"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.

That she truly loved me as I had hoped and longed for.

And that, I in return, loved her with all my being, heart and soul.

And truly...from everything that I had...and even have now...I never meant to hurt her.

I never wanted to hurt her. Not now and not ever.

Her eyes met mine, ignoring the fact that I was absolutely drenched in warm blood.

But as if a fair maiden to a dragon...she was a fairy tale maiden to me.

So sweet, so kind, so brave...so...

Beautiful.

Delicate but strong.

How could I not love her.

After all, she was all I had...we were all we had. And for her grandfather who was the one attempting to rip us apart...I knew deep down both Rey and I would never truly allow such a thing as never seeing each other happen.

"Shut her up!" That man that was to be her husband shouted venomously as he himself grabbed her by her hair.

His grip of her was so firm that if he could he'd probably would have pulled her hair out if he'd pull any harder.

"Ben...please." Tears formed in her eyes as I noticed blood spilling from her lip possibly from the impact of being pushed down.

"Let go of her!" I spoke with a dominant voice, a manner that even made a king cower.

I was to show him what fear was.

Who I was.

I lunged at him as I missed. But not accidentally.

He shoved Rey on me as he made a run for his weapon.

I sat Rey gently aside.

"When this is all over. I'll explain everything to you. No more hiding."

"No more secrets." Her lip quivered but only for a moment as determination filled her eyes soon after.

"No more secrets." Just as I spoke to her and lifted her hair away from her face, her fake fiancé grazed my cheek with his sword.

I with swift and brutal speed knocked him from his stance and banged his head with the back of my sword, causing him to go unconscious.

And having no mercy, no second thought...I slit his throat from any further hurt he'd be able to cause Rey.

When I turned to see where Rey's grandfather was, he was nowhere to be found.

"Do you know where your grandfather went Rey?"

I turned to look for Rey as I couldn't find her.

"Rey?" I spoke once more as she appeared suddenly with a dagger at her throat.

"Sorry, I was-"

"Shut your mouth my dear. If I want you obeying me, this man needs to disappear! And by that I mean he needs to end his own life! I will not end my bloodline just yet!" Her grandfather spat as he was now drawing blood on Rey's neck as she winced in pain but kept looking firmly at me.

"Don't listen to him-agh!"

"I said shut your mouth." He lifted the dagger higher as he cut the side of her face.

"I may not kill you, but I can still disfigure you young lady."

Fear crossed her eyes as her own blood dripped on the very necklace I had gifted her.

Her necklace began to glow.

As the light grew brighter I took the chance to attack as her grandfather was blinded by the light.

I took no hesitation as I ended his life immediately.

Just then Rey stumbled to the floor with her grandfather's blood splatter over her dress as I was no different from being covered in his blood as well.

Before we could even speak to one another there were explosions going off.

It was as though the castle was under attack, maybe if we were lucky enough by our own kind...specifically Rey's home she grew up under.

But just in case it wasn't, I escaped to the outside grounds just barely making it out alive with Rey by my side.

And then she spoke.

"We did say for better or for worse."

"Yes, we did."

"And I plan to stick with those vows no matter what."

"Me too." I spoke as not even a whisper before stumbling in snow.

"Ben!"

Her words were muffled, seeming so far away with my vision going dark.

I really did pray and hope that this wasn't the end of my rope.

That I'd be able to at least see her...my wife..one last time.

To see her safe...to see her smile.

To know that she wasn't hurt.

To tell her I truly did, with all I had, love her with every fiber of my being.

And that having a future with her, no matter rich or poor...was all I ever wanted...was all I needed...

I wanted to build a family with her.

I just hoped I'd live to see that day instead of wishing until my dying breath about it.