The Black Rose (20 page)

“Wait!” Milly screamed running out toward the horses.
She had dressed for the occasion. Normally girls would wear dresses, but she had managed to find a pair of pants and a white shirt that fit her. Being a maid she knew where the laundry was kept and had stolen some men’s clothes. They were a little big on her, but it would have to do.

“Milly, you shouldn’t be out here,” Jerome said.

“I’m coming too!”

“Milly….” The King began but Yolande raised her hand to stop him.

“My child, this is a dangerous mission, but I sense you have a great reason for coming
.
I
f
you are still determined to come, I grant
permission,
”
said Yolande.

“I want to go.”
Milly said firmly. She had made her decision last night when she uncovered her past. She had no intention to fight, but only wished to know the truth.
Milly knew she would be risking her life, but at the same time, she somehow knew she was going to be alright.

“Get the girl a horse,” King Wilhelm commanded.
There was no use going against Yolande’s command.
One of the guards nodded and hopped off his horse. He ran off toward the stables.

“You can’t be serious,” Jerome said looking at Yolande and then the
k
ing, “She could get hurt!”

“This is her decision,” said Yolande, “She knows the danger.”

“What reason do you have to go?” King Wilhelm asked looking at Milly.

“
It is a secret I intend to take to the grave,” Milly said as the guard arrived with a
horse for her. She climbed onto the
brown
mare’s back.

“Be careful,” King Wilhelm said and Milly nodded. It was then she realized how much the
k
ing and
q
ueen cared for her. Though she was not their child, they took her in and cared for her. She owed them
for that
.

“Let’s go!” Jerome shouted and the troop headed off toward Fantasme Forest
, which was still creeping towards Aridale
.
Despite being dark out, the forest was well lit. The lumairas were glowing. There were also other strange plants that hung off of the trees that glowed. Occasionally a ball of light would flicker by, which Milly assumed were fairies or forest sprites.

Yolande
acted as
their guide
through the forest.
She knew the way and also knew how to avoid danger if there would be any. Fantasme Forest was still a huge mystery since few ever ventured into it. Yolande
would later act as their decoy while Jerome prepared to kill Lord Melanthius
.

“
I will end this
.”
Jerome thought as they marched through the forest.

“Rose! Rose!” Magnolia panicked as she tried to wake Wilhelmina.

“Wake up!” Hibiscus urged. All the maids were around her trying to shake her awake. Eventually Wilhelmina opened her eyes.

“What’s going on?” Wilhelmina asked as she stared at all the maids.

“Get dressed,” Orchid urged helping Wilhelmina to her feet.

“It’s terrible, we have to hurry!” Lily was jumping up in down along with Marigold. Both girls were very anxious and their anxiety was being transferred to Wilhelmina.

“What’s happening?” Wilhelmina asked as the maids rushed her out of her room, down the stairs, and to the front of the castle.

“Lord Edmund….” Violet began, but couldn’t finish due to tears.

“He’s going to,” Lobelia continued,
speaking between sobs
, “sacrifice
himself
.”

“What!” Wilhelmina exclaimed, “
What
do you mean?’

“The King ordered for him to be killed, there’s a whole army coming; he’s going to let them….” Orchid said solemnly.

“No, he can’t….” Wilhelmina felt her heart breaking, she ran at the door, but it wouldn’t open.

“He’s made it so we can’t interfere, we are stuck in here,” Amaryllis spoke, tears falling down her face.

Wilhelmina wouldn’t give up, she ran from door to door, but none would budge, there was a window though by the main doors and she ran to it. Edmund was standing outside.
He was drenched from the rain, a sign that he had been outside for awhile.
Wilhelmina
pounded on the window, but even that wouldn’t budge
and he didn’t seem to hear her
pounding.

“Edmund!”
She tried screaming, but he didn’t turn to look at her.

“His magic is strong,” Marigold said coming up behind Wilhelmina. The other girls soon were standing around her.

“Why? Why would he….” Wilhelmina began to cry.

“Because to him, you’re more important,” Lotus said sweetly placing her hand on Wilhelmina’s, “He also knows this is his fault and so he
wants to take the blame
. He doesn’t want you to.”

“It’s not fair!” Wilhelmina exclaimed and Orchid pulled her into her arms. All the other girls began to sob, even Lotus, the calmest of them all, had tears now trickling down her rosy cheeks.

Outside in the rain, Edmund awaited his death. He had managed to seal the castle in time. He did not want Wilhelmina or his maids involved in what is to come. He even sound proofed it so he couldn’t hear their cries.
He didn’t want to be influenced by them.
Edmund had accepted his fate and would not fight back.
This was his decision.

Edmund’s
heart
was once lonely
and full of hate
, but it
had been warmed by Wilhelmina.
She had allowed him to find happiness and even love, an emotion he thought he would never feel again after his mother had left. Edmund now
had something he had to protect and if that meant his life, then it was worth it.

Though it was only a short time, Edmund had watched over Wilhelmina through the magic mirror since her birth.
He
had
watched her grow and
had
seen her
cry
.
The
n,
he had only cared about the curse, but now he realized that he had been watching her for another reason. He was attracted to her and the night at the ball had proven it.

A noise in the forest caught
Edmund’s attentions. They were coming. He listened intently as the horses hooves drew nearer
as the sun rose
. Soon he would die.
“So this is my fate,”
He
thought as
he looked in the direction the sound was coming from
.

Yolande was the first to exit the forest and appear in front of Edmund. Prince Jerome soon appeared by her side and then the rest of the small army the king had sent. Among them was a girl that Edmund recognized from all his years of spying on Wilhelmina. She was Wilhelmina’s friend, Milly, but what was a girl doing in battle? He looked at her and noticed that she was looking at him as well. There was something odd about her that he hadn’t noticed before. His focus had always been on Wilhelmina, never on Milly.

Milly locked eyes with Lord Melanthius. Though they did not look alike, she knew he was her brother. There slight similarities in facial features, the nose being the most prominent. Milly felt a strange mixture of anger and sorrow. She hated him for taking Wilhelmina, but another part of her wanted to get to know him, her long lost brother. However, she knew that wouldn’t happen. He had to die
in order to save Wilhelmina and to end the horrid curse
.

“Lord Endymion Melanthius,” Yolande began to speak and
everyone became silent
. All that could be heard was the sound of the rain, “You have manipulated nature and use
d
it as a tool of destruction, for that you must pay the price.”

“I accept,” Edmund said. There was no fear in his voice for he had already come to terms with his fate. Today he would die.

“You what…” Jerome began, but Yolande held him back.

“It could be a trap,” She said.

“I accept that what I have done is wrong. You may kill me. I only ask you spare the maidens that reside with the castle,” Edmund spoke. He opened his arms to reveal he was serious.

“
It doesn’t seem right,” Milly spoke up. She had a very strange feeling. The anger inside of her left and a strong desire to save Edmund took over. Was it because he was her brother or was it something else?

“We have no choice, but to kill him, if he’s willing, then it just makes it easier for us,” Jerome said before hop
p
ing off his horse. He placed one hand on the hilt of his sword and began to walk forward.
Yolande watched in the background for any sign of it being a trap. Everyone was focused on Edmund and Jerome, that no one noticed the maidens at the window.

Milly remained frozen sitting on her horse. She was confused and was not sure what to do.
Her heart told her to stop Jerome, but she couldn’t find the voice to shout. Plus, there was no other option. Edmund had to die to end the curse. Milly kept her eyes locked on Jerome and Edmund.

Wilhelmina screamed and pounded on the window. At first the other girls had tried to calm her, but at Orchid’s command, they let her be. They cried for Edmund, but mostly for Wilhelmina. None had ever seen so much sorrow in their life.

“Edmund!
Edmund!
Don’t do it!
” Wilhelmina
shouted as she pounded on
the g
lass. Her fear intensified when she saw him open his arms as if to welcome death.
“Stop it! Don’t do it! It’s not worth it!”

She pounded harder when Jerome began to walk but it was no use.
“I’m not worth it…”
Wilhelmina stood back finally feeling defeated. She remained standing and though tears ran down her face, she did not take her eyes off the scene before her.

Jerome walked up to Edmund and stopped when he was just a few feet away from him. He drew his sword. Edmund did not move. “
This was a lot easier than I had expected,”
Jerome thought.

“
Why? It’s not fair! It’s my fault, not his! I’m the cursed one! I should be the one to die!”
Wilhelmina
thought wishing there was something she could do. She felt a strong power within her
and when Jerome was just inches away from Edmund, she screamed, “No!” A bright light erupted around Wilhelmina and she felt her body being pulled apart and then back together. The next thing she felt was a sharp, agonizing, pain in her chest.

“No!” Edmund screamed as he held Wilhelmina.

“You!”
Jerome pointed at Edmund as he pulled the sword that had stabbed Wilhelmina, “You planned this!”

Edmund ignored Jerome and looked down at Wilhelmina, “Mina, don’t! Don’t!
Wake up, please,
open
your eyes!
” He shouted and shook her. Her eyes opened.

“Edmund,” Her voice was faint. She touched his cheek with her hand.

Jerome was about to stab Edmund as well, but Yolande held him back. “Let them be!” She ordered holding off the others with her magic.
She hadn’t expected this one bit and wanted to the scene to play out so she could get some answers.

Milly had started
running
as soon as she saw Wilhelmina
, but now could not move. Yolande had made it so they couldn’t move. She watched in horror as her best friend
lay
dying.

“
Why? Why would she?”
Milly thought as tears streamed down her face.

Inside the castle the maids were in shock. Many had fallen to their knees, even
Lotus and Orchid
had burst into tears
. They hugged one another and wept at the loss of their friend that had granted them life.

“Why?” Edmund sobbed.

Wilhelmina smiled
as tears fell from her eyes as well
, “I’m just a flower after all
….”

“No,” Edmund shook his head, “No, you were much more than that.” He stroked her hair.

“Edmund, I….” Wilhelmina felt herself fading away, “I love you.” Her eyes closed and her hand fell limp.

At that moment the rain stopped pouring, the sun appeared in Aridale and the people rejoiced. Edolie, who was so
close to death, had healed and
King
Wilhelm
held his daughter close
to him. The only one not rejoicing
was Queen Henrietta.
Though she was glad Edolie was alright, her heart was breaking. S
he knew that she had lost a daughter, a daughter she loved dearly
..
.