Aurora stood at the top of the hill behind which the camp rested and watched for Phillip. Aurora did this every day. It had been nearly six months since she had seen her betrothed. It had been nearly six months since she had escaped the clutches of the evil fay Malificent. Six months since she had fled her kingdom of Anilandra and ended up here at this hollow at the foot of the mighty Caradhras Mountains. The hollow at the base of the mountains was shielded from attack, well hidden and little known, a perfect hiding place. Malificent would never find her there. And she hadn't. But others had.
For a week Aurora had traveled, riding the horse Phillip had set her on that night the fay had come. Ride hard. Don't look back, he had told her. Aurora had ridden until she fell out of the saddle, unconscious. When she opened her eyes again, she was in a tent, a young woman with brown hair and gentle hands mopping her forehead with a cool cloth.
"Hello dear," the woman said. "My name is Padme. You gave us quite a scare when we found you. But you're fine now."
Padme had been right. Within days Aurora was back on her feet, helping Padme. In another week Aurora and Padme were the dearest of friends. Padme's husband Anikin soon built Aurora a tent of her own and there she had lived since.
Aurora learned Padme and Anikin came from the Empire in the Sky, and that they had fled from an evil Chancellor who wanted Padme, who had been an influential Senator, dead. Anikin was a Jedi Knight who married Padme in secret and left the Empire with her. In turn, Aurora told them of her life as princess of Anilandra, of Phillip and Malificent. Together, the three lived happily in the hollow near the mountains though Aurora waited anxiously for Phillip's return, jealous of Padme and Anikin's happiness together.
For four months it was just Aurora, Padme, and Anikin, but two months ago people had been coming to the hollow seeking safety. With them they brought tales of war, of coming danger, and a growing shadow in the East. Jasmine, a Bedouin princess was the sole survivor of her people, the others slaughtered by raiders said to be in service to the Great Eye. Rapunzel, a member of the Welsh court fled her country with several others when word was brought that orcs marched toward Wales. Aleta, a young fay came from Avalon bringing word that the fortress was under attack from the Nine Riders, the Nazgul. She had used her magic to form a protection around the hollow newly furnished with more tents.
More and more refugees of war came until Aurora decided this hollow should become a camp. A place for these people to come after the ravages of the war that seemed to threaten all borders. Aurora and Padme led the camp and organized relief. Anikin and the other men built more tents as the need increased.
Now, Aurora stood at her hill and still watched for Phillip. After six months she'd almost given up. What if Malificent had killed him? What if he couldn't find her? What if she never saw him again? A growing speck on the horizon distracted her from these thoughts. Could it be? After all these long months of wishing? Could it be Phillip at last? The speck distinguished itself as a horse and rider. Aurora felt her throat constrict. The horse was black, the rider still unrecognizable save for a flowing red cloak and silver shield. Aurora lifted her skirts and ran, tears coursing down her face.
"Aurora!" Padme saw her friend disappear from the hilltop and dropped her bundle of firewood. Padme raced to the hill. What happened to Aurora? Was the camp under attack? Padme always worried for her friend who was small in stature, weak in constitution, but strong in heart. But she need not have feared. By the time Padme gained the crest, Aurora was safe in the arms of Phillip pressed to his chest on the back of a great black horse.