As Ben's limousine pulled to a stop outside of Auradon Castle I couldn't stop a wince escape from my lips as the pain in my leg continued to intensify.
"Mal what's wrong?" I heard Belle ask.
"I think I have hurt my leg" I advised as I looked down at my leg.
"What?" she questioned and I moved my leg and we both gasped. There was blood slowly flowing out of my leg; and in the centre of the wound there was a medium sized piece of glass imbedded into my leg. "Oh Mal!" she exclaimed. "You are bleeding" she noted.
"Oh for Lucifer's sake!" I snapped as I bent down and I went to pull the glass out.
"Mal!" she exclaimed. "Don't do that!" she urged as she placed her hand on top of mine.
"I need to get it out" I reminded.
"No Doctor Cameron will" she insisted. "I'll ring him" she offered.
"Please don't" I whined. "It will make Ben worry" I stressed.
"Well we can't exactly hide that from him" she told me and when I looked behind her to see a very concerned Ben walking out of Auradon Castle.
"No" I sighed. "Especially as he is here" I told her.
"What?" she managed to get out before Ben opened the door.
"Hello you tw-" he started and I watched as his eyes landed on my leg and he gasped. "Mal you're bleeding" he muttered.
"Yes" I agreed. "Just a scratch" I stated hoping to play it down before Ben went into full Beast overdrive.
"What happened?" he questioned as Belle climbed out of the car.
"Nothing Ben" I told him as I slid toward him. "Please don't worry" I stated as I span my legs around slowly.
"I knew something had happened" he urged. "I could feel it" he told me as I slowly climbed out of the car and looked up at him.
"You sensed me, didn't you?" I questioned as he wrapped his right arm around my waist.
"Yes" he confirmed. "Come on let's get you in so we can have a look" he added as he pursed his lips together.
"Ben she's got glass in her leg" Belle told Ben. "She needs to see Doctor Cameron" she quickly added.
"Ok" Ben advised. "I'll ring him" he decided.
"No" Belle told him. "You take her to your rooms and I'll do it" she added.
"Ok" Ben repeated and I watched as his other arm reached down.
"Don't you dare!" I warned him.
"What?" he asked innocently.
"Ben!" I sang disapprovingly.
"You knew that I was going to do it" he smiled down at me.
"Yes" I nodded. "But it would appear that you don't listen" I teased trying to make light of the situation as he began to carry me into the castle.
"Not when my Dragon is hurting, no" he advised as we walked into the main hall.
"Mal!" I heard Evie happily sing.
"Evie not yet" Ben sighed as he began to carry me towards the main staircase.
"Not yet?" I enquired in confusion and I watched as he smirked down at me.
"You'll see later" he winked at me.
"Ok" I replied as I started to wonder about what Ben and my family had obviously been arranging for me. However as Ben continued to carry me to our suite I felt myself getting a little bit distracted watching the determined look on his face. I still couldn't believe how in awe I was of him even to this day - my perfect Beastiebear.
"Ben put me down!" I whined as Evie, Jay and Carlos followed us into our suite. "You are causing a scene" I reminded him.
"No" he dismissed. "I'm looking after you" he reminded me. "So suck it up" he teased as he pulled a funny face at me.
"Ok" I nodded as I started to giggle. Ben then carefully placed me down onto one of the couches and I propped my leg up onto the glass coffee table in front of me.
"Let's have a look" he said as he knelt down next to my leg.
"Ben-" I began as Evie, Jay and Carlos stood around us.
"Mal" he stated cutting me off before he gave me a stern look that reminded me of the same stare that I gave him a few days ago. "You know how this is going to go down" he advised. "So please don't fight me on it" he continued.
"Fine" I sighed. "As I was like this with you a few days ago" I stated.
"A few days ago?" Carlos questioned.
"Ben hurt himself" I muttered as I moved my leg and pain suddenly engulfed my leg. "AUGH!" I cried out.
"MAL!" They all shouted out in concern.
"How did this even happen?" Ben asked as he took a closer look at my leg. "I was waiting for Belle outside a shop while Dawson was making his way to us-" I started to explain. "And the press cornered me; but in the process of doing so-" I continued but stopped to wince in pain once more. "They had me pressed against a wall so I fell over; I must have landed on a glass bottle of something" I finished. "Ben let me pull it out?" I pleaded. "I need to magically heal it" I stated.
"No!" he exclaimed. "Doctor Cameron is on his way; that needs stitches" he returned.
"Not if you let me deal with it" I returned.
"Mal you can't keep using magic" He stated and we both shared a stern glance. I knew that he was right; I probably was more reliant on my magic than I should have been. But in cases like this it was so easy to use it; it made me start to think about how I used to cope with injuries like this on the Isle - I hated healing like a mortal.
"Ok" I stated breaking the silence. "You're right; I just hope that he isn't going to be very long" I sighed as I threw my head back against the back of the couch.
"Me too baby" he replied as he sat on my right hand side. "I don't think we need to ask what the press was asking you" he stated, obviously trying to change the subject.
"They wanted to know how it feels to be engaged to you, am I pregnant-" I stated.
"You're not are you?" Jay urged cutting me off.
"No!" I exclaimed. "Give us a break Jay" I sighed. "We've only just got engaged, that isn't happening for a long time" I gulped as I tried to concentrate on anything but the pain. "Isn't it Benny?" I smiled at him.
"Yes Mally" he smiled back as he went to wrap his left arm around me but couldn't so I lifted my head up to allow him to do this.
"They were also asking about my wedding dress and our wedding date" I continued as I snuggled against his left shoulder. "I feel so shakey" I admitted.
"It's because you are losing blood" I heard Carlos say.
"Hang on" Evie stated and when I looked up I watched as she quickly left the room. A few moments later she walked back into the room with two face clothes; and he quickly knelt down next to my leg.
"What are you-" I began to stay but stopped as she pressed both face clothes at either side of the glass. "AUGH!" I shouted out.
"We need to stem the blood flow" she told me.
"Ok" I nodded as I tried to calm my breathing down. "Is it bad that I shouted at the Press?" I asked Ben.
"No" Ben replied as he cupped the left hand side of my face with his right hand. "No it's not; and they are going to be dealt with" he advised me.
"Ben don't?" I muttered.
"Mal you are my Queen" he said fondly. "You have got hurt because of their impatience and impulsiveness; they will be told" he growled. I was going to try and persuade him otherwise but then when I felt the Beast side of him purr and I decided against this. I couldn't really argue or give him any stick for this; as if the roles were reversed I would feel the exact same.
"Ok Beast" I stated as I cuddled into him. We sat like this for a few seconds before I pulled away and pressed a kiss against his cheek before I cuddled back into him. I was about to let myself fall into the solace of being in my Beast's arms; but before I could enjoy this I heard the suite door open.
"Where is she?" Doctor Cameron stated and when I looked up saw him starting to walk towards me with his Doctor bag.
"Now you should be ok" Doctor Cameron stated after he had finished tending and dressing my wound.
"I don't know why I couldn't have just healed it" I chuckled.
"Because magic isn't allowed" Ben answered for Doctor Cameron.
"Right" I stated as I rolled my eyes at him.
"What is that supposed to mean?" he questioned cynically.
"Nothing Ben" I quickly replied. "Nothing" I quickly added. "Sorry" I quickly apologised. "It's just been a rough day" I sighed before pursing my lips together.
"Yeah" Ben agreed as we cuddled back together.
"How are you feeling?" Doctor Cameron questioned sincerely before Ben pressed a kiss against the top of my head.
"A little shakey" I admitted. "But I think that is the shock of it all" I added.
"Ok" he nodded at me. "Well I'm going to leave you some pain relief, you need to take it" he explained.
"Yes Doctor" I nodded.
"And your Majesty-" Doctor Cameron started, causing Ben to look up at him. "Here's some symptoms that you need to keep an eye on; as I know you are going to be taking care of your lady" he smiled as he handed Ben a note.
"Of course" Ben smiled. "Thank you Doctor Cameron" he added.
"You're very welcome" he answered. "Congratulations on your engagement by the way" he grinned.
"Thank you" me and Ben said happily together.
"I'll see myself out" Doctor Cameron said before he quickly turned and left the room, without a backwards glance.
"So-" I said after a few seconds of silence.
"What?" Ben asked innocently.
"What is this big plan then?" I questioned hoping that I was going to finally find out what my family had been planning.
"Mal that can wait" Ben stated.
"No" I urged. "I want to see" I continued as I went to stand up.
"Mal you need to rest that leg" he said in concern.
"Benny" I cooed as I started to get an idea so I let a large grin spread across my face.
"Why are you grinning like that?" Ben asked.
"How about a compromise?" I offered hopefully.
"Do I want to know what you are talking about?" Carlos winced.
"Nothing like that Carlos" I stated sternly. "I was talking about a Beastie Back" I explained before anyone else got the wrong end of the stick.
"A what?" Jay asked slowly.
"Technically a piggy back" I stated.
"Oh" Carlos muttered as his eyes widened in realisation.
"I see" Jay noted.
"So Benny?" I giggled.
"Go on then" He teased and we both slowly stood up. When we were stood up Ben then bent down and Jay helped me climb onto his back. I tightened my arms and legs around him; and he made sure that he had hold of me to make sure that I wasn't about to get another injury.
"Come one my love" I heard Ben say which made me giggle at him. We all then left mine and Ben's suite - with me very eagerly awaiting to see what this big secret had been all about.
I kept asking them where they were taking me; but no one would say anything - even when Ben carried me through the kitchen and outside.
"Are you carrying me where I think you are carrying me, aren't you?" I questioned when Ben started to carry me down the dirt track that lead to the tree that Ben found me in not so long ago.
"Maybe" he chuckled; and when my eyes landed at mine and Ben's tree I gasped. There was now a large white gazebo; with lanterns lighting it - with Adam and Belle stood outside of it.
"What's all this?" I asked in awe as we stepped in front of the gazebo.
"Well-" Ben started and he carefully helped me down to the ground. "You are marrying into a French family" he reminded me as he stood in front of me. "So it is only right that we share some French traditions; even if they are ones created by my own family" he finished explaining.
"Ok" I nodded. "So what is this tradition?" I enquired eagerly.
"Of course we are going to have an engagement party where we invite everyone-" he answered. "But we have a family tradition that we have a private one too" he added.
"Just our families?" I asked, which made him nod at me. "I like that" I grinned. "You will have to tell me more about these French traditions" I stated.
"I will" he promised. "But we don't have to do them all, my parents didn't" he advised.
"No?" I questioned.
"No" he replied; and I watched as Adam and Belle smiled warmly at me.
"I'm guessing you don't have a headache Adam" I teased.
"No" he said in confusion. "Should I?" he questioned as he looked in confusion at Adam and Belle.
"No" Belle answered. "That is what I told Mal to get her to come shopping with me" she explained.
"I see" Adam noted.
"Sorry for lying to you Mal" Belle urged as she stepped in front of me. "But Ben wanted to surprise you" she added as Ben wrapped his left arm around my waist.
"It's ok" I dismissed. "I know it wasn't done out of turn" I stated. "And to be fair I already knew something was going on" I teased as I playfully shoved Ben. "So lead the way fiancé" I chuckled as I stepped out of his arm. He then offered me his arm and I slid my hand onto his arm and I let him lead me into the tent. When my eyes landed on the scene before me I couldn't help but gasp. I could now understand why Ben had his mother distract me as this would have took a lot of setting up. By the looks of it Adam, Belle and Ben wanted to have a traditional French theme as it looked very medieval.
In the middle of the tent there was a long dark oak table with enough chairs for us all to sit on. The seats were made of the same dark oak wood; and they had high backs and arm rests and were only on one side of the table, facing us. However the two chairs situated at the centre of the table had a crown and tiara engraved on the top of the high backs - which told me that these were mine and Ben's seats. On the grass a dark blue carpet with gold borders had been placed onto the floor leading to the table; and there was also a long strip that ran the length of the mine and Ben's chairs there was a large wooden crest of Ben's royal house coat of arms, and the usual royal house flagged were littered all over the gazebo's walls. The tents were lit up with old fashioned wooden torches that were currently being held up in iron fixings. To finish the scene off in front of me there was a slow piece of French music playing in the background, which in my opinion complemented everything perfectly.
"It's old fashioned" I noted as I continued to let Ben slowly lead me to our seats.
"I know" Ben smiled down fondly at me, as I noted that the rest of our family was following us all into the gazebo. "Is that ok?" he questioned sincerely as we walked around the back of the table.
"It's perfect" I grinned as he dropped my arm and pulled out the chair with the engraved tiara on the top of it. I then slowly sat down in it; and he pushed my chair in for me, before pulling his seat out and dropping into his own on my right hand side. I looked at the others to see them take their own seats, with Evie on my left hand side and Jay and Carlos sitting next to Evie. When I looked over I saw that Belle was sitting on Ben's right hand side, however Adam was now sitting down, he was in fact stood up looking lovingly at me and Ben.
"So as the father to the groom I would like to make a toast-" Adam began happily.
"Adam" I tried to dismiss bashfully.
"No Mal" he urged as he picked up his goblet of red wine. "You have felt like a part of our family very soon after you and Ben started dating-" he began. "And me and Belle knew straight away that you were the woman for our son" he continued as me and Ben threw each other a loving smile. "I think it goes without saying that me and Belle already class you as our daughter, thank you for coming into our lives" he continued smoothly and fondly. "And not just being the woman that our son needs; but the daughter that we need too" he finished with his warm trademark smile.
"Oh Adam" I breathed as I placed my right hand in front of my mouth. I think it went without saying that everything that Adam had just said meant the world to me. Since starting my relationship with Ben I knew there was going to be some concern given my past; and yes that concern made things a little bit awkward between me and Ben's parents. But this soon changed when we both got to know and understand each other better - they knew that all I wanted was to love Ben and be with him, and this is something that they have come to trust me to do.
"And Ben-" Adam began again. "It doesn't feel that long ago when me and your mother was bringing you home from the hospital" he chuckled. "Now look at you" Adam added proudly. "A fiancé by your side, your lives are just starting together" he smiled. "We both wish you both happiness and love in your marriage" he continued. "To Ben and Mal" he finished as he lifted up his goblet.
"To Ben and Mal!" our families repeated as they mirrored Adam's actions. As I heard our families rest their goblets down after taking a drink me and Ben quickly shared a brief but very loving kiss. When we pulled away I couldn't help but fall even more so with Ben; yes he accepted me wholeheartedly but by accepting me into his family traditions like this was so profound to me. It just made me feel that things were getting a lot more real and serious between me and Ben - and I wouldn't have had it any other way.