Marcus had just finished checking on the progress of the new servants when Belle came bustling around the corner in the kitchen. She was coming from the servant's quarters with an arm full of books, and she froze when she saw him.

"Oh, hello... Lord Marcus..."

Belle looked down at the books in her arms. She had been taking them from the library to study when she couldn't sleep at night, and hadn't quite intended for anyone to find out.

Marcus nodded, "Belle."

She watched him, as if waiting for him to say more, and when he didn't, she began to slip side-ways out of the kitchen. She had just about made it into the hall when the King's voice stopped her.

"Belle?" She stopped as he came up beside her, reaching out to take a few off of the top of her stack. "I don't care what you do with my library books, providing you put them back."

Belle blushed a little, but grinned at him as he motioned her on. He followed behind, carrying the books.

"Have you learned anything new?" Marcus asked, more to take his mind off of everything. They still had not found Eric.

She looked over her shoulder at him, brown eyes flashing, "Oh yes, two just have tales in them but this one," she motioned with her chin to the one lying on top of her stack, "Is about mermaids!"

"It is?" Marcus asked, genuinely interested now.

"They're fascinating, and there's plenty of illustrations for me to look at. Do you think they could be real?"

"I know that they are," Marcus stated, somewhat surprised he had never told her about Philip's rescue. He had told Aurora, she had coaxed every detail out of him.

He told Belle briefly now, and she listened with wide-eyed amazement as they made their way down the final corridor and into the library.

"That's amazing!" her eyes had a far-off look as if trying to imagine, and Marcus suddenly realized that while he had told her of the magic in this kingdom, she had never seen it. He considered a moment, if perhaps he should show her, but it was a thing he kept hidden as best he could. Potts, the cook, he thought might have her suspicions, but even his butler was unaware.

Belle interrupted his thoughts with a sudden question, "Do they really wear armour?"

Marcus looked at her in question.

"It says here," Belle opened the book and searched for a page. Brushing her hair from her eye she read somewhat haltingly the sentence below the illustration there. "Known as some of the most dangerous predators of the sea, merfolk are covered in scale-like armour that protects them from almost every foe."

Marcus held out his hand, and Belle settled the book into it. The depiction was a bit ridiculous, from what little he had seen, showing scaled creatures with narrowed eyes, but the armour they wore did slightly resemble the emerald lines he had seen that had covered the young mermaid's arms. He sat back, thoughtful.

"Belle," he said suddenly, "I have a meeting with the headmistress later today, could you ask Andrew to see her for me?"

Belles's eyes widened. She thought Madame Lumierre was a wonderfully brilliant woman, but she and Andrew fought like cats and dogs. Marcus seemed too taken with his thoughts to see Belle's reaction, so she just nodded, "Yes, of course, my lord."

Shortly after arrangements had been made with Andrew, Marcus left the castle. He headed out towards the wood, but turned before he could reach the clearing. Before long he reached the stream. The sun was bright and the air was warm and so rich with life he almost did not need to access his magic to see it in the golden air, but he did so, coming to a halt beside the pool.


Aurora hummed quietly as she walked, basket in arm, taking the light trail through the wood. It was such a glorious afternoon that she had not worn her amulet, wanting instead to bask in the simple sunshine. She knew, of course, the ped were nearby, her silent guardians, but the air was alive with the sounds of life she could see. She followed the trickling, merry sound of the stream, and found it flowing happily along. Turning she skipped along the rocks beside it. It was, she believed, late autumn, but the seasons did not behave quite naturally here, and life still flowered all around. She could see beneath the vibrant vines that the leaves of each tree were beginning to change, and she marveled how two seasons could seem to exist at once.

Marcus had explained that this deep in the wood, the fairie and nymph did not take turns as they would do elsewhere, allowing their magic to follow the seasons, but instead in a way they just did whatever they chose. She had thought at first perhaps that he had said it in jest, although it still surprised her when he did joke, but looking around she realized he had been in all seriousness.

As she rounded a small bend in the stream, she came to a little halt. There, kneeling by the stream in the sunshine, was King Marcus. One arm rested across raised knee, and Aurora watched as the sun played across the dark richness of his skin. His focus was on the water, and Aurora could see the familiar edge to his stance that told of the magic he used. She had no doubt that had she her amulet, she would see him in some conversation with the river nymphs there. She stood still, not wanting to intrude, when he nodded gravely towards the water, and stood.

"Good day, Lady Aurora," he spoke before he turned to face her, and Aurora started.

"King Marcus! Well I, I wasn't expecting to find you here."

She came almost cautiously to stand beside him, watching the water. "Visiting the nymphs?"

He realized then that she was not wearing her amulet, and she would not be able to see the river nymphs. Half a dozen of them, perched on each other's shoulders floated on the surface of the water, sizing her up carefully.

Marcus nodded, "I was." He nodded to Aurora's side and she got the suspicion that he was dismissing her Ped. She wondered suddenly if they ever grew bored of watching her all the time, what kind of lives they had led before she had come and interrupted them.

She had tried to ask them once, but they had only insisted that they enjoyed serving their king and protecting her. If there was more to what they felt, they would not say.

Marcus stood by the stream, staring now unseeing at the water, a strangely pensive note to his brow, and Aurora grew suddenly anxious. Why had he come so early in the day?

"Have you news of Philip?"

Marcus glanced her way, "I have no note from him today, but he is well."

Aurora nodded, "And you, my lord?"

He looked at her in question.

"You seem as if something troubles you."

Marcus blew out a breath, and she watched him attempt to shrug away the dark air above his thoughts, "There's nothing happened to concern you, Aurora." He meant it as a reassurance.

"But something has happened?" she pressed, and Marcus's gaze turned to the sky.

"You have no fear of telling me, Marcus, it's not as if I can share it with anyone," she said with forced levity, and he smiled wanly, before turning to her.

"It's not that. I just don't wish to be burden you."

Aurora gestured to the brilliant sunshine in this beautiful place, the breeze that blew as if she hadn't a care in the world, "I could do with being burdened." At first, she thought he would not respond, then the king sighed heavily and settled on a large boulder beside the stream.

"It's Eric. We fear something has happened to him."

Aurora listened with rapt attention as he told her of what had transpired. They had spoken some of the covenants made, how Eric had taken Philip's, and tears stung her eyes for the brave man who had taken that burden from her brother and now was dealing with the consequence. She was too afraid to voice the thought that he may still live, with no knowledge of what the Enchantress may be making him do, that was little comfort.

"I am so sorry, Marcus," she said, laying a hand on his arm as she knelt beside him there. He looked up at her, shocking honesty in his eyes.

"Have you ever wondered why we are the ones other must die to protect? What are we but the fortunate children of a previous reign?"

Tears touched Aurora's eyes. She had spent months wondering why she had to be cursed, when she had done nothing to deserve it but be born to a king. But as time passed and she witnessed the devotion her protectors took in caring for her, the commitment this king had made to her safety, she had begun to wonder that very thing.

"It could have been anyone born in our place," she spoke softly, "But it was you. You have inherited a kingdom as your birthright, it is your responsibility to deserve it. You at least can serve your people, you at least have fought for them. What I have I done? I have hid from a curse that has cost the lives of too many of our kingdom's people."

Marcus had been solemnly attentive, and now he regarded her in earnest, "That war was waged, not just in your name, but the name of every innocent the Enchantress has hurt. It was not your curse that cost them, but the evil of the woman who cast it. You hide now, so that you may be safe, so that you may one day reign."

Aurora was silent a moment, taking in his words. Part of her longed to believe him, the other wondered if she would be trapped in this place forever. Abruptly Marcus stood, shaking himself as if to clear the dark thoughts, and offered her a hand up. She took it lightly, rising. He released her hand and began to walk the stream's edge by her side, as always a set distance between. She understood it as a simple show of respect, but part of her missed the simple warmth of human touch, of taking the arm of the gentleman who escorted her, of hugging her father goodnight.

Marcus glanced sideways at her, taking in her thoughtful expression, and tried to think of something to say.

"I hear the Kingdoms Ball is soon."

Her expression brightened at his words. She well remembered the Kingdoms Ball, where surrounding kingdoms gathered together in celebration for a night.

"Are you going?" she asked. And Marcus's laugh was almost a scoff,

"No."

"Well someone from your house should go," Aurora persisted, it was only tradition. Briefly she considered that this was the year she would have attended as crowned princess of her land, but she dismissed the thought, but not before Marcus caught the flash of sadness in her eye.

"I'll send Andrew," Marcus stated calmly, causing Aurora to laugh.

"What about Belle?"

"What about her?"

"Perhaps she would like to go."

Marcus looked truly surprised, "Do you think so."

Aurora laughed again, if half of what the man had told her of the girl was true, she would love to go. "Yes, I really think she would"

He seemed to tuck the thought away, and Aurora hoped he would consider it. The Kingdoms Ball was always a lovely time, and she truly wished Belle, who had shown such kindness to a stranger, would get to experience it.