The Black Rose

Copyright @2012 Diana Sweeney

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Prologue

In the past there were no rulers of the
land. People were kind and loving
to one another.
However, over time,
a dark and powerful magic entered the land. Those that could do magic soon began to fight for power. Peace was destroyed
.

The world entered into a period of chaos
, but the chaos
did not last for long for the H
eaven
s
decided to interfere
. Those that were marked with the sign of the sun were crowned as king
or queen
.
The men
and women
chosen by the Heaven
s were wise and kind.
They
agreed to split the land equally and from that day forward, th
ere had never been another war.
However,
this peace
would once again
be threatened.

The kingdom of Aridale was ruled by a beloved king and queen. For many years the kingdom flourished under their rule, but as years passed and no heir had yet
been
born, a gloom fell upon the kingdom. Queen Henrietta was heartbroken
for not being
able to conceive and King Wilhelm worried about his kingdom’s future. If there w
as
to be no heir, then peace would be destroyed for the sons
and daughters
of other kingdoms woul
d fight to take over Aridale
in order
to
rule their
own kingdom
.

News traveled across the land quickly. The kingdoms disagreed on what
was
to be done. Many had extra sons and daughters, and wanted to take over Aridale. Others felt that this would upset the balance.
T
here was only
one
thing they all agreed on and that was that only an heir of one of the original kings
or queens
could rule, but who
was
to take over Aridale if there were to be no heir was the looming issue.

King Wilhelm and Queen Henrietta were not only saddened by the inability to have a child, but were under immense pressure
by the other kingdoms
, so when an unknown enchantress arrived with a solution, they were quick to accept her help. The enchantress handed them a black seed and told them if the
q
ueen were to eat it, she would give birth to a child. As mysteriously as she came, she vanished and the kingdom continued to hope for a miracle.

Their miracle was
answered when nine months later
a beautiful baby girl was born. She had her father’s eyes and hair as black as night. The king and queen named her Wilhelmina Diamante
of
Aridale. The kingdom rejoiced and peace was o
nce again restored to the land, but only for a short period of time
. A
year later
,
on Wilhelmina’s
birthday
,
a black rose appeared on her back. King Wilhelm called upon the great enchantress of the land, Yolande, to explain
the
strange
marking on his daughter
.

Yolande took a look at the black rose
that had appeared
on
the child
. She then asked the king and queen to tell them how Wilhelmina was conceived. Upon hearing their story of the other enchantress, Yolande shook her head and told them that the enchantress that had gi
ven
them
the seed was most likely an
evil sorcerer. Her news created mixed feelings of worry and anger in the king and queen’s hearts.

“What’s wrong with her?” King Wilhelm demanded
.

“She’s not…” Queen Henrietta was near tears.

“She’s cursed,” Yolande said, “If anyone ever professes th
eir love to her in front of the
world, your kingdom will fall into chaos, just as Celewyn’s.”

Queen Henrietta burst into tears as she held her only child. The king became torn between love for his daughter and
protecting his kingdom.

“What should we do?” King Wilhelm’s attention was dire
cted to the enchantress.

“You
have
two options,” Yolande started, “One, to keep her hidden so no man could ever fall for her or the one
, which
you probably will not like to hear, kill her.”

“No!” Queen Henrietta said defiantly holding Wilhelmina. Wilhelmina was her only child and she loved her dearly. She would n
ot allow her to be killed.

“There ha
s
to be another way,” said King Wilhelm. He did not wish to take a life nor cause his
wife such
sorrow. Wilhelmina was also their only child
and only hope for the future of Aridale
.

“There isn’t, I’m sorry,” Yolande said before taking her leave.

The king and queen looked at each other and then their daughter. Death was not an option, and so for now, they were stuck with the first option. Wilhelmina will be kept locked away in the palace, away from any possible suitors. This was the only way they could protect her and their kingdom.

The kingdom once again fell under a gloomy spell, but this looming doom would soon turn into cries of joy as the kingdom welco
med a new heir. Edolie Marcelle
of
Aridale was born a year later on the first day of spring. With curly blonde hair and bright blue eyes, she was the spitting image of her mother. On the day of her birth,
it was determined by the council that
she
would be
the new heir
of
Aridale
. Wilhelmina was soon forgo
tten, but in time she would
be remembered for curses are not that
easily
dispelled
.

Chapter 1

16 Years Later

Edolie’s birthday marked the beginning of spring
as well as
the
beginning of the spring festival
. The king
dom
celebrated spring for a whole week and on the last day a Spring Ball was held at the palace where everyone in the kingdom could attend.

However, things were different this year and the Spring Ball was invitation only. Edolie was finally old enough to marry. King Wilhelm and Queen Henrietta had already had her engaged to Prince Jerome Alexander of Vanica.

Jer
ome had an older brother who was
alread
y next in line
for
the
throne
. T
he only opportun
ity for him to rule a kingdom was
to marry a princess of another kingdom. Thus,
his parents arranged for him to marry
Edolie Marce
lle of Aridale. T
he Spring Ball would be
the first time Jerome and Edolie
meet
.

The palace was filled with excitement as maids ran from room to room getting ready for the ball tonight. The only part of the palace that seemed to be at peace was a room in the north tower.  

In the north tower, Wilhelmina
Diamante, now eighteen, was
brushing her long black hair as s
he stared out her tower window.
The prince of Vanica would
be arriving soon
and
Wilhelmina
was
curious to see what the prince
looked
like
. She hummed a made up tune as she
waited
eagerly for the prince’s carriage to arrive.

Just as the carriage c
ame
into Wilhelmina’s view, a girl with
a face full of freckles and
fiery red ha
ir
burst
into the room.

“Mina! The…”

Wilhelmina put her fingers to her lips to indicate to be quiet and waved for the girl to come over to the window. Both girls
leaned their heads out of
the
tower
’s
window to get a good view of what was happening down below
.
Wilhelmina and the red head
watched as
a tall, young man
exited
his carriage. He
was
escorted by the palace guards
to the palace’s entrance
.
The man
was no doubt Prince Jerome Alexander of Vanica. His auburn colo
red hair was neatly combed back
and he had a very handsome figure,
but his most striking feature was his
bright
blue eyes.
The prince
was definitely handsome and Wilhelmina was sure he would
suit
her younger sister’s tastes. Once the prince was out of site, both of the girls instantly began to
discuss the prince
.

“
What were you going to tell me Milly?
”
Wilhelmina asked
moving away from the window
. Milly was Wilhelmina’s best friend and only friend.
She
was orphaned
at the
young age
of nine
and was taken in
by
the king and queen
.
Wilhelmina was two at the time. Milly
had no memory of where she came from or who she was. Just a first name, a locket, and a dress were all she had.

Milly
was assigned to be Wilhelmina’s
playmate
until she was old enough to work around the castle
.
Her current duty is to help out in the kitchen, but
she
still manages to find
time to spend with Wilhelmina.

“
That the prince had
arrived, but I was too late,”
Milly
giggled
, “So what do you think of Prince Jerome?”

“He’s alright,” Wilhelmina said as she grabbed a brush.

“Alright?
You didn’t think he was handsome?” Milly asked as she sat down on Wilhelmina’s bed, “Honestly girl, not a single man attracts you.”

Wilhelmina’s bed was covered in red, satin sheets. There was a golden floral pattern on the comforter and
a couple
small gold accent pillows stuck between two very large red ones. Wilhelmina’s room had a very royal, yet earthy feel to it.

“At least my hair isn’t
always a mess,” Wilhelmina responded
as she began to brush
Milly’s short
, straight hair.
“Besides, it’s a good thing I’m not attracted to anyone since I’m not allowed to marry anyone before Edolie.”

“
I still think
it’s
unfair,” Milly said crossing her arms, “I mean you’re older, you should be next in line for the throne. Why would they pick her anyway? She’s so spoiled. She doesn’t have what it takes to rule a kingdom.”