Thunder hits the sky followed by lightning, and the heavy rain poured, washing the earth. Aurora sat in the tunnels that lead the water out of the palace. Her clothes were soaked and her hair sticking to her skin, wet. Her legs were already turning white.
"I should be safe here for now," She thought to herself while she sat dark tunnel close to the palace gate, waiting for the guards to leave. She is dressed in a long white bathing robe and no shoes, she wrapped herself in her arms, hoping and praying to her god, she leaves safe without getting noticed. Aurora hears the bell ringing, and her eyes open wide, she wondered why the bell kept ringing. Her heart tremendously beat hard, her wet hands shaking from fear. "Her highness is missing!" A male voice roared. Her breathing increased, and she curled herself tightly, listening to the bell ring loud around the citadel. Aurora hears movements around her, and quietly she pushes herself together, making sure she made no noise."Damn! how did they notice so easily" She whispered, panting while scared for her life, she had sat in the water all night, and the guards didn't seem to leave, they talked and played games, she hoped maybe they would fall asleep. The morning was fast approaching, she suspected they would have noticed, but she didn't think it would be this early. She sat there, she only thought of an escape plan, luckily they hadn't noticed her yet, it's been thirty minutes, and her eyes shut briefly, exhausted and cold. Aurora starts dozing off as she didn't sleep well last night. "Not now," she tapped her cheek, "Not now, fool!" she woke herself back to reality."Your Majesty!" The guards gather around close to where she was hiding, all she could see were their feet. Aurora didn't think the King would search for her himself, hearing this fear washed her, and her palms turned sweaty. Shaking from the fear and cold, she tightly covers her mouth with her hands, sobbing. Aurora feared for her life praying hard so as not to get caught."Search the tunnels," The king orders and as soon as Aurora heard him she knew it was over for her, she slowly crawled back still there was no place to go any longer."I hear noise," one of the guards, stepping into the tunnel, Aurora grabbed her lips in her hand. "The torch," he asked.Confused she remained there, hoping they don't get too deep, was she to surrender or remain and hope for the best. Amid her thoughts, the touch flashes her face."I found her!" He screams, Aurora knew the rest would be onto her soon. The shock of being found makes her cold lifeless body drop into the waters, after sitting in the water for a long time.The guards place her on a small bed, and the royal doctors rush to her. Minutes later, King Liam arrives at the room where she lay, he walked in his white royal robe. "Your Majesty" the man in front of the room bows, making way for him to pass. "How is she doing?" He asked the royal doctor who steps outside of the room."She's fine, Sire, we just have to wait till she wakes up" He clears his throat, Liam lowers his head keeping his hands in a fist, his jaw clenched, showing how angry he was. "She would need hot tea to warm her up a bit" The royal doctor states. "Okay, you can leave," He says, turning around, and no one except the guards stood outside the room. "Where are her maids?" He questioned A guard turns to him, and bows before replying, "In her chambers, Sire, they making her bed" He said."Transfer her to her chambers and I want them at the court right now!" He raised his voice."Sire," another guard rushes toward him, "Your Grandmother awaits you at your chambers" Liam sighs frustratedly "Prepare the wedding for tomorrow" he replied, leaving disappointed. "Yes, Sire," Finally, she opens her eyes, and slowly took a deep breath, she looked around her and found herself stuck in the same room, she tried to escape. Seeing this she could tell her plan to escape failed, and tears gathered in her honey-brown eyes, she pouted covering her eyes with her hand, she cried. She wondered, could she ever leave here? Maybe she could talk to the King herself, Aurora slowly got up. Her eyes widened at the wedding gown in the middle of the room. It was happening, she could tell. "_Search the tunnels_" Liam's voice recalls in her head, Aurora remembered. She is getting married to someone, whose voice she heard only once, she had never got to see the king and doesn't know what he looks like. Even when she knew she wouldn't make it out of the palace she had to provoke the king and he came looking for her.The door creaked, and Aurora directed her attention to it, a young lady walks in. "Your-" she paused, "Your Highness, Dinner," she said, keeping an innocent face, Aurora could tell she was frightened."What's your name?" she asked, nicely, making her a bit comfortable. She remembered her from yesterday."Your Highness" she called, Aurora took her blankets off, and her swollen feet touched the ground. Seeing Aurora get down from the bed, the maid looked towards the door and Aurora's eyes followed her. "Ah, about that" she bit her lips, finding an excuse for her action. "I have given up on whatever I was planning this palace is too secure to escape, if this is my fate I have decided to accept it," she stated, the maid blinked, confused. Aurora smiled in return and the room is silent, Aurora stands by the window, "Are you going to tell me your name or not?" She asked, turning around, Aurora's eyes furrowed, and the lady knelt after placing the food on a wooden table. "Oh my, what are you doing?" Aurora knelt in front of her."Your Highness, what are you doing?" She asked, slapping her lips after."Get up!" Aurora urged, not caring about her pattern of speech."Your Highness," She called."Why do you keep saying your highness even when you have nothing to say" Aurora sighed softly, letting go of her hand."I'm sorry, Your Highness," she said again."I just want to know your name" Aurora's face fell sad, pouting."I'm Sania, your highness," she bows, with her hand resting on her stomach."Sania?" Aurora smiled, "I haven't heard of that name before" she cleared her throat, she looks her head to toe, Sania could be the same age as her, but seeing how uncomfortable the questions made her look, she decided not to ask, hoping she couldn't feel scared. "Anyway, can you be my friend?" she suggested, Sania looked at her and when Aurora's eyes met hers, she lowered them."My lady, you're Queen, and Queen doesn't make friends with the maids" she explained. "That's bullshit" Aurora spat, Sania looked at her and tightened her lips, knowing she must have used the wrong word but instead she laughed, Aurora smiled."Your Highness, your mother sent your luggage" A voice announces behind the door with a small knock."My mom?" She rushed towards the door, curious and desperate to see Mrs Dan standing outside. But her face is filled with disappointment seeing the senior maid standing outside."Your highness? what's wrong?" She asked, Aurora looks her up and down, and she held a brown box."Where's my mom?" she asked, calmly."She asked us to give you this," she replied. "Really?" She questioned, disappointed and feeling hatred.Aurora heads back in, sucking the flood of tears, was this her life? She questioned if this was a dream, she prayed to wake up, because it was becoming scary."Your highness are you okay?" Sania asked, Aurora darts at her."By the way," she sighed, trying to sound happy, this wasn't the life she wanted. "I am not queen yet why do you call me that?" She asked."You will be queen tomorrow," The senior maid said, Aurora turns back to her, and placed the box on the bed, ready to open it."Leave that" she stopped her, their eyes met, and she stepped backwards, lowering her gaze. Aurora looks at the wedding gown, it was beautiful yet simple. "Wait! It's tomorrow?" She asked."Yes, Your..." Sania stepped forward."Stop it!" she screamed, and Sania takes a step backwards, "I hate my life!" Her eyes popped."Your Highness, you need to eat," Sania whispered, scared."I'm not hungry" Aurora calms, dropping to the edge of the bed, "I am not hungry!" She yelled, falling to the bed, and slamming her hands on the bed."And take a shower, the King would be here tonight," The senior maid said, she looked so confident."What?" Aurora's face wrinkled."It a tradition, for the king to sleep with his bride-to-be, knowing either or not she is a virgin," She said,"What!" She blinked, speechlessly "What stupid tradition? what year is this? please!" she screamed confused. "I have prepared..." Aurora interrupted."You've prepared nothing!!!" she said, aggressively, glaring at her."Your Highness," Sania whispered, Aurora's eyes filled with rage, as much as she tried to control her anger, she couldn't, the urge to leave this place grew the more they talked."I can't believe this is happening, how could I forget about my life?" She whispered, looking at her restless fingers. "My whole life before I agreed to come here!" She looked at them, Liviana held her head in her hand, and her lips shake, "If I didn't come back home and stayed with Michael I wouldn't be here but that bastard..." She bit her nails, blinking severally, "Had to cheat on me" She swallowed, wiping her tears, and Aurora gripped the sheets."Aurora?" A soft voice sounded, Aurora looked up at the lady who slowly taps her slightly. "I know this is tough for you everything is new... We, the king, the palace but, the people you put in danger when the king doesn't get what he wants...""What people?" Aurora swallows."Each time you upset him, the people in charge are punished mercilessly, since he can't hurt you," She said, sitting beside her.The reality was dawning on her, she had become the wife of a beast, and this even frightened her more, Aurora closed her eyes briefly and breathed out calmly."This is our second chance, please... We beg of you," she says desperately. Aurora looks at her and Sania, those words, and responsibilities were impossible to her. Letting him take control of her, so she could survive and they could also survive."I want to be alone" Aurora takes her hand off her shoulders, shifting away from her."Yes, your highness," they both say, leaving the room.She didn't know what kind of King he was, her whole life she had lived outside the palace, and now she was slowly discovering who he was.She took a deep breath, and got up, walking to the table where Sania had dropped the tray of food. After she was done, forcing herself to eat, she takes off her cloth, and walk into the bathroom. Aurora soaks herself into the until the water covers her face. After a while, the maid and Sania walk into the room, sneakingly."Your highness?" She calls, seeing no one, and she alerts, "Her Highness is missing! Sound the bell!"For a while, the palace was not in order as the people searched for their queen to be. For the second time in Aurora's life, she was the centre of attention which she hated so much"What about the bathroom?" Sania asked, they both rush inside, and open the bathroom door."Your highness!" Sania rushed over to her, pulling her out of the water."Oh my god, send for the doctor immediately!" The senior maid yelled. Aurora wipes her face, looking around "What doctor?" Aurora looks at her, confused."Your Highness, are you okay?""You asked me to bathe didn't you?" She raised her brows at her. "I did?" The senior maid asked looking at Sania."Clearly" She urged to roll her eyes, "and oh, I ate too" she rolled her eyes."Your Highness, I... ""Just get out... I wanna sleep" Aurora picks up a robe, covering her nakedness, she walks into the bedroom and finds other maids waiting. She sighed, rolling her eyes and clenching her jaw. "Get out!" She spoke, they remained, and she looked at them, "I said get out! all of you!" she ordered.The responsibility they had made clear for her was a difficult task. She had never in her life been in a situation where other people's happiness came first, instead of hers.The night was quiet and dark, and the sounds of the cricket covered the air, the chill breeze found its way into Aurora's chambers, making her uncomfortable, and curling herself in the sheets. It was three in the morning when the door to her chambers opened, and Liam stepped in. He dressed in a white long robe, and pants as he approached her, he had no shirt on, and restless and unable to sleep, he decided to visit his soon-to-be bride. In his hands, he held a glass of liquor with him, and the moonlight gave him a view. He stared at the sleeping bride on the bed, she looked so peaceful and charming, he assumed as she didn't move an inch. He walked to the window, staring and enjoying the view of his kingdom, while she slept quietly, he would sip his drink gently trying his best not to alarm her.Aurora rolled over, having a long stretch, and gently her eyes opened, something had caught her attention, a figure standing by her window, from what she could see it seemed like a man... He
The car parked and arrived at the main Palace at sunset. Aurora's eyes opened, she had just gotten to the car, why? She had just closed her eyes briefly and she arrived at the Palace. She looked out the window, and this wasn't the place she was the last time. This one was different. It had really long stairs. She would get tired from those long stairs, she thought... The castle of Nuland was just beautiful and now she was a fairytale Queen, the warm painting was cosy, the windows were small, and each window was either dark or had a light shining through, she could as well, see people walk through from her distance they looked smaller. She wondered how many rooms were built, it was beautiful and unimaginable. Impatiently, she opened the car door, and stepping out, a sound escaped her mouth, "Wow!" Her eyes shot wide at the beauty standing firmly in her front.Looking around, she spotted a green garden, so beautiful, she could run into and play all day, why was this so perfect, she h
"Alex?" She whispered, staring at him."What's wrong?" Queen Tracy asked, Aurora turns in her direction, stupefied, who could tell her he would be in the palace, she thought hard for a reply but her chest hurt ten times more, remembering Alex once told her, he was schooling and not working, all this while how did he spend her money. A loud sigh escaped her lips, and Aurora gulped."What?" Aurora blinked severally, Grand Queen looked at Alex, he lowered his head, and Aurora cleared her throat, directing her attention to her, "Your Grace?" Aurora calls with a lingering smile. Despite the chest pain, Aurora managed a smile, this was the best for her, to ignore him, at least she could do that for the time being. What was he doing here anyway? She battled with her thoughts."That's enough introduction for the night, you should get some rest," She says, Aurora nods. This was perfect she needed to be away from him, and her limpid eyes caught a side glance, Alex was doing just fine acting li
In the middle of the night, a door creaked open followed by the lights of the passage, a man walks in quietly as if he sneaked in. The chamber was dark but he didn't bother to turn off the light, he walked in confidently assuming he knew his way around. Liam takes off his robe, sitting at the edge of the bed, exhausted, he had his hands on the bed, as he breathed in and out slowly. On the other hand, Aurora lay on her bed, sleeping, not caring about what was going on comfortably wrapped in a white duvet. Liam looked back at her and smirked, happy to see her sleep relaxed. "Good for you," he murmured. Liam takes off his shirt and tosses it on the bed. He walked straight to the bathroom, and he gradually takes off the rest of his outfit. Stepping out of the shower with a white towel sagging on his waist. Liam pauses surprised by her awaken presence, she sat on the bed with the lights on, and her gaze is focused on his body. Aurora's eyes meets his and they both stared at each oth
It was morning, the sun was bright and shined through into the room from the wall-to-floor glass door. It gave a golden touch around the room and cool air blew through the curtains. Aurora rolled over and slowly she opened her eyes to the beautiful sunlight pouring on her, suddenly, a figure blocked the sunlight with a smile on his face. She blinked making sure she wasn't dreaming. King Liam quickly got up and walked towards the window."Good morning," Liam said. Aurora swallowed, and choked at her saliva as she was about to speak, she tapped her chest, coughing. But this didn't stop her from saying what she had in mind. She glanced around and she sat on the bed, last night she had slept in the closet peacefully, how could she wake up beside him? Her mind played her dirty. "I didn't touch you," those were his first words like he seemed to have read her mind."What? That's not it!" That was it, she knew but inquisitively she asked a different question. "I thought I locked the door h
"Your Highness," Sania called, Aurora looked at her, and raised her brows, "I didn't know you have great taste in fashion," Sania stated, Aurora looked at the white floral dress she had brought out, and giggled. "Well, I told you I had a life, right? A life without this castle in it" She said through her gritted teeth with a smile."What was that?" Kera asked."My life? I was a seamstress, and a traveller" She shrugged. "But then!" She raised her voice, "I became a housewife, I can't even believe all this expensive silk, satin, and velvet and there's nowhere to wear them to" she complained."Oh, there's" Sania replied"And where's that?""We have balls, festivals, tournaments-" Sania stated and her eyes brightened each time she stated any."It's not like the people get to see their Queen, so it's all pointless," she snapped back leaving Sania speechless. She then smiled seeing Sania had nothing else to say.After she changed clothes, Aurora stepped out of the dressing room, looking d
Aurora stood at the entrance, and inhaled, the door opened and she seized her breath, confused. Her mind wondered if breathing was a key to opening the door but a man, a middle-aged man stepped out."Who-" he paused, and Aurora scanned him, he looked like a worker and had his white hair packed. "I thought you wouldn't come," Liam's voice interrupted their gaze. "You look dazzling," he complimented.Liam looked at the man and smiled while he looked at Aurora again, seconds ago, he had no idea who she was, and now it was coming to him, who she was. Liam's smile was enough without words."Oh my!" The man bowed immediately, "Forgive me, my Queen!" He fell to his knees, prompting Aurora to step backwards, staring at him."Samuel, it's okay! I am sure she understands," Liam said, Aurora remained quiet and watched them both."Forgive me, Sire!" Samuel cried."You may go," he laughed, and walked closer, Liam reached out for her hand, and Aurora immediately took a step backwards, gawking at h
"Your Majesty, the grand Queen is here" a voice called from outside."Let her in" he replied, Aurora cleared her throat, and stepped away.Liam darted towards the door and continued to the chair and papers. "Ohh, I wasn't expecting you two," he said and sat where he did before. Aurora stood by the door, quietly with her lips tightened."Your Highness, I heard you're married!" One of the ladies said. She looked more happier and approachable than the other dark-haired. She wore a pink gown and boots, and her blond hair flowed down her back to her butt. She had the same hair colour as Liam. Liam looked at Aurora who stood timidly by the corner. She had no idea who they were or what to do. "Where's your bride!" She continued, Aurora turned her gaze to Liam and their eyes locked for a second, and she lowered her gaze."Oh, my bad," he got up, and before she could raise her gaze, Liam wrapped his hands around her shoulders, and pulled her tighter to him."This?" The dark-haired lady said.