A/N: This is the rewrite of this chapter. Which I hope is MUCH better than the original. This feels a little less childish and hopefully more interesting. It's still short so I hope you don't mind. I'm working on the next chapter so bear with me. :P
Chapter I
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Beauty woke up and rolled over on her large bed. "Goodbye room," She whispered softly as she stared at the ceiling. Pulling the soft and thick blankets off her she stood up and walked over to her dresser, pulled out her undergarments and corset, and her velvet maroon traveling dress. Pulling them on with help from her maid, Brega, she twirled in front of the mirror. The dress matched her naturally curly, dark brown hair, and soft green eyes. She was tall and thin. Her long fingers pulled on her dress sweeping the edges off the floor as she gave a deep bow.
"I'm sorry to have to leave." Brega said quietly
Beauty turned to her maid and friend. "Me too, I'm excited to return home after all these years, but I don't want to leave."
"You will be sorely missed Beauty," Brega's eyes filled with tears. "You have so many friends….as do I."
Beauty laughed, tears stinging her eyes, and gave her a hug. "Yes, but we have one another."
The girls were both sixteen turning seventeen in a month and two days. They had known each other since they were children, since Brega's mother had been Beauty's nanny. When Beauty had turned fourteen, Brega's mother died from a sickness that had swept the capital city in which they lived.
Beauty's family was one of the wealthiest noble families in town; her father was Lord Rose, a friend and advisor of the late King Richard. His son, Prince Renald, was now King. He had always disliked Beauty's father and had decided to let him go and choose another advisor in his place. Lord Rose was now free of any immediate duties and had decided to return to his inherited home, The Rose Estate; a small piece of land located on the edge of the kingdom, and today was moving day.
"Now, let us wipe these salty things away and leave these old dusty apartments with our heads held high." Beauty said wiping her eyes.
"Yes," Brega picked up a comb and motioned Beauty to the white vanity and the small stool in front of it. "Our heads held high."
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Beauty walked through the Veredeas palace, passing rooms, and halls, on her way to her favorite spot, the garden. She enjoyed sitting among the roses, inhaling the sweet yet magical scent of the flowers. Taking a small dagger from her shoe, Beauty cut of a few choice roses, being careful not to prick her fingers on the sly thorns she held the stems together with a small white ribbon and held the intoxicating flowers her lap as she then dipped her fingers into the small pond she sat by, gazing at her reflection. Softly she began to sing a sad melody as she sprinkled drops of water onto the roses catching the morning's sunlight in their depths.
"Farewell my love, Farewell, the morning comes and I must go,
Farewell my love, Farewell, I pray I shall see thee once more..."
Beauty had read this in a manuscript thrust behind piles of dusty books in the palace library when she was ten and put it to a tune.
"Still singing that song Beauty?" asked a quiet voice.
Beauty stopped abruptly at the voice and blushed; Standing up she smoothed her face, turned and bowed, not looking at the man who stood at the entrance of the garden under the large stone archway. She could see him in her mind, his pale blonde hair sparkling in the morning sun; she could feel his grey eye's looking right through her while she bowed. Beauty did not even have to look at him to know that this was King Renald.
Beauty knew every crease in his forehead, every curve of his perfect nose. They had been childhood friends, but their positions had thrust them in different directions as they got older.
"You have not changed, except to grow more beautiful each passing day."
What peace Beauty had had earlier vanished as she replied "You have changed your Grace."
"Ah, the rose can speak. Come, come, do stand up straight."
Beauty did as was told her green eyes swirling with grey.
"My offer still stands, and I will ask again. Will you marry me beautiful Rose?"
"My lord, my answer is still the same."
"I was hoping it had changed. Don't worry, I will see you again."
He gently took the roses from her hands and wove them into a crown and held it up to the sun, whispering under his breath he blew on the delicate treasure. The deep red petals of the roses faded and then brightened. King Renald handed her the now heavy crown of gold.
"Someday you'll be my queen." He said smiling slightly, his eyes hardening.
Beauty shivered as King Renald left the garden through the stone archway towards the palace and waiting servants.
She glanced down at the crown in her hands and dropped it in the pond disgusted.
"You really have changed Renald." she whispered into the gentle breeze.
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