A/N: Alas, it is here! Thanks once again to Klaske and Lauren for giving me this idea, and to all those who motivated me to actually finish it :P This was intended to be a one-shot, but because I got a little carried away, I have decided to divide it into a couple of chapters to make it easier for the reader. Keep in mind that it has not been betaed, so you might find a mistake here or there (I've read it through, but I'm not reliable :P). I hope you enjoy it... I've tried to combine both comedy and romance, which I think are the real ingredients that make Sleeping Beauty such an enjoyable movie! Of course, your feedback is much appreciated!
You may also expect a follow-up one of these days, because exploring Aurora and Phillip's relationship is just way too much fun! :)
All characters (c) Disney
The Beauty of Uncertainty
by Nikki Anjo
Exhausted and sore, tired and broken.
Prince Phillip peered over the rock cliff and stared at the dead remainders of his evil enemy. His sword lay at the bottom of the valley, covered in blood and surrounded by a dark pool of what was left of Maleficent. Phillip fixed his gaze on the darkness, attentive at the slightest chance of movement. He could still see her sharp yellow eyes staring back at him, piercing into his soul. Oh, how Maleficent had the power to make his very bones shudder with fear. He fought with bravery, thinking he had nothing to lose, though very often images of his sleeping princess would cloud his mind and distract him from the battle. He knew so little about her, yet he had faced countless dangers, a forest of thorns and a fire-breathing dragon to save her from her doom.
Yes, Phillip had watched his life flash before his eyes too many times that night. But somehow he always managed to pull through, and for some reason he always found the strength to run, to strike and to face his mortal enemy. But now… now that all was over and that his enemy lay dead before him, the adrenalin had left his body and he felt nothing but pain and exhaustion.
The prince would have collapsed right there and then had it not been for Samson, his faithful companion. Phillip greeted his horse with a faint smile, and welcomed its snout into his arms. Samson took a few steps forward, expecting Phillip to mount him, but the prince did nothing but lean over the horse's bock, his hands around the crest. He thought he saw three small lights in the distance but paid no attention to them. His eyes were already half-closed and his body had lost its poise.
All of a sudden, the clouds in the sky above dissolved into nothing, and a beautiful ray of sunshine illuminated Stefan's humble castle. Phillip peered into the distance and was suddenly recalled of his honorable mission. Although the sunshine brought him comfort, it also brought him an aching reminder of the throbbing pain in his shoulder. Phillip looked at Samson and immediately knew that he lacked the strength to mount his own horse. Instead he took the reeds and with his relatively good arm guided the horse towards the castle.
Phillip's feet dragged themselves with each step, and he could no longer hold the horse's reeds because of the small burns on his hands caused by the fire-spitting dragon. He looked up and squinted, and gradually managed to distinguish the three lights that guided him. They flew so rapidly that soon they were out of sight again. Phillip opened his mouth to call them back, but found that he had completely lost his voice. He had no alternative but to drag himself towards the castle, praying that he'd find Aurora soon and at last taste her soft sweet lips.
Each step became more tiring, and with each second that passed Phillip began to feel the weight of his own body pull him down. At last he reached the gates of Stefan's castle, but at this point he was panting so hard that it almost gave him a headache. He tried to swallow, but his throat was too dry. It felt as if a big lump was keeping him from breathing. His own saliva tasted sour and bitter and by no means killed his thirst. As soon as he spotted the fountain in the center of the courtyard, Phillip let go of Samson and walked towards it as fast as his legs could carry him. He fell to his knees and leaned over, instantly cupping his hands and swooping them it into the fountain in search of water… but to his dismay, there was none. The fountain was as dry as the desert, and the stone almost as cold as ice. It was then that Phillip looked up and realized that Stefan's entire castle was dark and haunted. The villagers and noblemen who were supposed to be rejoicing the return of their lost princess now stood idle in the middle of the courtyard, oblivious to Phillip's presence. They all had their eyes closed, but Phillip for one knew they were not dead because he could hear them breathing (and in some cases, snoring).
At last, the three lights reappeared and flew around his head before disappearing into a dark tunnel. Putting his thirst and curiosity aside, Phillip told Samson to stay where he was and followed the lights inside. The darkness helped him distinguish the colors, and at last he was able to identify them… one as blue as the sea, another orange like fire, and the last one green like fauna. Phillip tried to follow the sparkling lights and noticed them dart up a dark staircase. He squinted into the darkness, the back of his mind counting the steps he had yet to take to reach the owner of his heart… assuming that that was where his guardian lights led him.
Phillip took the first step and immediately felt all of his muscles pull. He took another one and clung onto his hurt shoulder. He dared to look up the staircase but soon regretted it. Damn whoever had chosen to lock up the princess in the highest tower of Stefan's castle! Now Phillip had no choice but to close his eyes and try to listen to her sweet voice inside his head. He let his imagination fly, and soon he was picturing them together, her fragile body tucked safely in his arms. With these thoughts he allowed himself to take a few more steps, until he was little more than half-way there. His body begged for a rest, though his conscious pleaded him to continue. Phillip had no choice but to fall on the steps right there and then as he legs collapsed beneath him. He protected his face with his arm and immediately inhaled the strong scent of his burnt fabric mixed with sweat. Just as he closed his eyes, he felt something tug his cape and urge him to get up again. Phillip was reminded of his mission and, more importantly, of his beautiful lady awaiting him upstairs. He held onto the wall for support and pulled himself up, then with courage and little strength managed to reach the top of the staircase and enter the dark forbidden tower.
He caught a glimpse of the mysterious princess Aurora… rather known to him as the beautiful peasant girl he had fallen in love with the day before. At that moment, it was as if he had just been injected with an incredible strength and desire to run to her. But before he could take a step, the three lights which had guided him to the tower gave form to the three good fairies. He politely tried to move away from them, but the wisest of the three, Flora, held up her hand and motioned for Phillip to stop.
"Prince Phillip," she began in a soft, motherly tone. "The princess has been asleep for almost a day now, and a spell has been cast upon the kingdom so that all will sleep with her. King Stefan and Queen Leah would be heartbroken if they were to find out that their only daughter and heir fell into a deep and dark slumber, after sixteen years of sacrifice and isolation… which is why we believe it is best if they never found out at all."
Phillip slowly nodded his head, seemingly understanding the implications, but not sure if he whole-heartedly agreed with them. But none of that mattered to him now. He registered Flora's words then stepped towards the bed and slowly knelt down before his princess. The three fairies stood behind Phillip and watched him anxiously, silently urging him to take action. But the prince was unable to move, granting himself the guilty pleasure of contemplating the girl he had fallen in love with, and risked his life to be with. The dungeons, the forest of thorns, the fire, the dragon… it all faded way as he looked upon his sleeping beauty and for once felt like he had found the place where he belonged. He leaned forward to kiss her – oh, how he urged for that kiss – but hesitated as his eyes met her soft red lips that brought shame to the reddest rose. He pulled back slightly and ran his hand down her arm, unaware that he had left a small trace of ash on her sleeve. His fingers met hers and he held up her hand then brought it to his lips. Although her skin was cold, his insides rejoiced at the memory of holding her hand, and he was taken back to the moment they met in the woods. As his heart jumped with joy, the rest of his body cringed with pain. As Phillip lowered himself to kiss his beloved, the pain in his shoulder became sharper… harder… His back pounded with every stretch, his head throbbed with every movement. He saw nothing but Aurora's sweet lips and longed to taste them. He desired to at last break her free from her spell, to bring her back into this world, even if he thought it cruel and unjust. He hoped that when – if – she awakened, she would rejoice at the sight of him too, and let her smile illuminate his existence and shine a new light on his life. Oh, how he longed to make her his, to tell her what he had faced to get to her, and to convince her that a life with him would be one she'd never regret.
Phillip was almost afraid to touch Aurora's porcelain-like face, but he put aside his fear and slowly stroked her cheek with his hand. "Oh, my sweet Aurora," he whispered, even though his throat was so dry that it made his words almost inaudible. "I fell in love with you before I even knew your name. I danced with you in the woods and held you in my arms, and not once did you ask me who I was." His fingers softly slid down her neck as his eyes began to feel droopy and his head heavy. "Had you not been the princess Aurora that I have been betrothed to for sixteen years, I would have loved you anyway," he breathed, starting to feel his entire body lose strength.
The prince leaned closer, the sweat running down his temples in such a way that he could almost taste his own salty sweat. He panted softly, feeling his heart beat faster as his dry lips drew nearer to Aurora's. "For so long have I wished to kiss you, and now my heart beats so fast that I can hardly breathe. If you can hear me… and oh, how I wish you could… know that with this kiss I give you my heart. In return I ask only that you awaken, oh sweet princess… for if you do, I shall know that you love me too."
Standing behind Phillip, Merryweather, Fauna and Flora looked at each other with hopeful hearts. Fauna wiped a tear from her eye and softly embraced Merryweather, who returned the embrace and silently lowered her head. Flora clenched her fists, grasping tightly onto her wand. She knew that her magic was of no use here. The fairies had done all in their power to save Phillip and bring him to the tower, and although he was hurt and wounded, they urged for him to kiss their Briar Rose and lift the spell at once. But the prince lingered, whispering soft words of love in the princess's ear. Flora sighed silently and turned to Merryweather and Fauna, sending them a glance which said that they had been fools, and it was their foolishness which had led their Rose to this dreadful state. Had they not been blind, they would have seen the love in Aurora's eyes when she returned to the cottage that afternoon. How did they not realizing that by depriving their child from her only love, they were sending her to her misery? Even Phillip himself had almost galloped to his own death. What sheer luck it had been when Flora overheard King Hubert tell King Stefan about the 'mysterious peasant girl' Phillip had met. If only they had known that minutes after they left the cottage, Phillip had arrived to reunite with Aurora, none of this would have happened. Aurora would not be lost, Phillip would not have been tortured and wounded, and the curse – oh, that wicked curse – would never have come true.
Now they all looked at Phillip, their every hope deposited in him, and feverishly prayed that his kiss would be able to break the most powerful spell of all… for what power could do it, if not the explosive power of true love?