…

Aurora sat in front of the window in her room again, looking out at the now sunny world.

Her mind raged like a blizzard, yet she still felt emptiness gape inside her chest.

Snow still coated every surface, but the ice was now slowly melting as the climate went back to its original state.

A soft knock sounded in the room, but she couldn’t bring herself to break the silence further.

The door opened after a few moments with no reply and Orion entered the room, his feet softly padding along the wood and carpet until he reached Aurora. He spoke softly like he was scared to startle her, “They said-” his voice cracked and he cleared his throat, “They said today is the day. Around midday.”

Aurora nodded silently, eyes not leaving the snow.

She wished-

No, she didn’t.

She did what needed to be done.

Even if she could go back…

She hummed in response, remembering that this all affected Orion as much as her. She could not take any of her pain out on him.

He let silence drip between them before he offered a squeeze to Aurora’s shoulder, “I’m going to spend some time with him this morning.”

He paused like he wanted to say more, but backed away before Aurora could be bothered to ask.

The queen looked out onto her land with deep sorrow, her heart feeling like it had been ripped out of her chest once again.

…

Aurora made her way outside, hand holding Killian’s in a tight grip.

Orion was on their son’s other side and he talked animatedly with the boy.

The queen marveled at how bright his smile was, knowing that every night for the past week he’d cried himself to sleep.

He was much stronger than her.

She just felt nothing.

Killian laughed when Orion did a silly walk and Aurora closed her eyes, reveling in the sound.

Guards opened the door to the courtyard and Aurora squinted at the sunlight that was peaking over the mountains, just barely low enough to illuminate her eyes.

She shivered at the warmth it brought.

The queen looked down at her son and watched his eyes get big.

Her heart broke when his brown eyes looked up at her for permission and she fought a sob in her chest as a toothy smile broke across his face when she granted it.

Killian let go of his parents’ hands and stumbled into the thick snow with no jacket or hat, giggling elatedly at the feel and sight of the world around him.

Aurora had made it a point to go outside every day since she had freed the kingdom.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

She was brokenhearted to find out that the previous queen had never allowed the small boy to go outside for fear of safety. Aurora wasn’t surprised by any means, but she took in every sight of the boy like a sponge, tucking away memories into the safe spots of her mind.

They made sure to always be cautious of the sun. She kept Killian in the shade at all times, making sure he understood not to step into the light.

Killian was still frolicking around when a doctor approached the queen cautiously and whispered some words to her.

Aurora’s eyes remained glued to her son as she nodded slightly and the man moved away, going back inside.

The queen requested that all, including guards, remain inside today.

Orion moved past her, approaching his son with a wide grin, beginning to play around a bit in the shade of a sweeping oak tree. When the boy started to tire himself out, Aurora approached.

The queen knelt in the snow next to her son and looked at Orion for permission before she spoke, “Killian, dear. Would you like to feel the sun?”

The boy sat up in the snow, messy black curls coated in snow as he looked at his mother in confusion, “But you said never to go into the sun.”

Aurora could not speak.

Orion stepped in smoothly, offering a mischievous grin, “You’ve been so good that we thought we’d allow it just this once,” he winked at Killian and Aurora turned away before she could see the elation in her son’s eyes.

There was a beat of silence, and the queen turned back to see Killian looking at her, “Mama?” he paused, nervous, “Can I?”

Aurora offered her best smile, her gut wrenching as she replied, “Yes, love. Let’s feel it together.”

She took her son’s hand in hers again and Orion did the same on his other side as they easily lifted a squealing Killian out of the snow and into the air before letting him cautiously approach the light that was beginning to make the snow dance like billions of overwhelmingly bright stars.

They let Killian set the pace as he cautiously approached the line where the sun started.

He looked one last time at his parents and then slowly waded into the light.

“Woah,” he spoke breathily, watching the light dance across his ungloved fingers, “it feels tingly, and… warm.”

Neither parent could muster a reply, but Aurora knelt so she could watch closer as her son inspected the glowing snow in front of him, exploring what he could do with his shadow.

They watched for a few minutes until Killian’s movements began to slow a bit, the heat from the warming earth already diminishing his strength.

Aurora cleared her throat before speaking, “Killian, darling, let’s move back to the shade so you can rest.”

Her son obeyed, but he needed help wading through the snow in his overheated state. Aurora picked him up, careful to not let him close to her warm body.

She sat him down against the tree and watched as his breaths started getting labored, “Mama, it’s getting hot.”

The queen crouched in front of him while Orion moved behind, “I know, darling. Don’t worry though, everything will be alright.” Her reassuring smile did not reach her eyes. Aurora’s heart clenched in her chest at the sight of his little hands spreading the snow around him, unconsciously seeking the cold.

She didn’t need to see Orion to know he was starting to silently cry.

Her own throat ached with the need to break down, “Darling,” her voice cracked slightly and Killian looked at her with big, green, unfocused eyes, immediately sensing that something was wrong, “Can I hug you?”

Killian looked at her with a similar expression to the first day she’d lucidly met him. She’d made sure to shower him with a lot of affection in the past week, but he still wasn’t quite used to it.

But he silently nodded and moved in for a half-hearted hug, no doubt eager to continue playing.

Aurora heard Orion fall to his knees behind Killian in the snow as he continued to cry, desperately trying to keep his sobs silent.

Killian shifted in his mother’s tight grip, weakly trying to wiggle away to see what was happening, but Aurora just held tighter as he asked, “Mama, what’s wrong?”

Aurora swallowed thickly, fighting the sickness she felt in her gut, “Killian, my love,” she took a shaky breath, “Your father and I are just so lucky to have a son like you. You are the most beautiful child a parent could ask for… We- we love you so so much,” she had so many words to say, but they all seemed to catch in her throat as Killian’s wiggling slowed even more.

An audible sob left Orion as he wrapped his arms around them both.

Aurora kissed the top of her son’s head as tears leaked down her cheeks.

“Mama… hot…” Killian’s voice sounded so small.

Aurora’s chin shook as she buried her head into his messy curls, “I know baby, I’m sorry,” but that was her breaking point. Uncontrollable sobs seized her chest, “I’m so sorry-”

Then her voice was gone into the cold air and her lungs were fighting for breath, but she couldn’t focus on breathing as she rocked her son back and forth in her arms, gripping him like a lifeline.

She was somehow able to whisper out, “I love you,” and she willed Killian to understand how much she meant those words.

Then her son began to grow warm.