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It started the night before the wedding.
Aurora couldn’t sleep. It came and went over the year from Phillip saving her, but it never lasted long. She was on her third day of not sleeping and it felt like she was losing her mind. She was snapping at everyone and, even after apologizing, she felt horrible. It was supposed to be the happiest day of her life! So why did it feel like doom and anxiety instead? She knew there was nothing wrong – not with Philip and not from any fairies, evil or good.
A knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts. “Enter,” she said.
Phillip came in, closing the door quietly behind him, and smiled. “Hello.”
She grinned, getting up and coming over to him. He opened his arms for her and she snuggled up against him. Her shoulders slumped as she leaned against him, closing her eyes as she soaked him in. “Hello,” she whispered.
“I heard you weren’t able to sleep so I snuck away to check on you,” he said quietly. “What can I do to help?”
“You’re helping right now.”
He softly kissed the top of her head. “You can’t sleep standing up.”
“True.” She smiled as he lifted her up, carrying her over to the bed. She held tightly to him after he put her on the bed and a tug made him lay down with her. “Stay?”
He sighed. “Aurora –“
“I know. It’s not proper. It’s not something we’re supposed to do. But I don’t want to be alone. Please,” she pleaded. “You could go in the morning.”
“Alright,” he said quietly, kicking off his boots and getting her under the covers. He kept himself on top of them, letting her snuggle close to him again. “I think this is a good compromise.”
“It is,” she whispered. She could feel her eyes getting heavy. “I just don’t want it to happen that I won’t wake up again. That’s why I want you here.”
“Oh love… I’ll be here to wake you. In the morning and in all the ones following,” he promised. “I will always save you, Aurora. I love you.”
“And I love you,” she trailed off, her eyes too heavy to keep open as she tumbled over into sleep.
Phillip watched her sleep, not moving so not to wake her, until he felt sleep claim him as well. In the morning, he gently woke her, smiling at seeing her a bit rested, and kissed her cheek. “Soon we’ll be husband and wife. And then we can always sleep together.”
She grinned and kissed him. “Then go, so I can get dressed and become your wife.”
He laughed, gathering his boots, and left before the servants came in to help her get ready for the day.
***
The next time was after the twins were born.
“No,” Phillip said firmly. “I know they helped me defeat the evil witch in the end, but there is no saying what else might happen if they are invited to our children’s introduction.”
“Your majesty,” an advisor said. “This is not just your children’s introduction. It is also the first event since your father’s funeral. The three good fairies did come and pay your respects.”
“Yes, they did,” Phillip said. “But my decision is final.” He looked over as the doors opened, smiling and standing as Aurora came in. “Leave us.”
The advisors bowed to both, gathering their things and leaving the couple in peace.
Aurora came over and softly kissed his cheek. “They are still trying to change your mind?”
“They are.” Phillip sighed. “I know they helped me with – “ he couldn’t even say Maleficient’s name. As if she might appear even though he flung the Sword of Truth into the dragon’s heart.
“I know,” Aurora said. “They understand.”
He raised an eyebrow. “They do?”
She nodded. “They wrote, after hearing about the children, and said that it might be better if they did not come this time. Not because of something being wrong or feeling unwanted or anything bad. Just that they know they are needed to be in the shadows now, after everything.”
He relaxed and hugged her. He could feel his heart slow down as he touched her, anchoring himself to reality and feeling stronger for doing so. “Do you think it’s silly?”
“No,” she said immediately. “My worry decreased immediately after reading the letter. Yours after hearing it. It means that we felt something. Feelings can’t be wrong, if they are protecting or loving others.”
“I’m glad you think that way love,” he said quietly as he simply held onto her.
***
The last time was their daughter’s sixteenth birthday. Aurora couldn’t sleep that night and neither could Phillip. Their reign was successful, with the idea of magic fading away as the years went on by, and their children had strong betrothals. There was nothing to worry about and… yet.
Aurora found herself standing in her daughter’s doorway, watching her sleep, before she closed the door quietly. She slowly moved down the hallway, noting the shadows, and that they were… normal. No green lights. Nothing but the normal candle flame that lit her path to Phillip’s study. She could hear her husband and son talking quietly inside, about something or other, and she moved on. She slowly climbed the steps to a tower, looking over the land and watching the stars as they twinkled and shone. All she felt was… peace.
Worry? It was there, but pushed to the background. Unless she focused on it, it didn’t come closer to her. She turned as she heard Phillip open the door and come to stand next to her, taking her hand and softly kissing it.
“When did it change?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
“I’m not sure,” she replied. “Maybe when she was doing embroidery, pricked her finger, and said ouch instead of falling asleep.”
“Or maybe when he was handed a sword instead of it being drawn out of thin air,” he said. “Do you miss them?”
“Here and there,” she replied. “But I would rather miss them than either of us be uncomfortable or relive what we went through. It might have just been a short time but – “
“But it was so evil that it imprinted,” he said and nodded. “After the wedding in a few years, I was wondering if you wanted to visit your homelands, my love.”
She was quiet before shaking her head no. “They were my past and my ghosts. Here is my future, with you, and our family.”
He smiled and they walked back inside, the ghosts of that one night finally fading into dust.