Ice Rose

Two blossoms of Winter

How can someone love a flower more than another that came from the same tree?

The answer is simple. One flower is blonde, her eyes are a beautiful blue that could only be found on a frozen lake and her skin has no marks on it. The other has blown hair, her eyes the color of mud and a small "x" mark was left under her right eye. The only thing these two had in common were their pale, white skin. So pure and beautiful, like snow. The first child was named Snow White, she looked like a fairy from the winter frost. The other was named Rose Red. She had the same color as the Queen's roses as she had high fevers quite often. 

As we grew older, my parents' couldn't hide their preference. Philadelphus are rarer than Roses after all. White always seemed to be the better princess. She was charming, all eyes were on her when she entered the ball room, as she could dance so gracefully. On  the other hand, I was a disgrace compared to her. My dancing was passable, but when you compare it to perfection, even a mediocre performance can look like a failure. 

For the last five years, I have found refuge in the palace's old library. White doesn't seem particularly interested in it, or any written work for that matter, so I find comfort every time I come here. I can feel like this is a place when I do not have to complete for affection and I can just stay here. That is, before the strange noise started two days ago...

Rose looked up from the piece of paper and froze. Her shaking hand attempted to put the feather in the ink bottle. The noise only increased, coming closer and closer to her. She jumped from the seat taking the pillow she had on the chair to help her reach the table in her arms. Taking a deep breath she moved to the direction of the noise. 

The closer she got, the colder the room became. One step at a time, she reached an abandoned area of the garden. Thorn bushes were taking over, making the area look more sinister than it was. The noise became clearer, something was trying to lift a stone. The young girl debated going back to the library leaving whatever it was there in the garden, only for an animal cry to change her mind.

"Is anyone there?" She asked naively. 

A small bear cub looked up. His eyes were filled with sadness and his hind leg was under an old, broken statue. Rose moved closer, her hands trying to lift the statue so the cub could leave. However, a child can barely lift a pot, so her attempt was unsuccessful. She tried again and again, her attempts becoming more desperate. Her eyes were filling with tears, as she was coming to the realization that she couldn't get the bear out. She fell on her knees, her small fist hitting the ground with all her might. The tears running down her cheeks as she felt useless once more. 

White would have rescued him by now. Why can't I do anything?

She was brought back to reality by the cub. Limping, he nuzzled his face on her cheek. His eyes, warm, his look was trying to comfort her. And then, she saw something. The heavy statue was lifted, leaning to something that looked like ice. Puzzled, the girl stretched her arm to touch the foreign object, only for the icy looking pillar to disappear right in front of her eyes. 

From a distance, a maid could be heard scream at Rose. The bear cub ran towards a bush to hide, while the young princess looked back at the castle. She was removed from the abandoned part of the garden by the maid, scolding her all the way back to her room. 

To be continued...