Sleeping Beauty

Chapter 11

Sorry this has taken so long to put up.  I've had no internet for a week and it has been hell.  Really appreicate you guys being patient.  Also the dedication is for laurenpayne because of the lovely message she left, which happened to be the first thing I read when I got back and was a lovely surprise.  Thank you :)

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“What do you mean he knows?”

“He knows, he saw the way I looked at you and then when we danced…”  Her words trailed off as if they had gotten lodged in her throat.

“Surely he cannot know simply by you looking at me, although I should have realised that my actions might give us away.”  He replied in an almost apologetic tone.

“You are not entirely to blame; I should have controlled myself as well.  Ethan has always been gifted with the ability to find out a person’s darkest secrets and my constant mood swings between elated when I have been with you and depressed when we have been apart will have caused a stir.”

“What do we do?”  He asked with defeat.

“I do not know.  I think maybe we should spend some time apart so we do not draw more attention.”

“If that is what you want.”

“No that is not what I want but I do not think we have a choice.”  She answered cutting him off, holding his hand with more strength than was needed so that he would not leave her sight.

“I love you Aurora.”  He whispered.

“I love you Phillip.”  She returned.

With their final goodbye Maria returned to the feast while Phillip followed the halls of the castle, not wanting to go back and join the festivities nor return to his room so that he could dwell on his thoughts.  But as he walked the halls he found himself in the company of his brother who stood seething in a dark corner of the castle waiting for Phillip’s arrival.  Once he was within his grasp he jumped out of the shadows and pulled him younger brother up by the scruff of his neck and held him close against a wall.

“That was some stunt that you pulled there, stealing her from under my nose.  I should break every bone in your body for shaming me in front of everyone like that.”  He muttered through gritted teeth.

Phillip pushed his brother off him with all his might and forced him into the opposing wall.  “I would like to see you try with half an eye closed and a cheek that would cause you to crawl under your bed should but a feather fall onto it.” He yelled back.

At that moment King Bernard happened to come across the pair and forced himself between them so that they would not come to blows.  “Will the pair of you please regain control of your sanity, we are guests in this castle and so far the best impression we have left with them is your quick tempers and the aftermath of it.  Phillip you have caused enough damage for one evening, return to your suite and Elijah come with me.”

“Why should I return to my suite?” Phillip protested.

“This evening is not in your honour, Elijah needs to remain in the hall and I cannot spend the evening separating you from each other’s throats.” 

The King then pulled on Elijah’s arm, dragging him in the direction of the feast while Phillip began to turn the corner so he could make his way back to his room.  But when he gave a quick glace back in his family’s direction, he found they were not going to the feast like they had claimed.  Once they reached the door of the feast they quickly turned and hastily made their way down another corridor.  Phillip slowly began to make his way back down the corridor and followed his brother and father silently down another, he found them stood in the long winding hallway in a heated argument, each emphasising their words with over exaggerated hand gestures.  He placed himself against the wall just before the corner which led to his brother and father, listening intently to every word.