Evening Star
For Love of the Past
Chapter 7
The changes between them, at first, were subtle, and almost unnoticeable. Malachite's hands would linger on Aurora's own whenever their hands would touch. Aurora began asking Malachite to accompany her on late night walks through the Gardens. Malachite began leaving white roses on her pillow in the morning, before he would leave to begin his daily training. In early evening, as the 'sun' would set, and the Palace would calm itself to a quiet murmur, Malachite would stand beneath Aurora's balcony, and call out for her to join him on a horseback ride through the Gardens, which Aurora's balcony overlooked.
The times, however, when their growing affections for each other were most obvious, were during the Palace Balls; a celebration held by Queen Kiaya simply to enjoy the beauty of living. All were invited. And standing diligently by their Queen's side would always be Malachite and Aurora. Both were well loved by the people of the Sun; they were looked upon as the Queen's own children, and were treated with the utmost respect. The young girls were always attempting to win the attention of Malachite, while the boys were equally eager to attain Aurora's. However, the two only had eyes for one another. And when it came to dancing, no others were as well learned in the art of ballroom dancing as Malachite and Aurora. It was remarked on several occasions that when they took to the floor, it seemed like magic. Everyone within the ballroom would stop, if but for a moment, to watch as they danced across the floor. Malachite would hold Aurora as if she was but a whisper of wind, too fragile to hold tightly should she slip away, lost to him forever; and Aurora would set her eyes, unwavering, upon Malachite's own as if it was only she and he on the dance floor. To watch them left no question that they were greatly in love, an inevitable truth that was all too foreseen and welcomed by Queen Kiaya. For on Aurora's 13th birthday, Queen Kiaya betrothed Aurora and Malachite to each other.
The announcement of their betrothal to each other came as shock to Aurora and Malachite, for while the worlds around them knew all too well the feelings they held for each other, they had not truthfully admitted it to themselves. Nor did they have the chance, for they were immediately overwhelmed by the people of the Sun, who were all too pleased with the arrangement. Everyone wanted to see the happy couple together; balls, feasts, banquets; all were constantly held in their honor. Aurora and Malachite did not have but a moment between them that was just for them. Their presence was always needed somewhere throughout the Sun City, from small school and group functions, to citywide celebrations. The constant attention came at a price however; slowly the relationship between Aurora and Malachite became strained. They ceased to walk to together by 'moonlight' in the Gardens, and when they danced, it was purely perfunctory; there was no love, and no feeling-the magic was lost.
No one seemed to notice the distance that was building between the two as the weeks wore on; no one noticed at least, until Malachite had his fill of having his feelings aired to the City, and simply walked away. He left after an argument with Aurora, one of many which had occurred after the announcement of their betrothal. Both had been tired from the many functions they'd had to attend that day, and began taking out their weariness on each other. After Aurora put in the last, hurtful word, Malachite stared at her, turned away from her, and walked out of the Palace.
For days he was not seen of, or heard from. Queen Kiaya was beside herself, taking full blame for his disappearance. She realized too little, too late that she had forced too much on Aurora and Malachite, and worried incessantly if she would ever have the chance to make right the wrong she'd committed against them both. Though, Queen Kiaya was not the only to feel Malachite's loss, or to stay up at nights, unable to sleep because of the worry that tore at her heart. Aurora felt all too well Malachite's absence. She, in turn, blamed herself, believing it was her hurtful words that had driven him away. Slowly realization dawned; Aurora began to see just how much Malachite meant to her. Her heart and soul cried out for him to return, and for the first time in her life, Aurora felt loneliness.
She was frantic to have Malachite return to her, though at the same time she feared it. For she knew all too well the damage that would be done, should she come to find out that he did not love her, as she loved him, in return. At nights she would stand out on her balcony, hoping and praying that she would hear his voice calling out to her, to come join him in the Gardens. But for many nights, Malachite's voice was not heard. For two weeks, not a trace of him could be found on the Sun City. Queen Kiaya had every able body out in search for him, but to no avail. She never thought they would find him any ways; Malachite was a warrior- the best on the Sun. If he did not want to be found, he wouldn't be. And he wasn't, until one fateful night when his voice was heard, calling out to Aurora from the darkness beyond her balcony.
" Aurora," his voice came softly. So softly at first, she thought she was imagining his voice. "Aurora, please come here, we have to talk." Looking down in surprise and sudden hope, Aurora saw Malachite walk out of the darkness below her. " Malachite!" she whispered loudly, as tears of hope and happiness alighted in her eyes. Her heart cried out, happy to be free of the pain it had so silently endured the past few weeks. "Malachite, where have you been? Why… why did you leave me?" Though Malachite could not see her eyes, he knew from the sound of her voice that she was near tears. The idea that he was causing her pain wounded his soul deeply, and he quickly sought out words in his mind to put her heart at ease. " Please my love, just come with me. There is much that must be said." My Love? Aurora thought. Without another word, she slipped silently off of her balcony and through the Palace to the Royal Stables. There she removed Firewalker from his stall, bridled him, and mounted him, deciding to ride him bareback. As she was about to lead him out of the Stables, Malachite came up in front of them. She stared down at him, hardly breathing, fearing the worst. But the look he held for her in his eyes was soft and loving, and without a word, he walked up along side Firewalker, mounted him and settled himself in back of Aurora. She could feel his warmth as he sat behind her, and shivered ever so slightly as he placed his hands on either side of her hips. Neither spoke as she lead Firewalker out of the Stables, and in to the Gardens.
Nor did either speak as Malachite silently guided Aurora throughout the Gardens, pointing her in the direction he wished her to take. Aurora was slightly aware that where he lead her was to a part of the Gardens she'd never ventured to. The Gardens were vast, covering much of the land behind the Palace. They held beautiful flora, indigenous to the Sun City alone. Lifetimes could be taken in the exploration of the Gardens, and yet, still not all would be discovered. How many mornings, as the 'sun' would rise, had Aurora watched the grand splendor of the Gardens unfold before her, and yet, she knew not where Malachite was now taking her. For an hour they continued on that way, Malachite silently leading, Aurora silently obliging. By the light of a full 'moon' hanging high in the night sky, they reached their destination.
The flower, and fruit bearing trees, and the flower bearing bushes gave way to a clearing, dressed in silver, illuminated by the moon. At the far edge of the clearing, ran a stream, one born in the northern altitudes of the mountains bordering the Sun City. The stream was one of many sources used by the Palace, as the path it had carved into the Sun City's soil guided it to pool beneath the Sun Palace. Yet, it was not the stream Malachite had guided Aurora here to see, but what had been built over it. The stream itself was 6 feet wide, and over it had been built a low, arched bridge, 8 feet in length. Low railings, similar in style to most seen on stairs, graced the sides of the wooden bridge, which shone silver in the moon's light. The flora surrounding the clearing seemed almost protective of the small bridge, as it had long ago closed off all paths leading to it, ensuring its isolation, ensuring its secret would be kept. Aurora now understood why Malachite had forced Firewalker through such thick forestry.
Upon sighting the bridge, Malachite dismounted, and turning to Aurora, extended his hand to help her down. She refused his hand, bringing both legs over to Firewalker's left side, the same side at which Malachite stood. Her feet never touched the ground; Malachite came up to hold her waist as she attempted to slide gracefully to the ground beneath her. Catching her in mid air, Malachite held her startled gaze silently as he slowly, softly lowered her feet to the ground. For a moment in time, there they stayed -Aurora looking to Malachite questioningly, Malachite looking to Aurora knowingly; hands wrapped softly round her waist. For more than an hour, not a word had been spoken between them and the silence remained still, as Malachite lead Aurora to the middle of the bridge. Once there, he began to speak.
" Aurora, forgive me. Forgive me for leaving you." Malachite's voice was soft as he spoke, and though he dared not touch Aurora now for fear of her anger's retaliation, his eyes held her gaze steadily, lovingly. "Nothing made sense anymore. It seemed we stayed together for the sake of the people and not each other. But this time I've spent away from you has been spent in turmoil. Every night I watched you stand on your balcony, waiting for me to return. Everyday I thought only of you, of what you were doing, of what you were thinking - of what you thought of me. But, I could not return. I needed time alone, to think, to get a better understanding of what was going on between us." With those words, Aurora's eyes widened, though clouded quickly with anger. "Then why did you not return sooner!? Have you any idea what you've put me through!? The worry, the panic, the fear for your safety; even if what I suffered means nothing to you, what of our Queen!? She's not found a moment's peace since you walked away from us. She blames herself, saying it was her failure to see what her actions were doing to us that pushed you away. She's loved you as her son since the moment you came into her life, and you just left her, to suffer alone a mother's fear of losing her child!" Aurora's words cut deeply into Malachite, leaving him bleeding from wounds that could not be seen.
He'd been angry, frustrated, and confused. He'd always been one to keep quiet his emotions, but once his betrothal to Aurora had been announced, the most sacred of his emotions were exposed the very worlds around him. The vulnerable position that placed him in unnerved him. He had to leave, so as to grant himself the time to come to terms with emotions he was ill equipped to handle. He looked down at her now, yelling at him, releasing all of the pain he had caused her; pain she'd kept hidden until now. The silver moonlight reflected off of her pale blonde hair and illuminated her eyes of silver, which now almost seemed to glow, lit not only by the pale moonlight, but also by the fire burning bright within them. Oh, how he loved her; how he'd always loved her. He'd known this even before he took his leave of absence. But now he was more certain then ever that for him to live his life, and live it well, he needed Aurora; he needed her to love him, as he loved her.
Aurora continued her raving; she was too hurt, too angry to calm herself to listen to what Malachite had to say. Though she felt her words were falling on deaf ears. Why does he look at me so? What is it that I see in his eyes? Love, pain, ... or hope? Can he not see how hurt I am, how angry? Aurora grew more frustrated as her mind asked more questions to which she did not know the answer. She looked at Malachite now, and had to force herself to remain angry. How beautiful he was standing there, the moonlight casting a pale glow across his face. An aura of light seemed to radiate around him as his hair, now beyond shoulder's length, and cape billowed softly in the wind, catching the moonlight, reflecting it back to her eyes. His eyes seemed alive; no longer the dull, metallic blue she'd grown accustomed to, following the weeks after their betrothal's announcement. Their sharp, blue steeliness had returned; they were full of luster, illuminated from a source deep within him.
No longer was Aurora aware of the words escaping her lips, for her mind was else where, reliving the past. Malachite had always been strong; his strength was what drew her to him. He had always been so much more than the typical male; he took responsibility for every action he made, he was serious and dedicated, loyal and just. Even at a young age, Malachite had been more a man than any other Aurora had ever known. His very presence demanded respect and obedience from those around him; he had the ability to strike fear into the hearts of others by merely meeting their gaze. It was well known throughout the Sun City that Malachite, Last Prince of Pluto, was a force to be reckoned with. Now he stood before her at the age of 15, his training as a warrior almost complete, making him the most powerful warrior on the Sun-and he was being nothing more than the typical male. He'd run away because he was afraid! The very thought renewed within Aurora the fire of anger that had slowly begun to reduce itself to glowing ambers. The light shone again in her eyes as she began, anew, her irrational raving at Malachite.
A small smile graced his lips as he looked down upon her, love radiating in his eyes. Aurora's presumptions were correct; her words were falling on deaf ears. For he heard nothing, nor saw anything, save for the Star shinning before him. He raised his hand to meet her lips, and gently, he traced their outline barely touching her skin. Aurora was silenced, amazed at his actions, amazed at the intimacy of his touch and what it implied. He looked at her, drawing his eyes away from her lips. Within them Aurora saw forming a question and with her own eyes she answered. His hand moved to the left side of her face as he drew nearer to her. He hesitated for only a moment, as if to give her the chance to stop him if she wished; she did not.
At the moment their lips touched it became clear to them both that this had been destiny's plan all along, and neither fought the fate that had been set out for them. They were meant to be together; it had been written in the stars long before their births, and no longer did either deny their destiny. The kiss itself was gentle, soft and sweet. It was truly love's first kiss. There they stood, with Aurora held protectively within Malachite's embrace, their hair being blown softly around their faces by the gentle breeze that blew throughout the small clearing. Malachite's cape billowed quietly behind him; the moon's light highlighted every one of their features. And there on the surface of the crystalline stream that flowed beneath them were their reflections, which reflected off the stream's surface as clearly as a mirror image.
There was only one witness to this fulfillment of destiny, a witness that stood silently by in the shadows, unnoticed by the two lovers standing upon the bridge. He looked on in knowing admiration, pleased that the two lovers no longer chose to fight fate. Wishing to grant them a moment alone, he turned to leave. He whinnied softly, the star on his forehead shinning brightly, as if to shine it's light upon the unknown future which awaited the two standing upon the bridge.
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