"Eric. Eric, wake up."

Something poked him in the side. Twice.

"Eric."

Eric pulled the bedsheets further over him. "Clara…" he groaned. "How early is it?"

"Early," Clara said cheerfully. "Get up, before I start throwing pillows."

Eric did not move.

Clara glared at him with a smirk, then reached for her pillow.

"Clara don't you dare…"

"Then get out of bed."

"Why?"

"If I tell you, it wouldn't be a surprise."

Another moan escaped Eric. He pushed down the sheets slightly, peeking out to see his wife standing over him. She still wore her nightgown, but she had pulled a robe over it. Even with her hair messy and loose, Eric thought she looked ridiculously beautiful. Which was annoying, because it made it that much harder for him to be irritated with her. Clara smiled brightly at him and grasped his hand, eagerly yanking him from the bed. Eric tumbled out with a cry of surprise, barely catching himself before crashing to the floor.

"Clara!"

Unconcerned, Clara tugged him upright and led them out of their rooms and into the corridor.

"Where are we going? And can't we at least put on shoes first?" He glanced down at his night shirt and breeches, imagining how the both of them must look as they stumbled through the castle barefoot and wearing nothing but rumpled bedclothes.

Clara looked highly amused by his second question, but did not bother to give it an answer as she brought him to a corner staircase. Up they went, with Clara leading him over the spiraling steps for what seemed like an eternity. But his mind may have been exaggerating the length of time, as he was still fairly muggy with sleep.

Clara pushed open a door at the top of the staircase and cool air rushed against them, startling Eric into full awareness. He straightened, blinking as his eyes adjusted to the gentle light.

They were on one of the tower roofs. The circular stone surface spread out around them, framed by a curving wall. Beyond that, a pale sky of pink, yellow, and powder blue.

"What are we doing up here?" asked Eric as Clara pulled him towards the eastern wall.

Clara let go of Eric's hand to lean against the stones. "Watching the sunrise," she said simply.

Eric settled his arms on the wall. "The sunrise," he repeated.

Clara nodded. "I think it's important to remember the simple beauties," she said wistfully. "And there's something about a sunrise. The stillness before the world wakes, the coolness of the ground before the sun warms it…it's that special moment of purity before the day begins."

Eric smiled. They fell quiet, their arms lightly pressed against one another as they stared out over the stretch of land beyond the castle grounds, watching as the first rays of light spilled over the grass and reached towards the heavens. Slowly, the bright circle of the sun began to peek over the horizon.

Below, a maid wandered sleepily into the gardens. She held a pitcher of water, which she began to pour over a bed of irises.

"Shall we go in soon?" asked Clara.

Eric shrugged. "We can stay up here for a little longer."

Clara gave a hum of agreeance. "I've been wanting to ask for a few days now, but I haven't gotten the chance. How are Peony's dance lessons?"

Eric looked at Clara in surprise. "How should I know?" he asked, a little too innocently.

Clara threw him a look. "I know you visited the troupe's practice the other night," she said. "You gave the dance instructor quite the shock. The king, visiting a simple dancing troupe's practice? She came to me, asking if there were any other 'surprise' visits planned, so she could be properly prepared next time." She laughed.

Eric shook his head, smiling. "I just wanted to check on her."

"Well, I'm glad you did. She needs the encouragement."

"She seems to be doing fine. And her siblings adore Ebba Jerkins."

"Good," Clara said in satisfaction. It had been over a month since the Corlynch children had been sent to live with Mrs. Jerkins. Clara asked after them as often as she could, but it was good to hear that Peony herself said they were happy.

Clara nudged Eric's arm. "What about you and me, then?" she asked. "You said yesterday that you wanted to take this day off. So what plans do you have for us?"

"We could just stay up here," he said teasingly. "We don't even need to go back to our room; we'll just stay in these clothes."

"Yes, how dignified," said Clara with a laugh. "You look very kingly in that."

"Well, perhaps I don't." Eric wrapped an arm around Clara's waist, pulling her close. "But you still look very much like a queen." He leaned down, kissing her.

Clara raised her hands to caress his face. She ran her hands back through his hair, then began giggling as her fingers threaded through his unruly dark locks.

Eric chuckled. "Are you making fun of me?" he whispered, his lips brushing hers as he spoke.

"A little," grinned Clara. She pulled away, stroking his tangled strands. "Though I still think you look exceedingly handsome, even with your…um, interesting hair."

"Well that's a relief," Eric murmured as he pressed another kiss to her lips. He tilted his head, leaving a soft kiss on her jaw.

Clara closed her eyes happily. "If you don't have a set idea," she sighed. "Perhaps you could take me back to the room with the lights."

"Hm?"

"The room with the lights. The one you brought me to on Christmas Eve." Clara ran her hand over the nape of his neck. "We haven't gone back there."

"We haven't?" Eric paused and looked up at her. "Well then, that is where we'll hide today."

They managed to sneak back to their rooms without being seen, and hurriedly changed into suitable day clothes. Instead of going to the dining hall, they went directly to the kitchen and asked Masha to pack their breakfast. Masha did so, slyly asking what they had planned for the day. Eric was vague with his answer, prompting a chuckle from Masha as she handed the food basket over. After confirming that they would be back in the afternoon, Eric and Clara made their way to the secret passage.

They had barely walked through the archway before Clara was tugging the basket from Eric's hand and setting it by the wall. "Dance with me," she implored, pulling him into the sea of lights.

Gazing at her as though she were the only beautiful thing left in the world, he snapped his fingers, prompting the music to start. They spent the next many hours there, dancing and talking and simply enjoying each other's company, without a care for time as it passed over them.