In This Life And The Next

Aurora had the children for four hours of the day, until twelve in the afternoon, when they had to go to lunch and spend the rest of the day doing chores. She was not surprised at Jesse for adapting numbers so quickly or Claire for her naturally elegant writing and mind for memorizing letters and words easily. Kevin asked questions that often took Aurora a moment to pause and Amy's questions about nature and science delighted Aurora. They cleaned up after themselves before leaving for lunch.

When Aurora left the classroom, Ben and Sam were waiting for her. “Her highness requested that we take you to her quarter for lunch.” Sam addressed Aurora when she looked at him. Aurora nodded as she felt her blood leave her face. She walked with them down a series of halls and up two staircases and stopped outside a huge set of double doors, decorated with a pair of raven’s on them.

Aurora glanced back the way they came and Ben rested his hand on her shoulder. “We’ll be here to take you back. Promise.”

“Okay.” She murmured as they opened the doors. Queen Laura sat at a table with papers spread out over it, looking up when Aurora entered the room. She gave her a small smile that reminded her of the smile she reserved her children and that eased her nerves a little.

“Aurora.” Laura greeted warmly as she stood. She pulled on a robe by the door after she greeted her with a hug. Servants came through the door on the other end of the room, carrying plates and jugs. They began to set everything up on a smaller table by big glass windows and Laura put her arm through Aurora’s and led them to the table. She waited for Laura to sit first before sitting herself. They were served quickly and then only two servants remained as the others left.

“Aurora.” Laura said after a moment. She seemed to be searching for the right words to say for such a sensitive subject.

Aurora waited unsure of what to say or do.

“I want you to know that whatever is said in this room will not be shared with anyone else. And if I hear so much as whisper among the servants, it will be rooted out quickly and punished.” Laura glanced at the two servants, who only bowed their hands out of acknowledgement. She turned back to Aurora after a minute. “My children do not know anymore than I do, otherwise I would have talked to them about this.”

“This, my lady?” Aurora asked.

“What happened to you, Aurora.” Laura hesitated before reaching for Aurora’s hand.

On the hand Laura took, they were three separate scars. A knife, a candle snuffed out on her skin, a piece of glass. On her arm were so many more that Aurora would have to inspect them to remember each one. Innumerable bruises, sprains and aches that remained hidden from the eye. A history of anger etched on Aurora’s skin and sometimes when she caught sight of herself, she wondered how she was able to come this far.

“My stepfather and stepsisters. It was-” Aurora glared down at her food, huffing. All she dreamed about was getting free and shouting from the roof tops about what Phil, Ivy and Lilly had done. But when the time came, she found it hard to fine the words. Laura tightened her hand on Aurora’s hand, giving her a reassuring smile when Aurora looked up.

“It was the only thing I knew for a very long time.”

“Tell me.” Laura coaxed.

“There isn’t much to say, to that.” Aurora replied with a heavy sigh. “I knew no difference. One day my mother was there and then she was gone with the sickness that sweeped the kingdom. And my stepfather hated me and showed it to me every single way he could think of.”

“Did he... did he-” Laura stopped herself, taking a deep breath before continuing. “What finally made you-”

“Kill him?” Aurora interrupted

“Yes, what made you finally decide to do it? What was it that made you finally snap?” Laura asked.

Aurora opened her mouth and then closed it, she looked anywhere but the queen when she answered. “He tri- he tried to rape me.” Taking a deep breath she returned her eyes back to queen, who looked on in sorrow. “He never tried to before. I don’t know why he chose that night to try, I think he knew time was running out for him and he wanted to take one last thing from me. Alec, he was the first person to show me a kind touch. And it was like a damn breaking."

Laura sat back and let out a loud breath.

“I knew if I didn’t he would’ve raped me then killed me. Am I to be punished?” Aurora asked.

“No. For what?” Laura questioned. “You acted out in self-defense. And if I were to punish you for killing your stepfather. I would have to punish Alec for killing his father.”

Aurora’s entire word stopped.

“It’s no small secret here.” Laura assured, looking at the servants, neither of them seemed outwardly surprised. In fact, one refilled their cups with wine. “Alec killed Richard and not a single on of his soldiers stopped Alec or even helped Richard when he was drowning. They watched their drunken, angry, abusive king drown in the river. I was given the throne as queen regent, until Alexander married.” Laura smiled. “Not that it matters, Alec being married or not. He can have the crown when he wants it. I am the last one who would want to stop him. But he plays this thing by the rules set out.”

“Prince Alec killed king Richard.” Aurora whispered.

Laura pressed her mouth together in a tight line. “Richard was very much like your stepfather. I tried I tried to keep the children from the worst of it, but it didn’t always work. Alec bore the worst of it, but sometimes Liam was caught up in it as well. The final straw, in Alec’s eyes, was when Hazel crawled into his bed with a bloodied lip and blackened eye. That night, Alec went to his father, expressed an interest in wine and fed his father, jug after jug of wine until even the king could bear no more. Then Alec asked his father if they could ride. Richard saw it as a challenge, his whelp challenging him. So of course he took it, I followed with John and Rufus, Richards closest confidantes. But they hated him just as much as the others.” Laura cleared her throat before taking sip from her cup. “Alec rode to the bridge. Once there, Alec leapt from his horse and shouted something about a drunken king destroying the entire kingdom. Richard followed and Alec tackled him against the bridge. It was notorious for being unstable and the stones crumbled underneath Richard. Alec would have gone with him, if it weren’t for John and Rufus there to pull him back from the edge and Richard’s grasping fingers. I stood by my son and we watched as his father, my husband, our king, drowned beneath us. And I stood by my son and we wept when his body was brought to us. And I stood by my son when he took the vow the no one will suffer that kind of abuse Richard inflicted on us and I stood with each of my children when they took the same vow to stand by my son, my future king, until my last breath.”

“Why are you telling me this?” Aurora whispered at the end of Laura’s speech.

“Because.” Laura said, giving her such a steady look that Aurora didn’t know if she should duck her head and look away or if she should continue to hold her gaze. “Any person that comes into my castle and looks to make a life here, is required to make that same vow.

Aurora opened her mouth. “What is it?” She inquired after a moment.

Laura stood and so did Aurora, she disappeared through another door and reappeared before Aurora could wonder if she should follow. In her hand was an accolade sword, the one used in ceremonies.

Aurora immediately dropped to one knee as Laura approached her and said. “Repeat after me.”

Aurora bowed her head.

“I swear fealty to the crown and he who sits on the throne.”

“I swear fealty to the crown and he who sits on the throne.” Aurora repeated.

“And in doing so, I take the most sacred of duties as my own.”

“And in doing so, I take the most sacred of duties as my own.” Aurora said softly. The words settled on her shoulders like a warm blanket after long day in the snow and wind.

“That I will do anything and everything in my power to protect the powerless.”

“That I will do anything and everything in my power to protect the powerless.”

“That I will fight with honor.”

“That I will fight with honor.”

“That I will act in defense and never in anger.”

“That I will act in defense and never in anger.”

“That I will keep the secrets of the crown as my own.”

“That I will keep the secrets of the crown as my own.”

“I swear this oath and will protect it with my life.” Laura finished.

“I swear this oath and will protect it with my life.” Aurora said.

Laura touched the sword to either side of her shoulders and she looked up at her. Laura smiled at her and her eyes were brighter than before. “Good,” She whispered, she left to put the sword back and they sat back down.