Awaken (Slumber Duology #2)

by Christy Sloat

  “Because, you’re my friend,” I answered. “Aren’t you my friend, Sawyer?”

  He smirked and said, “You know I am.”

  We had been talking in corners about anything we possibly could for years. I never looked at him like he was staff; to me he was a boy. Just a boy that was also my friend. And at fifteen I was starting to feel things for boys. Things I didn’t quite understand.

  The only thing I did understand was that when I looked at Sawyer, I wanted his lips on mine. And I felt that every single time I looked at him.

  “You do know you aren’t supposed to be out here with me, right?”

  I laughed. “And you aren’t allowed either, but here we are.” My heart was pounding so hard I thought that it would burst.

  “You know I heard they sent another Fae into the Realm of Man today,” he said making polite conversation. I took the time to let this calm my heart.

  “Why do they do that? Send them there?” I was such a naïve girl and knew nothing of the kingdom and their politics.

  “That is how they receive their ideas to keep the structure of our realm in such order. Humans have many advances that we do not. For instance it was not our realm, but theirs, that thought of electricity,” he said. I knew this already; we learned it in lessons years ago, but I didn’t say a word to him about that. “Every few months they send a new Fae out into the human realm to see what they can learn and bring back. Some things we can use and others we can’t.”

  “But why do they send a Fae, why not a mortal? Like me. Why can’t I go someday?”

  He laughed and fell onto the soft grass. I fell with him, but I wasn’t giggling like an idiot. Instead, I stared up at the sky and watched the stars above us.

  I really wanted to know.

  “Come on, Sawyer. Stop ignoring me. Answer me.”

  He stopped finally and rolled over to face me.

  “We are the only ones who would survive the trip, Rory. Mortals cannot pass through the realms; it would kill them.”

  “Did you just call me, Rory?”

  He sat up and looked sullen. “I’m so sorry, Princess Aurora. I didn’t mean to offend you.”

  I grabbed his arm and pulled him toward me to keep him from leaving.

  “I liked it. Please do not ever call me anything else.”

  He looked into my eyes, and I could see his eye color change in the light of the moon.

  “Rory, I’d very much like to kiss you right now,” he said.

  “Then what’s stopping you?” I leaned forward, and he crushed his lips to mine. I willingly let him hold me. The soft feeling of his lips caressed mine and I parted my mouth just enough to breath him in. He was like sunlight in the dark. And I knew at that moment I wouldn’t love another boy like I loved Sawyer. Even though I was supposed to marry another, my heart belonged to him.

  “Aurora, are you even listening to me?” My mother shouted, snapping me back into the present.

  I looked up at her and nodded. “Yes. I am. You said that we are expecting guests soon.”

  “Good heavens, I thought you weren’t. This is very important, dear, because Bordell is sending two princes in two days for you to meet.”

  My mouth fell open and I jumped out of the chair.

  “Why so soon?”

  I hadn’t had any time to find any sort of cure. I hadn’t even heard news from Merryweather or Flora. “It’s only been two days since you told me they were planning on this.” My mind calculated the amount of time it took from our kingdom to Bordell. It was a three day journey by horse to Bordell’s borders if you rode straight through, but no one of royalty did that. They would be traveling with a slew of servants and staff to assist the princes. So I gathered that it would take them at least five to six days. “The council didn’t even wait to see if this was all right with me, their soon to be queen, and they had already had this in motion.”

  They were sneakily planning and scheming under my nose.

  “You told me about this two days ago, Mother, and they had this planned for weeks no doubt.”

  I paced the room thinking of what a queen would do if she was being left out of council business on purpose. Obviously they didn’t trust me to find my own king, and they wanted to ensure that Sawyer didn’t wake. They were hoping to find a suitor for me and to force my hand all in order to make my people happy and give the kingdom an heir. Goodness knows what else they kept from me.

  I was as mad as a hornet. I turned to my mother who sat idly by watching me pace the brand new rugs.

  “Call a council meeting at once,” I said sternly. “We have some things to discuss immediately.”

  “As you wish, Your Majesty. But remember, Aurora, you do not yet have your crown.”

  Chapter Five

  Merryweather

  “Would you hurry up, Merryweather?” Flora called.

  Merryweather huffed and slung the pack over her sore shoulder. She would like to knock Flora’s teeth in today that was for sure. All her bickering and shouting about rushing or slowing down, it was enough to drive a fairy mad.

  Finally Merryweather snapped. “Flora,” she said as she threw her pack to the ground. “If you yell at me one more time, I’ll be carrying you back to the kingdom in my pack. Do you understand?”

  Flora looked horrified.

  “Merry, I didn’t mean to upset you,” she said nervously. “I just want to hurry, for our Aurora.”

  Now, Merryweather felt just awful. Flora was right; they were in a hurry. They were on a mission, to save Sawyer. Suddenly she thought of poor Aurora sitting by her sleeping lover. He wouldn’t wake without their help, and she would never be a happy queen if they didn’t wake him.

  “I’m sorry, Flora. I didn’t mean it,” Merryweather said. “I’m just so sore from all this traveling. I’ve never walked this much in my life.”

  Flora laughed and sat down on the side of the road. “I agree with you there. It’s times like this that I envy the shape-shifter Fae. I’d love to be able to shift into a bird and fly to our destination.”

  Merryweather plopped down beside her and rested her head a moment on her friend’s shoulder, thinking about what she could do to speed up their journey to the small Fae village of Stirling. They heard rumors from the last fairies they encountered that their Healer would be able to help Sawyer. They were on a road leading them into the forest glen where she could hear the rushing sounds of a waterfall nearby.

  “I’ve got an idea,” Merryweather said as she quickly stood and grabbed her pack. “Follow me, hurry!”

  Flora rolled her eyes and said, “Now who’s yelling?”

  “Just come on, Flora. You can chide me later.”

  The two fairies scurried into the woods. Merryweather followed the sounds of the waterfall until she felt the mist of water on her face.

  “Are we to take a bath, Merry?” Flora asked jokingly.

  “Oh, hush! You’re always teasing me for my ideas. But this one, I promise, you won’t regret listening to me.”

  She followed the mist until they reached the loud crushing falls that dropped into a large lake. Merryweather followed the steps that were carved out of stone intricately. She hadn’t known there would be steps, but she was sure glad they were there.

  They reached the bottom and found themselves standing in a glen that surrounded the beautiful lake of blue water.

  “Okay, now what?” Flora asked.

  “Just wait a moment. He’ll come to us,” Merryweather said, patiently standing still.

  “Who will come?” Merryweather could hear the nervousness in her friend’s voice.

  “She means, me, I do think.” Both fairies looked ahead and saw a man, or what seemed to be a man, rising out of the lake water. He was at first the color of the water, a comple
tely beautiful blue. Then as he walked, he began to take on a more natural color of flesh. His hair was dark green, matching his eyes. He was breathtaking to look at, and Merryweather was giddy with excitement that she was right.

  “Flora, this is a Water Fairy. They reside where waterfalls fall,” she introduced. Turning to the Water Fairy, she said, “I mean to ask for assistance. We are on a very important journey for our queen. We have been traveling for days, and I’m worried we still have far to travel and not enough strength left to make it there soon enough.”

  The Water Fairy smiled at her and sat in the grass. Both fairies followed suit and watched as he played with the lady bugs around him.

  “They like me,” he said. “The lady bugs do.”

  “Oh. Yes, most forest creatures like our kind,” Flora stated. “They feel a kinship with us.” She began to play with them as well.

  “They are good luck, you know?” he asked.

  “Yes, that is true.”

  “I’ll give you safe passage as long as you tell me what your quest entails,” the Water Fairy said.

  Merryweather smiled and told him about Aurora and how she had been locked away for a year. Explaining to him how she had to pretend to be her enemy all while desperately hoping to find a savior, he sat listening to their tale, forgetting all about the lady bugs.

  Merryweather disclosed to him about Maleficent and how Aurora had killed her. When she got to the part about Sawyer, she saw a tear slip from his eye.

  “And now he sleeps endlessly while she becomes Queen of Ancora. We have been entrusted by a dear friend and leader of the queen’s army to find a cure for him.”

  The Water Fairy smiled and said, “At least there can be hope for this tale. I do hope you find a cure in the village of Stirling. I’ve heard that there is a wonderful Healer there; the fish told me about her.”

  Flora laughed. “The fish told you. That’s a good one.”

  Merryweather elbowed her in the ribs. “I’m sorry, we are not accustomed to many water fairies in our land.”

  “It is nothing to be sorry for. I speak with many water species, and fish do talk, let me tell you.”

  Merryweather found this fairy to be quite curious, and she would love to come back someday to learn more about him. But it couldn’t be today; they had work to do.

  “How can you help us, Water Fairy?”

  “Oh, do please call me Gulp,” he suggested.

  “How can you help us then, Gulp?” Merryweather repeated.

  “I can fashion you a boat that will take you downriver. Once you reach the fork, you will take it to the right and it will deliver you to Stirling.”

  With a wave of his hand, sticks began to fly through the air and land safely near the water. Moss seemed to crawl across the ground and attach itself to the top of the sticks, along with other earthly items, building the boat right before their eyes. Before they knew it, a boat rested at the shore.

  Merryweather smiled gratefully at Gulp. “We thank you so very much, Gulp. Is there anything you wish for us to bring you back from Stirling?”

  Gulp nodded his head and said, “I hope that you will bring yourselves back when you come through on your journey home. I do wish to hear if you find that cure.”

  The fairies loaded the boat with their packs, jumped in readying themselves, and set off down the river toward Stirling. They waved at Gulp as he strode back into the water and watched as he sunk back down into the deepest part of the lake.

  “Well, he was very nice,” Merryweather commented as she paddled toward their destination.

  “Nice, but a little crazy,” Flora remarked. “I still do not believe that he talks to fish.”

  “Well, maybe next time we come back through, he’ll introduce you to them,” Merryweather joked. “And maybe I’ll leave you there with him. You could learn a great deal from our friend Gulp.”

  Flora ignored Merryweather, but she didn’t mind. They had a boat, and she knew they would find a cure in Stirling.

  Chapter Six

  Rory

  “They actually think I’m daft, that I wouldn’t figure out all their deception!” I accused. “Do they think that I won’t do anything about it? The coronation is merely days away. They knew exactly what they were doing, bringing a prince to come and stand with me as I gain my crown. It would make the villagers happy, and they hoped that I would fall in love with him. Well, I didn’t fall for the last prince they thrust my way, now did I?”

  I ran my finger down his sleeping face and a tear fell from my eye. One way conversations were not what I wanted, but it was the only way to speak to him. I could only hope he could hear me while trapped in his slumber. Maybe he was responding in his own way. Was it like being trapped inside yourself? I wondered.

  “I won’t let the council walk all over me. They might have been influencing my father for years, but no more. I will make it legal for Fae and mortal to marry. I will not make the fairy mothers have to give up their children anymore,” I voiced as I ran my fingers through his hair—it was growing longer with each passing day. “You saved me once; now it is time for me to save you, Sawyer. I refuse to let you lie here for an eternity.”

  I watched his face, hoping for some sort of sign that he heard me, but nothing happened.

  “Your Majesty, may I have a word?” I turned to face Fauna. Her face was ashen as she trembled slightly, causing my heart to beat wildly, my stomach clenched. She had bad news; it was apparent. The only news Fauna was to deliver was about Sawyer and the quest of Merryweather and Flora.

  Of course it would turn out like this. It was just my luck that I would finally be reunited with Sawyer and he would stay this way for the rest of my days.

  “Come in, Fauna,” I said shakily.

  She entered and closed the door behind her.

  “Aurora, there has been a discovery, and I came to you at once.”

  I urged her to sit as she shook like a leaf. As she took a seat in my chair, I stood by the window that looked out upon the raging sea. This was the news I was waiting for all this time. It was either good or bad, but the sea was ugly and gray today. It was not the type of day when good news was delivered.

  “Go on.” I steadied my gaze.

  “I was in the catacombs looking through the many books the last Healer left behind—there are so many. It’s taken me many weeks to just go through the things in that room. But today, I found a door.”

  “What kind of door?”

  “A door that leads into Maleficent’s dungeon, where she sent those she felt were a threat to her or her mission. A few good workers were sent there.”

  I remembered hearing rumors of her sending people down into the chambers for merely speaking out of turn. I spent days in my room without proper food or water because of her, and I couldn’t imagine what being in the dungeons were like.

  That was a time I didn’t like to think about.

  “I found something down there, Aurora. I think you must come at once and see before word gets out,” she urged.

  “Fauna, just tell me what it is. I can’t take it anymore.” Put me out of my misery.

  “We found bodies, Aurora. Two bodies.”

  I took a deep breath. “So this isn’t … this isn’t news about Sawyer?”

  She looked at me, at my shaking hands and sweaty face.

  “Oh, Aurora, I am so sorry. I didn’t think about how awful this would make you feel. I realize now that you would assume my coming here with news would be about Sawyer. I’m so sorry.” She jumped up and pulled me into a hug. “I do not have news yet. I promise you we will wake your love. I will not give up; you have my word.”

  I let her hold me while I cried tears of relief. And when I had stopped, I looked out at the sea and saw the waves had calmed and the sun had come through
the clouds.

  “Take me to the bodies,” I said.

  I leaned down and kissed Sawyer’s soft lips. His face needed a shave and the hair tickled me. “I’ll send Mona in to shave you. No flirting,” I teased.

  Before I pulled away, he sighed heavily, the air blowing my hair back from my face.

  “Fauna, did you see that?”

  Her face shown bright. “I did, Your Majesty! He was trying to laugh at your silliness. I believe that he hears us, Aurora.”

  I turned to him. “You can hear me, can’t you?”

  I squeezed his hand and wished he could squeeze it back.

  “Aurora, maybe in time he will be able to respond. Let’s just let that first miracle be enough,” Fauna comforted.

  She was right. His sarcastic breath was all I was going to get today, but I would take it.

  ****

  We walked deep into the catacombs holding lanterns to brighten the stairwell. It was times like this that I was thankful for the Realm of Man and their inventions. The darkness was all consuming and if it weren’t for our flameless lanterns, it would be terrifying. I wondered why the kings before my father built such dark catacombs and never used the electricity to light them like they did above ground.

  Fauna led the way while Gray and I followed behind saying nothing. We didn’t tell anyone else where we were going. I had to tell Gray about the bodies; she was the head of my army and my most trusted friend. I couldn’t keep her in the dark about something like this. Bodies had been found in my castle, and I had to deal with it like a queen would.

  “Are we close yet?” Gray asked.

  “Just about,” Fauna answered.

  We turned into a dark room that smelled like dust and decay, and I soon knew why. Fauna, turning on the overhead lights, revealed nothing but dirt and cobwebs. How could a room go so unkempt for so long? If it was the room where the Healer worked, why was it abandoned for so long a time?