Time for the Truth: a story of a sleeping beauty

part 7:

Rior gave me a tour of the grains and plants and fruit trees and bushes and everything in between, showing me the tools and their functions. He had me practice using some of them and led me to a section that had a few people working. They did not acknowledge us, but Rior didn't seem bothered by it. Every time he touched my hand or arm to show me something I was missing, I tried to steel myself against the rush of emotion I felt.

I was feeling warmth all over, and I shouldn't be.

"Shouldn't we be heading back to meet up with the prince?" I prompted, when Rior was staring at me while I was sifting through some of the seeds. I smiled tightly , needing a moment to collect myself for the swim back over.

Rior laughed at me. He led the way back, and barely gave me time to think before pushing me gently into the water in front of him.

"It is okay. You have done this before. You are brave, just like sian." he smiled, and led the way, his back straight and warm, and I dragged on tiredly behind him.

I felt the cold clench of fear in my stomach again when we couldn't touch, but I willed myself to be brave.

Girls in the stories could be brave, and they were words on paper, so I could be too.

As we reached the shallow end, I heard a sharp bark of words directed at Rior.

"Go, I will take her back to her rooms to meet the prince." It was Rosernan, and she weighed her words like stones for throwing at him. I looked at him questioningly, but he didn't even look abashed, just splashed me and jogged out of the water, shaking some of it off on Rosernan, who struggled not to giggle.

Rosernan waited for me, shaking her head.

"Did you have fun with that rogue?" I nodded, tired, but pleasantly so.

"What have you been up to?" Rosernan helped me fold up my cloak better, and gave me a towel. It was warm, as though it had been sitting by a fire.

"Learning the trade. You were right to tell me to go after my 'dreams' as you said. It is so interesting and it's almost all I can think about! We were learning about the herbs that can make women stronger and feel better throughout the year, and which ones are not for women who could bear children and which ones make it easier to bear children and...."

Child-bearing, that was something that made me feel uneasy to speak about. Although I supposed it meant I could rely on her later.

"Herbs that make you stronger?" She nodded, animated, and I lagged, content to listen to her. I barely wanted to pay attention to where we were going, even though I knew I should learn my way around the labrynthine halls eventually. I didn't even remember telling her to go after her dreams.

"Sie? Perhaps you should take a nap before meeting the prince, I will get you ready quickly, and you will still be in time, but you seem exhausted." I was more than fine with that, and leaned against the door as she opened it and led me to my bed to change out of my no longer dripping clothes.

I dropped into bed in a fresh under dress, Rosernan had already left and I didn't feel as though I could lift anything even to scratch my nose, so I knew I was falling asleep.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I woke at the sound of a bloodcurdling scream, and sat up, clutching my blankets to me, sweat breaking out on my forehead.

My throat was raw, with my screaming, and I heard Rosernan rush in. She brushed my hair away and held me, in such a motherly way that I felt so homesick I wanted to cry.

"Just a dream, tell me, tell me."

"I was swimming, and I was free, and Rior was laughing on the bank, and the king came up next to me and pushed me into the deepest part, where I was struggling. And then a cloaked man stabbed me in the stomach with a knife, and I could see the blade protruding. Then I couldn't find my way to any healers in the cave because it is a maze!"