Roses of Winter

Prologue

"Your majesty, we have to make arrangements now or it'll be too late. Our kingdoms have been rivaling for centuries. Blood has been shed on every part of our once peaceful land. It has to end."

The room was dimly lit by the fireplace in the center, a long table placed in front of it. A large man sat in a chair, his brown hair growing small in length and beginning to gray. His spectacles were placed in the center of the bridge of his nose, the fire making them glint in the darkness.

"I know, Bernard, this has come to my attention many times over the years, and to my father's, and even my father's father's. But the resolving answer isn't right. It can't be done."

"It can be done, your majesty, you just won't let it."

A silence fell over the room, the man placing his head in one of his hands, a sigh escaping his mouth.

"She's my little girl, Bernard."

"Your majesty-" It was his turn to sigh. "It's for the greater good of the kingdom."

"Don't you think I know that?"

"Its a small price to pay for the future of our kingdom and many generations to come."

The moon's light created shadows that danced with the firelight, the small crackle from the fire like music. Dust swam slowly through the air, creating dotted images in the room.

"She's only three, Bernard."

"You still have fifteen years with her, your majesty. She'll grow happily in the castle walls under your guidance. But, someday, she'll have to leave."

"I know, I know." He looked up at a painting hanging above the mantle, it showing a women in a purple dress. Her hair is done up in a bun, showing off pearl earrings and a matching necklace. She has doll like features, her face pulled into one of warmth and kindness.

"Evangeline would have wanted this, wouldn't she?"

"Yes, your majesty. She was a lovely queen, always sharing her warmth with everyone. She would have wanted what was best for her people. And what was best for her daughter. May she rest in peace."

At that moment, a knock at the door interrupted the silence that had fallen. A small man entered, his white coat tail following after him.

"Excuse me, your majesty, but they're here. They wish to commune with you. Its urgency is waiting in the meeting room."

"I will be right with them soon enough, Charles. Please, go tell Princeton to get a teapot ready for our..... Guests."

"Will do, your majesty." Charles said, bowing, then briskly walking out of the room, once again enclosing the room in darkness. His majesty stared at the fire, it's reflection bouncing off his eyes and returning to where it came from.

"Your majesty, we must not idle. A decision must swiftly be made."

"Winston, my faithful Hand, please, let me be with my thoughts. I will be with you and the guests momentarily."

"On your word, sire, but the time for a decision has nearly come to an end."

His pace was slow as he left the man in silence. The door was opened with ease but closed with a soft thud, the only two sounds are that and the echoes of the fire. The wind whistled to the castle and through the trees, telling secrets of the past. The ground beneath the castle groaned, settling in from its long slumber in winter. Soon it would be spring.

The king stood with a slight struggle, his bones creaking with every move. He looked around the room, dozens of cases filled with hundreds of books. His eyes slowly darted around each and every book, sinking in their secrets. Lastly, they landed on the women in the painting.

"Soon, Evangeline. But now our daughter needs you more than anything, although she hasn't the slightest idea of what is going on outside these castle walls. I- We, miss you. Dearly. Sleep well, for one day, I will wake you from your eternal slumber."

With one last look at her, the man slowly left, leaving the room and its secrets in the dark. The fire crackled and laughed for hours, the dust dancing and twirling with it. The shadows gleefully played along, the night slowly fading. Soon the fire died, the dust slept, and the shadows ran off till another day.

*Authors Note*
Hello everyone! This is new.
Well no dip, David.
Shut up, other David.
No you shut up.
Sorry.
I am going to be rewriting this book, it wasn't going the way I wanted it to go and I thought, "Hey, why not completely change it? And what's better than adding a prologue?" And so here it is. New chapters, new story line, new everything.
Well, sorta. But you'll see.
Other than that, I hope you have an amazing day, it is currently 4:36 a.m., a beautiful Wednesday morning.
Have a wonderful spring break.
*breath*
Bye!

-P. D. Resendiz

And thanks to Musicsavesyou for the beautiful cover.