Fifteen Years Ago

The banquet hall continued to flood with the townspeople living in the small corner of England belonging to King Stefan. The Kingdom of Veralle.

Beloved Queen Leah stood high and proud on the right side of the king's towering throne where he was seated, eying each guest that entered through the palace doors.

The interior of the castle was a look to behold.

Flat, dark gray stones traveled their way up each wall from ground to ceiling. The polished marble floors held ribbons of gold that glimmered whenever one of the lights from the low-hanging chandeliers cast a glance at them. Cream colored satin dripped from the throne and the royalty's clothing. It draped over the large columns and windows, the folds sagging over each other creating braids.

The dark oak tables overflowed with venison, roasted boar and goat, loaves of bread, stewed potatoes, an assortment of squash, and any delectable pastry imaginable. The smell wafted throughout the crowded ballroom and down the corridors. Sweet and floral fragrances invaded the castle as bouquets of roses and assortments of yellow marigolds were brought in as gifts for the princess.

A princess; new and unfamiliar to the kingdom.

That would be changing tonight.

Conversation and random chatter settled as the king rose from his seat and walked towards the delicate cradle sitting only a few feet from the throne. Everyone's attention was instantly drawn to the gentle swaying of the bed. Whispers began to emerge from the audience.

People started to form a circle around the cradle, giving a good radius, not wanting to get too close. It appeared as if a perfectly circular shaped glass case was placed around the royalty and everyone was just on the edge of being pressed up against it.

As everyone peered up and on their toes trying to see the infant princess, the king and queen took a step back as seven fairies moved forward and presented themselves with a curtsy. He gave a solemn nod and they each smiled at the two of them. One fairy, Sibelle, took a step forward and gave a worded and more proper introduction to themselves.

"We beg your apologies that our eighth sister could not be here to join us on this day of joyous celebration."

The king's eyes widened and his face turned a slight shade of pink.

"I did not extend my invitation to your eighth sister. That is why she is not here, correct?" His voice was hoarse and cracked as he raised an octave on the last sentence. They looked around at each other unsure and a few low murmurs could be barely heard.

"Yes, your majesty."

His rigid muscles began to relax, but his jaw stayed set in its firm and tense stature. He turned his attention from the seven of them and looked out at the large crowd.

"My beloved subjects." The king's voice now rang clear, calm and steady now. "As I'm sure most of you are aware, we gather here today for a celebration. This feast is being held for the christening of our new child. I am pleased to announce to you your new princess!" He glanced down at the child's rosy cheeks and smiled back at her.

"Aurora!"

As conversations deflated and the banquet table bestowing the assortments of food grew thin, the king wiped the corners of his mouth with a napkin and stood up from his seat. His simple gesture silenced the room and earned the attention of everyone. He cleared his throat and the seven fairies sitting next to him and the queen stood up as if they read his mind.

"I have invited these seven good fairies to be godmothers to my new daughter; your new princess. With their abilities, they will be able to look after her, protect her and have the capability to contribute in her life in many and all ways."

"Each of us would be honored and wish to bestow a gift upon your newborn child."

He nodded and the queen gave a warm and welcoming smile before gesturing towards her baby, who was now next to her seat on a pedestal, giving them permission to go to her. Each fairy took a turn to whisper forms of poems and incantations to grant upon her beauty, wit, grace, dance, song, and goodness.

"Thank you, Faylinn, for your gift." The queen repeated the same line to each fairy, but it never faltered in sincerity.

Interrupting the ceremony, a guard came rushing up to the king's side and they began speaking in a hushed tone. With one last whisper, King Stefan's body went austere. Not a moment after, a piercing flash of green light breached through the door, touching every surface, followed by darkness. All of the candles from the chandeliers above blew out instantaneously.

In the shadows, you could see a figure moving among the crowd, much taller than the rest of the citizens. All the fairies fought to hold back a reaction, but couldn't resist shooting daggers with their glares. A glowing essence came off each of the magical beings, but a faint green was emitted from the mysterious witch.

"Stay back!" The king's voice thundered through the silent ballroom. Her soft footsteps were soon audible and were immediately followed by the clattering of swords now pointing in her direction, daring her to come any closer.

The emerald glow grew more intense, allowing it to light the room just enough to see the witch's face. A dark raven was perched on her shoulder and she stroked it's feathers as if coaxing it to behave.

"I'm disappointed, King Stefan." Her voice sang out like a chorus of bells but was coated with malice. "I have been waiting for your invitation, but I can see now that I wasn't invited."

"You're not welcome in my kingdom, let alone my castle." His fists clenched at his sides as the guards readjusted their position to keep their king safe as she continued to walk forward.

"Oh, but my beloved king. I bring a gift."

"We don't want your gift." The queen spoke up, but it sounded like a plea.

"Maleficent, get out of my palace! Now!"

She folded her arms across her chest and her eyes squinted into a glare. Her lips were pressed into a thin line before she spoke again.

"So be it then." With a snap of her fingers, a column of smoke replaced her figure and slithered to find it's way to the cradle. Aurora was swept up into the newly formed arms of Maleficent. The witch cooed and shone a brilliant smile of sharp teeth. Her voice was quiet as if trying not to disturb the sleeping baby.

"She will have beauty, grace, and everything bestowed upon her. She will be a wonder to any eye beholding her, a true treasure. However, she won't have all of this forever." Her voice rose and she set the girl back down into the silk sheets so Maleficent could face the crowd of people and look into the faces of the king and queen.

"On her sixteenth birthday, everything will be taken from her. Before the sun will set, she shall prick her finger on the spindle of a spinning wheel -- and die!"

"No!" The king roared and she let out a wicked laugh. Taunting him, she spoke with confident words.

"You can run all you want, King Stefan, but you can never hide from me."

The guards lurched towards the evil fairy, only to come up with green wisps of smoke. The castle erupted into chaos, most of the guests finding their way out the exit. In the midst of the frantic and rushing crowd, three remaining fairies approached the king and his wife.

Sibelle, Faylinn, and Breena spoke with soft and solemn voices.

"We might be able to help." The queen looked up and them with fearful eyes, red and brimming over the edge with tears.

"Well, your majesties, more specifically, Breena might be able to. She can't lift the curse, but has yet not bestowed a gift upon the princess."

The king looked at the youngest of the trio with hope glistening in his expression.

"Please! Do anything you can!"

She took a deep breath and faltered a smile before bending down to the cradle where the child still laid sound asleep. She whispered a strange spell in a foreign tongue and a burst of gold shimmered from the heart of the little girl. The king and queen leaned forward in anticipation.

"Well?"

She shook her head as she dropped herself to the floor at their feet.

"I'm so sorry, your highness. I can't stop her spell."

Their faces fell and the queen's sobs started up again.

"However, her death I was able to alter. It is eternal sleep that is now going to take place. Only by a true love's kiss could she have any chance of awakening... Please, if there is anything we can do. I am so sorry, your majesty."

He lifted her up by the shoulders and stared her dead in the eye.

"Take her. Take her far away. This spell can never find her. It can't come to pass. You are to protect her. All three of you."

Each of them stared straight back in bewilderment.

"But... but, you-your majesty! How could this possibly help?" His grip tightened against her arms as he slightly shook her fragile figure.

"Just go! Now! Before she comes back or hears of anything! She must never find Aurora."

They each nodded and Sebille gracefully swept up the child to cradle in her arms and used the south entrance to aid in their escape. They ran through the courtyards and into the night. Stars had just started to settle into the navy sky, poking their holes in its sleek, dark beauty. Every time a gust of wind blew, she held the child closer against her body, trying to keep her warm as not wanting to wake the poor infant.

Once reaching the palace walls, the skillfully used their ability to rearrange the moss covered bricks to form a doorway out and into the Forbidden Forest.

Still with no set intentions or any clue where they were to go, they raced further into the canopy of trees and leaves, distancing themselves forever more from the kingdom and Aurora's true home.

Aurora. Copyright © 2017. All Rights Reserved. Emily Kland.