Rose's Thorns

Chapter 15

He pulled away too soon and I remembered that I needed to breathe, his face was flushed as he looked down at me, he used his thumb to once again trace the cut on my lip. “Apologies, but once you said my name I had to.” His words were light and barely audible as he tried to catch his breath. 

I didn’t say anything as I brought my hand up to his face, tracing the long scar that ran down his right side. I stopped below his jewel and raised myself up, pressing my lips to where my hand had just been. 

“My Rowan.” I heard him say as I sat back down beside him. “I believe you are the first person to look at me with wonder upon seeing my face and the disfiguring scar for the first time." 

“Your scar may be large, but ‘tis only one s***h. I have more scars than the ones on my hand.” I said looking down at my still wrapped hand. 

“I want to see them.” He said tilting my head up. I shook my head and he looked very displeased. 

“It would be wrong of me to take off my clothes here, and for you too see them I would have to do that.” He nodded in understanding before placing a soft kiss to my forehead. 

“When I see your scars, I will look at them the same way you looked at mine, and you should feel every bit as proud for surviving what caused them, As I was when you looked at me.”

I sighed with a smile and relaxed against him, the sun had sunk, leaving the black blanket of the sky up for us to see. Little pin holes were visible giving us glimpses of little lights, just enough to light our way. The moon was only a little sliver in the sky, looking quite beautiful from my bubble of happiness in the arms of Aspen. 

His chest rose and fell as he sighed deeply. "It is going to be difficult to leave you in your own chambers for the night." 

"Let's not think about that for now." My stomach growled hungrily and Aspen used his hand to rub the small bit of fat my body held. 

"Nay, we will think about putting some food in that small belly of yours." He said kissing the side of my head before pulling us both up. We walked back into the castle, walking toward the west side where the grand hall was. 

"I need to stop at the wash room." I said softly, he nodded and turned us down a new hall leading us to possibly the only door not made of redwood in the castle. I walked in leaving Aspen to guard the door. I lifted my dress and pulled the blood cloth out of my v****a. I cleaned it in the basin of cold water. Once the cloth was free of blood I relieved myself in the piss pot while ringing the cloth clear of water and putting it back into my body. I dumped the bloody water into the piss pot and washed my hand in the second basin next to a bar of soap. When I was finished I met Aspen out side, leaving the bandage from my left hand in the small bin used for garbage. 

He took my uninjured hand in his and we walked to the grand hall, Wren was sitting at the table with the rest of my sisters, most of them were speaking of their day. They stopped talking and bowed to Aspen as we walked to the table. I took the same seat I sat at the night before. Aspen, sat down beside me, putting his hand on the small of my back and relaxing. 

"What did you guys do today?" I asked my sisters who were now silent. 

"After you went to see Elder Garrick I went and saw the horses!" Wren giggled. "I saw a big black horse running around in a paddock. He was soooo pretty." She gushed. 

"Torrand?" Lily smiled. "Rowan and I saw him last night." 

"So what are your new names?" Aspen asked looking at my sisters. "I would like to know how to properly address you." 

"I have decided I want to be called Ginny." Dahlia said. "It was my grandmothers name."

"I'm Wren now!" Wren giggled loudly. 

"Solice." Violet said. "I was Solice before I was stolen away."

"Opal. My mother used to have an opal stone around her neck. 'Tis all I can remember about her." Daisy said sadly looking at the table. 

"Don't you know a song about Opals Wren?"

"Yes!" She said excitedly. 

"When the stone of milk has colors that sparkle. 

Pink, Violet, Red, fire and Gold.

This stone is called opal ohh ohhh ohh

When the stone of milk has a color that shines

Grey, blue, smoke and white

This is the stone of the moon." Wren sang. 

Opal giggled looking at Wren, wiping a stray tear from her face. 

"I have decided to keep my name as Lily. It was the name I had when I met my sister, best friend, and the man of my life. It is how everyone knows me. How Vaynir knew me."

"Aye, the name Lily suits you." I said with a sad smirk. 

"Well it is nice to meet you all. Ginny, Lily, Opal, Solice, Vienna and Wren." Aspen said from beside me, using his thumb to rub small circles on my back.

"Thank you your grace." Ginny said bowing, her t**s covered by the dress the queen had made for her. All the dresses the men made sure they showed off her assets. No matter the weather. 

"Anything to please Rowan." I looked at him as he winked at me, even his emerald seemed to sparkle mischievously. 

"I told you he likes you." Wren bragged. 

"That he does." Queen Reymira said as she gracefully strolled into the room. Everyone save for Aspen stood and bowed to the queen. 

"Your Grace." I said as she took the seat Aspen had sat in the night before. 

"Rowan, ladies." Reymira said looking at us. "Son."

"Mother." Aspen said, his thumb going back to rubbing circles on my back after I sat back down. "Where is father?"

"He'll be along in a moment." She said before looking at me. "Apologies for upsetting you earlier Rowan, I was unaware of the effect the conversation would have on you." 

"There is no need to apologize your grace, but I thank you for the consideration." She nodded her head as Aspen moved his hand from my back, taking the hand that was on my lap and playing with my fingers instead. 

"So have you discussed when you will leave?" She looked between Aspen and I expectantly. 

"I was thinking in two days, and if they would like to Wren and Opal could accompany us." Aspen said looking at his mother while lacing our fingers together. 

"That sounds like a wonderful idea." Reymira gushed. I looked over at Wren who was bouncing in her seat while Opal looked at the table. 

"I would accompany you as well, should my dear elder brother agree." Zuko said walking into the room and sitting across from Aspen. I looked back at Opal who was looking at him with a cute smile. 

"I think it would be wise." I said squeezing Aspen's large hand. "When your brother and I are married, you will be my brother by law, this will be the only family I have, including Wren and Opal."

"True." Zuko said brushing me off and looking at Opal. "I like your new name Opal." I felt Aspen tense, but I was not expecting his outburst. He slammed his free fist on the table glaring at Zuko, who looked at his brother in shock, as did the rest of the table including Reymira. 

"I don't care who you choose to listen to usually brother, but you will respect Rowan." Aspen growled, Cedar ran into the room coming to sit between him and I. 

"Apologies Rowan, Opal has me mesmerized." Zuko claimed, his pale face regaining its color. 

"I understand." I said looking at the man beside me as he still seethed. His one eye full of rage. 

"Well that was new." King Tyson said walking in and motioning for us to stay seated as he took his seat. "Please don't bow every time you see me, it is strange. I am not a god, just a man." He looked at Aspen who had relaxed and was back to playing with my fingers. "It seems, Rowan, that my son is taken by you."

"Why is that bad?" Aspen asked his father defensively. 

"So is Rowan." Wren giggled from down the table. "She can look at him without wanting to vomit!" She was giggling while Lily glared at her. I felt blood rush to my cheeks as I looked down at the hands to Aspen and I. He used his thumb to draw small ovals on mine, comforting me. I looked up at him, he was looking at me softly. I smiled at him, and he smirked before leaning back in his seat and winking at me. 

The table was silent until Henry and Carson arrived bickering over whose horse was faster, then the food was brought in. There was chicken served with peas, more beans and mashed up potatoes. Again I forced the beans down my gullet first, eating the rest with ease. I wiped my face when I was done, taking a sip of the water provided in a silver chalice. Throughout dinner Aspen took little peeks at me, I know because I took peaks at him, blushing when our eyes met. 

After dinner was finished Aspen and I parted so I could have some time with just my sisters, saying good-bye before the four of them left. "Once you find your soldier, you should come visit." I said letting my tears fall freely. Lily was the one constant I had in the past nine years. 

"Aye, perhaps I can persuade him to fight for a different queen." She said as we embraced one another. "Now tell me about Prince Wolfe, how do you feel?" She asked. 

"It's only been two days but I think I love him."

"I still love a man I knew for a grand total of three days, and I haven't seen him in two full years."

"Do you think Queen Marigold will accept me as a guest in her home?" Ginny asked twirling her hair. 

"I think she would be happy to see anyone but the king." Opal said laughing. 

"Do send her my best." Wren said from her spot on my lap.

"Aye." We giggled and gossiped until Elder Garrick poked his head in. 

"Excuse the intrusion ladies, but Prince Aspen is looking for Rowan." I stood and smiled at them before leaving the room waiting for Garrick. "Don't wait for me my Lady, Aspen is in the library."

"Thank you Elder Garrick." I said with a small smile. I walked to the library where Aspen was sitting on a table reading a large leather bound book. He looked dapper in a fitted black shirt and leather trousers, his belt and sword on his hip, along with a dark pouch I hadn't seen before. I smiled when he looked up at me, his dark hair falling messily around his face, his dark beard precisely trimmed. He set the book down and walked over, his large frame towering over mine. 

"I have a question for you Rowan." He stated, a small feather light kiss was placed on my nose as he lowered himself to one knee on the ground pulling a golden chain from the pouch on his belt. "Rowan, we haven't known each other more than a fortnight,  but will you marry me, and when we get back from traveling, be my queen?" I smiled, my heart leaping from my chest into his hands. That was where he held a beautiful golden chain, with an emerald stone the size of the one residing in his eye socket. The stone was held to the necklace by a series of small golden threads that melted into the chain. 

"I would marry you everyday Aspen." I said leaning down and pressing our lips together while I held his face in my hands. I pulled away and he stood, tall and proud, turning me around with one hand. I moved my hair out of the way while he place the chain around my neck letting the emerald stone rest in the valley between my breasts.

"Come with me." I nodded and took the hand Aspen offered me, we went into the castle and to the grand hall where all my sisters stood with the royal family, Elder Garrick, Jayson, the other man from when I first met Cedar. The royal dog himself, Forest, dressed in his armor and lastly, the elderly maid who gave me my bleeding cloth earlier. Aspen led me down to where Garrick stood with King Tyson and Queen Reymira. 

"Rowan, what were the names of your parents and your uncle?" Queen Reymira asked gently. 

"My father was named Basalt, my mother was named Hazel, and my uncle's name was Duncan." I said looking at Aspen, catching on to what was happening. 

"Rowan, as you said earlier these woman are your sisters, the only family you have left. We felt it would be wrong for them to not be present for this." King Tyson said. 

"Lets begin," Garrick said taking my hand and placing them on Aspen's. My heart was beating wildly as I looked upon his face, he shined brilliantly, radiating pure happiness. "Today we take Aspen, son of King Tyson and Queen Reymira, nephew of the late Byron, brother of  Princes, Henry, Zuko, and Carson. Rowan, daughter of Basalt and the late Hazel, niece of Duncan and sister to the late Vaynir. Here in this room we take these two souls and we bind them in the eternal vow of matrimony. Rowan, do you vow to stay with Aspen even in his darkest of days? Do you vow to protect him, honor him and tend to him should he need it? Do you vow as his wife to love him until your last breath?"

"To these questions I swear my heart will forever be in the hands of the man in front of me. Should he fall, make the pyre large enough for two. He is mine and it will forever remain that way."

"Aspen, Do you vow to stay with Rowan, even in her darkest of days? Do you vow to protect her, honor her and tend to her should she need it? Do you vow as her husband to love her until your last breath?"

"To these questions I swear my hear is already in her possession, and it will remain that way. Should My Rowan fall, leave a spot open for me on her pyre, She is mine and forever it will remain that way." 

"With this thread I bind you." Garrick put a thread of gold and green around our hands tying them together. "Forever your souls will be bound, strengthening one another, healing and repairing anything broken. Gods and Goddess hear my words and lay witness to the bond accepted by Rowan and Aspen. You may now kiss your wife." Aspen leaned forward his lips touching mine as I stood on the tips on my toes, our hands still bound together by our stomachs.