The Briar Rose P2lady_paminaJanuary 3 2013, 00:33:19 UTC
Quick as lightening, Aurora shoved her husband aside and lunged towards the first bandit. She delivered a hard punch underneath his ribs, causing him to double over in pain. She struck the back of his head, incapacitating him. As the next bandit came close, she slammed her palm up under his nose. The man groaned in pain and staggered away, nose bleeding and broken. Without pause, Aurora moved in to take out the third man. She gripped him by the tunic and hurled him into the last companion. The two men fell to the ground. Aurora went over and delivered swift kicks to both their stomachs and groins-ensuring they would not rise for some time.
Aurora stepped back, taking several deep breaths to calm the rage that was burning inside her.
“How dare you attack an unarmed person?!” she bellowed, “You should be ashamed of yourselves! What would your mothers think?!” The men answered with a mix of groans and whimpers. “You’re a despicable, pathetic lot trying to prey on defenseless people. You’re in clear violation of several laws. I am the Princess Aurora. I could have you dragged back to castle and placed in prison. I could even execute you myself right here if I had a mind to. I was raised in these woods and know how to protect myself against the dangers within it. Lucky for you all, I am not without mercy. I am going to leave here with my husband. I expect when I send my guards here to search the woods, they will find no sign of you or any other bandits lurking about. And if I ever hear or see any signs of raiding activity, I will personally hunt down the brigands responsible and punish them myself. Is that clear?” The only response was a few silent nods from the cowed thieves.
Phillip was stunned. He shook his head a few times to ensure he wasn’t seeing an illusion. Aurora had defeated all four bandits on her own with nothing but her bare hands. When they first met, he knew Aurora as only a quiet, kind, and beautiful peasant girl. It was the sweetness of her nature that drew him to her. She was so innocent and defenseless. He became a hero to fight and save her from the wicked fairy’s curse. He never imagined his beloved had such a strength and ferocity within her. Clearly there was a lot about Aurora he didn’t know.
“Phillip, are you all right?” Aurora’s soft voice interrupted his thoughts. He realized he’d fallen to the ground when she pushed him out of the way. “I didn’t mean to push you so hard you fell down,” she said concernedly. She once more had the look of the sweet princess he was familiar with.
“I’m fine, just a little shocked. I guess, I should thank you for saving me,” he said with a smile.
“I was going to tell you I could help you fight. I didn’t want you to fight those bandits all by yourself. You wouldn’t listen, so I decided to show you I could be a hero too,” Aurora replied bluntly. She extended her hand to pull him up.
Phillip was surprised by the strength of her grip. “I apologize for ever considering you a damsel in distress,” he said as he stood up. He pulled his wife in for quick but tender embrace.
“Let’s go back home,” said Aurora. She gently pushed him away, and mounted her horse.
Phillip climbed astride Samson. “You said you grew up learning how to protect yourself in the woods. How did you learn to fight? I just never imagined you doing anything else but picking wildflowers, singing, and dancing.”
Aurora laughed. “Just because you found me singing and dancing in the forest, doesn’t mean I spent everyday for sixteen years doing that. Living in the woods wasn’t as idyllic as you think. My aunts wanted me to be able to protect myself. Since we lived without magic, I had no choice but to learn to fight with my hands. Merryweather was especially strict when it came to practicing combat. She said it was a more practical skill for a young girl to learn than embroidery.” After her explanation, she clicked her tongue to urge her horse to speed up.
Phillip spurred Samson on to catch up with her. He wondered what other strengths lay hidden beneath Aurora’s delicate façade.
Aurora stepped back, taking several deep breaths to calm the rage that was burning inside her.
“How dare you attack an unarmed person?!” she bellowed, “You should be ashamed of yourselves! What would your mothers think?!” The men answered with a mix of groans and whimpers. “You’re a despicable, pathetic lot trying to prey on defenseless people. You’re in clear violation of several laws. I am the Princess Aurora. I could have you dragged back to castle and placed in prison. I could even execute you myself right here if I had a mind to. I was raised in these woods and know how to protect myself against the dangers within it. Lucky for you all, I am not without mercy. I am going to leave here with my husband. I expect when I send my guards here to search the woods, they will find no sign of you or any other bandits lurking about. And if I ever hear or see any signs of raiding activity, I will personally hunt down the brigands responsible and punish them myself. Is that clear?” The only response was a few silent nods from the cowed thieves.
Phillip was stunned. He shook his head a few times to ensure he wasn’t seeing an illusion. Aurora had defeated all four bandits on her own with nothing but her bare hands. When they first met, he knew Aurora as only a quiet, kind, and beautiful peasant girl. It was the sweetness of her nature that drew him to her. She was so innocent and defenseless. He became a hero to fight and save her from the wicked fairy’s curse. He never imagined his beloved had such a strength and ferocity within her. Clearly there was a lot about Aurora he didn’t know.
“Phillip, are you all right?” Aurora’s soft voice interrupted his thoughts. He realized he’d fallen to the ground when she pushed him out of the way. “I didn’t mean to push you so hard you fell down,” she said concernedly. She once more had the look of the sweet princess he was familiar with.
“I’m fine, just a little shocked. I guess, I should thank you for saving me,” he said with a smile.
“I was going to tell you I could help you fight. I didn’t want you to fight those bandits all by yourself. You wouldn’t listen, so I decided to show you I could be a hero too,” Aurora replied bluntly. She extended her hand to pull him up.
Phillip was surprised by the strength of her grip. “I apologize for ever considering you a damsel in distress,” he said as he stood up. He pulled his wife in for quick but tender embrace.
“Let’s go back home,” said Aurora. She gently pushed him away, and mounted her horse.
Phillip climbed astride Samson. “You said you grew up learning how to protect yourself in the woods. How did you learn to fight? I just never imagined you doing anything else but picking wildflowers, singing, and dancing.”
Aurora laughed. “Just because you found me singing and dancing in the forest, doesn’t mean I spent everyday for sixteen years doing that. Living in the woods wasn’t as idyllic as you think. My aunts wanted me to be able to protect myself. Since we lived without magic, I had no choice but to learn to fight with my hands. Merryweather was especially strict when it came to practicing combat. She said it was a more practical skill for a young girl to learn than embroidery.” After her explanation, she clicked her tongue to urge her horse to speed up.
Phillip spurred Samson on to catch up with her. He wondered what other strengths lay hidden beneath Aurora’s delicate façade.
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