servant to the crown.

Benjamin Prewett. 28. Servant to the crown. I've trained for knighthood my entire life. Now I don't know what the hell to do with it.

[amancanfly]

Henry Cavill for Upstreet Magazine France, Issue 77. Photography by Simon Harris.

[melaniederrieux-deactivated2015]

Benjamin are you okay? I was already on my way to the castle but I caught sight of you and just wanted to make sure you are not injured! Even knights need to take a break and get medical attention if needed!

[benjaminprewett-blog]

I’m--I’m fine, Melanie, yes. What about you? Are you okay? What are you doing out here in all this struggle?

[ellaashes-blog]

“And what, pray tell, makes you think I will be among the casualties? I’m not some meek little bird with tattered wings. This may come to a surprise to you, sir, but I can hold my own.”

[benjaminprewett-blog]

“I never implied that you were, mademoiselle,” Benjamin replied, huffing in slight irritation. Why was it that today, of all days, people were choosing to be stubborn and willful? “Just as I wasn’t implying that you can’t hold your own. But this is a riot. Even the strongest of soldiers can and will fall.”

[alicebaudin-blog]

     “Pretty words.” Alice watched as the person he was speaking to left his side and ran to safety. She would never understand leaving someone who cared for her behind to fight alone, while she sat in safety– the person running must’ve been noble. “You should follow after or you risk losing your own life.”

[benjaminprewett-blog]

“I’m a knight, mademoiselle...I risk losing my own life every day just by the career path I’ve chosen,” Benjamin answered nobly, with a stiff shrug of his shoulders. “The difference is, unlike many of the people fumbling and wielding weapons with no proper instruction or motive, I was trained for this. Many are not. I’d hate to see someone die in the line of fire.”

[benjaminprewett-blog]

Please! I’ve seen far too much death and decay today to risk losing anyone else; you’ve got to get to safety, and the sooner, the better! We can’t risk any more casualties in this wretched war. We can’t.

[coralinemermont]

I don’t know; I haven’t had time to stop and think about it. It’s madness. 

[benjaminprewett-blog]

Madness is a fitting word, I’ll give you that. Do you need help? Assistance with any injuries? I’ve taken the liberty of escorting some of the wounded to the castle for help and safety.

[coralinemermont]

Are you hurt?

[benjaminprewett-blog]

I’m fine, I was trained to handle situations like this. What about you, though...are you holding up alright, mademoiselle?

[sunhye-su]

Right. So. I have no idea where I’m going. Um, help? Please?

[benjaminprewett-blog]

Perhaps I might be of some assistance, mademoiselle; what, exactly, are you looking for?

[coralinemermont]

It’s not out of the realm of possibility. If the treaty is meant to work, we’ll find out soon enough. Princess Sophia’s abduction by the pirates has ensured that. It’s a true trial by fire. 

I don’t intend to ever bow in fear to a pirate, lord or not. I have a feeling you share my sentiment. Have you ever met a pirate lord?

[benjaminprewett-blog]

I hope it does, just as I hope that your princess is returned to you as soon as possible. The pirates have certainly made a mess of all of this, haven’t they?

I do share your sentiment, mademoiselle; I haven’t met any of the pirate lords personally (that I’m aware of, at least) but I’ve heard enough gruesome stories about them to paint a pretty picture myself.

[melaniederrieux-deactivated2015]

I shall consider it Monsieur, it would be fun to stir things up and add new perspective but at the same time, its not a decision that should be made lightly.

Don’t be too hard on yourself Monsieur Prewett, there is no shame in being attracted to another woman, that shame should be felt by those who claimed to love their spouses and yet fall into bed with another. Tell me Monsieur, have you met your fiance yet?

[benjaminprewett-blog]

I think it would be interesting, as well; if you do ever decide to pursue it as a career, be sure to let me know. I’ll have banners made in your honor and everything.

I’m trying not to be too hard on myself, but the entire situation is just...so confusing. I’ve no idea what’s right and wrong anymore. I have met her, yes, though only once and only just briefly. She was striking up a flirtation with me before she realized who I was.

[melaniederrieux-deactivated2015]

A Politician? Moi? What a fascinating idea monsieur, no one has ever suggested such a thing to me. But I daresay… I honestly think I’d be quite horrid at it, in most cases politics either bore me or anger me, both of which can lead to dangerous things, I must admit.

Have faith that things will work in your favor, and should you struggle to find that faith, never doubt that I will hope for you Monsieur Prewett. I may not be aware of all the circumstances to your situation but I do know that you are doing an honorable act, made with love and respect in mind, good things must come from that. I believe that one hundred percent.

[benjaminprewett-blog]

You should pursue it! After all, no one ever said that the royal advisory board didn’t need more women. With all those stuffy old men passing on their traits to their descendants, it might be nice to have a woman’s point of view in the council. Maybe make things less stuffy. Though I do share your opinion about politics being dreadfully dull. Much like the incessant chatter in the Court, I tend to try and tune it all out.

Thank you, Mademoiselle Derrieux. All I have to hang onto right now is hope...hope, and a bit of shame for...for looking upon another woman with the same sort of appreciation I should have been bestowing upon my future wife.

[coralinemermont]

I may have a hard time understanding it, maybe harder than most, but I appreciate your words, monsieur. 

I’ll do my best to take care. Hopefully there won’t be any reason to need assistance but I’ll remember your offer if it comes to it. Alexander Barrett surely has more important people to terrify. 

[benjaminprewett-blog]

Perhaps you’ll come around soon, then. More and more people seem to be opening themselves up to the possibility of our kingdoms joining together, so I hope one day you might be along them.

I’m not sure any of the pirate lords are above terrifying anyone. Forcing people to bow in fear is kind of what they’re best at.

[coralinemermont]

I promise your city won’t burn. No matter how tremulous the treaty is now, the merfolk won’t let that happen. 

Unfortunately, I’ve made an enemy of Alexander Barrett, though it’s not hard to do. I’m sure it’s not in my best interest but he makes me so furious. He’s terrifying but Ronsanella can’t let men like that stomp around thinking themselves a God. 

[benjaminprewett-blog]

And my men won’t let your kingdom come crashing down, either; I know that, given the treatment of your kind in recent years, that may be difficult to believe, but...it’s true. I fully intend to support and protect both your kind and our own. It’s how the King would want it.

Making enemies with the pirate lords is always tricky and dangerous. Be sure to take care of yourself, you hear, mademoiselle? Don’t be afraid to ask for assistance if need be.

[coralinemermont]

I agree. It’s been very hard to see the losses…I hope the pirates can be stopped soon for everyone’s sake. Alexander Barrett needs to be taken care of though I’m not blind enough to say that he’s the root of the problem. 

[benjaminprewett-blog]

You and me both, mademoiselle; things absolutely cannot continue on the way they’ve been. At any moment, I fear the pirates will storm the villages and try to burn us all to the ground. Alexander Barrett, ah yes...one of the pirate lords. He’s ruthless enough all on his own; I can only imagine what he’s like with the rest of his comrades.

[melaniederrieux-deactivated2015]

On that we can both agree monsieur, how sad that the world is full with so many fools. One can only hope for a better future with less foolish individuals.

Oh monsieur, I’m truly sorry to hear that. I hope that things turn out better for you than you expect. Have you met your betrothed? Perhaps she’s a lovely woman who could make you happy? Or if anything, a kind companion who also happens to have the title as your wife.

[benjaminprewett-blog]

With a speech like that, Mademoiselle Derrieux, I daresay you should be a politician. Perhaps taking a seat among his royal majesty’s advisers, hmm?

Thank you, though, for your kind words. Sincerely, they mean a lot to me. I can only hope she’s a lovely woman, though I still would have preferred the option to choose her all on my own.

[sagevalentine-deactivated201503]

“Well, truthfully, as a species, humans are rather uneducated about the merpeople. Many do fear the unknown, so their judgement comes from a lack of understanding. No one would judge the origin of her species if they learned about the merpeople.”

[benjaminprewett-blog]

Of course we are; what sort of experience have we had with merpeople in the past? Pirates and rogue citizens have hunted them for sport and curiosity, and in return they’ve made the sea unstable occasionally and have killed men who dare to sail over their waters. What could we have possibly learned about one another in such times of distress?

[3intheam]