Eight years ago...
Aurora's whole body shakes as she cries. The sounds coming from her throat don't even sound human - more like a hurt animal. She stumbles down the hallway, her legs wobbly and weak.
She's always wondered about her mother. The other kids in her lessons talk about their moms all the time. They braid their hair and read them stories and kiss their scraped knees. But Aurora has never had that. When she asks Father or Marwen about her mother, they always change the subject or look sad.
Today was different. Today, when she asked Father again, he didn't ignore her. His face went dark and angry, and he said words that keep spinning in her head: "She's dead, Aurora. Your mother's dead."
Dead. Aurora doesn't understand what that word means. Does it mean her mother is sleeping? Does it mean she's coming to live with them now?
The door to Father's study bursts open, and Marwen rushes in. She takes one look at Aurora's tear-streaked face, then glares at Father like he's done something terrible. Without a word, she scoops Aurora up and carries her away.
Aurora buries her face in Marwen's neck, breathing in the familiar smell of lavender and safety. "Where's my mom?" she asks, her voice muffled and sad.
Marwen holds her tighter and kisses the top of her head. "She's in a safe place now, child."
That makes Aurora frown. "Is she mad at me like Father is?"
The question makes Marwen's arms tighten around her. Aurora can feel something wet drop onto her hair - Marwen is crying too.
Marwen sits on Aurora's bed and cups her face with gentle hands. "No, honey, she could never be mad at you. She loves you very much."
Fresh tears spill down Aurora's cheeks. "Then why won't she come live with me?"
Marwen takes a shaky breath. How do you explain death to someone who's only eight? "Sometimes, people leave, and they never come back. But they still love you very much."
Marwen tries to smile, but her eyes are wet and sad.
After tucking Aurora in and singing her a lullaby, Marwen has to leave to do her other work. Aurora waits until the footsteps fade, then slips out of bed. She wants Marwen back. She doesn't want to be alone with all these scary thoughts about her mother.
She follows the path she thinks Marwen took, but the palace corridors all look the same in the dim light. Soon she's completely lost, standing in a hallway she's never seen before. The shadows seem bigger here, reaching toward her with dark fingers.
Aurora sinks to the floor and pulls her knees to her chest. Her cries echo off the stone walls, loud and lonely. She calls for Marwen between sobs, hoping someone will hear her and help.
* * *
Armen races through the palace halls, his boots slapping against the marble. Father always says a good ruler should know every corner of his kingdom, so Armen is determined to explore every inch of the palace.
He turns a corner and stops, trying to remember which way leads to the gardens. He's supposed to have a guard with him, but he snuck away. He's ten years old - practically grown up. He doesn't need someone following him around all the time.
But now, standing in an unfamiliar hallway, he's starting to think maybe Father was right. The corridors all look the same, and he can't remember which way he came from.
Then he hears it - someone crying. The sound is small and heartbroken, echoing from somewhere ahead. Armen follows the noise until he sees a little girl hunched on the floor, her golden hair falling like a curtain around her face.
He kneels beside her and gently touches her shoulder. She looks up, and her crying gets louder. Her eyes are red and swollen, her cheeks streaked with tears.
"Hey, are you alright?" Armen asks, his voice soft.
The little girl wipes her nose on her sleeve and hiccups. "I...I got lost. I was following Marwen, but then I couldn't find her."
Armen's heart squeezes. He knows how scary the palace can be when you're alone. "Don't worry, I'll help you find Marwen."
Hope flickers in her eyes. "R-really?"
"Yeah, really. We'll find her together. But first, what's your name?"
She hesitates, like she's not sure she should tell him. "A-Aurora."
Armen smiles. "Nice to meet you, Aurora. I'm Armen. Let's go find Marwen, okay?"
He holds out his hand the way his parents taught him - gentle and reassuring. Aurora stares at it for a long moment, then slowly puts her tiny hand in his. Her fingers are cold and trembling.
"Hey, it's okay," Armen says, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. "I'm here to help you. We'll find Marwen together."
Aurora nods, still sniffling, but some of the fear leaves her eyes.
As they walk, Armen asks, "Why were you crying? I mean, besides being lost."
Aurora's lower lip wobbles. "I...I don't have a mom."
The words hit Armen like a punch. He stops walking and looks down at her. "Where is she?"
Aurora's voice cracks. "I don't know... Marwen said she can't come back."
She starts crying again, burying her face in Armen's sleeve. Without thinking, he wraps his arms around her and holds her close. She's so small and sad, and it makes his chest hurt.
He strokes her hair while she sobs, wishing he knew the right words to make her feel better. After a while, her tears slow down. She pulls back, her face red and puffy.
Armen pulls out his handkerchief and gives it to her. "Here."
Aurora blows her nose and whispers, "Sorry."
"Don't be sorry," Armen says, hugging her again. "You can cry when you want to. I'm your friend, Aurora."
Her eyes go wide like he's just given her the greatest gift in the world. "You are?"
"I'll help you find Marwen, so you won't need to cry anymore."
Hand in hand, they make their way through the palace. Armen retraces his steps, taking a few wrong turns before he recognizes where they are.
"Look, Aurora!" he says, pointing ahead. "That's the gardens!"
Aurora's eyes light up as she sees the flowers and green grass. "Is Marwen there?"
Armen scans the area. "No, I don't see her. But let's keep looking."
They head toward the main courtyard, where a crowd has gathered near the fountain. Armen spots his father and waves excitedly.
"Father!"
The king rushes over, relief flooding his face. Mother follows close behind, looking worried and upset.
"Armen, where have you been?" Father asks, pulling him into a tight hug. "We've been searching everywhere for you. You know you shouldn't wander around the palace alone."
Armen feels his cheeks get hot. "I'm sorry, Father. I got lost, and then I found Aurora."
Father's expression stays stern. "Lost? Armen, you know this palace better than anyone. What really happened?"
Before Armen can figure out how to explain without getting in more trouble, Aurora speaks up.
"I was crying," she says in her small, clear voice. "I couldn't find Marwen, and Armen helped me. He's been really nice to me."
Mother's face softens. "Marwen? Who is Marwen, dear?"
Aurora looks up at her, eyes filling with tears again. "Marwen is my nanny. I don't know where she is, and I'm scared."
Father and Mother exchange a look that Armen recognizes - they're trying to figure out what's going on.
"We'll help you find Marwen, Aurora," Father says gently. "But first, let's get you both back safely and sort this out."
It turns out Aurora is Lady Aurora of Lancaster, so her father is called right away. Armen refuses to leave her side until Marwen comes running into the courtyard and Aurora throws herself into her nanny's arms.
"I'm sorry, Marwen," Aurora whispers through her tears.
"It's fine, child," Marwen says, stroking her hair. "Are you okay?"
Aurora nods, but then she sees her father standing behind Marwen. Her whole body goes stiff, and her eyes get wide and wary.
But her father surprises everyone by smiling. "Where were you, Aurora?"
Aurora's voice is tiny. "I...I don't know."
Her father's smile doesn't quite reach his eyes, and Armen notices Aurora shrink back a little. But then her father scoops her up and holds her close.
As Aurora clings to Marwen's skirt, her father turns to the king. His whole face changes, becoming smooth and grateful.
"Thank you, Your Majesty," Lord Lancaster says. "House Lancaster is forever grateful for your kindness."
Father smiles and nods toward Armen. "Actually, the credit goes to my son. He's the one who found Lady Aurora and brought her to safety."
Lord Lancaster looks at Armen, and for just a second, Armen sees something strange in his eyes - like he's annoyed instead of grateful. But it disappears so fast Armen thinks he might have imagined it.
"Ah, Prince Armen," Lord Lancaster says smoothly. "Thank you, Your Highness. I am forever in your debt."
Armen smiles politely, feeling proud that he helped Aurora.
As they start to leave, Aurora still holding tight to Marwen's hand, Armen calls out, "Aurora!"
She stops and turns around, her face lighting up with a bright smile.
"Take care of yourself," Armen says softly, smiling back at her.
Aurora glances up at her father, and her smile wavers for just a moment. But when she looks back at Armen, it returns, brighter than ever.
Then she's gone, following her father out of the courtyard with Marwen by her side.