Dark Times

Acceptance is not agreement

Once again, everyone gathered in the fairy courtyard. When Mal and Ben came, some didn't know what to feel, whether to be happy or desperate for Mal's life. The couple may have been holding hands, but they didn't have a smile on their faces; on the contrary, they looked at the ground as if they couldn't look at each other.

"So, what's it going to be?"

Cirse took the floor and asked.

"Is that the only solution?"

Adam asked looking at Mal and she just nodded.

"All right... all right by us Mal."

Jay said almost voicelessly. He stuck to his unemotional ways as best he could.

"Yeah, nobody's going to be able to stop you anyway."

Carlos said, earning a smile from his friend.

"What about you Ben?"

Evie asked and anyone who looked at her face would find that a few tears had fallen. Adam's son couldn't say anything either. When his sister-in-law asked, he just left the table and went to the counter to take their food orders.

"He agreed."

Mal answered for him, his voice a little slurred.

"So, if everyone agrees, tomorrow we'll go to our first destination."

Demetrius said. The former general hadn't said anything for a long time and for all that had been thrown at that family, they didn't even mind him saying it.

"No, Demetrius, Cirse and Helena won't be going, you're under sentence for using magic inappropriately. When King Ben retakes the throne, he'll decide what to do with you."

Queen Clarion ordered everyone, scaring them.

"What? As for Rashid?"

Demetrius shouted, unwilling to accept the queen's words.

"He's going to be Mal's guardian."

"So Mal, is it all right for us to go tomorrow?"

Rashid asked her, who wasn't even paying attention to the whole conversation because she was paying attention to Ben, who was standing on the other side of the table.

"We're going too."

Jay said, already stating that Carlos was also involved.

"What?"

Jane and Loonie were startled by their words.

"Jay, no!"

Mal said with authority.

"We agreed to that, only if we went."

"Evie's going too."

Doug spoke on behalf of the woman who was immediately startled.

"What?"

They were sitting together and when she heard him say that, she just turned around, startled.

"I know you Evie, if you don't go, you'll feel guilty and worry all the time."

Doug reassured her, showing that he knew her well

"And Tommy?"

"I'll look after him, I'm his father remember?"

"How long will you be away?"

Evie directed the question at Rashid.

"Excuse me."

Ben walked away, Mal looked at him and she wanted to get up and hug him.