Title: Rose Red
Crossover: The 10th Kingdom/Snow By Tracy Lynn
By: FallenArchAngel47
Dear Readers,
As of now… I still have no reviews… I don't even think anyones reading it… but that's okay… I'm keeping my sanity by writing this… AND… I'm amusing myself. I'm sure all of you have better things to do, being it spring break as I write this and all… You know I really should write that newspaper article I'm supposed to, to try and get onto the newspaper committee. …Also… I am going to finish the book Snow soon… I am going to scream when I finish it… and then re-read it! Raven is my-ine.
Sincerely,
Fallen.
Chapter 1
"Rose!" Alicia called out. Her voice echoed down the hallway. She sighed. "This isn't funny!" She called out, wiping her dirtied hands on her dirty, but white, apron. "You're father is going to be absolutely furious with the both of us, if you're not ready to go the cemetery by noon!" She called out. The echo of her voice bounced off the walls, gradually falling into dead silence. There was a small sound of shuffling at the end of the hallway, and she flicked the switch. She was grateful that some elements of electricity had been introduced from the tenth kingdom. She looked down the hallway and saw Rose kneeling down stroking something on the head.
A white cat stood in front of her, and she picked up whatever she had been stroking. "Bad kitty." She said, pointing at the cat with her free hand. "Go get some fish from the kitchen." She said, pretending to dictate to the small white cat. Alicia walked over. Rose, now 5 years of age, stood and looked up at her. Her face was dirty, and her dress was wrinkled and torn a bit. Alicia was glad, that they were her play clothes and not her dress up clothes. Alicia picked her up. "Whatcha got there?" she asked. "A mouse." She said proudly, holding up the small white rodent. It had black spots in its fur and looked terrified. Rose began to stroke the mouse' back gently, as if soothing it. Rose, unlike most princesses, was raised with the servants.
She had spent most of her life in the kitchen, and instead of knowing how to sew, and curtsy, she knew how to bake, cook, clean, and play ball with a stick. She ran around with the other servants children, whom she was growing up with, and instead of playing with dollies like most princesses, she found more fun in climbing trees, swimming in the lake, stream, or river, and running around and chasing her friends. Instead of delicate other little girls to play with, she usually ended up playing with the filthy, rowdy and rough boys, who's parents, again were the servants, or lived in surrounding villages. "Come on you… we need to get you ready." Alicia said, walking down the hall with her. "Are we going to go see mommy again?" Rose asked, her eyes shined a little bit. Though her mother was dead, she enjoyed going to see her grave, and being able to spend quality "time…" with her mother.
Alicia set her down, once they were in her room, and Rose set the mouse on the windowsill. "You can go if you like." She said, smiling at the mouse. She pet it once more. The mouse squeaked in gratitude of being saved, and then scurried off about its business. "Bye Cookie!" She shouted after the mouse. "You love animals, don't you Rose?" Alicia asked, picking her up again, and standing her on a stool. "Uh Huh! All types of animals! But my favorite is a Raven!" She said. "They're shiny and black, and pretty. I like the sounds they make too." She said. She smiled. "Ah, well that's nice." Alicia said, brushing her hair. "Owie!" Rose yelped as Alicia tugged on a particularly, nasty knot.
"Well, if you didn't run around all the time and rough house with the other boys, I'm sure you wouldn't have as many knots dear." Alicia said. Alicia soon finished brushing her bright red hair, and pulled it up in a ponytail with a black ribbon. "Why do I always have to wear black when I go see mommy?" she asked as Alicia pulled on her petticoat, and various other undergarments. She pulled on her black dress afterwards, which seemed less formal than all her other gowns. This one was slimmer, and made of one layer of silk. The skirt did not poof out, like a bell, but in fact was straight, as if a normal skirt. It was black, and shone when the sunlight bounced off of it.
The sleeves were long, and clung to her arms, without any sense of "Poofiness" as she called it. Alicia put a pair of flat, black, pinchy shoes on the floor. "No! Not the pinchy shoes!" Rose whined. She hated these shoes; they pinched at the coalhouses on her feet, as she liked to walk around barefoot. Alicia sighed, and put her in the shoes, against Rose's will. "Come on, let's go see your father." Alicia said guiding her down the hallway, and down the stairwell to where her father would be waiting, in the throne room. Wendell was dressed in his finest black suit, and stood talking with Anthony quietly, Wolf, and Virginia were there was well, talking in hushed voices along with Anthony and Wendell. Rose spotted a boy, a little ways away from them.
He was about 6, and was staring at a painting on the wall in a bored fashion. His hair was black, and wispy, but short, and somehow managed to spike itself in random places. His eyes were a gray color, with a small hint of blue. A tail stuck out of the back of his black pants, which was part of a black suit, in which he wore. "Prince Wendell, your grace… if I may interrupt… your daughter is here." Alicia said softly. Wendell turned and looked at Rose, he nodded as if to say he has acknowledged their prescience, and then continued on talking with Virginia, Wolf, and Anthony. They were all dressed in black as well, as if they were going to go with them to the re-funeral, which was going to be held every five years, where they would gather and speak about her, and then visit her grave. She stood in silence, and looked down.
Every day, it seemed as if her father only grew more distant from her, and colder towards her. She sighed, and shuffled her feet, waiting for them to end their conversation. When they did, Wendell walked up to the front doors. "Come… I have a carriage waiting to go to the cemetery…" He said softly. The others nodded. Anthony shook his head, and sighed. He now both sympathized and pitied Wendell. They left the castle and headed off to the cemetery.