In This Life And The Next

Aurora thought that maybe she would like flying were it not for the landing. She landed hard on her back and stared up at the sky. It was a comforting blue and he wondered if Alec was looking up-

Aurora, you were written in the stars for me, Alec’s voice whispered.

Aurora jerked and sucked in a huge breath. Her horse was down and all her companions were galloping away. When she turned in the direction that they came, she saw a group of at least forty mean galloping towards her.

Aurora scrambled to her feet, her body protesting and turned to the keep. High walls surrounded it and even as the others approached it, the drawbridge remained up.

A horn sounded, the bridge began to lower, and Aurora ran. She was no match; not for forty men, not to outrun their horses. Her companions, exhausted, sick, wounded, beaten, were too far away to help.

But she ran.

She ran for fear of never seeing Alec again, for their baby she’s carrying, praying that it okay after everything that has happened, for never hearing a sweet word from Hazel, for never getting to teach again. She ran because she had a life now, a purpose to serve, and a reason to pursue a bright life. She did as she asked Alec to do; she fought, she tried, even if the odds were against her.

Then she saw a flash of red, a scream of anger and the gallop of more horses than she could think possible.

The horn sounded once more and arrows flew and Aurora ducked. One cut across her arm, laying open her skin. She stumbled but forged on, despite the pounding of hooves heading towards her in all directions.

***

“Mother.” Hazel whispered when she saw Aurora stumble when an arrow sliced open her arm. “Mother, she isn’t going to make it.” The crossbow in her hands trembled as she sucked in a deep breath.

“Have faith, my love.” Laura whispered and let an arrow go, aimed at a man who was too close to Aurora.

Luke and Michael were still too far off and the men were gaining on Aurora.

Luke’s horn sounded again and the men finally appeared, Luke and Michael at the front, their armor glinting in the sunlight. Ben turned, to look to Aurora as they neared the gate. Seeing her gone, he jerked his horse round, bellowed something and a rider with midnight hair did the same. They were closer than Luke and Michael and if Aurora kept running, she could make it to safety to one of them.

“Run, Aurora.” Hannah whispered.

Aurora stopped.

***

She felt like there was a furnace in her chest and her legs were lead. Her arm was bleeding freely and even though Ben and Faye were running for her, there was no way they could beat the men on Aurora’s heels.

She stopped and planted her feet, slid the blades out, and waited for Roman’s men to descend upon her. They were not going to kidnap her, they would have to kill her where she stood. She would not be bait for a war such as this.

Aurora slashed at the first man to reach her and she felt the warm droplets of blood on her neck and face. She didn’t get to see where she injured the man before the next was on her and Aurora was forced to jump out of the way. She swung at anyone in her way, anyone that got too close and soon they realized to stay out of her reach.

“What idiot said that she was helpless?” One man demanded, as they circled Aurora. He was bleeding from his thigh.

Before anyone could answer, there was a scream and an arrow appeared in his chest. Aurora glimpsed Faye, beautiful, faithful Faye aiming her crossbow at the men and Ben running full speed at a clump of men. His stallion slammed into a much smaller horse and Ben punched whoever was closest as Faye circled, pushed a few in too close to Aurora as she swung with her blades once more.

“Fight, you fools!” Another man yelled.

Ben knocked him from his horse. Ben’s stallion reared, screamed, scared a few other horses, breaking the group that Aurora was trapped in. Another horse fell, Faye screamed something indecipherable and Ben was pulled from his horse. Another man’s horse danced behind her nervously and even as Aurora’s brain told her to move, a hand was under her arms, lifting her away.

And once more, she was flying, one body on top of her, another below her.

She looked up to light brown eyes, heard a laugh, and the man below her screamed.

The man on top of her helped her up, handed her a blade she hadn’t realized she dropped and spun her round so that they were back to back and evenly protected.

“Aurora.” The man said and swung at a horse that came too close. “I’m Luke.”

“Thank you.” Aurora gasped.

“Don’t forget to thank Michael too.” Luke smiled.

“Who?” Aurora asked.

Men in flashing armor circled them and then parted, a man with dark hair galloped through, and Aurora was in the air once more, then seated behind a dark haired man as they charged for the gates.

“I’m Michael.” The man shouted and the joy was clear in his voice.

Aurora tightened her hold on the man’s waist and saw with some relief that Ben and Faye were on the backs of other horses.

“Thank you.” Aurora choked out.

Michael laughed.