I suddenly feel very alone without Nathaniel here. Old man John speaks up surprisingly
"I'll protect you with my life." He vows. A single tear escapes my eye.
"Thank you, John."
"Now, now Rosie, don't get all femaley on me. I don't like tears." He states a matter-of-fact.
" Rosie? My daddy used to call me that before he locked me up." I chuckle humorlessly.
" Well he didn't give to shit 'bout you if he did that- sorry 'bout the fowl language ,Rosie."
Natty comes running in panting, "I almost forgot! I bought some bath soaps down at the market for you.
"Did you now?"
"Uh-huh!!" he says excitedly.
"And what scent, May I ask?" I say trying to embarrass him in front of Grandpa John.
"White tea and Lily..." he mumbles and then blushes.
"Shh! They're coming!" Grandpa John whisper/yells.
I run back to the corner of my cell, Natty goes back to the table ,holding 2 fingers behind to tell me two days until we leave here. Two days till I'm free...
I jingle my chains to indicate I need something to the guard.
"Speak , witch!"
"I wish to bathe, sir!" I ask politely. He grunts in acknowledgement.
"Very well then." He walks over to my cell, unlocks it, walks in and then leads me to the bathing room. We enter and he just stands there like the perv he is. I jingle again.
"Yes? What is it?" he asks annoyed.
"Well , you see, I can't bathe with you in the room, sir." I admit, stonily, him not realizing this 'cause of his stupidity.
"Oh, yes, I see. Here:" He unchains me except for the chain around my throat so that it just dangles there. He walks away and I undress except for my bathing robe. I go over to the little pool of water and sit on the rock in the middle of it.
"Ahhhh..." I moan. The water feels like a cool breeze floating over my skin. I start to untie my hair when I hear Natty's voice and running footsteps.
"Wait!" he yells running down the tunnel. I sit there frozen, not sure what to do. Natty rushes in, much to my guard's reluctance, and then sees my breasts and stops.
"Oh sweet Mary and Joesph." He breaths, turns red and falls over.
"Natty!" I gasp before I can stop myself. I run to him, modesty completely forgotten.
"uhhhh." He moans.
"Natty! Snap out of it! Please tell me you've seen breasts before!" I hiss at him.
"Nothing....like yours.....Rose. So.....big..." He mumbles. I rush back over to my chains and jingle them frantically. Then I cover my chest with my robe.
(A/N: Keep in mind the guards don't know she can speak. Or that the curse is broken. So, as usual she jingles her chains as a indication she needs something. Sorry to interrupt! ENJOY!!!)
The guard strolls in causally till he sees Nathaniel laying on the floor semi-unconscious. The runs over and shoves me aside and I fall over, hard.
"Wretched girl! What did you do!?!?" He bellows.
"He walked in on me naked! I didn't do anything!!!" I respond frantically. Trying to mask the pain in my voice but failing miserably.
"Lies!! Liar!!" he accuses me.
Old man John rushes in , probably hearing the commotion.
"You've bewitched him! Wretched hag, always knew you were evil!" He spits at me.I grab onto him.
"Please Roreck! I promise I didn't do anything! Believe me!" He slaps me across the face and my head hits a rock and I gasp in pain.
"I'm going to have you hung,wretched witch." He declares. "Old man watch this wench. and the boy. I'll be back in by noon tomorrow with the kings permission to execute her on site." He gets up, looks at me in disgust then storms off. His footsteps fade away as he goes. A horse whinnies and then he's gone. John rushes over to Natty first since I seem to be able to stand on my own.Then he runs over to the river and cups some water in his hands and splashes it on natty's face.
"Wha-?" He stutters.
"You little fool! Because of your foolishness, she-" He points at me. "- is going to be killed!" John hisses.
"What do you mean, old man!?!?" He shouts in disbelief. I speak up.
"When you fainted. I called in the guard for help. He thought I had bewitched you. I tried to make him believe I didn't, but he-he didn't listen." I start sobbing. If only I had covered up.
"Hey, Hey! Don't cry! It just seems we just need to put our plan into action a little earlier than planned. That's all! Come on, Rose, don't cry." He grabs my face and forces me to look at him." I told you I would get you out of here, did I not?"
"Yes, but-"
"But nothing!" He growls. " I wasn't lying. I will get you out of here no matter what!" He yells determinedly.
"O-okay." I sniffle.
Now go wash up. I gotta run to the town. I gotta have Julie make you an outfit suitable for ridding horses. Tomorrow mornig: we leave!!
