The Rose In the Night

Foreigner (very rough draft)

I watch as tiny fishing boats float deeper into wild storm waves. The boats seem insignificant next to my father's warships. Yet I study every inch of them. I'm jealous of the man that works the boats. The lives they will live. A life of adventure and courage. Not one that is determined by whose seed they came from.

I look over to Lia to find her still working the fire. Her eye lids are so heavy I thought she were asleep for a moment. Her dress tinted with ash. She has been like this since i came back from the house of prayer. I knew she must be tired from doing all my  laundry since I'd been gone.

"Falling  asleep already?" I tease her

Lia startles, as if she's seen a ghost. Dropping the branch she was using to tend to the fire.

"Atleast I'm not the only one day-dreaming today." I giggle. Still teasing her

She doesn't giggle back. Her always playful child-like demeanor seems to have disappeared with the spring sun. Her frown deepens as her eyebrows straighten into a serious expression. It was so unlike her. She continues to stair off to fire a few moments longer. As she stands up she wipes the ashes off her dress with her blackened palms. Evidence of her hard work. It hurt me to see her in such dirty rags. Clothes that seem so beneath her. Even so they didn't take away from her  natural beauty.

"you've been like this since I've returned. Are you okay?"

" just too many chores to keep up with."

My heart drops I always knew when she was lying.

Before I can push any further she brings over a keattle that's been sitting by the fire since I've returned

The smell of lavender immediately fills the room. It's something she makes for me every night to help soothe away my nightmares

"I'm the one that should worry. Your having nightmares almost every night." She says as she pours hot tea into a teacup for me.

She was giving me another chance to confide in her. As I've done my entire life. It felt un natural to not tell Lia something.

My friendship with Theo isn't the only one that's changed in the castle walls. Secrets we've never kept before beginning to drive a wedge between us.

"You can talk to me about them you know and I'll never judge you."

I think back to the dreams. I remember the ice cold fear. How could I be so scared of something I didn't know.

However I didn't know how to tell her about something I couldn't understand myself.

"blood to blood. " Lia says cutting through my thoughts. Reminding me of the blood oath we mad.

sticking out her pinky. i wrap mine around hers as i place my forehead against hers.

"ash to ash " i say as i touch my forehead to hers a promise we've been making to each other since we could barely talk.

a promise we first made beneath the redwoods in the mountains. It feels like only yeterday I felt the knife slice through my palm. I remember how weight of that promise didn't feel real until our bloody palms touched.

"ill never forget that promise to you Rose. I hope you don't as well.

I look at her rags and  my heart sinks. Although The clothes she were beneath her.

"Okay time to get ready for bed Rose." Smile returning to her face.

Her smiles always made me feel the way fresh honey does.
L She uses a wet cloth to smooth away today's debris from my finger tips. She moves behind me to start to unbid my gown. I shy in relief as the restrictions begin to go away. A thin night gown soon replaces it.

I sit on my bed as I begin to sip my te

I almost jump out of my skin
when I hear the sound of leather against skin.  it two leather bindings coming from the satchel she had hiding in a basket of clean gowns.

"I have something to cheer u up."

Aliena was always lawbreaker the thing I loved most of her. She often reminded me of my mother. She would never bend to the will of our world because she wasn't born to it. She became a servant after her country fell to mine. My father being  the merciful king as he is gave her king the choice. Let your children Die next to you  or let them grow up our servants. Her king choose to save his people's children.

Even An orphaned servant's fate is better than death. We treated our servants with kindness.

My hungry eyes scan the leather binding. Excited for my next adventure. I wanted to read of the beautiful sea monsters who lured men out to sea and the humans who could turn into wolves.

The books were something between us not even Theo knew. He would never approve. It was the only secret we kept from him.

Books are illegal. Only a chosen few were allowed to read them. Such as the king and a few of the Royal light keepers. All men. No women was ever allowed to read nor be taught. Yet since my mother was a foreign princess she knew how to read as good as any man. She taught me in secret. Something that was taught to everyone in her country.

Thank the gods. I couldn't imagine a world without words.

I reach my hungry fingers out. Before I could touch the book. Aliena moves then from my finger tips. She was always careful never let them get damaged.

"You know the rules."

The book also serves as a reminder of the secrets we have growing between us.

Although I never knew how she got them I knew they had to be returned. I open my dresser draw to put on my gloves.

I run to wash my hands in the sink near by.

. To my relief she finally lets me grab the binding.

"Another love story." I whisper in dis appointment.

"I thought it might help to excite you for the princes arrival."

"Love might  come with the prince." She whispers as if her words would encourage me.

"I don't want love."

Love killed my mother. I never wanted love.

"There's a reason why it is illegal." I continue

Falling in love meant the risk of being declared submissive. Which was one fate worst then Death. I've heard rumors of what happened to those declared submissive. They say they're sent to the dark forest with no food water or help. Most of the rumors ended with them taking there own lives from being so lonely.

She seemed to struggle with her words.

"There is no point in life without love. Women are not just meant to breed Children.

"Love drives people mad." I whisper

"Better to be mad then live a life with no joy."

"The books are right you know. It is amazing as they say."

"What is?"

"To be In love." She whispers.

Before I could ask her how she could ever possibly know because servants weren't allowed to follow thier hearts. Nor marry. there lives were a life of service only. She skips out the room towards the door.

"I'll be back after laundry." She mummers before opening the door.

And then I'm reminded again she has one thing I don't. Freedom.

I move towards my extravagant bed. I sit on the mattress made of the finest goose feathers money can buy. Sheets made Yehvan silk caress my skin. I truly ever wondered if I would get used to have such nice things.

I open the binding groggily. My mind drifts off quickly as i begin to read the words infront of me. The story begins with a young handsome pirate getting ready for sea.

I smile to myself.

Maybe Aliana knows me better then I thought. I smile to myself as I sip my tea. Only a few minutes later I heard Alaina slip back in but I was too lost in my worlds. I continue to sip my lavender tea. It wasn't too long after that I can feel myself drifting off into the arms of my dreams.