Philip was had won the battle-Maleficent was dead and now he followed after those three good fairies who had been his unexpected allies. He followed them as they led him towards his betrothed. He couldn't thank them enough for what they'd enabled him to do. He'd found Aurora at last.
He was covered in sweat and grime, and was bleeding in several places, but he felt Aurora's silken hair as it had brushed over his fingers, as they waltzed to the music of bird songs and animal chatter. He felt her small warm hands in his large ones as he twirled her about the forest. He smelled as bad as he looked, but all he smelled was the fragrance of the flowers and dewdrops that they had danced past. The sounds of battle still rung in his ears, but all he heard was her beautiful voice.
He marveled at the events of the past day. What kind of comedy of errors had led him to this point? He wondered if she'd been upset when she found out that-not knowing he was him-she was betrothed to Prince Philip? He couldn't wait to reveal the secret, and couldn't resist a happy chuckle.
Fauna glanced back to look at him, as she flew ahead,
"Are you alright, Philip?"
"Yes," he answered softly, with a twinkly gleam in his eyes.
The night air was still and quiet as they came into the courtyard of Stefen's castle. Men were slumped about, dreaming happily away. Philip might have noticed, but all he saw was her happy face, as it had been when she was with him in the forest.
They moved quickly through the courtyard, and up a long twilling flight of stairs to the highest of Stefen's towers.
As he ran, Philip thought of his father-no doubt, downstairs with the feast-the fairies had told him that everyone was asleep and Philip was glad for that. He cringed at thought of their argument that afternoon. He was glad things would work out, glad that the peasant maid he wanted to marry was actually the princess he had to marry. Everyone would come away happy.
Now, he could see a small door at the end of the stairway-shut, and, no doubt, locked-waiting for him to walk through. She was waiting for him to walk through. He heart swelled with eagerness. He was nearly there!
The fairies worked their magic and the door seemed to swing back on its own, the last obstacle was pushed away.
It seemed as though all his years of doubting were pushed away too. There she was-just waiting for him. It was a dream come true.
Just like everyone had always said.
A/N Here it is-the chapter that wasn't suppose to be, if I'd have done as planned and checked "complete" after posting the first one. But, sometimes plans go awry for good reason and I'm glad I could add this bit.