The Enchanted Rose (8 page)

Osric pulls me to my feet and wraps his arms around me. “I love you, Roselyn. I will love you until the last petal turns red. And even afterward, even if the fates are against us and it isn’t possible for us to be together, know that I will always love you.” I can’t respond. Even if I could physically make myself speak at this moment, I wouldn’t know what to say. 

So I press my lips to Osric’s one last time and watch as he climbs from the balcony, all the way until he is lost among the trees and beyond the wall. And my heart goes with him.

I hate leaving her. Knowing I may not come back, knowing how much emotional pain she is going through right now, breaks my heart. I have to climb down this castle wall and not look back. 

If I do, no force in the world could stop me from returning to her, but I know that by doing so, I would not only be throwing away any chance of my happiness, but hers as well. So I leave. I walk away, hands fisted, jaw clenched, knowing that the second I go, we’re both going to come undone.  

It takes all my willpower not to turn back, even just to wave good-bye. But I don’t. I climb through the wall, and from there, I continue walking. 

Only once I am to the town do I remember that Knight is still in the stables. I could kick myself for that mistake. What am I supposed to do now? I can’t turn back. If I am caught in Tivor, it could ruin everything Roselyn and I are fighting for. 

But I will never make it to Wentsden in time without my horse. I stop walking, trying to think of any other options. I could return and tell Roselyn, but even with her help, how would we retrieve Knight without being noticed? 

The sound of hoof beats behind me causes me to pause. I turn, panicking now that someone is coming after me. “Your Highness!” A timid voice calls out. As I see her face, I relax. Madrid rides my horse toward me. 

“The princess did not want you to have walk up that mountain. She would hate for your mission to take any longer than necessary.” She smiles, much happier than she was earlier, though I can still see some of that pain in her eyes. She avoids looking directly at me.

“Thank you, Madrid.” I help her dismount and turn her around, grasping her shoulders to steady her. “And our dear princess was right, you know. Nothing has changed your beauty.” I kiss her on the cheek before stepping around her and mounting Knight. 

“Thank you, Your Highness.” Her blush is evident as she ducks her head and begins walking back the way she came.  I wish I could offer her a ride to the gate at least, but we both know the consequences would be dire should anyone see us. 

“Madrid!” I call after her. 

She turns back toward me. “Yes, Your Highness?” 

“Take care of Roselyn for me.” I gulp before adding, “Should I not return, tell her that I love her. And no matter what happens, magic or no magic, that will never change.” Before she can respond, and before I can no longer force myself to leave, I flick the reins and force my mount to charge into the forest. 

Rain washes over me until I can no longer feel every freezing drop. I become numb to the physical pain while my heart still aches for Rose. Leaving her is the only way to save her, and it kills me. 

Whoever wishes for us to remain apart is succeeding in their goals, but I can’t believe that. I must have faith that we—that I—will figure this out. Roselyn needs me to do this. I promised her I would, and I won’t break my promise to her.

I ride faster, pushing the horse harder. I must arrive in Wentsden by sunrise. Mother and Father will want to know that I’m safe. The storm no doubt harmed our kingdom as well. 

I have some questions to ask Mother. She is known for traveling up the mountain alone in order to speak to the seer who lived there. She boldly faced crooks who wished to harm her and taught them a lesson that day. The story brings a faint smile to my lips, but no matter how amusing the tale, or inspiring, my heart is heavy with the tasks ahead. 

The farther into the forest I go, the less rain pounds on me, but I can hear it in the distance, hear it beating against the leaves all around me. A few drops hit me every once in a while, but at least for now, I am mostly protected. 

Teeth chattering, body shaking, freezing to the point I’m going numb, I push on, refusing to slow down. In my haste, I take a wrong turn and only realize it when I come upon a wall of thorns and brambles. It takes extra time I don’t have to get through it and find the correct path. 

My heart beats erratically, my eyes sting from the cold, and my skin hurts from where I’ve been cut and scraped by branches, but I continue on, pushing to reach home before the sun rises. 

I reach the edge of the forest just as the sky turns pink, lit up by the approaching sun. The sight before me causes my heart to break. Wentsden and Umare are no better off than Tivor. Entire buildings have been destroyed. I have to question whether this is because the storm was so strong, or if they were there entirely because of magic and the storm washed it away.

I ride through the village, looking at the damage done. So much destruction in such a short amount of time. I didn’t know I could take any more pain, but the sight before me proves that wrong.

I’m already soaked through. No point in trying to hurry for cover at this point. The rain has let up just a bit, but it is still noticeable all the same. 

When I can’t bring myself to look at the ruins any longer, I continue for the castle. A line of people waits for entrance at the gate. The guards are trying to direct the panicked crowds, but aren’t very successful. 

I push through the throngs and lead Knight to the stables. The stable boy must have been called away because aside from the horses, the barn is empty. I remove the saddle and brush Knight down.

I make haste to the castle, forcing my way through the door. I take the servants’ route to the grand hall. From the small doorway, I can see my mother and father helping to bring people in, giving them a place to sit and things to sleep on. 

I imagine that Jossa and Inginio are doing much the same thing in Tivor, though Jossa would do it out of need. If the people believe she is uncaring, there will be an uproar. But if she appears to be willing to get her hands dirty for the sake of her people, they will not revolt.  

Shanice, however, does this out of love for the people. She may not have been raised in this world as royalty, but it certainly fits her. A small smile reaches my lips as I think about my mother, the hero she is, how the people look up to her, knowing that when something bad happens, she will be there to protect them.

I wish I could be like her. The thought of climbing that mountain and facing whatever monsters await terrifies me. 

My father is strong and able too, always willing to protect Shanice. From the stories, I have a feeling she was one to get herself in trouble often. I look at them working side by side, and all I know is I want that with Roselyn. If that means facing my every fear, I’ll do it.

Seeing as Mother has enough to do, I sneak back through the passage and make my way to my parents’ quarters. I could look in the library for answers, but somehow, I know that the book I need—if there is one—won’t be found in such an obvious place. 

Because of the storm and destruction, all the guards have been called to help in the main hall or outside, so the corridors are empty. I peek around the corner to ensure that no guards stand at the door to my parents’ room. No one is in sight.  

The clicking of my boots hitting the floor reverberates down the hall as I make my way down it and through the door, closing it behind me. I open the curtains so I have enough light to look, but not enough to show through the crack beneath the door. 

I search the wardrobe, beneath and around the bed, anywhere I can think. But no book is to be found. I think about the one place where Mother spends the majority of her time when she wishes to be left alone. The room she has asked that I not enter. The pain in her eyes when that place is mentioned is something I can’t handle. In all my life, it’s the one room I’ve never entered, never broken into while exploring the castle. 

The more I think about it, the more I realize that if my mother were to keep some sort of diary, it would be in that room. I sink down on the edge of the bed and hold my head in my hands. 

Before I can make a decision, the door creaks open, a sliver of light shining on my face. I look up in time to see a dress blocking the light. My mother stands before me, leaning against the door as she pushes it shut. 

She approaches slowly, almost as if she is afraid to come near me. I’m not sure why, but I don’t move, only waiting for her to ask what I’m doing in her chambers, why I look so distraught. I’m sure I’m a mess. 

“Son?” She sits beside me and wraps an arm around my shoulders. I look into her eyes. She searches my face for any signs as to what is going on. 

“I’m in trouble, Mother. And I don’t know what to do.”  I cover my face with my hands, unsure where to go from here. 

“Osric, what’s the matter?”

“The storm.” It’s all I can say as I debate how to tell her of my situation. 

“What about it?” 

“I have to stop it. I have to find a way to restore the magic.” A shiver snakes up my spine. 

“And why is this task one you must fulfill?” She takes my hand in hers, pulling it away from my face. 

I look her in the eye and wonder how much pain is evident in my expression. “Because,” I whisper.

“If I don’t, I will lose Roselyn forever.” 

“Love will always find a way, Osric.” Mother looks at me with so much sincerity, it’s hard not to believe her. “Always. Never doubt that. There is nothing, no magic more powerful than that of the heart.” 

“It isn’t that simple, Mother.” I look away, ashamed. “I did this. I’m the reason this storm could separate us forever.” 

“And how is that?” She nudges me with her shoulder. 

“I gave her an enchanted rose. It was my promise to her. So long as the petals remained white, our love would find a way. But with the storm came the undoing of all magic. And now the petals are turning red once more.” 

“If your love is true, even if it means moving mountains, love will find a way.” She smiles.

“Do you honestly believe love can prevail?” 

“Osric, if you put your heart into it, it certainly can’t fail. You must believe with every ounce of love you have for those you are saving that it is possible. The moment you begin to doubt is when you start to lose the battle.” 

“What can you tell me about the mountain? Of the Oracle who lives there?” I ask, holding on to the last sliver of hope. 

“Selma wouldn’t do this. She wouldn’t use magic to wipe away magic when it’s the very thing keeping her alive. If I had to guess, someone did this to her. She most likely needs help—assuming she’s still alive at all. I can’t tell you what you’ll find up there. After twenty years, it could look exactly the same, or have completely transformed.”

“Who would have the power to do such a thing to someone as powerful as the Oracle?” 

“I don’t know. It may not even be one person. Their powers would have to outmatch that of the woman capable of gifting magic to others. She is more than just a seer. She is the keeper,” Mother explains.

“Then I hope she has the answers we need. I can’t lose Roselyn.” 

“And you won’t. If your mission is to stop this storm and repair the damage done, I suggest we get going.” She pats my knee before standing and walking to her armoire.

“We?” I stand, wondering what she’s thinking. 

“When love is involved, you should never go alone. Roselyn isn’t here, which tells me you are going to need a companion.” 

“Mother, you’re not coming with me,” I state. 

“And why ever not?” 

“I’m not going alone. The wizard I purchased the rose from is taking me. This is the price I’m paying for getting that rose in the first place.” 

“Osric, you did what you thought you needed to do. Don’t fret to the point that you become senseless. You have magic—”  

“No, I don’t. Not anymore. It was washed away in the storm. I’ve already tried to use it,” I counter.

“Even so, how can it hurt to have one more person on your side?”

“I don’t want you to get hurt. Besides, Father needs you here, as do Alaric and Ulric. There is far too much going on for you to leave your kingdom now.” 

“I wish I could argue that it wasn’t true. Even with it so, my second son also needs me. How can it be that your brothers are more important?” 

“It is not that they are more important. Only that more people need you here.” 

“Perhaps you are right. When did you become so wise?” 

“When I fell in love with Roselyn, I suppose.” 

“That kind of magic is far more powerful than this storm. I’ve already told you—love is the most powerful magic of all, and it isn’t something that a storm can just wash away.”