Aureum!
2769 Words
While in the middle of one of her usual rounds in the surrounding area of the kingdom, Hera came across this unconscious young man who got injured for an unknown reason. She ordered him to take him to the infirmary to let the Medicus check on him
"Who are you? And where am I?" He was baffled.
He starts to move, but the Medicus stops him.
"Stop! What are you doing? You still need some rest! If you're not careful you might open your wounds and you will bleed." He informed the young man.
And to help him to relax, Hera sits at the bedside and starts talking to him.
"Don't worry! You're safe here! You are in the Kingdom of Meraxes. My name is Hera and this is Alfonso, head of our Medicus. We are the ones who saw you in the forest." She smiled reassuringly.
"Hera?" He whispers.
"Yes! She is one of the royal princesses of the Kingdom of Meraxes!" Alfonso informed the stranger.
"Princess? Your Highness!" He immediately got up and bowed his head.
He wobbles as he rushes to stand and falls directly towards you.
"Woh!" She exclaimed. "Are you alright?" She checked on him in concern.
"Hey! Be careful..." Alfonso grabbed the stranger away from her, "Your Highness! Are you okay?" He inquired.
"It's okay, I'm good! Don't worry!" Hera answered.
"My apology, Your Highness! I didn't mean to do that." He lowered his head in embarrassment.
Hera laughs at his sudden panic and gestures.
"Hahaha! Do not mind! I am alright!" She told him.
Alfonso assisted him to sit on his bed. He places a pillow on the wall to let the young man lean on it.
"You have to be grateful to Your Highness! She's the one who asked us to help you!" The stranger turned to her.
"I am sorry! I did not mean to be a burden, but accept my gratitude, Your Highness! Their words are right, you really do have a big heart, and that is extremely remarkable!" He again bowed his head as a sign of gratitude and she smiled at him.
“You seem to know a lot of things about me. If I may ask, may I know what your name is? I don't think you are a Meraxean! Tell me, which kingdom are you from?" She gave him time to respond.
He turns pale as he pauses for a while and then he stares at her blankly. Hera tries to figure out what he's thinking.
"I...do not know!" he mumbled.
He places his hands on his head and presses them in the hopes of recalling his name. Hera and Alfonso exchange looks after hearing what he said.
"What do you mean, you do not know? Who are you, and where are you from?" Alfonso repeated the questions.
His forehead wrinkles as he tries to recall something and then he shakes his head.
"I cannot remember my name nor the place where I come from?" He rubbed his temples as he started to panic about what was happening. "What is wrong with me?"
Hera again sits beside him to let him calm down. Her hand rubs his back while the other holds his hand.
"Hey! It's alright! Calm down! If you do not remember anything, you do not have to fret! Take some rest, soon everything will be alright!" She gently squeezed his hand and gave him a reassuring smile.
He looks at her straight and holds her hands before he speaks.
"Thank you, Your Highness! I will be forever in debt to your kindness!" He meant it.
Only then that Hera notice his bright golden eyes. They're beautiful and mesmerizing. Captivating even.
"Those eyes! They are beautiful!" She actually wanted to say this only to herself, however, she did not realize that she had just said it out loud.
Alfonso then looks at the man to check what she is looking at.
"Aureum!" Hera stood by his bedside. "Aureum! That will be your name!" She said in excitement.
"Your Highness, what do you mean?" Alfonso called to her in confusion.
"We will call you Aureum in the meantime since you can't remember your name. That will be perfect for now! Well, that is if you like it, of course!" She waited for his approval.
"Aureum? What a unique and beautiful name. Of course, Your Highness! It will be my pleasure to be called by the name you have given me! Thank you, I will forever treasure it!" He said in pure gladness.
"Oh! How fortunate you are to be given a name by Your Highness! I wish she could do the same to me!" Alfonso stated in jealousy.
"Hahaha! You do not need my help with your name. Alfonso has been perfect just the way it is!" She patted his shoulder.
Hera's words made Alfonse more than happy. She leaves the infirmary to give Aureum time to rest.
#
AT THE GREAT HALL:
"What?" Aarush exclaimed.
Hera is in the Great Hall with her brother and father.
"Why did you not report this to me, Hera?" He pumped in rage.
"Why do I have to? I do not see the need to report this, we just helped a young man to live! What is wrong with that, Aarush?" She returned the question in defense of her action.
"Hera! I hope you are not forgetting that you're one of the princesses of the kingdom, but every time, you are acting like an ordinary fairy. I don't understand why you always put yourself in danger, you're always choosing to do things on your own accord!" He stated.
"But I am common! More common than the other fairies in the kingdom! These fairies are even better than me because, even though their powers are not as strong as ours, at least they have them and they can use them when, in fact, I do not!" She answered this straight to his face.
He realized what was wrong with his previous statement. "Hera! That is not what I meant!"
He tries to go near her, but she steps back, which causes him to feel guilty about what he just said.
"If you think there is something wrong with my action, go ahead and punish me!" challenged him with full courage, she challenged him. "Father! I will leave the decision to you!" She addressed this to her father.
King Horus sees how serious she is. He knows that whenever she is like this, there is nothing he can do, so the king turns to Aarush and asks him instead to decide on the matter.
"Aarush! As the head of the Royal Army, I will give you the authority to solve this!" He passed the decision-making to his son, knowing that he could never win from his daughter's stubbornness.
"Father???" Aarush exclaimed! Hera faced her brother.
"Very well, you can send a royal guard to my chamber if you already have a suited punishment for me. Excuse me!" She bowed to both of them, then left the hall without letting them say a word.
Aarush rubbed his temples and sighed. "Why do you always have to put me in the spotlight?" He asked the king.
"You know her too well, son! No one can beat her obstinacy!" he explained, which her brother agrees with and sighs heavily.
#
That night Hera cannot sleep again! She moves out of her bed, takes her robe, and quietly walks out of her room. The night is bright as the full moon begins to shine. She stops at the huge balcony facing the mare magicis (magical lake). The water from the lake glistens underneath the moonlight, as bright as diamonds covering the fantastic surface that also glows and glitters.
"Wow! This is so beautiful!" She breathed in the night's fresh air. Its cold breeze soothed her anxieties.
"Wonderful, is it in it?" She looked behind where Aria was standing with her arms wide open, her eyes closed.
"Don't tell me you can't sleep, either!" Hera gave Aria a knowing glare.
Aria walks beside her and hugs her tightly. She places her head on Hera's shoulder as she tightens her embrace.
"The wind brought me here. It whispers that you're having an uneasy heart." She explained.
"Why did the wind let you know about how I currently feel?" Hera held Aria's arms that were wrapped around her waist.
"No direct answer to that! It's just I can't sleep, so I thought of using it to ask you to join me, but you came here first!" She unwrapped her arms to hold Hera's hands. "But now I am certain, your breathing is tense! You are worried about something!" she continued.
Aria's power is not just used to command the wind. She can also feel someone's emotions through their breathing. Hera gently squeezes her hands to assure her that she's fine.
"Come with me!" Aria pulled her.
"To where?" One brow rose, she asked her.
"Trust me, you will love this!" She climbed up the marbled railing of the balcony.
"Aria! What are you doing? Get back here!" She exclaimed.
Astounded by what her sister is doing, she panics. When she sees her sister standing on top of the railing, she worries.
"Let me help you ease your anxieties!" She then jumped out of it!
"Oh, holy Gaia!!! Aria!!!!" Hera called out her name as she ran to the balcony. Hera looked down searching for her from below, but she was nowhere to be found. "Aria? Aria?"
She feels agitated after checking that her sister is not there. She is about to jump down to find her when...
"Who are you searching for?" Aria then spoke.
Hera looks above just to see her floating in the air or, safe to say, she is flying.
"How?" That was the only word she uttered at that time.
Aria sees Hera's confusion, so she decides to descend and sits on top of the railing.
"I have been secretly doing this and now I can say that I have already perfected it!" She revealed. "Give me your hand!" She opened her hand and offered it to her. "Let's enjoy the beauty of the night, Hera!"
At first, Hera was hesitant, and who wouldn't be? This is going to be her first time. Upon reaching her hand, Aria asks her to relax until they both start to levitate.
"Woh! Aria! What is happening? " She expressed her disbelief.
"Relax! Clear your mind, condition it to be one with the wind. Let all your worries be left behind! Breathe in the power of the air, and breathe out all your burdens!" She instructed her.
She follows everything she says and carefully does whatever she instructs her to do.
"Slowly! Open your eyes!" She again instructed her.
It takes a little while to do it, but when she does, it sends a little thrill to her heart.
"Aria!" She nervously calls her.
She cannot believe where she is right now. It was her first time seeing the magnificent wonder of the whole kingdom from above. It did not take a while before she finally overcomes her anxiety and enjoys the scenery as they fly across the kingdom. Without knowing how long they have been on top of the beautiful Meraxes, they both decide to descend. When they are about to return to the palace, Hera notices something on the ground.
#
"What is it, Hera?" Aria followed her gaze.
"Let's lower a bit!" Hera asked Aria to command the wind.
They both lower down and have enough distance to check on the person Hera sees walking alone in the middle of the night.
"Aureum? What is he doing? Where is it going?" Hera inquired in confusion.
Aureum continues to navigate the path going to the lake. The place is lit by the moonlight, which makes the place more enchanting.
"Who is he?" Aria inquired.
"His name is Aureum! We saw him this morning during our rounds in the forest. He was badly injured, so we took him to the infirmary. He is doing okay now, however, he can't remember his name! " She explicated.
"Oh, poor boy! Did he damage his brain? " She pitied her.
"The Medicus is still checking on him!" Hera motioned Aria to stop.
Aureum stops to sit on a big rock facing the lake. He looks up to the moon and then he closes his eyes. Hera and Aria decide to hide in the bushes.
"Why are we following him again?" She annoyingly asked.
"Shh!!! Quiet! " Hera whispers. "What is he thinking? And how did he know this place? Is it possible that he is here? No, he doesn't have Meraxean's bearing. He can't be a fairy! Then who is he? What is he doing in that forest, wounded, and with no memories of his past? " She wondered.
These are just some of the questions she has in mind. Hera does not have any idea how long they stay there. They have already begun to doze off.
Moments pass, and Hera feels someone gently touching her face. Slowly, she opens her eyes. Her left arm feels numb, she flinches as she moves. When she looks at her side, Aria is there, leaning on her, still sound asleep. When she turns to her other side, she is welcomed by a beautiful pair of golden eyes.
#
"Aureum!" Hera exclaimed in surprise.
He smiled at her. "What are you doing here, Your Highness!" He innocently inquired.
She bites her lower lip out of embarrassment. She cannot tell him that they tailed him there.
"Think fast, Hera!" Her brain panicked for a while.
She is trying to come up with the best excuse, but before she can even say a word, Aria already wakes up.
"Are you done watching him? Can we go home now? " She said while rubbing her eyes.
Hera's eyes grow bigger and she sees Aureum trying to hide his amusement.
"Ouch!" Aria exclaimed in pain.
She discreetly pinches Aria to stop her blubbing...
"Hey! What is that for? " She irritatingly faced her.
Hera gives her a knowing look. She then realizes that a man is kneeling beside her.
"Oh! Hello! My name is Aria, I am the youngest and the most beautiful among the princesses of the Kingdom of Meraxes, daughter of King Horus and Queen Montana, sister of Hera, Marin, and Aarush our elder brother, the only prince royal. " She enthusiastically boosted herself.
Hera cannot help but do a facepalm and gasp as she listens to her sister's introduction. Hera pulls her beside her and covers her mouth to stop her sister from embarrassing her.
"Sorry about that!" Hera apologized to Aureum.
Aureum just shrugs it off. Informing her that there is nothing for her to worry about. He looks more handsome in the moonlight. Hera begins to feel that there is something in him that she cannot point out even at this time. Aureum then turns to introduce himself to Aria.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Princess Aria of the Kingdom of Meraxes!" He takes her hand and gives it a peck.
Aria is in awe of his gestures. They all stand before they continue the conversation, but because they sit there for quite a long, Hera's knees feel a bit shaky. She wobbles as she stands, which causes her to fall. However, before she can even hit the ground, a strong arm catches her in the waist.
"Wohhh!" She exclaims.
"Your Highness!" Aureum's fast reflex saved her.
Hera and Aureum stay in that position for a few seconds. Staring at each other's eyes. Aria begins to tease them.
"Ahem, ahem, ahem!" Aria coughed exaggeratedly.
This pulls them back to the present time. They both return to their senses and compose themselves again. Aureum then faces them again.
"I'd like to properly introduce myself, though I can't remember anything, at least I have a gift that was given to me, something that I can use to start with. My name is Aureum, a lost soul in the wonderful kingdom of Meraxes," he proudly stated.
He takes a bow, a gesture of politeness and respect. He offers his hand to Hera, which she accepts and Aria does the same. Hera can feel the flattery deep inside her. His lips, touching her skin as he offers it a kiss, send shivers to her entire body. It is a good thing that it is dark, nobody can see the sudden flow of blood that warms her cheeks from his simple gentlemanly gestures.
,
- Writer
