This story was conceived by me (Eleanor_Devil) and written by Engydragon. Originally written in Italian, I am translating the story into other languages.
Rose in the Desert
Chapter 1 – The Meeting…
The heart going crazy, the legs screaming in pain and the breathing gnaws the soul…
Turns to the right, left, runs fast without bothering with who was in front of her.
The smell of bread comes to her nose, blinding her, while the stomach growls, but there is not time, there is never time to eat.
Runs, runs crazily…
Far, faster and faster…seems that she flies.
Turns to right, then left. The streets filled with people, screams, smells, noises hinder her run…
Everything looks the same in the infinite run; the dust that rises also seems to go against her. Everything seemed to be in favor of those who chased her…
Her past, her father…the royal guards, the ones from which she continued to run away from through her whole life to be able to live in that kingdom where she had done nothing else but work hard and feel infinite pain in everything life had offered her…
She looked behind herself, and among the people passing by, she saw the drawn swords that emerged from the sea of the passers, ready to finally touch the skin of her hands or her neck, to give her the proper punishment for every misdeed!
She went back to look forward, avoiding the passers, dropping food, stalls…as every single day…by now she surpassed the obstacles by overcoming them, without looking at a mild solution, because there wasn't, there was never one, at least for her.
She made a jar full of water drop on a lady, she turned in time to apologize and then return to her run. By now it was indifferent to apologize or not, she was unstoppable and had by now created a small shell in her heart, all the insults and reproaches didn't hurt her like they used to.
But the bitterness and sadness of everything she was doing, she was aware of it…she still had a conscience and that was a good thing.
But she continued to wonder for how much longer this would have to continue. Stealing, escaping, seeking a shelter for the night and live continually in order to survive…was it this that she deserved in her life?
By now she didn't know anymore what fear was, she had already been through many horrible things and on her shoulders she had lot of experience that always made her feel more tired and proven.
But she couldn't stop, not now!
Promise me that you will deal well with people and that you can know the true meaning of forgiveness.
Forgive your father and anyone that can cause you damage…promise me that you will do it, just so you can truly love, my baby girl…
Raf almost starts crying as she remembered the voice of her beloved mother. She lost her at only four years, from that moment on her life became a true living hell!
The teachings of her mother she hadn't forgotten them…she would never do that!
But how could she forgive what her father had done to her, what life had reserved to her!?
-There you are!-
He appeared in front of the girl's path, one of the royal guards of the Sultan, who blocked her way.
She was not able to avoid it and soon was locked between the two powerful and strong arms of the guard.
Soon came the others with swords and sabers gleaming in the sunlight.
Raf tried to escape, wriggling out of the grip, as she felt the guards laugh. He was holding her too tight, way too possessive.
In fact she had always been the favorite woman of every man when she danced in that bar, and where for a handful of money she had been bartered. She had never been so disappointed with her father!
At one point she felt the guard's hands touching her breasts! No, she shouldn't allow him!
Raf, with a quick movement, bit the hand of the guard trying to hurt him as much as she could, so she could have time to escape!
The man released his grip and Raf fell on the floor, but quickly got up, running away. The guards followed…
She ran like never before! It had happened more than once that they had managed to get her, but she always found a way to escape.
She cried…
She cried because she had the feeling that this time she wouldn't be able to escape…
"Mom, I tried to be as you wanted…I'm sorry! I just hope to be able to meet you again!"
She fell to the ground exhausted.
She had run for three years in an attempt to survive, and her body was now at the end of strength. Maybe it was the end?
She was breathing heavily through the dust of the ground, under the gaze of people.
The guards came and arrested her.
She didn't know what would happen to her, but at least she hoped for something that would appease her endless pain in all of this…
Running, running…
Running away from the consciousness of having been a mistake from the moment you opened your eyes to the world.
You try to throw everything behind your back, without regrets and resist of those who believe you are a monster!
By now, your rough skin resists to all of this, but it's inside that you feel weak and fragile. You don't want to show your weakness, so you fight hoping one day to find peace to move forward.
And perhaps this is what makes a person strong and sure of him!? Maybe it is, but it will lead to lock up every ray of happiness into the darkness of your heart, by now having become stone!
It's very dangerous if the one, who owns this heart, is powerful and controls a big kingdom…
For too long all of these thoughts haunted Prince Sulfus. He still couldn't understand why, and he didn't know if it was a good thing.
A person with so many thoughts wasn't a decided man and sure of himself. One day he would be Sultan and couldn't afford to be insecure!
The water in the tub relaxed him and the heat rocked him away from all of his problems.
Someone knocked at the door of his room.
He turned around, leaning his arms on the edge of the tub. He lowered his head, staring at it. If it was his father, he couldn't bear another discussion and wouldn't be liable for what he could do.
He decided to speak in a cold voice: -Come in!-
The door opened, as the prince slowly looked up to see the figure obscured by the light that came from the room.
-It's me, my prince!- replied a sweet and gentle voice. Tante.
A middle-aged woman, tall, with beautiful brown hair, tied in a long braid with dark skin and pure. She wore a Galabeya, a long red dress for women who worked in housework, but for servants like her, these clothes were used to work at the palace. Then a veil on her head, pure orange…Sulfus liked especially the scent of spices.
He became more relaxed and on his cold face, formed a small smile of happiness: - I haven't seen through all this morning! I missed you, especially your advices…-
She entered in the room, with some orange and red cloths with gold embroidery. As she entered, she showed a loving smile to the prince, who looked at her as he was relaxed in his bathtub.
-Has it been a tough morning, my prince?- asked Tante, as in a large woodened chest she dropped the cloths.
-As every morning. By now the meetings with my father, for a long time, have become nothing more than a discussion, but today was different. I didn't find my father in the palace. For a moment I was pleased…- he smiled – but he didn't warn me that he would be leaving, often he doesn't want me to take care of the administration of the palace, he doesn't trust me…he never has! – he finished with an angry voice.
Tante stopped but didn't look away from the cloth she was holding in her hand –Sulfus, you know that I have known your father since he became a Sultan…and we both know what misfortune has happened…- she said with a sigh and approached the prince: -…but the way in which he considers you is wrong, I know, because I don't know a person better than you, Sulfus. – she knelt close to his face and kissed him on the forehead.
-I took care of you, since you were born, taking the place of your loving mother, who which I am sure, would have given you a lot more love!-
Sulfus lifted his head: - No, Tante! You have given me a love so great that no one could ever deserve!-
There was a knock at the door again.
Sulfus and Tante turned their gazes towards the wooden door.
-Come in!- said Sulfus, while Tante returned to fix the cloths in the chest, she couldn't been seen in such maternal relationships with Sulfus, even though she had been his nanny.
- Prince Sulfus, you have to come to the throne room. It's important!- said in a firm voice one of the royal guards who appeared in the room with his head bowed, inclined.
-I don't want to know!- replied Sulfus in a solemn voice, but the guard continued
- Prince we have finally the thief who, for more than two years, stole food from the village's market!-
- My father will take care of it! Now leave me alone! Go!- Sulfus turned his back to the guard, who was still in the room. He raised his hand in signal for the soldier to go but him
-The Sultan had to leave the palace, now the administration of the palace is yours…and the life of this thief. – he concluded
"The life of this thief", why did it sounded weird. He sighed. He had never choose the destiny of a person, he had never felt able to do so…
Tante feared. She knew that being a thief, often didn't mean to be a stingy person, but a poor and helpless one. She knew it, it had happened to her to have someone decide her fate, but she owned her life to the mother of Prince Sulfus…she had saved her.
-I'm coming…now you can go!- ordered the prince with a weak and thinking voice.
The man left the room, bowing his head.
As soon as he left, Sulfus with agility came out of the tub. He was not ashamed to be seen naked, Tante, he considered her as his mother and she had always been there for him! She considered him the son she never had…so she didn't bother to see him like his mother had made him!
The woman took a white towel and placed it on the shoulders of the prince. – Thank you…- Sulfus answers softly, while Tante merely replied with a smile.
Raf walked on barefoot on the white marble floor of the castle. Everything was so clean and bright, she couldn't believe this was heaven!
She couldn't imagine all this wealth. She wondered if the Sultan had ever seen what life was like outside these sumptuous royal walls.
Outside, where true reality existed. Where people suffered, instead of living in the deception of wealth.
She looked up at the sky, at the entrance, and a dazzling sparkle, showed her some gold decorations on the bow of the big door.
They began to walk up on the stairs also in marble. Cold
She lowered her gaze again and saw a boy, wearing a black jacket with gold trim on the edges and black pants embroidered with gold and red making it look like flames. His hair was long and bluish black color. Those framed his face, like a beautiful painting, and from his fair and delicate skin, emerged two beautiful amber eyes that scrutinized the girl's soul…
As soon as she met his gaze, she felt her heart burn. They approached more and more the boy, until they made the young girl kneel at the feet of that god…must be the prince.
He looked at her from high without even looking down to her level.
Raf was at his feet, he was barefoot. She looked up slowly; she didn't feel worth to look at him.
She saw his face. Beautiful and clear as the sky, but there was something that made him cold as marble, on which she was lying at the moment.
Raf's blue eyes, they melted in front of him. She had never tried this with other men and this terrified her.
The boy sighed.
How could this girl be a thief.
Covered by a long cloak, and kneeling before him, seemed to beg for mercy. He noticed her hair. Blonde locks as gold and big eyes like the ocean, wrecking the thoughts of the prince.
Sulfus shook his head – Look down!- he ordered with anger in his voice
Raf did so.
This prince could look like a god due to such beauty…but such beauty, could be a mortal deception to the soul.
-This is the thief! Finally we have managed to capture her! – smirked one of the royal guards. But the prince glared at him saying:
-Don't be pleased! So much time you spent to capture her, and it's just a stupid girl!-
Those words echoed in Raf's soul. "Stupid girl"
-Get up!- he ordered again, but she didn't move. Perhaps out of fear, or indignation by the offense received.
-The prince had ordered you to get up!- yelled one of the guards who were beside Sulfus. But Raf still didn't get up.
One of the two guards, pulled out his sword: -Get up!- , but Tante who was there to witness the scene with other servants, intervened. Gently she took the girl's right arm, raising it in the presence of Prince Sulfus…then she looked at him…"have mercy of her"
Tante then moved, moved by one of the guards at the prince's side.
Sulfus felt a pang in his heart, seeing the heartbreaking look of the girl…his face seemed off.
Why?
-I'll have to decide your life…- he began, while with his right hand touched the soft skin of Raf's face.
Burning fire was the contact of the prince's skin with the girl's. Both perceived it.
She said nothing and didn't look up.
-It's a shame…- continued the prince -…lose such a rose of rare beauty…- he brushed a strand of hair from her face, while this one became hot with the contact of the prince's skin.
She looked up and he smiled…it wasn't a sweet smile, but Raf knew it was different from all the malicious smiles of the men she had seen in her life.
She was afraid. Perhaps she would end dead, but something inside her heart, made her believe otherwise…