Standing next to the queen and her mother, Aurora watched as various people came and went with various requests. A sigh escaped her lips. She would be glad to get this over with.
It was then when a young man around her age came in. For some reason, this man held her interest in a way no one else had.
"Your majesties, I am here to ask for help. My father… he is in need of medical attention. I have not been able to get any doctors to see him. I fear he may not have much longer to live," he said after all formalities were done.
The king watched and listened. He sighed. "I'm afr--" he started saying before Aurora interrupted him.
"Isn't there anything we can do to help?" Aurora asked. The king looked at her and sighed again. The look on her face made him reconsider.
"I will have a doctor sent out immediately," the king said. Aurora had murmured something to one of the maids.
"I will go with you," Aurora said then. She went to Jacob before the king could say anything. The royal staff murmured amongst themselves since this was very unlike Aurora.
"Something about this young man," the king whispered to the queen. "I suspect he might become our son in law."
The queen laughed quietly. "I believe you are quite right," she whispered back.
The king stood up then and went to Aurora and Jacob. "Be careful," he whispered to her. He then said louder, and this time to Jacob, "Do your best to keep her safe."
Jacob nodded. "I will."
The maid came then with only a bag of luggage. "Your highness," she said to get Aurora's attention.
"Thank you."
With that, Aurora and Jacob were off. It was almost dinner time when they arrived at the farm house. "It's not much," Jacob told her.
"It's all right. Better than nothing," she replied. "I'll start on making dinner."
"You don't have to…"
"I want to. I'll check up on your father too."
They went inside, and Aurora checked on his father first. After she was done making supper, Aurora went to find Jacob. He had been gone for a while to do some chores.
"Jacob," she said as he finished what he was doing. "Supper's ready."
He looked over at her and smiled. Once he reached her, his hand touched her cheek. She blushed as he leaned in to kiss her. By the time their lips parted, they were both blushing.
When they were finally back inside, the food was served. "Is it just you and your father?" She asked.
"Yes," he said. "She died years ago because of an ambush when my father and I were in town to get supplies."
"I am sorry," she said, taking his hand. Tears streamed down his face. She then went over to him and hugged him.
"I'm sorry. I promised myself I wouldn't cry." He wiped away the tears. She helped him.
Over the course of several days, Aurora was taking care of his father while he took care of the chores around the farm. She wondered what was taking the doctor so long.
That night during supper…
"Your father seems to be getting a bit better," Aurora said. That made him smile. "I just wonder why the doctor hasn't shown up yet…"
"I don't know…" he replied. "Let's give him some more time to get here. He's probably seeing other people too."
Once supper was finished and dishes were clean, Aurora went to check up Jacob's father once again. He followed her in. "He is looking better, and it's all thanks to you. Thank you for coming and doing this."
His hand touched her cheek, stroking it softly. She blushed deeply. "You're welcome."
When they exited his father’s room, he kissed her. There was a knock on the door then. Jacob went to answer it. He and the person talked for a moment or two before the person entered.
"Where is the patient?" The man asked as another person entered as well. Jacob showed them the room. Aurora waited nearby.
Jacob went outside to sit on the porch. Aurora had followed him. "I hope everything will be all right," she said, sitting down next to him.
"I hope so too."
His arm wrapped around her waist, and he held her close.
"Jacob," she said. "I'm in love with you."
She blushed as he turned to look at her. He was silent for a bit before speaking.
"I'm in love with you too."
She curled up to him then. A sigh escaped his lips.
"Is there something wrong?"
"No, just thinking…" he replied.
"What I don't understand is why no one came to check on this man." The voice came from inside.
"I don't understand it either. It is what it is, though."
Aurora and Jacob looked at the door then at each other before standing up. Once they were inside, the doctor looked at them. "It's a bad case of pneumonia. He'll come around with the right treatment and care. That's assuming his body will keep fighting off the infection."
"I'll stay longer to help," Aurora said.
"Thank you," Jacob said.
"I will come back to check on him. I will also alert your father that your stay will be extended," the doctor said then. Jacob nodded.
"Thank you, doctor. Especially for coming," Aurora said.
The doctor left with his assistant soon after. Aurora hugged him as they kissed. After a few moments, she went to check on the man. She made sure he was comfortable and anything else he needed. Jacob stood at the door, watching.
"You're a kind person," he said to her when she finished. She blushed and he ran his hand through her hair.
The next day came and went. Aurora had checked on Jacob in the barn after checking on his father. "You've been working hard," she said. "Why don't you take a break?"
Jacob sighed then. "There's still so much work to be done."
Aurora hugged him, kissing his cheek. He kissed her forehead as he hugged her back. "I know, but I'm worried that you're overworking yourself."
"You don't have to worry."
"I worry because I love you. You're important to me."
He smiled, holding her close.
The next morning came as Aurora and Jacob found that they hadn't left the barn. What woke them up was the sound of several voices. They quickly got dressed and proceeded with caution.
"Is anyone home?" One of the men asked. There were a total of five men standing near the house.
"Can I help you?" Jacob asked as he got closer. Aurora wasn't too far behind.
"Uh, yeah… we're looking for a Jacob. We heard from the good doctor that he might be needing some help with the work around here," one of the men spoke up then.
"I am him," Jacob said.
Later that day after supper, Aurora and Jacob were laying in his bed. The men had went back to town for the night.
"It was nice of them to show up, although…" she said. She would have liked a heads up about it though.
"It was."
Aurora leaned up to kiss him. He held her close as she rested her head on his chest. "I want to thank you again for everything you have done," he said. She looked up at him, smiling.
"You're welcome," she replied. "I'm glad I came."
The doctor came two days later, examing the older man. Aurora was in the kitchen, making dinner. Jacob had come in from finishing up with the chores.
"I must say I shouldn't be at all surprised to see him on the mend as he is," the doctor said, coming out of the patient's room. Aurora and Jacob looked at each other before looking at the doctor.
"And before I forget. Your father wants to know when you will be returning home. He seems to be worried sick about you," the doctor said then.
Aurora thought for a bit. "If you see him again, please tell him I will stay until he is fully recovered at least."
The doctor nodded. "Of course, princess. I will be back in about a week to check in on him."
"Would you stay for supper?" Jacob asked.
"I'm afraid I can't. I have another person to see," he replied.
Over the next couple of weeks, things seemed to improve quite well for Jacob's father. As it would seem, maybe too well to be true.
An explosion had suddenly occured near the barn. Aurora ran out to see if everything was alright. Jacob came up by the porch.
"Aurora, I'll check the barn. Go back inside, please."
She looked at him before going back inside. She suspected that he had his suspicions about what was going on. She went to check up his father.
"What... hap... pened?" The elder man asked in between coughs.
"There was an explosion near the barn. Jacob--"
She was cut off by him trying to get up and out of the bed. She stopped him at every turn.
"Jacob went to check on everything. Lie down. You're still not well," Aurora said. He looked at her and sighed as he laid back down.
"Princess Aurora!" It was the doctor calling then. She hurried to find out what he wanted.
"What is it?" She asked as soon as she saw him. She also noticed the sheriff restraining one of the men who had been helping Jacob with the outside work.
"I'll explain when Jacob gets here."
"He went to check on the barn. There was an explosion near there."
The doctor nodded and went to the barn.
"This man hasn't hurt you in any way, has he?" The sheriff asked.
"No, he hasn't."
The man mumbled a few things to himself.
"What was that?" The sheriff tightened his grip.
"Nothing. It's nothing."
As soon as Jacob and the doctor came, Aurora took a couple of steps down the stairs. Jacob went to her. "This man was plotting to kill either Jacob or his father," the sheriff said.
"It's also part of why no doctor came to care for your father. When Princess Aurora came, that made it harder to make it look like an accident," the doctor said. "It helped that your father was ill. Killing two birds with one stone, so to speak."
Aurora had clung to Jacob as she listened. "Why? Why would--?" She didn't finish her question.
"His father stole from my father," the man shouted.
"That's enough," the sheriff said.
Later that day…
"Would you be my wife?" Jacob asked.
"Jacob, I…" Aurora stopped as he placed his hand on her cheek. "Yes. Yes, I will."
Her answer made him smile, and he kissed her. When they pulled away, there was a knock on the door. Jacob went to answer it.
"Good evening, doctor," Jacob said as the doctor came in.
How is your father doing? Has he gotten better than when I saw him last?"
"Much better," Aurora said. "You can go see him if you like."
He nodded. "Thank you kindly." He then went to see the patient. Jacob went to Aurora, and she hugged him. As soon as the doctor came back, he looked at the two for a minute. He sighed.
"He'll be back to work in a few days. When that happens, make sure he doesn't over do things and to take things slow at first."
Jacob looked at him and nodded. When the doctor left, Aurora looked up at him. "I must admit I didn't think things would turn out the way they did."
"In a way, I'm glad they did. I have an amazing man whom I love."
He smiled at her words and kissed her forehead, holding her closer to him.
Within two days, Aurora had sent a letter to her parents to inform them about her upcoming nuptials.
About two weeks later, the king and queen requested the two come see them. Aurora bit her lip nervously as she and Jacob waited for the two to show up.
"There's my little girl!"
The male voice sounded familiar. As she turned to see who had spoken, her eyes widened. "Dad!" She hugged him once she reached him. He laughed lightly.
"I missed you," he said to Aurora before turning to Jacob. "I'm glad your father is doing better. Thank you for keeping her safe."
Jacob nodded and smiled.
"Dad, umm…"
"I know you are engaged to Jacob. I suspected something like might happen."
"How?"
Her father laughed. "By watching the two of you together."
Her eyes widened causing both men to laugh. Over the course of five days, everyone was busy with plans and preparations.
When the wedding occured, everything went well. Everyone was in their best clothes. At the dinner, there were chattering along with laughs.
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