A King's Tale

Enchanted

Henry was not in the mood to get up. It was too cold and he felt relaxed here. Warm actually. It felt right cuddling Aurora in his arms.

“Enter!” He bellowed from bed. He slightly tilted his head so he would not end up shouting in Aurora's ears.

Aurora heard the door open. She suddenly felt the need to bury her face on the pillow, or even on Henry’s neck to hide her face. She was in a very compromising position with Henry. What would the people inside the castle think of her?

As she heard the footsteps coming towards the bed, Aurora chose the latter. She hid her face, burrowing it on Henry’s neck. Her hair slightly covered her face.

“Your highness, I have prepared soup for breakfast. It is an awfully cold morning.” It was Silverio.

“Please leave it on my table. You can leave Aurora’s breakfast here too.” He said.

Somehow Aurora felt irritated. It would make no sense to hide her face if Henry would simply tell Silverio to leave her food here. She couldn't help but pinch Henry on the waist.

Henry jerked, amused and surprised with how she reacted. He tried to hide his laughter. “And please clean up her room. She threw up on her bed last night. You might have to replace the futon or at least have it dried under the sun.” Silverio saw him trying to hide a smile.

Somehow, he felt happy for him. It has been decades since he saw his master smile. Having Aurora here in the castle added color and life to Dunnottar Castle, and hopefully to Henry’s life too.

“As you wish for your majesty. Do you need anything else?” Silverio asked.

“Nothing for now. You can go.” Henry replied, still trying not to laugh. He felt ticklish with the strands of Aurora’s hair on his neck. Her silent breathing on the skin of his neck was endearing and slightly uncomfortable for him. He didn't want to send the wrong signals to Aurora even with this compromising position that they are in.

Aurora heard Silverio’s footsteps away from the bed. When she heard the door open, then closed, she pinched Henry on the side again, this time it was harder than the first.

“Ow,” Henry complained. But he was smiling. “What was that for?” He asked, although he already knew the answer.

“Why would you have to tell Silverio to leave my food here. I tried to hide my face and there you go telling him indirectly that this is me.” She said. Aurora wanted to push him away but it was cold and Henry’s tight embrace felt so good for her.

“There’s no point hiding it to Silverio. He is my right hand. He knows everything that transpires inside the castle.” Henry tried to explain. “Besides, he would have easily assumed that it was you laying on my bed especially if he finds your bed empty.” He was still trying not to laugh.

Aurora felt that he was not taking her seriously. She began to cry.

Henry noticed her sobbing.

“What seems to be the problem?” Henry lifted her chin so he could see her eyes.

“I am a lady, what would Silverio think of me?” She replied, still teary-eyed.

“But I didn’t do anything. I swear on my life. I was just worried about leaving you alone. So I brought you here instead.” He explained.

“I was supposed to sleep in a different room but I fell asleep here instead.” He added. “I am sorry if I have offended you in any way.”

Aurora tried to calm herself down. Did she hear it right? Was Henry apologizing?

Henry knew that he had somehow offended Aurora. But how come instead of pulling away from him, it felt like she even moved closer, not minding his tight embrace.

They stayed in that position for a few more minutes. Every time an extra cool breeze entered the room, Henry tightened his embrace. Aurora unconsciously would move closer to him, as if she was enjoying his embrace.

“I am sorry if you felt that I have wronged you. But this,” He pulled her closer. “This felt right. Does it?”

Aurora didn’t know what to say, or how to react. Here was Henry again, making her feel important. He was being warm to her again.

Henry didn’t expect her to answer him back. “This is the downside of living inside castes. It can be so cold during the winter and the rainy season.”

“Yes, some people thought it’s such a pleasure living inside castes, but it can be so lonely and cold in reality,” Aurora replied. She then realized that she should have not said that.

Henry didn't react. He felt that Aurora didn’t intentionally reveal that fact to him. Maybe his assumptions were correct. Maybe she was a royal or somehow raised among them. But it was not the time to ask. Henry did not care. All he cares about at this moment is how perfect Aurora felt underneath his embrace.

He heard her stomach grumble.

“I want to stay longer holding you like this but I do not want to starve you yet,” Henry whispered to her. “I am letting go now unless you want us to stay like this a little bit longer.” Henry was hopeful.

Aurora wanted to stay like that with Henry longer. But the morals and beliefs told her to let go.

She slowly pulled her hand from Henry’s waist and began to move her body further away

Henry started to get up from bed too. He realized that Aurora was just wearing a camisole. It was still cold. He took his vest and offered it to her. Aurora feeling exposed took it.

Henry looked inside his dresser and tried to find something more comfortable for her. He found a red cloak that was once her mother’s. He gave it to Aurora who was already seated on the cigar by his table. The table where Silverio let them have their breakfast.

“Here, you’ll feel warmer with this.” He handed her the coat. Aurora gave her back the vest and took the coat. Her cheeks started to have color. She didn’t feel that cold anymore.

Henry sat opposite her. “Let us eat while the food is still hot.” He told her.

Aurora took a piece of bread and bit it before trying out the soup. She felt her stomach warm up. She didn’t have dinner last night and she was feeling hungry. Somehow the soup was also still warm when they started eating.

They were halfway through their food when Henry tried to start a conversation.

“What are your plans today?” Henry was not looking at her but was addressing her since they were the only ones inside the room.

“Nothing really, it's still raining so I guess I’ll try to get busy and entertain myself indoors.” She replied, slightly looking at Henry’s face which was focused on the soup.

“Would you care to come with me to town?” Henry remembered that he needed to check his suit for the grand ball.

“You want me to come with you to Stonehaven?” Aurora felt tense. Her memory of the town was mostly running and hiding.

“Yes, if you want to.” Henry hoped that she did. “Maybe we can have you a dress made as well, for the party.”

“Party? What party?” She was starting to be even more nervous.

“Yes, the King’s Royal Ball,” Henry informed her. He was almost done with his soup and bread.

“You are having a party hosted here in the castle?” Aurora started to feel unsafe.

“Yes, a masquerade ball of sorts. You can be my date.” There, finally, Henry was able to tell her. Although he was not required to have a date for the celebration, having one would make it easier to avoid the other ladies and the other royals who would most likely introduce their daughters to him at the party.

Aurora felt relieved when Henry revealed that it was a masquerade party. She could easily hide her face.

Why is she even worried about that? Well maybe, deep down inside she wanted to go. She wanted to be Henry’s date for the evening.

Surprised, she agreed. “If you say so.” She said after swallowing her last piece of bread.

Henry’s eyes lit, “Alright then, we will leave once you're dressed.”

After breakfast, Aurora excused herself so she could change into more appropriate clothes.

When she entered her room, her futon was not there anymore. Maybe Silverio already took it for cleaning.

She picked among the clothes available inside the dresser. She found a modest dress, a simple one that is not too fancy that would make it easier for the seamstress to get her measurements.

When she was done, she waited by her door. She was uncertain if she was supposed to return to Henry’s room or if he was picking her up by her door.

After a few minutes, Henry appeared from the hallways, headed in her direction.

“Are you ready?” He asked.

She nodded.

Henry offered her hand to escort her.

Timidly she placed her hand over his elbow.

Silverio was waiting for them at the end of the stairs.

Somehow seeing Henry and Aurora together reminded her of a lady that captured Henry’s heart decades ago.

He was just a young boy back then. She was in charge of taking care of the horses while his father served as the steward to the King, to Henry.

One day, after being away from the palace for several years, Henry arrived at the palace. Together with him was a beautiful lady. One with long black hair. Her eyes were blue. She looked very warm. She actually is. Silverio fondly remembered him as one of the very few ladies that paid attention to him back in the days.

That lady was Bianca. She was the last lady that Henry brought home.

He could still remember the day when he saw Henry carrying Bianca’s lifeless body from the beach. He was crying. No, he was more than crying. He was in torment. He lost the life in his eyes when Bianca took her life on the cliff.

But Henry was different today. Well, he started to change when they took in Aurora in the castle. Somehow Silverio saw life, a small spark in his eyes when he saw that poor girl back in Stonehaven. That spark started to grow.

Now as the two of them descended the stairs, he saw life in his master’s eyes. He looked enchanted, captivated with the beauty and the spark of life that this blonde and beautiful lady brought inside the castle.

“The carriage is ready, your highness.” Silverio slightly bowed when the two reached the end of the stairs.

“Thank you, Silverio. We should go now.” He said.

Aurora sat beside Henry inside the carriage. They were silent. She contented herself with watching the side of the road to town. As they drew closer to Stonehaven, Henry spoke. “Do you like the color red?” He asked out of nowhere.

“I find it stunning. Just like the color of roses, of the Red Sea, of the blood that keeps us alive.” Aurora replied as if reciting a poem to Henry.

He didn’t speak after that.

They arrived at the familiar spot in tow. Here is where Aurora took the chance and hid inside the carriage, not knowing that the king was inside.

“You can stay inside. I won't take long,” Henry told her. Somehow he felt that she was not comfortable getting out the castle.

Aurora was somehow relieved. She felt uncomfortable getting off the carriage. She somehow felt unsafe in Stonehaven.

Just like what Henry promised, it took him a good 5 minutes inside the premises. He entered the carriage again, followed by Silverio who was carrying a box. He neatly placed it by the flooring of the carriage before he went out and sat beside the horseman.

They traveled a few minutes and ended up in a seamstress.

Aurora looked around. She somehow felt comfortable. Henry took her hand. “Come. You are safe with me.” He assured her.

Henry got out of the carriage first and helped Aurora as she descended the steps. They immediately entered the premises.

Luckily, there were no other customers inside. They had the place all to themselves.

The old lady that owned the premises was somehow surprised to see the king. She bowed and immediately attended to his needs.

“I need a ball gown for her in two days. Will you be able to finish it?” He asked.

“I can, your highness, but I also have a couple of newly made gowns here. You might want to have a look at them.” The old lady suggested. She looked at Aurora, smiling.

Henry looked at Aurora and nodded. As if he was encouraging her to go and see the dresses.

Aurora followed the old lady to the next room. There were three ball gowns displayed inside. But one caught her eye.

It was an old rose ball gown with different shades of red flowing from the waist down to the hem. She failed to notice what the other colors of the two dresses were because his eyes were already fixated on this beautiful ball gown.

“Ah, you seem to have made your choice already.” Said the old lady. Aurora looked at her and smiled. “Can I try it on?” She asked. The old lady nodded and smiled.

Henry was sitting in the waiting area together with Silverio. “What seems to be taking them long?” Henry was conscious about the time it took for Aurora to choose a dress.

“Patience your highness, women can really consume a ton of time when it comes to picking dresses. My mom used to do that a lot whenever father bought her new dresses.” Silverio said.

After a few more minutes of waiting, Aurora entered the waiting area, now dressed in the ball gown that she fell in love with earlier.

Henry felt her draw job. He was also certain that his mouth was slightly open in awe.

“Perfect.” That was the only appropriate word he could find at that time.

Silverio looked at Aurora and then at Henry.

He was certain. His master is indeed enchanted with this young lady’s beauty.