A/N: Welcome back to this week's new chapter. Thank you so much to Harry Potter Fan 1994, SparkyGurly 227 and AmethystDragon14 for leaving a review for the last chapter. Also a special thank you goes to my beta WanderlustandFreedom for her patience and help with these last two chapters.
I'd thought I'd answer some of the questions raised in the reviews so far:
- Godmother is actually the AU version of Fairy Godmother. Her name is never revealed in the Descendants franchise and this story doesn't deal directly with magic so I had opted to refer to her as Godmother instead.
- I'm afraid Mal and Ben will remain separated for a little while longer but I'm sure you'll love the way they are reunited.
- The brown-haired lady that Matthew tried to take hostage was indeed Lady Marian.
- Gaston is a very complex character indeed. You'll have to read to find out more about him but I can say one thing without spoiling much. He genuinely cares for Ben if you're wondering about that.
- Ben was actually hit by the rogue Black Arrow archer (who disobeyed Robin's orders) during the exchange as the arrow was shot from behind him.
- Jasmine is not technically the new "magical" keeper of the Moors - Mal "symbolically" gave them her lands to use as a safe haven since she has found a peaceful life with her new family i.e. Arthur and Merlin. But the Moors remain Mal's lands and only she has the power to awaken it and restore the magic to her people. And it's not the last we've seen of the Moors ;)
- As for Jasmine's intuition on Ben...let's just say that she's had True Love in her life with Aladdin and so she recognized that little spark between them (in the way they interact with each other) even though she's only had limited interaction with them so far.
- Claudette is also another complex character. I don't want to spoil anything but there is more character development coming your way as the story unfolds. The same thing goes for her relationship with Gaston.
Chapter 8
"We've dragged that young boy along with us like a little lamb," Godmother commented, balancing a basket and jar in her hands. Behind her, Audrey tried to keep up as they made their way across the Black Arrow's camp. "He'll end up getting sick if we don't take proper care of him."
"And what am I supposed to do?" Audrey asked, wiping her brow from the heat despite the early morning sun. Her lips pursed in a tight line. She lifted her skirt not to trip on the uneven stone ground and hurried behind the older woman.
"Help me out. You're the boy's age," Godmother replied.
"Why not ask Chad instead?" Audrey asked, huffing for her breath.
"You know the boy hasn't uttered a word since we've captured him. He's probably scared out of his mind." Godmother explained. "You're a girl, and he might not perceive you as a threat. You could even get him to tell us his name. Now move along and stop complaining. I always have to do everything by myself around here."
They walked a few meters and entered the small teepee tent. Mal heard footsteps and straightened herself from her fitful slumber to gaze at the newcomers with narrowed eyes. She'd never seen them before. The ropes around her wrists had loosened considerably and would now snap with just a sharp pull. It had taken her all night, and she was exhausted, but in the end, her efforts had proved fruitful. Now all she needed to do was wait for the right moment to escape.
The older woman bent down and brought a jar to Mal's lips, offering her a drink of water. The princess gulped the liquid down, the water soothing her parched throat in an instant.
"I've got a surprise for you," Godmother said with a kind smile. She picked up a damp cloth and gently wiped Mal's face.
Mal raised her eyebrows and stared at the older woman with a questioning gaze. "You're letting me go," the princess asked.
Godmother's shoulders slumped. "No, I'm not the one who decides these things." She sighed. "That's not the surprise." The older woman turned towards Audrey. "I've brought you a girl your age. You could become friends," she explained.
Audrey walked inside the tent and stopped a meter away to get a closer look at the boy. Her gaze flickered up, and down his small, almost feminine frame, and her eyes narrowed in suspicion. Something about him was not right. "So…what's your name?" she asked in an icy tone.
Mal steeled her back and held her gaze. "John. My name is John," she replied. The princess noticed the suspicious look the newcomer was giving her. "And I like girls with long, light brown hair." Mal quipped, hoping to protect her identity.
Godmother watched the exchange in silent amusement, and her face broke out into a smile. "It's great to hear your voice, John, but I'm afraid this girl is taken," the woman replied with a loud chuckle before turning to the brown-haired girl beside her. "You see, Audrey. I was right to bring you along."
Audrey frowned and threw the prisoner one last icy glare before storming away. Godmother continued to laugh and followed Audrey outside.
Mal waited until she was sure she was alone before looking around her. With a frantic tug, she pulled at her wrists and smiled as the ropes gave way. She was free at last. It would've been better to wait for the cover of night to try to escape, but something about Audrey's gaze brought a shiver down her spine. She had to get away from them now before the Black Arrow could discover her secret identity.
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"These clothes should fit him we-"Godmother stilled, dropping the basket she was carrying. Her eyes widened as she looked at the now-empty teepee. She turned to her side, exchanged a surprised glance at Audrey, and started to shout. "Robin, the prisoner has escaped!"
Shouts and screams echoed through the encampment. The outlaws scattered, immediately looking for Mal. "Hurry up! There's no time to waste," Robin ordered, rushing to pick up with bow and arrow. "Search around the entire forest. He couldn't have gone too far!"
Mal needed no urge to run as fast as her legs could carry her. She fled through the forest, crashing through the underbrush. The princess didn't stop to look around despite the growing volume of shouts behind her. Her heart pounded like thunder in her chest, but she pushed forward. The branches and briars whipped at her face. Mal pushed them aside with her hands, determined to escape her captors.
The princess spotted a low branch on the ground and jumped to avoid it. Her right foot landed on a protruding rock, and she fell face down on the ground, the pebbles slicing her face. She looked up as out of nowhere came the sound of rushing wind and the thudding of horses' hooves. The earth began to shake under her feet when the two riders bypassed her, and a broad smile brightened her face when she recognized that it was Ben and Doug. He'd kept his promise and was still out looking for her. "Ben! Ben!" she shouted, scrambling to her feet.
"Stop, boy!" a voice shouted from behind her. A rough, steady hand gripped her arm and turned her around. Mal found herself face to face with the tall blond boy the Black Arrow had rescued from Gaston. He grabbed hold of her other arm.
"Let me go!" Mal shouted.
"Stop struggling," Chad shouted. "It's useless. No one can hear you now!"
"Let go of me!" Mal repeated. She bent down and bit the blonde's hand. He yelled in pain, letting go of one of her arms and the princess shifted her weight, trying to make him lose his balance.
Other members of the Black Arrow gathered around the struggling pair. Chad held his ground and grabbed Mal forcefully by the front of her dark, brown doublet, tearing the garment open in the process. Everyone around them stilled, and the blonde's eyes widened at Mal's now partially exposed undershirt and chest.
"I knew she was a girl!" Audrey's voice boomed across the clearing.
Chad was completely taken back. He blinked twice, closing his mouth, and stared at her face in dumbfounded shock. Their prisoner was a girl! The blonde's mouth went dry. He swallowed and started to examine her with newfound interest, his eyes falling on her striking green eyes and short purple hair, which seemed to shine with the sunlight filtering through the trees. Chad let out a breath as a sensation of warmth fled through his entire body and a series of shivers passed through him, the fine hair raising slightly on his arms, a tingling in his back. His heart skipped a beat. "Yes, a girl," he trailed off, his voice sounding a little stifled. He cleared his throat. "And a pretty one too," he hummed. He blinked as the image of Audrey crossed his mind. Why had he just said that? Mal struggled in his tight grip and brought him out of his thoughts. Chad ignored her and turned around, pulling her along. "Now move," he ordered.
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A wide smile graced Claudette's features as soon as she spotted Ben riding his horse up the hill leading to the castle gate. She closed the window and hurried out of her bedroom, the skirts of her elegant maroon tunic swishing behind her.
"Ben!" she exclaimed, a happy tone present in her voice. She crossed the courtyard in a few long strides and embraced her son as soon as the prince had dismounted his horse. Ben swayed on his feet and took a step back, losing his balance with the force of the impact. He winced in pain, and his hand shot up to clutch his sore arm.
Claudette drew back when Ben did not return her hug. Her pulse quickened, and her eyebrows knitted together. Her eyes roamed her son's face before his bloodied hand caught her attention. "Your wound has reopened," she noted with a frown.
"It's nothing," Ben brushed her off, starting to walk away.
Her hand caught his uninjured arm in a gentle hold and began to walk with him. "We didn't get to talk much since you've returned," she commented with a soft smile. Ben did not reply, and Claudette stopped in front of him. "What's wrong, son?" she asked, her voice laced with concern. She noticed his stiff posture and stern expression.
"Mother," Ben replied, locking gazes with Claudette. "You were right. There is so much more to war than simple glory and honor. I've been outside these walls, and I've learned that winning a war is not enough to become a man and a leader for my people."
"What do you mean, sweetheart?" she asked, biting her lip. There was something in her son's eyes, a tormented expression that she'd never seen before.
Ben did not break the contact and continued to stare at the woman who raised him with bright eyes. "The truth, mother. Nothing is more important than honesty and trust, not even a hundred victories on a battlefield." Ben walked away, unable to look at her any longer.
Claudette followed him. "What truth?" she asked, touching his left arm.
"That's what you and Gaston have to explain to me," the prince replied.
Claudette swallowed. She held her son's gaze for a moment and then lowered her eyes. "I'll get someone to look at your wound," she whispered before hurrying away.
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Lonnie emptied the contents of the jar in the large basin below her before carrying it to Ben's bedside, careful not to splash any water onto the floor. Ben rested on his bed, his face turned away from her, staring at his window with a blank expression. The young maid stopped and wrinkled her brow in worry. She picked up a cloth and dipped it in the clean water before approaching her childhood friend and secret love. "You've had this strange expression ever since you've returned Ben. What's wrong?" she whispered before wiping the blood from the prince's open wound. "You're sad."
Silence followed. Ben turned to gaze at Lonnie. "No," he replied, shaking his head and returned to stare at his window. "Just thinking."
Ben's thoughts wandered off to the purple-haired princess, and he smiled inwardly. She hadn't been afraid to speak her mind and challenge his every belief, and that had made him start to question all that Gaston had ever taught him. All that didn't matter, though, because she still was his enemy. It didn't matter that he'd felt comfortable around her both when he'd opened up about his childhood and when they'd stayed in complete silence. She was the Fae Princess, the embodiment of her greedy and ruthless people, whose only goal was to conquer them. He should despise and fear her, but instead, he only saw a kindred soul who'd lost her family tragically, just like him. Somehow, in the brief time they'd spent together, he'd come to admire her. She was brave, resourceful, and ready to fight for what she believed to be right and to protect the people she loved.
"If I didn't know you any better, I'd say that the stoic and unflappable Prince of Auradon has fallen in love with this Moor Princess," Lonnie quipped, to lighten the mood. Her smile vanished when Ben did not answer her, and her heart skipped a beat.
Ben blinked, brought back to the present by Lonnie's statement. His stomach fluttered, and the prince let out a breath as he began to consider what she'd just said. A deep heaviness settled in his heart. The princess had become so much more than his enemy, and he'd never felt this way toward anyone before. Mal was strong-willed, smart and pretty but it was more than that. She'd challenged him, but they'd also confided in one another and Ben longed for her to continue to be part of his life. He'd meant it when he'd told Mal he'd seek her council once he was Auradon's king. But that couldn't mean he'd fallen in love with her, right? Ben was filled with a sense of wonder as he remembered their time together in the cave and how he'd joked about asking her hand in marriage to ease the tension and how he'd reached out to brush her fingers against his to comfort her. Those outlaws would pay if something happened to her before he'd save her. Is this what love felt like? Wanting to protect someone you care about from harm and never wanting to be apart from them again? He swallowed, accepting what he already knew in the bottom of his heart. It was true, and he couldn't deny it any longer. He'd fallen in love with the princess.
"I.." he paused. "I think so," he confessed, a voice laced with conviction.
The silence in the room became deafening. Lonnie stilled and felt like she'd forgotten to breathe. She stared at Ben in shock, her entire frame growing tense and her world started spinning. Her eyes roamed down to his slumped, almost dejected demeanor, and it felt like a fist had closed around her heart and was slowly squeezing the life out of her. The young maid knew that it had been foolish of her to believe that the Prince of Auradon could fall for her, a simple maid. But he'd given her that ring when they were kids and had always treated her with such respect and kindness, and as they grew older, Lonnie hoped it could turn into something more. And now he'd fallen in love with the princess, and she'd lost him for good. Her throat felt like she'd just swallowed a large stone and the air became too hard to breathe.
"Lonnie, what's wrong?" a soft voice called out. She blinked and locked gazes with Ben, who was staring at her with a concerned expression.
"Nothing," she murmured, looking away. "But I guess you should take this back then," she murmured before reaching for Ben's ring around her middle finger.
"Lonnie," Ben trailed off and grabbed hold of her hand. "I know we were little kids at the time, but that ring is a sign of our friendship. Nothing is going to change that, so keep it. I promise," he replied, squeezing her hand.
At that very moment, Lonnie felt her heart shatter. She took a deep breath and nodded, pulling her hand away from him and reaching out to pick up the bandages at her side. She lifted his arm and started to wrap his wound. "It's sad to discover you love someone that same moment you feel you're losing them," she continued, a slight quiver in her voice.
"I shouldn't have let them separate us," he replied in a hushed whisper. "I shouldn't have let them bring me back home."
Lonnie's hands began to shake. "There, you're set. You should rest now," she blurted out, standing up in haste. She picked up the rest of the bandages and made her way out of Ben's room without turning to look back at him.
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All sorts of possible scenarios, one worse than the other, went through Mal's head as the outlaws dragged her through the forest, back to their encampment. She'd continued to struggle against her captors for a while, but all her efforts proved to be futile, and so she'd given up and instead used the time to think and come up with a believable story to explain why she'd ended up with Ben. If she was clever enough, she could even convince them to let her go. But what the princess never expected was that the first thing Robin would do upon reaching the camp and discovering she was a girl was order them to take her to a nearby lake to get herself cleaned up. Could it be that these outlaws were not as barbaric and cold-blooded as she originally thought? She'd seen them save those innocent farmers from being executed and she didn't have any tangible proof that they'd killed Ben's father. Whatever Robin's reasons were though, she'd couldn't trust him, and she had to keep her guard up around them.
"A pretty girl like you, living secluded in a convent! With the nuns!" Godmother exclaimed in a surprised tone.
"I've been living there since I was a kid," Mal replied, looking up at the weathered woman. Godmother closed her gaping mouth and returned to combing the princess's wet hair.
"And what about Benjamin of Auradon? He's your fiancé, right?" Marian asked, lifting her head and looking up from the tunic she was washing.
"No, he could never be my fiancé. His father is my people's sworn enemy!" Mal retorted. Her cheeks burned red as she dipped her hands into the lake water. She wouldn't want to be his fiancée anyways! The queen of Auradon and his future wife... Mal closed her eyes and willed herself to shudder, but the action didn't come as easily as she would have thought.
"Then what were you doing in the forest with him, alone, and dressed in male clothing?" Godmother asked.
"We met by chance," Mal replied. Her gaze fell on the massive waterfall in front of her. Mesmerized by the soothing sound of its splashing waters, her thoughts wandered off to the prince. "I think that one day he'll be a better ruler than Gaston."
"She wants to impress us with her big talk. Make us think she's this virtuous girl, but in reality, she's only a big lair," Audrey's sneered for her spot, a few meters away.
"Robin will decide whether she's a saint or a liar, Audrey," Marian interrupted them, turning to face Mal. "Hurry and finish up because he wants to speak with you."
Meanwhile…
"You've chosen well the place for our meetings, Duchess," Gaston commented, addressing the woman a few meters in front of him. He brushed his hand against the smooth, soft material of the armchair beside him and let his eyes roam around the well-furnished and relatively large stone cabin. It had all the necessary amenities and warmth radiated from the fireplace in the wall to his side. "Comfortable and secluded," he mused in an approving tone.
"I'm glad you're impressed," Uma smirked. "It belonged to a nobleman of your kingdom. He used it as a hunting lodge, but he died a few months ago with no heirs, leaving the cabin abandoned. I also took the liberty of cleaning the place up. No one will think of looking for us here."
"And how did you get to know about this lodge?" Gaston asked in an intrigued tone.
"Let's just say I did some research before I sought you out," she explained with a coy smile, leaning towards him and flipping her hair. Her scent, a unique mix of greenery, rain, ocean water and flowers, wound through the Lord's senses.
Gaston kept his shoulders rigid, trying to ignore his quickening breath and the sudden warmth spreading deep inside his chest like a rushing torrent and continued to gaze at the Duchess with a straight face. He cleared his throat. "The last time we met you'd promised me Arthur's defeat," he stated sternly.
The aqua-haired woman lingered in her spot for a moment, making sure to have the Lord's full attention before taking slow, deliberate steps towards one of the cabinets and opening it to bring out two goblets. She walked up to the large table in the center of the room, setting the cups down, and picked up a pewter jug filled with wine, pouring two drinks. Uma offered one to Gaston. "There's been a complication," she admitted. Gaston snorted in response. "But we can use it to our advantage. The Black Arrow has captured Princess Mal," Uma explained, walking around the table before stopping in front of Gaston. "But I'm sure that she will be returning to the Notre-Dame convent very soon," she continued before clinking her wineglass with his. The Lord looked a little surprised at her statement, and Uma's smirk widened, satisfied at having impressed Auradon's ruler. She needed the Lord's favor and trust if she ever hoped to gain control over Camelot, and she would stop at nothing to achieve her goal.
"How can you be sure?" Gaston asked, narrowing his eyes in suspicion.
Uma lowered her eyes for a moment. "Intuition," she replied, lifting her head with a mysterious smile. "And reliable information. I was able to get hold of this lodge, wasn't I?" She brought the goblet to her lips and drank; her gaze never wavering from the Lord. "Now imagine," Uma breathed, leaving Gaston, and taking a few steps towards the large bed on the other side of the cabin. "The princess could return to the convent and find someone waiting for her. She would fall into a trap with no means of escape," the aqua-haired woman suggested, turning around to address the Lord with a coy smirk.
"Are you asking me to organize an ambush?" Gaston asked, walking up to her. "You expect me to trust you and expose myself with only your intuition as a guarantee?"
"My information is reliable. I assure you. I'm one of Arthur's closest advisors, remember," Uma retorted. "But you can't expect me to expose myself at this stage."
"Notre-Dame is part of the Western Kingdom," he replied.
"That's why it would make sense to trust the job to one of your men," Uma explained, her voice lowering while she moved her head to the side. "No one would recognize him, and it would be easier for him to slip in undetected."
Gaston stood, transfixed on her exotic, dark skin and piercing brown eyes for a long moment before steadying himself. He hummed. "So, let's say I'd accept. What next?" Gaston asked in a low tone.
Uma walked away and stopped at the side of her bed. She rested her goblet on the sideboard and turned around to face Gaston. "You'd give her to me, and I would return her to Arthur, convincing him of your good faith and the possibility of a peace agreement. That would make them lower their defenses, making it the perfect moment to strike." She explained, removing her fur coat and letting it rest on the bed.
The Lord could feel his heart start to pound as his eyes fell on the Duchess's dress. A dark maroon tunic, with a plunging v neck exposing her white undershirt and a significant part of her chest, framed her feminine figure. Gaston swallowed, trying to get a hold of himself as the image of Claudette flashed before his eyes. He succeeded, clearing his throat. "And what guarantee do I have that you won't double-cross me?" he asked.
"I have no intention to double-crossing you, Gaston. I need your help to overthrow Arthur and become the ruler of Camelot. We have a common goal," Uma smiled and, reaching for the front clip of her outer tunic, unfasted it, letting the garment fall on the floor underneath her.
Gaston nodded, his eyes darkening. All thoughts of Claudette, as well as every single military, logistic, strategical, and tactical consideration, faded like the mist of breath on a mirror. He rested his glass on a small table next to him and walked up to the Duchess. "How's a woman like you not married?"
"I? married?" Uma said with a nervous laugh.
"A sore subject?" Gaston asked, lowering his voice to a whisper.
Uma smirked as the air grew tense and silence engulfed them. Her gaze darted from Gaston's mouth to his eyes, and she leaned in, pulling the Auradonian ruler towards her.
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Two outlaws led Mal across their encampment and stopped in front of a large tent. One of the outlaws gripped her arm in a tight hold as the other entered inside. Mal's eyes narrowed as Robin emerged from behind its cover a moment later, followed by the blonde boy who had caught her and the other outlaw. The leader of the Black arrow stopped in front of her and lowered his head to face her.
Robin gazed at Mal as silence reigned for a few tense moments. "It's about time you and I have a chat, don't you think?" he started. "So why don't you start by telling me your name?" Robin asked.
Adrenaline rushed through her and a knot formed in Mal's belly. "I don't trust you," she replied, glancing down at the outlaw's hand still clutching her arm.
Robin nodded his head, and the outlaw released her arm. "Look, when I captured the prince of Auradon, I'd didn't expect to find a girl tagging along with him," he started. "Things have changed," he paused, narrowing his eyes as they focused on her short purple hair. "I'm willing to show you a sign of our good faith, but you need to start answering my questions. What were you doing with the prince?"
Mal mind raced, debating whether she should tell him the truth. It might have been his sudden kindness towards her, but for some reason, her gut told her she could trust him, and she decided to follow it. "I was his prisoner," she explained. "He wanted me to lead him to Camelot to speak with King Arthur. I've got nothing to do with him or Auradon. Gaston is my mortal enemy too, and all I want is to go back to the Notre-Dame Convent." Arthur gave Mal a pointed look, causing the princess to swallow. Mal could see him debating the legitimacy of her story. Then, after exchanging a silent look with Chad, the leader of the Black Arrow nodded his head.
"Okay, Princess Mal of the Moors. We'll escort you personally to the Notre-Dame Convent if that's where you want to go," he stated.
Mal's mouth formed a perfect 'O' and on instinct, she took a step backward. She froze and her breath caught in her throat. How had the outlaws discovered her secret identity? Her face turned white as her gaze darted around the campsite looking for a mean of escape. Her leg muscles tightened as she readied herself to run off, but she stopped dead in her tracks when a familiar voice called out to her and its owner appeared from behind the tent's cover.
"Everything's okay, my child! There's nothing to be afraid of," the male voice reassured her.
Mal went completely still, her arms falling limply to her side and blinked twice, unable to believe her eyes. "Merlin!" She exclaimed, an elated smile stretching across her face.
A/N: That's it! So what do you think? A whirlwind of events happening but I had to make up for last week's shorter chapter no? ;) What is Merlin doing at the Black Arrow encampment? And what is going to happen next now that Gaston and Uma are scheming against them? Meanwhile Ben's doubts on Gaston continued to weight heavily on him but he's realised he's fallen in love with Mal and poor Lonnie has gotten her heart broken in the process. I also recommend you keep a close eye on Chad and Audrey...they'll have an important role to play in future chapters.
A little announcement - I'm going to be away next weekend and I won't be able to upload a new chapter so the next update will be on Saturday 14th September.
Till next time :)