A/N: a birthday gift fic for my OLS (online sister) friend and co-writer, suicineluvr. Love you!!

Disclaimer: Aurora belongs to suicineluvr, and everyone else to Awdry/Mattel. Inspiration for this story came from 'King Henry' by Steeleye Span. Enjoy!

….

Once, there lived a good and kind king called Henry, who lived in a magnificent castle, on the edge of the forest. This King had a noble heart and a gift for integrity.

He loved to ride in the woods, and often rode with his men, whom he viewed as close comrades and friends.

There was Spencer, the Duke; a gentle man from afar called Hiro; twin brothers from Scotland, named Donald and Douglas; Connor and Gordon, who were swift of foot and horse; and Welsh brothers Skarloey and Rheneas, who were smaller than most but no less braver or fierce.

In addition to his men and subjects, the King also held a great love for his adoptive daughter, the Princess Aurora. She was fair, kind, innocent and charming, and this, along with her cat ears and blue-tipped tail, won the hearts of those around her, including the King's men, many seeing her as a surrogate niece.

Still, Henry felt lonely he had no mate, and felt Aurora needed another parental figure in her life.

…

One night, King Henry and his men held a magnificent banquet to celebrate the bonds of friendship.

And what a feast it was! There was fresh fish of many sizes and flavours; steaming plates of cooked meat; roasted vegetables grown by the gardeners; and wine and fresh spring water galore poured from golden jugs.

They had all sat at their meal when the winds began to howl fiercely.

"Goodness me!" Exclaimed the King. "Quite a storm we have tonight!"

"Quite like being at home, hey, Dougie?" Donald joked.

But before Douglas could reply, an earthquake shook the hall so violently, everyone feared the walls would collapse on them.

Aurora whimpered, and Henry grabbed her and held her close, her tail wrapping round his leg. The others huddled together, weapons drawn, ready to defend the King if necessary.

Suddenly the doors to the Hall flew open and a ghost strode in. But he was no ordinary ghost-his head brushed the ceiling, and his middle was so wide no belt could be secured around it. His fingers were fat and massive; his nose unsightly, as if a giant fist had struck it; his teeth was so sharp he could easily eat everyone in the room without fear of choking.

Aurora whimpered again, and Henry whispered soft assurances in her ear. He was about to leave the hall with herwhen the ghost pointed a gnarled, clawed finger at Henry.

"I wish to speak with the King. Alone."

….

"I wish to speak with the King. Alone."

The ghost's words rang in Henry's ears. The men began to protest.

"You'll have to go through us before we let you near the King!" Yelled Rheneas, drawing his loaded bow back, but Skarloey grabbed his collar.

"Don't get yourself killed, boyo," he warned, seeing the ghost's eyes flash blue and red.

"Come on, Gordon, together we'd be too fast for this thing!" Said Connor determinedly, grabbing his lover's hand.

"Be on yer guard, Dougie." Donald added in a whisper, holding his sword aloft. Douglas grasped the handle of his axe.

"Ready men?" Asked Spencer, holding a magnificent sword to the sky. Beside him, Hiro reluctantly took out a dagger from his belt, his hands shaking.

"No. Stand down." Henry said firmly, before placing his whimpering daughter into Gordon's arms. "Get her to safety, ensure my brother keeps out of danger-and, by Lady, protect thine brothers and sisters." He whispered to Gordon. "This thing wants me, and me alone, and I'll not allow it to hurt thee."

"Father, no!" Wept Aurora.

"Sweetheart, I must do this." He stroked Aurora's hair tenderly, watching her cat ears twitch in fear.

"Sire, surely you do not expect us to leave you!" Exclaimed Rheneas.

"I. Am. Your. King." Henry hissed, trying hard not to cry. Without another word, he watched the men file away, Aurora still crying her precious heart out, before turning to the ghost. His heart was twisted into painful knots.

"You have your private audience, what do you want from me?" Asked Henry.

To his surprise, the ghost sat down at the table. Before Henry could call out this audacity, the ghost spoke.

"I demand meat!" Said the spectre. "Bring me your faithful hounds, King Henry!"

Poor King Henry wept! He sorely longed to refuse; but he was fearful what could happen to his daughter and his friends. So, he complied, and sacrificed his hounds to the ghost, begging forgiveness for his actions.

By the end, only hide and hair was left.

But the ghost was not satisfied.

"I want more meat!" The ghost demanded, when Henry asked if he was satisfied. "Bring me your horses!"

This made King Henry sicker still; but he obliged, and once more, the ghost devoured everything but hide and hair.

When Henry again asked if he was satisfied, the ghost demanded the King's goss-hawks; they too were devoured, witnessed in guilt and shame by the King.

….

After the ghost had eaten his fill, he demanded a pipe of wine, served in the horse's hide, which was quickly downed, without a single drop left.

…

"Now, King Henry, make me a bed of heather green, make it soft."

Henry obeyed, feeling ill at ease and frightened for his life.

"Now lie beside me, and swear to me," said the ghost. Henry undressed, feeling embarrassed as well as fearful, and slipped under his mantle with the ghost.

"Swear to me, King Henry, you'll take me to be yours for eternity."

Henry's throat and mouth went dry in fear and revulsion.

"Oh, Lady forbid that I take a spectre as my husband!" He thought, but his virtue compelled him to give his beastly bedmate his word, and he did.

The ghost, content, quieted-but it was a long time before Henry could fall into a troubled sleep.

…

The next morning, when Henry finally awoke, he was amazed to see a beautiful, blue-haired man asleep beside him.

"Are you a fairy? Or a divine dream from Our Lady?" Henry wondered to himself. He was startled, however, when the man rolled over and opened the loveliest pair of cornflower-blue eyes, which enchanted Henry in a way he had never felt before.

"My courteous knight." Whispered the man in awe. "I owe you my life for keeping your word."

"Whatever in the world happened?" Asked Henry, confused but concerned.

…

The man's tale was sorrowful-he was Sir Edward Angel, Knight of a neighbouring kingdom, and the elder brother of Gordon. He had fought with his brother, and the pair parted ways. Edward got lost at a crossroads and was subsequently cursed to become a specter until "a man of gallantry and honour gives thee all thy will, before the stroke of midnight."

…

The two men decided to court, and so King Henry went to meet his men.

He was surprised, however, when he saw in the courtyard, all the animals he had sacrificed the night before, alive and well, as if nothing had happened.

He was even more surprised when the Welsh brothers recognised Sir Edward, as he was an old friend they had not seen since that fateful night he has argued with Gordon Angel.

There were many tears of joy shed.

"It's been too long, boyo, we've missed you!" Skarloey exclaimed joyfully, embracing Edward tightly.

"I missed you too, Skarloey," Edward replied warmly, returning the gesture.

Rheneas joined in. "You must come visit us in the mountains sometime!"

"I will." Beamed Edward, but yelped as he was suddenly swept off the floor into a bear hug.

"Edward, my brother, I have missed you." Gordon sniffed, trying not to cry.

"I… I missed you too, Gordon. I'm so sorry for our argument, and I never, ever want to fight with you again." He buried his face

into Gordon's muscular shoulder, relishing the warmth of his younger brother.

And, although she was a little shy at first, the Princess Aurora quickly enchanted Edward, and he vowed to become a second father to her, should the King take him to be his lawfully wedded husband.

And the courteous Knight, the noble and valiant King Henry, did indeed marry Sir Edward Angel.

…

The End