Marcus breath came a bit unsteady as the music in the trees slowed, and Aurora's head came to rest against his chest. The hung starlight remained as one by one the fairies began to drift softly away as the nymph receded quietly into the trees. Soon only he and Aurora remained. Aurora's gaze lifted, and she looked about in question, before lifting a finger to her amulet,
"Could you?" she asked, tapping it, and slowly the light of magic faded.
They were left standing alone in simple moonlight, swaying together still.
"Thank you for doing this, Marcus," her voice was almost a sigh, and he nodded, chin coming to rest on her hair.
"I'm sorry you could not go to the real thing," he murmured quietly, but she shook her head against him,
"This is better." And she pressed back enough to smile up at him. The wind stirred, brushing against the flowers that adorned her hair, and he lifted a finger to touch an eraant petal.
"Aurora," his voice was low, whatever he meant to say distracted as his thumb traced the soft contour of her face.
"Yes?" she asked softly, as he dipped his head so that his forehead could rest on hers.
"May I?" It was a whisper and Aurora stood up on tiptoe, closing the distance between his lips and her own.
His concentration on the amulet was broken, and fairie light pulsed around them as he gently pulled them closer.
The drops of starlight had held, but with the fairies gone they now fell one by one, a glittering shower around them to the ground.
Ariel's fingers dug into Eric's arm as they heard the last of the question. Both stared, expecting nothing to happen, when before them the mirror shimmered and changed. The face of the Enchantress was held in the background as a scene unfolded. It was a tiny home, with a glowing fire as a woman rocked a young child. She was a young baby still, with thick black curls and long lashes that lay against pale white cheek. She lay still in slumber, perfect and beautiful and Ariel watched as the Enchantress's face twisted in horrible rage.
A screech came from the mirror, a terrible, haunting sound as the woman raged, and a shiver raced through Eric as Ariel trembled against him. Then the mirror winked and slowly the scene of the ball returned.
Eric lowered the mirror and stared at the horror on Ariel's face.
"That child," he began, and Ariel began nodding, shoving him towards the door. They both feared the tiny girl may be in danger, and neither could waste any time. Eric stopped just long enough to squeeze her hand, tell her he would be back soon, before he ran down the tower steps.
He had recognized the quite hamlet the mirror had shown them, it sat on the edge of Prince Philip's kingdom. It was too far a ride to push his horse through, but, he remembered suddenly, the castle that hosted the Kingdoms Ball lay in between, and he pushed his mount towards it as fast as it may go.
After two more dances, each more complicated than the last, Belle had given up. Now she stood against the wall, quite content, watching the other couples float around the ballroom. Philip had left her, only to return some minutes later with some type of pastry.
He offered her some, but she refused it, and they stood in silence a moment before Philip began pointing out who the other people were. He always had some quip about each, how lady Darbinger had a little dog she insisted on bringing everywhere, and even had a special footman who traveled with her specifically to care for the dog. How Lord Harmsher had convinced everyone he was colorblind, just so he could wear the most outrageous things. Belle found herself laughing despite herself.
After Philip's third helping of pastry, she finally accepted one, and was startled by the fruity center. Philip laughed out loud at the look on her face. Before too long, Belle began to relax, and asked stories of Philip's and Aurora's childhood. He had many, and shared a few of he and Marcus as well that made her laugh, but she never answered his questions about her own childhood. It was too tempting, here in the extravagant warmth and light, to forget all that.
Abruptly, midsentence, Philip yawned, and Belle started. She had been enjoying herself so much, she had forgotten to keep track of the time.
Philip saw her alarm and questioned it.
"I, I have to go." she stammered, she had no idea what time it was, but she was certain it was late, and the ride back to Marcus's castle was not a short one.
"I'll call for your carriage," Philip was saying, but Belle was already hurrying away.
With some concern, Philip watched the young woman race away, wondering what on earth had happened. He had thought they were getting along. He hadn't particularly wanted to come tonight, but passing the evening talking to Belle had made it pleasant. He hurried after her, wanting to know if he could see her again, but as he reached the outer stair, a shout drew his attention.
Eric was rushing towards him, and Philip headed to meet him.
"What is it? What has happened?"
Eric took his arm and began pulling him towards his horse, trying to explain. Philip was craning his neck, attempting to catch sight of Belle, but when he heard the word Enchantress his gaze swung fully back to Eric.
The wind strengthened, and Aurora shivered a little, and Marcus smiled at her, "It's growing late. You should head in."
She stepped back, suddenly feeling bashful. Before she could say goodnight, Marcus held up a finger,
"I almost forgot, I have something for you."
He crossed to the cottage and pulled something from a pouch he had left by the door. He shook it out, and Aurora came closer to see what it was.
It pulsed faintly with the light of magic, a deep emerald and blue. It was long and thin and when she felt it her fingers slipped over it seamlessly. "What is it?"
"It's armour, from the river nymphs. It's similar to what the mermaids wear."
Her eyes widened at this, and gingerly, she took it.
"It will not protect you from everything, but it will from most things. If you wear it, I thought perhaps you may be able to pass to the edge of this wood, and maybe meet your brother there."
He had barely finished speaking before Aurora threw her arms about him in excitement.
He laughed softly as he caught her to him.
"Thank you, Marcus." Tears of gratitude choked her words, and he shrugged a little uncomfortably,
"It was partially Belle's idea. She made me think of it."
Aurora looked up, smiling widely, "I would like to meet her, too."
Marcus nodded, and bid her a quiet goodnight before making his way back to his castle. It was a long walk between a dark wood, but he hardly noticed, so caught he was in the memory of a waltz in the fairy light.
