This chapter mainly focuses on the burgeoning friendship between Rose and Lilly and you're introduced to a new character near the end. It also goes a bit in depth into how Rose is feeling about herself and othersand how she is adjusting to her life as it is.
As for some questions people were asking: Tristan and Lilly are seventeen and will turn eighteen by next spring. Ellie will be twenty at the end of the year. In fact,in the next two or three chapters there will be a celebration for her twentieth.
As for Rose's request of books: she did not ask for specific books, just books in general to keep herself occupied.
And, though no one asked this, Kyrrian is the only language she can consciously recall at the moment due to it being the last language she heard before blacking out and the first language she heard upon awakening. Obviously, she would have had to learn the language prior to Tristan's finding her. I could have made it so she did not understand a word they said and vice versa, but I got a tad lazy and it probably would have led to them finding out about her sooner than I wanted.
And no, this story has nothing to do with Sleeping Beauty. Any similarities are purely coincidental.
As for those who are guessing who Rose is and where she comes from…..well, I can't tell you the answer now, can I? But keep guessing, for it is very interesting to see the inferences people make.
Thanks to my reviewers: KayBee, whimsicality, Sydney, KatieKat19, chickensoup, Elvensilver, and watrfairie.
Rose idly poked about her new personal quarters, hobbling about on her dark wooden crutch—she outright refused to refer to it as a cane. Despite the fact that the wooden implement greatly facilitated her walking, she would have much rather gone without. Alas, Fussy-Aunt Boy (as she was wont to call Tristan in his absence and in her private thoughts) had all but ordered her to use it so she would not stress her injured leg unduly by putting too much weight on it. As much as she appreciated his efforts to make her well and whole again and, of course, his saving her life, he was liable to drive a lass absolutely off her rocker if given enough time. His twin sister had enthusiastically advocated that point.
Surreptitiously glancing at the closed doorway, she gingerly lifted the crutch and tossed it on the four-poster. Her leg still gave her painful twinges whenever she walked upon it, but she studiously made herself ignore it as best as she could. She had learned to deal with the pain and it did not hurt nearly as much as it did a month ago. In spite of what Tristan and Jasmine had both imparted to the girl she felt that the quicker she got her leg used to walking full stride again the quicker she could get cracking on doing what she needed to do. Incidentally, she had no idea what it was she had to do. She only knew she had to do it. It gave her a frustrating headache to think on it too much.
Rose ran a thin hand over the vanity table and surveyed her reflection in the mirror. She grimaced at the skinny girl with shadowed hazel eyes and far too prominent cheekbones who stared back out at her. The dress she was wearing literally seemed to hang off of her thin, bony frame. She did not know why the sight of it made her so unhappy, but she just knew that this was not what she was supposed to look like. There was no softness or feminine roundedness to her body like there was supposed to be—virtually bone and skin. It felt wrong, how she looked. She certainly would have to eat more heartily and, to ensure she did not become portly, find a way to get better exercise. She needed to regain her strength as well as her memories. It would probably be best to regain the former before the latter so she could withstand the emotional baggage they were sure to bring with them as interlopers.
Her gown was rather plain, which did not bother her very much for even in its simplicity it retained a subtle bit of radiant splendor. It was a light blue color with a black bodice and long tapering sleeves; the hem of the gown barely brushed over her feet. Her brownish gold hair was pinned back to keep out of her face, as she very much disliked having her hair in her face. Her right arm, though healed from its numerous injuries, was weak and untried; it appeared to be more of a vestigial limb, in her opinion, than a useful one.
Her new personal quarters were actually rather affluent guest quarters in the northwest wing of the palace. She had finally been released from the infirmary prison she had spent the sum of her time previously whilst in Kyrria. Though she had established some friendships and acquaintances with the other patients, healers, and nurses, she found this private bedchamber much more pleasant. It was much quieter in here; quiet enough to let yourself think and lay within your own little world without having to worry about others bothering you all the time. Besides, she was still very hesitant and wary around large groups of people. Rose did not know if that was just a trait of hers or if it was triggered by what had happened to her.
It did not help that she had finally agreed to go to this Winter Festival Kyrria celebrated every winter. It was merely a week away; the preparations were already in full swing and everyone in the kingdom seemed to exude an air of delight and festivity in anticipation of it. She was willing to swallow her petty fears in order to be apart of what was sure to be a grand event.
Someone knocked lightly on her door.
"Rose, are you in there?"
It was fortunate the person knocked because it gave Rose time to limp back to the bed and sit down so as not to be caught violating yet another of the healers' rules. She did not fear Tristan; she only feared how long it would take for him to finish rebuking her.
"Who is it?" It sounded like Lilly, but Rose felt it safer to ask and be certain first.
"It's Lilly. May I come in?" the princess asked politely.
It struck Rose as sort of odd that both Tristan and Lilly were so unerringly polite to subjects and the like. They treated them so like equals that, had she not known any better, Rose would not be able to tell who was the Royal and who was not. The queen acting similarly towards her subjects—Rose supposed Tristan and Lilly followed their mother's example—even going so far as to insist people (even commoners) call her by name (Ella, not Eleanor) on casual occasions (in formal times she kept up the persona of the queen and everyone addressed her as so to the mark). The king was casual to an extent, but Rose had a feeling not many regular subjects called him Char or even Charmont. Nobody who was not family or an extremely close friend ever addressed Ellie as anything other than "Your Highness", sometimes with a "Royal" thrown in there just for good measure. Frankly, Rose did not blame them for their hesitance.
"Come on in," Rose replied.
"I take it you find your new living arrangements acceptable?" Lilly began, entering the room and striding over to sit by Rose on the bed.
Rose shrugged in a thoroughly nonchalant manner.
"I have yet to find a delectable, frisky young manservant in my wardrobe, but it'll do," she quipped with a straight face, though her mouth threatened to curl up into a grin.
Lilly giggled scandalously and lightly smacked her friend on the arm. "Terribly sorry, I'll be sure to get right on that."
"You do that," Rose returned with a wry grin.
"But, in all seriousness, are you happy with them?" Lilly queried curiously.
Rose gave her a reassuring smile and said, "Yes, they're wonderful. Thank you for getting that thick brother of yours to release me from the infirmary."
"Any time, my friend. Tristan can be a bit…" the dark-haired girl trailed off as she searched for a word.
"Too much like a fussy aunt? Hence, the Fussy-Aunt Boy title," Rose suggested casually.
Lilly laughed again and nodded her head emphatically. "That'd be the one."
The princess rose to her feet silently and walked about the room as if to give it her own cursory inspection. Rose could see no reason for this action due to the fact that it had been Lilly and her mother who had pre-approved the chamber prior to it being given to her. Something niggled at the back of Rose's muddled mind that the dark-haired teenager had a more clandestine reason for coming here.
"Would you mind helping me out with something?" Lilly suddenly asked.
"What do you need?" Considering she was the one with brain damage, Rose highly doubted there was very much she would be able to do to help Lilly.
"My sister seems to think I should attend some meeting with High Chancellor Thomas and his grandson Jasper. I need an excuse not to go because the chancellor is the dullest man in the entire kingdom and he and Ellie will only talk about things that bore me to tears. She tried to coax Tristan into coming as well, but he always has his healing work to turn to for an escape."
Rose could barely pick up the words Lilly muttered under her breath, which were comprised of, "Lucky dolt."
High Chancellor Thomas had been Kyrria's High Chancellor since the time of Lilly's grandfather, King Jerrold. The man was well into his late seventies by now and with a host of medical problems plaguing him that steadily worsened his health every day. It was far past the time when many men of his condition would have retired, but the chancellor, as stubborn as he was incredibly dreary, went above and beyond his call of duty. It was a barely conceived relief to finally be able to allow some new blood to take up the task. His grandson, whom he had practically raised himself after the unfortunate deaths of his daughter and son-in-law, was to take his place as the new High Chancellor after the impending resignation.
"So, you need me to what? Hide you under the bed?" Rose ventured in confusion.
"No, but if it comes to that I'm willing to do it. I am at my wit's end with those meetings where time stands still. I honestly believe if I have to endure another one I shall run someone through with a sword simply to disrupt the monotony of it," Lilly attested, somewhat balefully.
Rose chuckled good-naturedly at the princess's words and entertained herself with a vision of it.
"I was actually wondering, if you were up to it, if you wouldn't mind if I gave you a tour around the city and palace grounds. We can see where the festival decorations are being set up and the Royal Menagerie and other places, if you are willing and able."
Rose did not bother giving her an answer. She instantly rose to her feet and started limping to the door. When Lilly did not follow she turned back with her hands resting on her hips.
"Well, what are you waiting for? Let's go."
Lilly frowned. "Aren't you supposed to use your crutch at all times?"
Rose's face fell and she sighed heavily. "Oh, right."
It would have been too much to hope for the princess to overlook that fact.
Donning thick cloaks and gloves, the two ladies set out into the brisk air of the early winter mid-morning with smiling faces and vigorous jaunts. Well, Rose's limp was as vigorous as she could manage. She was quite delighted to finally get a chance to see the city of Frell. The only other outside-places she had gotten to see since she had been here were the therapeutic gardens outside the infirmary. Blessed by fairies to grow and thrive all throughout the year in cold weather or hot, muggy weather, it was a lovely respite from the dreary atmosphere Rose felt constricting her when she stayed inside the infirmary for too long.
"My brother will have choice words with me when he finds out about this," Lilly noted as she carefully watched her companion's every step.
"Yes, well, he needs a good stiff drink, if you ask me. Your sister could use one too. More than one actually, she could use a whole keg," Rose muttered.
Lilly snorted at the thought of her stern elder sister ever engaging in any activity that would threaten her sobriety. "Ellie get drunk? That'll happen the day my father lets me join the army."
"I suppose you'll just have to get her drunk then," Rose told her.
"No can do. I find myself particularly fond of life," Lilly returned, chortling.
Lilly led her friend over to a small gray coach, which was empty of a driver. She told Rose to wait there while she went to find one to take them around the city.
"Um, Lilly, why don't we just ride horses? We don't need to bother the man," Rose suggesting, not even stopping to consider that she might not know how to ride a horse.
Lilly, however, did consider it. "Do you know how to ride?"
Rose was quiet for a moment as she thought the question over. Did she? The words had just slipped from her mouth without her noticing them. So, did that mean it was a natural proclivity within her that prompted them?
Ack. That requires too much thought. Just find yourself a damn horse if you wanna find out if you can ride, stupid, Rose berated herself silently.
"I don't rightly know if I can," Rose finally answered Lilly.
Lilly seemed to contemplate over this for a while, gazing at the girl thoughtfully. Tristan had related most of his inferences on Rose and they seemed to point to her coming from a prestigious background, perhaps even of noble or royal birth. He was leaning more towards the latter two though she did possess traits that mirrored those of the lower classes. If she was of either three societal classes (upper-middle class merchant elite, noble class, or royal), then chances were she did know how to ride a horse.
"Well, I suppose there's only one way to find out," the princess finally said after about a minute and a half's deliberation.
She took Rose's arm and ambled over to the stables where a young stablehand was currently leading a young black stallion around the pen, speaking to the creature in soft, amiable tones. Lilly called the boy over.
The redheaded youth, who could not have been more than thirteen or fourteen years old, nearly squeaked in surprise to find the youngest child of his king and queen speaking to him. His face reddened as he slowly walked over to where the princess was standing on the other side of the pen.
Nervously, the boy bowed and stammered, "Good morning, Your Highness and—" he looked up to see who else was with her. Seeing that it was not one of the royal family, he addressed Rose, "And my lady."
This must have been a new boy or he was just nervous around authority all the time because most people were very at ease around Lilly. When he stood up straight he gave them a wobbly smile though one could sense that he was brimming with nervousness.
"I was wondering, young sir, if you could procure a placid young horse for my friend here," Lilly said gently, giving the boy a sweet smile to ease his nerves.
The boy relaxed a bit at the princess's easy tone and even smiled a bit. He gestured to the stallion beside him. "Chance here is as gentle as they come, Your Highness. Would my lady like to try him out?"
It took a while before Rose figured out the boy had spoken to her. She nodded and said, "He'll be fine."
"Go on in then," Lilly prodded.
When Rose stepped inside the pen and approached the young stallion, her heart began to race in fear of making a complete fool of herself. What if she fell off? That would be positively horrible! Not only would she make a complete spectacle of herself, she would probably be confined to the dreaded infirmary again and Tristan would chastise her into madness. She calmed down considerably when she ran her hand over the smooth surface of the horse's neck and he whickered softly.
"Good boy," she whispered, her voice slightly tremulous.
Stroking the horse and grasping the reins stimulated a rush of familiarity so intense it nearly made Rose dizzy. She had to hold tightly onto the horse to steady herself in case she did get dizzy. Flashes of memory, hazy and unfocused as they were, appeared before her eyes, but they were gone as quick as they had come. However, it did answer her question about whether or not she knew how to ride a horse. Breathing deeply in wake of the new revelation she smiled. The only problem she would have in trying to get on the horse was her damned leg.
"Um, could you come over here for a moment, please?" she said to the boy.
Lilly was standing on the other side still with her arms folded, watching as Rose and the boy conversed in words too soft for her to pick up. She then nodded in understanding when she saw the boy give Rose a good push to help her onto the horse. Obviously the girl had been confident in her riding ability, but her leg would impede the process of mounting the horse.
Chance pranced nervously around as he felt the weight and pressure of an unfamiliar rider, but with the kind soothing words coming from her mouth he gradually relaxed and allowed her to steer him around the pen expertly. After a few tentative practice rounds, Rose had the stallion trot over to the boy.
Beaming in triumph, she said, "He's a sweet horse. Mind if I borrow him for the day?"
"Oh no, go ahead, my lady. He seems to take to you pretty well."
She heard Lilly clapping by the edge of the pen. The dark-haired princess was smiling as she walked into the pen and presented the boy with a gold coin.
"For your trouble," she said.
The boy's eyes widened and he hastily shoved the coin into the pocket of his tunic and bowed respectfully.
"Thank you, Your Highness. But it was no trouble at all. Do you want me to fetch your horse for you?"
Lilly waved the offer away. "No, I'll fetch her myself. Thank you for your assistance."
She turned her attention to the enigmatic girl upon the horse. This child—young woman really—had become such a mystery to them all and yet Lilly found herself learning more about her everyday. She carried herself upright and proudly (the limp notwithstanding) and she rode a horse like she had been doing it her entire life…much like Lilly and her siblings. Rose probably had ridden horses her entire life if her brother's conjectures were correct.
Rose wrinkled her brow at Lilly's strange look. "What?"
Lilly just shook her head and said, "You're just full of surprises."
Though they visited many sites in Frell, which sparkled merrily in the early winter sunlight, the highlight of the tour was Lilly's animated talking. She regaled the girl of unknown origin and nationality with tales of her kingdom and, with a hint of pride, of her mother and father. It was just as well Lilly had so many stories to tell because Rose had none of interest to impart just yet. All she would have would be the happenings of the past month or so (she was terrible at keeping track of time) she had been in Frell. Most of what had happened the princess already knew so Rose was content to let Lilly do all the storytelling.
"Now, do you understand what an obedience curse entails?" Lilly asked, quite somberly.
Rose pursed her lips, wondering if this was supposed to be a trick question. "Um…you have to do everything you're told, no matter what?"
"Exactly. Even if someone tells you to plunge a dagger into your breast you would have to do it," Lilly said candidly in a voice dripping with dramatic effect.
The technique worked on Rose quite well as her face had gone from being curiously confused to blatant horror at the very thought of it. "Are you serious?"
Lilly nodded very solemnly, suppressing a shudder at the thought of what her mother had dealt with for the first sixteen years of her life. She could not imagine having to live in that constant prison of obedience and fear of what someone might command of her. This tale had, of course, made her mother quite famous and an object of admiration throughout the kingdom and beyond the borders. She became immortalized as a pillar of strength and determination against nearly insurmountable odds and had proved herself to be a woman of great valor as well. The love of her husband and kingdom had been enough for her to conquer the curse and cleave its hold upon her. Lilly could only wish she would turn out half so strong as her mother.
"Your mother actually had to live like that?" Rose asked, half in wonder and half in horror.
Lilly gave her an affirmative nod. "For sixteen years. 'Twas only in the last couple of years, when my grandmother died, that things began to change for her. My grandfather, Sir Peter, had lost all his money and married a wretched woman called Dame Olga. Possibly even more wretched than her, if only due to the fact that there were two of them, were her daughters, Hattie and Olive."
"What was so wretched about them?" Rose inquired.
"Oh, just about everything. They are vain, fickle, stupid, vindictive, gaudy…shall I go on?"
Though her mother had long since forgiven (but never forgotten) how her step-family had treated her, Lilly and her siblings, on their mother's behalf, found they could not find the same forgiveness in their hearts. They bitterly resented the way their mother had been so unfairly treated and they also resented the way their step-grandmother and step-aunts flaunted their connections to their royal selves as if they were on good terms. They rarely, if ever, spoke to one another and Ella along with her three children were liable to avoid any such occasion as much as possible.
Their grandfather, the sly trader, was not exactly adored, but he was seen in a far more appealing light by his grandchildren and son-in-law. Char was not the most forgiving of men, most especially in cases concerning his wife and/or children. He never forgave Dame Olga or her daughters for the way they defamed his beloved wife, exploited her curse (although they did not know it was a curse that made Ella so obedient at the time), and forced her into servitude for no explicable reason.
They could have cut off all ties with the damnable woman and her spawn if only Lucinda had not seemed to have some kind of an affinity for cursing their family. When Sir Peter wed Dame Olga, the union was initially meant (for Sir Peter anyway) for monetary gain only due to Sir Peter's foolish trading mistake of selling an estate he did not own to some gnomes who eventually found out. Lilly's grandfather was reduced to selling everything he owned including his manor, his furniture, and, in a way, his daughter by an opportune marriage. Ella's prospective marriage to some old earl did not work out so Sir Peter sold himself, in a manner of speaking, to Dame Olga. A horrid decision, Lilly often thought. She would have gladly starved on the streets if the only option left to her had been to marry some doddering fool she despised.
Lucinda, however, decided to make an appearance and bestow a "blessing" of sorts on the union. One might think it was a gift at first. After all, how horrific can the gift of eternal love sound at first? Well, it can be quite horrific when the two people did not love each other in the first place or, in this case, when one person did not love the other. Love is not an emotion to be trifled with or dictated, as Lilly's parents had decreed that very same day. Her parents' love for each other had certainly not been foreseen nor dictated in any way shape or form. Although her father would vow he had been in love with her mother since the day of Ella's mother's funeral where the two officially met. Love was born on a day fraught with the sadness of death. How poetic, Ellie was wont to sarcastically intone. Lilly thought it quite romantic and sweet herself. She had no idea how Tristan viewed it and never thought to ask. Contrary to what some people believed, they could not read each other like open books normally.
Therefore, since her grandfather and step-grandmother were doomed to loving one another for all eternity despite Sir Peter's willingness to be rid of his love, she and her family were invariably stuck with the harpy and her spawn as relatives. She could only rejoice in the one fact of her not being related by blood because it was enough to make one wish to be barren.
All this she told to Rose, who was engrossed in the outlandish, but true, tale.
"This Lucinda chit seems to cause a lot of trouble. She didn't curse you or your sister or brother, did she?" Rose asked, gasping at the notion.
Lilly shook her head. "No. Thank the stars. She gave up cursing when…um…when somebody forced her to taste her own medicine. She spent three months as a squirrel and three months as an obedient human child. Long story short, she finally saw how much damage she was doing and is now living clean."
Having such a runaway mouth, the young princess had almost given away that it had been Mandy, the godmother of herself, her siblings, and her mother, who had ordered Lucinda to impose such things upon herself. Despite Rose being relatively harmless, Lilly did not know or trust the girl enough to ever tell her the truth about their star cook. Even her father did not know what Mandy truly was and that was how it would stay unless Mandy directed otherwise.
Rose seemed less interested in whomever stopped Lucinda's well-intentioned destruction and more interested in the squirrel bit. "Ah, I get obedient child, but a squirrel?"
"Oh, well, one of Lucinda's favorite 'gifts' was to turn a person into a squirrel because, apparently, they led such charming lives or some such nonsense as that," Lilly returned nonchalantly.
Rose pondered over this for a while before smiling and saying, "Lucky for you your mother didn't get that 'gift'."
Lucky indeed.
"I do hope I never come across a fairy," Rose mumbled more to herself than to her companion.
Lilly, while waving at some people who had called out to her, responded, "Oh, you normally would not know if someone was a fairy if you saw them anyway. Fairies tend to keep their identities incognito and it's supposedly some unwritten law to never let a human know you're a fairy. After all, they're immortal and they can do magic so they would expect fairies to solve all problems for them and make them immortal. Moreover, most fairies shy away from using big magic because they are so tetchy about upsetting the delicate balance of nature. They only do, at most, simple harmless magic that won't have any effect in the long run. So, Lucinda was a rarity among her kind, which we can all be thankful for."
Rose's eyes narrowed in suspicion and she asked Lilly, "If fairies are so damn secretive why do you know so much about them and their rules?"
Oh shit, Lilly. You really must watch what you say. The lass is not a fool. However, Lilly was saved from having to attempt a semi-satisfying explanation by a tall boy with shoulder-length blonde hair, and twinkling brown eyes, who came over upon his own horse to join the duo.
"What are two fine ladies such as yourselves doing without a male escort to protect you?" he teased, pulling his own mount up next to Lilly's mare. It was her cousin Radon, the eldest of her aunt Cecilia's children. He was wearing the attire of a traveler with a light, but protective leather jerkin over top of a gray, long-sleeved tunic, a black cloak, and brown trousers with tall leather boots.
Radon knew as well as anyone else that it was preposterous to go about the city with bodyguards flanking you at all times mostly due to the fact that it might offend people into thinking their royal family did not trust them. Only during times of warfare were the royals supposed to be guarded at all times. Besides, it was a massive drain on privacy to carry around armor-plated men all the time and it tended to make people uneasy. Plenty of soldiers patrolled Frell just to maintain peace and order and were sufficient enough for protection.
"Radon, what a surprise! Your mother's last letters bade us to believe you were not to arrive until tomorrow evening," Lilly greeted her favorite cousin in surprised delight.
"Mother and Father will arrive tomorrow evening, but I headed out early. I wanted to get here earlier to meet Tristan's catch from the Lucarno," Radon explained, not noticing the "catch" he spoke of was on the other side of his cousin. He had assumed she was just a friend of Lilly's he could not remember for Lilly hadlegions offriends.
Rose could not decide whether she ought to be offended or indifferent of the way she was described by her hosts' cousin. The manner in which he spoke it did not call for offense, so she allowed herself to relax and study the boy keenly. He was extremely handsome with a smile and a pair of eyes that bespoke of harmless mischief. He held the reins to his horse in one hand while the other rested on his leg, showing the boy had much skill with their equestrian friends. His hair, while not outright curly, fell over his shoulders in subtle waves and was a few shades lighter than either the king's or the crown princess's. He was probably around the same age or slightly older than Tristan and Lilly, but no more older than Ellie. She definitely could not like someone immediately, but this fellow had potential given enough time.
"Might I inquire as to your name, my lady? I'm sorry if I can't recall you or your name. Lilly has many friends," Radon addressed Rose, quirking his eyebrow intriguingly. Radon was always happy to acquaint himself with a new lady-friend.
It was such a simple question, but it was such a complicated one at the same time. Rose's eyes turned away from the blonde prince and she fidgeted uneasily in her saddle. She never liked introducing herself to anyone because it made her feel like she was lying somehow or giving an inadequate answer.
Sensing her friend's discomfort, Lilly stepped in for the rescue.
"We call her Rose, but as of right now we don't know her given name." Her green eyes centered on her cousin meaningfully before turning back to Rose with sympathy.
Radon's brown eyes widened in realization and his tanned skin reddened in embarrassment.
"So, you're Rose! I'm terribly sorry I did not notice before," he apologized, guiding his steed over to reside by Rose's own borrowed one. "I'm glad to see your recovery is going well. My cousin must be a better healer than I gave him credit for."
Rose snorted and commented dryly, "Maybe, but he sure is becoming quite irritating."
Radon laughed loudly at the remark and nodded his head in vigorous agreement. He scrutinized her much the same way Rose had earlier studied him, but with a hint of a smile tugging at his lips. Though his smile was certainly attractive, as was much of the rest of him, she did not like the way his eyes roved over her. One might mistake his intense gazing as lascivious, but then one would learn this was just the way Radon learned about people. His traits made him a particularly good strategist and an excellent judge of situations and people.
"Must be difficult to have not a clue about where you come from, what happened to you, or your name," Radon finally remarked in a candid, but considerate, tone.
Rose did not answer, but merely nodded her head as if to say aloud, You have no idea. None at all.
Lilly rolled her eyes at aunt's son for forgetting to introduce himself properly. It seemed she would have to be the ice-breaker, as always, in the group.
"Forgive my oaf of a cousin, Rose, for forgetting his manners," here she lifted an eyebrow at the direction of the young man, "as usual." She continued in a prim voice, "This is Prince Firadon, son of Princess Cecilia and Baron Frenwick of Bast. Cecilia is my father's younger sister, and, incidentally, his only sister. Radon is her eldest and they live in Bast, which is just outside the elves' forest in Kyrria."
A lopsided grin on his face, Radon swept a particularly elegant bow for one who was currently riding atop a horse. He reached for Rose's hand before she could react and bestowed a polite and gossamer kiss on the pale skin. She snatched her hand back and looked away from him as she felt the rise of buried emotions spark alight at his well-intentioned action.
Radon instantly became contrite at his actions, as common as they normally were. "Oh, I'm sorry. It's a custom in our kingdom to do that."
Rose barely heard him over the din of her own inner chiding voice scolding her on how ridiculous she was being. She did not like the fact that human touch, even one so innocent as a young man kissing her hand as was custom, could make her recoil. She had not recoiled so when she had been touched by the healers or helped onto the horse by the boy. And she had been stripped naked sometimes when the female healers examined her! Why did that not seem to bother her as much as a boy kissing her on the hand?
Radon glanced at his cousin quizzically as Rose continued her inner argument. Lilly responded to Radon's puzzled glances by swiping her hand across her neck to indicate that he should just keep quiet and keep his hands to himself, or so he guessed.
"Are you all right, my lady?" he finally asked, not being able to stand her silence any longer.
Rose nodded her head. "I'm sorry, it's just…it's…complicated. I honestly don't know why I reacted like that. I suppose I'm just not quite used to it. I believe you're the first boy who's done that." Her reassuring smile lacked confidence in her assertion, which both Radon and Lilly picked up on. Both did not comment on it either, but they looked at each other behind Rose's back.
"Um, well, have you seen anyone else from the family?" Lilly suddenly blurted, eager to be rid of this awkward silence. She was not fond of silence as it was, but when awkwardness was added to it she was apt to find any way to end it.
"Considering I've merely arrived not more than ten minutes ago, you would be the first. Is Tristan cooped up in the infirmary on a day like this? I expected him to be out and about watching over the festival preparations," Radon remarked.
Lilly smiled sheepishly and said, "He would be if he had not been forced to use the infirmary as an excuse not to attend one of those meetings with Ellie and High Chancellor Thomas. Rose here has kindly agreed to be my excuse." She nodded her head in Rose's direction while smiling appreciatively.
Radon scratched his chin, which bore the evidence of not shaving for a couple of days, thoughtfully. A smirk emerged from his pensive expression and he inquired of Lilly in a conspiratorial voice, "So, Ellie and Jasper are alone together?"
Lilly furrowed her brow and reminded him, "No, Chancellor Thomas is there as well."
Radon waved the fact away. "Oh, that man's so old he falls asleep at the sound of his own voice within five minutes. Jasper has taken over most of his grandfather's duties, right?"
"Well, yes," Lilly said uncertainly, not particularly sure she liked where her cousin's mind was heading.
Rose, who was observing this exchange with a combination of intrigue and confusion, (and trying not to feel like she was eavesdropping), had no clue what it was Radon was alluding to. Lilly did for it had been an ongoing wager of her cousins (not just Radon) that Ellie and Jasper possessed deep, abiding affections for one another and hid it underneath their tough, though distinct, exteriors. That was her female cousins' version of it; the boys believed it was sexual tension that would do them in first and each had a pool going on how long it would take for Jasper and Ellie to fling their petty moral inhibitions aside and give into temptation.
"Splendid," Radon said, still wearing his devious smirk. He clapped his hands together in anticipation.
"I apologize for my hasty exit, but I have a wager to see come through, if luck is smiling upon me. The time-frame I bet on is about to close," he told the two girls. Giving full attention to Rose he smiled and bowed his head, "My lady Rose, 'twas an honor to meet you. I hope I shall see you tomorrow evening at the start of the festival."
"Perhaps," was all Rose could think of to say. She was still extremely baffled over what had passed between Lilly and Radon and still harbored serious reservations about attending the festival. She watched Radon flick his reins and steer his horse back towards the palace to whatever possible winning wager resided there.
Lilly rolled her eyes and sighed at the ridiculousness of boys and their one-track minds. Even her brother often made such uncouth comments whenever he was in the company of his friends and male cousins. Usually he polished his language whenever a lady was present, but, apparently, his twin sister did not fall under that category in regards to him. She did not mind such talk in moderation and in appropriate times, but her cousin had been seriously out of line speaking of such coarse occurrences in front of Rose.
"Lilly, what just happened?" Rose finally asked, after trying in vain to understand on her own.
Lilly just huffed and shook her head while muttering, "Boys."
Indubitably, it was an astute observation and a perfect way to sum up the ridiculousness of the coarser sex (Though Rose could make a list of the many things she found ridiculous about the fairer sex as well.). Unfortunately, the succinct response did not answer her initial question. However, Lilly had resumed her previous duty of presenting her fair kingdom to her guest and Rose, more out of respect for Lilly than for any sort of politeness, let the issue go for now. She stored it away in the back of her mind to lie alongside the fairy issue for another subject to approach at a more opportune moment.
Next Chapter: Areida and Cecilia come to Frell and an attraction develops between Radon and Rose. If you're really good, I might have Dame Olga and her spawn make some unwelcome appearances.