Rosetta's Journey

    Rosetta Alice Hawthorne has watched her father her entire life.  She could not be more proud of him for being a part of the royal guard.  When she was five years old she began teaching her how to protect herself.  At first she would complain the entire time they were practicing.  She wanted to go play with the other girls in town.  Then one day, when she was ten years old, her view completely changed.  There was an attack on the king and queen's life.  The king ended up dying from an arrow in the heart.  The queen almost suffered a similar fate, but her father killed the intruder before he could get to her.  When her father came home that night you could see the sorrow in his eyes.  Rosetta tried to comfort him with a hug, but he shook her off.  He sat her down that night and told her how he failed as a royal guard member because he was not able to save the king. That day Rosetta understood why training their body was important. She was also very proud of her father for protecting the queen even if he was unable to save the king.  She decided that she wanted to be just like him.  To protect the royals from harm.      When Rosetta turned sixteen she tried to join the royal guard.  In the kingdom of Auriel when a boy turned sixteen he was able to apply to become a soldier.  Soldiers who showed exceptional skill, dedication, and loyalty were offered spots on the royal guard.  It was unknown for any soldier to meet these requirements at a young age.  Normally, they were accepted and trained for years as soldiers. Eventually some became palace guards, but it was extremely rare for anyone to receive an offer to join the royal guard.  It was known as a high honor to be a part of the royal guard because they served directly to the king and queen. Rosetta knew all this because of her father.  She knew the likelihood of her being accepted into the royal guard was almost nonexistent.  Rosetta was not even allowed to become a soldier since she was a female.  This did not stop her from trying.  She was determined to put her skills to use and thought it was unfair that she was not even allowed to become a soldier.  Her father had even told her that she was better than any soldier he has ever met and could even give some of the royal guards a run for their money.  There is no     way Rosetta was going to let this go.  By the time she was seventeen she became skilled in many forms of martial arts such as fencing, boxing, and wrestling.  She was also a skilled archer and her favorite weapon to use was a dagger.  Usually she spent her days in the training grounds sparing with the palace guards.  Which is where she was found when her friend, Marie, came to find her.  They used to be very close, but had a bit of a falling out when Marie became Queen Olivia's handmaid.  As soon as she saw Marie walking over Rosetta stopped sparring and walked over to her.  Marie told her that her highness was requesting an audience with her.  She freezes. This is the first time the queen has actually requested to speak with her.  Marie notices Rosetta's hesitation. She tells her not to worry and to follow her.  Not knowing what else to do she turns and follows her.  As she walks over she hopes that her majesty is finally allowing her to be a part of the royal guard.  Marie opens the doors to her majesty's chambers where she walks in to see her standing looking out the window lost in thought.  The majesty's face is puffy as though she has been crying for hours.  She quickly wipes her eyes when she hears the door being closed.       "Thank you for joining me Rosetta.  I have something of importance to discuss with you.  What we discuss must not leave this room under any circumstances. Is that understood?" her majesty says to her.       "Yes, your majesty I understand." Rosetta responds.      "Dear please call me Olivia.  I have known you since you were a young girl." Olivia says as she walks over to two chairs in front of the fireplace and sits down. She motions for Rosetta to sit down in the chair across for her. Once Rosetta is sitting down Olivia continues. "Rosetta,  I have just received a message from the neighboring kingdom, Dagon, that my nephew Fredrick  was found dead two days ago.  I was wondering if you could go there to investigate his death.  I want to know who killed him and why he is killed. Do you think you could do this for me?"      Rosetta is at a loss for words.  Hearing that her best friend was murdered makes her angry.  How could someone let this happen?  Why was his guard not with him? Rosetta thinks back to when she last saw him a week ago.  He was pestering her to fight with him.  As usual she won, but she remembers he laughed off the loss.  Fredrick told her that if she was allowed he would take her everywhere with him and get rid of his other guards.  He always said to her she was worth over ten of his trained guards.  He had always supported her dream of becoming a part of the royal guard.  When she was young and people made fun of her he would beat them up or spread some nasty rumor to get back at them.  He was like a big brother to her.  She doesn't know what she is going to do without him.  As much as she wants to kill the bastard that killed him she doesn't know if she should accept this request.      "Olivia if I may ask..why do you want me to be the one to go? i'm not even a soldier." Rosetta says.      "I want you to go because I know you're the only one able to complete this without raising any flags.  I also know how capable you’re of protecting yourself.  Fredrick used to tell me stories about you all the time.  He begged me before his trip to let you join the royal guard.  He told me I was going to regret not letting a skill warrior such as yourself in just because of your gender.  After I found out he had died I started to ask around about you.  I found out that everything he has told me about you was true.  That he was not exaggerating at all about any of your accomplishments.  This helped me to decide that you were the person for the job.   I know that I can trust you to do this for me since you were close to him and you can understand my need to find answers. '' Olivia told Rosetta.      "I do understand...I loved him very much.  He was like a brother to me. I’m more than willing to go and find out who did this and why.  Just know Olivia that once I do.  I may not be able to stop myself from killing them. " Rosetta told her in a strained voice.  She was on the verge of tears now, but she had to hold them back.  She could not cry in front of the queen who was trusting her with such an important mission.       'I understand darling.  I wouldn't expect anything less.  I appropriate you agreeing to do this for me.  One of my guards will get everything you need for your trip.  Do not be afraid to ask them for whatever you think you may need.  I will send word to the King of Dagon to let him know you will be going there.  His wife Heather is a close friend of mine.  She will be able to help you once you get there.  She knows I’m sending someone there and is more than willing to help.  Do you think you will be able to depart by tomorrow morning?"      "Thank you, I will certainly be able to leave by then." Rosetta said as she stood up to leave.       Olivia took her by surprise by coming over and hugging her and whispering her thanks again before letting her go to leave.  Rosetta walked out of Olivia's room in disbelief at what just happened.  She quickly headed to find her father.  She figured if any of the royal guards were going to have to help her get ready she might as well ask her father.  After all he knew her best and would know exactly what she needed to take with her.       An hour later she was at home packing.  When she was finished, she ate and then fell asleep.  Rosetta woke up the next morning with tears in her eyes.  She had dreamed of Fredrick all night.  She wiped her tears away as she changed out of her night gown.  Now that she was dressed. She grabbed everything she packed and went straight to the palace.  Her father met her at the gate with a horse and two bags filled with things she needed.  He had them already strapped onto the horse.  She was about to climb up on the horse when he spoke.       "Rosetta, please be careful.  I know you’re strong my sweet child, but please do not be reckless.  You’re all I have left now that your mother is gone and I do not want to lose you." he said while looking her straight in the eyes.   Rosetta has never seen her father look this worried about her before.  She knew he was holding back yesterday when she told him that she needed to leave, but she never expected him to be this worried about her.      "Father, do not worry.  I will be careful as always.  I will send word if I ever need help.  Do not worry you have trained me well.  I will come home." she said as she hugged him.      "Alright, my sweet child" he said as he pulled away from her. Then he reached into one of the saddle bags and pulled out a pair of beautiful twin daggers.  He handed them to her before saying, "I have been waiting for a time to give you these. I guess now is as good as time as any. Take them and keep them on you at all times."     Rosetta took the daggers. Flipping them over in her hands a few times before placing one in each of her boots. "Thanks, I will treasure them always."      "Okay, let's get you on the horse so you can get going." he said before allowing her to step on his hands to give her a lift onto the horse.      Once Rosetta was situated comfortably in the saddle she smiled at him and said goodbye before heading off into the forest.  Rosetta could feel herself getting more nervous as she got farther away from the palace.  When she could no longer see the palace behind her she took a deep breath then looked ahead of her knowing this was going to be a hard trip if she did not get focused.