Chapter 5: Trial:

Ben Finn would admit that he had never been so scared in his life about not knowing what was going to happen. 'I haven't been scared as badly as I was on that day when I got separated from the Princess on our way to Aurora' a stray thought popped into his head and before he could dwell on it he pushed it away again.

Today was the day of Logan's trial and he knew something was up with the newly crowned Queen. He had been directed by a servant and was now standing on the balcony of her room waiting for her to speak.

"What can I do for you Captain?" She had been looking out at the ocean, the same colour as her eyes before turning her attention to him.

He cleared his throat and walked towards her till he was standing next to her, hands gripping the stone railing. "I was just making sure you're alright Majesty." 'It feels weird calling her that, I much prefer Princess, sounds more lady like.'

Rosa scanned his handsome features and merely scoffed at him. "No you didn't" She said plainly, and his eyes widened but before he could say anything she carried on. "You're here to make sure I execute Logan."

Ben Finn was shocked to his very core; he couldn't believe that she had known that was his underlying reason for seeing her. It was true he was concerned about her but he had chickened out about asking about Logan which was his priority. He looked away from her piercing gaze and merely nodded in response, too ashamed to admit his intentions.

"Logan deserves to die for his crimes." She spoke with a steely voice, and it scared him a little that she sounded so determined to kill her own brother.

He looked back at her and her eyes had softened with understanding. She brushed the bangs that had escaped her ponytail before walking back into her room. Her steps were slow and heavy and she sighed deeply before saying over her shoulder. "He has taken someone from me as well."

Ben said nothing as he followed her towards the throne room.

A few hours later, he was furious with his Queen. He felt betrayed by her decision especially after those words she'd spoken on the balcony earlier that day. He wasn't the only one that felt cheated by her choice, not many could see her reasons yet alone begin to understand them.

"Logan I hereby stay your execution. You and the loyalty of your guards are required to protect Albion from the Crawler threat."

Many people gasped and some began to shout their complaints when she continued louder over them. "If we succeed in defeating it and you live then you will be exiled from Albion forever."

She was going let him live! He could understand needing his troops but that didn't mean they needed him! In his livid state he stormed back to her private chambers and barged through the closed doors making her jump and take a defensive stance.

"HOW DARE YOU?" he practically roared at her. "YOU'RE GOING TO LET HIM AFTER EVERYTHING'S HE'S DONE?" Ben was breathing heavily, his fists clenched so tight they threatened to draw blood.

Rosa looked scared for a second before she composed herself and challenged "He's valuable against the Crawler's impending invasion, or did you not hear me?"

He scowled at her and stood towering over her and spoke in a low menacing voice "He deserves to die. You said so yourself." He was so consumed with pure hatred that he couldn't see that he was deeply cutting wounds into her already damaged heart.

Still no matter how much he hurt her, for some reason Rosa wouldn't turn from him. "I know that! He took someone from me and I'll never forgive him for it. He's destroyed nearly everything this whole country loves and holds dear!" She shouted back at him but not in anger, her eyes pleading with the Captain to understand.

The realisation that she had lost someone dear almost made him stop but it just wasn't enough. He hurt so much and at that moment in time didn't care for the consequences of his words. "If you let him live then you're no better than he is. Kill him and let everyone have their justice."

The tiny spark in her eyes suddenly disappeared and the ocean colour dulled with sorrow. Rosa had wanted Ben to understand; after all he had tried so hard since Aurora to try and get to know her, surely that meant something?

But when she came to the conclusion that he'll probably never forgive her for sparing Logan's life she stilled her heart and would speak the last words as not the Queen of Albion, but simply Rosa. "I cannot kill my own brother."

Rosa's words were like daggers in the back for Ben. His sky blue eyes darkened like a thunder storm forming in their depths. His final words would haunt them both for the following months leading up to the Crawler attack.

"Then you are nothing to me."

And he left.

A/N: There a bit longer chapter. Don't worry folks everything is going to turn out alright, I just needed some angst to get things going. Please review!