Steel Roses

The Gardens of the Castle

Beldon woke the next morning to a hot breakfast and a dressing room full of clothes designed for him. Day clothes, evening clothes, riding clothes and outdoor clothes – which he was grateful for.

He ate his breakfast in silence, Vanessa hovering nearby until he was done and went into the bathroom.

The bath was a pool that sloped enough for him to both sit and swim in and the shower was a waterfall off to one side – somehow the sound of the waterfall didn't filter through to the rest of the bedroom.

Once he was dressed in a set of outdoor clothes, he made his way down to the entrance hall.

Stepping into the hall and walking to the doors, he stopped as he pushed one of the doors open and looked back, looking up to the shadows and sunlight and shimmering roses.

He felt eyes on him, but he couldn't see anything or pinpoint where the feeling came from.

"I'm going out," he called, his voice echoing back to him unanswered. He wasn't surprised. "You're welcome to join me," he said and walked out, closing the doors behind him.

~~~~

The sunlight that greeted him made him flinch. Holding a hand up above his eyes, he looked up then smiled, breathing in the feeling of the sunlight.

Moving away from the doors, he looked over the edge of the bridge, into the mote. He leant forwards, staring.

There were huge dark shapes swimming through the murky waters below. One of the creatures glided to the surface, it's sleek black back breaking the water before it sunk down again, vanishing into the depths.

A shiver ran up his spine and he moved away, pulling his thick cloak around him and striding across the bridge.

He was half way across when he heard the doors open behind him.

Spinning around, not sure of who he expected to see, he was relieved at the sight.

It was his horse.

Running back over, his horse greeted him with a snort, pressing his nose against Beldon and he smiled, hugging the horse.

"I was wondering what had become of you," he whispered, stroking its neck.

His horse was groomed and saddled already and – when Beldon looked in the saddlebags – he found a full lunch for both of them.

He smiled at the sight and pulled himself up onto the saddle.

"Lets go have a look around then," he said and his horse nodded, walking across the bridge – the gates at the end opening for them and they rode out across the pasture.

First they turned to the west, heading for the lake. The ice shimmered across the surface under the morning sun. Forests were in the distance, snow capped and silent.

Beldon stepped on the ice, keeping hold of his horse's reins in case he slid; he looked across the lake, wondering how thick the ice was. Perhaps he could skate on it.

After that, he rode to the other side of the pasture, to the orchards. Leaving his horse at the edge, he climbed the fence and walked the frozen paths. The leaves were still on the trees and fruit hung from the branches, but snow and ice covered them, and when he pulled an apple from one tree, it shattered in his gloved hand.

The orchards backed onto the forests here as well and Beldon walked to the edge, looking into the dark forests before him.

Whispers drifted from the darkness, cruel and eerie. Beldon could feel eyes upon him again, but these felt dark and ruthless, stalking closer and closer, until Beldon spun away, climbing the fence back into the orchard and making his way back through the trees until he reached his horse again.