For the hours of fruitless dedication...

I stood there, my final pirouette perfectly complete as the curtain came down, legs and feet aching from endless graceful jumps and turns, arms up in a diagonal shape, breathing hard. My long crisp white tutu drooping down, the body enlaced with glittering diamonds along the hem, the intricate lacework was a piece of superb craftsmanship.

I walked gracefully back, upon my toes, to the dressing room releasing pins from the tight bun and reworking it for ACT II. The half-up half-down with the tiara of sleeping beauty placed upon my head. The priceless pearls loaned to the ballet company for opening night of this magnificent piece of art, I felt entwined with the Tchaikovsky's music and the character of Aurora, being my middle name and all. Everyone just called me Aurora anyway so I guess you could call that my name.

From the time I was three I had wished to be a dancer, the graceful, beauty they all seemed to possess. The training had taken my entire life and now, fourteen years on I became part of the company. I was the youngest person in history to become a principal artist in any country in the world.

Re-applying my smeared makeup, brushing my teeth and donning my new Pointe shoes, I stood up, looking fresh and went to stand on the stairs for some fresh air, picking up a cup of water on the way to refresh myself.

Sitting on the stairs leaning my head against the railing looking down, wondering how much it would hurt to jump. Not as much as that act just did, I scoffed to myself, when suddenly a scream and a huge blinding flash which seemed to contract before the soundless explosion blast though me, the warmth rapping though out my body, I blacked out.

Riding across the desolate battlefield, looking for anyone who still survived the bloody skirmish, hundreds of men's blood ran dry, the smell was overpowering, rotting flesh mixed with carcass' being picked away at by wildlife. The smell wasmade a thousand times worse by the heat of mid summer. The fight was still fresh in his memory being a knight he had been in the middle of it and protecting the prince, his primary duty.

Riding around the dead bodies I spotted a white patch, without blood on it I rode over. A girl, no a lady, lay upon a fine silver cloak. Her brown hair lay spaned out from her small creamy perfect porcelain head, a tiara placed upon it, her red lips glistened in the twilight. The dress she was wearing was like nothing I had ever seen, white coming down to the knee, the top was made of some exquisite lace and the pearls she wore made her look like an angel.

I dismounted careful not to crush any of the bodies and walked warily over to were she lay, hoping she was not dead. As he approached she stirred, her long lashed eyes fluttering open.

She coughed 'Whe-where am I?' she spoke quietly, like angels singing above the clouds, slightly husky from sleep.

I came up beside her and knelt, helping her sit up. 'It's alright now, you'll be fine. Just sleep.'

She leant back against my arm her head against my shoulder and her eyes closed once more. I tenderly picked her up as to not disturb or injure her. She fit perfectly in my arms and with her small frame I felt as though I could crush her if I held too tightly.

Remounting my horse I set off at a walk, watching her head upon my shoulder and my arms around her, touching her bare skin. Straight nose, the proportioning of her face and body was perfect, long refined legs, elegant arms, nicely sized chest. Perfect.

The horse took the extra weight easily, not that she weighed much though. Another twenty minutes later we came upon the fort. I came in holding her protectively and when I walked in I saw all the commanding generals and leaders sitting at the square eating table.

They looked up as I entered with my angel in my arms. And then I spoke, my voice horse 'I found her. Lying in the field, helpless and alone. Sleeping. Where is my prince? I must speak to him.'

They rushed to me, surveying her, my angel. Whispering among themselves they agreed they didn't know who she was and had never seen her before.

'Our lord prince left straight after the battle, to report to the king.'

'Then what is to become of her? A fair maiden alone in this world.'

Another greying man of the leaders approached me. 'Put her to sleep we shall discuss her fate in the morning. Probably to take her before the prince, ask him opinion.' He said nodding his head, with a few nods of approval from the others.

Picking her up I took her up to my own room and pulled back the covers while still holding her dainty form in my hand. I placed her on the soft mattress and reached down to untie her shiny satin shoes, beneath them a small squishy patch of material covering her toes, untied her glossy silken hair, removed her tiara and pearls, placing them on them on the bed side table.

Sitting in a chair watching her undisturbed peace until finally sleep claimed me, where i dreampt of her.

Thnx to my only reviewer: Masked Dragonfly 0926! ur a legend! thnx soo much. btw i R & R ur story twas awesome luv ya!