Aurora sank down by her tree, and she heaved out. Would she be in trouble with the way she had left prince Caspian?
She did not care about all that and would deal with it later, she had just kissed him so why did she feel so down and sad.
Aurora knew why, but thinking out the answer only solidified it, she wanted what she could not have. How lovely it was to be Nadia.
She remembered this morning when she had seen the other maid scurry out of his room and she proceeded to kiss him.
How humiliating it was, she had degraded herself for his looks and the way he made her feel. Was this all because it was the first time she was receiving attention from a male.
"Not surprised finding you seating here."
"Are you stalking me, Elliot?"
Elliot laughed, as he sat beside her, "Maybe I am."
Aurora nodded, "I have to say you are doing a great job at it then."
"Well thank you Aurora, practice makes perfect."
Aurora giggled,
"Finally I got to make you smile."
"Huh?" Aurora asked confused.
"You seemed to be in a gloomy mood and deep in thought," Elliot replied.
"Oh..."
"You can tell me anything if you want."
"One of those days where I can't catch a break."
"I feel you, is it because of Caspian?"
Aurora was a bit surprised when he bought up his name, "What makes you think that?"
"I saw you earlier today so I would not be surprised if he made you upset."
Aurora sighed, "No, it's not that. It's just me. I need to figure out a few things."
Elliot nodded, "Well I will be quiet as I keep you company."
Aurora nodded, and the breeze was refreshing, when dinner time arrived she was a hint late. She went to the front and requested her food in a bag.
When it was dished up she headed out the door, she knew her friends had seen her. She got on her bicycle and made her way to her place.
When she got there, she lit the candle and ate her dinner in silence. When she was done Aurora blew out the candle and climbed into bed.
Her heart felt very heavy, she had to remind herself that she was just a maid and that will all she would ever be.
The next morning she went in for breakfast and got her food, and headed to her tree and ate there. When she was done, she made her way to Caspian's chambers and he was there putting on a shirt.
"Morning My Lord." Her head was bowed and she did not make eye contact.
"Morning Aurora," she could feel that he was teasing her through his tone.
Aurora did not say anymore as she proceeded to clean,
"It's a mess in here."
"Nothing that I can't handle My Lord."
Aurora carried on cleaning and hoped he had gotten the hint that she did not want to talk to him any further or get any closer.
Caspian left the room and finished cleaning, and went to her tree. The wind and sky were surreal.
Lunchtime came and she headed to the kitchen, she got her food and knew she could not avoid her friends forever.
She had made up her mind that she was going to be back to her usual self. When she sat down they all were staring at her.
"Spill it Aurora." Said Lucy.
"Sadly there is nothing to spill."
"Lies, and you know it." Evelyn chimed in.
"Why did you avoid us yesterday?" Ida asked.
"I just wanted to sit outside, it felt too stuffy in here."
"Supper?" Agnes asked.
"I was too tired and wanted to eat in the comfort of my bed and not have to worry about rushing home."
"This morning?" Barbara asked.
"I was feeling hot after the ride here, I needed to cool down."
"You really are not going to tell us anything." This time it was Ella.
"I'm afraid there is nothing to tell,"
"You seem a bit gloomy Aurora, ever since you replaced Constance you have been acting strange," Evelyn replied.
"How so?"
"You used to tell us in the beginning as to what was happening to you and Caspian but now you have turned all secretive, which is not like you," Agnes replied.
"I can't do or say anything for you all to believe me, so I will leave you all to speculate."
"We just want to help Aurora." Said Lucy.
"I know, but I do not need any help from you lot, if I had a problem I would let you all know."
"Fine, we will see you during dinner." Said Ella.
"I might not make it for dinner, I am not in the mood to go home late."
Aurora could see her friends giving each other looks that said a lot but she would not entertain it now.
She went to the kitchen and got Caspian's tea, she headed to his room, his door was opened and heard voices inside.
She could see that their gazes were now turned to her,
"Tea is served."
As she was about to turn away she was surprised when the gentleman opposite Caspian spoke.
"I believe I haven't formally met, My name is Douglas."
Aurora bowed her head, "It is an honor to meet you My Lord."
"Your name, if you don't mind me asking?"
"Aurora My Lord."
"A name fit for a beauty," Douglas replied.
Aurora wanted to roll her eyes at his compliment, this is what they all did to get the maids in bed and she had almost fallen for it.
"Stop bothering her, I thought you were here to have tea with me," Caspian asked in a cajoling tone.
"Of course I am but how can I miss this beauty right in front of me."
Aurora was getting irritated, they were used to using maids so casually, "Excuse me."
They were both surprised by her words, and she turned and left the room without glancing back.
She went to her tree and sat there. Things could only get better from here. At last peace and quiet,
Aurora felt someone sit next to her and knew that it was Elliot, she was not the least bit surprised.
"Did I catch you off guard?"
"Not really, I knew you would pop up at some point."
Elliot laughed at her words, "Bad day?"
"I'm working on it and you?"
"I can't complain."
Aurora nodded, "I'm afraid you are not going to get a conversation from me."
"I don't mind sitting next to you is more than enough for me."
Aurora nodded, she had to admit that she liked that Elliot sat next to her and didn't push nor judge her.
He sat with her and she had company, and that to her was very touching. He was just silent as if he was in his own world too.
They were giving each other comfort and at the same time, they could think about everything that was ailing them.
Dinner came and she went to the kitchen once more and headed to the front to get a packed supper.
She walked to her bicycle and made her way home. She sat alone in the candlelit room and was feeling hurt.
So Caspian wanted to use and just discard her to his friend Douglas. It was clear to her that they were used to doing this.
She finished her dinner and went to stand outside, the moon was beautiful tonight and the clouds made it all the more special.
She sighed and was learning to close off. She would not allow no man to have such power over her that they could hurt her.
She had tasted a bit of this romance but it was not for her. She wanted the whole deal and just not the physical aspect of it.
There was no point in having physical comfort if she was left feeling hollow. Then her life would be meaningless.
If she could afford mead she would use that to numb the pain but alcohol was very expensive and most that drank their sorrows away never recovered.
Mead as heard was quite addictive to the point that some were willing to lose everything just to feel numb.
As a maid, she also could not afford to lose her sanity or looks over mead as that would lead her in being on the streets.
Being a beggar was far much worse, and men often took advantage of desperate women, so she would go back to her usual self that her friends knew her by.
She would not be Caspian's bait anymore, she would withdraw in herself.
Keep herself come and her head screwed on straight, she looked at the moon once more, lucky Nadia she thought she could have him in all the ways that she could not.
She would bury him inside her heart.