White Roses Bloom

Chapter Eleven

     The three people sat together in silence as they waited for the princess to awaken. Anna sat nervously digging her nails into her palms, almost hard enough to draw blood. Carvar sat by the door, sword in hand. The prince studied Anna, his red eyes seemingly trying to pry into her soul and find all her secrets. The silence was filled by the servants, cleaning up the mess that the treatment of the princess had made.
     Finally, the prince coughed, making Carvar and Anna look up. “I don't know where you learnt to do that, but that just saved Analise’s life. Before, I blamed you for my sister getting hurt, since we were the ones that got you inside after that creature attacked. It was my sister's choice, and she had been injured trying to protect you. Protecting you, no longer seems like a mistake. When I first saw you, I thought you were just stupid for staying out there to protect that lumberjack. Now I see you are brave and strong, and that you...you have a gift. You could save everyone. You've got stars in your eyes and fire in your heart. I could see you being the one to free us all from the shadows and the oppression that it has inflicted upon us. If you are strong enough to fight this, to save us all, then I shall aid you in that Anna. I do believe though that you can save us all,” the prince muttered, his voice holding a certain pride that Carvar had not ever heard from him.
     Anna tensed, and her cheeks flushed red. The prince brushed a loose strand of blonde hair from the princess’ face. “My name is Vidro, by the way,” the prince said with a smile, one that didn't quite reach his eyes. Anna smiled pensively, not sure as to how to feel about the prince. Carvar studied Vidro, surprised by his sudden trust placement within Anna. In the eleven years that the two boys had known each other, Carvar had never seen Vidro place trust in anyone other than himself.
     Anna looked down at the ground. She wished to help people, but she had no idea how to save everyone. That seemed like an impossible task with no possible completion. It had been so long since anyone had been safe, since there wasn't the threat of death at any moment. During Anna’s lifetime, there has been no safety. Every night, people live in horror of the shadows and the creatures that live among them. Every day, people are repairing what the night broke, trying to recover from their injuries, and preparing themselves to survive another night.
     Though lately, the creatures have been coming out earlier and earlier, now even emerging during the day, in the sunlight that once burnt them to a crisp. Now, every moment was becoming a living nightmare for people. As Anna walked throughout the kingdom, Anna could see more and more people who carried a certain aura about them. Their eyes were dull, full of agony. They rarely smiled, and when they did, it never quite reached their eyes. Anna had always dreamed of seeing those people happy, of making everyone feel safe, of freeing everyone from the darkness’ oppression.
     Carvar didn't know if Vidro had seen this fire...this passion in her eyes, or if Anna saving the princess inspired him. All the knight knew was that this prince had placed trust in this commoner. As the three sat there, plunged back into silence, the princess’ eyelids began to flutter. “Vidro,” she called, her voice hoarse and scratchy, catching everyone's attention at once.