Chapter 120
Aurora awoke before sunrise.
Sleep had come in short, restless moments, filled with dreams of collapsing tunnels, blood-stained hands, and Turner's pale face lying motionless on the operating table.
For several moments she remained sitting on the edge of her bed, staring out the window.
The medical centre was already awake.
Doctors crossed the courtyard carrying supplies.
Nurses hurried between wards.
Some miners sat outside wrapped in blankets, quietly watching the sunrise.
Another long day had begun.
A gentle knock sounded.
"My Lady?"
Emily slowly opened the door.
"You've been awake for a while, haven't you?"
Aurora offered a small smile "I couldn't sleep."
Emily wasn't surprised "Her Grace insisted I bring you downstairs."
Aurora sighed "I have patients waiting."
Emily folded her arms "And your parents are waiting."
Aurora immediately knew who would win that battle.
"...Mother?"
Emily nodded sympathetically "I'm afraid so."
Aurora laughed softly.
"There truly is no escaping her."
The dining room felt unusually peaceful.
For the first time in many days...
Only three places had been set at the table.
Eleanor looked up the moment Aurora entered "There you are."
Aurora kissed her mother's cheek before greeting her father "Good morning."
Owen smiled warmly "Good morning, sweetheart."
Eleanor immediately reached for Aurora's hand "Sit."
Aurora obeyed.
Breakfast was already waiting.
Fresh bread.
Fruit.
Eggs.
Tea.
Aurora looked at the food.
Then quietly reached only for her tea.
Eleanor immediately noticed "So that's your breakfast?"
Aurora looked guilty "I wasn't very hungry."
"Mm-hmm."
Eleanor calmly picked up a slice of bread and placed it onto Aurora's plate.
"You may fool the nurses.You may fool Emily. You certainly don't fool me."
Aurora sighed dramatically "I liked you better when you were recovering."
Owen nearly choked on his tea.
Eleanor slowly turned toward him.
"Did you hear what our daughter just said?"
Owen wisely lowered his eyes "I heard absolutely nothing."
"Traitor," Aurora muttered.
"I am surviving," Owen corrected, "I've been married to your mother for over twenty years....... I know when to stay out of dangerous conversations."
Even Eleanor laughed.
The sound eased some of the heaviness surrounding the table.
Owen smiled at both women, "It's nice..."
He looked between them "...having breakfast together again."
His voice softened "The three of us."
He leaned back in his chair.
"You have no idea how strange it was waking up every morning surrounded by men."
Aurora raised an eyebrow, "You mean the physicians?"
"The physicians. The knights. The nurses. The guards."
He shuddered dramatically.
"Not one of them made tea properly."
Aurora laughed.
"I'm fairly certain that's because none of them were there to make tea."
"They should have learned."
Eleanor rolled her eyes.
"You you were working , Owen."
"I know."
"And you're complaining about tea."
"It was terrible tea."
Aurora laughed harder.
For a brief moment...
Everything felt almost normal again.
Then Owen's expression became serious.
He reached across the table and gently squeezed Aurora's hand.
"Aurora..."
She looked up.
"We have to stay strong."
His voice was quiet.
"Strong for Turner.... Strong for the miners... Strong for every family waiting outside."
Aurora lowered her eyes "I know."
"They need us."
She swallowed the lump in her throat. "They're frightened.They're grieving. And they're looking to us."
Owen nodded "Exactly."
Aurora took a slow breath "I promised myself.... .that this time I would protect the people of Emberforge."
She forced a small smile.
"So don't worry, Father... I'm alright."
Owen smiled sadly.
He knew she wasn't.
But he also knew she would keep going anyway.
Eleanor quietly dabbed at her eyes before changing the subject. "The funerals."
Both Aurora and Owen looked toward her.
"We can't let those families worry about arrangements.They've suffered enough."
Owen nodded immediately. "You're right."
He turned toward the doorway, "Philip."
The butler appeared almost instantly, "Yes, Your Grace?"
"Ask Alistair for the names of every family who lost someone."
Philip inclined his head, "At once."
Owen continued, "Inform each family that House of Ambrose will arrange every funeral. There will be no cost to them. They have already paid enough."
Philip bowed deeply, "They'll be grateful, Your Grace."
Aurora smiled softly, "Thank you, Father."
Owen looked at her with gentle pride, "They're our people. We take care of our own."
Aurora nodded, "And I'll return to the medical centre. There are still patients to check."
Eleanor sighed, "I suppose I can't stop you."
Aurora smiled, "You can try."
"I did."
"And?"
Aurora stood, kissed her mother on the cheek, then hugged her father.
"It didn't work."
Owen chuckled, "It never does."
A few hours later...
Aurora completed her morning rounds.
One by one she checked every injured miner.
She changed dressings.
Checked temperatures.
Adjusted medicines.
Spoke with anxious families.
Offered quiet words of reassurance.
Only once everything had settled did she quietly enter Turner's room.
The curtains had been drawn back to allow the morning sunlight inside.
Turner remained unconscious.
His breathing was steady.
His colour had improved slightly.
Aurora gently checked his pulse.
Still strong.
Still stable.
She smiled faintly, "You're worrying everyone, Captain."
There was no response.
She remained beside him for another minute before quietly leaving.
Duty still called.
Throughout the afternoon she reviewed medical reports, checked the dispensary, and met with the physicians who had travelled from the palace and the neighbouring duchies.
Most had now returned home.
Only her four permanent physicians and their four nurses remained.
Emily joined her shortly afterward carrying inventory books.
"The medicines are holding up," Emily reported.
"But we'll need more bandages within the week."
Aurora nodded as she wrote several notes.
"We'll prepare another order."
Together they carefully counted every bottle, every herb, every roll of linen.
It was tedious work.
But necessary.
By late afternoon, Aurora quietly returned to Turner's room one final time.
He still hadn't awakened.
She gently adjusted his blanket before checking his pulse once more.
Strong.
Steady.
She released a slow breath, "Take your time."
Her voice was barely above a whisper, "We'll all be waiting."
Outside, the medical centre remained busy.
Life continued.
Patients healed.
Families reunited.
Others mourned.
And throughout the duchy...
Everyone waited for the moment Captain Turner would finally open his eyes.
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