Roses Red
Disclaimer: I don't own sleeping beauty. This is a sue-free zone!
Roses red
A vision
Chapter V
Aurelia walked quietly in the outside garden, her footsteps making barely a whisper on the stone steps. Aurelia's dark skirt dragged softly behind her, making a hissing sound as it caught on the stone path. She wore what was now known as her usual garb, a long black skirt and a severe black shirtwaist of Nimidian style was tucked into the top of the skirt. A long black cloak hung loosely on her heavily shrouded body, the hood pulled up high and a scarf covering her hair. Winterhad reachedthe northern country of Nimind, so Aurelia had a good reason as to why she would have covered up pretty much every inch of her body. Especially the fiery hair that lay coiled dangerously on her head.
She pulled distractedly at the edge of the head scarf and felt the bump that was her long braid bunched up in the top. She finally found the small stone bench that was in the middle of the garden and sat down, brushing the dead leaves off the seat before she did. Sitting, her eyes closed, she began to think on the thing that she had been neglecting for the past month now.
How she should leave.
It truly was lovely here, but how could she remian safe in a place that kept such close converstaions with Dyrria? It wouldn't be wise!
'But it's so nice here!' she argued to herself, like she had done so many times before. These people had accepted Aurelia into their midst much sooner than could be epected, despite the fact that she mostly kept to herself. But, then again, she resembled the Nimidians with their fair skin and light eyes... add to that the fact that Aurelia mostly never asked for anything that might cause the people of Elaine's household to look at her strangely -for she knew all too well how easy it was for gossip to travel between countries- and it became almost impossible for the household to dislike her. But still!
Aurelia gave a half snort, half-shriek at the thought of these people accepting her more readily than her own flesh and blood. 'But' she sighed 'Elaine never lets me out of her sight without a guard of some sort, whether it be her or Evan or Joseph...well, except when I sneak away'. She felt herself smiling wryly at the thought of how Evan would conveniently nap for fifteen minutes every few days and not say anything when he happened upon Aurelia in this place of solace she could almost always be found in. A place that reminded her of Marie and the promised trip to Faiiyorn. It reminded her of one of the few people who had ever taken the time to love and know her. Evan and her had an unspoken agreement that he would never tell of her secret escapedes as long as she stayed within the garden...one that would have to be broken if she was ever to escape.
Aurelia felt a sudden chill envelope her and pulled her long cloak closer, grateful of the cover it gave her. Then, as black seeped into her vision, Aurelia realised what was happening and began to fight it, mind struggling against the oncoming vision. Aurelia gave up with a gasp, her mind being forced to accept this and a scene began to play itself in front of her eyes...
A tall woman stood at the head of a table big enough to seat over a hundred and not even begin to have them all feel crowded. A few men and women sat in clusters at the end towards her. She gazed coldly down at these people, considering them little more than pawns in her game of chess. 'Well, except for that wench, Aurelia. She's more like a damn queen...well, my queen is more powerful than hers and I will check mate that little brat! Great raven help me, all of Isabella's spawn seem to be a pain in my ass!'
With a shock, Aurelia realised she could hear the thoughts of this woman and that was different from any other vision she had ever had before. 'Who is this woman? What is her connection to Isabella?'
The woman looked over the battle plans in her hands, written in her own neat and concise writing and detailing how the upcoming ambush was to be worked out. "Henri," she said, speaking coldly, "I have the plans made," she gestured to the papers held in her pale hands, "And I expect them to be carried out as soon as possible and to your best abilities. If one part of this is messed up everything will be ruined and I'll have each and every one of your limbs cut off and leave you to die," she gave a small smirk the gulping man.
"Yes, madame," he said, somewhat weakly, and he grabbed the papers,"Rian is the target? But...why?" he asked, looking up at her for confirmation, his eyes alight with curiosity. She noddedcondescendingly and replied, her voice letting it be known the annoyance she felt with such a bothersome question.
"Because Siena refuses to help with our search for that goddamnedseed of Isabella's. Her mother was the right sort...oh well, we'll show her the right way."
"And I'm to...?"
"Take care of them," she said exasperatedly,"Take a small grouping of my people to ambush their forces. Kill that damn queen of theirs and the king and any heirs that they have spawned...and make sure no one knows who took care of it." Aurelia knew deep in her gut that 'her forces' meant men (or women) with the advantage of magic. Magic that probably wan't going to be used for good.
Henri nodded sharply, turning and striding out of the hall, and the woman waited until the echoes of his clicking heels faded before speaking to the remaining group of people.
"The rest of you..."
The vision faded out and another one came and replaced it.
A woman with brown hair lay on a stone floor, her protruding belly covered in a blue ceremonial gown that was drenched in scarlet blood. She gazed up and Aurelia gasped at the sight of her sister- the sight of Marie's tear-streaked and sweat covered face.. Marie clutched her belly helplessly and Aurelia watched helplessly as a shadow took place before her.
Marie was yanked up to where the hooded figure's face was by the collar of her gown and Aurelia heard her take a sharp, ragged breath.
"You little fool," the woman murmured, "Always getting in my way! Did you think I didn't know?" suddenly she gave a small cackle, "One day, all of you idiots will pay inblood to her betrayal..."
The vision faded, leaving Aurelia shaking on the ground below the bench. Aurelia gasped, realising she must have collapsed during the vision. 'Marie! Rian! Marie...oh dear Goddess, she's pregnant? Oh my goddess...Rian's royals are going to be murdered?! Because of me? But why in heaven's name! Oh, Goddess, I have to tell someone about this!' Aurelia jumped up, forgetting about her original plans for her escape and ran back to the castle, flying through the corridors, looking for Elaine, her son Joseph (the very handsome man who had come flying in a awhile ago), or Evan.
"Oof!" came the suprised sound as Aurelia rushed around the corner, running into the very fit body of- speak of the devil- Joseph Numonde. Aurelia felt herself turn as red as a tomato as he raised his eyebrows sardonically at her. Before he could speak or reprimand her about this being the third or fourth time running smack into him, a torrent of words fell out of her mouth in gasps.
"Rian is going to be attacked!" she gasped (leaving out the part of her being concerned with it)and she watched his sardonic gaze turn to one of concern and, yes humor! Aurelia could feel her eyes starting to squint dangerously and the power that had flooded her only moments before to bring her a vision was dangerously close to the surface again.
"Now, Denise, I'm sure you've just been out in the sun too much...Rian is preparing for a battle right now...it wouldn't be wise for anyone to attack them at the moment with so many soldiers crawling around that country," he said it condescendingly as though he was only taking the time to explain anything to her because he was a kind, caring man. He gave a kind smile that did nothing for Aurelia's temper except make it worse.
"But...but these are magical forces. Please, just send out a warning to the Queen and King of Rian and then to Queen Marie! Yes... you must! And anyway, will it really do any harm?" Aurelia argued, moving a hand half-heartedly, watching as Joseph raised an eyebrow, his face losing all signs of fake compliance and taking on a look of boredom and annoyance. Secretly, Aurelia could understand why he was so annoyed with her and her clumsiness and now this seemingly foolish story, but he was never going to hear that from her!
"Alright. I'll send a messenger to the queen of Rian and I will tell her to be on the look out for magical beings that would try to attack one of the weaker countries of the alliance. And when she asks me who told me this, I'll make sure to let her know that it was some half-crazed nomad from the desert who gave me this information...one who cannot, or will not, provide me with how she recieved this information,"Joseph said, looking down his handsome nose at her. Aurelia could feel her face turn bright red and cursed him for making her sound like a fool and tried her hardest to resist the urge to scream and stomp her foot.
"Well! I just-" Aurelia began hotly, realising she couldn't tell him how she knew, her hands finding their way to her hips. But before she could finish with some made up story, he laughed and walked away, the sound of his mirth echoing off the walls long after his footsteps had receded.
'That stupid inconsiderate man! He doesn't like me for any damn reason at all except to annoy me! If I could get my hands on him...next time I'll watch his fall on his ass...that looks rather nice and no, Aurelia, no!' Aurelia began to stumble her way back to her room, praying that Maria and the rest of the damn world would be okay.
Author's Note: Another update! I'm so excited...wooooo, my birthday's coming up as well! I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter, and I'd appreciate if you'd drop me a line either way. May the green piggy be with you! To my lovely and very very very very very very holy reviewers...
Ardelis Mercy: lol, he is! He's eeeeevil too! From a baby book? I love to look through baby booksat names! Hanging the stars was a beautiful story, btw, are you going to be writing any new ones soon?
Glaze: shrewd eyes no their not. I have conversations with the piglets and the cry wee wee wee all the way home! Nope, she shouldn'e be spinning and yet she should...and is she safe? Are any of us? dun dun!
mistyqueen: lol! woohoo band! Thanks for the review and I'm glad you're enjoying this!
Aerinha: Druantia! or should I say...Aerinha wiggly eyebrows. Another identity crisis? lol, I reviewed Arabian Nights (of course!)...it's such a lovely story...are you updating soon? Thanks for the review! Isabella had her reasons for being afraid of her spinning...which we'll find out soon...du du du du du du du du
Lulai: Thanks for the correction blush...I knew there was something wrong! btw, I really love your new story Every Words!
Mwah! Mwah! Review if you don't mind, I love thou allest!
±GT±