Awaken - Sleeping Beauty Retold

Part 3

THREE

When Rosamond opened her eyes, she met the frightened gaze of a maidservant she did not know. The girl bobbed a curtsey, said, "I shall fetch the queen," and hurried off, leaving Rosamond alone.

Alone with a tray of food, at least, Rosamond noted, reaching for one of the strange orange berries. It burst like a bubble of white wine on her tongue. Eagerly, she reached for another.

"So you like cloudberries, too, Princess?" Margareta asked as she swept into the room. "Erik says they aren't sweet enough for his liking." She reached for one and popped it into her mouth. "More for me."

Suddenly awkward, Rosamond didn't know what to do. Surely she should curtsey, or offer the queen a chair. What did one do when a queen visited your bedchamber?

Margareta dragged a bench from the corner to the side of Rosamond's bed and enthroned herself on it. "Your maid tells me you are unwell, and must return home. The royal physician says you should not be moved, you are so gravely ill. What say you?"

Rosamond wet her lips. "I am fine, Your Majesty."

"Are you with child?" the queen demanded. "If he refuses to marry you, I can make the man change his mind." Her smile was fierce.

Rosamond shivered. "No, Your Majesty. I have not chosen a husband yet, and my father has not chosen one for me."

"Not with child, and not ill," the queen said, ticking them off on her long fingers. "Then whatever is the matter?"

"My...gift. The magic I was born with. It is not strong. When I try to use it, I...am not strong enough, either." Rosamond swallowed. "At home, I only used my powers on living plants, and it was not so bad. Here...on cut flowers, and on men, I am not strong enough."

Margareta laughed. "So, what you are saying is that men are hard work while plants are not? I will agree with you there!"

Rosamond wasn't sure what to say to that. Queen Margareta was nothing like she'd expected. Fortunately, she was saved from finding a response by the entry of a maidservant carrying a wooden box.

"I have a gift for you," the queen announced, taking the box. "It has been a week since my coronation and...look!" She flipped open the lid and revealed the crown of roses she'd worn on her coronation day.

Yet...this could not be the same crown. The roses were as fresh as if they had just been picked, instead of dried out in the summer heat as they surely should have been.

"Whatever spell you cast on them, these roses will not die. They remain perfect. You are gifted with powerful magic, Princess. I have little magic, but I have placed a blessing on the crown. When you take a husband, he will be loyal to you from the day you first wear this crown until the day he dies. I would advise wearing it on your wedding day." Margareta set the crown back in its box, and closed the lid.

"Thank you," Rosamond said. She didn't have the heart to tell the queen that she didn't want any husband, loyal or otherwise. "I thought you said you would give me some of that new cloth to take home, not a crown."

"So I did!" the queen exclaimed. "I forgot to ask Penelope if she has enough, or whether she must make more for you. I will send someone directly."

The maidservant who'd brought the box was quickly despatched, but the queen stayed to tell Rosamond all about the remainder of the tournament, which she'd missed. From the sound of it, that was a good thing. The melee on foot had been followed by one where the combatants rode on horseback, and Margareta sounded almost gleeful at the number of broken limbs she described in vivid detail.

Rosamond's stomach roiled, making her regret breaking her fast at all.