Doina wept as her daughter was carried to her bedchamber, lifeless in Mihai’s arms. Her child, who she’d sworn to protect, had been snatched from her so quickly. Mihai laid Aurora gently on the bed, on top of her decorated blankets, and knelt beside her. He wept bitterly into the strands of her dark hair, clutching at her pale hand.

Doina called the servants to her, demanding to know who was responsible for the drop spindle entering the castle. The cursed thing was thrown into the fire when no one admitted ownership, and the maids went back to work.

“Stewards!” Mihai called out, his voice strained, “Fetch me the fastest horse we have, I must find a healer immediately.” The young men obeyed, but the prince remained at Aurora’s side.

“Please, my lord, you must hurry to find a cure for her.” Doina begged, falling to her knees on the stone floor, “We must wake her, we must save her.” Mihai stood and nodded, eager to rescue his beloved Aurora.

He kissed her pale cheek one last time before leaving.