Finding You Always

Ruminations

Chapter 128: Ruminations

Once they were home, the Charming house quickly quieted. Charming had to take care of the paperwork at the morgue, as per the Sheriff's duty, but would be home soon. So while she waited, she cuddled with her baby boy and continued reading to forget the events earlier, even if only for a little while.

The weeks passed quickly, as Fandral trained Rose Red in the ways of the warrior. Being an expert swordsman, he taught her sword fighting first and though she became proficient at such, she found her true prowess in archery when he taught her to shoot a bow. She practiced and trained daily with him. And both we were aware of their growing feelings for each other. And it would be on the day they professed their love that they would be forced to flee for their lives.

Rose fired an arrow, yet again hitting the bulls eye on the tree. She turned to him with a beaming grin, making his heart quicken and she ran to him. He caught her in his arms and spun her around.

"You are truly a natural with a bow," he complimented.

"Oh please...I was a disaster when you first taught me. I couldn't even extract an arrow from the quiver properly," she reminded. He smiled.

"None of us is exactly skilled on the first day of training. Doesn't mean we don't have natural aptitude," he reminded back. She smiled at him and kissed his cheek. He swallowed thickly, as their eyes met again.

"Rose...there is something I must tell you," he uttered. She frowned. She had been dreading this moment. She had wondered how long it would be until he decided he wanted to leave to search for any survivors of his home.

"It's okay...I understand," she said, as she felt the tears brim her eyes.

"What?" he asked in confusion.

"I knew eventually you'd probably want to leave to find your people. And I'll miss you more than you know, but I would never stop you from going," she confessed. His eyes widened.

"You think I'm leaving?" he asked.

"You're not?" she squeaked.

"Rose...I never want to leave you. I'm in love with you," he confessed. Her eyes glistened with tears.

"Oh Fandral..." she cried, as he folded her into his arms.

"I love you too..." she confessed in return, as their lips crashed together. He grinned at her, as their lips parted and she yelped in surprise when he swept her into his arms. But their bliss was rudely interrupted by the dwarf that still lorded over her.

"The King is coming and your presence is required. As for you, stranger, I trust you'll make yourself scarce," the dwarf growled.

"He has a name, you know," Rose snapped.

"I don't care what his name is, stupid girl. The King demands your presence as he has promised your hand to a very rich nobleman, who is going to pay us handsomely for you," the dwarf revealed.

"What?" Rose asked in horror.

"That's right...it's your wedding day, Rose Red," he replied deviously, as they noticed the guards closing in around them.

"There is no way I will allow you to do this to her, dwarf," Fandral spat, as he drew his blade. The guards descended upon him, but they were no match. Rose helped him by picking off more approaching ones with arrows. He then took her hand and they fled the gardens that had been their home for the woods.