As she was setting off, Elliot came next to her, "Let me help you."
"You don't have to."
"I feel bad about making the prince to come around and fetch you."
" That's not your fault Elliot, I was the one that insisted for you to go."
Aurora got a surprise when Caspian lifted her without saying a word and he didn't say anything as they reached his chambers.
He sat her down on his bed, she saw that he had come back with a dish and a cloth, he started to take her shoe,
"You don't have to My Lord. I can do it for myself."
Caspian did not listen and he lifted her dress until it was on her thighs, she was blushing the whole time he was tending to her wounds.
He wrapped a handkerchief around her leg, he put her dress back in place. Caspian stood up,
"Thank you My Lord."
"You must be mad at me Aurora."
"Why do you say so My Lord?"
"You didn't spare me a glance, no-matter how much I kept on looking for your gaze."
"I didn't want your date to go wrong with Princess Nadia and I am a maid, and I am not allowed to look at you directly."
"It would have been better if you had spared me a glance Aurora as it was hard seeing you with Elliot again."
"I apologize for that."
"Are you upset about my wedding coming up soon?"
Aurora felt a sharp stab of pain in her heart, but there was nothing she could but to accept her fate,
"No, My Lord it is the will of the heavens."
Caspian came back and held out his hands, she was confused as to what he wanted, she took both of them.
He pulled her swiftly in to her arms, "I might be in a bit of trouble but I could not leave you behind Aurora, you are all my mind had."
He placed a kiss on her forehead, "You make me so happy that I am afraid Aurora."
"What are you afraid of My Lord?"
"I could lose you at any moment, or if I can't have you by my side."
Aurora felt fear nibble through her but she would cherish the moments she had with him. That is what mattered the most.
"Promise me Aurora that you are never going to let go."
"I won't let go My Lord."
Caspian squeezed her into a hug but she wondered how she would not let him go? She did not have much power.
She would hold on to him just for now and for as long as she could,
"You captivate me so much Aurora, I want to see you all the time, your smile, shyness and everything that makes you.
They held on to each other for some time, they wanted to hold each other forever so that nothing could separate them but she didn't know for how long she could hold on.
She stayed the night with Caspian as he just held her tightly, the next morning he gave her a day off, her leg was better but cycling home was such a tremendous task.
The next morning her friends were bombarding her with questions,
"I got hurt then Caspian let me ride behind him."
"Wait was Nadia there?" Barbara asked.
"Yes she was."
"What did she say?" Evelyn asked.
"She insisted I ride with her rather."
"Did you ride with her?" Ella asked.
"No Caspian insisted I go with him so that I don't bother Nadia."
They all nodded,
"I hear the wedding is going to be soon," this time it was Lucy.
"I think it's in two weeks." Ida replied.
"Apparently Caspian did an outstanding job with Nadia's father." Agnes added.
Days went by and it was rare to see Caspian as the wedding was being prepped, she knew he had forgotten about her.
She did her usual schedule with a heavy heart, she had become on of the broken hearted women. She went and sat by her tree and sulked a bit, why was she so sad? She knew that this was coming and she knew that holding onto him was impossible.
The wedding was a few days this weekend, and she sighed. The amount of feeling defeated was too much.
When dinner came she went to the servant's quarters, before finishing her meal a guard came in
"Aurora."
Aurora raised her hand meekly,
"Come with me."
Aurora got up to go with him and the speculations had started, she couldn't believe the suggestions that some were saying about her.
She followed a guard and was told to wait in the room, an olden lady she had never seen.
"Do you know why you have been summoned here Aurora?"
"No Mam."
"You are going to go through massive training, you are not allowed to go out the palace, you will stay here until the your ceremony."
Aurora was confused, and she was led to a room full of other women that were so beautiful.
The Madam stood in front of them, "As you all know it is the marriage of the Prince and Princess and on the same day you all have your ceremony of becoming the prince's official concubines.
Aurora was shocked, she was picked to be a concubine? How had this all come about, never in her wildest dreams did she ever feel as if she could be good enough to be anything besides a maid.
The days leading up to the wedding, were long with vigorous training and getting scrubbed day in and day out.
Aurora wanted to tell her friends that she was fine but it was against the rules for her to go outside. The food was way much better and were she slept was amazing.
"Have you seen the Prince?" Caroline asked.
"Yes, I think we all have." Anne replied.
"I hope Nadia doesn't keep him all to herself." Hazel spat out.
"I hope not, it would be unfair to be forgotten. Cora added.
"We need every opportunity we get to try and conceive boys." Said Lilian.
Aurora was silent throughout the whole exchange, they were very confident and knew what they wanted out of this.
The day of the wedding ceremony came, and they the ones whom would be indicted to be concubines had a small ceremony away from Caspian's and Nadia's.
When they were all crowned as concubines and after eating and a long day they all went to the villas in the palace that were designated to them.
Aurora took off her head accessories, she went outside and stood under the moon,
"You will catch a cold My Lady."
Aurora turned to the servant assigned to her, "My heart is already very cold already."
Her heart was hurting as she knew he was consummating his marriage with Nadia, the wind blew and she looked up once more.
"MAKE WAY FOR THE PRINCE!"
Aurora bowed her head and was shocked that Caspian was here, wasn't he supposed to be at Nadia's?
He motioned for the guards, eunuchs and court ladies to stand aside. Caspian came up to her,
"You may lift your head."
Aurora did and could see he looked dashing,
He took her hands in his, "You look beautiful, a pity I couldn't come and attend. And pardon me for springing this upon you."
"Thank you My Lord, but don't you have to be at N........"
"Not you too, Douglas has already scolded me for not gracing her room tonight, but I will be gracing yours tomorrow."
Aurora's face was super red,
"You shouldn't be out in the cold fretting."
"Yes My Lord."
He leaned down and kissed her, after some time he let go and was on his way.