep. "Follow me," He instructed.
Mal and Ben followed the captain in silence, making their way up to a long flight of steps. They stopped in front of a large wooden door, which the captain opened to let them through. Mal froze with her eyes widening in surprise. Soft candles lit the dim chamber where Sir Galahad, dressed in his armour, was stretched across an elaborate angular stone structure surrounded by many his soldiers. His eyes were closed. "How did this happen?" Mal asked, a tremor in her voice.
"He was injured during the battle," The captain explained. "At first, we all thought it was a simple flesh wound. Sir Galahad kept on fighting and managed to win the battle. He saved a large part of the army and stopped Gaston and Stefan from reaching Camelot. But once he arrived back at the castle, he collapsed. He had lost too much blood, and the wound had gotten infected. There was nothing we could do to save him."
Ben watched Mal's heartbreak. Her arms slackened at her side before she took a few steps forward and hit her knees in front of the fallen knight to pay him her respects. For some unknown reason, his heart tightened in his chest, and he also bowed his head in respect. He straightened himself, feeling so confused. These people were his sworn enemies. So why did he feel sadness for Sir Galahad's death? It didn't make any sense. He should be angry instead of sad; upset that he'd lost his only chance to find out the truth.
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Ben and Mal made their way down the castle's steps. "I'm sorry that you couldn't ask him," Mal blurted out, examining his hunched shoulders.
Ben lowered his head, brooding. "It's strange. It's as if I don't know who my enemy is anymore," He confessed in a soft tone, looking away.
The silence stretched between them. Mal's stomach fluttered. She opened her mouth to speak but realized she didn't know what she wanted to tell him. A voice inside her was telling her to comfort him, to tell him something, anything, to make him feel better. But then she blinked, remembering herself and the high stakes involved. She had to protect her secret identity from Ben. Her eyes hardened. A chance to leave had presented itself, and she would not waste it. "Let me go, Ben," She requested instead. "I've kept my end of the bargain. You gave me your word."
Ben looked up at her for a few moments. He nodded. "Yes, of course. I always keep my promises."
"Goodbye then," Mal couldn't help herself and locked eyes with him for the last time. She could feel her heart starting to race. What was happening to her? She had to get away from him and fast. "Good luck," She mouthed, turning away and dashing down the stairs. She'd made it a few meters when a steady hand gripped her arm. She turned.
"Wait," Ben exclaimed. His hand started to shake a little on her arm.
"What do you want?" Mal questioned.
"I've changed my mind," Ben stated. "Can you take me to Camelot?"
"No, I can't do that!" Mal snapped, pulling her arm out of his grasp and walking away.
Ben hurried behind her. "I want to speak with King Arthur himself."
Mal stopped and turned. "Why do you want to talk to him?" she asked.
Ben reached out and gripped her arm again. "Sir Galahad was one of Arthur's most trusted knights. The King might also know the truth behind my father's death. On the night he died, my father had told me he was going to an important meeting that could have ended the war. Arthur must know something about it."
"Very tight security surrounds the king. You won't manage to get close to him, even if I were to take you to Camelot," Mal replied.
"I'll think of something when I get there," Ben retorted.
Mal shook her head. "I can't. I'm not going to Camelot," she explained.
Ben tightened his hold on her arm. Mal looked down at his hand before lifting her gaze towards him. She froze upon noticing his eyes, unshed tears brightening them. "During the battle, Sir Galahad told me that my father's killer is Gaston," Ben revealed in a hushed tone. "That's why I need to know the truth. I can't live with this doubt. Help me, John, I beg you."
Mal looked down, unable to stare at him any longer. She was at a loss. The rational part of her mind was telling her that she didn't owe him anything. She'd only put Arthur at risk if she took Ben to Camelot. But another part of her thought about how she'd felt all these years growing up, not remembering her past. And even though she'd never admitted it to him, the prince had stirred something deep within her during the short time they'd spend together. She couldn't explain it. Something inside her was telling her to help him. She sighed. "Okay. I'll help you. But it's the last thing I'm going to do for you." She swallowed and turned her eyes back up to him.
"Thank you," He replied with a little grateful smile.
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"Are you sure you know where we're going?" Ben asked with an impatient snort. They'd been walking through forests and farmlands for hours but still no sign of Camelot or any village for that matter. Ben looked up at the sky. The sun would set in about an hour, and they had to find shelter for the night soon.
"We would go a lot faster if you'd stop complaining every five minutes," Mal quipped, stopping to get her bearings. She'd only traveled to Camelot with Merlin from the convent. But she was confident that they'd gone north-west on horseback for quite a few hours before reaching their destination. So, she'd used the direction of the sun in the afternoon sky to help her find her way. "Camelot is far away, and we don't even have horses. We need at least another day of traveling to get there."
"Then we need to find a safe, sheltered place to rest for the night. Nightfall will be upon us soon." Ben commented, taking in his surroundings. "Up there!" he suggested. "Look at that hill. I see some old stone buildings." Mal nodded.
Ben walked up to the hill, slowing down his pace, noticing the sudden change of environment as they reached its top. The deep green forests had long given way to low grown vegetation and weather-worn stone pillars surrounded by dead clumps of grass. Mildew stained a sculpted archway while ash scarred the stone of the half-crumbled structures around them. If Ben were to give a wild guess, he'd say they had ended up inside the ruins of an old castle.
Mal's breathing quickened as she looked around her, not noticing that she'd started walking closer to Ben as they made their way through the abandoned remains. There was something about this place that made her stomach knot. It was as if she'd been here already. She stopped with her head starting to spin.
"John, why did you stop?" Ben asked. "We need to find shelter for the night. Come on."
"I can't," Mal replied, stopping to stare at the faceless statue at her side. "I've been here before."
"What do you me-? Ben began.
Out of nowhere, there was the sound of someone crunching through dead leaves to their side. Before they could even blink, they found themselves surrounded by a group of people. Their clothes were old and torn in various places. By the looks of it, they seemed to be peasants, but every one of them held a pick-axe or a thick, sturdy-looking stick in their hand, ready to attack. "Who are you?" one of them shouted in anger. "No one ever comes to the ruins, and no one ever leaves the ruins!" he threatened.
Ben looked around him. He managed to keep a straight face even though he realized that they had no means of escape. With no weapons, they had no way of defending themselves. Feeling the archer's hand grip his arm, he looked back to find him hiding behind his back and frightened. Swallowing, Ben raised his arms to the air. He'd have to try to reason with their attackers. "We're unarmed. We got lost and were looking for shelter for the night. We don't mean any harm," Ben stated.
Ben stiffened, as the group of peasants, started arguing between them. "Wait, they might not be enemies!" one shouted. "No! We should kill them and sacrifice them to the spirits!" another one retorted.
"Stop!" A female voice rang out. The peasants turned to look backward and moved aside. "Stop, father!" She repeated. A slender, medium-tanned woman with high cheekbones, brown eyes and long, dark hair reaching her thighs stopped a few steps away from them, staring at them intensely. Her gaze fell on Mal, and her eyes widening. The woman smiled after a few silent moments. "I'm Jasmine," she introduced herself. The people around them gasped as she lifted her hand and gently touched Mal's cheek. Mal remained frozen in place while Ben took a step forward. "Look at this boy's face!" Jasmine exclaimed, turning to face the crowd around them. "He resembles the lady of the portrait." She paused. "The lady who keeps away the bad spirits from the Moorland's ruins."
Ben and Mal stared at the woman in surprise and wonder. "So, these are the moorlands," Ben stuttered, looking around him. Mal remained deadly still as she continued staring. Her parched throat made it difficult to swallow. She took a slow breath, willing the world to stop spinning around her. These were the Moors, her native home.
"Come with me," Jasmine instructed.
Mal didn't think and followed her until they stopped in front of a faded portrait, somehow still hanging on one of the broken walls. A family emblem was engraved on top of the picture; that of a Quadriform Fibula. The image of an older woman stared back at Mal. Time stopped. It was almost as if she was looking back at herself in a mirror, almost. The only difference between them was that the older woman's long hair was black instead of Mal's purple.
"Do you know the lady of the portrait?" The leader of the peasants asked Mal. Silence followed. The older man took a step forward, leaning heavily on his walking stick. "I asked you whether you know the lady of the portrait." He repeated, raising his voice this time.
Mal turned around to face him. Her head was still spinning, her gaze unfocused. "She's my mother," she blurted out.
Ben remained stunned. He could do nothing but stare, speechless, at the archer. If his mother was from the moors, it meant that John was also a Fae.
The voices around Mal became muffled as a brief image of herself as a child, playing with her mother in a garden, flashed before her eyes. She blinked, a wayward tear making its way down her smooth cheek. "I haven't seen my mother since I was six years old," She confessed in a soft voice.
Mal's voice penetrated Ben's spinning thoughts. He swallowed.
The group's leader, helped by Jasmine, walked past Mal and stopped in front of the portrait. "Her spirit has always protected these ruins, which have become a shelter for us and which we've called our home for the last ten years," he stated.
"The people around you are all survivors of the Great War," Jasmine continued. She paused, her gaze growing distant. "King Stefan accused us of being traitors, and my people had no choice but to flee from our home, Agrabah. We lost everything the day his soldiers attacked us." Jasmine's voice took on a hushed tone. "Stefan burned my kingdom to the ground, and my husband lost his life, trying to lead us away to safety. We were lucky enough to cross the border and have been hiding here ever since, away from the world. If Stefan finds us, he'll hang us without a second thought or take us to work at the Dwarf's mines."
Mal closed her eyes. The world around her couldn't stop spiraling around her. She took a deep, shuddering breath to try to still her racing heart. Her tragic past was something she'd come to accept over the years. Merlin and Arthur had become her family now. And having found her actual birth home did not change anything. It would not bring her parents back. She finally looked up to examine the group of people around her. They had suffered so much, just like her, and they appeared so lost and scared. Maybe there was something she could do for them. With a calmness she didn't feel, she addressed the crowd around her. "This was once my family's home. Now it is yours." she volunteered with a shaky smile.
Jasmine stretched a hand and lightly gripped Mal's shoulder. "Thank you," She paused. "And please, stay with us for as long as you need. It's the least we can do to repay you for your kindness."
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"Here," Ben said with a little smile as he offered Mal a plate of soup. He sat down next on the wooden log Mal was resting against.
"Thanks," Mal whispered before returning to look at the fire in front of her.
Ben leaned forward, throwing a side glance at his travel companion. The archer hadn't uttered a single word ever since he'd revealed his origins to Jasmine. From the vacant look in his eyes and hunched shoulders, Ben could tell that John didn't want to talk about it. Being the respectful person he was, Ben could have left him be, and he would have if curiosity hadn't gotten the best of him. The archer had lived in Notre-Dame and was Fae. Ben could discover some useful information about his enemies. And, if he was lucky enough, the archer also knew something about the princess. "So, you're an orphan just like me?" Ben asked. Mal continued to stare straight ahead of her. She nodded but did not turn around to acknowledge him. "It must have been hard," he commented, his voice lowering to a hushed tone. Ben could feel tears building up at the back of his eyes as his mind drifted off to the morning Gaston had told him his father had been murdered.
Something in Ben's voice made Mal look up at him. She stilled. The distraught expression of a soul burdened by a similar loss greeted her as she focused on his face. It was as if he understood what she had been through as a child. She instinctively moved closer to him.
"My mother's name was Maleficent, and she disappeared one day, along with my father. It was a long time ago," she confessed, forgetting herself at that moment. "No one heard from them ever again. I don't remember anything of that day or my childhood before that. It's all a big blur as if they never existed. But they would've looked for me if they were still alive. Two farmers found me wandering a forest alone when I was six. They took me to Camelot, and the king gave me to the care of a man called Merlin." She paused, a faraway look in her eyes. "I've spent the last few years living in a convent."
No one spoke. "Your mother was lovely," Ben commented, breaking the awkward silence.
Mal smiled. "Sometimes, I have these brief flashes in my head where I hear her singing a lullaby to make me sleep."
"And the bow and arrow? Was it your father who taught you?" Ben asked.
Mal nodded. "He left me a journal detailing all his secrets."
There was another moment of silence. "You must have been lonely at the convent," Ben empathized.
"Not really," Mal replied with a wistful grin. "Merlin has never left my side. He's become my family now." Her smile grew larger. "Besides, there are the other orphaned children in the convent. There's my friend Carlos in particular, who's more like a little brother to me. We love teasing each other." She laughed. "You should hear him telling me, all serious-faced, how he'd never want to marry someone like me, a girl who could so out-shoot him with ease." She closed her eyes, wistfully recalling the curly-haired boy, and felt Ben stiffen beside her. Mal froze, her hand flying to her mouth as she realized what she said.
Ben leaped to his feet and stared at her. His throat was going dry, and his heart was racing. "Girl?" he managed to stutter as the next seconds passed by in perfect stillness. He blinked. Right before his eyes, he could see everything falling away as he stared at the person beside him. He could see the feminine frame of her jawline and the wide eyes and long lashes that he'd brushed off as youth alone morphing until he couldn't understand how he'd missed it before. He froze. It was as if he had lost the ability to move. John was a girl. That seemed impossible. How could it be?
And why go through the whole act of pretending to be a boy? It could be that she wanted to fight for her country, or maybe that she was in danger or... or... she wanted to hide her true identity. His eyes widened as the realization hit him. He could feel his jaw unhinging. The Moors…Notre-dame…the Convent. Now it all made sense! "You're Princess Mal, the heiress to the Moors, aren't you?" he asked, raising a shaky finger at Mal.
There was a long pause that all but confirmed his suspicions. Ben let his hand fall slack at his side as Mal's face turned a pale, sickly color. Her frame shook as she took a long, slow breath. A rush of panic swelled within her as the air around her became hard to breathe. She might as well have been breathing ash for all the oxygen she was getting. How could she have been so stupid? Ben would never let her go now! She had to get away from him.
She bolted upright to try and make a dash for it, but Ben came back to life. He caught her arm in a vice grip before she could even put another foot of distance between them. "Let me go!" she ordered, using all her might to try and pull away. His grip remained tight on her arm. "I won't let you take me back to Auradon!" She snarled in a low growl, trying to wrench her arm free. "I won't marry you! You won't hurt me or anyone else here!" Mal dug her toes into the ground and tried to kick Ben's leg, but Ben wrapped his free hand around her other arm in a hold she couldn't break.
"Listen to me for one second!" Ben yelled in a desperate sort of gasp, still trying to wrap his head around this new revelation. His head was spinning. He had the princess, right here in his arms. The princess everyone thought was dead. "Be quiet for five seconds so I can think! We're not going back to Auradon, and I'm not hurting you!"
Mal stopped and stared at him, her eyes hardening as she struggled to hide her fear. "Why should I believe you?" she sneered. "You said so yourself. Your duty is towards your kingdom. You're going to force me to marry you so you can claim my lands. I won't let you. I'd rather die!" she bit back. Mal winced as Ben gripped her arms even tighter.
Ben looked down at his hands and, noticing his white knuckles, dropped her arms as if she had burned him. He took a step back. "I'm sorry," He whispered, belatedly realizing that he'd gripped her too hard. "I didn't mean to hurt you," He apologized as Mal rubbed her sore arms.
The sincerity in his voice made Mal stop to gaze at him. But she didn't let her guard down. Her eyes narrowed and backed away another step.
"Wait! I know what I said, but that was before I…" He stammered before pausing. "Things have changed," He stated. "I let you go, but you still agreed to help me. Please, will you take me to Camelot, and I swear we'll part ways there." Mal seemed to relax a little, but she continued to keep a wary eye on him. "I'm a man of my word, Mal," Ben whispered.
They fell into silence for several minutes, staring at each other. No one moved. Mal took a deep breath while trying to make sense of her racing thoughts. Adrenaline started through her system again, clearing some of the fog in her mind. Her secret was out, and Ben had discovered who she was. There was no turning back now. But could she trust him to keep his word? He was still her enemy's son. Her lips pressed together in a slight grimace. Something deep within her wanted to believe him…that same voice that had told her to help him and take him to Camelot. She wanted to, for some unknown reason. But could she? There was too much at stake…the fate of the war rested on her shoulders. What should she do?
Ben remained silent as he studied her. She appeared lost in thought. He still couldn't believe it. The archer he'd journeyed with was not only a girl but most surprisingly the heiress to the moors, the princess his father wanted him to marry. He bit the inside of his cheek, a fluttery feeling rising in his belly. He felt his heart pace quicken. But as dazed and confused as he was at that moment, Ben only knew one thing. For some reason unknown to him, he didn't want Mal to leave. Besides, she still needed to take him to Camelot. Somehow, he had to convince her to trust him. But how? He swallowed. "You've got to believe me, please," He tried.
Mal cleared her throat and opened her mouth. Ben stilled, holding his breath. "Okay, I believe you," She stated, sitting back down on the log, moving a few feet away from him.
Ben couldn't stop his lips from breaking into a small smile as he stared at Mal's back. She trusted him. An unfamiliar heat that he'd never felt before started spreading through his chest. He blinked, getting back to the present.
"So, what now?" she asked.
"You take me to Camelot to meet Arthur and then we part ways, as I promised," He instructed. That unfamiliar heat returned as he gazed at her. "I also swear that I won't tell anyone back in Auradon about you." He continued.
Mal nodded, turning to look back at the fire.
A few moments of awkward silence followed. Ben hadn't moved from his position as he continued to stare at Mal's back. Now that Mal had decided to trust him, Ben felt the adrenaline that had started to wear off being replaced by a state of total curiosity towards the princess. "So…" he murmured, breaking the silence. "You're the princess…" He sat down on the log a few meters away from her before sliding down on the earth. He pulled his knees to his chest, leaning back into the wood. "You told me you don't remember anything from your past. So how did you find out who you are?" he asked.
Mal stole him a side glance before looking away, examining a tiny red-leafed plant sprouting in the dark shadows. "I..." she paused, debating whether to answer him or not.
"I'm sorry," Ben stopped her, noticing her pained expression. "I didn't mean to pry." He paused.
"It's just…you must admit that this is an awkward situation. I mean, you said you were surprised to discover that the prince of Auradon was not an arrogant spoilt brat." He let a little smile lit up his face, the hint of a laugh in his voice. "Well, I didn't expect the Moors' Princess, the heiress to a magical kingdom, to be such a skilled archer or that I would cross paths with her on a battlefield out of all places."
Ben's laugh made Mal feel somewhat better, and she finally turned to face him. "King Arthur told me. He knew my parents. My dad was one of his knights, and when he met my mom, who was the Queen of the Fae, Arthur released him from his obligations so he could marry her," she explained.
"So you're half-Fae, half-human?" Ben asked, twiddling his thumbs together without touching them.
"Yeah," Mal mumbled.
"How long have you known?" Ben asked, turning to look at her. She turned her head away. Her choppy, short hair covered her face from view.
"Since I was ten." Mal exhaled. "That was... a weird day. Arthur showed up at the convent to say happy birthday, and I was climbing trees..." Ben snorted. Mal frowned before glaring at him. "They, ahem, explained everything to me, and I was so shocked that I ran away to hide in my bedroom. Merlin tried to follow me, but Arthur told him no," she said, clearing her throat.
"So, this Merlin fellow, he's the one that raised you?" Ben asked. He curled his fingertips a little to pop the tiny joins underneath his nails.
"Yeah. Merlin is Fae too. But he had this vision of how he was supposed to aid Arthur, so he left the Moorlands," Mal explained.
"You sound close to them both." Ben sighed, deliberating softly.
"I am," Mal confirmed. "How could I not be? They're my family. They took care of me when I was left all alone. I felt like a little princess whenever they were around. I mean, they tended to treat me like I was made of glass, but I still loved them. They've always been honest with me, and they've worked so hard to keep me safe. I'd do anything to protect them," She confessed.
Ben hummed. He felt the same way towards Gaston and could relate to Mal's gratitude and protectiveness towards King Arthur and this Merlin. It dawned to him how similar they were, and for some unknown reason, he felt somehow drawn to her. Could it be because of their identical childhood losses? She'd challenged his every belief in the brief time they'd been together. But despite it, he felt so comfortable around her. That could explain why he felt this weird and strange connection towards her. He wished they could remain friends even after they'd arrived in Camelot and met Arthur. He sighed.
Ben closed his eyes as the realization hit him, and at that moment, a deep heaviness settled into his heart. That was not possible. The war between their two kingdom and their diverging alliances would forever divide them, making them mortal enemies. It was as if a dark, dense cloud had fallen over his shoulders. With an unexpected soreness in his throat, he slumped his shoulders to stare at the fire before him. The long silence that ensued was deafening.
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"If you ever need it, you will always find a safe-haven, a place to hide, here in the moorlands," The group elder told Mal the following morning as they prepared to leave and continue their journey.
"Thank you," Mal replied. "We wouldn't have managed to make it through the night without you."
"Remember that this will always be your home and that we're mere guests here," The elder replied. "And we'll be forever in your debt so come find us if you'll ever need our help."
Mal gave them one last smile before turning around. She stopped a moment later when Jasmine grabbed her arm. Her eyebrows rose in confusion as the older woman leaned forward to whisper in her ear. "Don't be afraid of Ben."
"What do you mean, Jasmine?" Mal stuttered as her head flinched backward.
"I'm referring to your happiness, Mal," Jasmine stated in a low tone. She smiled at the young girl's confusion. "He has a pure heart. Trust him."
Mal's stomach fluttered. Her chest tightened, and she stole a side glance at Ben, who was a few feet away from her talking to one of the peasants. She opened her mouth to reply, but no words came out. Running a hand through her hair, she shot Jasmine one last look before turning away. "Let's go," she told Ben as she joined his side. No words were spoken between them as they left the moorlands in silence.
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Ben's eyes widened in awe and wonder as he hurried to keep up with Mal. He stopped to stare at the elaborate city gate, adorned with intricate and polished stone statues. His mouth fell open. Mal turned, noticing her missing companion, and reached for his arm to pull him forward. Ben continued to gaze, mesmerized at the tall, majestic buildings which lined the busy city streets. "I didn't imagine Camelot to be like this," he commented, finally finding his voice.
Mal smiled. "Arthur got the most talented and well-known architects to build this city. The king is a firm believer of respect, dignity, and humanity. And he felt that the best way to respect his people was to build a nice city for them to live in. Don't you think he was right?" she asked, looking at him.
Ben stilled, unsure what to answer. "Yes, sure," he stammered a moment later.
"Look around you. This is what we've been defending against King Stefan, Gaston and anyone else who has sought to destroy us," Mal stated in a steady, low-pitched voice stopping to lock gazes with Ben.
Ben could only stare at her, taking a shaky breath. Feeling his throat go dry, he tried to swallow. Time seemed to slow down. This city…so clean and majestic…the calm and civilized people around him…they didn't look at all like the blood-thirsty invaders who, according to his father, wanted to conquer their home. Could he have been mistaken? Could they have been in the wrong to start a war against them? Mal didn't wait for him to answer her and instead turned around, continuing to walk ahead.
They'd advanced a few more meters when they crossed a procession heading into the church. Mal gripped Ben's arm. "King Arthur is protected by an exceptional guard. He'll be tough to approach, and his guard would immediately arrest you if they'd recognize you." She paused. "Go hide in the chapel and wait for me there," She instructed. Ben nodded.
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"Mal!" King Arthur exclaimed as he dashed up the stone corridors towards her. He huffed a little as he stopped outside his office's door. Mal turned at the sound of his footsteps, brushing her hair out of her face a little and standing up a little straighter when she recognized the voice. His entire face lit up as he examined her. She had a new haircut but was otherwise unharmed. He couldn't believe this miracle. When Lancelot had told him, he hadn't even known how to react. He stepped into the office, closing the space between them with a few long strides before enveloping her in a tight hug. His cane clattered to the ground with a loud thud.
Mal closed her eyes, returning the hug with trembling hands as relief washed over her. She was safe at last.
"My little girl," Arthur whispered, kissing her forehead before breaking the hug. "You gave us quite a scare child. Merlin has been worried sick." He paused. "What were you thinking, leaving the safety of the convent?"
"Forgive me, Arthur." Mal locked eyes with him.
"All I've done these past ten years is protect you Mal," Arthur stated, giving her a stern look.
"But I had to do it. I had to protect you, Merlin and my people," Mal replied in a firm tone, setting her jaw. "I'm not a child anymore, Arthur. I couldn't let Gaston or anyone else hurt either you or Merlin."
Arthur sighed before bending down to pick up his cane. "So you thought putting your life at risk was the right course of action. Always the impulsive one…just like your father," he commented.
Mal smiled for a moment before her expression turned serious. "A lot of things have happened since I've left the convent, Arthur."
"What happened?" he asked.
"I'll tell you everything, but first I need your help," Mal stated, her voice taking on an urgent tone.
"Whatever you need, child," Arthur replied.
"I'm not alone, Arthur." She confessed. "There's someone else with me here in Camelot. Someone who wants to talk to you."
"Who?" the king asked, his brows furrowing. "Why didn't you let him come with you?"
"It's Benjamin of Auradon, the adopted son of Lord Gaston," Mal stated.
A grave expression marred Arthur's face, his mouth twisting downwards as he became lost in thought. King Adam's son, here in Camelot. What did he want, and how did he end up with Mal? He lifted a hand and rested it on her shoulder. "Where is he?"
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Ben swallowed. The soldiers who had come for him at the chapel had led him inside the castle. At first, he had feared that Mal had betrayed him. But after walking for a while through several long corridors, they stopped and entered a medium-sized chamber. The well-furnished room did not look like a prison cell even though the captain of the guards remained at his side, eying him with caution. Two armored knights remained stationed by the door. A few moments later, they lifted their long spears to let a well-dressed, middle-aged man through. He was wearing a golden crown on his head and was leaning on a cane as he walked in - this man was King Arthur.
"Prince Benjamin of Auradon." Arthur greeted, walking up to him. "I had hoped to one day meet the son of the noble King Adam. I had the pleasure to meet your father before the start of the Great War. He'd spoken so fondly of you."
Ben stilled for a moment, surprised at the king's words before remembering himself and bowing down lowly in respect. "I'm not here as your enemy, your majesty," he declared, straightening himself. "I'm here because I need to ask you something, something of vital importance to me and that only you can answer."
Arthur examined the young man in front of him, looking out for any sign of danger or deceit. He found none. It was as if he was looking at King Adam himself. The same bright, expressive hazel eyes that revealed only courage and honor. Arthur was glad…it seemed that living with Gaston hadn't tainted the boy's soul. "It must be of great importance if you took such a dangerous trip to come to see me. So, tell me, Benjamin, what do you need?" the king asked.
Ben took a deep breath, steadying himself. "I fought against Sir Galahad during the battle at Bald Mountain. He had the upper hand and could have killed me with ease but instead spared my life, telling me that I was defending the man that killed my father." Ben paused, locking bright eyes with Arthur's gaze. "Is it true? Did Gaston murder my father? ... It can't be … Gaston raised me as his own. He even promised me to return my kingdom to me."
Arthur's felt his muscles freeze as he stared at Auradon's prince. Luckily enough, he'd managed to control and steady himself, keeping an impassive expression. "I'm sorry, Benjamin," He sighed, as Ben lowered his head in defeat. "But I don't have the answers you're seeking."
"How can it be?" Ben asked, raising his voice. "How could you not know something which Sir Galahad, one of your highest ranked knights, appeared to be so certain about?"
Arthur turned to look away and walked towards a window, unable to hold Ben's gaze. "I don't know what Sir Galahad knew about your father's death. I'm sorry. He never told me anything about it."
Ben let out a long, hard sigh and closed his eyes. He felt his arms lose all their strength as they dropped to his side. With a heavy heart, he lifted dull eyes back up to look at Arthur, who had turned back to face him. Ben felt the walls of the room closing in on him as a whirlwind of emotions clouded his thoughts. "I love Gaston, he's like a father to me, but I can't live with this doubt anymore." He blurted out, forgetting himself and the fact that he was addressing the leader of his enemies.
Once again, Arthur found himself examining the young prince in front of him. His caved-in chest and pained expression showed his doubt and despair. This boy was not an enemy looking to deceive or attack his kingdom but rather a man looking for answers, torn between his genuine love for Gaston and the need to discover the truth. At that moment, Arthur wished Adam was still alive to witness the honorable man his son had become. The king smiled sadly and walked up to Ben, laying a hand on his shoulder. "You have a pure heart, Benjamin, just like your father. Don't let the shadow of doubt obscure it." he paused. "Go back to Gaston and love him as you've always done. And push on your father's love towards you to convince him to find a peaceful solution to this war."
Ben nodded and sighed, his shoulders and body loosening as the tension left him. Arthur was his last chance to find out the truth. Now he had no other choice but to return to Auradon. But he'd follow the king's advice and talk to Gaston about the war. Arthur and the people of Camelot didn't appear to be these power-hungry conquerors; he was always brought up to believe. Something was not right. Could it be that King Stefan's informants had been wrong about the Western Kingdom?
"Before you leave and return to Auradon, I want to write a letter to Gaston. Will you give it to him?" Arthur asked.
"Of course, your Majesty. And thank you," Ben replied, bowing lowly. "You could have treated me like an enemy, but instead you welcome me in your home and choose to meet me."
Lancelot, who'd remained by their side the whole time, signaled to the two outside guards to guide Ben outside the castle. Ben nodded and followed them out of the room. The captain of Arthur's guards frowned once the young prince left the room. "Sire, why didn't you tell him the truth?" he asked the king. "The boy is the heir to Auradon. He could have become a precious ally?"
Arthur sighed. "I know Lancelot, but I couldn't bring myself to do it." He paused. "He's still young, and the truth would have devastated him. He's already lost his father. I didn't have to heart to take away the other father figure in his life. It might be best to wait a few more years when he's older and able to handle the truth."
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Mal glanced at Ben as he stopped by her side in the castle courtyard. Several armored guards were already ready on horseback to escort her to a new hiding place where Merlin would shortly join her. She couldn't wait to hug her old guardian. A castle attendant approached them with two horses, handing one to each of them.
Ben looked at Mal, a war of his emotions, playing across his face. This was finally it; it was time to say goodbye for good. They would now return to be enemies on opposite sides of the battlefield. He didn't know why but a deep heaviness settled into his heart at the thought. "Mal, wait," he called. She turned to look at him.
Ben shifted position, trying to find the right words. "I doubt we'll never meet again, so I wanted to tell you that I'm happy that Gaston didn't manage to find you. I hope that you will one day marry a man you love and that he'll make you happy." There was so much more he wanted to tell her, but King Arthur entered the courtyard and interrupted him. He gave him a letter to Gaston.
Mal felt her heart racing. Her stomach had begun fluttering as soon as Ben had called her name. She took a shallow breath, unable to tear her eyes off him from the moment he had started speaking. What was wrong with her? The prince was about to return to Auradon, and she would hide in a new place where the enemy would never find her. She'd be safe at last. Arthur came up to them to give Ben a letter of Gaston, breaking them apart. Wasting no time, she left Ben's side and climbed onto her horse.
Ben settled on his horse, pulling its reins, and started to follow Mal and the armored knights as they made their way outside Camelot. They traveled together through a part of the forest outside of the city until they reached a crossroads. The guards in front of them stopped to scout the area ahead of them for danger.
Ben brought his horse to a stop and turned to face Mal. He swallowed. "So, this is goodbye." He muttered.
Mal lowered her eyes. "Good luck," She whispered in return.
"What will you do? Are you going to return to Notre-dame?" Ben asked.
"No. Arthur has set up a new safe-house for me. Everyone is worried about my safety." She smiled wistfully, looking up at him.
Ben locked gazes with her. "Me too," He confessed. Mal stiffened. "It might be wise for you not to tell me where this new safe house is, then."
Mal swallowed. "I can't tell you anyway." She replied, finding her voice.
Ben nodded with a little smile. "That's true. We're still enemies, after all, right?" he stated, his voice taking on a lighter tone.
Mal returned his smile, her shoulders relaxing. "When you'll become the ruler of Auradon, try to be a better ruler than Gaston."
Ben couldn't stop his smile from growing wider. "If I'll ever become king, Mal, I'll make sure to come to seek your counsel."
Mal stilled, her heart skipping a beat. Silence fell between them. "Goodbye then," She muttered.
"Goodbye," Ben replied, pulling his horse's reins. He'd moved a meter away from Mal when he stopped, a soldier's shout for danger breaking the silence.
Ben watched time slow down. His eyes widened as an arrow flew past him and hit the soldier who had given out the call. He tumbled off his horse to the ground, where he laid still and unmoving. The other horses started squealing in terror as they realized the danger around them. Several began to rear up and try to buck their owners off so that they could bolt away from the scene of the attack. A group of twenty archers with arrows drawn at the ready appeared from the surrounding bushes as the men struggled to rear their horses in.
Ben's head swiveled as he looked around the ground, hoping for a means to escape. His heart hammered in his chest as he gripped his horse's reins, trying to calm his horse. Aside from the dead man on the ground, no one seemed hurt. Ben still whipped around to stare at Mal and let his face relax when he saw her unharmed. Her face was white, but she wasn't hurt.
"Stand down if you value your lives," One of the archers who appeared to be the leader ordered. His companions drew their arrows back a little tighter, as a threat. One by one, the soldiers let their weapons drop to the ground.
Ben felt the hair on his arms rise as his hands grew sweaty. The ambush, the bows, the arrows, they could only mean one thing. But they were still in the Western Kingdom! How was it possible? He held his breath, trying to ease his breaths to stay quiet.
"Benjamin of Auradon," the leader called, raising a hand. "And you boy!" he continued, indicating Mal. Ben's face turned ashen. "You're now prisoners of the Black Arrow!"
A/N: UH-OH! If you want to find out what happens next make sure you to read next weekend's update!
Quite an eventful chapter don't you think? Ben is even more confused about the "perfect" life he thought he was living while Mal's secret is out. All I can say is that this will have a huge impact on the story and their relationship moving forward. I've also introduced the Moors and my version of Jasmine. There are still a bunch of new characters still to meet...the Black Arrow and another Descendants character will make his appearance in next week's chapter.
Once again thank you so much for all the reviews, favs and follows. Words can't explain what they mean to me.