In This Life And The Next

Aurora was glad that the day was cool. The sweat ran down her back and her hair was damp with it, but she didn’t pause in her work and neither did the men and women on either side of her. They worked ceaselessly, digging trenches and filling them with oil. The guards and soldiers worked on drills over and over, Michael and Luke shouting orders at them. Aurora could hear the clash of their swords.

Inside the keep, Laura and Hazel supervised as the sand was gathered and heated in large tubs over fires. More arrows were being made, swords were being sharpened, and the children were getting lessons on close hand combat from George, just in case.

“Aurora!” Marc called. Aurora looked up to see him galloping towards Aurora and the others pulled away.

“What is it?” She asked.

Marc gestured. “It looks as though we have less time than we thought.”

Aurora nodded. She had figured they would do this. “How much?” She asked.

“Less than half a day.” Marc paused. “Maybe just hours.”

Aurora nodded and looked to the keep. “Inform Michael and Luke. Pull everyone inside. Get everyone in position.”

Marc’s horse reared and he nodded, “Ma’am.” He said and left.

Aurora turned to the others that had heard her. “Finish as quickly as you can, then return to the keep.”

With all the people from the surrounding villages helping, it did not take long to finish the last trench. A man ordered the children inside and he and another man and woman took over scattering the hay.

Aurora was gathering the last of the children from the clearing in front of the keep. A toddler and her older sister had wandered too close to the forest and she was carrying them back, both in her arms, when Luke and Michael rode up to her.

“Ma’am, a group approaches.” Michael said.

Aurora nodded and handed the girl to Luke and held out her arm for Michael to help her and the toddler up into the saddle. Aurora held tight to Michael with one arm and the toddler with another, effectively sandwiching her between the two of their bodies. She put her head on her shoulder and Michael urged his horse forward.

The first sign that they received was an arrow going just past their heads. When Aurora looked up, she saw Lisa and Hannah aiming down at them. Aurora turned and there was a group of ten heading straight for them.

“Faster!” Aurora ordered Michael. Michael looked over his shoulder and Aurora felt his heels kick into the horse.

There was another arrow and the unmistakable sound of a horse falling.

“Stop shooting!” A man yelled.

“Take off your hood!” A woman replied. “It’s us! It’s the Prince! Do not kill him!”

Faye.

“Wait!” Aurora said and yanked on Michael’s tunic.

Michael, in turn, yanked on the reins.

Aurora was off the horse, the toddler in her arms and running to the group before she could think about her actions.

Alec was off his own horse and stumbling, running to Aurora.

The relief that swept through Aurora when Alec reached her was physical. Her legs wouldn’t hold her up and she and Alec fell to their knees, their arms wrapped around each other.

“Are you okay? Is our baby okay?” Alec kept asking.

“Yes, I’m fine. I’m okay. The baby is fine. You’re here . How did you get here so fast?” Aurora asked as Alec kissed her face, her lips, the top of the toddler’s head.

“We were already on our way here, there were spies in the camp, Faye- Faye saved me. Us . She saved us- who is this?” Alec asked, hefting the child in his arms.

Aurora blinked. “I don’t know. Her and her sister wandered away, they were too far from the rest of us and-” Aurora shrugged.

“Your Highness.” Ash said and looked up. There was a flock of birds flying over them and smoke could be seen.

“Ro come on.” Alec said and handed the child back to Aurora and then took her as Aurora pulled herself up on Raven. They rode for the gates and as Alec was the last one through he shouted orders for the gates to be drawn.

“Sam, battlements. See if Hazel needs anything.” Alec stepped from the saddle with the child in one arm still. “Ash, Victor, find George, see if he needs help. Liam, Caspian, to mother. Blake go with Liam. Will, go with Victor. Faye, with Hazel.” Alec snapped and held his free hand out for Aurora to take so she could also return to the ground. Jesse ran to Raven and took her reins, got a rough kiss on his head from Alec, and left once more.

Everyone turned and scattered and Alec turned to Aurora. He was breathing hard from the ride and he was dirty and he was clearly tired and probably starving for a decent meal. The impatience and anger poured off of him in such waves that everyone but Aurora was giving him wide breadth but Aurora just looked at him fondly.

“You would be far more intimidating were it not for the child clinging to you.” Aurora informed him.

“I’m intimidating.” Alec protested and held the child closer.

“Yes, Your Highness, you are.” Aurora murmured and stepped closer to Alec and pulled the girl from his arms. She was a calm thing, patting Alec’s cheeks before she let herself be pulled back into Aurora’s arms. Alec watched her go with a wistful look. It was there and gone before anyone could notice, unless they were as close as Aurora.

“Think of our child after you have saved your kingdom.” Aurora whispered and watched Alec’s eyes bounce between the girl and Aurora.

Alec blinked and looked to Aurora. “I-”

“Alec! " Hazel screamed and ran for him from the stairs just behind them. Laura was right behind her and if Alec were a weaker man, he would have tumbled under their hugs. As it was, he stumbled before managing to return their hugs.

“You’re safe.” Hazel sobbed between her tears and hiccups.

“Of course I am.” Alec replied and snorted. “I’m the Crown Prince.”

“That means nothing.” Laura scolded. “Death comes to us all.”

“Not me. Not yesterday, not today and certainly not until I have my fill of my family.” Alec said and caught Aurora’s eye.

Luke and Michael approached their group and Alec looked to them and Aurora. A young maid came and took the girl from Aurora and she patted her cheeks just like she did to Alec before she was swept away to join the other children in the keep.

“Alec, this Luke. He has been in charge since my mother left this to him.” Aurora said and Luke bowed.

“I hope His Highness finds everything to his liking.”

Alec waited until Luke straightened and put a hand to his shoulder. “You kept my family alive. That is more to my liking than I can express.”

“And Michael.” Aurora said. “Michael-” Aurora stopped and looked to Michael and realized that she knew nothing of the man. “I don’t know.” Aurora finished.

Alec’s eyes narrowed at Michael and Michael bowed. “I was Captain under General Grace. His last order was for me to come here and protect this keep with Luke until his daughter was old enough to take charge.”

Aurora felt a small piece of her break. She looked away and at a stone wall next to Hazel. She shuffled over to her and took her hand, squeezed her fingers.

“Then I thank you for your service.” Alec said softly. “But we have work yet to do.”

“Only waiting your orders, sir.” Luke replied.

“Tell me what we have so far.” Alec quizzed and tipped his head to the hall. Laura, Hazel, Aurora, Luke, and Michael followed him inside and Laura showed him where they had the maps spread out. Alec made a few adjustments for the placement of his and his brother’s divisions of men and Roman’s army before nodding.

“How long until their men reach us?” Alec asked.

“Marc told me hours.” Aurora replied.

“Before the end of the day, surely.” Michael added.

“Will it be the whole of the forces or merely the advance?” Alec asked.

“From what the scouts tell us, it is the advance.” Luke murmured and tapped the map to the northwest of the keep. “Roman’s forces come from here, around your divisions. We believe they have divided their forces to move more quickly through the mountains and villages but they are wagering a dangerous bet.”

“The Winterfell army moves from here.” Michael added and moved aside when a servant came with stew and fruit and bread. Another left a jug of wine and water, another of mulled wine. More and more food was piled around Alec and he absently began to eat as he listened to Michael. “He is coming from the southeast.”

“Why do you say that?” Alec asked and Michael looked at him, confused, until Alec looked to Luke.

“Sir?” Luke asked.

Hazel whispered something to a servant who nodded and ducked away. Aurora stepped up behind Alec and worked his cloak off his shoulders and another servant waited for Aurora to hand it off to him.

“Why do you say it’s a dangerous bet?” Alec asked Luke.

“Because your forces are going to sandwich his much smaller army between this keep and them.” Luke replied.

“That’s not dangerous.” Alec said and held his arm out as Aurora unlaced his leather forearm guard and handed it off to the servant behind him. “That’s idiotic.” Aurora unlaced the other one and then started on the breastplate that Alec wore constantly.

“Ready a bath and clean clothes.” Aurora told her and she nodded and left.

Liam joined them while Alec was still studying the map and listened to Alec’s explanation of what was going on. A servant brought a bowl of steaming water and Laura unwrapped Liam’s hand and began to clean it.

Liam studied the map and shook his head. “It makes no sense.” He finally concluded. “Someone with even half the knowledge that Roman has of war-” Liam stopped himself and he looked over to his mother who was wiping the dried blood from his hand.