Chapter Text
The prospect of a honeymoon dwindled when Ben requested to reschedule his tour engagements weeks before the wedding. Deborah, and apparently Doug, had placed all of his said engagements immediately after the “wedding of the century.” While he had taken Doug’s advice, well mostly the part about overthinking, he and Mal’s dynamics had remained the same. The previous night had been tame, contrary to what their friends had goofily insinuated.
Mal was moved to the east wing of the castle and though she seemed to be more at ease, she was still distant. Neither of them slept very long or very well. The weight of everything that was changing between them had yet to settle.
Bright and early at dawn, they had trekked down to their newly appointed, sleek black stretched sedan that would serve as their official vehicle. The purple (formerly black) limo had been donated to the Isle and in commencement, they had all joked that it had been on the island more so than on the mainland.
Nearly six hours ago while Ben had been sitting in the car waiting for Mal and her assistant Jade, he had called Doug. Just for extra reassurance and a rundown on how the wedding had been perceived by the public. But when he was met with no answer, he was left to sit with his spiraling thoughts. Unlike he had been doing every morning for the past few weeks, Ben hadn’t viewed any of Auradon’s top papers, magazines or newscasts. Courtesy of Deborah and Cogsworth suggesting against it for his mental health.
Now minutes away from Winkel Castle, Ben was fiddling with his cufflinks. He was minutes away from his first walking procession with his wife. In the past, he usually had a good handle on the press and was usually able to command the streets. But despite having been in this position since he was a little boy, he was slowly acknowledging that he was no longer going any of this solo.
The ride to the northern hills of Camelot had been nearly silent. With both of them jet lagged and exhausted, the energy was running thin and cold. Ben just couldn’t shake this foreign feeling—almost akin to an anvil waiting to drop.
The lack of sleep and ever persistent thoughts were starting to get to him. Suddenly remembering the whole bouquet incident at one of her first patronage engagements two years ago, Ben leaned back to catch Jade’s attention.
“Camelot security has been made aware of Mal’s milkweed sensitivity, right?” Ben asked, catching a glance of Mal’s eyes opening.
Jade chuckled and nodded her head.
“Everything’s all fine and dandy, Your Majesty. No need to worry.”
He nodded his head and turned back around to face the front. Mal yawned, looking out of her window. She uncrossed her ankles and straightened the skirt of her dress that hung to her shins. The dress was a conservative mauve jumper, layered over a rich purple turtleneck. Considering Camelot’s dated regulations and highly traditional culture, Evie agreed to tone down her usual work for something that was more appropriate for this leg of the tour.
“Evie did a nice job,” Ben commented. Mal smiled.
“She always does. Is it me or is it suddenly a bit chilly?”
She moved her relaxed limbs a bit as the car began to slow down. Pulling at the neck of her blouse, she felt a wave of panic rush through her blood. A mix of noticing the crowd and feeling present in the moment was washing over her. Everything was beginning to feel real. So real, it was almost out of body.
“That would be due Camelot’s altitude and air quality. Considering the city’s location in the Tundra, they experience low humidity and temperatures even during late summer,” Jade answered, pulling a red curl hair behind her ear.
She sent up a thick binder for Mal to skim. Though both she and Ben had already been briefed, apparently she missed the part about the region’s climate. Tempted to do a quick speed-reading spell, Mal contemplated the consequence. But before she could even discretely try, the car stopped.
Ben leaned over with a smile and took her hand. She squeezed it and let go, smiling back. Eyeing the crowds of people lined up, the crowd starting to roar, Mal’s heart beat even faster.
“Ready?”
“As I’ll ever be,” Mal chuckled nervously.
She turned around and looked to Jade who gave her a reassuring wink, taking the binder back. Glancing back to Ben and locking eyes, they exhaled their deep breaths in sync. The bodyguards in the car ahead got out first, proceeding to open the car doors of the official vehicle.
The crowd burst into song and cheer, Mal already overwhelmed. They both swallowed their nerves, Ben adjusting his suit jacket one too many times, and Mal fiddling with the two rings she now sported. They began down the cobblestone road, Mal’s stilettos clicking. Her walking was a bit uneven, despite training in them for days. She even tried dancing in them as Evie suggested. However, Mal wasn’t her best friend who somehow managed in five inch stilettos, all day, everyday.
“Your Majesty, Queen Mal!” Camelot residents called out from the sides. She sent a wave to every section of the crowd that she came across, until Ben broke away to meet with people on their right.
Unsure about which way to go and what exactly to do, seemingly out of nowhere, Jade came up behind her and guided her toward the left. Continuing to wave and walk along the barricades, it wasn’t as bad as she anticipated. Collecting a bouquet of violets and carnations, she handed them to Jade, and went to grab another bouquet.
Cycling through, “hi,” “thank you,” and “nice to meet you,” she was starting to get the hang of greeting citizens. Ben reconvened with her in the center and she reached for his hand.
“How do you like it so far?”
“It’s not… bad. I guess.”
“Yeah?” Ben ensured.
“Yeah. Kinda crazy they’re all excited to just see you and me,” she said under her breath, loud enough for Ben to hear.
He chuckled and threw his arm around her waist, kissing her temple. “They’re more excited to see you. And I mean who else would they be this excited to see?” he joked. “Pretty sure the queen outranks the prestige of any popstar.”
Mal rolled her eyes and opened her mouth to reply, but was instead taken aback by the instantaneous waving of hands and clicking of cameras. Approaching the steps of Winkel Castle, the press had become heavier and relentless.
Standing before the venue where they would observe the new innovation programs and meet a few heroes, Mal’s heartbeat stuttered.
This was her first engagement as queen consort.
This was the beginning of her lifetime of service and duty.
She hadn’t felt like this at the wedding, her coronation or even during the car ride. But almost like waves, came the intense feeling. The moment she walked through those doors, she was officially in her role as the second in command, responsible for the affairs of the nation of Auradon.
As they were feet away from the entrance, the unrelenting press clearly needed their headline. Cameras flashed and for a second, Mal couldn’t even hear her own thoughts over the chatter surrounding her. Emerging over every other voice, a journalist called out for her with such force that everyone went silent for a moment.
“Your Majesty, Queen Mal. Now that you’re married, what’s changed?”
Instantaneously, the journalist’s straight-forwardness prompted everyone else to yell out to the couple directly.
“Your Majesty! King Ben, your father has expressed such pride. Tell us what it means to officially be in your father’s shoes, Sir?”
“Your Majesty, have you thought about what you’ll name the anticipated royal baby?”
“Oh! A royal baby! Is there one on the way?”
The flashing and stupid clicks made Mal want to spell them all to hush. Instead, Jade and Pierre, stepped in to try to divert their attention.
“Perhaps she’s not able to have children? Are you, Your Majesty?” One reporter asked, putting forth his microphone even further. “What do you say about a half-human heir to the throne, Ma’am? The grandchild of Maleficent?”
The other reporters quieted down, the reporter realizing his misstep. He was a writer for Limelight and while no one was surprised that the questions came from him, it had been shocking to hear. Even the clicking of cameras slowed down. All eyes shifted between the reporter and the couple, everyone shamelessly eager to hear their response.
“Your questions will not be answered. You will not ask these questions of my… wife,” Ben spoke up, cameras shifting to focus on him.
Jade, and Ben’s new assistant Pierre, sandwiched the couple between themselves as they began to ascend the cement staircase.
Mal swallowed the lump in her throat, realizing it was the first time he used the term since their vows. No one pointed out his hesitancy and that was for the best. When Ben looked at her, Mal noticed his flushed expression. She flashed him a quick smile, whispering a much appreciated “thank you.”
Maybe this whole marriage thing wasn’t going to be so bad.