Rosetta's Journey

Chapter 7: Rosetta

    Ariana bursts into Rosetta's room yelling that she needs to get up.  Rosetta yells for Ariana to leave her alone as she pulls the quilt. She realizes Ariana is determined to stay when she feels her quilt being pulled off her leaving her freezing cold.  Rosetta sits up where she sees Ariana staring at her from the end of the bed. 

    "Why are you waking me up Ariana?" 

    "It is past the middle and I am supposed to be showing you around. Come on you lazy girl get out of bed." 

    "I am not lazy" 

    "You are right, my bad. I mean you stubborn girl" Ariana says with a smile. Rosetta rolls her eyes at her new friend and gets out of bed. "Oh I was told to give you something one moment." Rosetta watches Ariana walk over to the desk in her room where she sees her pick up some clothes before walking back over to Rosetta. "Here, Nate apparently told Marucs you wanted these so my brother told me to give them to you."

    Rosetta thinks back to when she told Nate how she needed men's clothes. She never expected him to get her any though. She realizes thinking that just maybe Nate isn't so bad after all.  Maybe she should cut him some slack.  She honestly didn't want to get close to him at first because when she met him back in the forest he was flirting with her.  She worried that he would not really care about helping her out. After their meeting the other night and him remembering her request it makes her feel that she can trust his word when he said he wanted to help her. Rosetta smiles as she takes the clothes from Ariana.

    "Thank you for bringing them to me." 

    "Why did you want those?" 

    "I need them for when I train. Plus I don't enjoy wearing dresses all the time. I feel it restricts my movement too much." 

    "Okay. Well hurry up we don't have all day. I am going to go wait down stairs for you." 

    "Alright alright I will." 

    Rosetta waits to start changing until Ariana fully closes the door.  She then quickly takes off her nightgown. She puts on the trousers and tan long sleeve shirt she was given before putting on her socks and black boots. When she finishes dressing she makes her bed. Rosetta looks around the room to find her red ribbon and hair brush on her desk.  She walks over to her dress to pick up her hair brush.  She then brushes through her hair before tying her hair up.  Rosetta, not wanting to be too long, rushes down to meet Ariana. 

    "Thanks for waiting for me." she tells Ariana as soon as she sees her. 

    "Don't worry about it let's go. We can head toward the garden first." Ariana says before spinning around quickly and heading toward the door. 

    Rosetta laughs at Ariana's enthusiasm about showing her around and follows Ariana out the door.  Ariana begins rambling about the history of the castle.  Rosetta listens intently to her friend.  She finds herself thinking that Ariana probably knows more about this place then anyone else.  Ariana stops to tell her the history of battle portrayed in the portrait they just came upon when they are interrupted by a girl. 

    "What do you want Hannah?" Ariana asks the girl. 

    "Don't be mean now Ariana. I just wanted to know who your friend here is." Hannah says back. Rosetta is taken back by why Hannah would even care who she is. 

    "This is Rosetta. She is visiting." Ariana answers. Rosetta can immediately tell that Ariana doesn't like Hannah.  It makes her wonder what Hannah did because from what Rosetta gathers it takes a lot to make Ariana mad. 

    "Ariana, why are you always so rude." 

    "Why are you always so nosy?" 

    "I am not. You know what I am just going to talk to Rosetta now." Hannah says before turning to look at Rosetta clearly over talking with Ariana. "What brings you here?" 

    "I am just visiting like Ariana said." 

    "Okay well are you close with Nathaniel?" 

    "Why would I be close with him?" 

    "I saw you talking with him in the hall yesterday so I just thought maybe you two were close." 

    "Oh, well we aren't. Are you close with him?" 

    "No, but I was close with Fredrick, who was a close friend of his. He is dead now but nobody knows why. I heard he crossed the wrong guy. Not that it matters anyway." Hannah said casually, making Rosetta angry. How could someone say something like that. She is starting to realize why someone wouldn't like this girl. 

    "I think it is time we go, Ariana." Rosetta said as she pushed past Hannah. 

    "I agree let's go." Ariana said before they both started down the hall. 

    About an hour later they saw everything to see in the castle. Rosetta is thankful Ariana showed her around.  Now she feels a bit more at home.  Rosetta asks Ariana to show her to the training grounds.  When they arrive Ariana is excited. She can't wait to feel the weight of a sword in her hands again. Rosetta asks Ariana if she knows who is in charge of the training ground. Ariana points out a man walking around the grounds. She tells her his name is John. Rosetta is about to walk over to John to ask for some equipment to use and let him know she will be using the training facilities when she sees John walk up to a guy around Rosetta's age. Rosetta watches their exchange. She notices that the younger guy is getting all upset before stomping off. Ariana starts to talk, drawing Rosetta's eyes away from the guy. 

    "That was Edward. He is not a good guy."

    "Why?" Rosetta asks Ariana. 

    "He likes to start trouble. I heard he beat up one of the guards yesterday. That is most likely what John was talking to him about a moment ago. Just try to stay clear of him. I am telling you this as a friend." Ariana says. 

    "I will try my best. Thank you, Ariana for your concern" Rosetta says before giving Ariana a reassuring hug. 

    Rosetta tells Ariana she will be right back then walks over to John.  He tells her to use whatever she needs and to let him know if any of the guys give her a hard time.  John reminds her of her father a bit. She gets the equipment she needs and begins practicing. Eventually Ariana gets bored and leaves which Rosetta doesn't mind. She knows this isn't for everyone and can tell Ariana would rather be reading a book than sit there. While she watches her go she feels someone come up behind her. She turns around and aims the sword at the guy's throat.  

    "Hey, no need to point that at me. I was only coming over to introduce myself." he says.

    "Hasn't anyone ever told you not to sneak up on someone?" Rosetta asks as she lowers her sword and steps away from him. 

    "Yes, they have. My name is James by the way." 

    "Rosetta" 

    "Well, Rosetta do you want to have a go at fencing with me?" he asks

    "Sure, I could use a partner."     

    Rosetta and James practice fencing together awhile before they both are exhausted.  Rosetta beat James every time but he was a good sport about it all.  When they were done resting they said their goodbyes and went their separate ways.  Rosetta found herself walking back to the castle feeling refreshed.