The Rose In the Night

Two|part one: bath time (really rough draft)

For the first time this morning, the pain seems to ease as I sink into the sizzling water. I can feel the tension in my muscles begin to Melt away along with the dreams, as I Look up at the crisp blue sky framed in gold above my head. I've always felt that something so beautiful and wild didn't deserve to  be Trapped in the same gold plated cage as me.  Despite knowing it was a illusion that could never compare to the real thing, my ache for the wilderness was so strong it still seems to bring me a comfort only the trees could. I was jealous of the artist who could so vividly engulf the essence of the sky with his hands. No matter how much I practiced I never could.

My eyes begin to study the same painted Black birds I've seen every day for the past three months. Yet Unlike before their wings suddenly start  to flap against the wind. My entire body aches to go with them.

Everything around me begins to fade away giving way to the bright sun. the feel of the water  is replaced by the feel of the wild wind as I begin to fly through the sky next to my own kind. The mixture of salt and earth begins to feel my lungs as I fly faster. High above the cypress trees and the thrashing ocean that makes up my home. There were 

No eyes
no expectations.
No titles
No nightmares.

There was nothing to keep me caged any more.

Suddenly water splashes in my face. Forcing me to crash back into reality again I was back in my gold platted tub.  Like a bird returning to its cage again. The smell of lavender and natural minerals fills my senses as I look towards Aliena.

"Rose are you even listening?" Aliena yarns.

My middle name makes me smile as I look towards my maid. Few people ever called me by this name. She would only ever use it when we were sure we were alone. Away from the prying ears of my guards. They were the ears of the king and queens after all. Maids were meant to serve us not to become our friends. The rules were clear. Calling me anything but my titles could send her to the gallows. Yet you can't bend to laws u weren't born to.

She giggles as she begins cleaning my finger nails.

"We're you thinking about your nightmare again."She   whispers under her breathe. I Look up to see her nut-brown eyes widen   in tension.

I could barely see her expression beneath her falling lids. Aliana put on a good face, but I knew the  chores of handmaiden  was becoming harsh since  returning  to the castle. Her list of chores were endless.

She raises her eyebrows in anticipation As if the near mention of my nightmare  could bring it to life. I hate how something so torturous to me seems to bring her eagerness. Theo most have told her when he went to find her.

"Was it the same one?" Aliena continues  without skipping a beat. Her strong accent begins tip-toeing at the edges.

Her eyes grow Hungry with questions she knew I would never answer. I knew why she was so curious. she told me what the villagers whispered about me. About why Ive been the only one to leave those woods alive at night. Aliana was no different in that regard. I never told her what my nightmares were about only that I have them. It was the only secret I kept from her.

I can feel the claws around my heart digging into me as I'm forced to remember my dream. As my vision begins to blacken My smile falls from my lips. I move my fingertips from hers. I can see the hunger in her eyes replaced by regret. Before she can utter an apology I slam beneath the sizzling water like a dried fish on the brink of death.

I could here her squeal. Her squeals turn into worry. Her voice disappear replaced by the sound of moving water. I ignore the sharpness of the boiling water against my fragile flesh. Any pain was better then then the pain of those memories . I began to tap my feet against my tub. The echo of it banging around my head. I begin to count each tap.

One
Two
Three
Four.....

Thirty- five
Thirty-six
Thirty-seven

I stay under until I can feel the oxygen in my lungs giving  way to  water and my mind can no longer count. I pull myself up so fast water seems to flood the bathroom like the storms that have been destroying my father's country. Half my bath water was now in a puddle On the marble floor. Aliena moves her wet fiery Astrian red hair from her face. Aliena's annoyed expression is replaced by soft giggles. I begin to shiver from the chilling breeze flowing in from the  windows. The white curtains flowing everywhere.

"Princess! The prince is coming the next full moon." She squeals

Her eyes scan my hair with worry as if her eyes could stop the wild curls from forming. I wonder if like everyone else she wished I had the same straight long blonde hair  as my sisters did. I would do anything for there bouncy blonde hair that seem to carry the sun around. Always perfect even without a brush. Mostly because it would stop the maids from whispering that I'm a bastard.stop the pain in my father s eyes every time he looks at me. Make my sisters treat me as if I'm one of them.

Yet that was the last thing from my thoughts now. My heart plunged into my stomach at the mention of the prince. I knew that the preparation for the prince meant more time with my sisters. Being my mother's only and the middle of my dad's eleven daughters was never easy. How could I have forgotten. It was the night my entire kingdom was looking forward to. Against all odds alas grows stronger as our borders grow weaker. It could be a matter of weeks before they would scale our walls. A alliance with the prince of Zale which  meant not only more food for my people but also safety. We needed them more than they needed us. Something my father never failed to mention.

So why is it that the gods? seem angrier the closer we draw to my father's promise to them. And why do I feel so much fear as the days pass?

She immediately go into dabbing my hair with dry towels. As if that could do anything. 

"I have no desire to see the prince let alone marry him." I mummer.

She looks towards me in worry. What are you doing As if I was suddenly a monster from the deepest part of the kyrell sea. No one in the entire kingdom was more excited then my sisters. It was the greatest honor.

Especially for a maid. If the prince choose me
Alain's  life would not only be drastically improved but I could protect her as queen.

She wasn't the only one excited. My sisters have been waiting for this day, waiting for the moment our father sent for us to come home. A day we've been promised for more then half my life.

Not me. I Loathe the time this day would come/

Not only was  he coming  to save ouR land but also for a wife. Whoever he chose  would not only become the queen of one country but two.

Yet I did not want honor or power. Neither did I want to marry an egotistical prince who could choose his bride like picking cattle.

I was so lost in my thoughts I didn't notice Alaina holding a towel open for me.

"Okay rose, Bath time is over."  The humor falling from her voice.

_____

Author's note: unedited chapter