Inside the opulent chamber, a tapestry of emotions painted the air. As the king, Malik, concluded his fervent union with Aurora, he carefully untangled himself from her embrace and made his way to the adjoining bathroom.
Aurora, her cheeks flushed and her heart still racing, found herself curled up on the bed, her legs throbbing with a delightful ache. She couldn’t suppress the radiant blush that adorned her face, basking in the euphoria of their passionate encounter.
Moments later, Malik emerged from the bathroom, his regal demeanor unaffected, but Aurora could sense a hint of gentleness beneath his cold exterior. Although she wanted to get up from the bed, she knew the king disliked women sleeping on it.
However, before she could gather herself and prepare to leave the bed, the king surprised her with unexpected words. He must have realized how much pain her legs were causing her.
“Rest,” he commanded, his tone containing an unusual note of concern. Aurora’s eyes widened, desperately seeking clarity. Did she hear him correctly?
Malik’s gaze remained fixed upon her, sensing her confusion. He repeated his command, his voice infused with firmness. “I don’t repeat myself. Sleep.”
Aurora’s face burned with a mixture of embarrassment and delight. The king’s sudden consideration and care overwhelmed her, stirring a warmth within her soul.
At the king’s request, she reluctantly slumped back onto the bed, burying her head in the pillow. As she did, her mind wandered, and she began to fantasize about the affectionate moments they had shared. She imagined the king’s tender kisses and the passionate sounds he made while they were together. A blissful smile formed on her lips, and her eyes welled up with happiness as she daydreamed, feeling foolishly delighted.
As Aurora’s laughter filled the room, Malik glanced up from the scroll he was absorbed in. He found himself captivated by the sound, and a faint smile escaped his lips. He couldn’t help but wonder why the maid’s presence seemed to make him momentarily forget his worries. He pondered what it was about her and the mysterious masked girl that managed to infiltrate his thoughts so effortlessly.
However, when the room fell into silence, the king’s curiosity was aroused, prompting him to halt his activities. He slowly made his way towards the bed, a smile forming on his lips as he noticed that Aurora had fallen asleep. At that moment, he understood the reason behind the sudden quietness.
He approached Aurora and gently used the quilt to cover her body. With tender strokes, he caressed her cheeks while sitting beside her on the bed. A mix of vulnerability and fascination revealed itself in his voice as he posed a question. “What makes you so special? I should despise you, and yet I cannot. Your presence should repulse me, and yet it does not. You took my father’s life, and yet I can’t help but believe that there must be a reason behind your actions.”
Suddenly Aurora’s voice echoed the room and tears cascaded down her cheeks. The weight of her vivid dream lingered, leaving her trembling. In a voice filled with anguish, she cried out, reliving the torment of her nightmare. “Fire, please, Father, do not let them perish. A baby trapped amidst the flames… Please, save her, Father!” Aurora screams in her dream.
Hearing her voice, The king knew she was having a bad dream, his urgent voice called out, as he moved closer to her on the bed, breaking the grip of the nightmare. “Aurora!”
Startled, her eyes flew open, and terror etched upon her face. Seeking solace and security, she sought refuge in Malik’s embrace, her tears flowing freely. “Please, do not let them die,” she pleaded, her voice choking with sorrow.
Malik’s voice, normally commanding, softened with compassion as he reassured her. “It was but a dream,” he murmured, holding her tightly against his chest. As her tremors subsided, he continued to stroke her hair, coaxing her to share the troubling images that haunted her. “Was the dream truly that horrific?” he inquired, his voice overflowing with concern.
Aurora nodded, her voice shaky. “It felt so real… The fire, the cries… I could not bear it.”
“Can you tell me?” The king asked and just as Aurora wanted to talk, she broke into tears, remembering how dreadful it was in the dream, seeing a whole family burning inside the fire yet her father was smiling, clapping that the whole family was burning.
Now she wondered why she has been having this nightmare consecutively nowadays.
“Tell me in the morning,” Malik gently suggested, seeing how she was struggling to talk about the dream, his tender tone enveloping her like a soothing balm. “For now, find solace in rest.”
Her hand, still filled with longing, instinctively roamed across his body. Her curiosity, too potent to ignore, finally emerged. “Why did you choose to sleep with me today? I thought your pleasures were solely derived from Xena’s body,” brushed out of Aurora lips seeing how the king was pampering her tonight, her voice tinged with vulnerability,
Malik’s gaze intensified, as if he was searching the depths of her soul. “If I were to answer, would it satisfy your yearning?” he pondered.
Aurora’s eyes shimmered with anticipation, her heart fluttering with hope. “Yes,” she whispered, her voice filled with a mix of longing and eagerness. “I want to know, and my king, don’t’ forget your promise to grant me this night, to fulfill my deepest desire.”
A soft smile tugged at the corners of Malik’s lips, his gaze filled with a tender affection that he rarely displayed. “No one has yet proven worthy of carrying my child,” he confessed, his voice laced with vulnerability. “I have not encountered anyone I believe capable of raising my legacy.”
Aurora’s heart sank, her dreams momentarily shattered. “And what about Xena?” she ventured, her voice laced with a touch of insecurity.
Malik’s eyes met hers, a spark of warmth dancing within their depths. “Xena, too, does not deserve that honor,” he declared firmly.
“What about me? My lord…sorry your highness” Aurora asked, she took a deep breath before she asked, knowing it’s not in her place.
But before Malik could respond, fatigue overcame Aurora and her eyes grew heavy with sleep. The king’s fingers continued to stroke her hair gently, his touch soothing and tender. “Rest now,” he murmured softly. “We can continue this conversation when you awaken.”
Aurora, her heart overflowing with emotions, nodded drowsily. As her hand instinctively sought solace in the king’s touch, she drifted into a peaceful slumber, her dreams no longer plagued by the haunting fire. Malik watched over her, his gaze filled with a mix of uncertainty and adoration, wondering if she possessed the qualities deserving of being the mother of his future children.
Now she wondered.
Just then Evans voice come from outside, demanding an audience from the King.