Rose's Thorns

Chapter 11

Wolfe......

I watched as they left, I wanted to be the one walking her, but I knew it was for the best. 

"When are you going to propose?" I heard my mother ask, she was looking at me with a victorious smile and I rolled my eyes. "She is far more than what she appeared, she would make a great queen one day."

"I agree your Grace." Garrick said looking at the door she had just gone through. “To lose a sibling is one thing, but to lose one after sacrificing yourself for their safety is another. It has driven plenty a man insane, she is strong, and caring, you can tell by what she has done for Cedar, and she is smart. She has been planning and scheming for years. now she is in the most powerful kingdom in this land and she knows they cannot hurt her nor her sisters so long as you command it that way."

The sound of footsteps ended the conversation as a soldier I knew as Lorin entered the room looking winded. "Your Grace's Lady Rose seems to be having a breakdown by the soldiers quarters." My feet were moving before I could register it, pulling me to her. When I reached the quarters in a matter of seconds, it seemed, Rowan was curled into a ball shaking as she cried silently. I got down and pulled her to my chest looking at Forest for answers. 

"I don't know what happened your Grace, one moment she was fine and the next she was crying." Forest was obviously stressing, his hair was a mess from running his hands through it. 

"Aye, t'was like she didn't like our singing." One of the soldiers said. 

"What song were you singing?" I asked, and I noticed Rowan had stopped crying but she was still trembling. 

"The ballad of Feylore." I was familiar with the ballad, it was a sad song, perhaps it reminded her of what happened to her village. 

"I don't think it was the singing as much as the song. Sing something else while she resides here please." I said helping her to her feet. She swayed for a moment her gorgeous green eyes tinged red from bawling. She had a far off look in her eyes, I noticed she had torn open her lip and it was bleeding again so I used my sleeve to wipe the blood away. 

"I would hate to have Roeger think I struck you." She looked up at me and lifted her lips at a pitiful attempt of a smile. "Forest." I said with a small nod of my head. Again I let her go even though every fiber told me to hold her tighter. This time I went back to the great hall while she was walking in a different direction. 

"What happened?" My mother asked as she stood from her chair. 

"She overheard the ballad of Feylore as the soldiers sang it, I believe it reminded her of what happened to her home." I said. 

"Feylore...."Garrick said thoughtfully before his eyes widened. "Feylore was in which kingdom?"

"The western kingdom." Father said looking at Garrick. "It was wiped out along with Halquir, Trintoh, and Pydin, where house Dyxon was located."

"Feylore was by far the most ransacked village, only four survivors were able to tell the tale, they lived because they hid in the woods or wherever they could find safety." Mother added. 

"Didn't Rowan say she and her brother were the only survivors, not seeing anyone else?" Garrick encouraged, the flame of the candle finally lit my brain as I understood what he meant. 

"You think Rowan is from Feylore." I voiced my thoughts, my thoughts going to dark places. If it were true, Rowan had seen the worst part of the last war. Innocent children being raped and slaughtered by large men in armor. She had survived that, her little brother had survived that only to be killed a few weeks later. 

"And yet she remains, I heard the soldiers that returned home from the war took Feylore and renamed it misery ditch. One of them and his brother by law built their own keep and took the land for themselves as payment. One man lost his wife and three children, the queen allowed them this payment for their grief so long as they shared their harvest like the other villages. They are now known as House Brightly." My father stroked his beard as he made his thoughts known. 

"I have heard those claims as well my king." Garrick said nodding. 

"I think its is best if we all get some rest, we will inform Henry, Zuko and Carson in the morning. Aspen, ponder on Rowan, either make her your queen or send her away. I see the way you look at her, and temptation like her would be catastrophic were you to marry another." With that my mother exited the room.

"I agree with your mother, make a decision, but do not rush proposing should you choose to marry her, get to know her and see what she wants in life." Then my father left.

"What have you to say, Elder Garrick?" I asked knowing he had input. 

"I can't tell you what to do boy, but if I could, I would tell you to marry her and put your child in her tonight." He grinned and let out a devilish laugh when my jaw fell slack. "I saw the effect she had on you earlier, so spellbound in the light of the moon in the garden, you looked like a story of romance made for women. Not to mention she was just as lost in you as you were in her." I left the room still slack jawed. I found myself in my bed chamber not quite remembering the walk. There Cedar layed on the foot of my bed, his grey eyes shut. His legs seized and he began making noises as he chased the animals in his dreams. 

I grinned and shook my head at the beast, then I took off my clothing leaving my sword and belt on the small chest at the foot of my bed. I was completely naked as I walked to the piss pot in the corner of my room and grabbed my naked c**k that was half stiff. All I had to do was think of her ass and the way it jiggled when she walked for me to get hard. I began rubbing myself with my left hand while my right held me up. The sound of her voice, what it would be like to have her under me, screaming my name. Within no time I was unloading everything into my pot. There was so much seed, and all of it I wanted to put into her, no doubt, sweet p***y. When I was done I went to the bed and slipped under the deer and bear furs I had made for my bed and fell into a sleep filled with dreams of Rowan. 

Rowan....

I hadn't heard him coming, but when he pulled me into his chest I wanted to live there. Most of the men I met smelled disgusting, always sweaty and gross,  he smelt like hay and campfire smoke, a little bit of ale but not strong enough to make me want to puke. He smelled like a man, a good looking one at that. I heard them speaking, but I cared not to listen. All I wanted to do was stay in the arms of the prince, I was sad when he pulled me to my feet. I looked at the ground past Sir Forest and zoned out, that was until Wolfe wiped my lip with his sleeve. 

"I would hate to have Roeger think I struck you." He said softly when he was done, I tried to send him a thank you smile, but it was hard to even stand. "Forest." I heard him say with a nod. I turned when Forest placed a gentle hand on my arm and guided me away. As suspected Roeger was waiting by my door for my return. 

"What happened to you?" He growled with a slur, I could smell the alcohol rolling off his tongue. 

"Go back to your room sir." Forest said sternly.

"And who arrre you?" Roeger slurred while jabbing Forest's armor with his fat sausage finger. 

"A knight of the Emerald Pines and the assigned guard of Rose's door, now get back to your room."

"And why does she need a guard? That old man f**k you? You think you can leave ME?" Roeger began screaming, as Forest shielded me with his body which was clad in golden armor with an emerald cape and painted emerald tree on the chest. 

"Not only Rose has been given a guard, so have you, now; get back to your room." Forest demanded getting in Roeger's face. Roeger growled before walking down the hall to his room and walking inside, a second later the rest of the guards appeared and stood next to the seven doors. "Get some sleep Rose." Forest said opening the door and leading me into the room. He looked the space over before leaving the room again. I took off my clothes and pissed in the small pot in the corner of the room. Once I was done I wiped myself clean with a leaf I saw laying on the ground. 

I left the corner of the room and climbed under the varied animal skins that served as a blanket, the bed made of straw covered in a sheet was much softer than I was used to, and I was able to fall asleep quickly, sucked into the paralyzing nightmares that still plagued my every dream. 

The light peaking through the small window signaling morning had arrived was a welcome sign. I arose from the bed where I laid awake twisting and flipping myself in bed all night; I pulled on my dress from the previous day and opened my door and found Forest looking at me neutrally. 

"Good sleep Lady Rose?" He asked, I shook my head no and tried to think of how to ask where I could find a brush for my hair when Lily came down the hall like an angel holding the brush we all shared. 

"Good morning sister." She said warmly, pulling me into a strong embrace. "Excuse me sir, where can we find the washroom?" Lily asked Forest. He smirked before leading us down the hallway and to a large wooden door with a waterfall engraved on it. 

"I'll be out here when you are finished." He said, I sent him my signature half smirk before going with Lily into the room. It was a large open room with an oval shaped hole in the white stone floor. The water was steaming as we took off our clothes and waded into the bath. We used the soap that smelled of honey and pine before running the brush through one another's hair. When we were finished we dried off with cotton towels and put our dresses back on. 

Lily tied back some of my hair taking two little hair ropes and intertwining them in the back of my head. I was able to move my head without my hair getting in my face which was something I liked to have on the road. As he said, Forest was waiting for us when we were done, and he escorted us to the grand hall where the royal family was waiting, along with everyone save for Aster and Petunia. Lily took her place between Dahlia and Violet as I took my place between Dahlia and Roeger. I looked up at Wolfe who had his one eye locked on me, in the light breaking through the windows, shining on him. I could finally see that he, Zuko, Henry and King Tyson all had eyes of Hazel, just a bit darker than my mothers had been. 

"Good morning." Queen Reymira said smiling at all of us girls. 

"Good morning, your grace." Lily responded for us. 

"I know Tyson and I said you would be leaving this morning, but I noticed your dresses seemed to be outdated so I took the liberty of arranging for you all to be fitted, please follow Sir Forest so he can show you there. Men, you will be provided with a breakfast of your choosing while you wait." We all followed Forest out and to a room where five women worked on different colored fabrics. 

"I have Rose." I heard one of them call out. I walked over to her and stood on the stool as she began fitting me. It took two hours for her to make my dress, and I was breathless when I saw it all put together. The dark pine green fabric that had ornate designs in the lighter emerald green and silver were astonishing. It felt right wearing the dark color, and the dress itself, it complimented every womanly curve I possessed. The tight sleeves stopped at my wrists covering the back of my hand with a triangle shape while my palm was loose. The neck of the dress was like that of a boat, showing some skin on my shoulders and a little on my chest. 

My sisters all wore colors that suited them best, each looking princess worthy. Climbing off the stool I made my way to the door and looked back at my sisters whose mouths were agape. I lifted an eyebrow and they closed them before we all left the room. Two guards and Princes Henry and Wolfe stood there, my eyes found Wolfe who was looking me up and down.