SLUMBER (Not So Ordinary Fairy Tale Series)

CHAPTER 8

A/N: Sorry guys, but starting from now on I'll kinda make things fast-paced. After rereading my work many times i kinda found it boring and uneventful. Plus, I'm getting so tired of postponing a lot of things in this story and I don't have much patience to prolong my words. I somehow made it a bit slowpaced before coz I'm a bit nervous in writing a story online. (It's my first time, heh :P) So from now on Im all drained out of being WAY too formal and I'm just writing this all out of impulse. No second thoughts, just want to put my imagination to work. Let's just see how this all would turn out! XP So here we go:

Maryweather and Auro have been walking for a while in silence. Auro somehow felt ashamed of his outburst earlier but he had to admit that he felt a whole lot better now. But still, he kinda felt guilty to put all his frustrations on Maryweather. He was like a bomb that just went to KA-BOOM. And now, he just don't know what to say, so he kept silent. Maryweather doesn't make a sound also. Might be because she's angry at him.

The tunnels are much easier to identify now, now that Auro was able to recall the trails after their last tour. Ever since he discovered these secret passages as a kid, he had took it in himself to discover where they all lead to. It had been fun pretending to be an explorer and the dark never bothered him anyway. But that was when he was a kid.

Ever since he became thirteen. Time to play and explore has been less and less. That's why he somehow became a little rusty for this kinds of things.

The door came to view and as they were about to approach it, a hand pulled him back. Auro turned around to see Maryweather with her head down.

"Auro... I, I'm sorry I guess I've been a bit too ignorant myself and-"

"You haven't called me that for a long time."

Maryweather raised her head, taken aback. "I- what?"

"Auro. Ever since we reunited again you always call me your Highness or Prince."

"I was just-. It was formal-. And you were so-"

Auro burst out laughing.

"I guess we're both bad with words huh."

Maryweather smiled. "I guess."

"Man, I missed laughing. Especially with a dear friend."

Dear friend. 

"Yeah. Yeah me too."

"So I guess, you were trying to apologize huh?"

"Don't get ahead of yourself! I'm only trying to be mature and acknowledging my mistakes."

"Yeah, yeah I get it. Don't worry I forgive you. Sorry also for bursting out like that."

"I guess we're even then."

"Yeah, were even."

They were silent for a while when Maryweather let out a long sigh.

"So. Are you sure about this? There's no turning back you know. After we cast the spell, there's not even an assurance that you might wake up again."

"I know. But it's much better this way than having my kingdom suffer under a crazy king."

"Should've guessed that. Here." She took his hand and wave hers above it. A small red thread appeared on his palm.

"What's this?"

"Something that would help you in the dream world." She tied the end to his finger. "Just make sure you'll wake up okay."

"Don't tell me you're worried? Afraid you'll miss me?" He teased.

"Shut up numbskull!" She then pushed him to the door.

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The ritual was something not like any other spell castings. It should be timed and done well. If one thing goes wrong the subject might go into paralyzation or die on the spot. But it seems like Lady Fortune was on their side because it was full moon of the summer, a perfect time for this type of spell.

The three fairies surrounded the king in a triangle formation. Auro held the Golden Spindle in his hands while the fairies chanted. A magic circle appeared on the floor and glowed so bright in many different colors that it can be compared to starlight.  

Flora stepped forward and made him kneel while offering the spindle to her. A symbol that means he gives consent for the spell to be put on him. Flora took the spindle as he stood up. He pointed his finger and pricked it with the spindle. A drop blood fell to the floor and the magic circle flashed to a blinding white light and suddenly disappeared.

B-BUMP

"AUGH!" A pain suddenly pierced his chest and made him fall to his knees.

Auro! He heard Maryweather shout but it sounds so far away.

"AH!" He felt his whole body suddenly go tense and starting to become weak.

Wh-what's happening to me?

He was starting to panic but his heart made a drastic change: from beating so fast then forcibly going slow. Like he was forced to relax. His eyes went wide, his whole body went limp, and he then lay down on the floor.

He was starting to lose conscience when he saw the panicstricken Maryweather being held back by a solemn Flora. Things were starting to flash before his eyes as his mind was beginning to drift.

He remembered his people shouting. He remembered that after he went out of the chapel they all yelled...

God save our king!

Auro closed his eyes.

It was the beginning of the long sleep.