A King's Tale

A Brand New Day

After revealing a few details of her scarred past, Aurora felt more comfortable as she lay beside Henry. Although it was unladylike for her to sleep in a man’s bed that isn’t her husband's, she felt comfortable there. It felt right. He felt truly safe as Henry enclosed her in an embrace.

Henry slept with a smile on his face knowing that Aurora has finally started to open up herself to him.

Aurora was the first one to wake up the next morning. The light was starting to penetrate the curtains in Henry’s bedroom window. When she opened her eyes, Henry’s face was the very first one that she saw.

Henry was still asleep. His breathing was regular and silent. The King doesn’t snore. Aurora felt her cheeks flushed. She knew that she snored when she slept. She hoped it didn’t disturb his sleep last night.

It felt good to look at Henry like this. It was the closest Aurora had ever been with the King.

His face was clear, with no trace of freckles in his face. It was white, but not pale. He didn’t have dark circles around his eyes. Maybe he didn’t worry a lot. He had a small cleft chin, and dimples on his right cheeks whenever he smiled. Henry’s hair was red-brownish, almost close to the color of rust, but brighter.

Henry was indeed a very beautiful being.

Aurora froze when Henry started to move closer to her face. He was still obviously sleeping, maybe even dreaming. When he moved, his lips almost touched hers.

She tried not to breathe. “What did I get myself into?” She asked herself. But she was so terrified last night. She never got over her fear of fire. Of the things that reminded him about what happened to her in the past.

Aurora tried not to breathe. She was afraid to wake Henry.

But Henry moved again, this time embracing her.

Their lips met.

Henry thought he was dreaming. He was with Aurora, enjoying the castle grounds. They were having a picnic near the chapel grounds. She was so adorable and beautiful. He tried to control himself, but it was already too much. He moved closer so he could kiss her.

And he did. He felt those soft red lips on his.

He moved his lips, biting Aurora’s lower lip with his. It tasted like strawberry.

Henry continued kissing her. It felt so real.

But then he heard someone gasp. He opened his eyes and saw Aurora’s eyes, staring at him, surprised and shocked.

He was not dreaming. He was actually kissing Aurora.

Shocked, he was about to move his head backward.

But Aurora closed her eyes and started to respond to his keys.

How can he pull back when she was responding to him this way.

Henry felt that his eyes were about to shut close too. But Aurora suddenly opened her eyes again and then moved away.

Aurora was shocked when Henry’s lips touched hers. She was already frozen in place earlier, afraid to make any sudden movements that may cause Henry to wake up. But now, he was kissing her. What should she do?

Henry’s lips began to move on her lips. He even pressed her lower lip in between his lips.

She knew her eyes were wide open in shock when Henry opened his eyes.

Was he awake or was he still dreaming? Or maybe he was awake all along.

But then, Aurora felt something inside her, urging her to close her eyes.

“This is your first kiss.” She told herself.

Aurora found herself closing her eyes and responding to Henry’s lips. Her lips met his as she tried to copy his movement. Or was it coming from her naturally.

Then she realized that she was a lady. A lady should never kiss someone who is not her husband. And they were in bed. Who knows how far this kiss can go.

Kissing is between two people who love each other. Henry was not in love with her.

Aurora came to her senses and opened her eyes quickly. She used all her will to pull his lips away from Henry.

The two of them looked at each other, surprised by what just transpired between the two of them.

Henry wanted to say that he was sorry. But how can he say that to Aurora if he doesn’t feel sorry for kissing her?

Aurora was waiting for Henry to say anything. The silence was deafening. Was he sorry for what he did? But if he is, why does it hurt thinking that Henry was sorry for kissing her?

A knock from Henry’s door ended the silence in the room. Henry got out of bed to head to the door.

When Henry was already out of sight, Aurora sat on the edge of the bed. She touched her lips. It was still throbbing from Henry’s kiss earlier.

Then Henry came back, calling her name. “We need to prepare for the day Aurora, tomorrow is the Grand Ball, a few guests are coming to stay here in the castle. We are expecting them to arrive in less than an hour. You can head to your room to prepare so we can still have our breakfast before they arrive.”

She looked at Henry then nodded. Aurora stood up and walked towards the door. She was about to open it to leave, but then she decided to turn around.

“Thank you for last night.” She didn’t wait for Henry’s reply. She turned around to face the door, opened it, and left.

Henry looked back but Aurora was already outside his door. He unconsciously touched his lips as he looked at his unclosed door. Henry kissed over a hundred women in his lifetime, but why did it felt as if this was his first kiss?

Aurora hurriedly cleaned herself and changed into a new set of dresses. She chose among the new gowns that Henry bought for her. Turned out, the red ball gown that she picked for the ball tomorrow was not the only gown that Henry bought for her. When she checked the boxes that Silverio brought to her room, there were around three gowns and several dresses there.

She picked an emerald green dress, one that matches the color of her eyes. She hurriedly tied her hair into a loose knot before looking at the mirror.

Aurora knew that she was beautiful, but she never considered herself a standout. Besides, her being was never celebrated. No one even gave her a second look. She was far from ordinary. Aurora is a ghost, or even worse, she does not exist.

She didn't exist up until a few months ago. After being sheltered and hidden all her life, she suddenly was required to bring honor to her family. Aurora was suddenly required to perform duties, duties that she never knew she had or will have. It was one of the many reasons why she decided to escape.

She didn’t have to think about that for now. What troubles her is the fact that she will be staying at the same table as Henry who just kissed her a while ago.

Maybe it was her fault. She was the one who was begging him to let her stay for the night. Maybe he was tempted. Or maybe he was just dreaming.

But how can she explain the night before that, and the morning that they shared yesterday? The cold morning prompted Henry to make her stay longer in bed. The cold morning where Henry enclosed her in a tight embrace?

She was not only confused with how Henry was treating her. She was confused by his actions. Moreover, she was confused about herself.

Why did she allow Henry to do all those things to her? She could have jumped out of bed, ran back to her room, and locked herself there. Or she could leave Dunnottar Castle than be constantly trapped with Henry’s charm.

Charm.

Was she enchanted with Henry’s charms? Does she find Henry charming?

All these questions in her head are making it even harder to think about how she will handle herself around Henry.

She took in a huge amount of air, exhaled, and then went outside her room to the Grand Hall.

Aurora was almost close to the stairs when she heard footsteps behind her. It was Henry.

Henry walked faster, seeing Aurora walking ahead of her in the hallway. She was wearing the emerald dress that she picked from the dress shop yesterday. It fit her body well. The back was a little bit low but it was enough to avoid exposing her scarred back. He would take note of this detail the next time he decides to buy clothes for her. Henry smiled at the thought. He was already looking forward to future things he’ll be doing for and with Aurora.

Henry easily caught up with her before she descended the stairs. He offered his right hand to assist her, which Aurora took.

“Did you like it?” Henry asked.

Aurora suddenly stopped, she was shocked by his question. How can Henry be so blunt?

“The dress, do you like it?” Henry reinstated his question, seeing Aurora’s puzzled reaction.

Aurora’s face shifted, she knew her cheeks were now red with the judgment that she mistakenly gave Henry a few seconds ago.

“Yes, it is beautiful. Even the other dresses. You shouldn’t have bought me that many.”

“Those are not enough. I’ll buy you more after the ball.” Henry replied as if he hadn't heard what she just said about buying her too many clothes.

They were close to the bottom of the stairs when Aurora heard a woman’s voice from below. It had a slight shriek of excitement calling out Henry’s name.

“Oh, Henry!” The woman in the blue dress exclaimed. Her bosom bounced a bit as she hurriedly walked towards Henry.

“It has been a long time Henry, I have missed you.” The woman kissed Henry’s cheeks.

Henry almost forgot. He had invited Marie to the Royal Ball. He even said that she could stay in the castle before the ball if she wanted to. He felt awkward when she kissed her in front of Aurora.

Subconsciously Aurora placed her free hand, the one Henry was not holding to his arm. It was as if she needed to do that to make her territory or to show this woman that she can do that to Henry, that she too was close and personal with the King.

Was she jealous or threatened?

Silverio was quick to rescue Henry from the awkward situation.

“My lady, I shall lead you to your room now.” He said.

“Yes Marie,” Henry seconded. “You need to rest.” He held Aurora’s hand that was now holding his arm. “Silverio, bring Lady Marie something to eat in his room. She will join us later for lunch after she is well-rested.”

Silverio nodded, “Yes your Majesty.”

Marie looked at Aurora from head to toe. She was obviously trying hard to keep a poker face. She then looked at Henry. “Let’s catch up later Henry.” She said. She did something weird to her eyes as if she was trying to make them flutter. Aurora bit her lips to conceal her smile.

Henry looked at Aurora, “Shall we go now?”

Aurora gave Henry her sweetest smile before looking at Marie. She looked back to Henry and then replied. “As you wish MY highness.” She made sure to say the word MY with conviction.

Marie raised her eyebrows as the two turned their backs on her.