In This Life And The Next

Alec, Liam, Caspian and Hazel all waited across the road from the Grace house. Their clothes and horses all midnight black. It was near impossible to tell them from the shadows they hid in.

“Do we have a plan?” Caspian whispered.

Alec shrugged, “I’d like to kill Phil.”

“I’ve got dibs on the one of the sisters, I’m not picky” Hazel said.

“The butlers mine.” Liam added, leaning forward in his saddle, eyes watching the house. Their waiting for the last lights to go out before they strike.

“I always get the leftovers.” Caspian grumbled.

Hazel patted his shoulder in fake sympathy, “It’s the burden of being the youngest, Casspy.”

The candle danced from room to room, the four of them tracked it as it made its way up into what they assumed to be an attic.

“Alec?” Liam murmured.

“Wait.” Alec whispered, holding his hand out.

They didn’t have wait long until they heard a scream and the light went out. Another moment, maybe two, not long before Aurora appeared in the bigger bedroom, they watched her jerk down the curtains.

Phil was nowhere to be seen.

Alec sat back, looking over his shoulder at Liam.

“Do you think she-?” Liam started.

“She did something?” Alec finished off for him as they watched the house for a few more long moments, before Aurora appeared, leading an old horse away from the stables, something wrapped up in the curtains she had torn down.

“Looks like sweet Aurora didn’t need a knight in shining armor after all.” Hazel said, amused.

“She stole my thunder.” Alec pouted, sounding offended.

“Can we follow her?” Caspian asked, sitting up straighter.

Alec shrugged, “Might as well.” He muttered, sounding childish.

He led the way, following the obvious path that Aurora had left, they found her after twenty minutes of slowly creeping along. Alec stopped everyone, signaling for them to circle Aurora, who was digging a hole.

The horse watched them for a few moments, before dipping its head to eat some grass at its feet.

“This is for killing the only friend I had.” Aurora hissed, Alec leaned forward to hear what she was saying. “For that time you made me kneel for a full day on stones, for that time you burned me with a candle for breaking a bowl you clearly saw Lilly break. For hitting me, over and over, for shackling me everyday for two years.” Aurora paused and took a deep breath, “For breaking Josh’s legs and not letting him get help. For calling me a whore when you know that no one has ever looked twice at me. For trying to take that away from me.” She was favoring her left arm, making it damn near impossible to dig even though the ground was wet.

Alec looked over to his sibling, who all looked impossibly sad.

Richard had been cruel and when Laura wasn’t able to distract him with wine, food, or her body, Alec had taken the punishment for whatever imagined wrongs Richard made up His body was scarred as that of soldier twice his age by the time he was twelve, when his father was to drunk on wine. Alec led him to a nearby river and pushed him in.

Rurfus and George had stopped him from going over the side as Laura appeared at their side, unmoving as they watched him drown below them.

Alec had told her quietly no one would touch them again, not as long as he was alive. Liam took the same vow when he turned twelve. The same vow when each of the royal family turned twelve. They had extended that vow to their kingdom, silently killing or beating those that were reported back to them through their knights that were stationed throughout the kingdom.

Alec urged his horse forward, Aurora looked over her shoulder, meeting Alec’s eyes.

Those ice blue eyes were fiery, her right sleeve was soaked in blood, her face flushed and her eyes looked bleary.

“Are you here to take me to the dungeons?” Aurora murmured, dropping the shovel. “I’m surprised it didn’t take them longer to find him missing.”

Alec raised his brow at her. “Your hole’s too small, by at least two feet.” He said instead, “Nor is it deep enough.”

Aurora frowned at him, the horse from earlier raised its head again when Alec spoke, they started at each other for a few seconds before it went back to the grass at its feet.

“I’m injured.” Aurora resorted dryly.

“I can see that.” Alec said, pausing. “You’ll have to break his legs, if you want him to fit in there.” He added.

“Aren’t you going to put me in chains?” Aurora asked, looking confused.

“No one will ever tie you up again, ever. Not as long as one of us is on the throne.” Alec promised Aurora.

“Us?” Aurora asked, cocking her head to the side.

Liam, Hazel and Caspian stepped out of the shadows, their faces grim.

“Oh,” Aurora uttered, looking around. “If you’re going to kill me. May I make a request?” She asked.

Alec raised an eyebrow, listening.

“Make it quick,” Aurora murmured softly, turning her head to the side.

Alec tipped his head at Caspian, who swung down off his horse, stepping up to Aurora . To her credit, didn’t flinch as she handed the shovel easily over to Caspian when he reached for it. She let out a breath when Caspian gripped it, the tension almost strangled Alec until Caspian gently pushed Aurora aside and began to widen her excuse of a grave.

“Always get the leftovers.” She heard him muttered as he began to work quickly, the forest was humid, thick with recent rains, that Caspian had to take his cloak off.

Hazel swung off her own horse and began rummaging through her pack, gesturing to Liam to come stand beside her. She handed him a small bag before stepping up to Aurora.

Hazel gestured to her torn shirt, “Do you mind?” She asked.

She shook her head no.

With a quick movement, Hazel tore open the shirt; where the blood was thickets. And reached for the bottle Liam was holding.

Aurora’s face instantly went red, the only piece of clothing covering her breast was her thin corset.

“It’s water.” Hazel informed her, pouring a healthy amount over the gash, frowning at it, sighing. “It’ll need stitches.” She reached for another bottle, holding it up for Aurora to see. “Do you want a drink?”

Aurora shook her head no.

“Are you sure?” She asked, “Because this makes all the three princes here, cry like little boys for their mother.”

Aurora frowned, “I don’t have a mother.”

“We can share,” Liam spoke softly, speaking up for the first time since arriving. “She can’t mother anyone enough.”

Aurora gazed around, looking at them.

“Why are you here?” She finally asked.

“My brother wanted to rescue you.” Caspian said, huffing as he set the shovel down.

“Deeper.” Both Alec and Liam chinned.

Caspian threw the shovel at Liam, who caught it, trading places with him.

“But, clearly you had it under control.” Hazel said, shaking the bottle at Aurora, who took it with a shrug, taking a big sip.

“Dear god.” She said, coughing.

Hazel didn’t wait to give her any warning as she poured half the bottle over the gash on her arm. Aurora’s arm shot out, gripping Alec’s boot from were he sat still mounted on his horse.

Aurora gasped as Hazel wrapped the cut up quickly and efficiently.

A few moments later, Caspian and Liam were tossing Phil’s body into the hole and closing it up a few seconds later.

Aurora was leaning heavily against Alec’s horses as Hazel fussed over her, she looked up at Alec worry clearly written over her face.

“What?” Alec asked, getting worried.

“She’s getting warm,” Hazel stated “Possibly a fever. She can’t ride.”

Aurora muttered something about her horse, asking them to take him because Ivy would gladly kill the gentle creature.

“Alright.” Alec said, soothingly and Aurora thought she could feel his fingers on her cheek.

“Liam, Caspian. Help her up.” Alec ordered, gesturing to the front of his saddle.

It too some work on everyone’s part and Aurora was soon up on the saddle with Alec, the horse nickered softly, shifting a little, easily boring their combined weight.

“Bring her horse.” He told Hazel.

Hazel nodded, grabbing the horses reins.

“Caspian, go quickly and inform mother. She’ll ready the others.”

Caspian swung up into his saddle, turning away from them, he was gone within a moment.

The ride back to the castle wasn’t as quick as Alec wished, Aurora had lost consciousness halfway there and it was a struggle to keep a grown woman in the saddle with him.

When they finally reached the castles entrance, Victor, Ben, Sam and Blake were all there, along with Laura who stood behind them, her hair pulled back, Chloe at her side. They helped Aurora off Alec’s horse and down onto a stretcher to carry her up.

“Which room?” Ben asked, barely straining.

“Between mine and Alec’s-” Laura started.

“Mine.” Alec interrupted.

Laura turned to look at him.

“She thought we were going to kill her, once she wakes, she’ll be confused and scared. What if she’s alone?” Alec reasoned, covering up the real excuse as to why he wanted her in his room. “It’ll only add to her panic,” He said, turning to the others. “My room.”

Ben led the way to Alec’s room, only heisting at putting Aurora on the bed.

“Go on.” Alec ordered.

They did as he asked, Chloe, Laura and Hazel rushed over to Aurora’s body. Her rapidly rising chest the only indication she was still alive.

“Run a cool bath.” Laura said to Liam.

“Water,” Chloe told Ben.

“Thread and a needle.” Hazel said to Alec

There was scurrying as everyone left, by the time Alec returned, Aurora was undressed, a cloth compressed to her forehead and back of her neck, under her arms, two pieces of cloth covered her breasts and her groin.

“Sir,” Chloe said softly.

“Yes?” Alec asked, his wide eyes on Aurora body.

“Might I have a minute?” She asked.

“Of course.” Alec replied, tearing his eyes away from Aurora.

Laura and Hazel continued to work on Aurora , Hazel’s stitching her wound closed and Laura was feeling under her shoulder for more damage.

But that wasn’t what bothered Alec.

There wasn’t a bare inch of Aurora’s body that wasn’t covered in scars, burns, cuts, bruises, or poorly healed wounds.

“Sir, some of the scars are years old. She been treated worse than the slaves sold to us from the south.” Chloe said, pressing her lips together. “The only thing she seemed to avoid was the whip.”

“She killed him.” Alec murmured, Laura’s fingers hesitated only slightly at Alec’s words.

“Good.” Chloe whispered.

“Here,” Hazel muttered, running her fingers over a small wound near Aurora’s hip. It was red, hot and angry looking, it must’ve been painful. “That’s what’s poisoning her.”

“What is?” Alec asked, his voice sounding strained even to his own ears.

“A poorly treated cut,” Laura uttered, her eyes distant, she was keeping her emotions out of the situation so that she could work on Aurora . “It’s caused her blood to go bad.”

“Can you...?” Alec started, but stopped when he felt Liam’s hand on his shoulder.

“Possibly” Laura murmured, “We need to break her fever.” She added and Ben stepped forward to carry Aurora to the bath waiting for her in the corner of the room but Alec stopped him, picking Aurora up himself.

The cloth fell away, leaving Aurora bare but from the bandage on her arm and another at her elbow.

“What’s that?” Alec asked, barely stopping himself from touching the fresh bandage.

“A burn,” Hazel spoke softly, steeping up to the bath to feel the water, nodding at Alec.

Alec stood over the bath, looking into the deep water to Aurora, who’s still unconscious.

Alec stepped into the water, fully clothed and sat down, gently rearranging Aurora in his arms, holding her still as her unconscious body fought against the coolness from the water. After a moment she stopped, sighing and leaned back into Alec’s chest.

Laura sat behind them on the couch, petting Alec’s hair, he leaned into her touch as Liam turned to Alec’s closet and began to rifle through it for clothes.

“It’s worse than what father had ever done.” Alec said, voice distant.

“I know.” Laura murmured.

“Why did this happen?” Alec asked.

Laura had no answer for him.

Hazel called Ashley and Rose in to help get Aurora out the bath as Alec waited patiently as Blake untied his clothing and got some clean clothes. Hazel’s ladies rushed in and out, bringing in food, change of bedding, taking the old clothes away to be washed, or in Aurora’s case, thrown away. Laura watched it all with Caspian dosing on her lap.

Finally, with Aurora settled on Alec’s bed, Laura stood, after gently nudging Caspian awake. She felt Aurora’s forehead, before looking at the small wound on her hip. It still looked red and angry, still swollen, but to Alec his mother’s eyes looked soft instead of concerned this time.

“It’s going down, some rest and a good meal will do her some good.” Laura said, smoothing some of her damp hair away from Aurora’s forehead. “As for the rest, we’ll just have to wait and see.” She added, stepping away from Aurora to look at Alec. “Get some rest, you’ll need it in the coming days.” Laura kissed Alec goodnight and everyone followed her out.

Alec climbed into bed and looked over at Aurora . The fire was still going, the flames throwing a soft, golden light over Aurora’s skin.

“Goodnight.” Alec murmured.

Eventually, he slept.

Even when he was plagued by nightmares of an angry man.