Gone from our sight, but never from our hearts.

Song recommendation: https://open.spotify.com/track/1bEKgHo3T22HwGHhrFt5rw?si=2d7be80507f9487a

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She decided to try her luck with the survivors to learn more about what happened. Luck was not on her side, there was nothing she could do for them, and they were about to die. So, she decided to increase the search area in her quest to find the princess. The moon was bright, so she was able to see fairly enough.

'She couldn't have gone too far on foot and all the horses seem to have died on sight. Then where is she…' Amelia was trying hard to keep it together. She started blaming herself for helping that bird before. If she had arrived a little sooner maybe she could have helped more people.

Finally, she found a group of stones a couple of meters in distance to the carriage. 'Maybe Aurora tried to find cover there…?' Amelia ran towards the wide stones and there she was, lying in between two of the stones, covered in blood, with closed eyes and barely breathing.

There was enough space for Amelia to kneel next to the princess and quickly search her for injuries. There was so much blood all over that she couldn't see the source. The only way to find out was to scan Aurora's body with her hands. She slowly started from her arms, then continued onto the abdomen.

There it was the source of the blood pool around the princess, slightly lifting her blouse Amelia could see two puncture wounds in her abdomen, wide enough to see some of her inner organs. She started pressing on the wound and put some bandages on it to stop the bleeding. Her eyes started to become blurry as they were filling up with tears. This was a Déjà-vu.

Aurora flinched and opened her eyes when she felt someone pressing on her wound but then suddenly all her pain was gone. Aurora was surprised and relieved at the same time to see Amelia hovering over her. "I have to stop the bleeding Aurora, stop moving," Amelia said distressed, trying hard to keep her tears back. The princess was barely able to stay conscious. Aurora started to cough, and red liquid painted her lips. Amelia went to hold Aurora's head and laid her on her lap.

"A- Amelia, yo- you have…" Aurora started coughing again, "No idea how thankful I am, to have had you in my life." There was a pained smile on her face as well as some tears welling up in her eyes.

"Shh, you need to save your strength. All will be well, believe me. This is not the end, so don't say things as if saying goodbye to me." Amelia did not believe what she said and didn't know what to say. The pain she was feeling was like nothing she had ever felt. It was as if someone was ripping out her heart. Denial and desperation were going through her head.

This was the first time in her life that she felt helpless and utterly useless. What was the reason for her to become a knight if she could not protect the people she loved? What was left for her after Aurora died?

"You li-listen to me Amelia" her speech kept being interrupted by her cough "Please live a long and happy life for the both of us… Fall in love, marry, and have children, you deserve only the best. I love you, sister." Aurora's eyes dilated as she said those last three words. Her time was up. Amelia started hyperventilating and screaming "Noo noooo no please don't go Aurora. Please don't leave me! I'm begging you, you are strong enough to overcome this. Please, please, nooo!" Amelia's hold on Aurora tightened as she hugged her from above and screamed all her pain out "I love you too sister, I love you too, you hear me?! Pleeassseee don't go, please!"

Amelia kept saying those words repeatedly, hugging Aurora's now lifeless body and whipping back and forth while crying. It was a miserable and heartbreaking scene. Amelia's cries amplified in the silent darkness. She was all alone now.

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Song recommendation: https://open.spotify.com/track/2H8F4c6J5Q5WCm09vfNjvj?si=a821758ef85b4a27

--

Amelia sat there holding Aurora in her arms for what felt like an eternity. She had stopped screaming and crying. Her tears were now dried on her cheeks and her eyes were looking into emptiness. It was as if time stood still and there was only despair for Amelia.

Her body seemed to move on its own as she started digging graves for all the dead bodies. It took her a long while until everyone was buried. At some point, she had also fainted and woke up confused as to where she was before her heart started aching once more making her cry again. The fire had long stopped, and the carriage was a bundle of ash. It almost seemed as if nothing had happened here.

There were so many emotions bubbling inside of her that she was not able to get a clear picture of what to do next. She was angry at herself, at Philipp but also Aurora for telling her to stay in Rodea. Amelia was confident that she could have protected her.

Revenge was Amelia's primary goal, yet her conscious did not let her be consumed by it since Aurora's last words were repeating in her head. Aurora didn't ask her to get revenge but to fall in love and live a happy life. 'How on earth am I supposed to live on happily without you?! How could you leave me like this?!' Her thoughts did not let her rest.

Amelia sat there on the floor wondering about her life and what this meant for her. She had committed treason and her biggest advocate was gone; she had lost her main ally in life. She couldn't let this go unpunished. Slowly ideas started to develop in her mind.

She decided that she would consider Aurora's last wish but first, she had to find out what happened and punish those who were responsible for this. This thought brought back new life in Amelia's eyes. 'That's it, I will follow your words my sister, but I will also get revenge.'

She started to investigate the area. Some footprints looked a lot like large bird feet. The big eagle she had helped came to mind; its wound could have been inflicted by one of the spears. 'Oh god, I helped the creature which had killed Aurora…'

Before Amelia's mind could spiral down a dark road, she realized that something appeared to be wrong. 'Even if the creature had attacked it would have needed more than one to cause such havoc. Let's say more than one bird did attack the travelers, why would they do that out of the blue? They would need to feel endangered to do so and that did not seem to be the case.' The birds did not reappear since Amelia had arrived and the one she had taken care of also didn't attack her.

There were also similarities to the attack of the late king and queen. Their carriage had been taken out as well and had been burned down. The carriage was a weapon itself so the way they were targeted in both occurrences would suggest that it was done purposefully. A simple-minded bird would not be able to plan such an attack. She had an idea but needed to test her suspicions and for that, she needed more time.

Suddenly Amelia had an epiphany: People were always blown away by how alike Amelia and Aurora looked. They both had long, wavy, brown hair and clear green eyes together with similar facial shapes, they could have been twins. The only way people were able to differentiate them was through their behavior, status, and clothing.

If Amelia were to pretend to be Aurora and go to Lavia in her stead, the killers would think they had failed their mission, pushing them to plan another assassination attack and lure out the mastermind.

Amelia was certain that she could pull this off 'When I arrive in Lavia and confirm that my performance is working, I can send a letter to Philipp saying both Aurora and I had arrived alive.' Posing as Aurora could further save her from the treason charges. This was probably one of her best ideas, she thought to herself.

For the plan to work, she needed to get a new carriage, some soldiers, and a dress to pose as if no attack ever happened.

The journey to Lavia by carriage would have taken them another four days. Alone by horseback, it would take Amelia half that time, which would give her two days to prepare her disguise. 'Yes, this could work…I should probably get the supplies from Zeles. Fewer questions would be asked there…'

Although Amelia was mentally not ready to leave, she knew she had to make her move as quickly as possible. She went to her horse which had been patiently waiting where Amelia had left it and was ready to continue their journey. After mounting the animal, Amelia looked back one more time saying goodbye to her beloved friend.