Rose slightly opened her eyes. Everything was blurred and she
couldn't tell where she was. She blinked and opened her eyes wider. Where
was she? This wasn't the streets, the movies, or Adam's house. This was
like a cottage out of a book. The walls were a bittersweet color with
little carvings of deer, rabbits, and other animals, including a dragon
surrounded by jewels.
She looked at the door, which was closed. It opened and an old woman
came in.
"Oh, you're finally awake, Briar-Rose." she smiled. "We found you
with quite a bump on the head, we were afraid we would've lost you." She
turned around and called out the door. "Girls! She's awake!" Rose heard
cries of joy from outside. Why did that old woman call her Briar-Rose?
"Thank heavens!" exclaimed the voice of another old woman. "We'll
inform Prince Phillip at once!" Prince Phillip? Then twelve women came in
and crowded around the bed, smiling at Rose.
"Where am I?" Rose asked.
"Don't be silly! You know where you are!" giggled a thin lady. Rose
shook her head. The thin lady's face grew serious. "Don't you know who we
are, Briar-Rose?" She shook her head again.
"Oh, dear," said the first old lady. "That man must be a magic-
wielder for Jealousy. He's taken away her memory."
"What man, Wisdom?" asked a short old woman.
"You know, the man we found with Briar-Rose yesterday." Wisdom said.
"He has dark brown hair and had strange clothing."
Adam! Rose thought, sitting up. "Where is he?"
"He's locked in the back room." Wisdom pointed a finger to her right.
"But he can't get out. Don't worry about a--" Rose hopped out of bed and
ran down the left hall. Eventually she reached a small door.
"Adam?" she whispered, opening a small window in the door. "Are you
in there?"
"Rose?" He walked up to the window. "Good, you're safe." Rose sighed
and turned around, facing the twelve old women standing in the hall. One of
them walked away and entered another room.
"What are you doing, child?" asked a tall old woman.
"I don't wanna cause trouble." Rose said. "But where am I?"
"Aaahhhh!" Everyone faced the room the scream came from. "Who the
hell are you?! Where the hell am I?!" That sounded like Sherrie. Rose
walked into the room to see Sherrie standing on her bed, her hair a mess.
"Sherrie, calm down." Rose said, walking towards her. "I think these
old ladies want to help."
"Yeah, right! You're probably behind all of this!" Sherrie screamed.
"You're probably telling these witches to give me some of their witches-
brew to poison me!"
"No..." Rose growled. "Tempting, but no. Now get off the bed."
"No."
"Fine." she turned around and faced the other women. "I don't mean to
be rude, but...could you, please, let my friend out of the back room. He
means no harm, I promise."
"But, Briar-Rose, he's the one who kidnapped you from Prince
Phillip." Wisdom said.
"I wasn't kidnapped...! Was I?" Rose asked. "Even if I was kidnapped,
Adam didn't do that. He was actually...trying to help me out. But that's a
different story."
"Wisdom," said another old woman. "She might be telling the truth.
That man did not have a magical cell in his body, now that I remember."
There was a long pause, before Wisdom said, "Alright. Understanding,
you can let him out." Which made Rose smile to herself. Wisdom turned to
her. "And maybe we can get your memory back so you can find out who you
are."
Rose, Adam, and Sherrie were all sitting on a couch in a nicely- decorated upstairs room. The twelve old women each had their own rocking chair, each with their names on the back. They read, Wisdom, Song, Understanding, Beauty, Virtue, Riches, Grace, Joy, Courage, Modesty, Charity, and Friendship. The old women introduced themselves and said to Rose that the day she was born, they each bestowed upon her their gifts, which were their names. They also told her that she was King Ferdenan and Queen Maria's daughter and Princess Snow-White's sister. They told her what had happened before she disappeared: When the thirteenth Wise Woman casted a spell on her and when Prince Phillip risked his life to save her. Her and Phillip were betrothed and that was too much for Rose to handle. If all of this was the truth, then her life was going to change forever. She was going to marry a prince, be a queen, rule a kingdom, and be on the look-out for the thirteenth Wise Woman, who was still plotting revenge over King Ferdenan and Queen Maria. Besides, what was going to become of Adam? She didn't want to lose him.
Rose woke up to the clapping of hoofs against earth. She got out of bed to see what it was. Standing outside of the house was a creamy horse with a silvery mane and tail. The rider was no where to be seen. She walked over to the bed room door and when she was reaching for the knob, there was a knock. She opened the door to see a beautiful woman about her age. She had creamy skin, much lighter than Rose's own skin, and hair black as ebony. "Rose-Red, I'm so happy to see you!" the woman cried, embracing Rose. Unusual names were popping up everywhere: first the twelve women called her Briar-Rose, now her name was Rose-Red. "Rose-Red?" Rose questioned. "That's your other name, silly!" she said. "I always call you that." The old woman named Modesty came up from behind. "She has lost her memory, Snow-White." Modesty said. "She probably doesn't remember who you are." "Oh, no. How awful," Snow-White gasped. "You must remember me, Briar- Rose. You must remember your little sister." "There might be a way to give her back her memory." Wisdom whispered from down the hall. "Come. I'll tell you." Wisdom brought Modesty and Snow- White into a different room. Rose tried to hear what they were saying, but all she could make out was "the gryphon". How was a creature that didn't even exist going to help her? Then again, almost everything else happened to Rose.
Rose woke herself up late at night. She wanted to speak to Adam about all of this. She wanted to tell him that she was scared of what was going to become of him after Prince Phillip decides to take her back. She knew that Adam cared about her, but she wasn't sure if he cared that way she was hoping. I guess...this is the way it has to be. Rose thought. Maybe when I get my memory back, I'll find out that I really love Phillip. Will I still have feelings for Adam? Rose sighed. "Where's the harm in telling him?" She sat up and walked over to the door. She walked down the hall into the living room, where Adam slept at night. Here goes nothing. Rose thought. She stopped dead in her tracks. And turned around. She got back in bed.
Breakfast was made up of white and wheat bread, strawberries, and a sweet butter. Sherrie wouldn't stop holding on to Adam, and was becoming very annoying. For the past few days, she would tell him that she needed comfort and a shoulder to cry on. He'd tell her that everything would be alright, but he didn't let her get too close. He wanted to be Rose's, but that was going to be very hard to come by, since she was to marry a prince. I should tell her today, before the twelve women decide to take her to Phillip. Adam thought. Where's the harm in telling her? He took Rose's hand and gently shook it. She looked up at him. "Hmm?" she asked. Adam just stared at her for a moment with his mouth wide open. "What? Do I have something in my teeth??" "No, no," Adam bit his lip. "Ah, could I, umm, talk to you, later?" "Sure. I have something I want to tell you, too." "Well, I have something to tell you, Rose," said Sherrie, linking arms with Adam. "Back off." "Briar-Rose." said Wisdom, from the other side of the table. "We have news for you. Tomorrow, Prince Phillip, three Knights, and a Faerie are all going to take you to the Gryphon's Lair. The Gryphon will...give you your memory back." "Oh..." Rose said. "Th-That's great." "Do you have something on your mind?" asked Grace. Rose shook her head and said, "I'm going to go outside for some fresh air."
Rose was outside crooning a song she heard in the Other World, as she called it, called "I'm Alive". She liked the woman's singing. She climbed up an apple tree near the cottage, after grabbing a hand full of blackberries. When she was through humming, she heard the bush below rustling. She shifted her position on the tree branch to see what it was. There was a huge black bear sticking his nose into the blackberry bush. The bear looked up the tree. "Rose-Red! Is it really you?" the bear asked in a rumbled voice. "Aah!" Rose shrieked. "You talked!" "Of course I talked! Ha, ha! Don't you remember me?" he asked. "I'm the bear you and Snow-White helped when you two were children. You let me in your cottage to keep warm." Rose shook her head. This must be another one of my lost memories. "You don't remember me..." "No, I'm afraid...I don't." "Then you must see the Gryphon, Maizoon! He has magic almost as great as The Dragon, Druon, himself. He'll help you get your memory back." "I know." Rose sighed. "I'm going to see him tomorrow. Uh, this is going to be a little strange asking a bear this, but...would you like to come along?" "Would I? I'd do anything for you, Briar-Rose."
The next morning. Adam didn't tell Rose how he felt. Fear got the better of him. He should have told her right then and there, for Prince Phillip was coming later that morning. "What's wrong, Adam?" Sherrie asked in her little baby voice. "Nothing." he replied, sneeking a glance at an eating Rose. She wasn't talking much either. Like Adam's plate, hers was still covered with food. "You should eat, dear." said Friendship. "You'll need your strength." "Okay." Rose whispered. There was a knock on the door. "Oh, Rose, could you get that?" asked Wisdom. Rose walked over to the door and opened it. She gasped. She felt like she was about to faint, for the man in bright red armor standing in front of her was unbelievably handsome. He had light brown hair and dark brown eyes. Rose felt like her head was going to explode with all of the blushing she was doing. She must have looked like a tomado by now. "Briar-Rose." the man embraced her and kissed her cheek. Anger struck Adam at the sight of that man kissing Rose. He was about to stand up, but he quickly controled himself. "Good morning, Prince Phillip!" greeted the Wise Women as they bowed their heads. "Good morning." he smiled. "You have guests?" "Yes, and no." said Courage. "We found them with Briar-Rose." "Ah..." Prince Phillip looked at Rose. "Are you ready to leave?" "I guess," she said. She looked at Adam. "But I want Adam to come." "Then I'm coming too!" Sherrie cried. "Wherever Adam goes, I go!" Rose sighed. "Don't forget me." said the voice of The Bear, as Rose called him. "Alright, then." Prince Phillip said. "The rest of the men are ready. You will ride with me on my horse Samson. You remember Samson, don't you?" Rose said no. "You will, soon. Boy! And Girl!" he called Adam and Sherrie. "You two will ride on our extra horse, Coltrane."
As they all rode into the West, Prince Phillip introduced the three Knights, Alvar, Gavin, and Cray, and the Faerie, Lucas. They rode through, what they called, the Halvor Forest all day for two days. They rested the second night. Sherrie was cranky, so she went to bed as soon as they were all settled. Alvar, Gavin, and Cray all slept, while Lucas and Phillip kept watch. Rose dragged Adam away from camp, for she said she wanted to tell him something. "Adam, it's been two days. And you havn't told me what you wanted to tell me. Now what is it?" "This isn't as easy as it may seem, Rose." Adam sighed. This is it. he thought. "I love you." There was a long pause. "W-what...?" Rose questioned, nearly crying. Another pause. "I love you. There I said it. I figured I might as well tell you, since..." A tear ran down Rose's smiling face, as she brushed her fingers through Adam's hair. Adam hated seeing her cry, so he kissed the tear away. Rose kissed him, only on his lips, as his hand reached up her shirt to rub her back. What did this mean? That she loved him too? That this was a kiss good-bye? Or that she was trying to make him feel better by giving him what he wanted? Whatever it meant, Adam loved Rose, anyway. There was a rustle. Rose and Adam didn't stop kissing. "Aah!!" Rose screamed, collapsing into Adam's arms. He gasped and looked at where her shoulder and neck met. There was a sharp blub sticking out. He quickly pulled it out and the bulb crawled away. There was black liquid oozing out of eight tiny holes in Rose's neck. "Oh, no." Adam whispered, still holding Rose. "Oh, no no no. No no no."
Rose, Adam, and Sherrie were all sitting on a couch in a nicely- decorated upstairs room. The twelve old women each had their own rocking chair, each with their names on the back. They read, Wisdom, Song, Understanding, Beauty, Virtue, Riches, Grace, Joy, Courage, Modesty, Charity, and Friendship. The old women introduced themselves and said to Rose that the day she was born, they each bestowed upon her their gifts, which were their names. They also told her that she was King Ferdenan and Queen Maria's daughter and Princess Snow-White's sister. They told her what had happened before she disappeared: When the thirteenth Wise Woman casted a spell on her and when Prince Phillip risked his life to save her. Her and Phillip were betrothed and that was too much for Rose to handle. If all of this was the truth, then her life was going to change forever. She was going to marry a prince, be a queen, rule a kingdom, and be on the look-out for the thirteenth Wise Woman, who was still plotting revenge over King Ferdenan and Queen Maria. Besides, what was going to become of Adam? She didn't want to lose him.
Rose woke up to the clapping of hoofs against earth. She got out of bed to see what it was. Standing outside of the house was a creamy horse with a silvery mane and tail. The rider was no where to be seen. She walked over to the bed room door and when she was reaching for the knob, there was a knock. She opened the door to see a beautiful woman about her age. She had creamy skin, much lighter than Rose's own skin, and hair black as ebony. "Rose-Red, I'm so happy to see you!" the woman cried, embracing Rose. Unusual names were popping up everywhere: first the twelve women called her Briar-Rose, now her name was Rose-Red. "Rose-Red?" Rose questioned. "That's your other name, silly!" she said. "I always call you that." The old woman named Modesty came up from behind. "She has lost her memory, Snow-White." Modesty said. "She probably doesn't remember who you are." "Oh, no. How awful," Snow-White gasped. "You must remember me, Briar- Rose. You must remember your little sister." "There might be a way to give her back her memory." Wisdom whispered from down the hall. "Come. I'll tell you." Wisdom brought Modesty and Snow- White into a different room. Rose tried to hear what they were saying, but all she could make out was "the gryphon". How was a creature that didn't even exist going to help her? Then again, almost everything else happened to Rose.
Rose woke herself up late at night. She wanted to speak to Adam about all of this. She wanted to tell him that she was scared of what was going to become of him after Prince Phillip decides to take her back. She knew that Adam cared about her, but she wasn't sure if he cared that way she was hoping. I guess...this is the way it has to be. Rose thought. Maybe when I get my memory back, I'll find out that I really love Phillip. Will I still have feelings for Adam? Rose sighed. "Where's the harm in telling him?" She sat up and walked over to the door. She walked down the hall into the living room, where Adam slept at night. Here goes nothing. Rose thought. She stopped dead in her tracks. And turned around. She got back in bed.
Breakfast was made up of white and wheat bread, strawberries, and a sweet butter. Sherrie wouldn't stop holding on to Adam, and was becoming very annoying. For the past few days, she would tell him that she needed comfort and a shoulder to cry on. He'd tell her that everything would be alright, but he didn't let her get too close. He wanted to be Rose's, but that was going to be very hard to come by, since she was to marry a prince. I should tell her today, before the twelve women decide to take her to Phillip. Adam thought. Where's the harm in telling her? He took Rose's hand and gently shook it. She looked up at him. "Hmm?" she asked. Adam just stared at her for a moment with his mouth wide open. "What? Do I have something in my teeth??" "No, no," Adam bit his lip. "Ah, could I, umm, talk to you, later?" "Sure. I have something I want to tell you, too." "Well, I have something to tell you, Rose," said Sherrie, linking arms with Adam. "Back off." "Briar-Rose." said Wisdom, from the other side of the table. "We have news for you. Tomorrow, Prince Phillip, three Knights, and a Faerie are all going to take you to the Gryphon's Lair. The Gryphon will...give you your memory back." "Oh..." Rose said. "Th-That's great." "Do you have something on your mind?" asked Grace. Rose shook her head and said, "I'm going to go outside for some fresh air."
Rose was outside crooning a song she heard in the Other World, as she called it, called "I'm Alive". She liked the woman's singing. She climbed up an apple tree near the cottage, after grabbing a hand full of blackberries. When she was through humming, she heard the bush below rustling. She shifted her position on the tree branch to see what it was. There was a huge black bear sticking his nose into the blackberry bush. The bear looked up the tree. "Rose-Red! Is it really you?" the bear asked in a rumbled voice. "Aah!" Rose shrieked. "You talked!" "Of course I talked! Ha, ha! Don't you remember me?" he asked. "I'm the bear you and Snow-White helped when you two were children. You let me in your cottage to keep warm." Rose shook her head. This must be another one of my lost memories. "You don't remember me..." "No, I'm afraid...I don't." "Then you must see the Gryphon, Maizoon! He has magic almost as great as The Dragon, Druon, himself. He'll help you get your memory back." "I know." Rose sighed. "I'm going to see him tomorrow. Uh, this is going to be a little strange asking a bear this, but...would you like to come along?" "Would I? I'd do anything for you, Briar-Rose."
The next morning. Adam didn't tell Rose how he felt. Fear got the better of him. He should have told her right then and there, for Prince Phillip was coming later that morning. "What's wrong, Adam?" Sherrie asked in her little baby voice. "Nothing." he replied, sneeking a glance at an eating Rose. She wasn't talking much either. Like Adam's plate, hers was still covered with food. "You should eat, dear." said Friendship. "You'll need your strength." "Okay." Rose whispered. There was a knock on the door. "Oh, Rose, could you get that?" asked Wisdom. Rose walked over to the door and opened it. She gasped. She felt like she was about to faint, for the man in bright red armor standing in front of her was unbelievably handsome. He had light brown hair and dark brown eyes. Rose felt like her head was going to explode with all of the blushing she was doing. She must have looked like a tomado by now. "Briar-Rose." the man embraced her and kissed her cheek. Anger struck Adam at the sight of that man kissing Rose. He was about to stand up, but he quickly controled himself. "Good morning, Prince Phillip!" greeted the Wise Women as they bowed their heads. "Good morning." he smiled. "You have guests?" "Yes, and no." said Courage. "We found them with Briar-Rose." "Ah..." Prince Phillip looked at Rose. "Are you ready to leave?" "I guess," she said. She looked at Adam. "But I want Adam to come." "Then I'm coming too!" Sherrie cried. "Wherever Adam goes, I go!" Rose sighed. "Don't forget me." said the voice of The Bear, as Rose called him. "Alright, then." Prince Phillip said. "The rest of the men are ready. You will ride with me on my horse Samson. You remember Samson, don't you?" Rose said no. "You will, soon. Boy! And Girl!" he called Adam and Sherrie. "You two will ride on our extra horse, Coltrane."
As they all rode into the West, Prince Phillip introduced the three Knights, Alvar, Gavin, and Cray, and the Faerie, Lucas. They rode through, what they called, the Halvor Forest all day for two days. They rested the second night. Sherrie was cranky, so she went to bed as soon as they were all settled. Alvar, Gavin, and Cray all slept, while Lucas and Phillip kept watch. Rose dragged Adam away from camp, for she said she wanted to tell him something. "Adam, it's been two days. And you havn't told me what you wanted to tell me. Now what is it?" "This isn't as easy as it may seem, Rose." Adam sighed. This is it. he thought. "I love you." There was a long pause. "W-what...?" Rose questioned, nearly crying. Another pause. "I love you. There I said it. I figured I might as well tell you, since..." A tear ran down Rose's smiling face, as she brushed her fingers through Adam's hair. Adam hated seeing her cry, so he kissed the tear away. Rose kissed him, only on his lips, as his hand reached up her shirt to rub her back. What did this mean? That she loved him too? That this was a kiss good-bye? Or that she was trying to make him feel better by giving him what he wanted? Whatever it meant, Adam loved Rose, anyway. There was a rustle. Rose and Adam didn't stop kissing. "Aah!!" Rose screamed, collapsing into Adam's arms. He gasped and looked at where her shoulder and neck met. There was a sharp blub sticking out. He quickly pulled it out and the bulb crawled away. There was black liquid oozing out of eight tiny holes in Rose's neck. "Oh, no." Adam whispered, still holding Rose. "Oh, no no no. No no no."