Chapter 1: Rose
Wrapping my hands firmly around my empty stomach I gave a small groan. It was late afternoon and the streets were filled with people, walking, talking, laughing, playing, and the worst; eating. Yes, eating in front of my face, not bothering to see who is watching them stuff their mouth with all the food they lay their hands on. If I even try to ask for some, they will just take one glance at me and start yelling.
“Get away filthy beggar!”
They can call me; beggar, street rat and even despicable creature, they can call me anything and everything, but my name. Is it really hard to say ‘R-O-S-E?’ I gaze drops down to my hands. I count the bruises thinking of no other then food. If I’m lucky someone might toss a coin or two in my direction.
Why not work for food? Well, apparently people don’t really appreciate 18 years old girls with twisted brown hair and ragged clothing walk in to their store. I learned that the hard way.
I get up, out of the shadows to be noticed my passers. A lady with curly blonde hair passes by. She looks into my emerald stare (which I made as innocent as I could) and grunts. She turns her attention back in front of her and holds her head up as she continues her way down the road.
Sadly I will be sleeping on an empty stomach today; not the first time this has happened. So, I get up from the street corner and headed towards the forest path. The forest was the most familiar and soothing place for me. I don’t know why, but I feel most comfortable there. I looked around for a tree that had its branches covered by leaves. Climbing it was the easy part. My head ached from the empty stomach, but I’ll manage. One piece of bread could have made a great difference.
Slowly, I settle myself on the rough tree trunk. The breeze was whistle past my ears and the coldness was growing by the second. It wasn’t really dark; the sky was lit by the moonlight and all the shining stars. Slowly, my body got use to the coldness and I closed my eyes, leaving to the place of dreams.
“Hey! You!” I bolted up, looking for the source of the frightening deep voice. I was enjoying my sleep until now.
“What do you want from me?” A shaky male voice asked back. Slowly I jumped from the branch I was sleeping on to the last one that was covered with leaves, still keeping me hidden. A muscular man, all in black, stood in front of another man who to my thinking had the shaky voice.
He caught my eyes. He had brown hair like mine, but his shown brighter in the broad daylight. I had never seen him before, maybe he was new here. That would explain why he was scared from a thief who was stupid enough to attack someone during the afternoon.
“Give me your money!” The thief ordered.
“No! I will not! I will report you to the king instead!” If only he will LAST that long… I laugh at my remark. The thief took his sword out and pointed its tip at the guy, who gave a yelp like a little girl would have. Should I help him? Would it be wrong to fight for someone I don’t even know? It didn’t really matter to me because I would be helping him. The poor guy looked like he would faint.
Quietly I jumped off the tree and picked up the biggest rock my palm could carry. Aiming it right at the thief’s head and threw it. I think it hit him hard because he fell on the ground unconscious. Maybe I over did it just a little.
The more handsome looking guy just stared with his mouth wide open. He kept looking between me and the almost dead guy on the path. My work here is done. I turn around and began to leave.
“Wait!” The guy calls. I turn around without saying a word and just look at him, waiting for him to speak. “Thank you,” he says. Stay on guard Rose, I tell myself. I give a slow nod and turned back around. “What is your name madam?” Madam? Not once in my whole life was I ever called with that kind of respect, never. It would not hurt to answer, would it? I clear my throat.
“I am Rose,” there was no way I was going to say my last name. That was a secret. The man catches up to me, I turn to face him, straight in his beautiful brown eyes.
“I am called by the name J-Rick,” Rick bows, manners and elegance written all over him.
“You don’t sound so sure about that,” I point out. He laughs.
“No I am positive my name is Rick,” he states.
“Here is a token of my gratitude,” he hands me a gold coin. I inspect it from every angle possible. Is this really gold? Where did he get this from?
My thoughts were interrupted by the sound of horse hooves. I turned around to see a cloud of dust rising as a grand carriage was racing its way over the forests rocky path. Rick seemed alarmed. He quickly grabbed my hand and pulled me behind some trees. Confused by his reaction I peeked from the corner of the trunk and managed to a see through the carriage’s window. I saw a glimpse of a pale faced lady with curly black hair falling down her back. The carriage headed straight for the kingdom of Lanzair.
“What was that all about? I ask Rick
“I just did not want to be seen by rich people?” He lied. “I have to leave.” He says suddenly. “It was a pleasure meeting you. This won’t be the last time we see each other hopefully.” He kissed my hand and ran after the carriage, leaving me there standing stunned from all that had just occurred. It all happened so quickly.
