Okay, I was asked to change the title, so I did. I hope this is better suited for the story and that more people will read it. If not, tell me and I'll change it again. For my second reviewer, practically nothing you can say will make me take offence, so don't worry about it. I love constructive criticism. Well, on with the story...
Chapter 6
Sneaking Around
Over the next couple of months, either Rose would sneak out or Jessie would sneak inside the castle walls. The two saw each other at least twice a week, and became fast friends. They talked about pretty much everything, from their different life styles to who they hoped to marry, and what scared them the most. Both kept back a secret though, and even though neither would admit it, they both knew.
The day was a hot sunny summer day in July. The summer ball had been the week before, so everyone was still eating leftovers. It was Rose's turn to sneak out, but she was having trouble finding an opportunity. She had dance lessons today, because her mother noticed at the ball that even though Rose was graceful, she couldn't dance.
Rose also had to sit through language lessons. What is the point of learning a dead language, if nobody speaks it anymore? she kept asking herself and her tutor. Every time the reply was the same. "If you have an uneducated princess, you have an uneducated kingdom. Now study!"
Finally, around mid-afternoon, Rose told her mother she was going ridding again. Rose raced down to the stables, saddled her horse, and took off to the secret door in the castle wall. Just as she hoped, Jessie was sitting against a tree, happily dozing off, waiting for her.
Quietly, Rose snuck around the tree and jumped on her friend trying to tickle him.
"I'm up! I'm up!" Jessie hollered laughing. "Quit it, I'm up! What took you so long? I was getting ready to head home."
"You were not!" Rose complied. "If anything, you were about to fall onto the ground instead of leaning against that tree." They both laughed. "Sorry, but mother demanded that I study today."
"What about" anything I would be interested in?"
"Not really, just a dead language."
"I'm pretty good with different tongues, why don't you try something on me?" Jessie asked, straitening his coat and sword belt. He had taken to the sword, saying that he didn't trust the woods much, but Rose knew that he wanted to protect her.
"Okay, how's this: Tu oaf, esa es pada podria matarle! Por que tu insiste en tomarlo con tu por todas partes?" Rose demanded with fists on hips.
Jessie laughed at her and replied, "Porque me preocupo que alguien pudo lastimarle y deseo protegarle encajono a algien intento." Rose was speechless. She didn't think that he would know what she had said. (Translation from Spanish: Rose-You oaf, that sword could kill you! Why do you insist on taking it with you everywhere? Jessie-Because I worry that someone might hurt you and I want to protect you incase someone tries.)
"Com on, let's go swimming." Jessie said, breaking the silence. The two got on their horses and raced to the river. Rose had never really been swimming before, so she didn't want to get in past her waist. "Come on! It's fun!" Jessie called from the middle of the river.
"I'm afraid of water! Can't we just race our horses?" Rose called back. Jessie laughed, shook his head, and swam over to her.
"It's easy. Lay on your back and float, I won't let you sink, I promise." Rose hesitated, but did as he said. Her shift tried to rid up, but she forced it back down, and floated. "See? It's not scary now is it? I'm going to pull you out a little deeper, so don't panic. Now, try and stand up, but don't worry that you can't touch. Just keep floating."
Rose panicked anyways and started to sink. Before her head got all the way under though, Jessie grabbed her up again. "Jessie!" she yelped.
"I've got you, calm down! Just hold onto me. I won't let go." Jessie swam them back to the bank and helped her out. They sat on the blanket they brought until they dried. "Want to go ride still?" Jessie asked grinning. Rose grinned back and leaped onto her horse.
"Last one to the apple orchard…um…has to…has to do the sneaking for the next month!" Rose finally exclaimed.
"Sounds fair. Ready? Set…"
"Go?" they yelled together, spurring their horses on. The horses were pretty equal in stamina, so it was an even race until the end, but Rose pulled just enough ahead so that she won.
Laughing, she hopped off her stallion and climbed up one of the trees. "I know you won, but you don't have to make me chase you? Jessie called up to her.
"Who said anything about chasing? I'm hungry! Want an apple?" Rose replied giggling.
Tonight was another grand ball. Rose, as usual, had snuck out to her rose garden. She was in a soft green silk dress with dark green roses embroidered at her waist like a belt, as usual, and had bell shaped sleeves. Her hair was up in a cascade of curls, and she wore her head jewel instead of a crown again. Her slippers matched her dress perfectly.
She was sitting on a bench surrounded by roses, and watching a nest of baby birds in one of the bushes when someone sneaked up on her. "Happy birthday Princess!" a deep voice said from behind her.
Rose jumped up startled and turned to see Jessie. He had on a blue silk coat with green vines embroidered up his sleeves and around the buttons. His shirt was half unlaced because, even though it was November, it was quite warm out. As usual, his sword was buckled around his waist. "You jerk!" Rose squealed, slapping his arm. "You scared me half to death!" taking a deep breath, she sat back down. "I didn't thin you would come." She said after she composed herself again.
"Of course I came! I wouldn't miss my best friend's sweet seventeenth birthday for anything!" Jessie told her curtly.
"Thanks, but it's nothing special. The ball room is filled with prospective suitors from all over. I'm only seventeen; I can't think what it would be like to marry so soon!"
"Your mother married at sixteen, didn't she?"
"Jessie, she was in love! I'd be soon married to an old widower with six children older than me! When I marry, I want it to be for love."
"Arte you in love with someone Princess?" Jessie asked grinning.
"Don't call me that! You know I hate my title." Rose complained.
"Why, I think she is avoiding the question! Let's see, who could it be? Sir Luke, your bodyguard? Lord Cauthon, the pompous rich noble? Or maybe…"
"Jessie!" Rose squealed. She knew he was teasing, but he was also trying to tickle her. "Stop! What are you doing?" she was laughing to hard to protest now.
Up on the balcony, Philip could hear laughter coming from the heart of the rose garden. Blast! The girl snuck out again! How will she ever find a suitor if she refuses to meet them? I don't want to choose for her. Maybe if I send one out to fetch her…Aurora would kill me, but it must be done. But who? Just then, a boy about Rose's age walked by the balcony door. "Excuse me, young man!" Philip called after him. The boy turned, and went into a deep bow.
"Your Majesty, how may I serve you? Is there anything I can do for you sir?" the boy stood up strait again. He was quite handsome; he had brown hair and brown eyes and was very muscular.
"What is your name lad?" Philip asked, nodding his head politely.
"Tom sir, Tom best. I'm s-Sir –Carlson's nephew." Tom replied a little nervous.
"Tom, would you mind fetching my daughter for me? She seems to have run off to the rose garden again. She does this quite frequently."
"Yes Your Highness. What would you like me to tell her? Sir, I have not met her yet, you don't think she would be frightened?" Tom asked.
"Nothing can scare that girl. Just introduce yourself, talk with her some, and then tell her the ball in winding down. It is getting late after all. Thank you lad. If there is anything I can do for you, just name it."
"Yes sir." With that, Tome slipped down into the garden. It wasn't too hard to find the princess because she was still laughing. She has a beautiful laugh. Tom thought to himself. It almost sounds like music!
Turning a corner, he came across two people sitting on a bench the boy was tickling the girl, whom he assumed was the Princess Rosalina Katrina. She was quite beautiful in the pale moon light, smiling and laughing at the boy. Wait, I know him! "Jessie?" Tom asked confused.
The two stopped and turned in surprise. "Tom!" Jessie exclaimed.
