The Blood Red Rose

Chapter 15

Notes:
This took way longer than I'd hoped. Sorry for the delay. My depression and self-esteem issues came back, plus writer's block. Yay.

Anyways, I've got a laptop now, so hopefully I'll get around to writing more.

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Aaron ran out of the castle and to where Theodosia was, stumbling over the snow in his haste.

"Theo!" He called once he reached her. His numb hands desperately untied her, before he jumped onto her back. "GO!" He cried, snapping her reins. She took off, kicking up snow.

Aaron clung to the reins tightly as she practically flew across the snow. They bust through the gates and raced into the forest.

"Sally!" Aaron called as they ventured into the woods. "Sally where are you?"

He snapped the reins to urge Theodosia faster. He looked around as they sped along. Dammit! He thought. How in the world would he be able to find Sally when everything looked the same!

"Sally!" He still received no response. The wind roared at him, stealing his cry and carrying it away, never to be heard by the right ears. His eyes widened when he remembered Alexander's words about the magic mirror.

"This mirror will show you anything you wish to see. All you need is ask." 

He slowed Theodosia to stop and took out the mirror. He took in a shaky breath. "Show me my sister." He said in a steady voice.

The glass on the mirror began to ripple and shift about. Aaron with baited breath as the mirror slowly cleared into an image. He gasped when he saw it. The mirror showed Sally, panting heavily, leaning on a crooked snowy tree, that thankfully Aaron recognized as one near the house, just outside of town. He watched in horror as Sally slowly slid down, her eyes fluttering shut.

Without a second thought, he shoved the mirror back into his pocket before snapping Theodosia's reins.

"Go Theo!" He screamed and off they went.

Just ten minutes later, they came upon the tree. "Sally!" He cried, jumping off of Theodosia's back and stumbling over to his sister.

"Oh my lord." He whispered, cradling her ice cold face. "Come on Sally." He pleaded softly. "Just open your eyes."

He leaned close, nearly sobbing with relief when he felt her soft warm breath on his neck.

"C-Come on." He chattered, becoming cold himself. He hoisted her onto his shoulder and staggered to Theodosia, who knelt a bit, allowing him to clamber up with Sally safely tucked in his arms.

"Go Sally." He said, shivering. With his adrenaline now gone, his body was beginning to feel the cold. If they didn't get to some place warm soon, it was likely they could freeze to death. After all, Sally was only protected by a frail shawl while Aaron was dressed in a light suit. Neither were suited for the cold.

Theodosia tore across the snowy ground, not going quite fast enough to throw Aaron and Sally off, but just fast enough that they got back into town in only a few minutes.

Once they arrived at their home, he gently nudged Theodosia to her stable, before hopping off and rushing inside, well. More like stumbling inside. His whole body was shivering like mad and he nearly dropped Sally several times.

"Aaron!"

Aaron's eyes widened when he saw Jonathan Bellamy rush to him, concern written all over his face.

"Bells?" He said, gently placing Sally into Jonathan's outstretched arms.

"Sally was ill." Jonathan said, rushing to place Sally on their couch, practically burying her in blankets. Aaron hugged himself as he watched his sort of friend rush about, grabbing various things to warm Sally up with.