The morning light crept softly into Aurelia's chamber, spilling across the peach-and-ivory drapes and touching her face with gold. She blinked awake slowly, her heart heavy with that strange feeling between peace and ache.
It was her first dawn in Valkoron.
For a long while, she simply lay there, staring up at the carved ceiling above her, the same one she had admired the previous night before sleep claimed her. She hadn't dreamed. Not once. No screaming echoes of her past, no fire, no taunting faces. Just the silence of sleep.
When the door creaked softly, Gwendolyn slipped in with her usual bright smile. "My lady, you're awake."
Aurelia turned her head slightly on the pillow, her voice still rough with sleep. "Good morning, Gwen."
"Good morning indeed," Gwen said, walking to open the curtains fully. "The sun looks kind today. How was your first night in the castle?"
