Author's note: This idea came to me after a discussion with my good friend Klaske :) It has been a real challenge for me to combine two of the movies I most enjoy: Sleeping Beauty and Beauty and the Beast. Both stories give us characters with different backgrounds and personalities, and of course it leads one to wonder what would happen if one day these characters were to meet.

Although I have done some research while writing this story, I can't guarantee any historical and geographical accuracy. I believe that the kingdoms mentioned in this story would be somewhere around Italy and France (hence you'll find many references to the Alpine Region), but the names of the kingdoms were entirely of my choice and don't correspond to reality.

Finally, a leave a note concerning the rating of this fiction. It doesn't contain any coarse language, but I have written sexual scenes that, although not explicit, may leave the more sensible readers uncomfortable. I therefore promise to give you a warning every time a chapter contains one of these scenes.

I apologize in advance in case you find any of these Disney characters out-of-character. This is my interpretation, and I don't wish to offend anyone with it :) I do look forward to your reviews and accept constructive criticism, as long as you respect my point of view too :)

Whether or not you believe in happy endings, I think (and hope!) that you will enjoy this story. Thank to you Klaske for inspiring me and supporting me while I wrote this! :)

All of these characters are copyright of Disney.

Phillip paced up and down the library, rubbing his chin thoughtfully as he read the letter in his hands. He was reading
it for the fourteenth time now, and yet still no light had sparked in his mind. He threw the letter angrily onto the table covered with maps and scrolls, then sat down on his chair and buried his head in his hands.

"What is the matter, son?" King Hubert walked into the library and gracefully made his way over to the table. He picked up the letter he had just seen Phillip toss away. "Ah, a letter from King Gutenberg," he said with disdain. "What does that man want now?"

Phillip rubbed his face with his hands then looked up at his father. His eyes were red, like someone who had not slept the previous night, nor the night before. He sighed, letting his head fall back against the chair. "He asks for land, father."

Hubert tossed the letter onto the table, the same way Phillip had. "Do not say. The Golden Fields again? For Pete's sake, the man won't let it die!"

"I do not understand his obsession," Phillip confessed. "The Golden Fields have always been neutral ground, separating the borders of Kingdom of the Dawn and Berlindale."

"Yes, and much blood has been spilled on those fields too," Hubert pointed out. "It is, after all, the place where the great battle between our kingdoms took place almost over a century ago."

"Many lives were lost during that battle. I would not want it to happen again," Phillip said gravely.

Hubert picked up the letter again and analyzed it closely. "And for what reason does Gutenberg desire the Golden Fields so badly?"

"He claims that his kingdom is overpopulated," Phillip replied off the tip of his tongue. He knew the letter off by heart from reading it so many times. "He wishes to extend his land, build new structures and provide more homes for his people. But something…" Phillip stood up and banged his fist on the table. "Something is not right. Why not extend to the north, towards the mountains? Why must he extend towards our border?"

Phillip pushed all the scrolls aside and leaned over the table, staring upon the map of his region. With his finger he traced the border of Kingdom of the Dawn, while with his other hand he ran his fingers through his thick, silky hair. He then grabbed a couple of small clay figures that resembled watch towers and placed them accordingly on the map. "The Golden Fields have done more than divide our two kingdoms," he began. "They've protected our people. If Gutenburg takes over the Golden Fields, only a stream will separate us from Berlindale," Phillip pointed out. "It will mean building a new fortress and reinforcing it with more guards. Guards which we'll have to relocate from the southern and eastern borders…" Phillip moved some clay figures around. "In the end, we'll become more vulnerable."

"Nonsense!" King Hubert grabbed a clay figure and waved it in Phillip's face. "What makes you think that Berlindale will want to attack us? Our kingdoms have been at peace for years!"

Phillip snatched the figure out of his father's hands and placed it back onto the map. "If peace were the only thing on Gutenberg's mind, he would extend his land to the north and leave the Golden Fields as it is."

"I think you are over-reacting, son," Hubert said calmly. "I shall reply to the letter and tell him that we are not willing to break our agreement on the Golden Fields. And more I tell you – we've been invited to a ball at Berlindale next week. For sure Gutenberg will bring up the matter again, and try to get both you and I drunk until the end of the night." He rubbed his stomach with a laugh. "I suppose we'll have to feast like pigs so that the wine will not go to our heads," he joked.

Phillip's expression did not change, even after his father's attempt to lighten the mood. He gazed intently at the map. "Gutenberg will soon run out of patience and try to take the Golden Fields by force. Perhaps we should reinforce the western watch tower," he suggested.

Hubert shook his head. "Perhaps you should go prepare yourself for the ball, son. Today is not a day for politics. Let us leave that to the court in a couple of days. Now, come!" He took Phillip by the arm. "The King of Molyneaux cannot see you like this!"

Phillip reluctantly looked away from the map for a few seconds. "Molyneaux?"

"Why, yes!" Hubert exclaimed cheerfully. "You invited King Adam and his lovely Queen for the tournament, remember? They will be staying with us for three days," he reminded Phillip. "Tonight is the ball... surely you haven't forgotten."

"Yes… yes, of course," Phillip replied hesitantly, still finding it hard to get his mind off of Berlindale. "Molyneaux is a much respected kingdom, and I hold King Adam into much high account. I'm sure Aurora is certifying that they will be received and treated as our most special guests."

"On my way here I found her tweaking up the last decorations and making sure the dining room looks absolutely stunning!" Hubert beamed proudly and elbowed Phillip's arm. "Did I or did I not choose the perfect wife for you, son?" he smirked.

Phillip smiled faintly. "I prefer to say I chose her myself, father," he reminded him. "After all, had Aurora not been the same girl I had met in the woods, today we would most likely not be married," he pointed out.

"Gah! Gibberish!" Hubert blurted. "I knew from the start that you two were meant for each other. Now come, let us hurry for King Adam will be here any moment now. And I, for one, cannot wait to drink our glorious wine!"

Phillip walked into his chambers and quickly closed the door behind him. He let out a long sigh and took off his belt, throwing it onto the bed. Aurora sat at her dressing table, softly combing her hair in front of the mirror. Phillip knew she had seen his reflection on her mirror, yet she did not move. She continued to brush her air as peacefully and quietly as before.

The prince sat on the edge of the bed and began to take off his boots. The room remained in an awful silence. Phillip could almost hear the comb brushing through Aurora's soft blonde curls. He glanced at the mirror and noticed Aurora's reflection staring straight back at him. They made eye contact but she did not move, and neither did he. Instead he looked down and continued to take off his other boot.

Phillip heard Aurora put her brush down. A few seconds later, she broke the heavy silence in the room. "I did not see you today," she said softly.

Phillip tossed his boot onto the floor and stood up. He began to unbutton his shirt. "I went riding in the morning with Samson."

"We were supposed to go together," she reminded him, a bit of surprise in her voice. "You know how much I love to ride early in the morning. Why did you not wake me?"

"Because you were fast asleep, and I did not want to interrupt your dreams." Once he had finished unbuttoning his shirt, Phillip pulled it off and crunched it up into a ball before throwing it into a basket. "Besides, it was quite foggy in the morning. I knew you wouldn't enjoy riding in the fog." There was, of course, still another reason why Phillip had not woken up Aurora, but he preferred to keep that one to himself. He knew she'd be upset if he told her that on this particular morning, he simply felt like riding alone. Just Phillip, his horse, and the beautiful sunrise. He had not allowed himself such a pleasure since their marriage.

Aurora finally stood up from the chair and slowly made her way up to Phillip. Her steps were small and careful, almost as if she were afraid to approach Phillip. "Well, truth be said, I probably would have been too tired to ride," she admitted. "Especially after…" She blushed. "After last night."

Phillip smiled faintly. They had been married for six months now, and still making love to Aurora was one of things Phillip looked forward to the most. He loved the taste of her skin and the way her delicate body moved in his arms. She reminded him of a beautiful fragile flower, and even after they made love over and over again, he'd try his best to stay awake so that he could watch her fall asleep. Oddly enough, those were the moments he felt most connected to her. As they lay naked in bed it was as if there were no barriers between them. However, as the moon gave way to the sun and the stars fell behind the bright blue sky, so his delicate princess would change. Every move she made was careful and hesitant. She would not offer him her kisses, but rather wait for Phillip to steal them from her.

The prince took initiative and pulled Aurora closer to him, softly pressing her body against his broad naked chest. "Yes, last night was wonderful. I look equally forward to tonight, my love." He leaned forward to kiss her, then frowned as she pulled away.

"Oh, no, not tonight!" she said in a whisper, as if the walls could hear her. "What of our guests?"

Phillip laughed. "God Himself could be my royal guest, but that would not stop me from making love to my wife."

Aurora did not take his remark lightly. She pulled away and embraced herself, feeling powerless without his strong embrace. She lowered her head. "How can you say such a thing, Phillip?" she breathed.

Phillip tried hard to suppress a sigh. "Love is not a crime," he told her, bringing her closer to him again. "And if it is you might as well have me arrested. For all the love we made I am sure I would deserve the death penalty." He grabbed her a little tighter and leaned forward again, this time managing to steal a small kiss. Finally they pulled back from each other and Phillip continued to take off his pants.

"And what else did you do today?" Aurora asked him, turning around and making her way to the dressing table again. She took a bottle of perfume out of the drawer and sprayed it onto her bare neck.

"I spent the rest of the day in the library, reading over letters and discussing politics." He paused to grab his gown and quickly put it on. "I was hoping you would have joined me. For tea, at least. I sent one of the servants to call you."

Aurora nodded. "Aye, I received the message. But I've been so busy today with all the preparations… By the time I made it to the library, the tea was cold and you were discussing politics with your father."

Phillip frowned in confusion. "I did not see you."

"That is because I did not go in," Aurora clarified. "It seemed rude to interrupt you."

Phillip shook his head in disappointment. "You are my wife and future queen of our kingdom. You should not feel like you will interrupt me. I do not ask you to carry my burdens, but for sure I can use your advice and input on some of our political matters."

Aurora blushed. She put her bottle of perfume away and walked over to the bed where she had laid out her dress for the evening. "I choose not to mingle with politics," she replied honestly.

"Politics will become your curse when war launches itself upon us," Phillip muttered, walking over to the table where there was a bucket of water. He splashed some water onto his face.

Aurora's head turned. "What war?"

Phillip grabbed a towel. "That is why I wished to talk to you today. King Gutenberg has sent us the third letter this month. He wishes to take over the Golden Fields. I fear that if we do not comply, he will take it by force."

Aurora smiled, as if what Phillip had just said was a nonsense fairytale. "Who would start a war over a piece of land?"

Phillip looked at Aurora and sighed. "You are naive, my love," he said tenderly, drying his face with a towel. "For sixteen years you have lived in the shadows of your godmothers, and now you fail to see the wickedness of Men."

Aurora glanced at Phillip over her shoulder and hesitantly began to take off her gown, revealing her white silky undergarments. She looked away from him as he turned to her. "Perhaps it is for the best. And perhaps you, my love, should learn not to see only their wickedness," she retorted bluntly.

"I am obliged to do so, for it is our kingdom's safety which is at stake," Phillip replied bitterly, taking one step closer to her. "Our fathers have entrusted me with his duty. King Gutenberg thinks he can fool me… he thinks I am weak…" Phillip's jaw tightened and his fists clenched in anger. "But I will prove him wrong. Next week, when we travel to Berlindale, I shall tell him myself that Kingdom of the Dawn will not comply with such an agreement. If he wishes to extend his land, he may do so by going north, into the mountains."

Aurora was about to pick up her dress when something about Phillip's last statement caught her attention. "North?" She recalled the afternoon she had spent with her father Stefan, who had introduced her to the map of the region and showed her all the borders that marked all the kingdoms. It had taken her a while to memorize it all, and to this day she was still afraid of getting it wrong. However, the northern border of Berlindale had been one of the few she had managed to memorize. "By extending north, he'll be penetrating into the Dark Mountains. It will take him closer to Molyneaux," she told Phillip, surprised he hadn't realized this.

However, the expression on Phillip's face told her that he knew this well. He grabbed the bottle of the finest wine which he had ordered a servant to put in his room and poured himself a glass. "Precisely, this is why King Adam's visit to our kingdom is rather… opportune. If I can convince him to release some of his land to Berlindale, then King Gutenberg will leave us alone and the Golden Fields will remain a neutral ground and a shield between both kingdoms." He paused to see if Aurora was following his train of thought, but she showed no reaction. With a small sip of his wine, he sneaked up to her and stood right behind her back. "If I offer King Gutenberg another alternative, and if he refuses this, then his intention will be clear," Phillip whispered in Aurora's ear.

Aurora shivered slightly at Phillip drew near her. She could feel his chest rub against her back, his hand gently stroking her arm. "What intention is this you speak of?" she whispered back.

Phillip placed his glass of wine on the side-table beside their bed then gently pulled Aurora's hair back and exposed her neck. Her head tilted to the side, almost like an automatic reaction to his soft touch. "The same intention of his father, and his father's father," Phillip whispered, his hand gently sliding onto Aurora's lower stomach. "To rule over my father's kingdom."

"But soon our kingdoms will be one," Aurora pointed out. "And you will be our King."

"And you our Queen," Phillip added, kissing her shoulder. "But that will only increase Berlindale's wish to one day rule over the five kingdoms of the Alpine region."

Aurora frowned and slightly pulled away from Phillip's embrace. "Phillip, I do not wish to discuss politics," she confessed. "For sure you'll have a chance to discuss it with King Adam after dinner. But for now I wish to quickly get dressed so that I may go down a bit earlier in order to receive our guests."

Phillip looked over her shoulder and saw the sparkling green dress with gold trimmings that Aurora had chosen for the ball. It was exuberant and flashy… nothing like the peasant clothes she wore on the day they first met, the same day Phillip recalled as the day he fell in love with her. "That dress will look beautiful on you," he told her, discreetly starting to untie the laces of her undergarment.

Aurora blushed with a smile, but it soon turned into a confused frown when she realized what Phillip was doing. She turned around quickly, her hand on his chest. "Phillip," she hissed.

Phillip pecked her quickly on the lips. "However, I much prefer to see you as you are now. In fact, it would lift my spirits if only I could…" He leaned forward for a kiss, but Aurora pulled back.

"Phillip, please, we cannot," she whispered hesitantly, her instinct telling her to look back at the door to make sure no one was watching.

"I wish to make love to my wife," Phillip said, softly leaning his forehead against hers.

Aurora turned her head to the side. "I must get dressed," she repeated. "Please, I do not want to be late. And you should get ready too."

"Let us skip this silly ball and stay in our chambers tonight," Phillip suggested, running his hand down Aurora's back.

"Oh, after all the work I went through today?" Aurora shook her head. "I wouldn't even if I could."

"You needed not to lift a finger," Phillip pointed out with a chuckle. "That is why we have servants, who for sure find more pleasure in preparing such an exquisite ball." He leaned in and kissed her cheek. "They have been doing it for many years."

"But oh, how I enjoy setting up the decorations and choosing the menu… I even assisted the rehearsal of the band and they allowed me to sing a song. It was such a beautiful tune! Oh, and just wait until you see the flowers! We have picked out white roses, just like the ones at our wedding!"

"Yes, wonderful," Phillip said, lacking a bit of enthusiasm.

"You must come down and see the decorations," Aurora said excitedly, finally managing to pull away from Phillip. She picked up her dress and held it up against her body, then began dancing around the room, just like she did when she was alone in the woods. Ironically enough, two birds sat at the window still and began chirping a melody that matched the tune she was humming.

Phillip sighed. He grabbed his glass of wine again and took a long, heartfelt sip, practically downing the entire glass. He placed the glass on the table again and wiped his mouth clean.

"I'm going to get dressed," he told Aurora. "I'll meet you downstairs in half an hour."