Gardener

Chapter 24

Word of Honor

                   
I burst into my room filled with excitement shirt soaked with sweat and feeling slightly drained but not overly so. Rosen lay still fast asleep though Jenae was nowhere in sight, Leaf trailed behind me practically vibrating with exhilaration even if he wasn't positively sure what had transpired. "Rosen," I nudged the Marr gently. "Rosen wake up..." I shook her a little more firmly.

         
"One more slither of the sun's span..." She groaned trying to bury her head beneath the bed covers. I shook her some more until she flicked an ear in my direction. "What?" She mumbled grumpily.

              
"I did it." I breathed climbing onto the bed.

  
I waited for to uncover her head and take in my disheveled state. "What did you do?" Rosen asked softly gazing up at me curiously.
                   

"I went down to the dungeon..."

  
"Alone," The Marr protested.

  
"That's beside the point now," I waved it away and hoped she'd forget the recklessness of my actions. The frustrated glint in her eyes told me otherwise. "I talked to the Princess, the Queen's third child about the Void inside her. I already had an idea about it being similar to a weed but she helped me solidify it. I concluded that the Void is just the spirit of the vipers' wrath that spans its borders which means I could speak to it... and so I let her touch me."

  
Rosen sat up, "You could have been..."

  
"Infected," I finished for her watching her nostrils flare, sure that she was angry now. "Yes I know but I wasn't." Between her and Jenae I felt as if I couldn't do anything. "I convinced it to change, Rosen. I made it something beautiful, something bright, soft, and fading..." I sighed. "Fading in those who feel intruded upon and lingering in those who need it most. It's encouragement and confidence and all that's good. I got it to stop spreading I just have to make a place for it, where it can grow here in Angileri. Where all the green is..."

  
"I now understand what the Princess was talking about when she called you a reckless idiot. Admittedly I got a bit of that with the jumping from trees and off of bridges and risking your life. You could have been infected..." She raised her hand. "You weren't I got that and I'm happy that you figured this all out, but you literally died yesterday or nearly two sun spans ago now."

                 
"Yes, but I didn't..." Rosen shook her head.

  
"If that's your only argument it's not good enough." I sighed softly leaning back against the headboard.

  
"I can't change who I am..."

  
"No but you can take someone with you, there is nothing wrong with someone having your back. I don't care what you do, all this time I've been following you around have I said anything? No, because I was with you. Just next time wake me up, or the Princess." She laid back down. "How are you feeling after that? Tired at all?"

                 
"A bit... and I knew I could handle myself." She snapped her teeth at me, like that first time in Jisu's Inn. "I realize that it's different now, that my position as Head Gardener calls for less recklessness, as well I have people that care for me and do not wish to see me hurt or dead. I understand that I do...but..."

                
"Your heart is just too big sometimes and you can't help yourself." Rosen finished for me smiling softly, gently nudging her brow lightly against mine. She tugged playfully at my collar pressing a tender kiss to my lips. I felt my heart skip a beat, as she moved her mouth against mine. For a moment I sat motionless eyes fluttering closed as I hesitantly kissed her back. She tasted of apples, far better than any I'd ever eaten, which is saying something considering I could create a perfect fruit. Rosen bit my lip gently near feather light, and yet it left a noticeable sting. I hissed softly remembering the power in those teeth and noting the control it must have taken not to break skin or even bite right through my lip. "Next time I won't be so gentle." She warned softly before snuggling back among the bed covers. "As well I'd lose those clothes and pretend you just went to the bathroom if you don't want the Princess to know right this moment... you're more likely to actually get sleep if she doesn't."