Ella caught Prince Eric's silhouette in the stable as he prepared  the horses for their journey this morning.

Eric on cue looked straight at Ella who was standing at the door. "Are you ready?"

She exhaled shakily. This was it. The real adventure begins today. The journey to getting revenge started today. She was going to miss Ismat, Charity who had tried many times to get her brother to let her join them on this journey, and there was Arthur.

Ella did not realize Prince Eric had switched positions to be in front of her until he reached out for her hand. "It will be fine." He reassured her.

"I know." She whispered. "It 's just that I've looked forward to this day but now that it's already here, I feel-"

"Overwhelmed?" Another voice intercepted.

Prince Eric rolled his eyes at his best friend. "Glad you could join us, Arthur."

Arthur chuckled bypassing them with a package in his hands, dropping it on the hay beneath them. "I hate to interrupt your little something-" He waved his hands for emphasis, earning a snort from Eric. "But I had to give you a little something."

Ella peered at the conspicuous package. "What's in there?"

"Food supplies and money."

Eric raised a brow. "But-"

Arthur grinned. "Just shut up and accept the damn package."

Eric grabbed the package and set it on one of the horses, a midnight black stallion. "Show some respect. I'm still your prince."

Arthur ignored him and faced Ella whose eyes were glistening with tears. Concerned, he drew near. "I'm going to miss you, Ella."

Ella laughed, briskly wiping her eyes. "You say it like I'm going to die."

Arthur's face tighthened. "Are you?"

"Arthur, I swear-" It was Eric protesting.

"No." Ella replied, falling into Arthur's arms. He wrapped a strong arm around her.

"Good." Arthur drew circles on her back. "Charity wouldn't come here. She's in a bad mood as we speak."

Ella chuckled. "She'll come around."

"Idiot, take good care of my sister."

Arthur released Ella from his arms and embraced his friend. "I will.  Don't get killed."

~~~●●~~~

"By the calculations on the map, we should be close to the Alsatian forest." Prince Eric spread the map on a flat weathered piece of rock and pointed at a spot.

Ella nodded, sitting on a stump. Her thoughts were far away from the map, they bordered on the people she left behind at the palace, Emerald, Star, Mabel, Grace, Lily and Theresa. She was much more closer to Star than all of them, yet she missed their playful banter. She hoped they were safe and that Brian had not sent them to die somewhere.

The bastard.

Why do wicked people like him end up on earth?

"Ella."  Eric's voice was tender.

Ella picked a twig and fiddled with it. "I'm sorry I wasn't listening."

"What's bothering you?"

"Everything. I'm worried about the people I've left  behind. I'm worried about my mother."

Eric folded the map and tucked it into his shirt. "I feel the same way too you know?"

"Really?" Ella glanced up at him. He rarely showed any emotions and if he did it was for a good reason. However,  she had not really considered that fact that he would be thinking about his family as much as she did.

Eric nodded, staring at the brook flowing a few feet away from them. The water was filled with giant rocks here and there. Some birds perched on them and preened their feathers for a moment before taking off into the sky. Others landed on the smaller and flatter rocks to take quick sips of the water.

If they weren't on a serious quest, Eric would have loved to enjoy this moment further.

"My parents never did anything to deserve what is going on right now."

"Brian is a monster who is going to pay for what it has done."

Eric thought he heard wrong. Shocked he stared at Ella. "It?"

Ella snickered. "It doesn't qualify to be classified as a human."

Eric chuckled, agreeing with her. Brian was a monster who would get a nasty reward in no time.

They spent a little more time talking about some other matters until Eric decided they continue their journey. So, untying the horses and loading them up, the two resumed the final lap of their journey to the dreaded forest.

They would get there before sunset and from there on, everything wouldn't be so hard. Or would it?

~~~~~~~~•••~~~~~~~~

Eric and Ella by nightfall had already reached the Alsatian forest. The trees around formed an impenetrable and discouraging border.  Tall trees loomed above their heads and Ella dared not think about what lay behind the shadows.

"What now?" Ella asked steadying the fidgety horse under her. Eric was also doing the same to his horse. The creatures were also nervous.

"We wait. It won't be long till the guards spot us."

"Guards?" Ella questioned.

"Yes, guards. This is their territory so it makes sense to keep watch over it and protect it from intruders." Eric explained.

"Like us?"

Eric chuckled. "Like us. Yes-" He was close to uttering more words when he heard  a rustle from behind them, where they had came from. He held up his hand alerting Ella to make no noise. The other hand went to the hilt of his sword as he steered his horse around facing the direction of the rustle.

Ella comported herself even though her heart was hammering against her rib cage.

Prince Eric's eyes were focused on the tall grasses which bent and swayed in the evenings soothing air. At first he thought it was just the grasses until a figure stepped out from among them.

Eric drew his sword. "Who are you?"

The silhouette of the person was oddly familiar to Ella but she couldn't be sure yet until he moved forward, hands in the air.

"It's only me." The stranger said causing Ella's eyes to widen.

"Benjamin?" She called.

"Ella." He replied, smiling.

Ella alighted from her horse and rushed to him in excitment while Prince Eric was trying to understand what was going on.

"How have you been?" Ella asked, throwing her hands around Benjamin who pressed her to himself with a laugh.

"Never been better." He responded,  kissing the top of her hair.

Prince Eric cleared his throat.."At least I deserve some form of explanation." He said in a grumpy voice.

Benjamin freed Ella and bowed respectfully. "I apologise, Your Highness-"

"He used to work for my father." Ella replied.

"Oh. And why are you here?" Prince Eric asked.

Something then dawned on Ella and she faced Benjamin. "Yes, why are you here?"

"Brian sent me here."

Anger welled up in Ella at the mention of the man 's name. "He sent you to spy on us?"

Benjamin shrugged. "He ordered me to find you and bring you back to the Capital."

It was Eric's turn to jump down from his horse, sword drawn. "And you aren't going to do that."

"What makes you so sure of that?"

Ella paled, edging away from Benjamin. What had come over him? She thought she knew him well and the last thing he would ever do was be on Brian's side. She trusted him.

Trust.

"Are you out of your mind?" Ella hissed, blood boiling.

"Yes and I'm quite comfortable where I am." Benjamin replied casually although on the inside he was hurting badly knowing what Ella was thinking now.

"I'm not going with you."

"Who said it's a request? It's an order." Benjamin drew his sword. Eric went on defensive mode and pushed Ella behind him.

"Come and get her then."

Their swords glistened in the moonlight as each man waited for the other to make a move. Ella couldn't believe the scene playing out before her.

Benjamin on the enemy side? Unbelievable.

"I'm not alone." Benjamin stated and five other men stepped out from the grasses fully armed.

Prince Eric wasn't discouraged at all. There was no way he would stand on his feet and watch them take Ella away.

"Surrender now and we take the girl alone." One of the men spoke.

"How about we take the two of them. The prince as an extra souvenir." Benjamin suggested.

They were about to engage in a combat when some objects whooshed past Ella's ears and lodged themselves in the men's skin. Even Benjamin.

In a matter of seconds, they were lying on the earth, unconscious. Baffled, Ella and Eric looked at each other.

"Did that just happen?" Ella asked.

Prince Eric shrugged, putting back his sword in where it belonged. "Good riddance-"

"Put your hands up in the air!" A rough masculine voice commanded.

Prince Eric swore loudly as he and Ella did what the voice asked. Ella wasn't fazed. She had had enough excitement for the night so she was willing to see where all this would end. As long as they don't get eaten by some savage clan. By 'they', she meant Eric and her. But then you already know, right?

"Turn around so we can see your face."

When they did so, Ella was surprised to see not a half clad man with wild hair and beard but a fully-dressed  muscular man of at least six foot five inches in height. Around him were about sixteen men clad in black attire. They didn't look savage at all.

The man came closer. "Ah! It's the Prince."

"He's handsome." Someone said.

Prince Eric rolled his eyes and Ella snickered.

"Shut your mouth, Ron." The man snarled and scrutinized the two young people.

Ella could feel her hands going numb above her head. "Can we at least put down our hands? They hurt." She didn't wait for any permission, she just relieved her hands, nudging Eric to do the same.

"Speak for yourself ." Ron responded in a rather unpleasant voice.

The big man sighed. "Again, Ron. For the last time I'm asking you to shut up."

"Who are you people?" Eric asked even though he knew who they were.

The big man laughed. "We're the Black Bandits. Only there's so much more of us at our base. We're quite surprised to see you in our territory-"

"We don't get visitors around here. What do you want?" Ron questioned, annoying the big man again.

"Don't pay attention to Ron. My name is Billy and like I've said we are the Black Bandits-"

"-double B for short." Ron interrupted again, receiving a strangulating glare fron Billy. He chuckled. "Alright, alright. Guys, load up the f**kers. We're taking them home."

While he and the other men lifted the unconscious bodies, Billy switched his focus back to Ella and Eric. Ella's fist was over her mouth to conceal her laughter while Eric maintained a poker face.

"We'll talk about what you want later. But I think Burnham will be glad to see his nephew. Follow us." 

Ella's jaw sank down in absolute shock. Prince Eric blinked up to fifty times.

Wait.

He looked at Ella. He looked back at Billy.

Burnham? Nephew?

His uncle was here?

Surprise Surprise!!

Remember that little history book Ella read in Arthur's library about Prince Eric's family? (Go read up Chapter 17.)

Ding! Ding! Ding!

So, Prince Eric's Uncle who happens to be the fomer king of Aria is still alive...

There's more surprise in the next chapter.

N/B: I'm working on a new book titled VESSELS OF GOLD. I will let you know when it's published.

Wish me well.