Rose's Thorns

Chapter 19

"Princess Ayella, was the second born to King Cypress behind his son Prince Leo, it is said her hair was made of snow, so white it shined brilliantly as the full moon on a clear night. Her skin was creamy just a little darker than her hair, her eyes were the color of honey. It was said he voice of song could put a mad bear into the calmest of states, and she knew just how to use the gifts the gods had blessed her with." I read, Cedar out his head on my lap while Aspen slid the book toward himself. 

"Princess Ayella did not want to be married off to rule a different kingdom, but her brother stood in her way. Prince Leo was a good man, great warrior and was promised to be a decent king. So King Cypress made a deal with King Jakob, in the kingdom of Lymeria, his eldest son Rorin would wed Ayella when she turned of age and together they would rule the west. Ayella was so enraged she would not speak to her father for months after it was made. Before they knew it, it was nearly time for Ayella to leave, instead she slipped a poison in her elder brother's stew, killing him. It was unknown at the time Ayella had done this so there was no punishment bestowed upon her."

I took the book back when Aspen yawned. "After his death King Cypress announced Ayella's younger sister Kali was to take the throne seeing as Ayella was promised to Prince Rorin. At this time she was seething, trying to worm her way out of the marriage. One night three months before she was set to leave Ayella used a small potion of chamomile of lavender to make a guard fall asleep. When he was unconscious, she used him to impregnate herself." I make a face and looked at Aspen who shrugged his shoulders. "Bloody ridiculous." I commented before reading on, causing him to chuckle. " Two months passed without blood and Ayella went to her father and told him she was raped, and her raper had gotten her pregnant."

I licked my lips and Aspen slid the book back to himself. "She said she did not want Prince Rorin to have to bear the shame of having an impure wife and suggested Kali be married to him in her stead. King Cypress was understandably outraged and sent a hawk to King Jakob explaining the situation, King Jakob wrote back that seeing as Ayella's purity was forced from her they would dismiss it, should she expel the baby before her belly was swollen enough to gain attention. When Ayella heard the news she pleaded with her father saying she couldn't kill a babe, even if it were not yet alive."

"King Cypress was astonished his daughter would risk an alliance so important over the non-exsistant life of a babe. He told her she would not carry the babe of a raper and demanded she have the little beast killed. He was quoted saying "A babe will grow and act like their parents, your babe will be a raper as it's father. It would be a shame on our family name to let you keep that bastard, and I will not tolerate it." Ayella had begun to worry herself so much that one night she woke up to her sheets covered in blood. Elder Francis determined she was no longer with child."

I took the book back once again as he coughed from a dry mouth. "As her condition was now what it needed she was to be sent to Lymeria in two days time. That night Ayella used a dagger to kill her sister Kali, and her brother Mannis. Before she could reach her fathers chambers he was alerted by a maid who had seen her coming out of Mannis's room. King Cypress waited for his daughter with his sword on his lap. When she arrived he cut off both of her hands so she could no longer stab him. The next morning she confessed to all of her sins, she had lost copious amounts of blood and her head was not right, it was like she ingested toxic mushrooms. Only a few hours later she died from her untreated wounds."

"After a goshawk delivered the news of the Northern plights to Lymeria, King Jakob ended their alliance, no longer allowing the north to own land in the west. With no heirs left and with his wife past after birthing Mannis, he sought out a woman from town, marrying a woman named Vanna, she gave him two babes, a girl named Clyssia who took the throne seeing as she was more fit to rule. His son Quinn, became her advisor and most trusted guard, as much as Ayella hated her siblings Clyissia and Quinn loved one another."

Aspen was silent as he played with his beard, thinking over what we had just read. He opened his mouth to speak but stopped himself before getting up and placing our books back on the shelf. "I believe it is time for dinner." He said rubbing his hands on his pants, "first we should wash up." I nodded and we walked to the bathing rooms, washing our hands, I cleaned my blood cloth once again, then we went to the grand hall to find it empty. 

"Looks like we are back to eating in the dining chambers." Aspen took my hand and showed me to a room not too far away from the kitchens and the area with the pine tree. Zuko, Carson, Opal, and Wren were absent from the table when Aspen and I arrived. King Tyson sat at the head of the table with Reymira to his left, next to her three seats were empty. On the left of Tyson Henry sat, talking with his father. Three seats were also empty by his side, as was the seat across from Tyson. Aspen took the seat across from Tyson motioning for me to sit beside him, one seat between myself and Queen Reymira. 

"What did you accomplish today?" Reymira asked looking between Aspen and I. 

"First Rowan refreshed her memory of horses, then we went to the library and brushed up on northern history."

"Not your choice." Reymira said before turning to me. "Did you learn anything interesting?" 

"Aye, I was unfamiliar with the winter of Ghalloch, I used to wonder why the capital changed but now I know."

"The winter of Ghalloch was trying." King Tyson said, tuning into our conversation. "Having crops brought here was much easier than having them brought to the mountains."

"Nay, it's not. The elder in the castle at the time said the snow fell to the top of the largest tower at the old castle. It was 60 meters high (200 feet) It was recorded by Elder Hing in house Hailon, which used to be 10 kilometer ( 6 miles) east of here that the snow record of that year was 76 meters (250 ft.)" I informed them. "The tutor at the Dyxon house was very fascinated by northern history and winters. He always wondered what transpired in the old castle, but never got the answers he sought." 

"So why do you think they changed locations then?" Reymira asked seemingly very interested. 

"To escape the demons that haunted them, the things they had to do to survive were atrocious. They hoped with leaving the castle their demons would depart as well. Obviously they didn't seeing as they wouldn't confess their sins, even on their death beds."

"For only learning until eleven you are quite a think-ed woman." King Tyson said. 

"My mother used to say smart woman fared better in this world, so even with the pig men I learned as much as I could. Stealing scrolls from brothels when I was too young to be trained and sent to the back room where children of whores played and where the owner read his books. I would read what I could and take scrolls with me, returning them to the next brothel we went to."

"That was a clever way of learning new things." Henry said leaning back in his chair, Cedar padded into the room jumping into the chair next to me only to be pushed out when Wren walked in and looked at him. 

"Is it me or has Cedar gotten soft?" Zuko asked walking in with Opal and Carson. 

"Definitely not, he just happens to like my wife and her sisters." Aspen said patting his head. "Watch." Zuko's eyes got wide when Aspen looked at his brother and commanded Cedar to watch him. Cedar ran at Zuko snarling and barking snapping his teeth but never touching him. He backed Zuko into the corner and layed on his belly standing only when Zuko tried to move. 

I made a whistling noise and Cedar stopped what he was doing, he looked over at me and padded between Aspen and I resting his head on my lap. "Good boy." I said stroking his head, his tail thumped on the ground as Zuko took his seat. I looked over at Aspen who looked fake annoyed at his dogs behavior. Instead of scolding him in front of his family I held my tongue and decided to wait until we were behind closed doors. 

"Seems Cedar has decided Rowan is good enough to command him." Carson grinned. "Will he be joining you across the north?"

"Aye." I answered, Aspen nodded reaching his hand down and ruffling his hair, again his tail thumped on the oak floors. "We should talk about transport. I will be riding Fey and Wolfe will be riding Torrand." I said using the name he created in the company of others. 

"I will be riding my horse Dieferr." Zuko announced. 

"If I am correct neither Wren nor Opal can ride a horse." 

"We will have a wagon pulled by our two best haulers, Robbyn and Mud." Aspen added. "We can place a chest with all of our clothes some food rations and water bags."

"Cedar should ride in the cart for the first few days or until his paw is fully healed, we don't want to risk him re-injuring it." I said to my husband who nodded before looking at Cedar. 

"We'll have to find some warm clothes for you ladies seeing as all you have is three gowns, two of which are not suited for the winter air." I looked down at the table feeling guilty. I hadn't even thought of my sisters when Aspen and I saw Marlee and asked her to make us clothes earlier. 

"Not an issue, I have to see Marlee and ask her to make warm cloaks for the lot of us." Aspen said taking my hand. 

"She will be very busy tonight." Reymira sighed. "Luckily her daughters are here and will get the clothes done in no time." 

"Aye that we are." Zuko said smiling at Opal who sat beside Wren and Reymira, across from him. Dinner came in and we began to eat the buttered squash, and chicken we were served. The guilt of not thinking of my sisters was eating me up filling my stomach so I was only able to eat a small portion of my food. 

"Rowan?" Wren asked looking up at me she looked concerned and I felt my eyes sting. How could I have forgotten about her. 

"Excuse me." I said getting up and leaving the dining chambers. I scurried to the room Marlee had fitted me in, gently crying the entire way, and knocked on the door. She looked astonished to see me there. She curtsied before opening the door all the way. 

"Apologies my lady but your clothes are not yet finished." I noticed none of her daughters were there to help her. 

"I came to aid you in sewing. It appears, five cloaks, and four more dresses have to be made before tomorrow, and I can see your daughters are not here to sew. "

"Nay I sent them away, are the dresses for you?" She asked. 

"Nay, my little sister Wren, she is seven. Opal who is fifteen as well, she has the short brown hair and brown eyes. The cloaks are for us three along with Prince's Zuko and Wolfe." 

"I would love to refuse the help of a princess, but I am afraid I wont be able to do all of this on my own so help is appreciated milady." Marlee said with large round eyes. Together we got to work, it wasn't long until a scratch at the door had us looking up. Then Aspen walked in with his hand on the pommel of his sword, Cedar ran over and sniffed me before laying at my feet. Without saying a word Aspen walked over and took a seat, I refocused on sewing rather than speak. 

It only took three hours for Aspen to fall asleep, his head resting on my shoulder while I sewed. Luckily I was used to sewing under those conditions. I would often sit beside my younger sisters sewing as I told stories, they would fall asleep, using my shoulder as a pillow. I was able to make three dresses and two cloaks by the breaking of the new day. Marlee had finished two cloaks and one dress, leaving us with one more cloak. I got to work on it once I finished making Wren's little cloak. Mine was the last to be made. The top of the cloak that wrapped around my shoulders was made of the fur of a silver wolf, the rest trailing down to my shoes was heavy black wool. A hood made from the same wolf as my shoulder fur was added to keep my ears and face warm. 

Aspen's had the skin of a Red colored wolf, he had no hood seeing as he would be wearing his crown along the journey. I smiled at my handsome prince who was perfect. I brushed some hair away from his face before kissing his head. When I was done I noticed Marlee was done and packing her things. 

"Thank you again Marlee." I said to her before walking up my husband. I held his head as I moved my shoulder, I took my finger and gently pressed on his neck, right were his neck met his collar bone. He woke up and looked at me sleepily before yawning while he sat up.

"Let's go to bed my love." I said to him, he nodded and stood up without a word. We walked to the bedroom, Cedar behind us. Once we reached the bedroom I cleaned my overdue blood cloth. I sighed and got the blood off the dress and under dress as best as I could. I pulled on my night dress and turned back to Aspen who had fallen asleep fully dressed, including his sword and belt. I walked over and took off his belt before placing it on the chest, with his heavy ass sword. Next I sat on his stomach as I struggled to get his shirt off, I placed it with his belt before sighing and pulling off his boots. Once they were gone I was able to untie the leather string on his crotch and loosen his trousers enough to pull them off. 

Once he was naked he moved, rolling onto his side, I grumbled while pulling the blankets out from underneath him and putting them over his nude body. Once he was settled in bed I was able to climb into the bed beside him and relax. His arms snaked around me while he mumbled in his sleeping state. I kissed his lips softly before curling into his body and falling asleep.