Rose Heart

Chapter 12

Rose's eyes scanned the newspaper, her heart sinking as she saw the headline: "Lieutenant James Windsor Arrested for Treason". She felt like she had been punched in the gut, her breath knocked out of her.

She quickly read the article, her eyes filling with tears. James had been arrested and tried, and was now facing imprisonment. She knew she had to act fast, to somehow prove his innocence and secure his release.

She jumped up from her seat, determined to go to James and help him. But as she reached the door, her parents stepped in front of her, their faces firm.

"Rose, you're not going anywhere," her father said, his voice stern.

"But James needs me!" Rose protested, her voice desperate. "He's innocent, I know he is!"

Her mother's face was sympathetic, but firm. "We know you care about James, dear, but you can't get involved in this. It's too dangerous."

Rose's eyes filled with tears as she realized her parents were not going to budge. She was trapped, unable to help the man she loved. She felt like she was living in a nightmare, with no way out.

Here's a continuation:

Rose sat at her desk, her heart heavy with sorrow. She had been unable to see James for days, and the thought of him languishing in prison was unbearable. She knew she had to act, and so she wrote a letter to the princess, begging her to summon her to the palace.

"Your Highness,  I implore you to summon me to the palace. I must see James, to ensure that he is safe and to try and secure his release. I know that he is innocent, and I cannot bear the thought of him suffering in prison.

Please, Your Highness, have mercy on me and summon me to the palace. I will do anything to help James, and I know that you are the only one who can help me.

Yours sincerely,
Rose"

She sealed the letter and sent it off, hoping against hope that the princess would respond.

Days passed, and Rose heard nothing. She was beginning to lose hope,  she cried her self to sleep most of the night when finally, a messenger arrived at her door.

"Rose, you are summoned to the palace," he said, his face serious. "The princess awaits you."

Rose's heart leapt with joy and fear. She knew that this was her chance to see James, and to try and secure his release. She dressed quickly and followed the messenger to the palace, her heart pounding in her chest.

When she arrived she met the princess waiting for her, she ran and hugged her.
"Don't worry Rose it will be alright."

Rose's heart raced as she was led through the dark corridors of the palace prison. She had been searching for James for what felt like an eternity, and finally, she had been granted permission to see him.

As she turned a corner, she saw him, his tall frame shackled to the wall, his eyes sunken and his face pale. She felt a cry rise up in her throat as she saw the condition he was in.

"James!" she whispered, rushing to his side.

He looked up, his eyes filling with tears as he saw her. "Rose," he whispered, his voice cracking.

She threw her arms around him, holding him tightly as tears streamed down her face. "Oh, James, I'm so sorry," she whispered. "I had no idea it was this bad."

They held each other for a long moment, their lips meeting in a soft, desperate kiss. Rose felt like she was melting into his embrace, like she was home.

But all too soon, she knew she had to leave. She couldn't risk being seen, or James would be in even greater danger.

"I have to go," she whispered, pulling away from him.

James nodded, his eyes filling with tears again. "I know," he whispered. "But come back to me, Rose. Please."

Rose nodded, her heart heavy with sorrow. "I will," she promised. "I'll do everything in my power to get you out of here."

And with that, she turned and ran, her heart pounding in her chest. She knew she had to act fast, to secure James' release before it was too late.