A/N: Hey...I'm back! Apologies for the delay in posting but this was been one crappy week. Too much things going on to explain them but all I'll say is that I fell and couldn't use my wrist for 2 days. The good news is that I've managed to write a longer chapter as promised last week. I hope you guys enjoy it.
I'd like to thank everyone who's been reading my story. Every new fav and follow means so much to me.
A special thank you to my beta Wanderlustandfreedom. I wouldn't be able to write this story without her precious help and support.
Thank you to SparkyGurly 227, AmethystDragon14 and fresh-BLOOD-was-drawn-2night for having left a review for the last chapter. Feedback is always appreciated and is a great motivational boost for me to continue writing.
AmethystDragon14: I hope you enjoy the Bal in this chapter - I've tried my best to make up for last week's chapter ;)
fresh-BLOOD-was-drawn-2night: I wish I could ease your worries but this is a story of love, secrets and betrayals. You'll have to wait to find out what will happen.
SparkyGurly 227: Thank you for reviewing all my chapters. I'm so happy you're enjoying the story. I hope you also enjoy the Bal scenes in this chapter. Yes Uma is very cunning...you've seen nothing yet ;)
So in the last chapter, Mal shared her details of her nightmares with Ben. Meanwhile The Black Arrow took the decision to steal the maps of Auroria's castle from the knight's monastery while Uma seems to have come up with an evil plan of her own.
I only have one question - Are you ready to find out Mal's backstory?...
Chapter 16
"We're here," Ben announced when he spotted the ruins of an abandoned stone structure ahead of him. He pulled on the reins of his horse to bring the animal to a stop and craned his neck to look in Mal's direction with a worried expression as the despondent princess joined his side without uttering a word. The prince chewed the inside of his cheek, suddenly questioning whether he'd made the right choice to bring Mal here. The princess still looked shaken after that morning's incident at the lake. Ben pushed back his shoulders. He couldn't let his doubts get the best of him. Mal was strong. She'd trusted him enough to open up about her daydreams, and Ben wasn't about to let her down now. He couldn't stand to see hurting like this anymore. Her visions were only getting worse, and he had to find a way to ease her torment somehow. The prince thought that visiting the place where her parents were rumored to have been killed might help the princess remember her childhood memories. He'd been convincing enough to persuade Robin to let them travel alone, promising to be careful not to be spotted by any of Gaston's men who were still scouting the forests for them.
Mal looked around her, fighting the feeling of unease writhing in her stomach. A shiver ran down her spine. A few hours had passed since they'd left the Black Arrow's camp, and the morning sun shone brightly in the sky, but little to dissipate the thick fog which filtered through the dense trees that surrounded them, instead bathing the area in an eerie glow.
Ben dismounted his horse, and the noise brought Mal back to the present. She joined his side, offering him the reins of her horse, and the prince tied the two animals to the tree beside them.
"Why did you bring me here?" Mal asked, looking around her, resting a hand on the tree. "This place gives me the creeps."
Ben felt a tightness in his chest and his expression sobered. He walked up to the princess, reaching out to take her free hand and Mal locked eyes with him. "This is Grimsville Valley. Your parents were killed here," Ben replied, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. Mal inhaled a sharp intake of breath and remained unmoving. Ben gave her a small, reassuring smile before he gently tugged her hand and began to lead her towards a weather-worn pillar ahead of them. Dead clumps of grass surrounded the post, and severe ash marks from a past fire pattered the stone.
Mal breathed in the earthy scent of moss, dirt, and dead leaves and felt her mouth run dry as her gaze flitted from the pillar to the half-crumbled stone structure around them. Nothing but a few sculpted archways and crumpled walls remained of what surely once was a large country cottage. "I don't remember ever being here," the princess stated, looking around her. Mal's gaze fell on a stone wall a few meters ahead of her. It was covered in dense green foliage, but the princess could make out the faded outline of a painting, and a sudden chill crept throughout her body. Mal let go of Ben's hand and began to walk towards it.
Ben was about to follow her but stopped in his tracks. The glint from a shiny object on his right had caught his attention. The prince bent down to examine the item, which was half-hidden under a thick tree branch. Ben removed the branch and picked up a small metal object, cleaning it from the moss and dirt. It was a Quadriform Fibula.
Mal hurried the last few steps towards the wall and, once there, brushed away the leaves, letting out a loud gasp when she came face to face with the faded image of a green lizard. The princess swallowed, beginning to feel herself losing control of her body. She was unable to move as the world around her turned pitch black. Then it suddenly shifted. Maleficent's voice pierced the deadly silence. Mal blinked as her senses returned. The princess felt the soft sheets of a bed underneath her. She stared wide-eyed at the large painting of a green lizard in front of her for a few long moments. She carefully looked around, taking in the large bedroom before dropping her gaze to her small hands and realized she was once again trapped in her younger self's body. All she could do was watch as the past unfolded before her eyes. The sound of her mother's voice made Mal turn her head to the side, and her chest tightened when she found herself in the Fae Queen's arms. Maleficent was wearing a red pendant around her neck, and she was singing a lullaby to her.
"Maleficent! Mal! I'm home!" a male voice sounded from one of the open windows, and young Mal straightened herself.
"Papa," Mal shouted before freeing herself from her mother's arms and running towards the window. Maleficent grinned before joining her daughter, resting a hand on her shoulder. A smiling young man with short, brown hair emerged from behind the trees, pulling his horse and making his way towards the cottage. "Papa, why did you take so long? It's late!" Mal scolded.
"I know, sweetheart. I'm sorry," Tristan replied. "But I got you a present to make up for it."
The ground suddenly shook with the thunder of horses' hooves, and Maleficent and Mal looked up to the edge of the forest where they spotted a group of six knights galloping towards them. Tristan didn't even have time to twirl around before one of the knights raised his bow and shot him down.
"Papa," Mal screamed as her father's face contorted in pain before he fell to the ground, an arrow sticking out from his back. "Papa!"
The young princess began crying, and the Fae Queen pulled Mal away from the window and into her arms for a moment, covering her face. "Mal, sweetheart, now listen to me very carefully," Maleficent told her daughter. The Queen bent down to be eye level with her daughter and wiped her tears away.
"Maleficent!" a loud male voice thundered from outside the garden. "I know you're in there. Come out if you value your husband's life."
Mother and daughter jumped. "Mal, I need you to go hide behind the bed, in your secret hiding spot and don't move from there until I come to get you. Do you understand me?" Maleficent asked. Mal nodded as her chin began to quiver. Maleficent caressed her daughter's cheek. "You're strong, Mal, and brave. Aren't you?"
"Yes," the princess replied in a shaky whisper. "Who is that knight, mama? Do you know him?"
"He's an evil man, but if you do as I say nothing is going to happen to you," the Fae Queen promised with a smile.
"Maleficent!" the outside voice repeated, his voice rising in volume.
"Go!" Maleficent ordered her daughter and waited until the princess hid behind the bed before rushing out of the room.
Little Mal's heart threatened to burst out of her chest, but her curiosity got the best of her, and breaking the promise she'd made to her mother, she walked up to the open window and looked outside, hiding behind one of the curtains. The princess watched as her mother burst through the front door. She stretched her hands in front of her, ready to use her Fae powers. But Maleficent stilled when her eyes fell on the still alive Tristan held at knifepoint by one of the knights. The knights stood a few meters in front of her.
"So nice of you to finally join us, my dear Maleficent," the leader of the knights stated, taking a confident step towards her. He was a tall, well-built man, but the large helmet covering his entire head hid most of his facial features. "I've been expecting you. You know you'll never be able to hide from me. You're mine!" The Fae Queen raised her hands, and gusts of wind began to envelop the area. "I wouldn't do that unless you want to see your precious husband bleed to death before your eyes," the knight threatened. "Fae powers or not, you're outnumbered. It'll only take us a moment to kill him." To prove his point, the other knight holding her husband pressed the knife closer to Tristan's throat, drawing a little blood, and Maleficent let out a low snarl.
"Let him go," she demanded. Silence fell upon the group as the Queen's eyes flickered between her husband's pain-filled half-closed eyes and the knights in front of her. Tension ran high until Maleficent lowered her hands to her side, and the howling winds died out.
"Smart choice, my dear," the knight let out a gleeful laugh before walking up to her. He stopped in front of Maleficent and reached into his belt, pulling out what appeared to be two large bracelets. Mal's eyes widened in fear when she recognized the familiar dark metal as it reflected under the afternoon sun. "I know this will hurt at first, but I need to make sure you don't try anything funny should you change your mind," he declared with an evil smirk, grabbing her wrists. The Fae Queen glared at the knight before letting out a scream of pain when he snapped the bracelets on her wrists. Maleficent fell to her knees, gasping for breath, the smell of burning flesh filling the area as the iron laced bracelets made contact with the Queen's skin.
"Don't touch her!" Tristan's weak voice rang out.
The knight let out another laugh before walking up to his prisoner. He lowered his head to whisper in Tristan's ear. "Take a very careful look at your wife for it's the last time you'll see her. She's mine now," he taunted before turning to the knight holding him up. "Kill him!" he ordered. The knight slashed Tristan's throat, and the young man fell to the ground, unmoving as blood began to stain the ground underneath him.
"Tristan!" the recovering Maleficent screamed. Breathing heavily, the Fae Queen used her hands to rise from the ground and wobbled unsteadily on her feet as a flood of tears found their way down her cheeks.
Behind the curtain, Mal began to shake violently, and the princess brought her hands to her mouth to cover the screams that threatened to escape her throat.
The knight left Tristan's side and walked back up to Maleficent, grabbing her by the arm. "Now it's just us, your Majesty," he smirked, his gaze flickering over her entire frame. The weakened Queen couldn't offer any resistance as the knight kicked the front door open. "Stay here," he ordered the other knights and began to drag her inside. "You're mine, at last, Maleficent."
Mal heard her mother's voice coming from the corridor outside the bedroom, and the princess ran to hide behind the bed. The princess picked up her father's journal from its secret hiding place under the bed and held it tight against her chest in comfort. The door burst open a few seconds later, and Mal poked her head out, watching as the knight entered pulling her struggling mother by the arm.
"It's useless to fight, Maleficent," the knight stated, shoving her mother against a wall. "You're mine now!" he exclaimed, removing his helmet. He advanced on her once again and pinning her wrists to the wall, bent down to kiss her hard. Ignoring the agonizing pain shooting up her arms, Maleficent twisted in his tight grip and, gathering her strength, kicked him in the leg. The knight took a step back, momentarily started, and the Fae Queen looked around her. Her face brightened when she spotted a blade lying on top of the dresser beside her. Mal's father must have left it there that morning. The Fae Queen grabbed it and held it in front of her with a defiant look.
"Put that blade down," the knight ordered. He reached out and grabbed Maleficent's wrist. "I told you it's useless to struggle. You're mine now, and you'll be mine for the rest of your life."
Little Mal began to shake in fear as she watched the scene unfold, and she lowered her head, pressing herself against the bed's headboard. Mal's small foot made contact with a loose floorboard. The knight's head twirled behind him at the sudden squeaky noise. "Who's there?" he called.
Maleficent paled. She couldn't let him discover Mal's existence. The Fae Queen suddenly let out a guttural roar, her maternal instinct taking over, and she pushed back against the knight with all her might. The knight shifted position and returned his full attention to the Queen. The two locked in a struggle for control over the knife.
"Stop this madness," the knight ordered, but Maleficent didn't back down. But the Queen was tiring. Her hand slipped, causing her palm to get cut against the edge of the blade. Maleficent hissed and pulled her hand away. Out of instinct, the knight used the momentary distraction to plunge the knife into Maleficent's chest.
The knight's eyes widened, and he took a step back, staring at Maleficent, who crumbled to the floor, blood beginning to pour from the injury. The woman closed her eyes as her head fell limp to her side.
"Foolish woman!" the knight roared in anger, bending down to rip the Queen's necklace before storming out of the room.
Mal dashed out of her hiding spot and fell beside her mother. "Mum! Mum!" she whimpered, shaking her mother's shoulder as tears streamed down her cheeks. "Mummy! Talk to me, please! Don't leave me!"
"Mal," the Queen whispered, willing her eyes to open if only a slit. She gasped for breath as her dulled green eyes saw her little girl weeping at her side. "Mal, run sweetheart."
The princess shook her head. "Mummy, I won't leave you."
With a supreme effort, the Queen raised a hand to her daughter's cheek and wiped her tears away. "Mal, listen to me. I need you to be my strong and brave little princess. You're the future Queen of the Moorlands, and our people depend on you. You have to run away and get to safety. Find Arthur. Promise me you won't turn back no matter what."
Mal nodded her head. "I love you, mum," she whimpered.
Maleficent gave her a little, weak smile before her eyes began to close. "I love you too, sweetheart," she gasped before her hand went limp, falling at her side.
"NO!" Mal screamed, snapping back to reality and finding herself again at the ruins. Her heart hammered loudly against her chest, and tears began to fall down her cheeks in little streams. The princess ran off but stopped after a few meters, disoriented, as several disjointed images clouded her mind. "Burn everything to the ground," an angry voice called out as Mal saw her younger self pick up her father's journal from the floor beside her mother before jumping out from the bedroom window and running away from the house. She felt the scorching heat coming from the tall flames surrounding her as she re-watched her mother's limp body fall to the floor.
"Mal! Mal!" a panicked voice broke through her fogged thoughts as two strong but gentle hands gripped her shoulders.
Mal's green eyes snapped open and locked with Ben's warm brown ones. "Ben," she whispered. "My mother died to protect me," Mal stammered. "It's my fault she died. She wanted to protect me from that knight."
Ben stilled for a moment, stunned by Mal's revelation. He swallowed, and remembering himself pulled the princess into his arms. "It's over, Mal," he replied. The prince engulfed her in a tight hug, and Mal leaned into his touch as a heavy sob racked her frame. "It's over. You're safe. No one can hurt you," he soothed in a hushed whisper, rubbing a hand across Mal's back. "You're safe." The princess didn't reply but instead buried herself deeper into the prince's embrace, seeking refuge in the sudden warmth which filled her heart.
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Two days later
"The Knights of Rodegan's monastery is there, just over those mountains," Friar Tuck explained. A small group made up of Robin, Tuck, Chad, Ben, and Mal had left the Black Arrow's camp early that morning. Together, they traveled to the edge of the forest to scout the area and begin to devise a plan to sneak inside the monastery.
Ben's brought a hand to his chin, and his gaze shifted from Tuck to the valley below him, scanning the surrounding hills and mountain range ahead of them. "So, it's on the plateau beyond Lone's Keep?" he asked.
"Come on, Tuck. Tell us all you know about the knights and the monastery," Robin instructed.
Tuck sighed. "The Knights of Rodegan are an order of monks, but they impose their faith using weapons. They're skilled warriors. We don't stand a chance against them if we attack them directly."
"So, what do you propose?" Robin asked.
"I know the alchemist of the monastery. His name is Bernard. We were novices together, but he was never ordained, so he started working there," Tuck replied.
"And should we feel sorry for him?" Chad interrupted.
"I assure you that Bernard needs our prayers, not our sympathy," Friar Tuck snorted. "He was sent away from our convent because of his uncontrollable urges. Every night he used to leave the convent and seek out women and wine in the neighboring villages." He paused. "I'm convinced that a man like that still hasn't lost his vices."
"We need a woman then," Chad suggested.
Friar Tuck brought a hand to his chin. "Mhm. A woman could easily slip him one of Godmother's sleeping draughts. Then from there, we would have easy access to the monastery," he replied.
"It doesn't sound that easy to me, Tuck," Robin stated.
"Troy was won thanks to a wooden horse, no?" Tuck argued.
Mal watched the exchange with a set jaw, her muscles tightening in readiness. This was the opportunity she'd been waiting for. This was her chance to help bring an end to the war. "I'll do it," she spoke up, and all eyes turned to her. "I'm a woman, and I know I can do this," she insisted, planting her feet to the ground. "Trust me."
Robin and Tuck exchanged a look before the Friar nodded to his leader. "Okay, Mal," Robin agreed, taking in her set jaw and determined expression. "Let's move out and return to the camp. We leave in two hours."
An hour later, Ben spotted Mal carrying a saddle to her white horse. She stopped to adjust it, and the prince pursed his lips and walked up to her. Mal threw him a side glance before continuing to fix the saddle. "Mal, are you sure this is a good idea? What if you have another flashback?" he stated.
"Yes, I'm sure," she argued in a stern tone, turning her back towards him. "I can do it."
Ben sighed before his expression darkened. Mal's nightmares had only worsened since their trip to Grimsville, but the princess remained subdued, refusing to talk about it. Ben hadn't pushed her to open up to him, knowing that the recollection of her parents' murder had shaken her to the core. Instead, he remained by her side and watched over her as she slept fitfully, comforting her when she'd wake up wide-eyed and terrified, screaming for her mother and father. Ben knew that in any other situation, Mal could easily handle herself against any enemy, but she was still grieving and processing the traumatic experience. He was worried she could do something reckless. The prince walked to the front of Mal's horse so that the princess would have no choice but to look at him. "If you die, it won't bring your parents back from the dead," he stated. The princess glared at him.
"My mother died to protect me, Ben. She told me that I was the future Queen of the Moorlands and that my people depend on me," she exclaimed. She took a few steps away from Ben, brushing her hand against her horse until she stopped beside the tree the animal was tied to. "This mission can bring an end to this war!"
She sighed before looking away with a vacant expression. "It's like I've been living in a daydream my whole life, not knowing who I really was," she whispered. "All because someone robbed me of my life and made me who I am today." Mal swung round to face Ben. "But now I suddenly remember it all...the faceless knight who killed my parents. That knight has been living inside me ever since that day. I've got to get rid of him and my fears somehow."
Ben advanced a few steps and reached out for Mal's hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. "Mal, I understand what you're going through. I felt the same way when I discovered the truth behind my father's murder, but don't mistake anger for courage," he tried to reason with her.
"I know Ben, but I have to try at least," she replied. Mal leaned towards him and gave him a little reassuring smile. "I'll be careful, I promise. But, Ben, please, stay close to me."
Ben dropped Mal's hand and cupped her cheek, tracing a finger along her smooth skin. "I love you, Mal," he declared. "Where else would I go?"
Mal's heart fluttered. Ben's hand felt so warm against her exposed skin. The princess stilled and stared into Ben's deep-set eyes, so full of love towards her. A shiver raced up her spine, and she leaned upwards to kiss him. She lifted her hands to his chest, and Ben raised his free hand to the small of her back. The prince pulled her even closer, pressing her to his body. Her lips parted with a sigh, and his tongue dipped into her mouth. Mal felt a deep fire erupt in her chest as his mouth worked against hers. They pulled apart a few minutes later, breathing heavily. "I love you, Ben," she whispered against his lips and then lowered her head beneath his chin, burying her head in his chest.
Ben smiled despite the dangerous plan they were about to pull off. He still couldn't believe that the princess felt the same way towards him and that he'd found love the moment his world had been shattered...when he thought he'd lost everything. Ben wrapped his arms around her, cradling her head against the side of his neck while gently caressing her back in soft circles. "No one will tear us apart," he murmured against the skin of her forehead. "I promise."
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Mal curled her fingers around the little jar which hung around her neck as she stared at the shut door of the small tavern in front of her. Robin, Tuck, Chad, Ben, and she had made it to the village of Lone's Keep earlier that evening. Friar Tuck had entered the village tavern a few minutes earlier, looking for the alchemist Bernard. The princess stiffened when the door of the inn opened and let out a breath when the Friar walked up to the group.
"Our man is inside a flask of wine in his hand. He didn't change," Tuck announced, walking up to Mal. He took Mal's shoulders. "It's up to you now. You can't go wrong, Mal. He's the only one carrying a sword with him."
"Ready?" Chad asked.
"Yes," Mal replied with a nod.
"You know how to use that draught, right?" Robin asked. Mal nodded. "We'll be right behind you. Whatever happens…"
"I know that you'll be right out here," Mal jumped in.
"We'll follow you straight to the monastery, okay? Now go. Good luck!" Robin continued.
The princess nodded and turned to face Ben, who hadn't uttered a word. He was looking at her with a pained, worried expression. Mal shot him a little smile, quickly caressing his cheek before squaring her shoulders and walking up to the tavern. She pulled the door and entered.
The sour smell of mead and wine immediately accosted Mal as soon as she entered the busy tavern. The roar of drunken laughter and singing echoed around her as the princess took in her surroundings. She took slow steps on the uneven boards underneath her feet, looking around her while making her way towards the innkeeper's bar on the opposite side of the room. Mal twirled her head to the side when the sound of a heavy jug being slammed down on one of the tables caught her attention. A bald man in his late forties, seated on the table closest to her, pushed away the woman on his lap as his gaze fell upon the Fae princess.
"You're not from here, aren't you?" he asked.
"That's right," Mal replied, dismissing the stranger as she continued to search the patrons looking for Bernard.
"And how did a pretty girl like you end up in this hellhole?" the man questioned.
"I got lost on my way home," Mal replied, trying to keep a calm composure as she continued to scan the large room.
The man straightened himself and reached out to grab Mal's arm. "Why don't I help you find it back?" he flirted.
Mal gritted her teeth, taking a deep breath. "And who told you I want to find…" she trailed off as her eyes fell on the sword by the man's side, "it." She paused, her eyes lighting up. "Offer me a drink instead," Mal stated, plastering a sweet smile on her face.
Bernard's mouth stretched out in a broad toothy grin and pulled Mal further to him. The princess sat on his lap. "Here, beautiful. Drink as much as you want," the man said, offering her a goblet of wine.
An hour later, the pair sat in silence on Bernard's wagon while the man directed his horse towards the monastery. Mal's eyes roamed over the pitch-black forest around them, and she gripped the jar around her neck with bated breath. Bernard turned his head towards her and smirked before pulling the reins of the horse. The wagon came to a complete stop.
Mal gulped as her gaze caught the lust in the older man's expression. "Why did we stop here?" Mal asked, trying to keep the tremble out of her voice.
"Any place is good for what I have in mind," Bernard whispered in a husky tone as he rested a hand on Mal's stomach. He then began to run his hand up her body, stopping to cup her right breast.
"You told me you were going to take me to your monastery," Mal whispered, breathing hard as Bernard put his left arm around her back.
"Why should we wait so long? Come here, sweetheart," Bernard mouthed, pulling Mal to him. The princess closed her eyes when she felt the man's heavy breath on her neck.
Mal began to struggle to free herself from the man's firm grip. "Let me go!" she screamed, pushing him away. The princess managed to stand and began to climb off the wagon when the alchemist grabbed her neck and pulled her back beside him. Before she could comprehend what was happening, the man removed a dagger from his belt and held it to her throat.
"Stop struggling," Bernard sneered. "You're mine now!" The man's words triggered the memories of the last living moments of her mother, and Mal let out a soft whimper.
"Let her go if you value your life!" a voice thundered across the forest. Bernard stiffened, pulling Mal closer to his chest as the heavy rustling of leaves surrounded the pair. The alchemist looked around him with wide eyes before a young brown-haired boy emerged from behind a tree, bow drawn, and pointed an arrow to his head. "I said, let her go!" Ben roared, his eyes blazing. The rest of the outlaws appeared by his side a moment later, weapons drawn, surrounding the wagon.
"Who are you? What do you want?" Bernard demanded. He tightened his grip on Mal, whose terrified eyes locked with Ben's. "Don't come any closer," the alchemist warned.
"Calm down, Bernard," Friar Tuck exclaimed, taking a step closer to the wagon. "Do you recognize me? I'm Tuck. Take a look around you. You're outnumbered."
"Don't take another step," Bernard threatened.
"Let the girl go, and we won't harm you," Robin jumped in, taking in Ben's wide fury-filled eyes. The situation was quickly getting out of hand. "It's not you that we want. We want to gain access to your monastery's archives."
"Then you've got the wrong person. If you want the key of the archive, you need to get them from the Grandmaster himself." Bernard snorted. "I give them to him every night." The alchemist's gaze scanned the group of bandits in front of him and after a moment, pushed Mal away from him. He raised his hands in the air.
The princess dismounted from the wagon and ran into Ben's arms, breathing heavily. Ben engulfed her trembling frame into his arms and began to rub soft circles on her back. "Are you okay?" he asked. The princess nodded, burying her head in the crook of his neck.
"Then take us to the Grandmaster," Robin ordered.
Bernard looked around him before stopping to stare at Friar Tuck. "I want the chalice hidden in St Augustine's Sanctuary," he smirked.
"St Augustine's chalice," Tuck repeated.
"St Augustine was your monastery no, Friar Tuck?" the alchemist asked. "You should know where those monks hid their precious chalice, right? Give it to me, and I'll give you access to the monastery's archive."
"You can't ask me to give you the chalice," Tuck hissed, gritting his teeth. "It's a sacred relic!"
"I only care about the gold and the jewels on it," Bernard smirked.
"Give us a good reason why we should trust you'll keep the end of the deal," Robin asked.
"With those jewels, I'd be settled for the rest of my life. Why would I be stupid to throw away such an opportunity? Besides, you don't have another choice," the alchemist replied, laughing loudly. "Now if you'll excuse me, I must return to the monastery before the Grandmaster notices my absence. He must not suspect anything," Bernard stated before taking the reins of his horse and riding away.
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Mal shielded her eyes from the rays of the early morning sun. The outlaws had camped in the forest that night, and Mal and Ben were exploring the area in search of some dry branches to use to start a fire.
The princess bent down and picked up a little wooden branch with a sigh. "I thought I was strong enough to pull the plan off last night, but I froze, and now I've failed," she mourned.
"No," Ben replied. "You were great yesterday. You showed great courage."
Mal let out another sigh and stopped to rest her shoulder against one of the trees. "I wanted to defeat the ghosts of my past, but I can't because they're already dead."
Ben walked up to her and cupped her cheek tenderly. "You need to learn to live with them. When you accept that they're part of who you are, you'll realize that your ghosts and your fears are what make you strong." Mal lifted her head and locked eyes with the prince. "The same thing happened to me when I accepted my story." He paused. "I found the strength to rebel against my past. And then…" Ben ran a thumb against her smooth cheek. "I met you," he smiled.
Mal lowered her gaze to the ground. "I don't know if I'll be able to," she confessed.
"Mal," Ben said softly. "There's something I've wanted to give you."
Mal lifted her head and watched with furrowed brows as Ben reached into one of his pockets and pulled out a shiny metal object tied to a black string. "I found this at Grimsville's ruins," he revealed, giving her the necklace.
"It's the symbol of my family," Mal whispered, carefully examining the Quadriform Fibula.
"It survived the flames, and after all these years found its way to you," Ben smiled, reaching out to tie the object around the princess's neck. "You gave me hope when I thought all was lost. So, don't give up hope now. We'll work through it all together."
Mal raised a shaky hand to finger the necklace before she nodded. Ben dropped the branches and pulled the princess into his arms. They stayed in silence for a few long moments, drawing comfort from one other, letting each other know that everything would be okay.
A/N: So I must admit that this chapter was one of the toughest ones I had to write so far and to be honest I'm a little bit anxious about it. I hope the backstory of Maleficent's and Tristan's death didn't disappoint. I'd love to hear what you think not only about the reveal but also about the rest of the chapter.
The story continues to deepen. Who's the knight in Mal's vision? In case anyone is wondering, yes the knight's identity will be revealed later on in the story. In the meantime, see ya all next weekend!