MINE TO HOLD

ARIA THE NEW SERVANT.

EPISODE 7

Few days on Aurora and Lucas decided to go hunting..they rode deeper in the woods their horses moving so fast and steady, they arrived and dismounted their tracks,moving silently beneath branches,the hunt was clean with Lucas , tracking and Aurora shooting, they felt peace after a long time,the past weeks had been tough for both of them.

As Aurora was walking she stepped onto a patch of leaves not seeing the loose earth beneath ,,,her feet twisted and she fell.

"Ah....!!!" she screamed

"Princess Aurora " Lucas said rushing to her side, he offered his hand to her,she stared at it for a bit then smirked faintly, her fingers around his, then suddenly she pulled him beside her,Lucas body was now laying just inches from hers,for a moment neither of them moved, Aurora's hand slid to his cheek and he froze in fear.

"Why do you keep pretending?" She whispered .She then leaned in ready to kiss him but Lucas pulled away once again, her chest tightened not with surprise but wounded pride.

"Why???Is it because am younger than you??or maybe you don't find me attractive at all??" She asked still on the ground.

"No my princess...you are very beautiful, you have always been...but there are lines we must not cross....you should look for someone young just like you..." Lucas answered without looking at her.

"It's you l want Lucas ...l don't care if you are twice my age....l like you alot" She said trying so hard to get his attention.

"Am here to protect you ...Nothing more" Lucas said bluntly, he stood up and extended his hand again but Aurora ignored his hand and stood on her own, brushing dirt from her gown.

They arrived at the palace very late in the evening, Aurora walking beside Lucas in silence since the awkward moments in the forest,,they stepped in the main corridor and noticed a crowd of Servants discussing in low tones,Aurora heart skipped in fear thinking something had happened to her family but she saw the crowd gathered around a new figure, dressed in simple servant attires yet somehow more elegant,she had nice curves ,her long hair falling on her back like dark waters ,the lady turned and then her eyes fell on Lucas,something shifted in her eyes, and then a smile blossomed on her face, a real one, too intimate to be mistaken,,it was clearly she was happy to see him.

"Lucas..." She called, Lucas froze and then walked more faster towards her, he held her ,eyes locking and for the first time he smiled with love.

"Aria..." He called his voice softer than Aurora had ever heard.The crowd fell silent and Aurora was just standing and watching them.

"l thought l'd never see you again" Her voice trembled sincerely

"Am here now Aria....better than before" lucas answered with his gaze drinking her in. Aurora heart clenched, she wa clearly jealous but tried to hide it, she glanced between them,

"Do you know each other?" She asked, Aria flashed her respectful bow.

"Yes your highness Lucas and l have known each other since we were kids" Aria said looking at the smiling Lucas.

"But am older than you remember " He teased Aria as they kept smiling sheepishly something that Aurora didn't find funny. She started connecting the dots to why Lucas could not accept her advances towards him,so his heart belonged to another 'Aria'

"Yeah l know that...you are older so!!?? He has always been strong and stubborn " Aria said looking at both of them, Lucas chuckled,no he actually laughed, Aurora stared at him ,he had never seen Lucas laugh that hard.

"l asked the steward if l could serve in the royal wing...so that l could see you again,,,have really prayed for this day" Aria said looking at Lucas.

"We are together now ...aren't we? " Lucas asked.

"Sure we are.." Aria answered stepping towards him,she brushed the dust from Lucas's shoulder, a touch she didn't need to make at all,,Lucas's breath stilled but he didn't pull away.

" I will be in my chambers " Aurora said politely trying to hide her jealousy and walked away.

That night Aurora was so disturbed on how Lucas had rejected her kiss,,she thought on how he was happy to see Aria and how they looked at each other with love,unable to rest she decided walk around the balcony attached to her chambers ,a flicker of movements below caught her attention, she moved silently to the stone railing peering down the palace garden, and there beneath a large tree stood Lucas and Aria,this time they stood closer than before , she could hear Aria speaking to Lucas softly, her voice warm and low , Lucas face softened a look Aurora had never seen before, so smooth and cool...it was a look that never belonged to duty but love. Aria lifted her hand to his face, brushing his lips with slow tenderness ,Lucas didn't pull away nor resist,his hands rose to cover hers as if he longed for that touch ,Aria whispered something in his ear and lucas smiled and leaned forward, their forheads touched ,Aurora continued watching them as her heart hammered loudly in her chest,and then Lucas kissed her passionately, not gently but familiarity longing a kiss of someone you haven't seen in years. Aria clung to him, fingers tangled in his hair while Lucas was busy wrapping his arms around her waist, their tongue still on a non ending war.

They finished and stood under the tree fingers entwined, catching their breath for some seconds,Aria then rested her head on Lucas's chest, Lucas held her as if she might vanish yet another time.

"Promise you will stay with me" He whispered

"l will be here Lucas" she assured touching his chest. Lucas felt footsteps, he lifted his head instincts searching the shadows, there on the balcony half- hidden by moonlight stood Aurora she had already returned to the balcony the movie she had seen was enough for the day, she wasn't moving just standing perfectly her face was unreadable,her gown fluttered from the breeze ,Lucas was shocked

"Princess Aurora " He whispered

"What is it Lucas?" Aria asked lifting her head from his chest .Lucas did not answer his gaze was locked on the balcony, he knew Aurora had seen everything.

Aurora turned away slowly and went inside.

Lucas took a step forward but Aria gently touched his arm.

" She saw us...you can't undo that,,,she won't tell a soul because she trusts you" she said

"She shouldn't have seen that ...go inside l shall see you again in the morning " He kissed her cheek and left.

Aurora's chambers were quiet when Lucas reached them,he knocked at her door but no answer, he knocked again but still no one answered

"Princess Aurora...open the door" He called softly

"Just go away Lucas " She said from inside

" l never meant for you to see that...and l know you did" Lucas said but there was no answer until he gave up. Inside the room Aurora sat on the floor beside her bed knees drown to her chest ,cursing silently, and then she made a deadlly decision.

Morning broke with the golden hush of sunrise but peace didn't last long,trumpets sounded the palace grounds with Servants freezing on their mid-task,guards straighting as a herald stepped in the courtyard with a parchment stamped with a royal seal, his voice ranger clearly.

"By the royal declaration, her highness princess Aurora of Aruke kingdom is to be wed to Prince Alex of Luma heir to the Western Crown" Whispers spread like wildfire everyone froze and surprised.

"The princess is to marry??" One of the servant asked.

"Why is it so sudden?" Another asked. On the other hand Lucas felt a sharp pain in his chest something uncontrollable painful, his blood ran cold.