White Roses Bloom

Chapter Eighteen

     Anna’s eyes flew open with a start. Her frantic breath left her trembling lips in heavy, desperate panting. As Anna looked around, the tenseness in her body faded into a sense of relief and reassurance. She was draped upon the back of a black horse, warm arms wrapped protectively around her waist. Anna looked back to see Xavier sat behind her.
     Suddenly Anna's eyes filled with tears. Her once lost memories were now flooding back to her like a tsunami drowning a whole country in seconds. “Xavier….I….I’m so...so sorry…..” Anna stuttered. Xavier smiled and gently rubbed Anna’s back. He moved closer to Anna. “Calm down princess Portabella. Everything will be okay. Just relax and calm down. You've got nothing to be sorry for, your highness,” Xavier whispered into Anna's ear. Anna flinched upon hearing her birth name.
     Glancing to her left, Anna saw Carvar and Lydia lost in conversation while riding. Lydia was explaining witchcraft, while Carvar looked lost staring upon the magical beauty. On Anna’s right was Vidro and Analise. Analise was admiring the world around her that she had never truly seen before. Spending most of her life in her castle and never really leaving the kingdom, Analise didn't know what beauty nature had kept hidden from her. That natural beauty was consuming her, enveloping her into its peace and prosperity. Vidro appeared lost in his own thoughts, over analyzing something within the boundaries of his own mind. Whenever his and Anna's gaze met, he quickly looked away, as though avoiding his fellow orphan.
     Anna sighed in defeat before trying to sit up on the horse. Instantly, Anna’s balance failed and she began to fall sideways off the horse. Before the orphaned princess could fall, Xavier caught her and lifted her back straight up onto the horse.
     Anna felt weak and overly exhausted, her head throbbing with flares or pain as those memories that had been taken from her that night in the river, all broke free. “Relax, just rest. We'll get you back to Risedo soon. You'll be safe there. Then we can talk,okay? Get you sorted out and back on a straight path again. Just relax. We'll be there soon,” Xavier whispered soothingly, laying Anna back down and gently stroking her hair. Anna closed her eyes, listening to the words of the knight and drifting into the nothingness.