Does nobody like my story? I wish that people would review for me! Even if nobody does, I'm going to keep posting in hopes that someone will like this. Even if you don't like it, will you give me constructive criticism? Well, on with the story...
Chapter 3
Unveiling a Secret
Walking into the breakfast room, Aurora noticed that her daughter was already there. She was sitting with her feet curled up under her, eating some eggs with a glass of milk, and reading a book. "What are you reading?" Aurora asked as she sat across from her daughter.
Looking up a little startled, Rose answered, "Oh, this? Dragonlance, it's a series. You see, there are wizards and elves and dwarves and humans and giants and mages, which are good wizards, and there are dragons! There are blue, red, green and white dragons which are the evil ones, and the good ones are gold, silver, and bronze. It really is quite fascinating, the story I mean. Do you want to know what it is about?"
"That's quite alright." Aurora couldn't help but laugh at her daughter. The girl was as passionate about books as she was about her rose garden! "Where in the world is your father? I'm not going to tell you until…"
"Tell me what?"
"It's nothing. Just something that has come up."
"What's come up?" Philip asked as he waltzed into the room.
"Shall we move to the parlor dear? Rose, would you join us?" Aurora asked.
"What? Oh, sure. May I finish the paragraph please?" Rose asked.
"Of course, but be quick." Walking out of the room, she wrapped her arm through her husband's and led him out as well. "We have to tell her Philip."
"Tell her what? I don't know what you are talking about." Philip told his wife.
"You know perfectly well what I'm talking about. She has a right to know her fate!"
"I don't think she is old enough. She will probably take it to mean that we have done nothing to protect her! We have done all we can by banning all poisons, but I just don't think she is ready to know!"
"Ready to know what?" Rose asked from the door. "Was there something you wanted to tell me Mother, Papa?"
"Please take a seat dear." Aurora said, glancing at her husband. Rose sat in an easy chair and curled her feet up under her. "Um, where to start…Philip?" Aurora stammered.
"Well, when your mother was a baby," Philip start, "she was cursed to prick her finger on a spindle and die, an evil fairy did that. Well, a good fairy changed the curse so that she would just fall asleep." He paused to take a deep breath. "When she was sixteen, it happened, and I went to save her. In doing so, I killed the fairy, Maleficent." Philip was rambling quite quickly, uncomfortable with the story.
"Father, I already know all of this." Rose cut in. "Margarite must have told me this story a thousand times! Though she makes you sound more of a knight in shining armor than you do. I don't know what this has to do with me though."
"I'm getting to that." Philip continued, "Apparently, Maleficent had a niece, Mortisha, who considers herself the queen of all evil fairies. When we had your announcement ball, Mortisha showed up, and claimed that she wanted revenge…"
"She didn't hurt you, did she Papa?" Rose interrupted her father concernedly.
"No, I'm fine, but she did hurt you." Philip stopped.
Rose went silent. Finally she whispered, "What did she do to me?" Aurora jumped up from where she was sitting and rushed over to hug her frightened daughter. "Oh hunny, we have done everything in our power to prevent your fate from coming true, but there is nothing else we can do!"
"What did she do to me?" Rose cried.
"She put a curse on you." Philip said tentatively. "When you find your first love, somewhere around when you are eighteen, you will be poisoned."
"I'm going to die? NO! I can't die!" Rose was wailing and crying into her mother's shoulder.
"Oh hunny, you're not going to die. One of the fairies changed the curse so that you will fall asleep until your first love gives you your fist kiss! You are not going to die!" Aurora was also crying at this point.
"Ladies, if you will excuse me, I'm going to go hunting." Philip said stiffly.
"Mother, may I be excused?" Rose asked sniffling. "I want to go ridding."
"Of course dear. Philip? Be safe!" Aurora called after her husband.
Even though it didn't look very appealing outside, Rose decided to go ridding. She wanted to get away from the castle, away from the curse she just found out about. She didn't want to go far, but far enough away so that she could just sit under a tree, read her book, and forget about what her parents just told her.
