Chapter 3: Leaving for the Voyage
Two weeks passed and it was time to go on the voyage to Treasure Planet. Even though Rose made the choice, deep down, she was entirely nervous and terrified.
Rose was currently in her bedroom, looking at her reflection in the mirror and was wearing a new outfit. The redhead wore a teal shirt with elbow length sleeves with lace at the edges and a heart-shaped neckline. A violet bodice fitted her figure with lavender lacing, and a long light brown skirt reached her shins and black flats cladded her feet. Her long hair was tied back in a braid with a red ribbon bow at the top and golden stud earrings were fastened on her earlobes. She gave a sigh, wishing she didn't have to go, but she had to. She had to. She may not like it, but it was the only way she can face her fears.
Lorraine slipped on a brown cape on the girl, and placed a plain matching bonnet on her head to shade her from the sun. The woman smiled, as she looked at the girl, standing still as a statue.
"There you are Rose. You look very beautiful."
The girl shuddered and tears were threatening to fall out. She turned back to the woman and shook nervously.
"Do I have to go Lorraine? I wish you could come with me."
"So do I Rose," Lorraine said, taking the girl's hands into her own. "But I have other duties that I must do while you are away and my girls have to continue with their schooling. Remember what I've told you, and follow your parents' advice. When you meet new people, there's no shame in being timid around them, and find a way to get to know them. The more you act social around them, the more they'll be social around you. They would like to get the chance to know you. Work hard and do your best, and in the end, things will be all right."
The girl nodded, "I will."
Lorraine pulled the teen into a hug; Rose buried her face into the cotton shirt, and the girl felt tears staining her governess's cloth. She threw her arms around the woman's waist, feeling safe from her warm hug. Rose turned over to Hazel and Willow and they pulled the redhead into their arms for a hug. The redhead wanted to make the hug worth it, since the girls have been her childhood friends.
"Good luck out there, Rose," Willow said.
"Don't get yourself into any trouble, and be wary," Hazel added.
"Thanks girls," she replied. "I'll be all right. I hope."
Rose went back to her vanity, where Artemis was waiting and the girl held out her hand, allowing the chameleon to crawl up her arm and sat perched on her shoulder. On the bright side, Rose was allowed to bring her chameleon with her, so she wouldn't feel lonely.
"Well, here I go," she said.
The girl and her companions headed out of her bedroom, walked through the hallways, and as they went down the stairs, she saw Captain Amelia and Mr. Arrow's luggage being carried to the carriage that will transport them to the nearest port to take them to the Crescentia Spaceport.
The two adults stood by the doors and watched the petite girl walk slowly down the stairs and stood in front of them. The redhead did her best to keep her head held up high. In front of the doorway was the carriage. It was loaded with their luggage and was ready for their transportation; the three people entered the carriage and looked out of the window to say goodbye to Lorraine and her daughters.
"I hope you have a safe voyage Captain," Lorraine said. "You too Mr. Arrow."
"Thank you, Mrs. Anderson," Mr. Arrow said. "We'll back in a few months."
"Not to worry Lorraine," the Captain reassured the governess. "We'll make sure to watch out for each other. Rose will be safe too."
As soon as the stone alien knocked on the ceiling of the carriage, the alien steeds took off, and began to transport the passengers to the Gandorona spaceport to the Crescentia Spaceport. Rose looked back to watch Lorraine, Hazel, and Willow waving goodbye and she waved back to them. Soon after, they disappeared into specks and were finally gone. The redhead sat down, across from her guardians, and decided to look out of the window.
During the ride, the Captain was writing down a list of notes of supplies for the ship, and Mr. Arrow was reading a novel. As they rode in the carriage, the redhead leaned to the side by the window, feeling tired and nervous. The girl's chameleon was sitting on her shoulder and grew concerned for her mistress. Captain Amelia noticed the exhausted and stressed expression on the girl's face.
"Rose, are you all right?"
The girl was staring out at the window, unaware that someone was trying to speak to her.
"Rose?"
The redhead snapped out from her thoughts and looked at her adopted mother, shaken.
"Huh? Oh, I'm sorry Mother. I didn't sleep very well last night, I was thinking about the voyage."
Captain Amelia nodded, suspecting that her adopted daughter was still in a daze about the trip. She reached her slim glove-covered hand over to the redhead's pale slender ones in a comforting gesture.
"Rose, I know that this has been a while since you've left home for the first time in years. You must not let your fears get the best of you, for example, when you attempt to do a challenge, you must go through those obstacles as if they are gates. Once going through them, you'll reach your goals. Anyway, I think you'll like this opportunity; you'll get to see the stars and planets in space. But the only catch is, that our ship must be kept in order to keep us occupied."
"It makes sense that I must be useful on this voyage; but for some reason, I feel rather uneasy as if something bad may happen."
"I do not blame you for being cautious darling," Amelia admitted. "I agree that we should all be careful when going to some places that are new and unfamiliar; but we must not always jump to conclusions until we know the places around us are safe."
The redhead nodded, trying her best to calm down. The stone alien looked at his friend, and came up with an idea to cheer up Rose.
"Rose, there's something we want to show you," Mr. Arrow said. "Your mother and I have found something, that we've meant to give you on your birthday four weeks ago. Now that you're fifteen, I think now is a good time."
The tall alien reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a gold locket, and it had a rose carved on the surface. The girl's large eyes widened in amazement as she recognized the piece of jewelry and leaned in.
"Is that my mother's locket? I thought it was lost."
"On the night your parents died and when I found you, I came across your mother's locket and ruby ring; I decided to keep them safe and give them to you when you were older. I think your parents would have wanted that. Here, why don't I put it on?"
The redhead nodded and leaned over and allowed Mr. Arrow to place the chain around her slender neck. The locket rested on the girl's sternum and she looked down. Then, she held out her right hand and the feline slid the ring on the girl's ring finger.
Rose looked over at her possessions and felt some joy lifting up her heart. She opened the locket and saw holographic images of her parents. Most of them were of their lives together, having Rose, and spending time with her during her early childhood before their deaths. Rose gave a smile as she closed the locket and cupped it in her palms.
"There, you look very beautiful," Captain Amelia said, warmly. "The locket and the ring add so much for you."
She looked up at her adoptive parents and gave them a smile of gratitude.
"Mother, Papa, thank you very much," she said. "As long as I have these items with me, it makes me think about my parents and they'll look out for me."
The adults both smiled back at her, adoring her sweet and gentle nature. Mr. Arrow reached across and took the girl's hands into his large ones.
"You're welcome, Rose," Mr. Arrow replied, smiling.
The redhead looked out of the window to see that they had a few more hours to go to reach for the spaceport. She took off her bonnet and laid it against the window, and decided to take a nap to rest up for the voyage. Hopefully a short nap would give her the strength for her to be prepared for the stress she may face. Rose gave a little yawn and managed to fall asleep and for the first time, it was peaceful. Artemis curled up on her mistress's lap and dozed off too.
