The wondrously bright full moon was on watch. She swam into the velvety timeless night sky, lighting every unmapped land in that earthbound garden of Eden. Yet Rose's chamber, located in the highest tower of the stronghold, was deep in pitch darkness. Her nefarious stepfather had deprived the young woman of everything, even the sight of Selene's friendly silver face. Rose felt like a solitary canary in a cage, her companion had been taken away from their nest. They told her, he wasn't the right one, a princess wouldn't marry a plebeian.
"Wherefore, if the Lord had created everything in His image, then why is my divine beloved, unworthy of that name?".
"His heart is sincere when it binds to mine, I've seen it transpire in front of my eyes".
Now plate-armoured guards patrolled the dark corridors of the castle, from its undercroft to the highest tower. Each wing was checked, as Rose was not allowed to leave her night quarters. She missed her life outside those four brick walls, she longed to see Titan's fiery wheel glistening across the sky.
Arrows of sunlight bathed the meadow where my beloved and I had withdrawn, when we exchanged virtuous sins. Love isn't a mortal matter, but it can make you sleep forever. Will you come and pick up my flowers, or will you take a sit next to me in the carriage ride?.
Jack, her beloved companion, wore his heavy shiny armour and joined the other guards, unrecognisable under his helmet.
It was risky and desperate, just like his love for her. He needed to see his Rose.
She sat on her canopy bed, refusing to take a bite of the savoury supper served for her on a meticulously polished tray. Her stomach contested her deliberate abstinence, but her mind didn't falter one bit. She suddenly heard a rap at her wooden hefty door and instantly, someone slipped in without waiting for an answer.
Playing hide-and-seek in this sublime domestic combat.
I fired my poisoned arrows,
when their bloodhounds smelled me out on the muck.
Rose was thoroughly searching her quarters for the intruded. Then, suddenly a warm hand closed around her pale wrist. Her heartbeat felt like a thousand horses galloping on cobblestone.
"Rose, it's me".
His idyllic voice spread in a red flush on her skin. "Jack, how?" he replied with a peck on her cheek, making her giggle like a little girl.
"Wait, we could be heard" Jack wouldn't listen, his hands were wildly caressing her curves.
"Tonight I'm yours, Rose".
"What about tomorrow?" she asked abruptly, the blue waves in her eyes rippled, he sighed at the sight of them.
"A vessel awaits me, tomorrow at dawn I'll say goodbye for a little while, It's my chance to keep you safe" he cupped her cheeks in his palms, almost daring her not to weep.
"It's my stepfather, isn't it?"
"Yes, Rose. But listen, it's for our best"
She frowned, a single tear ran down her face "For our best? He'll have me married as soon as your vessel will be offshore". Jack cuddled Rose in his lap, trying his best to calm her down, as he got into detail about his plan: "I'll flee far off, we'll let him believe that you've changed your mind. When the time will be ripe, I'll hold you again" Rose scanned his eyes for any kind of doubt, and found none.
They made love slowly, as if they could have stopped the sun from chasing away the stars. "I don't want you to go" she whispered against his unclothed shoulder. Their eyes met and exchanged vows that one can't just speak about. "Get a hold of that candle over there" he spoke to her quietly, just like he was afraid to break some kind of spell.
She stood from her slept-in bed, not bothering to shield her flesh from his worshipping eyes, and reached for the candle. She lit the wick and instantly, a yellowy halo unclosed around it.
She pivoted barefoot on the wooden floor, turning to him. Jack handed her some graphite, which she accepted, still oblivious of his tacit request. She raised the candle to his eyes, and in their semi-darkness she saw a flame. She became unequivocally aware of his gift to her, Jack was letting her sketch his shadow on the chestnut wall behind her bedpost.
Rose traced the outline of his shadow with sure strokes and cerise cheeks. Even in those simple lines, Jack looked empyrean to her, like one of the sculptures she had seen years before. "Whenever you miss me, know that I'm right here" he told her bringing his lips to hers. "No Jack, you are in here" she guided one of his hands to her throbbing heart. He smiled to her, his own heart was bursting with love and admiration for his girl.
"We should sleep" his fingers were in her flaming curls, playing with them. "But I'll wake up without you" she took a deep breath and curled up to him, instantly feeling sleepy in his warmth.
Jack couldn't sleep, his mind was trying to memories every single freckle on her nose, every curve of her figure. He treasured every single little thing of her, knowing that longing for Rose was inexorable, once he would leave.
When the sun ascended, Jack's heart sank. Rose was asleep and he was thankful for that, he couldn't imagine how hard it would have been to see her so upset because of him, while he knew he was out of time and needed to go instantly.
He sneaked off like a professional, his armour didn't even squeak against his skin.
Jack turned one last time towards Rose, making a silent promise to come back and be forever hers. "I love you" he pronounced those three simple strong words aloud, to no one and to the whole world.
When Rose woke, she knew that his Jack had already left, before even opening her eyes. She just could feel it all over herself, his absence was palpable. Her bedsheets were cold and unwelcoming.
She rushed to her window, in time to steal a quick glance at a scarlet standard lifted on a vessel's main mast. "I love you" she said solemnly to the wind, praying that a fragment, or even just a echo of it, could reach his ears.
Author's notes:
First thing first, thank you so much for reading! Please leave a review, I'd love to read your opinion on my work :).
Well, this story came to me while I was admiring a painting by Edmund Blair Leighton ('The Shadow' - 1909).
I'll see you in my next story, until then bye.
The metaphors I used come from Sappho (Moon), Shakespeare (Sun), Emily Dickinson (Death) and myself!
I DO NOT OWN JACK AND ROSE, credits to James Cameron.