The Princess and Her Whipping Boy

No More Lies

(Several days later).

The king stopped before the large wooden door. It had been almost a week since he had sentenced Rosalina to be locked in her room. He had used the time, hoping Rosalina would reflect on what had passed, and would be calm enough to speak with reasonably. He had not however, expected an untimely guest, which now forced him to speak with Rosalina sooner. But he knew he could not postpone their talk forever,

Tapping on the door to alert her of his coming, he entered.

Rosalina was seated on the window seat, staring out at the world below, her eyes glazed over like she was not even seeing the view before her. She did not acknowledge his presence until he lowered himself to sit beside her. Still, she did not look to him but instead focused her eyes down at the courtyard.

"That rider is most skilled" she murmured after a moment.

King Warrick frowned, as he looked passed her to see who had captured her attention. His heart sank as he saw a tall grey mount galloping across the stable yard, before soaring over a large barrel of bound hay. The rider was one with the horse, as it flew gracefully through the air and cleared the jump once more. King Warrick glanced back to his daughter, knowing well the game she was playing.

Rosalina was expressionless, her eyes not leaving the horse and rider. "The horse is tall, but light-footed and swift. It knows what the rider wants and wills to please him. A Royal mount fit for a king, I gather, specially bred and trained." Her voice held a mocking tone. "The rider is tall and slim, graceful and poised. He is not browned like the Runen men, and his hair is long and free. One of Easternblood I guess." She turned to finally meet her father's gaze. "My groom-to-be I gather?"

A weary sigh left King Warrick's lips. "Must you make this difficult, Rosalina? It is hard enough."

Rosalina scoffed. "Hard enough for who? For you to force your only daughter into an unhappy marriage of no love, or for the daughter who must live in that marriage?"

King Warrick's eyes glimmered as he reach for Rosalina's hands. "Please Rosalina, don't do this. Not now."

Rosalina slapped his hands away and rose to her feet. "You always try to make me feel guilty, as if you are not the one who is hurting me. Don't you ever see that?"

"I just want to protect you." The king stared up at her pleadingly. His breath was growing short as he felt his chest tighten and burn.

"This isn't protecting me! Can't you see that?"

"Rosalina, I know you love the slave boy and that is why it hurts so much. But what can a slave boy give you? By marrying you to an Eastern prince, you have power, someone to protect your back and help you run the country."

Rosalina shook her head in disbelief. "No. No, you are wrong. Marrying that man is simply to ease the council and fool them into believing they have a man on the throne while I be the dutiful wife. Why did you work so hard to erase my feelings when in the end I sit behind my husband?"

"It is not like that, Rosalina." The king's hands gripped onto the seat arm, his knuckles turning white. The fire within his body raged and a tormenting tingle grew within his throat.

"Who is all this for? Me or for you to save face that you did not bear a son? Is that what this is? For you to replace me?" Rosalina turned her back to her father and stalked to the door.

The king began to rise. "Rosie-" there was a shattering of glass and a loud thump.

Rosalina spun aound to see her father kneeling by the table. Blood splattered the floor before him and as he tried to rise, Rosalina saw the blood trickling down his chin. She stepped back, shaking her head.

"Papa" she breathed.

King Warrick pulled himself to his feet and raising his hand, wiped his mouth. "No more lies. No more decieving. I am dying, Rosalina. For that reason, I wished for you to marry Silas. Not to sit behind him, but to rule with an iron fist and have a powerful backing."

Rosalina stared at him. "No" she whispered. "You are lying."

She screamed and back away as the king tried to approach her. "You are lying!"

Turning, she fled.