A/N: Sorry for the delay in posting today but a fell a little behind schedule this week due to a bunch of RL events. The chapter is a little intense as you will read and it took me a while longer than usual to get it done.
Thank you so much to Harry Potter Fan 1994, SparkyGurly 227, Fan, 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.
Fan: This story is mostly magic free and my choice is mostly tied to the plot. But Mal's magic powers will awaken towards the end of the story so watch out for horns and wings then.
Chapter 11
A group of shrieking children brushed past Lonnie, and the young maid gripped the clothes basket as she tried to keep her balance. She straightened herself and began walking in the direction of the water well on the opposite side of the market when she spotted Ben who'd appeared from one of the side roads. Lonnie hurried up to the well and rested her basket on its stone edge before glancing around the busy market square. Satisfied that there were no soldiers around them, the young maid called out to the prince.
Ben turned his head, his lips stretching into a smile and walked up to her. "Hi, Lonnie," he greeted.
"Hi, Ben," she replied with a straight face. "There's something I need to tell you." Ben sobered and wrinkled his brow.
Lonnie rested her basket on the well's stone edge and picked up the bucket resting on the side to lower it down into the water. "I know where the Black Arrow's camp is," she revealed in a low tone of voice, not looking up at him as she pulled the rope securing the wooden bucket. "Princess Mal is still with them."
Ben felt his jaw drop. "What? How?"
Lonnie rested the bucket on the side of the well and looked around her. "Come, I'll explain everything at my place," she whispered and then paused, turning to lock eyes with Ben. "But you have to promise me you that you won't tell Gaston."
"You have my word," he replied on instinct. His stomach churned with a mixture of nervousness, curiosity, and confusion as a thousand thoughts raced through his head. How had Lonnie discovered the location of the outlaw's camp? Why didn't she want him to tell his father? Was Mal okay? Had those outlaws hurt her?
She nodded. "Come on," Lonnie instructed and began making her way back to her home.
Ben trailed behind Lonnie and entered the familiar home, a little smile finding its way across his face. He'd been here many times; sneaking away with Lonnie after her jobs in the castle were done, and taking refuge from the crazy world around him. He froze by the door frame, startled, as he spotted a boy around the age of ten sitting by the table.
"Ben, this is my little brother Carlos," Lonnie revealed, walking back to the stunned prince and leading him to a chair across from Carlos.
"Little brother?" Ben repeated, staring at her. "Lonnie, you never told me you had a little brother."
Lonnie swallowed at Ben's stunned expression and agape jaw. She pulled a chair and sat beside him. "There's also something else I haven't told you, Ben," she said, biting her lip. "You know how I grew up in an orphanage after my parents were killed during the Great War, but..." Lonnie averted his gaze. "What I've never told you is that Notre-Dame was the convent I grew up in."
"What?" Ben exclaimed.
Lonnie looked down at her feet. "I'm sorry I never told you the truth, but I was young when I managed to find this job in the castle. The pay was good, and it would only take me a few years to save up the money I needed to get Carlos away from the convent and get him to live here with me. I was scared of being marked as a traitor because of my origins. I would have been hanged if Lord Gaston ever found out. Then what would have happened to Carlos?"
"I don't know what to say, Lonnie, but I wouldn't have allowed my father to harm you." Ben stuttered, trying to recollect himself and make sense of the surprising revelation. He brought a hand up to Lonnie's jaw and turned her face towards him. "I hope you know that I would've never betrayed you, but I can understand that you were scared at the time and that you had to think of Carlos too."
"Please forgive me," she whispered.
"There's nothing to forgive, Lonnie. We're friends, and nothing is going to change that," he smiled. "Your origins don't matter to me, and my father is never going to find out the truth, I promise. Your secret is safe with me." Lonnie blushed, and then Ben turned his attention away towards Carlos.
"A little brother, huh," Ben mused with a little grin turning to face Carlos. "Hi, I'm Ben," the prince introduced himself, stretching his hand across the table.
Carlos didn't move and stared at Ben's outstretched hand with a guarded expression for a few long seconds. "Carlos, Ben's a friend. You don't have to be afraid," Lonnie spoke up, breaking the awkward and tense moment. She laughed a little and glanced at Ben. "I'm sorry, Ben," she sighed. "Carlos isn't usually so withdrawn, but he's still shaken by yesterday's assault on the convent. The Black Arrow rescued him and the other children from the bandits and later took them to their camp as a precaution. And that's when Carlos decided it was a great idea to sneak away and travel to Auradon in the middle of the night on his own," she snorted, looking at her little brother in disapproval. "They must be worried sick about you, especially the Princess." Lonnie turned towards Ben. "The princess saved him from being taken captive by the leader of the bandits while he tried to escape. I'll forever be in her debt."
"So, you've lived in the convent with Mal?" Ben asked.
Lonnie shook her head. "The princess arrived at the convent shortly after I'd left to look for a job. But Carlos knows her well and speaks fondly of her." The young maid turned towards her brother. "Carlos, Ben needs to speak to the princess. Why don't you tell him the location of the Black Arrow's camp?"
"No," Carlos snapped back. "I don't trust anyone. How can I be sure he doesn't want to hurt her?"
"Carlos, listen to me. I'd rather die than let anything happen to Mal," Ben retorted, raising a hand to his heart.
Carlos stared at the prince in silence, drawn to the gentle expression in his eyes which reminded him of both Lonnie and Mal but which contrasted with his set jaw and strong posture. Lonnie had told him how the ruling family, especially the prince, had always treated her with kindness and respect in the years she lived in Auradon, and the boy debated whether he should trust him. "Lonnie, should I believe him?" Carlos asked, turning to his sister for advice. She'd never put an innocence's life in danger.
Lonnie felt her heart skip a beat as the painful memory of Ben's confession resurfaced, and she looked away. "Of course! He wants to save her, not hurt her," she whispered.
"So, did you hear that? It's important. Please tell me where's their camp?" Ben pleaded, his eyes lighting up in relief when Carlos's tense posture relaxed and nodded. He balled his fists in anticipation; his thoughts focused on the Fae princess. 'Mal, hang on a little longer. I'm coming to save you from those outlaws.'
̴- ̴- ̴- ̴- ̴- ̴- ̴- ̴- THE BLACK ARROW ̴- ̴- ̴- ̴- ̴- ̴- ̴- ̴-
Two days later, Ben left his horse on a rocky ledge a safe distance away and made his way across the forest. He kept a steady and tense hand on the hilt of his sword, crouching behind the dense bushes and trees. The autumn leaves crackled under his feet, but the moonless night sky gave him cover as he crept towards the Black Arrow camp. Sudden voices grew louder as two of the Black Arrow's members shouted, having heard the rustling of the leaves, and the prince hurried to hide behind a tree for fear he'd been spotted. He breathed out a sigh of relief a moment later when their attention was directed towards a wild rabbit that had jumped from a nearby bush.
Ben waited until everyone had retired for the night before approaching the tents. He took slow and careful steps across the outside perimeter of the camp and stopped to look inside a large tent. His eyes lit up when he spotted a group of children resting on the makeshift beds. The prince's heart skipped a beat when he caught a glimpse of a lock of purple hair. He stopped beside the sleeping princess and lifted his hand to caress her cheek but paused mid-air, deciding to lay a hand on her shoulder instead.
"Mal," he whispered and watched her shift in her sleep.
Mal moaned and turned around. "Ben," she gasped in a soft tone, sitting up. Ben rested his hands on her shoulders in a gentle hold, and the princess felt her muscles stiffen.
"I promised that I'd come back for you." Ben smiled.
Mal stared into the prince's brown eyes and shook her head. "Leave Ben, please! Don't you think I know who planned the assault on the convent?."
Ben didn't miss the hurt tone in her voice. "No," he hurried to explain in a hushed whisper, leaning further towards her. "It's not what you think. Gaston had nothing to do with it. He caught the criminals responsible for it. I saw it with my own eyes."
Mal's heart skipped a beat at the prince's closeness. She flinched and shrank away from his touch, a deep heaviness settling into her heart. "You're blind. You will become just like him," she mourned.
Ben frowned, his face turning an ashy pale. "Don't say that, please," he replied, once again reaching out for her shoulders."
"Your father is a murderer, Ben. Don't become his accomplice!" the princess pleaded.
Ben was about to reply when a strong hand got hold of his hair from behind and yanked him backward, away from Mal. The prince gasped and jerked his neck back when he felt himself being pressed against a muscular chest and the sharp blade of a knife against his throat. "Don't move," a third voice ordered into his ear.
"No Mal, Gaston is not his father," Robin explained, taking his eyes off Ben to face the princess. "His father was a just and honorable man." The leader of the Black Arrow turned to gaze at the restrained prince. "Are you alone?" he asked. Ben swallowed before nodding.
"Mal, take his sword," Robin ordered, and the princess removed the blade from the scabbard at Ben's side.
"It's time you know the truth," the leader of the Black Arrow continued. Ben took a long breath as Robin lowered the knife and released his hold on him. The prince turned around to face the dark-haired archer.
"You've believed Gaston's lies for far too long, Benjamin of Auradon." Robin reached out for Ben's sword in Mal's hands and walked out of the tent. Ben glanced at Mal briefly before following the archer outside. Robin walked to a long table, a few meters away from the campfire, and sat down, clasping his hands in front of him. Ben took a seat across from him and eyed the Black Arrow's leader with a cautious expression. Mal, who'd paused to check upon the slumbering children, joined them, settling down on a nearby log.
"We were childhood friends, your father, Gaston and myself," Robin began, his gaze growing pensive as he stared at his joined hands. "We grew up like brothers, but even as a young kid, Gaston was jealous of your father, who was to inherit Auradon's kingdom. Gaston was not of noble blood but always dreamed of having great power." The archer sighed. "But your father always saw the good in people, and the fact that Gaston was of humble origins didn't matter to him. So, when Adam became king after your grandfather passed away, he knighted Gaston and put him in charge of the security of the entire kingdom. The position of power seemed to please Gaston for a while, but that all changed when Adam became betrothed to your mother."
Robin's mouth curled into a sad smile. "Belle was beautiful, smart, and kind, and it was evident from the first time that Adam introduced her to Gaston that Gaston had also fallen for her. But Belle had eyes only for your father, and when she rejected Gaston's advances, Gaston's jealousy towards your father first turned to envy and then to full-blown hatred." The archer's lips pinched into a thin line. "All changed overnight. It was like Gaston became possessed. He wanted to be like Adam, even more than him. It was impossible to get through to him, but then Belle died during childbirth, and the grief for your mother's death seemed to drown all the resentment he'd felt towards your father and a few months later, Gaston got engaged to Claudette.
"But it was only a question of time before that jealousy, that envy, emerged once again." Robin paused to run a jerky hand through his hair. "The Great War broke out, and Stefan, who was a simple lord at the time, used the fear brought about by the conflict to rally most of the Eastern Kingdoms behind him in a bid to unify the kingdoms and become the land's sole ruler. Your father realized his malign intentions and tried to find a peaceful solution to the conflict. He formed a secret alliance made up of a small group of Eastern rulers, including myself. We met King Arthur in secret, and together we drafted a peace treaty guaranteeing a ceasefire and the neutrality of the Moorlands which we intended to present at the next war council meeting.
"But a group of Stefan's men ambushed us on the way to the meeting, and Gaston was with them. He'd betrayed us in exchange for the authority to govern Auradon once Stefan became king. Gaston drove a knife through your father's stomach, and as Adam took his last breath, Gaston revealed all that he'd done all those years in the shadows." Robin stopped to look up as a brown-haired woman sat down beside him and laid a hand on his shoulder. Ben recognized her as the woman who'd helped Mal during their captivity in the cave. "It was a miracle I managed to survive, and that was when I swore vengeance. I swore to avenge Adam's death, stop Gaston and Stefan and bring peace to this land, and the Black Arrow was born."
A lump formed in Ben's throat and the prince closed his eyes, taking a shaking breath. The prince felt his entire frame begin to shake uncontrollably. He shook his head with a vigorous jolt and stood up, slamming his fists against the table. "No! It's not true!" he stated in an icy tone. "Gaston told me everything. You killed my father!" Mal's heart twisted at the sight of the distraught prince and was about to bolt towards him to comfort him but froze in place remembering herself.
Robin stood up and locked eyes with Ben, his gaze softening. "And what else could he have told you?"
Ben's jaw tightened. "I won't believe these lies – especially coming from the mouth of an outlaw," he snarled.
"Yes, I am an outlaw," Robin replied. "It was the price I had to pay to be able to offer hope to the oppressed people of the Eastern Kingdoms." The archer walked up to Ben and rested a hand on his shoulder. "Go back to Auradon, and face the past, Ben. You must search for the truth. It's the only way to honor Adam's memory."
Ben jerked away from Robin's touch. "You lie! You lie about everything! You're only doing this and saying this to hurt me – you want to hurt my family!" he snarled and shoved the older man back before storming away.
Mal's eyes darted from Robin to Ben's retreating back. She couldn't leave him alone and let him walk away like that after what Robin had just revealed. "Ben, wait!" she called, getting to her feet and chasing after him.
- ̴- ̴- ̴- ̴- ̴-
Mal found Ben on the stone ledge overlooking the rock pool and waterfall carved right into the cliff below the Black Arrow's camp. The early morning mist partly concealed the lake from view and Mal could feel the dampness on her cheek as she ran towards Ben. The prince's body was slumped forward; his head bowed in the direction of the frothy cascade beneath him as though in worship, blocking his expression from view. "Ben," she called. The young prince looked up and turned around.
"I thought you didn't want to see me anymore," he replied.
"I didn't say that," Mal whispered, hovering several feet away from him. The pain in Ben's voice and the vacant look in his eyes made Mal's heart twist in her chest. She knew that feeling all too well. Instead of the future heir of Auradon, the princess only saw a lost boy, lonesome for his dead father. Without thinking, she bridged the distance between them and engulfed him in a tight hug. Letting go of the prince was more difficult than she expected, but she did, keeping a steady gaze on his face. "Swear to me that you didn't have anything to do with the assault at the convent?" she asked.
The hurt from Mal's earlier accusations resurfaced, like a tidal wave crashing mercilessly against a cliffside, and Ben's heart slammed in his gut. "It doesn't matter if I didn't," he replied, brushing past her and walking away a few meters. 'It doesn't matter that I've fallen in love with you,' screamed the voice in his head. "Too many things divide us. We're still enemies, aren't we?"
The world around Mal came to a stop and something heavy settled on her chest. "We'll continue being enemies as long as you remain by Gaston's side," she rebuked, catching up with him.
Ben spun around. Their eyes locked and his resolve almost crumbled. Several conflicting emotions filled him, and his throat tightened at the thought that he'd have to choose between his responsibility towards his family and his kingdom and the ever-growing love he felt for the princess. The prince swallowed. "Feelings should never be stronger than reason," he declared, walking away.
Mal froze in place, her mind racing as her stomach knotted up. The princess only knew one thing. She didn't want Ben to leave. Mal could almost hear the pieces of her shattered heart bouncing off the rocky ground beneath her feet. She shook her head and bolted after him, reaching out to grab his arm. He turned around. "Two sworn enemies that look out for each other, who can't stay away from each other, can never actually be enemies. We're just incredibly foolish… friends," she declared, staring into his eyes and then fumbling on the word 'friends'. Silence stretched out between them. Ben swallowed, and a light came to his eyes. "Go see what you can find out," she paused, leaning towards him. "I'll wait for you."
A light-hearted feeling settled in Ben's gut as his gaze roamed over Mal features for any sign of deceit, finding none. He hadn't dared to hope until that moment, but butterflies began to flutter in his stomach. Could the princess feel the same way towards him? He gripped her shoulders in a gentle hold, with a jolt cursing up his spine.
"Be careful," she whispered, "And promise me you'll accept the truth whatever that will be."
Ben nodded, and his gaze lingered on her face for a few more seconds before walking away. Mal watched him mount his horse and ride away with a solemn and grave expression.
̴- ̴- ̴- ̴- ̴- ̴- ̴- ̴- THE BLACK ARROW ̴- ̴- ̴- ̴- ̴- ̴- ̴- ̴-
Music echoed across the large dining hall at Auradon Castle, and the room glistened with light and laughter. Gaston, seated at the head of the table, lowered his glass of wine and gripped Captain Hook's arm, gasping for breath as he tried to recover from a violent fit of laughter caused by the Captain's latest joke. The lutes' and fiddles' loud tunes drowned out the sound of the door which banged violently against its frame when a stern-looking Ben stormed into the room, brushing past the knife and fire-wielding entertainer without batting an eye.
"Father, I need to talk to you in private," he stated, with a set jaw. Gaston continued to hold onto Captain Hook's arm, not acknowledging him.
Ben's blood began to boil as his face became red. "Did you hear what I told you!" the prince yelled. The music stopped, and all heads turned towards him, and silence enveloped the room.
Gaston's initial shock at Ben's uncharacteristic and childish outburst quickly turned to anger. It was the second time Ben had defied him in front of his men. He bolted out of his seat and stopped a few meters away from his adopted son, all eyes in the room following his movements.
"Where have you been?" he demanded.
"Do you know Robin of Locksley?" Ben shouted in response.
Gaston's jaw snapped shut, and he charged towards the young prince, grabbing his arm in a tight hold. "Not now! Not here!" the Lord snarled with clenched teeth. "Continue playing," he ordered, forcefully dragging Ben away from the room.
Gaston pushed Ben into the study room and turned to lock the door behind him. "First you disappear for hours without a word, and then you barge in during lunch in that manner, asking me about the leader of that group of outlaws. What's wrong with you?" he bellowed, returning his attention to the young prince. "And why are your clothes so dirty? Where have you been?" The prince held his father's gaze in silence and realization hit Gaston. "You've been to their camp, haven't you? You know where it is, and you didn't tell me."
Ben didn't flinch at the intimidating tone and instead straightened himself even further. "Their leader didn't kill me." he declared. "He let me go."
Gaston took a few steps forward, keeping a stern expression. "And why do you think he did that?" the Lord challenged.
Ben kept a straight face, unwavering, jaw set and steadfast as he locked eyes with his adopted father. "Because he wanted me to return to Auradon to discover who my father's real killer is!" he rebuked.
"You let that criminal mess with your head," Gaston snapped, his expression hardening. The Lord curled his fists and walked to his desk. He sank into his chair and frowned with his lips pressed together in an air of irritation.
"Swear that it wasn't you who killed my father!" Ben challenged. "Tell me the truth!"
"I don't like oaths," Gaston huffed, looking away.
"Swear anyway," Ben retorted. "You told me that you love me as a son. Do it for me."
"I swear," Gaston hissed. "I swear that I'm not your father's killer," the Lord repeated, shifting position to look the rebellious prince in the eyes. Gaston's eyes blazed as he held Ben's stern expression without a blink. He brushed past him and made his way to the door.
"You don't have anything else to tell me?" Ben asked an icy tone.
"I swore. What else do you want from me?" Gaston spat back before leaving the room.
Meanwhile, Cecil Clayton's chin thumped against his collarbone with every ragged, painful breath he took. He groaned, slumping forward, further into his horse before sighing in relief as Auradon's castle came into view.
- ̴- ̴- ̴- ̴- ̴-
Claudette rested her back against her bedroom's windowsill and continued to focus on the embroidery in her hands, trying to calm her frazzled nerves, as thoughts of Ben's recent erratic behavior weighed heavy on her heart. The weathered ruler heard soft footsteps heading towards her, and she looked up, stiffening when Ben appeared by her side. Claudette opened her mouth to greet her son, but Ben fell to his knees, dropping his head against her lap. The Queen of Auradon lifted her hands and began stroking his hair with slow, gentle movements. "What's wrong, Ben?"
The young prince lifted his head and looked outside the window. "Gaston swore," he replied in a hushed whisper.
Claudette sucked in a breath and, resting a hand underneath Ben's chin, dragged his face up towards her. "What did he swear?" she asked.
"The truth about my father's death," Ben revealed. "He swore that it wasn't him who killed him."
Claudette paled and jerked her head away to look at the hills surrounding Auradon from her window. "He who swears can't go back on his word," she replied with a heavy sigh.
Ben stood and sat on the window edge opposite her. "Should I believe him, mother?" he paused, making eye contact with his adopted mother. "Tell me, please. Can I trust him?"
"Why are you asking me?" Claudette sighed.
"Because I want to believe him," Ben whispered. "But I can't. Tell me what to do, mother." he pleaded. "You're the only one I trust. Did Gaston kill my father?"
Claudette lowered her gaze, and Ben reached out to grasp both of her hand in his own. She lifted her chin and locked eyes with him, taking a steadying breath. "Gaston loved your father like a brother. Why would he have wanted to kill him?"
"But if I discover that he's indeed my father's killer," Ben stuttered. "Would you still love him?"
A sudden heat scorched her throat, and Claudette swallowed hard to clear it. She squared her shoulders and raised her hands, cupping his cheeks and brushing her thumbs along the front of his face. "You're what's important to me, Ben," she soothed, relaxing against the windowsill and pulling an unresistant Ben into her arms.
̴- ̴- ̴- ̴- ̴- ̴- ̴- ̴- THE BLACK ARROW ̴- ̴- ̴- ̴- ̴- ̴- ̴- ̴-
It was a sunny autumn afternoon and, taking advantage of the warm weather conditions, the members of the Black Arrow busied themselves around the encampment. While the convent children had been determined to pitch in as much as they were needed, they were currently supporting the camp by playing a game of animated tag with Chad and Audrey. Mal's gaze fell upon them from her seat close to Merlin, Godmother, and Robin and couldn't help herself from breaking out into a smile. She sighed and shifted position to address the Black Arrow's leader. "The children can't remain here. They're too exposed to danger," Mal stated.
"I know," Robin sighed. "But I don't know of another safe place where we could hide them."
"We could take them to Camelot," Mal suggested. "I'm sure Arthur would find another safe orphanage."
"Gaston has doubled the soldier patrols across the border and all the major roads leading out of Auradon. We'll never be able to reach Camelot undetected." Robin frowned. "And we can't allow the children to end up in the middle of a battle."
"I could take them myself," Mal suggested. "They'd only see a woman with a group of children. The soldiers would not see us as a threat, and they'd let us through."
Robin's frown deepened as Merlin's brows shot up, his face paling to the color of a whitewashed gravestone. "It's out of the question." The archer replied. "It's too dangerous."
"I could defend them with my bow and arrow," the purple-haired princess insisted. She spun around and returned to gaze at the children. "I can't leave them here," she declared. "These children are my family."
"Family! That's it!" Godmother's exclaimed, jumping out of her seat. Everyone turned to look at her. "We could be a family. I could be the mother and Merlin the father while you Mal, could be our eldest daughter. And to be safe, someone could pose as your husband," she explained, looking around the camp. "We could ask Chad. He's the same age and wouldn't raise suspicions. We could pretend to be a family moving to Camelot because of the war," she explained. "What do you think?" the weathered woman asked. She fixed her gaze, first on Robin, then on Merlin before stopping on Mal.
Mal stared at her with a bright smile. "It's a great idea. It might work!" The princess gave her a warm hug. "Thank you!"
̴- ̴- ̴- ̴- ̴- ̴- ̴- ̴- THE BLACK ARROW ̴- ̴- ̴- ̴- ̴- ̴- ̴- ̴-
'Today certainly didn't turn out the way I expected,' was the thought going through Doug's head as he gently lowered Cecil Clayton onto one of the beds of the castle's medical bay. The young knight had spotted the injured man staggering through the castle's courtyard, an arrow sticking out of his back, and led him to the castle's physician. The mercenary hissed and groaned as pain shot up his chest, but he still managed to raise his feverish eyes to meet Doug's brown ones. "It was her, Doug, the girl I was sent to kidnap at the convent. She was the one who shot me." Cecil revealed in a ragged whisper.
Doug's mouth dropped open. The young knight frowned and looked away. The girl the mercenary was talking about was undoubtedly the talented Fae princess who they'd captured during the battle at Bald Mountain.
"She had a strange gleam in her eyes," Cecil whispered. "She was like an angel." The injured man paused and with a shaking hand reached out to grab Doug's arm. "I have to beg for mercy for my sins, Doug. I shouldn't have gone to that convent."
A deep heaviness settled in Doug's heart. Ben's suspicions had been correct after all. Clayton was a well-renowned mercenary for hire. He'd never act alone, and there was only one person in Auradon who could have ordered the assault on the convent. "God will have mercy on your soul, Cecil," he replied.
"Help me," Cecil begged. "I need to atone for my sins before it's too late. I know I've only got a few hours left to live."
Doug felt an uncomfortable lump settle in his throat and flutter of guilt as he stared at the injured man's deep wound. He couldn't deny a dying man's last request. "What do you need me to do?" Doug asked.
"I need to free myself of my biggest sin," He breathed, his voice growing raspy. "Prince Ben needs to know who killed his father."
Doug took a step backward and blinked. "I'll go find him," he stuttered, jerking away. Stunned by the mercenary's reveal, the young knight failed to notice the arrival of his father, Dopey. The general quickly hid behind the corner and continued to listen in on their conversation.
"It was Gaston, and I was there with him," Cecil revealed, closing his eyes.
Doug stopped in his tracks and stiffened. His heart skipped a beat. "No!" he exclaimed, shaking his head. "I don't want to know. I don't want to be involved," he stated, dashing out of the room.
Dopey chose that moment to make his presence known. He approached the injured man. "Cecil," he greeted. "Dear old friend!"
Clayton's eyes snapped open and widened in fear as Dopey came into view. He tried to lift himself from the bed, but his strength failed him.
"I found out about your failure at Notre Dame," Dopey stated in a disappointed tone, stopping beside the injured mercenary.
"No," Cecil whimpered, shaking his head in fear. His chest started to rise and fall rapidly with each ragged breath.
Dopey reached out and caressed the side of Cecil's face. "Calm down, old friend. You need to rest."
"No," Cecil whimpered.
"Rest!" Dopey snapped, covering Cecil's mouth and driving a knife through his gut. Cecil's eyes popped open, and with one last rush of adrenaline grabbed Dopey's arm. The mercenary let out a muffled cry and tried to push the general away from him. But his efforts proved futile - his lifeless hand dropped to his side a few moments later.
- ̴- ̴- ̴- ̴- ̴-
"Did Cecil say what he wanted to tell me?" Ben asked with a raised eyebrow as he followed Doug and entered into the castle's medical bay.
The young knight didn't answer the prince's question and instead continued to walk until he reached the bed where he'd left the injured man. Doug gasped, raising his hand to cover his mouth. The mercenary laid motionless on the bed. Mouth agape, face like a clean white sheet, eyes wide open and fresh blood seeping from a new wound at his side. "My God, he's dead," he stuttered in a shaky voice, taking a step back. "He was alive when I left him." Doug turned to look away.
Ben walked to the foot of the bed and examined the dead man's wounds. "He was stabbed," he stated. Doug turned around and stiffened. Ben's eyes narrowed in confusion. "What's wrong, Doug? Don't tell me you feel sorry for low-life like Clayton. He was a man with no sense of honor. At least now he can't hurt anybody else." Doug remained silent and dropped his eyes to the ground, unable to hold Ben's critical gaze.
Doug shifted his weight from one foot to another in evident nervousness and Ben frowned. He knew his best friend's habit too well, and the young knight was hiding something from him. "You know what he wanted to tell me, Doug, don't you?"
Doug paled and turned away. "It's not fair that it's me who has to tell you this," he spat in a cracked voice. "I can't!"
Ben's expression darkened. The prince grabbed Doug's arm and spun him around. "Tell me what?" he asked, his voice rising in volume.
Doug shook his head with a pained expression. "I can't, Ben," he stammered, his eyes bright. How could he be the one to shatter his best friend's life?
Ben and Doug stared at each other in silence for several seconds, Doug, who was turning an even paler shade of white, begging him with his eyes to let the matter go. The prince's stomach turned as the realization hit him. Clayton was a mercenary for hire and was known around Auradon as one of the kingdom's best assassins, and Ben had caught him talk with his adopted father in private on more than one occasion. There was only one thing that could have upset his best friend to such an extent. "He told you that Gaston was the one to kill my father, didn't he?" Ben insinuated.
Doug looked down at his feet, and Ben planted his feet into the ground as his vision clouded in rage. "Answer me!" he bellowed, gripping Doug's shoulder and shaking him violently. "Answer me!"
Doug pulled himself out of Ben's grip and turned his shoulder away from him, unable to hold his gaze any longer. "Yes," he muttered.
Without a second glance at his best friend, Ben turned on his heels and stormed out of the room, banging the door behind him. "Ben! Wait!" Doug yelled, running after him.
- ̴- ̴- ̴- ̴- ̴-
Gaston held a defensive stance, sword in hand and eyed the well-built, tanned soldier in front of him. With a cry, the Lord lunged forward and locked his sword with his opponent in a low X-shaped maneuver, creating a loud screeching sound of metal against metal that echoed in the otherwise quiet training room. The other soldiers huddled in the corner of the room and didn't dare make a sound as they watched, starstruck, as their ruler took on his rival.
The soldier advanced in an attempt to knock the sword out of the Lord's hand, but Gaston anticipated his attack. The Lord jumped back and took a fake swing at the soldier's head. The soldier gasped in surprise and lowered himself to dodge the attack, and the Lord used his foot to kick to the soldier's stomach. His sword flew out of his hand as he went crashing to the ground with a loud thud, the force of the impact causing his hair bun to come loose and his long, black hair to splay across the floor.
"What kind of soldier are you?" Gaston yelled, turning around, and dropping his sword in frustration. "What a disappointment. I was told that Agrabah soldiers were some of the most skilled in the entire kingdom."
"Pick up your sword," a voice suddenly shouted.
Gaston spun around and stilled, his gaze fixed on his adopted son who stood a few meters away, sword in hand. "Ben, have you gone mad?"
"I told you to pick up your sword," Ben thundered with a snarl.
Gaston grunted and bend down to pick up his sword, his gaze fixed on Ben's flushed skin and icy expression. "You don't know what you're doing," he stated.
Ben let out a guttural roar and charged at his adopted father. Their swords clashed and locked in mid-air as Ben tried to push Gaston backward, but the Lord stood firm, forcing the prince to retreat a few steps. Ben advanced on him again, but Gaston parried his blow. The Lord shifted his weight and used the momentum to spin around Ben and strike him, hard, across the face. The prince toppled to the ground but quickly stood up, nursing his now bleeding cheek.
"Stop it, Ben!" Gaston demanded. "I don't want to hurt you."
"I know the truth, and I know your lies! You never cared for me – you cared for the kingdom I would inherit. That's why you've done the things you've done; for power! I know you killed my father!" Ben exclaimed with a war cry and charged across the room.
Gaston waited for his adopted son to attack him and caught his sword in a low lock. The Lord shifted to his side, grabbing Ben's wrist in the process and continued to twirl around, using his shoulder to throw the prince to the ground, making lose his sword. The prince groaned in pain as he rose back to his feet, blood flowing from a cut close to his hairline. "How dare you attack your King?" Gaston glowered.
"I'll kill you if it's the last thing I'll do," Ben yelled as he charged once again towards Gaston.
Doug burst into the room, and his eyes widened in horror. "Ben, stop!" he screamed.
Ben raised his hands and reached out to grab his adopted father by the throat. "I'm going to kill you!" he yelled.
Gaston staggered back a few steps and started gasping for air as Ben tightened his hold. The other soldiers in the room rushed towards the scuffling pair and tore Ben away from the Lord. Still, Ben's yells echoed off the walls and down the hall as they hauled him away from Gaston and out the door. "I'm going to kill you if it's the last thing I do!"
A/N: Gaston's secret is finally out and Ben's world has been turned upside down. What is going to happen to him now that he's openly defied Gaston. You'll have to tune in next weekend to find out.
I'd love to receive feedback on all that has happened in this chapter. What did you guys think of the dramatic events of this chapter? And of Bal's reunion? And did you catch the VK I introduced at the end of the chapter?