It was twilight by the time Roland returned to his rooms carrying a large platter of bread, meat and cheese for their dinner.
He was surprised not to find her in bed. 'Rose'? he called. The Bathroom door was open and he started to fear she had bolted again when a slight breeze moved one of the curtains and he noticed the doors leading to the balcony were slightly ajar. 'dammit' he muttered setting the tray down on the table with slightly more force than necessary.
He approached the window and saw Rose looking out to sea, her weight on her left leg and her hands resting lightly on the balustrade. She looked relaxed but held herself tenderly and slightly awkwardly. The breeze blew the thin nightdress against her side revealing the lines of her body in sharp relief. The hem billowed slightly around her thighs and the wide neckline hung off one shoulder. Her hair jostled in a tumble of waves around lifting in the breze to expose a shoulder blade where thin red lines crossed in an angry pattern across her pale skin. His mouth went dry. He released two things at once, that in this moment he found her beautiful and that Doloran must have been whipping her. So that's what Thetis and Bracken had meant yesterday. There was no way she could ever have fought back against him but she sure had a defiant streak, something a bully like Doloran no doubt, could not abide. His stomach turned to ice as he pondered not for the first time what else he had done to assert his power over her. Her fear of Roland yesterday had outraged him, but now, seeing the evidence of her torture and her comparative frailty, he found it entirely understandable. She looked so very vulnerable standing there in the elements, dressed in only his thin shirt that he found himself feeling utterly indecent for looking at her while she was unaware of his gaze.
'you don't listen, do you?' he said loudly as he approached her. Rose jumped but did not move.
'you can see for miles' she murmured smiling over her shoulder to him, seemingly unconscious to his irritation.
Roland sighed and removed his heavy coat, swinging it over her shoulders to engulf her. 'you should be in bed' he grumbled.
'just a few more minutes' she begged, folding the thick fabric around herself 'please, it feels so good to smell the fresh air'.
Resigning himself to the fact he would have to physically pull her into his room, he joined her instead. Giving her a quick overview of the land surrounding Evermore. From his rooms he could not see too much of the actual kingdom but he did have an amazing view of the sea and distant mountains. As the light faded into night Roland shivered.
'C'mon, you must be freezing'
Reluctantly she allowed him to take her arm guiding her stumbling through the doors in the oversized coat. As he slipped it from her shoulders to throw it over the back of a chair he noticed her skin felt cooler to the touch. He pressed a hand to her brow 'Your fever, has broken at least. Although now you probably have pneumonia' he chided.
She smiled 'it was worth the risk'
'Hungry'?
She nodded and he settled her at the table seating himself next to her. As she steadily worked her way through an indecent amount of cheese washed down with something that tasted faintly of elderflower she noticed he was unusually taciturn and barely eating. What he was doing was watching her.
'tough day at work'? she ventured timidly breaking his reverie.
'something like that' he nodded with a small smile. 'I just need a good night's rest that's all'
Rose let the subject drop and the meal continued in slightly strained silence.
After Cor cleared the plates and bringing in tea and coffee respectively he wished them goodnight and retired to his own rooms for the evening leaving them both with their thoughts.
Roland was amused to see the faint colour on her cheeks as she watched Cor bow out of the rooms.
'are you worried he thinks we are lovers' he asked lightly, pouring their drinks.
'Wha, no-I just' she looked down at her shirt. 'I guess, a little. You are a leader here right? everyone must be talking'
'Oh,no doubt, i've been a leader here and at home for a long time, after awhile you get used to everyone always thinking something'
'Who are you' Rose asked suddenly, it came out sharper than she meant but Roland just smiled.
'The President of Eagletarian'
'your too young'
'That seems to happen here, i'm 48'
Rose blinked '32'
'but you look 18. Who are you, Rose'? the question came as if all discussion around his outlandish statement of origin was instantly acceptable but in that moment Rose felt too tired by the curiosities of this world to question anything anymore.
'I was… I am a Gardener. I design gardens for people. I live in England.
'Married'?
'No, you'?
'No, not anymore'
Feeling at a strange impasse, all the questions Rose had for him fell away from her mind as he watched her over the rim of his cup, seemingly completely relaxed and slightly amused by her.
'what differences have you noticed here - besides the obvious magic and monsters?
Rose breathed out slowly 'besides magic and monsters, well for one the gravity here is less strong'
Roland raised his eyebrows, willing her to continue. 'you jump here, you get far more air than you get at home'
'I have noticed that too, makes fighting a lot easier'
She nodded stifling a yawn.
'Bed'! He announced, rising to his feet.
'isn't it early' she looked up at his as he stood over her ready to guide her to bed.
'You look dead on your feet' he countered 'besides I didn't get much sleep last night, either'.
She almost felt guilty when she followed his gaze to the makeshift bed on the couch. 'I could sleep there' she offered i'm not as big as you so-'
'not an option' he shook his head as he grasped her arm to lead her to bed. 'The bed is all yours, your recovering after all'. He held one corner of the covers up gesturing for her to get in.
She slid into the soft covers as he lay her down on the mattress. He looked down at her for a long moment his expression dark and unreadable, she gazed back perplexed 'Sleep well, Rose' he murmured at last brushing a tendril of hair from her face and letting the soft strands fall through his fingers.
'Good night' she murmured a little more breathlessly than she hoped. with a small smile he left her, turning out the lamps as she stared at the ceiling her stomach fluttering.