Steel Roses

Return To The Castle

The storm that howled through the forests was disorientating and mind-numbing. It turned their lips blue and ice settled in their hair as Beldon and Christian rode as fast as their horses could possibly go through the high winds and deep snow.

As it had the first time, instinct led Beldon towards the castle. Somehow he just knew where to go, but he dreaded the moment would come that his instincts failed him - there was no rose to lead him this time.

When the blind knowledge finally faded in the middle of a clearing, his heart almost broke.

He threw himself down from his horse, spinning around, trying to remember the direction from when he had left the castle. He had past a clearing - no, he had past several, and all the discerning markings were now hidden under snow.

"Beldon!"

Both boys looked around and stared at Valentine and Constantine appeared out of the shadows.

"Why have you stopped?" Valentine shouted over the winds.

"Why are you here?" Christian shouted back.

"He's still our little brother, young man or not," Constantine said as Valentine swung down from his horse and joined Beldon.

Christian stared at them, then looked behind him. "Raoul?" he asked.

"Stayed with his wife," Constantine replied.

"Which direction?" Valentine shouted when he reached Beldon, his hand up to cover his eyes against the wind.

"I don't know!" Beldon cried, spinning to him, "This happened last time to. I only know part way." He whirled away. "I need help!" he shouted into the forest, his voice echoing out away over the winds. "This isn't fair! He was so close! He found her! Just let me get back to him! Let me help him and I'll let him go!"

The horses' screams of fright made him spin around and he backed up, throwing out a hand to push Valentine back and keep them all behind him.

One of the giant dogs slowly loomed out of the darkness, watching him.

"Not now," he whispered, his eyes wide, his old fear starting to tremble through his body.

"What is that?" Christian whispered in horror.

Beldon and the dog just kept staring at each other and then Beldon's eyes widened.

"It's you," he breathed, stepping forwards, "How are you alive?!"

It was the dog who had attacked him when he had run from the castle, the dog whose eye he had driven his sword into, killing him instantly. Beldon knew it was, even though the dog had both its eyes and only a scar through the fur over the eye to show there had been any damage, something in his gut just told him definitively it was the same dog.

"You're not going to attack me again," Beldon hissed, "Not just yet."

"Beldon, there!"

Beldon looked around, and saw two more of the dogs. His knees almost gave out under him but he forced himself to stay standing.

"I'll make you a deal!" he shouted, an insane confidence - forming from his desperation to get back to the castle - reassuring him that the dogs could understand him. "Let me go back! Let me help and you can do what you want after."

And then he felt it. A warm wind that brushed past his cheek, bringing rose petals through the air, disappearing into the forest. He blinked, watching them trail ahead.

The dogs watched them as they flew through the air, then looked at Beldon before turning after the breeze and loping away into the woods after the petals. When the scarred dog came back, looking at Beldon, then back into the forest, Beldon shoved Valentine towards his horse, climbed onto his own and tore after the dog that raced on ahead, letting out a howl, howls echoing back, guiding them onwards.