Blistered Roses

Chapter 1: The Servant

Tara viciously scrubbed the petrified wood floors with all the strength she had as she was afraid to get in trouble with any of the royalty that accused her of not doing a good job even though she put the most effort in the things she did. The warm fire-lit room where guards sat around and talked about disgusting nonsense, and unfortunately Tara had to listen to that, made it seem like it was summer instead of winter outside, where the snowflakes stuck to the window. She moved over to a new spot in the room to clean, and one of the guards startles her by touching her back. Her foot kicked over the bucket filled with soapy substance and water, and she landed on her butt with only her hands holding her up.

"Can't ye do anything right?! Clean this mess up!" The guard demanded and shouted at her and the rest of the guards turned giving their undivided attention. She frantically grabbed the bucket frightened by the guard, and moved all over the room with the brush to use the rest of the soapy water. The guards snicker in their little group, and she scrubbed faster so she can leave this god awful room filled with horrible men.

One of the guards got up and made his way to Tara. She took notice of this, and immediately grabbed her bucket to leave the room, because she's done, or so she thinks. The guard grabbed a hold of her arm in a firm grip, and she stood there with the bucket held in both of her hands. "What do ye think? Get her bucked?" The guard asked his mates with a grin on his face, and she can feel his breath crawl up her neck giving her the unwelcomed chills that make her spine tingle in the wrong ways. Tara didn't make eye contact with him, and swallowed hard waiting for this to end. "Aye, by all of us." A guard called out and others join in with the guard agreeing with him.

The door opened and enters the king with a concerned look on his face. "Where's your manners?!" The guard that is holding on Tara yelled in her ear before she could bow before the king like she always does. His hand releases from her arm, and she bows before the king with a proper curtsey. "Excuse me..." She said in a polite manner, and rushed out of the room hearing the door shut behind her.

She passed by each window as she headed down the hall and felt a cold breeze come across her cheeks giving them a red color as if she were blushing. She stopped in front of one of the windows in the well-lit hallway to stare out at the beautiful scenery. Snow covered the courtyard where she's able to get her thoughts out on paper; that is the only way they make sense to her. She continues to this day to teach herself to learn with books she's hidden in her room, because if the royalty found out she kept them, they would look down upon her and whip her. With all the whippings she's received, she doesn't want anymore. She pressed her fingertips against the window and they immediately feel like they're sticking to the window. A figure shows up in the window behind her, and as she turned around removing her fingertips from the window, the Princess grabbed a hold of her wrist pulling her into the Princess's room.

"You frightened me!" Tara set her bucket down looking at the Princess as she smiles at her.

"Oh, I'm sorry. Were you scared? Huh, scaredy cat?" The Princess picked at her with a big smile on her face, and Tara rolled her eyes staring in the Princess's eyes.

As Tara and Princess Adelaide grew up together from the age of 12 till now, 18, Tara noticed the unremarkable features to Princess Adelaide. She has high cheek bones with blue eyes that seemed to compliment the natural blush on her cheeks. She has always had a pale skin complexion, but a crimson flush continued to glow from her cheeks no matter the weather that touched upon. She was now a woman that met the needs of any suitor, but time after time she has refused. Tara felt that no man on this earth could pick out the little features to her that made her so beautiful, like her tender, warm smile that she always gave to those in need. Her youth, charm, sex, richness, and flourished body gave a welcoming present for the suitors, or anyone for that matter. It was these moments that Tara felt wrapped up in her own thoughts, and just by the glaze Princess Adelaide's navy blue eyes gave off.