𝔐𝔶 𝔉𝔞𝔦𝔯 𝔏𝔞𝔡𝔶 (ℜ𝔢𝔶𝔩𝔬 𝔉𝔞𝔫𝔣𝔦𝔠)

Chapter Twenty-Eight: Liberation

"It is said that freedom comes with a price,
And rather than something of choice to give for that freedom...it had to be a sacrifice...
Not an offering.
What would one sacrifice?
A precious memory?
Their very soul?
Or who they cherished most?
Maybe even themselves?
What would one risk to have such freedom?
To not be shackled any longer."

Ben's POV

The way Rey had been looking at me.

Longing filled her eyes.

But before long the shock of disbelief drowned out that longing.

In such disbelief and heartache.

I regretted every word I spoke, but if it meant Rey's safety...I'd gladly lie as much as I needed to.

Yes, I was the strongest amongst her grandfather's ranks...but being that I betrayed him...fell in love with his granddaughter...

Knowing who she truly was...and not telling her was what I regretted the most.

What killed me on the inside.

Holding back truths that should have been spoken many moons ago.

I was now stripped of my rank, of my status.

I was just a man losing his wife now.

My wife who'd belong to another.

Something sparked in me but before I could do anything Lionel kicked me in the stomach.

"Resist no further traitor."

"Do what you want." I spat out blood as I was on my knees.

The next moment, Lionel had dropped a sword at my side.

"You will fight to the death. Now pick up the sword."

I didn't pick it up as he kicked my face with his metal boot.

"I said pick it up!"

I obeyed as I took the blade in my hand.

"Now stand."

I stood with great struggle as a staggered a bit.

And before Lionel could strike, the spark from just a few moments ago was back.

The kind of feeling that left me far from myself, as if I had no control over my body and almost unconscious of what I was doing.

When I came to I had thrown my sword at him.

He dodged as I grabbed his dagger, piercing him in the throat.

Once I let go, the other guards were all over me as I killed every last one of them.

The monster I was.

The monster I thought I was no longer had returned.

I hated the idea of it...but I couldn't bring myself to lose Rey.

I quickly grabbed what I could before making it back to the throne room where Rey had been.

When I barged through the pair of haunting doors that were just beyond me, I about tore them down from the unfathomable amount of adrenaline rushing through my veins.

Just at the sight of Rey being roughly handled and thrown on the floor by her new soon-to-be husband brought my blood to a raving fire.

"Run, they mean to kill you Ben!" I had figured that out even before her warning, but it was still nice to know that even though I was hurting her now...that she still cared for me like no other.