A Royal Arrangement

Chapter 20

Ben fought with his men, killing any enemy that had gotten close to him. There were dozens and dozens of dead bodies from both sides who had fought until the end, but it was Ben and his men who had won the battle, but the remaining survivors were all wounded and weak, and happy for the battle to be over.

Ben had made sure the remaining men headed toward the kingdom and then he started to leave on his horse until he saw a figure come toward him. Ben jumped off his horse and grabbed his sword, ready to kill if it was an enemy.

A man, who was named John, was sent to check in on Rey and the kingdom returned to Ben, gasping for air and fell on the ground.

"Are you alright?" Ben asked dropping his sword and helped the man get up on his feet.

"The other men you sent--" John started to say still gasping.

"What about them?" Ben asked.

"The king of France had men attack the kingdom and he killed all the men you sent over there but I escaped before they could get to me." John answered.

"We must leave now, you can ride with me on my horse, let's go." Ben said, helping him.

"And how is the queen doing?" Olivia laughed taunting Rey and making her wince.

"Ben will find out and get to me, I know it." Rey responded.

"Is that so?" Olivia chuckled and unlocked the cell and went in shutting it behind her.

"This isn't worth it." Rey whispered.

"But you are wrong there." Olivia responded standing in front of her.

"You don't have to do this, Olivia, let Fred run the show." Rey replied looking up at her.

"He is not running the show, we are running the show here for our king's sake." Olivia spat.

"I thought we were friends, Olivia."

"Then you thought wrong." Olivia whispered and looked down at the ground.

"I won't turn you in if you just turn Fred in, I promise that Ben won't know and I can say you saved me and he could give you so many riches, I know him." Rey pleaded.

"How can I trust you?" Olivia snorted.

"Because you are the one who helps choose my fate-- I earn nothing if I lie to you and anger you." Rey answered.

"You're right," Olivia sighed. "There is nothing in it for you if you are dishonest to me since Fred plans on killing you any--"

Rey kicked Olivia with her free foot, making her fall and hit her head, knocking her out and Rey had quickly dragged Olivia to her and searched for the keys and quickly found it in her dress pocket and used it to unchain herself from the bed and quickly ran out of the cell and locked Olivia in it and ran out of there and paused seeing Fred in front of her and glaring at her.

"Thought you could escape that easily, did you?" Fred asked stepping closer to her.

"Don't do this, just give up now." Rey responded as she slowly backed up.

"Do you think I am some fool?"

"Yes," Rey answered. "I do."

"And why do you say that?" Fred asked.

"You said it yourself; you know only a fool would challenge me, remember?" Rey asked raising an eyebrow.

"In the woods, yes I did say that." Fred answered in a soft whisper.

"You should take your own advice!" Rey shouted and punched him in the gut and tried to take his sword, but Fred stopped her and took it before she could and stood behind her with the sword around her neck and grinned.

"You are the fool and not me!" Fred yelled in her ear.

"Let her go!" Ben shouted running in the cell room.

"Ben!" Rey shouted trying to break free.

"Are you ready to give France our well-deserved riches for the life of your wife?" Fred asked still aiming the sword to her neck.

"Don't do this, Ben, this is a trick! He will kill me either way he said so him--"

"Hush and let your husband speak!" Fred shouted.

"I'll do it, you can have your money so go ahead and kill her, she means nothing to me." Ben said looking at her.

"Do you really mean that?" Fred asked.

"Yes." Ben answered with a nod.

"Ben?" She gasped.

"I guess I was wrong, he doesn't love you after all," Fred chuckled. "But I need the money first but I promise, your death will be quick." Fred whispered in her ear.

"Ben please..." Rey whispered staring at Ben.

Two guards came into the room and stood beside Fred in each side.

"What are they for?" Fred asked and raised an eyebrow.

"They are simply escorts for us since you are getting money." Ben answered.

"Do they like a good show?" Fred asked and chuckled.

"Oh, they do," Ben answered and smirked. "They love the bloody ones the most, give them a show."

"A big crowd, huh? Guess nobody likes you." Fred chuckled.

"Guards arrest him now for kidnap and attempted murder." Ben demanded in a stern voice.

The guards nodded taking him by his arms making Rey drop and Ben caught her before she could hit the ground.

"Olivia was in on it too." Rey gasped holding on to his arms as he helped her stand up.

"She was?" Ben asked as his eyes widened.

"Yes," Rey answered and nodded. "Fred is her husband, she is in the cell they locked me in."

"How did you escape?"

"Let's just say I knocked some sense into her." Rey answered with a huge grin.

"I knew there was a reason why I loved you." Ben said letting out a soft chuckle.

"What are you going to do with them?" She asked.

"They will be hanged in the morning for the crimes they have done." He answered. "France has lost the war and I am more than certain they have learned not to challenge Ireland ever again."

"Are you alright?" Rey asked looking around for a wound.

"Yeah, I have a few cuts here and there but no broken bones." Ben assured her.

"You should see a doctor." Rey suggested.