A Royal Rose

Chapter Eleven

A few days later, Rose sat down on the root outside of her mother’s tree, the sun was beaming down on her back and the wind was a light breeze that moved the tips of her hair gently. It was a beautiful early spring, warm day, the sun illuminated the cream coloured pages of the thick book of magic that she was reading. It was the second and more interesting of the two books that she had read. Her current book discussed the merits of meditation to help to channel energy into wands quicker and other tips to help with wand work. Rose could feel beads of sweat forming on her hairline so wiped them away with her left hand. It was certainly warmer in the sun than how she had thought it would be when she had got dressed.

Looking up from her book briefly when she spotted movement above the page of her book, she saw Easton walking up to her. “Hi stranger!” he said happily.

“Hi to you too! You’ll have to excuse me; I’m just finishing this chapter of my book!” Rose said with a smile, he looked very handsome in his tight-fitting outfit and Easton sat down next to her with a waft of sandalwood.

“Wow, that’s an old one!” he said, as he lifted the cover of the book to reveal the title, “I remember reading that one with my governess!”.

“It is got a few good tips I’m going to try and commit them to memory,” Rose told him.

“Put the book down and I’ll take you for that tour I promised you the other day. It is the better day for it, the sun makes the Holt look so pretty. I’ll also teach you some wand work if you want as well” Easton said.

Rose was impressed he had remembered about the tour, “I’d love to. Especially the part where you teach me some skills. I need all the help I can get!”, she said as she placed down the book, she’d return for it later. Easton offered his arm for her to link hers through and she gladly did so.

“I heard about your run in with Mara, by the way, Alfred told me a very interesting account of what happened,” Easton told Rose. they turned down a path she’d not been on yet, he looked at her, but she kept alternating from looking at the ground to taking glances at Easton. The two of them walked around the trees and admired the small patches of flowers they stumbled across.

“So, you’re telling me, that there are a good eight homes in that one tree?” Rose said, “That one over there even has a shop at the bottom!”. Easton laughed at how mind blown Rose was about learning the basics about the Holt.

“Some trees can hold more but we’ve not got many of those that are used these days because of the population amount. Some trees even have rooms underground too!” Easton said.

Rose looked around; she could imagine that back when the Holt was full that it was a vibrant place to be. The line of trees they were walking past was next to a field. They walked past a group of crop Fae, who was back from a recent job, the mob waved at Easton merrily. Very random, he’s a popular man, thought Rose. The duo then went for a walk through the weeds on the edge of the Holt.

“This is my favourite place in the Holt. The feverfew, the nettles and the chance to think. I’ve never taken anyone here before. Today is a Fae holiday, a beautiful day for it too” Easton confessed. Rose admired the beauty of the weeds that she’d never seen human-sized before, the feverfew plants curved towards the sunlight and the rays that came through them made a striped effect on the woodland floor.

“It is beautiful, I can see why you like it,” she said smiling at Easton. His wings caught the light and sparkled brightly. “What’s it like to have wings?” she asked curiously.

“I’ve never really thought about it, I know no different as I’ve always had them as long as I can remember,” Easton said, before he asked, “Let me show you the Holt by air!”. Rose grinned wildly in response to his suggestion.

“Really? Are you sure? I’d love that!” she said.

“Ready?” Easton said before he placed his arms around her waist, his wings started to make a thumping noise and as they left the ground they started to hum. The ground was getting smaller beneath them. They were high in the canopy of the trees, his strong arms wrapped around her waist, she could feel her cheek next to his cheek and his heartbeat against her left shoulder blade. Easton landed on a high up branch and held onto both of Rose’s hands, the spark between them was electric, “I’m holding on to you, don’t worry you won’t fall” Easton told her as he moved a stray strand of hair out of Rose’s view and tucked it behind her ear, brushing his hand against her cheek as he did. Easton leant in at the same time Rose did and their lips met each other. His lips were soft and warm against hers. Rose’s stomach had butterflies and her hand wrapped around his waist as she held him close. Their passionate kiss was intense, she’d never felt this feeling from a kiss before – a deep want within her to know everything about him.

Their kiss ended, Rose enjoyed it a bit too much and bit her bottom lip and smiled at him. “So, back to the wings talk- why have you and Lux got wings and no one else does?”

“My father does” Easton added.

“Well, you, Lux and your father then” Rose corrected.

“It is the perks of being of Royal blood, I guess” Easton surmised, shrugging his shoulders.

Rose looked at Easton with surprise, “Royal blood?”

“I am the prince?” Easton said, looking at Rose perplexed as to why she didn’t already know.

“If you’re the prince then that means that Gabriel was what… your uncle?”

“Yes. My father is…was his brother” quickly Easton changed the subject, “I when heard about Mara and Phineas. Alf said Mara was absolutely seething. Mara was last seen on the back of her bird leaving the Holt. I don’t know about Phin.” Easton told her.

Rose looked guilty for mentioning Gabriel, it seemed to be quite upsetting to a lot of people, “I honestly didn’t know they were a couple, but I can’t say I’m sad to hear she’s left.”

Easton held onto Rose again and took her back to the ground. He reached into his trousers, and he brought a piece of paper out of his pocket “Since we have spoken about Mara. I was worried to tell you about this, I do believe you need to hear it, but I don’t want you to feel as if it is your fault because it wasn’t. This has been brewing for years, we’ve tried to keep her sweet, but things have bubbled over since you’ve arrived…” Easton said, unfolding the paper in his hands. Rose was nervous to hear what this piece of paper said, she felt like it must have been something of note as he had taken her to this deserted part of the Holt to tell her. Easton looked down and read the paper in his hand;

“Edwin (that’s my father’s name), The kingdom of the Toft has heard the word that the hybrid child of Duchess Aine Winter is in the Faery Realm. Duchess Winter is still guilty of manslaughter according to Fae laws and her hybrid child is another breach of such laws. My granddaughter is insulted by the presence of the hybrid and blatant disregard for such laws set by the founding Faes for our once close colonies. You may have personally chosen to overrule the hybrid law and ignore the manslaughter charges but in my eyes, the biggest issue is that my only granddaughter has been repeatedly denied her true title. She has the Holt wings to prove her parentage, despite the lack of marriage, she is the true ruler of the Holt. You have a fortnight to give the Holt to my granddaughter or I will use force. Signed, King Rowan”

Easton was clearly irked by the contents of the letter, Rose hugged him and said, “why is my mother being accused of manslaughter?”

“The Toft believe that Aine should have stopped Gabriel. That the mission he was on to return you was certain death”

“But she loved him, and she was upset… she’d just given me up”

“Yes, and that’s what the court here saw, a woman who had just lost her daughter – someone who wasn’t thinking straight”

“why don’t the Toft understand that?” Rose said with a sigh, feeling terrible for her mother.

“The Toft have always felt aggrieved that Mara should be next in line to the throne. My father fobbed Rowan off for years during the start of the war suggesting that he would just rule it until Mara was old enough to rule herself when Rowan decided wanted to take both Kingdoms under his rule instead of letting my father be regent. My father threw the rule book at him, no marriage means a bastard child and thus they can’t rule. My father then refused to let Mara’s mother Leah return to the Toft to punish Rowan.”

“Why can you not just hand Leah over without giving them the Holt?” Rose asked.

“Ahh, sadly, my father used and uses her as a bargaining chip to prevent the Holt from being attacked. The Toft don’t attack the Holt as my father threatens to have Leah killed if they do so…” Easton replied.

“That’s horrific! Poor Leah.” Rose said with a gasp.

Easton squeezed her hand, “It is not ideal, but my father is protecting his people. The ten-year war between our kingdoms was dreadful. Many died. Mara, Lux and I grew up surrounded by the dangers of war.” He told her and noticing Rose’s reaction to his father’s threat reassured her, “My father wouldn’t kill his niece’s mother, he’s just bluffing”

Rose suspected that was true and though No wonder Mara was the way she was. Her mother is a prisoner, a bargaining chip and Mara must feel she is nothing more than a problem. Knowing how the Toft felt, it was obvious to her now why Mara didn’t like her.

Easton put his arms around Rose again, “Sorry to trouble you with all this. I’ll fly us back to the palace now and we can utilise the ballroom for practising your wand skills” Easton said feeling guilty he had burdened Rose on what had been quite romantic, to begin with, his wings lifted the pair off the branch and the two flew back to the palace tree.

When their feet touched the floor, Easton quickly sprinted away from her. Perplexed, Rose followed him, trying to catch up, the sunlight was blinding making it difficult for her to see much further ahead.

“Rose. Rose. Rose!” Easton yelled. Rose followed the sound of his voice and as she got clear of the giant sun ray, which was coming through the trees, she could see him. Easton was crouched over as he tended to the two collapsed guards in front of the double doors. The blue-uniformed guards were slumped over each other and as Easton checked them over to see what had happened, he noticed and pointed out that the guards had a dart stuck out from their necks in the exposed part between their helmet and collar. Rose looked on, she was shocked as Easton confirmed the two men were dead, her hand covered her mouth and she couldn’t take her eyes off the lifeless men.

The palace doors the guards were slumped in front of were ajar. Curious to who or what was inside, Easton held onto one of the guard’s legs and dragged him away from the door repeating “Sorry” to the dead man. Pulling the door as far forward as he could, Easton slipped inside the palace door, he gestured for Rose to join him, so she held his hand and he pulled her into the palace’s foyer. They stood still for a moment, looking at each other, their eyes adjusted to the dark room, there was blood on the floor. Those poor guards, who would do such a thing? Rose wondered, picturing their empty eyes in her mind.

“Who would do such a thing? Rose, there’s blood on the floor, be careful not to step in it” Easton said, almost like he’d heard her thoughts when they heard someone sniffling, they span around. Instinctively, Easton drew his wand and as he did, he observed a figure lying in the middle of the lobby. He walked forward, using his wand as a torch.

He found Lux stooped over the body, brushing her fingers through their father’s hair “Daddy, Daddy” she sobbed. Seeing her brother stood in front of her Lux cried out, “oh Easton! Father is dead. Some mercenary soldiers wearing colours from the Toft have murdered our sweet father!”