In This Life And The Next

Alec was handsome normally, but Aurora was having issues getting her tongue to obey this night. He wore a deep blue tunic, fastened with a double loop sword belt. Aurora imagined that the sword was probably useful in Alec’s hand. His own cloak he wore was edge in red inside of black and he was freshly bathed and Aurora wondered if that was Hazel’s doing as well.

They made their way to the stables and outside sat the huge black warhorse that Alec was so fond of and Aurora’s own horse, who looked tiny next to the beast. Jesse appeared, grabbing both reins. “How are they?” Alec asked.

“Fed, watered, packed, bridled and ready to ride, My Lord.” Jesse replied.

“Good man.” Alec said and put a coin in Jesse’s hand. Aurora put a hand on Alec’s forearm when she saw it. Alec paused and looked at Aurora curiously.

“What about your studies? The work I assigned to you?” Aurora questioned, arching her eyebrow.

Jesse lowered his head, studying the horses’ hooves.

“Hm.” Alec said. “Studies are important, Jesse.”

“Yes, sir.” Jesse replied.

“Show me your work when we return and the coin is yours.” Alec said, flipping the coin in the air catching it easily. “Until then, I’ll hold on to it.”

“Shall I tell the others?” Jesse asked.

“Of course, now go.” Alec said, taking the reins from Jesse.

Jesse waved at them before leaving, Alec turned to Aurora. “Introductions.” Alec said and looked to the horse that was pushing at his shoulder. “Ro, this is Raven. Unless I am the rider, no one else can ride her. She is a beast, trained as a warhorse and second only to my family in faithfulness. Raven, this is Aurora. Don’t be rude or no apples.”

Raven nickered impatiently.

Alec turned to Aurora. “She wants to go.” He explained.

Aurora nodded, “Okay.”

“Need a hand up?” Alec asked.

“No, I’m good.” Aurora replied as she easily swung up on to Dapple’s saddle. “Phil, he used to let me take a horse in to town when he needed something quicker.” Aurora explained at Alec surprised face.

Aurora settled into the saddle, watching as Alec swung himself onto Raven’s saddle, Raven shifted, adjusting to Alec’s weight. They both urged their horses on Aurora following behind Alec.

Riding was something that Aurora didn’t do often and when she did, it was often on the back of an old, gentle mare, sweet as the grass she often indulged in. And it was her first time riding Dapple, Alec had promised to take them on a ride but never got around to it as he was to busy with prince duties.

“Relax,” Alec called over his shoulder. “She will follow Raven.”

Aurora nodded, loosing her hold of the reins. The trees growing thicker around them the further they rode, the sun setting behind them, she watched as Alec let Raven choose their path, seemingly barely directing her with the slightest touch and Aurora knew that the rumors of Alec being the most accomplished rider in the country were not exaggerated or due to the fact he was the Crown Prince. He was really just that good.

Too soon they were slowing and Aurora saw that there was a tent, enclosed on three sides, a smaller grey horse tied to a nearby stump. Someone was in the tent lighting candles. Alec swung down and made his way over to Aurora, helping her off her own horse. He threw the reins over a nearby branch and took an apple out his pack, slicing it in half and sharing it between to two mares.

Aurora smiled at him as he led her to the tent. Sam was coming out of the tent, heading straight for the grey horse. He didn’t say anything, only clapped Alec on the shoulder, nodded to Aurora and he was gone.

The only sounds were the sounds of a nearby stream and the insects in the distance. The forest around them was growing in darkness. Inside, there was a table, fruit, meat, recently warmed over fire and a jug of wine.

“Same rules here as in our sleeping quarters.” Alec said. “I am only Alec and your only Aurora.”

“Agreed.” Aurora replied. A rug had been laid out over the grass and there was a pile of furs in the corner. The light from the many candles was warm and Alec shrugged out of his cloak, Aurora doing the same. Alec turned to the opening of the tent and fiddled with the sides until they fell closed.

“Why are we here?” Aurora quizzed.

“I wanted your attention all for myself.” Alec replied and sat down at the table. Aurora chose to look around the tent.

“You have it. Always.” Aurora murmured, turning back to Alec. “Since your sister splashed me with mud and you placed your hand here.” She raised her hand to her collarbone. “You have had my undivided attention.”

“I wanted to rescue you.” Alec confessed suddenly, looking up at Aurora from his spot at the table. “I wanted to be the one to storm the house and take you away.”

“You did the most important part of the plan.” Aurora murmured as she sat across from Alec.

Alec raised an eyebrow.

“You took me away.” Aurora whispered, looking down. Alec brushed his fingers across Aurora’s hand and Aurora took his fingers in her own. She smiled at Alec.

There was a flush across Alec’s face. “I would swear you were a witch. From that time on the road, I have thought of on one else.”

“You are not the only on entranced.” Aurora admitted. “My thoughts always wandered to you. I can’t-” Aurora paused. “It’s like you have taken up every empty part of me and filled it with so much happiness, I never knew what it felt like till I met you.” Aurora whispered, blushing.

Alec smiled softly and raised Aurora’s hand to his lips. Aurora watched, frozen, as Alec laid a kissed across her knuckles.

“What are we doing?” Aurora murmured.

“Eating, talking, learning about one another,” Alec replied with a smile. “That’s all. Aurora. Nothing else.

And so they did. Alec sensed that Aurora did not wish to speak about her past, and she only told Alec a few good stories she had of the kitchen, with Josh. They ate and they drifted closer, as if they were being pulled by gravity.

“Do you dance?” Alec asked, suddenly.

“Never had the occasion too, Phil always took Ivy and Lilly to balls. But never me.” Aurora replied.

“Come.” Alec said and stood. He offered Aurora his hand and Aurora stood. Alec showed her where to put her hands and hummed a soft tune and spun them around the tent with ease. She followed Alec’s lead like she was born to it and she swore that if this was all a dream, that at least she had this much.

They slowed to a stop and Aurora looked up at Alec, they were close in height but Alec still had a few good inches on her. Alec raised his hand to Aurora’s face, put his thumb at the corner of her mouth and then mirrored the gesture on the other side of her face, Aurora tucked her fingers into Alec’s belt.

“Do you kiss?” Alec whispered, his eyes skipping from Aurora’s eyes to her mouth.

“Never had the right person to kiss.”

“Shame,” Alec breathed against her lips. Aurora closed her eyes. “A mouth like yours was meant to be kissed.”

When Alec pressed his mouth to Aurora’s, it was like being born. A touch that was sweet and heavy with want, tempered with nothing but gentle movements, it made Aurora moan.

“You mustn’t make sounds like that.” Alec whispered, barely pulling away.

“Then you mustn’t kiss me like that.” Aurora replied.

Alec kissed her again and again and Aurora pulled him closer. Alec urged her closer to the furs and lowered them both down. Alec pushed Aurora so that she was lying on her back. “I can only thank the stars above our heads for you.” He whispered, placing a kiss on Aurora’s jaw, then her neck. His fingers worked at the lacing of her dress she wore. Alec brushed the material away and laid a kiss on the exposed skin. She felt Alec’s lips brush against the cooler skin of a scar and it jerked her back to reality of what was happening. Alec lingered there, his fingers brushed over it and another scar, thicker, from a knife, if she remembered correctly.

“Should we put out the candles?” Aurora whispered hoarsely.

“And deny me the sight of you?” Alec murmured. “Whatever for?”

“I am scarred.” Aurora stated, closing her eyes. “From my feet to my neck. He only spared my face.”

Alec sat back and looked down at Aurora. “If it would make you more comfortable, we can stop-”

“No.” Aurora exclaimed.

Alec studied her. “Do you want the candles out?”

Aurora shook her head.

“Nor do I, Ro.” Alec breathed, placing a kiss on another scar. A candle. “Your scars do not bother me. They only add to your beauty. Each is a story.” He brushed his mouth over the knife scar. “And each tells me that you survived. How brilliant you truly are. How you have the restraint of a saint. How good you are.” Alec finished, looking up from Aurora’s near bear chest. “Do not think you are anything less than art come to life, painted into living so that I might have the honor of laying a tribute at your feet.”

Aurora’s breath trembled and she wondered if this was what it felt like to fall from a great height.