AURORA

Chapter 4: Part II

             I sit in front of my vanity stroking my hair. Thinking of him. I can see his skin. His perfect chocolate skin. His straight posture. I can hear his strong medieval English accent. I was so lost in thought I get my hair caught in my brush. I laugh out loud and stare in my mirror. I see the beauty that Daniel sees. My smile reaches the heavens. In the middle of all my laughter, I hear a knock at the door. "What is it?" "Flowers your highness." "Flowers? With anticipation I say, come in?" I can't even see the guard, because he's carrying this giant basked of roses. My eyes twinkle. The guard says, "We checked them thoroughly before handing them to you my queen. A man brought them to the castle door and he walked off. If I'm not speaking out of turn here, I believe it's the same strapping young fellow from the night of the festival." I let out another smile and laugh. "What is your name guard?" I think to myself, "I don't know the names of the people who watch over my chambers, but they know mine. This has to change." "My name is David my queen. Is there anything else that you need your highness?" "No, that will be all Sir David." He bows and walks off. Closing that big, bulky door behind him.

             In the roses, I can see a small piece of paper sticking out of them. I pick it up and it reads, "-Daniel. How Astonishing. How beautiful. Could this be my queen? Or a long lost lover? I sniff the roses. Allowing my nose to be filled by its wonderful aroma. "Roses. The everlasting symbol of love. The life they bring to the one it's given. The life they bring to me." I place them in front of my window seal, because there I'll be able to see them before and after I sleep.

            I happily look out my window and see a group of horses. These horses were large. Their hooves bigger than my hand. Their hair more luxurious than even mine. Their muscle far greater than that of any man in Dubar. I immediately feel the want to ride one. I think up a simple dress and rush through the door. With the company of my guards. I walk down to the horses. I walk up to the first one I see. The guard thinking of my safety says, "Are you sure about this your highness?" Barely listening because I'm so captivated by the beauty of the horse, I reply, "I'm as sure as I have ever been." I slowly walk up to the horse. The horse welcomed me. It knew I meant it no harm. I lay my hand across its nose. His skin feels so soft. I laugh as the horse seems to laugh with me as he eats on his grass. As I'm enjoying the company of the horse I hear footsteps coming closer. A man says, "Well look at what the horses have brought upon me. The beauty." I turn and see the sight of Daniel. My guard David says, "Is he alright to be near you my queen?" "Why yes David, leave us be." I smile in the presence of Daniel. He walks over to me, coming as close as arms reach. "I see you and my horse have gotten acquainted." "This is your horse?" "They're all my horses your highness." "What exactly do you do with all these horses Daniel?"

            "Well I get them trained for my hunting. You see all the meat in Dubar comes from people like me. We are constantly on the hunt. We provide this kingdom with all the meat we can find." As I sit listening and curious, he asks, "Would you like to ride him?" "Him? What is his name?" "His name is Alto, because in Spanish, "alto" means tall. Alto is the tallest horse I have." "Well Daniel, I would love to ride Alto. We smile at each other and proceed. He picks me up with ease and places me on the horse. He hopped on as I'm placed in front of him. He grabs the reigns and looks to the side of me and says, "Ready queen?" Before I could even answer, he flips the reigns and shouts, "Alto!" I laugh so loud with the wind seeping through my eyes. My laugh carries through the air. I can feel his heartbeat. It thumps as he laughs and pulls the reigns. We ride for an eternity until we reach this large grassy pasture. I see a large tree shaped like an umbrella. Its base so thick that I couldn't walk up to it and wrap my arms around it.

              Still laughing, he jumps down and asks for my hand. I smile and grab his soft hand to be pulled down. "This is where I go to get away. This tree has been home to me since I was a young boy. My father and mother got married here. It was a beautiful day that day." "And where are your parents now?" "They died a long time ago queen." "I'm deeply sorry to hear that Daniel and call me Aurora." I walk off towards the tree hoping I didn't ruin the mood asking a question that calls for a sad answer. The tree looks to be a weeping willow. It didn't have leaves. Instead, it had very long green sheets that looked like long pieces of grass. Some strands were so long that they touched the ground. The sun beamed harshly, but the tree shaded us. "So, you know a little about me, now tell me about you." I was stomped. Had no clue what to tell him. I pull myself together and tell him the truth. "There's not much to know about me. I'm a curious woman. I enjoy walking around. Most importantly love to look around. It allows me to find new things. If I hadn't looked outside that mirror, we wouldn't be here right now. He laughed. "We would be here. Either way, I would've come to persuade you to come out of that castle.

            A long, deep silence follows. I feel his eyes staring at me. Those hazel curious, wanting eyes. "Aurora, I love you." I quickly turn towards him. I had never been told that before, but I felt the same way. Slowly I say, "Daniel, I love you too." We pull ourselves closer. He touched the side of my cheeks with his manly hands. He kisses me and I kiss him back. Chest to chest. Love is now flowing in the air. His muscular body falls on top of mine. He stops. "Are you sure about this?" "As sure as I have ever been about anything Daniel." He continues and the touch, feel, and freshness of love is sprouting.

             As it all was over, it was well into the evening. We pulled ourselves together and rode back to Dubar. We're closer than ever. He pulls me off my horse and says, "Tonight was a wonderful night Aurora, I hope to see you soon. Use these horses anytime you please. I bid thee goodnight." I quickly say, goodnight my love." He bows, kisses my hand, stares for an extra second longer and leaves. My guards rush over to me. David says, "Are you alright your highness? You were gone for a very long time. I was preparing to come look for you." "I'm quite alright. I'm better than alright, I'm in love. Now take me to my chambers. I must rest."