A/N: I'm back :) It's so great to return with a new chapter after my short break. Thank you so much to Harry Potter Fan 1994, SparkyGurly 227, AmethystDragon14 and jasmine. goradesky for leaving a review for the last chapter. Feedback is always appreciated and is a great motivational boost for me to continue writing.

So in the last chapter, Gaston and Uma started scheming to trap Mal while Ben came to the realisation that he's fallen in love with the princess. In the meantime, in a surprising turn of events Mal came face to face with her guardian at the Black Arrow's camp. The fun is about to begin. Enjoy!

Chapter 9

"Merlin!" Mal exclaimed. "What..." The princess stuttered, staring at the man who had raised her in complete shock. Without a second thought, she closed the space between them and wrapped him up with a tight hug. Thoughts of her current predicament brought Mal back to the present, and she broke away from him. "What are you doing here?" she gasped, finding her voice. "Did they capture you too? Are you hurt?" the princess asked, her brow creased in worry as she started to pat his arms in a frantic manner as if she would find some trace of hidden wounds.

Merlin's face broke into a little smile as he patted Mal's shoulder. "I'm fine, my child," he reassured her in a soft and calm voice. "And no, I'm not a prisoner of the Black Arrow."

"I don't understand," Mal stated as her eyes flitted between Merlin and Robin.

"Mal," Merlin continued. "You remember when Arthur explained the origin of the Great War to you, right?" The Fae Princess nodded slowly. "What you don't know is that Robin was one of our allies at the time, and with his help, we almost managed to find a peaceful solution to the war." Mal's eyes widened, and her jaw dropped at the revelation. "But Stefan managed to foil our plans, convincing his people that we were planning a massive attack instead. He became king of the Western Kingdom and has been leading his armies against us ever since. Robin created the Black Arrow to oppose Stefan's oppressive rule."

"When news of your capture reached Camelot two days ago, Arthur immediately sent Lancelot in search of the Black Arrow's camp, who stopped at the convent to relay the news to me," he explained. "But I called off the search, and I set out to find the camp myself with the help of an old friend." Merlin raised his arm, and the area was engulfed in dim light. Mal shielded her eyes, breathless as her stomach jolted and twisted like she'd just been bucked off of a horse. What was happening? She took a step back as her mind started to race, and she felt her body heat rising. The light faded after a few moments. The princess turned to look around her in confusion before turning at the sky behind her when she heard the distinctive screech of a hawk. The red-tailed animal flew towards them, low to the ground, before flaring its wings and tail to settle on her guardian's outstretched arm.

Mal just stared at him, her thoughts frozen, before her hands dropped to her side. "How?" was all the princess managed to sputter.

"Fae Magic, my child," Merlin explained with a gentle smile. He swayed slightly on his feet and rested his free hand on the tent's wooden support beam, his smile turning into a frown. Mal blinked, getting a hold of herself and took a step towards him, but he straightened himself, raising his hand to stop her. "Don't worry, child. It's nothing," he reassured her. "The Fae get their powers from the moorlands, but those have been dormant ever since your mother disappeared. Only you have the power to awaken the Moors and fully restore magic to our lands and our people. But we'll need to wait until you've reached your eighteenth year of age and that is why we must protect you from King Stefan and Lord Gaston at all costs."

Mal tried to calm her shaking hands and lift the stone weight that had dropped into her stomach but to no avail. Merlin, sensing her discomfort, let a bright smile illuminate his face. "But enough about that," he stated, turning to smile at Robin. "It only took me a few hours to find the camp with the help of my little friend here," Merlin revealed, lightly stroking the bird's head. The hawk let out a loud screech before flapping its wings and rising into the air, quickly disappearing from view. Merlin faced the princess, shaking his head with an amused smile. "And it seems that I've arrived at the right time, just after your failed escape attempt," he paused. "Robin is a friend, Mal. A few days ago, I came to see if he had heard any word on you. He welcomed me, mentioned a purple-haired prisoner he had recently acquired, and after I revealed your real identity to him, he offered to escort us back to the Notre-Dame convent personally. From there, it will be easier for us to get back to the safety of Camelot." The princess's guardian's smile grew wider. "Carlos hasn't been himself ever since you left the convent. He'll be so happy to see you."

Mal stared at Merlin as everything he'd said started to sink in, before turning to address the leader of the Black Arrow. "Thank you, Robin. I'll be forever in your debt."

"No need to thank me, princess," Robin replied. "We are all fighting against the same enemy. King Stefan and Lord Gaston must be stopped at all costs. Remember you can always count on our help should you ever need it. And I'm sorry we treated you as a prisoner, but we had no way of knowing who you were." He paused and looked up at the mid-afternoon skies. "You'll be our guests for this evening. The sun will set in a few hours, and we won't manage the trip before nightfall. We'll leave first thing tomorrow morning." He pulled the drawstring of his cape tighter around his neck and straightened up, looking like a war figurehead. "Now come," he said, gesturing towards the campfire. "You must be hungry, and dinner will soon be ready."

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Ben walked down the hallway towards Gaston's and Claudette's bedroom and glanced around at the servants. Only a handful of the most trusted and loyal servants were granted access to the royal apartments. He stopped to nod to them as they showed their respect before continuing to make his way down the hallway. The thoughts of Mal, Sir Galahad's revelation, and all that he'd seen outside Auradon's castle weighed heavily on his mind and heart. He'd defied Gaston in front of his soldiers, and the young prince was certain that this was the reason his father had sent for him. Ben gripped King Arthur's letter tighter in his palm as he arrived at his destination. He squared his shoulders and collected his thoughts before putting his hand on the doorknob to open it. The prince turned the knob and pushed the door open. He walked inside and stopped by the door frame, closing the door behind him, and his eyes darted around the room.

Standing in the center of the room was a richly crafted bed with polished wooden columns rising from each of the four corners to a canopy. White silk drapery hung from the canopy and was pulled to the side and tied to the wooden columns. To the right was Gaston, seated at his desk, signing out some paperwork. Ben glanced at his hunched figure for a moment before making his presence known. "You sent for me, father?" the prince asked.

Gaston stiffened in his seat in evident surprise and looked up, his face breaking into a smile when he recognized the prince. "I didn't hear you come in, Ben," he said. "I must be getting old," he quipped with a little laugh. Gaston's smile turned into a serious expression when Ben did not answer him. "Yes, my boy. I did. Come in," he stated. The Lord eyed Ben's tense shoulders as he approached him with mild concern. The prince had never been uncomfortable around him and, after that morning's outburst, the Lord was more determined than ever to find out what was wrong with his adopted son. He'd been acting strange and out of character ever since they'd rescued him from the Black Arrow. Gaston cleared his throat. "I'd like to discuss what happened this morning on our way out of the castle. I know I might not have always been the best of fathers, Ben, but you've never used that tone with me before or put into question my decisions, especially in front of my men. What's wrong, son? Did something happen while you were away? You know you can tell me anything," the Lord replied, his voice laced with concern.

Ben's heartbeat started to accelerate as he locked eyes with his adopted father. Gaston stared at him with the same concerned, fatherly expression he'd seen countless times growing up when he'd turned to him for comfort and advice, and for a moment the prince's resolve and doubt crumbled. He was the same man who'd been by his side, night after night, wiping his tears as he cried for his father's death; the same man who'd played with him in the castle's courtyard despite having a council meeting to attend and who'd taught him for hours on end how to hold a sword and fight. He owed him everything...he couldn't have been the one to kill his father. "I know, father. You took me in, cared for me, and gave me a home when you weren't obliged to. You were the father any child could have dreamed of," Ben replied. The images of what he'd seen in the village flashed before his eyes and forced him to pause.

"But..." Gaston trailed off, noticing Ben's sudden change in demeanor.

This is it, Ben thought. The perfect chance to confront his adopted father with all that had been troubling him. "I've been in one of our villages, and I saw our soldiers hang farmers for no clear reason. There was a young child too. That's not what's written in our laws. That's not what you taught me. Why did you lie to me?" He asked in a stern tone and a determined gleam in his eyes.

Gaston felt a sudden lightness in his chest as his muscles relaxed from their tension. He inwardly smiled...he could handle Ben's strong sense of justice and honor. With a sigh, the Lord stood and walked up to him, lifting his arms and letting his hands rest on the prince's shoulders. "A ruler must sometimes be willing to do things he's not proud of. I know that it sounds cruel and unjust to you, but they're necessary systems to govern. Things which you're too young to understand."

"I'm not a child any longer, father," Ben protested. "Don't you think it's time for me to understand now?"

Gaston squeezed Ben's shoulders and nodded, his lips turning into a smile. "Okay, son. If you like, we'll sit down and discuss all the laws which you consider to be unfair and I'll show you that they're not. What do you say?"

Ben nodded in agreement. He broke eye contact and looked down at King Arthur's letter in his hand and at that moment decided to share his doubts about his father's death with Gaston. If he were somehow involved, his reaction would give it away. Ben shifted his feet in discomfort. "Father," he trailed off. "There's something else I haven't told you."

"What is it?" Gaston asked with a raised eyebrow.

"I was outside Camelot when the Black Arrow captured me. I'd gone to speak to King Arthur," the prince confessed.

Gaston's hands fell off Ben's shoulders, and he took a step back, his face turning red in an instant. "What?" He yelled. "Those are our sworn enemies, Ben!" He exclaimed. "What were you thinking?"

Ben gulped at Gaston's angry tone but did not back down. He'd only get one shot. The prince took a deep breath, steadying himself, and lifted his hand to give Arthur's letter to him. "I wanted to know the truth about my father's death."

Gaston froze and felt ice creep into his spine. Why had Ben brought up his father's death out of the blue? His breath caught in his throat as his arms started to tingle and the hair raise. So this was the real reason behind Ben's sudden hostility towards him. The young prince had begun to suspect his involvement in Adam's death. His eyes narrowed. He'd have to tread carefully from now on, but he'd covered his tracks well, and everyone involved was loyal to him. Ben would never find out the truth, and all he'd have to do was make sure to reassure him. "Travelling to the West was a dangerous and irresponsible thing to do, son! Do you realize the Black Arrow could have killed you as they did to your father? Why didn't you ask me?"

"I already know your version of what happened," Ben replied, his eyes never leaving Gaston's.

"And that's not enough for you anymore?" The Lord asked.

Ben watched as his adopted father shifted his weight on his feet and clenched his fists at his side in nervousness, and the prince felt a tightening in his chest. "I've grown up, and I think it's time that I discover the truth myself." he continued, finding his voice.

"And what was Arthur's truth?" Gaston questioned.

"That if you loved me as a son, you would want me to live in a kingdom without war," Ben replied in a stern tone.

Gaston smirked, his facial features relaxing. "Don't let his words fool you, son. People like King Arthur use words as weapons when they find themselves backed up against a wall with no means of escaping defeat," he commented, bringing up one hand back to Ben's shoulder. "One day, you'll be the ruler and leader of this land, and your duty will be to defend it at all costs. You mustn't let anyone steal your power away from you for whatever reason. Remember that there are no good or bad guys when fighting a war but only allies and enemies. All you must aspire to is victory and nothing else. You must focus solely on striking down your enemies, never letting down your guard or showing them any mercy. Never forget that."

A knot formed in Ben's belly as all that Gaston told him sank in. His adoptive father had been unable to hide his nervousness at the mention of King Arthur. Could it be that Gaston had killed his father and not the Black Arrow? But why would Gaston have wanted to kill his father? They were childhood friends, like Doug and him, and Gaston had been Adam's most trusted advisor at the time. Ben mentally kicked himself as the realization hit him like a punch to the stomach. Auradon, of course! Gaston had become ruler of Auradon following his father's death. Could there be a connection? "I won't forget it, father," he replied, his lips pressed in a thin line.

"Good," Gaston said, his smirk widening into a grin. He raised his hand and stroked the side of Ben's face in a gentle caress. "But the most important thing is that you've returned safely to the castle and that we're back together as a family."

Ben managed to return Gaston's smile despite the loud pounding in his chest. "Of course, father. Can I go now? I'd promised Doug I'll practice with him before dinner."

"Sure, son. Just take it easy with your healing arm," he replied. Gaston watched as Ben flashed him one last smile before walking out of the door, closing it behind him. The Lord looked at Arthur's letter in his hand and crushed it in his fist before tossing it to the floor at his side.

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Countless leather-bound books and scrolls lay scattered across the wooden table in the center of the castle's study. Ben growled in growing frustration as he tossed aside another volume, its contents having proved fruitless to his search. Every line of history connected to Auradon was amassed before him, but out of the books that he'd read so far, not one had yielded the answers he was seeking. Grumbling, the prince picked up another book and began reading its pages when Doug's voice echoed across the room, causing him to lift his head to look towards the door.

"So, this is where you've been hiding, Ben," Doug said with a little smile. He entered and stopped beside him. "I've been looking everywhere for you. What are you doing here?"

"I've got stuff to do," Ben murmured, before returning his attention to the book in his hands.

Doug's gaze flittered across the table, his smile fading, and he arched a questioning eyebrow at his best friend. "What are you looking for?"

Ben lifted his head, and his hazel-green eyes met Doug's brown ones. "A long time ago, these lands belonged to my birth father," the prince started. "I want to know what Gaston's power over them is based on."

With a frown, Doug wondered why Ben had suddenly begun to question Gaston's authority. Ever since returning to the castle, Ben had been acting strangely. The prince had been subdued, keeping to himself, and his only spoken words during their time in the forest had concerned the Moor's princess. Doug wasn't sure what was going on, but his best friend's behavior was starting to worry him. "You won't find any documents here," he replied with a sigh, his eyebrows drawn together. "Gaston became Auradon's ruler following his war victories and by direct order of King Stefan himself."

"That's not enough for me," Ben snapped back.

Doug's eyes widened, and his frown deepened at the prince's sudden outburst. He'd never seen Ben like this. The prince adored Gaston. "I don't understand you, Ben. Why are you so suspicious of the people who love you?"

"Because I have to be sure," Ben retorted with a glare. "Gaston's right to rule Auradon isn't written down anywhere!" He lifted his arms and slammed the book in his hands against the table with such force that the sound echoed across the walls and reverberated deep into the room.

Doug never thought in a million years he'd hear those words coming out from Ben's mouth. He shook his head in disbelief. Had Ben's relationship with Gaston taken such a bad turn? How could Ben even consider what Sir Galahad had told him during the battle at Bald Mountain? It was nonsense. The Black Arrow had murdered Adam, not Lord Gaston! The eighteen-year-old rubbed his sweaty palms on his trousers, wondering what would happen if this turned out to be the truth instead. What would Ben do? Doug swallowed hard. He had to know. "And what would you do if you discover Gaston is a usurper?" He asked, looking Ben in the eyes. "Would you switch to the West's side?"

Silence followed as Doug's words hung heavy in the air. Ben's frame started to tremble like the flickering flame of a burning candle, and he rested his hands on the table in front of him to steady himself. The prince's mind was now racing with different thoughts and emotions as he stared into the face of his best friend. He'd never thought that one day he'd have to confront his past this way, but he couldn't turn back at this point. He had to know the truth. "How could I remain here, Doug? Tell me?" He replied in a shaky whisper.

"What..." Doug trailed off. He stood there, dumbfounded, unable to speak. If Ben only knew what it felt like to continuously seek your father's love and approval but never be considered good enough, he'd never make such a statement. "But Gaston loves you, Ben. He chose you as his heir!" Doug continued, finding his voice, finally able to finish his thought. His hands curled in anger. He'd give anything if his dad could treat him like that.

Ben straightened himself and lifted his hands from the table, curling his nails into his palms as his arms dropped to his side. "And what should I do Doug?" He hissed. "Become the accomplice of a murderer only because he's been generous with me?"

Doug dug in his feet and stared at Ben squarely in the eyes. It was so evident in the way Gaston acted around the prince that the Lord loved Ben deeply. How could Ben throw it all away based on mere suspicion? "Gaston and Claudette are your family, Ben. It's not complacency! It's loyalty!" He stated, his voice level rising. "Whether you like it or not you belong to Gaston and Auradon." Doug turned and stormed out of the room, unable to look at the prince any longer.

Ben watched his best friend rush out, and a deep sadness settled in his chest, causing him to run a shaky hand through his hair. "Doug! Wait!" He called. Doug stopped under the door frame and turned around. "Are you still my friend?" the prince asked, his voice lowered almost to a whisper.

The two best friends gazed at one another in complete silence, the tension growing thicker. Doug watched the torment and hurt reflected in Ben's eyes, and his anger melted away in an instant. The prince was like a brother to him, and Doug knew that Ben not only loved Gaston but also felt a great sense of gratitude towards him for taking him in after his father's death. But Doug also knew of Ben's strong sense of responsibility, honor, and integrity and how the prince wouldn't be able to live with any form of injustice or lie, even if these came from the man who had raised him.

Ben had always been by Doug's side ever since they were little kids and they'd always supported each other through everything. Doug couldn't abandon him now when his best friend needed him the most. He lowered his head to the side and let out a long, weary sigh. "How can I not be?" Doug whispered before walking away.

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Cecil Clayton pulled nervously at the long, dark cloak covering his frame as he made his way through the castle courtyard where several Auradonian soldiers were busy training. He spotted a hidden pathway and walked through it, keeping to the shadows until he ended up at his destination. The weathered man threw a furtive glance around him before slipping inside the small chapel. Once there, he moved over to the far corner of the chapel and examined the inside of the building carefully. It was cool and quite dark inside, the air fragrant with the sweet and lingering aroma of incense. Cecil looked out into the gloom of the nave trying to spot the confessional that was key to his instructions. He found it soon enough, partly hidden in the shadows and spotted Father James waiting for him. Glancing around him one last time to make sure that he was alone, Cecil made his way towards it, avoiding the center aisle, and sat down, turning towards the priest who began to explain the reason for this secret meeting.

"But Notre-Dame is a convent, father!" Cecil exclaimed in disbelief a few moments later, shuffling backward in the church's confessional.

"Lord Gaston has chosen you for a very delicate assignment, Clayton," Father James replied in a calm tone. "You have to be proud."

A knot formed in the pit of Cecil's stomach and he shook his head, absently rubbing his arm. "There must be a mistake, father!" he stuttered. "Are you sure that's what Lord Gaston wants me to do?"

"Yes, my son," the father confirmed.

"And he wanted you to tell me of all people!" Clayton swallowed, his lips pressing together in a slight grimace. He opened his mouth but stopped as he thought about the Lord's order. The man slumped further into his seat as his hands started to tremble. "I'm not an animal, father!" he protested in a quivering voice.

"No, you're not a beast, I know. You're a mercenary, and the most skilled Lord Gaston has ever had," Father James replied, his voice taking on a soft and soothing tone.

Cecil took a deep breath before letting out an audible sigh. "I'm tired, father. I don't have it in me anymore after all these years," he confessed.

"Clayton, Lord Gaston needs you," the father insisted in a stern voice. "You can't abandon him now."

"Father James," he pleaded. "Have mercy on my soul."

"Clayton, Lord Gaston is ready to give you all the money that you want," the father pressed on. "Think about it. You'll be settled for the rest of your life. Accept, one last time."

Later that night...

Mother Superior walked along the dimly lit corridor; the only source of light was the pale moonlight filtering through the open courtyard at her side and several candles spaced out above the stone handrails. It was so quiet that one could hear a pin drop. A shiver coursed through her as a light gust of wind pounded through the area. She rubbed her right arm while continuing to walk along the hallway, keys in hand. The nun had just locked the door to the dining room when a sound caught her ears. She stiffened, taking a deep breath, and brought up a hand and curled it to her chest. What was that noise? Did it sound like the shuffling of feet?

She forced herself to relax, remembering the stationed guards sent by Arthur and who were patrolling the convent. The nun sighed, wiping a sweaty palm on her habit. It was probably some of the boys, led by Carlos, who were getting ready to prank her like the previous week. She'd have to have a serious talk with that boy one of these days.

Mother Superior hurried down the rest of the corridor as the shuffling sound echoed through the empty hallway a second time. She entered the kitchen and locked the door behind her with a sigh of relief, but before she could realize what was happening, she felt herself being grabbed from behind and a knife pressed to her throat.

"Hello, Mother Superior," a voice whispered in her ear.

A/N: So Ben's doubts continue to plague him as he takes a step closer to finding out the truth about his father's murder. Meanwhile the trap is set and it appears that an unaware Mal and Merlin are going to fall right into it. Tune in next week to find out what happens.

What do you think of the chapter? Drop me a review and let me know your thoughts.