Separated

Part XIX: Rosaline

"No, Fredrick!" I whispered to myself as Fredrick crumpled to the ground, his sword skidding across the cobblestone path. The man laughed triumphantly and walked away. When he was out of earshot, I sprinted over to Fredrick's motionless form.

"Fredrick!" I said to him. No response.

"Fredrick, please wake up!" I grabbed him by the shoulders and shook him gently, careful not to do anything to his neck. I gave him a light punch in the chest. Still nothing.

"Come on, Fredrick. You're not dead, are you?"

I was growing impatient. I looked around and saw the fountain in the center of the courtyard and a bucket near it. I filled the bucket with the ice cold fountain water and poured some of it on my brother. He gasped and sat straight up. He looked at me.

"Why would you do that?" he demanded. I couldn't help but smile.

"I'm so glad to see you again, Fredrick!" I said to him, embracing him.

"I'm glad to see you too, my sister," he replied into my ear. He broke away. "Where are our parents?"

"I don't know, but my mother should be with the other women by now."

We stood up and ran to the castle entrance, where we found the enemy was rallying up, a large blue flag in the middle. The entire crowd was encircling it and listening to the booming voice in the middle.

"... and once we lay our hands on the king, both kingdoms will be ours!"

The general's comment was followed by excited shouts from the soldiers.

"Hmm, excuse me!" a soldier in the crowd said. "Could you tell me again of the whereabouts of the royal family?"

The man in the middle silenced the crowd. Then he said,

"The queen and princess are in our hands, and the prince..."

"The prince is dead, sir!" the man I recognized as Fredrick's attacker interrupted.

I heard Fredrick breathe heavily. I looked over and gasped. Fredrick was hunched over, a pool of blood forming at his feet.

"We have to get you to a doctor!" I exclaimed quietly. Fredrick didn't respond, but instead stared in horror at his wound, which had widened since he was unconscious. I put his arm around my shoulder and tried to turn us around.

"There! The prince and princess!" one of the men shouted, pointing at me and Fredrick. My heartbeat quickened as I went as fast as I could while supporting him and ran along the outside wall of the castle. A handful of soldiers left the crowd to chase us. I struggled to keep my balance as the soldiers advanced, swords in hand. As a last resort, I took off one of my heels and threw it at one of the soldiers. It hit him in the head and he feel over. One of the other soldiers stayed to help him.

"R-Rosaline," Fredrick stuttered.

"What is it?" I said impatiently.

"Bushes...confusion...hide..." he said, gasping for air. I tried to understand what he meant, but then I realized it. I made a sudden turn down a steep hill that overlooked the courtyard and the descent helped us go faster. I weaved around tall bushes, trying to throw off the enemy soldiers. Once I couldn't hear their rhythmic steps, I set Fredrick down a gently as possible onto the grass between some bushes and a gazebo.

"Pack...kit...needle..." Fredrick sputtered between breaths.

"I got it, don't worry!" I said frantically, searching through his bag. I found a first aid kit and opened it up. I found a needle and medical string and pulled it out. I searched for any dressing that would help, but there wasn't any.