The Enchanted Rose (9 page)

“How does that help me fight the storm itself?” 

“You and the wizard are going to have to figure that
out. I do not know. I am sorry.” She pulls me into a hug. “But I believe in you.” 

“Thank you, Mother. For everything.” I wrap my arms around her, not wanting to go. 

“I have one more gift for you.” She steps back and returns to her armoire. 

“Oh?” 

“This was given to me in one of my greatest times of need. If not for this gift, I would never have been able to defeat the princess witch all those years ago. And now I see that you, too, are going to need a helping claw.” She winks.

Her words confuse me, as I believe the expression is “helping hand.” 

She turns around, holding something wrapped in cloth. She gently sets the item on the bed and begins unwrapping it. 

I watch as the most beautiful sword I’ve ever seen comes into view. A dragon head for the pommel, wings and a claw for the guard. The sheath is forest green, protecting the blade. 

“This is beautiful.” I run my finger over the hilt. 

“Pick it up. See how it feels.” She steps aside. 

I do as she says, unsheathing the sword and admiring the blade, which is in pristine condition. 

“I’ve never held a more stunning sword. You cannot expect me to take this and use it. I need a sword I can get dirty.” I slide the sheath back on and lay it on the cloth. 

“This is more than a sword, son. This is an army. You are going to need help if the person who is doing this has hurt Selma. Use this weapon to call upon the king of the dragons, Fuentes. For when you do so, he will come, and he will be your guide, your guardian, and your friend. He will protect you whenever you need it most.” Tears form in her eyes as she says the words. My mother has a dragon on her side. 

A dragon who will now be on
my
side. Suddenly, this mission doesn’t seem quite as bleak. 

“Thank you. Thank you so much!” I hug her one more time, unsure what I could ever do to show just how much I mean those words. 

“You’re welcome.” She laughs, a beautiful sound. 

I step back and pick up the sword again. “I best be going. I need to rest before we set out.” 

“Yes, you do. Be careful. And Osric?” 

“Yes?” 

“One more thing. Take gloves.” She wraps her arms around me and hugs me until I step back. I walk through the corridors numb, trying not to think of what awaits me on that mountain. When I make it to my quarters, I promptly climb into bed and hope that sleep will come long enough for me to rest, even if only for a little while.

It’s still dark out when Edda nudges me awake. I half hoped that it was all a nightmare, that I would awaken to the sun shining in my eyes, Edda smiling at me as she comments on my ability to sleep so much. 

But alas, a frown greets me instead, and the sky is still dark. “Prince, I am sorry to wake you so early, but a wizard is requesting your presence.” 

I throw back the covers and begin shivering as I make my way from my bed to the clothes laid out for me. I quickly change and grab my satchel. One check to ensure I have all that I may need, then I leave my room and follow Edda through the corridors and down to the kitchens. 

“You’ll want food for your journey, Your Highness.” She nods to the cook, who offers me a smile before handing me another satchel filled to the brim with food. 

“Thank you.” I return her smile before turning to face Edda. 

“Take care of Mother and Father for me, Edda.” She wipes a tear from her eye as she nods. I can’t help but chuckle. “What’s the matter?” 

“Oh, Osric, I knew this day would come. I knew I would have to say good-bye to you as you went out on your adventure. It’s in your blood.” She winks. 

Another chuckle escapes my lips. “Thank you, Edda.” I kiss her on the cheek and turn to leave. The wizard is standing at the door, waiting for me. He looks uneasy, and I can understand why. I’m anxious to get this over with too, to put it behind me and return to Roselyn. 

Once we get outside, I begin walking toward the stables to fetch a horse. The wizard grabs my arm and pulls me back. “Your Highness, you will not need a horse.” 

“You expect me to believe we can do this on foot? On horseback, it’s a day’s ride to the mountain.

If we walk, it will take at least three,” I counter. 

“Your Highness, we aren’t going on foot. The queen was kind enough to call upon help for us. With just the two of us, we may never save the world.” 

“And where might this help be?” I look around, but we stand alone in the courtyard, not another person in sight.

“Follow me.” He begins walking, leaving me with little choice. I follow behind him, looking to find an army of others willing to help us, but we continue on foot, just us two. The storm has calmed, the wind barely a breeze. 

The rain has turned into a drizzle, but the chill still bites. I pull my cloak closer to me and shiver as I walk in the wizard’s footsteps. My heart sinks when we approach the road between castles, the path leading directly to the mountain. 

“What is this? I thought we weren’t going on foot.” 

“You’re not, Prince.” A deep voice rattles my very bones. I walk a little farther to find the “help.” His blue-and-silver scales shine bright, even without sunlight. His wings lie flat against him, but based on his considerable stature, I can only imagine how wide they spread.

“Osric, your mother would like for you to meet one of her very old friends, Fuentes.” 

I look at the sword now strapped to my belt. If Mother gave me the sword, how did she already call upon the dragon? Perhaps she did so before giving it to me. 

I have to take a deep breath before bowing. “A pleasure, Your Majesty.” I wait for him to return my bow before I stand straight again. 

“You are her son, are you not?” the dragon asks. 

“I am.” I nod. I can’t take my eyes away from him. All this time, after many years of hearing the stories of my mother’s adventures with the dragon, how this very beast helped save our world—never once did I think I would have the honor of meeting him.

And yet, here he is, waiting to help me on my journey. There is no other way to describe my action but merely saying, I gawk. The king of all dragons before me, here to help me save magic and fix the mess I’ve caused. 

“Gwydion, we must leave soon.” Fuentes speaks to the wizard, who nods in agreement. 

“Come, Prince.” I follow the wizard as he approaches Fuentes’s side. He uses the dragon’s scales as holds and climbs upon his back. “We do not have all the time in the world, Osric. Please hurry.” Gwydion gets situated, and both he and the dragon wait for me. 

I take a deep breath and follow his movements, hoping I do not hurt Fuentes. As I find a foothold, I notice how thick his scales are, and wonder if I could do damage on my own anyway. He doesn’t move at all until I am firmly on his back, sitting right behind the wizard. 

“Let us ride and ride fast, my friend, for we do not want to be caught in the storm about to befall this kingdom and all the kingdoms in Avonathia.” 

Fuentes steps farther down the path, away from the castles and towns, before spreading his wings. They are as massive as I expected. I marvel at their expanse and great beauty. They shimmer even in the dullest purple haze blocking the sunlight. 

He looks back, a smirk evident on his face before he turns and takes one giant leap. Then we’re soaring through the black clouds. It feels as if the air is sucked right from my lungs. Several seconds pass before I can breathe again.

And if I thought it had been cold on the ground, what I feel now is beyond freezing. The only thing keeping me from turning into a block of ice is the warmth Fuente provides. His scales heat beneath me until I am warm enough that the shivering stops. 

Gwydion spreads his arms and hollers as if he is having a grand old time. I hold on to the scales beside my legs, unable to loosen my grip even if I wanted to. How the wizard can be so carefree while his very life could end, should lightning decide to bolt across him right now, I will never know. 

Never before did I believe I could be afraid of heights. Even climbing the castle wall to see Roselyn did not frighten me. I squeeze my eyes shut and hope my heart calms before it beats right out of my chest.

As we approach the mountain, the clouds grow darker, with very little light to be found. What looks to be the heart of the storm rages over the mountain peak. I hate to think of what we will find when we get there. 

“Milady, Queen Jossa has demanded your presence,” Madrid says with a light pat on my shoulder. I wish to ignore her. I know the queen will wonder why my eyes are rimmed in red, why my face is puffy. She will want to know why I’ve been crying.

Osric is gone. Chavez is here. And right now, I wish more than anything that their places could be switched. But I know that Jossa will punish Madrid if I do not meet her for Chavez’s welcome party. 

With dread filling me, I climb from my bed and allow Madrid to help me change into a gown that will please Mother. Its vibrant red color brightens the dark room. I cast a glance outside and note the cloud-covered sky. 

The storm still thrives. It terrifies me to know that Osric is traveling into the darkest, most dangerous part of the storm. What if he doesn’t make it out alive? What if he does, but it’s too late? So much hangs in the balance, and all I can do is wait. 

“Princess.” Madrid touches my shoulder again. “Should I inform the queen that you are not feeling well?” I look at her, and catch my reflection in the mirror behind her.

“No. I’m sorry.” I shake my head and let her put my hair up. Once she is finished, I step into a pair of slippers and allow Madrid to lead me to my mother. We pass through the great hall, now filled with people.

Every person in the room appears scared and cold. I worry for them. What happens when Jossa changes her mind and throws everyone out? What happens if Osric and the wizard can’t fix this? 

We continue walking until we stand before the grand doors leading outside. I wish I had thought to bring a cloak with me. I hadn’t known we would be welcoming the prince out in the storm. I cross my arms and try to keep myself warm as we step outside. 

The queen does not look so well herself. It would appear that the break of all enchantments has shown her real features. Her skin is
more wrinkled than I’ve ever seen it. There are bags beneath her eyes that were not there before. It makes me smile, knowing she had to use magic to keep up her good looks. 

“It is about time, Princess Roselyn. I should hate to think that you would allow your fiancé to arrive without being here to greet him,” Mother says without turning to look at me. 

“Of course not, Mother,” I say through gritted teeth. It must have been evident because she turns on her heel and clutches my upper arm. 

“You will do well to remember how this is going to go about. You will greet him as if he is the reason you breathe. You will be cordial and allow him to woo you. You will show him your world, welcome him in, allow him to get to you know. And whether you like it or not, you will marry him in three days’ time. So I suggest you get rid of all thoughts of your far-off prince and allow Chavez to own your heart.” 

I want to argue. I wish I had the strength to tell her everything—how I feel about Osric, how at this moment, he is trying to find a way to stop that rose from turning red so we can be together. I want to tell her I will not marry Chavez, but I simply nod. “Yes, Your Majesty.” 

She smiles, more a sneer before turning just in time to see the carriage drive through the castle gates, flanked by soldiers on horses. I look past Jossa to the king and wonder if he heard a word she just spoke to me, and if he did, does he care? Does he also want me to marry Chavez, despite where my heart lies? 

I clench my jaw. Jossa looks my way, her glare so menacing, I fear her more than ever. I take it as a hint and smile a proper smile fit for a princess, happy to finally be with her fiancé. But the truth is, I’ve never been more miserable in my life.

A manservant opens the carriage door, and the prince climbs down from inside. His skin is caramel brown. His black hair covers his forehead and enhances his forest-green eyes. His jaw is chiseled, but his cheeks are round. He’s handsome, no doubt. 

But seeing him, I do not long to be in his arms. I do not want to be his wife. I only hope he finds someone who loves him as much as I love Osric. Despite his good looks, his fortune, and the fact that he’s
mine,
my heart refuses to give up. Osric is the only prince I will ever love. The only man who will own all my heart, occupy my every thought, the only person I would gladly die for. 

Prince Chavez approaches and bows graciously to all three of us—first to the king, then to Jossa, and finally to me. As he bows, he takes my hand in his and kisses my knuckles. I take calming breaths and try to remain happy on the outside. 

Thankfully, I do not have to worry about faking a blush, for I’m sure the cold air already has my cheeks a light shade of pink. “It’s a pleasure, Your Highness.” He looks up at me with bright eyes, a smile on his lips. I realize that if my heart did not already belong to another, I might have fallen for this man. He’s charming and handsome. 

“Thank you.” I curtsy, completely forgetting all proper etiquette. Mother clears her throat, but I don’t know what I did wrong, so I ignore her and slip my hand away from Chavez. 

“You there,” Jossa commands one of the servants. “Take the prince’s belongings to his rooms. You.” She looks to another servant. “Take his horses and carriage to the stables. Make sure they are properly fed and groomed.” She nods, an annoying habit she has when she is bossing others around. 

“As for you.” She latches on to the prince’s arm. “Let’s get you settled in. The cooks are already preparing a feast in your honor.” She smiles wide and leads him into the castle. King Inginio either doesn’t notice or just doesn’t care—most likely the latter—and goes off in another direction entirely.

Just once, I wish he would ask me what I think. What I want. I wish he would be the father I need and take care of me. Instead, he has allowed Jossa control of my life, and she couldn’t care less if I don’t want to marry Chavez. 

“Milady, are you all right?” Madrid steps up beside me. 

“Why does she want me with Chavez so desperately, Madrid?” I watch them walk away until they turn a corner and disappear from view. I take a step back and stand outside the doorway, unsure what else to do. 

“I do not know, Rose. But if she is adamant you marry him despite being in love with someone else, she has a reason. And most likely not a good one.” 

“I think you’re right. Certainly she would not force me to marry someone I did not love just to spite me. The question is, how do I figure out her reasoning? And more importantly, how do I stop this from happening?” I turn to look at her.

“I believe that for the moment, you’re going to have to trust Osric completely. He must succeed in saving us all from this storm. We need magic restored, or the land won’t thrive. The kingdoms will fall. And it won’t matter who’s royal and who’s peasant.” 

“Do you think someone in a lesser station intentionally set off that storm? Perhaps that is what they want—the kingdoms and their kings to fall.”

“I wish I had the answers, but Osric is out there at this very moment, Roselyn. He is searching for the truth and doing all that he can to ensure that you two are together. Let him worry about the storm. You worry about Chavez and the wedding.” 

“We must stop the wedding, Madrid.” I rest my hands on her shoulders, facing her. “And I’m going to need your help.” 

“Anything you need.” She offers me a smile.

“Thank you.” I turn and watch the people milling about while the storm starts up full force once more outside. 

“Of course, milady. So what do you propose we do?” She turns as well, but stands a few steps behind me. 

“I need to know what Jossa is doing, why she wants me with Chavez so much. I need to get the prince out of Mother’s clutches long enough to speak with him alone.”