Rain
"Will this rain ever end?"
The sight from the sheltered castle window was dismal, fields of green and far-off forests covered in a sheet of rain and fog.
Jane Porter looked over in shock at Aurora and frowned. "Why? What's the matter?"
Aurora looked over to her slowly, her eyes glazed. "I was just wondering…out loud again."
Jane lightly chuckled, shaking her head. "You have been wondering a lot lately. Give yourself a break." Even as she said this though, she felt fear. Aurora hadn't been doing well lately.
Aurora pulled her cloak over her shoulder. "I can't." she bowed her head. "There's too much at stake."
Down the hall, voices, men, could be heard screaming.
"Things will settle out." Jane assured, putting her hand on Aurora's shoulder. "Life willmove on."
Aurora lifted her head at this, and let off a light smile. "Yes, perhaps it will."
Lightning stuck across the sky. Jane jumped. "Oh, dear God!"
Aurora laughed. "It's just lightning!"
"You try telling someone you who lives in a tree that!" Jane screamed back.
Aurora fell into a fit of laughter, leaning against the wall for support. "Don't…you…have…a lightning rod?" she said between guffaws.
"Yes, we do!" Jane said. "I've just had my share of moments." She admitted reluctantly.
"So have I." Aurora smiled, her face still cherry bright. "When I was young, you couldn't keep me in the cottage. On nights and days like these, I would sneak out and run through the forests. I would swim in freezing rivers and roll in muddy patches. My hair would get tangled, and my dress would be ruined, but I loved it; every minute." She said with a devilish grin. "And when I was tired," her voice lowered to a whisper, "I would find a safe tree and fall asleep to the sounds of the rainy forests." She said, looking off dreamily into the sky.
Another roll of thunder, a strike of lighting, and the arguing inside got worse.
"When I was a little girl," Jane said rubbing her hands, "I was always surrounded by science. To me, it was everything. The latest inventions, the newest discoveries, all of it was mine to study; to behold. It took my mother to get me and Daddy out of the lab. She was the one that taught me how to make friends, to dance, to sing; to enjoy life outside of animals and experiments. She was the one that took me to grand parties and elegant gardens and the beautiful palaces and-oh, what a world we saw together!"
The joy on her face left, and her face became crushed in sudden defeat. "I know she's gone for good." She said. "I know I will never see again, even though I can see Daddy whenever I want to." Jane slumped down on the ground, and her back fell flat against the pillar in defeat. "I know that for all the things I have, I will never have her."
Jane fought back the tears, as she sat down hard on the ground. "I suppose I should be content with my lot in life."
A pale, graceful hand lifted the tear from her face.
"Never be content." Aurora said with tears in her eyes as she stooped down. "You may not have your mother, but you have a whole world for you to explore and enjoy, and if there's one thing your mother valued it was living."
Jane wiped her eyes. "Thanks."
"Anytime."
A sudden roar emanated from inside the castle, and both girls swiveled to the hall. A fireball came bursting from the far-off room, and Aurora swore.
"Seems like the talks have hit a new low." Aurora said, pulling her bow off her back and knocking an arrow from her quiver.
"Well, what can you expect when you let the men handle things," Jane said, picking her spear off the wall and unsheathing her dagger from her belt.
"Shall we?"
Disclaimer: I own nothing, know nothing, and you can't make me!