Separated

Part XV: Rosaline

I was ecstatic. I convinced the men to fight for the good of our kingdoms. Me! I couldn't help but add a little skip in my step as I watched the men form a crowd around my father, who was giving a speech on the importance of reuniting the kingdoms. I could see the excitement among the crowd.

"I'll finally be able to see my beautiful Marianne again!" a man whispered excitedly to the one next to him.

"And I'll see my Lily!" the other man replied. "We'll be a happy couple once again!"

I turned my attention to my father.

"...so what are we waiting for? Let us advance!" my father yelled, turning his horse towards the Border and made it start trotting. The men hollered happily as we started out way towards the Border. I rode back do I could be next to my father. We didn't say anything for a few minutes.

"Father, haven't these men complained about not seeing their wives shortly after the Separation?" I asked.

My father took a deep breath. "When we separated, I locked myself up in the castle, vowing not to make contact with anyone for three years, to collect myself. I received many complaints and threats through letters, but I ignored them. The only people in the castle were me, my servants, and baby Fredrick. At the time, the only person I truly cared about was Fredrick. He was adorable and optimistic, so I couldn't risk letting him interact with the townsmen. I couldn't let them corrupt him. When the vow was over, I tried to solve their problems. Turns out they solved their own internally by separating the nobles and peasants. You saw how well that worked out." My father finished with another deep breath.

"Have you received complaints since then?" I asked.

"No, they had all moved past it, at least that was how it seemed."

I nodded, and looked at the road in front of us. It had changed from cobblestone to packed dirt. We were walking along the community of peasants. All the houses were abandoned, which was no surprise. All the peasants were following us, talking amongst each other. We had gotten significantly closer to the Border since our conversation. The number of run-down houses dwindled until there was nothing but barren landscape and the Border only about fifty yards away.

We're almost halfway through. Halfway to seeing my mother and father together again.

"Stop!" my father yelled to the men, holding up his right hand. They immediately stood still, waiting for their next order.

"What did you do to get across the Border?" my father whispered to me.

"It's quite easy," I replied, getting off my horse. I ran up next to the Border and felt along the cold stone for the round button. I felt the familiar round stone and pushed it in. The ground to the left of me shook, and opened up to reveal the staircase. I looked back at my father, who was awed. He turned his horse around, facing the men.

"This is it, my subjects. Soon we will see our wives again!" my father shouted. Ecstatic yells erupted in the crowd.

"Onward!" my father said, turning back around and advancing. The men shouted happily and followed my father down into the secret room.

"Father, did you ever know about this room?" I asked him. "I mean, before you caught me and Fredrick here?"

"Yes," my father replied flatly, looking straight ahead.

I couldn't believe it! My father had seen this room before!

"When?" I asked excitedly. What was the original use of this room?

"It's a long story, Rosaline..." my father warned.

"I want to hear it!" I said, a little louder than I meant to.

My father smiled. "Always so curious, Rosaline. Well, a long time ago, when my father was king, we occupied one side of the kingdom, while another royal family occupied the other. We used to be trading partners, at least until there were... complications. The two sides started a war, and it went on for a few years. This room was found by our army, which gave us the winning advantage. We chased the enemy kingdom out, and it remained unoccupied for years until...you know."

"The separation," I said. "What kind of 'complications' started the war?"

"I'm not exactly sure. But I do know what advice my father gave me upon inheriting the throne: there is a balance in everything. An in-between. It may have had something to do with the cause of the war."

I nodded, suddenly becoming conscious of where the other end of the room was.

"Wait a minute, father," I said, hopping off of my horse. I took small steps, my hand outstretched, thinking with every step it would be met with the wall on the other side.

"Rosaline?" my father asked, worried. "Where are you?"

"I'm right here, father," I replied calmly. My heart skipped a beat as I stepped on a round piece of wood and slipped. The wood slid across the ground for not even five feet and stopped against the wall, producing a small click as the other staircase appeared. The light coming in from above almost blinded me. We all ascended the stairs to be met with the sight of more abandoned houses. We journeyed along the rarely-trodden path for about ten minutes in silence until the road changed to cobblestone and buildings lined the streets. They were all abandoned, though.

"Get the girl!" a distant male's voice said. I already knew what was happening.

"Is that Fredrick?" my father asked.

"No..." I said, faltering.

"Then who is it?" my father asked fearfully.

"The enemy kingdom," I replied regretfully.

The crowd of men gasped.

"The enemy kingdom is attacking the women's kingdom?" a man from the crowd said. "They don't stand a chance!"

My father looked at me with terror. "How often does this happen?"

"Often. On average, once every two months," I replied, looking down at my horse's mane.

"Once every two months?" my father repeated, slowly. "What do you lose each time?"

"Lots. Lots of food, materials, and..." A lump formed on my throat.

"And...?" my father asked, afraid.

"Women."

The crowd gasped again. There were fearful whispers among them.

"My beautiful wife? Kidnapped?" a man from the crowd asked, horrified.

I turned around to face the group of men. "I'm so sorry!" I said to them. "But...there may be a chance that your wife is safely hidden in the cellars of the castle!"

The men calmed a bit, but I could still feel the anxiety in the crowd.

"Will my love be OK?" my father asked.

"Yes," I replied, relieved. That was the only thing I knew for sure right now. Keeping the queen safe was a priority.

"Good," my father said, relaxing a bit. "Let us press onward, men!" He advanced, the men following nervously. I stayed right beside my father, hoping that if there was an ambush that he would protect me.

"Men, we have to split up. Me, Rosaline, and my personal guards will go to the castle. You other guards will go to the left and fend off the enemy. Everyone else will try to rescue any women left behind."

The men split off, and me and my father started the journey to the castle.
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