In This Life And The Next

Aurora woke alone and dressed quickly. When she opened the door, Hannah and Lisa pushed her back in the room and began to undress her and then redress her in the finest things she had so far worn.

“What are you doing?” Aurora huffed when Hannah pulled a dress over her head.

“Word was sent early this morning.” Lisa answered. “A messenger from Roman and John. They wish to speak to the Prince under a temporary white flag.”

Aurora lowered her arms when they wrapped a cloak around her shoulders. “What did the Prince say?”

“The Prince agreed to hear what they had to say but nothing further.” Hannah informed her. “Fetch me Hazel’s crown.” Hannah directed to Anna.

She was back a moment later and placed it on Aurora’s head.

Aurora immediately snatched it off. “Are you mad ?” She hissed.

“It’s the only spare crown the Princess has and these are Alec’s orders.” Lisa snapped and took the crown from Aurora’s hand and placed it on her head. Lisa slapped her hand away when she tried to take it off. “You will deal with Alec if you do not show up as he requested and I will tell you, I grew up with that man and I have never seen him in a mood such as this.”

Aurora finally relented. She took one last look at herself in the polished mirror in the corner and frowned at her reflection. She barely recognized herself. Lisa had given her a dark purple dress black boots, her clock was black and long with sliver and blue thread and long, streaming past her to the floor. She looked... regal, as though she knew what she was doing. Hannah took the pillow that the ceremonial crown sat and when she opened the door, Ben and Victor were there to escort them all to great hall.

Ben whistled when he saw Aurora. “The crown suits you.” He said.

“It’s strange.” Aurora admitted.

Victor eyed it. “It’s strange to see it on you.” He added. Then he shrugged. “You’ll get your own when we return home.”

“I should suggest blue instead of green jewels.” Hannah murmured, glancing at Aurora. It was gold circle adorned with green jewels but without the four rising points on Alec’s, each meant symbolize a Valour heir. The gold shone in Aurora’s hair.

When Aurora entered the hall, she was surprised to see the benches that were normally around the tables lined up against the wall. There was a dais in the middle of the room with six or seven people working on chairs that sat on the dais. Laura and Hazel were nowhere in sight but Alec, Liam, and Caspian were in deep conversation with Michael and Luke.

Aurora took the crown from Hannah and made to the group. Caspian looked up first and blinked when he saw Aurora. Liam stopped mid-sentence and Luke whacked Michael in the chest with the back of his hand. Michael looked up and his eyes widened and Alec finally turned.

Aurora thought she was imagining it, but silence fell throughout the hall.

Alec looked every bit the dashing warrior prince that he was. The black leather brigandine was clean and emphasized his broad shoulders. The green cloak that was fastened by raven in flight over his back and to the floor like it was an art piece, not something functional a person would wear to keep warm. His sword was shining and hung off his hip and when Aurora approached him with his crown, her hands shook as she took it off the pillow and placed it on his head.

“You tempt me.” Alec muttered.

“As do you.” Aurora whispered.

Liam cleared his throat.

It was then Aurora noticed that they were all dressed in the same manner, if different colors. Liam wore his brigandine with accents of red and Caspian’s in silver. When Laura and Hazel came through the doors, Laura wore a beautiful dress of red and gold and Hazel wore one of green and silver. Jessica followed in a dress of pale purple.

“Well.” Alec said softly. “Now that we are all here, we can start.” The personal escort along with Michael and Luke gathered close. “John wishes to negotiate.” Alec’s eyes flicked to the doors. “I will hear what he has to say and if it is reasonable, than there will be no war. If it is not, if there are demands made, if Roman or John demand anything from Hazel, we will still attack. Roman is in a place of weakness because our forces could crush him without a second thought.”

“Then why even risk it?” Michael asked.

“Because His Highness would prefer not to risk a single life.” Caspian snapped.

“Soldiers were born for such things.” Michael countered, his tone icy. He was spoiling for a fight, Aurora realized.

“Enough.” Alec ordered and both Michael and Caspian closed their mouths. He turned to Michael. “My brother is right. I do not wish for another to die at the Winterfell's hands. And although we are assured a victory through our numbers alone,” Alec pushed aside half of the forces that marked the Valour army, “We would suffer great losses at their hands. If there is another way, we will choose that path.” Alec looked at the half of his army he knocked over and shook his head. “I will not send men to their deaths if I do not have to.”

“They know what a their job entails-” Michael argued and Luke met Aurora’s eyes. There was a show of concern in Luke’s eyes. “They know that there might be a loss of life.”

“You have lost men before, have you not, Michael?” Alec asked in a low voice that had Laura pulling Caspian back and Liam inching away from his side. Only Aurora didn’t move away.

“We all have.” Michael replied.

“Multiply that by thousands .” Alec growled and leaned across the table. “Sons, husbands, brothers, fathers- gone. And for what?”

“Victory.” Michael hissed.

“That’s not good enough.” Alec shouted. He slammed his open palm on the table and even Michael startled back. ” That’s not good enough .” He exploded. “When it’s all said and done, when we have won your way, it will not be you on the throne explaining to the orphan boy that his father died for victory and your sorrow will not fill his empty belly.” He picked up the wooden pieces from the map and threw them at Michael. “There not your lives to throw away.” Aurora put a hand on Alec's shoulder and he drew a deep breath. “Get him from my sight.” Alec whispered.

Luke took Michael from the hall.

There was a moment of silence and then Alec looked up. He sighed and shook his head. “Mother, you, Hazel, Jessica, Caspian, and Aurora will be seated here.” He pointed to the chairs just off the dais. “Since Aurora and I are not wed, Liam will sit with me.” He tipped his head and glanced to Aurora. She nodded. She understood that until they were wed, these kinds of decisions would be made with Liam’s consultation. In all honesty, even after the marriage, Aurora hoped that they would still be made with Liam since she knew nothing of ruling and governance.

A servant came in and whispered to Ben.

“Sire.” He called out. Alec turned. “They approach.”

Alec nodded. “Liam.” He said and Liam kissed Jessica before going to sit next to Alec. Caspian sat and Laura next to him. Aurora sat next to her and Hazel next to Aurora and Jessica last. She leaned forward and whispered to Aurora, “Your crown suits you.” And winked.

Aurora shared her smile. “As does yours, my Lady.” She murmured. Her crown was a simple sliver circlet but shone brightly on her head. She turned to Alec and Liam who were arranging their cloaks so that they might sit more comfortably and then turned to each other, whispering a conversation. The personal escort arranged themselves around the whole group and stood at attention, all their eyes on the closed doors. Their armor shone and their weapons looked bright.

Alec and Liam paid no attention to any of them, having a conversation between themselves like they were the only two in the room. Alec muttered something to Liam and Liam shook his head and chuckled.

Aurora leaned over to Laura. “You make beautiful children.” She whispered.

She sighed and patted her leg. “I do, don’t I?”

The wait seemed eternal until the doors opened and all eyes were on the men who entered. The man cloaked in deep purple was handsome, in a staid, average way. There seemed to be so little character there that had Aurora passed him in a hall or a village she would have forgotten him straightaway.

The Winterfell general was a different matter entirely.

His blonde hair was a mess and his eyes twinkled as though the thought of war was a thrilling matter. He was grinning.

When his eyes landed on Aurora, she had to fight the urge to squirm in her seat. Surely she wasn’t the only one who thought the man mad.

Liam was still speaking quietly to Alec and their words did not carry beyond the two of them. Alec smirked at something that Liam said and nodded.

The rest of the hall was silent.