Wishing

Nineteen-year-old Rose hummed to herself as she walked down to the castle's wishing well for some fresh water so she could heat it up and then she could use it to scrub the floor. Cassandra was having one of her ridiculous parties tonight and had instructed Rose to make sure the ballroom was clean beforehand.

It was not a task that a King's daughter should've done, but Rose didn't mind working and she was used to it after all this time.

Rose had known some happiness for two years following her father's wedding, but though Rose hadn't wanted to believe it, shortly after the wedding, Cassandra's love for her and her father had always seemed forced or fake.

When Rose was eight, her father passed away from the same illness that had claimed her mother, leaving Rose alone with Cassandra. Right after her father's funeral, Cassandra's true self was revealed. She was actually a very vain and selfish woman and it quickly became clear, her marriage to Rose's father had been nothing but a mercenary marriage.

Cassandra quickly rose to power, which spelled the end of Rose's happy and carefree childhood. Cassandra rarely had a kind word to say to her stepdaughter, was often cruel to her, placed several restrictions upon her life, she dismissed all but the castle cook and gardener and forced Rose into servitude, used nearly all of Pete's money on parties and dinners so she could meet those of noble blood and ascend higher in nobility circles. She was also a cruel and frightening Queen, to the point where no one dared said anything unkind about her, lest she punish them in terrible ways.

Her vanity was clear as day to those who truly saw it. Cassandra bought countless lotions and potions so that she might reserve her beauty. When Cassandra wasn't jabbering on about her looks to Chip or with her silly friends, she was preening herself in front of a mirror, or rather the mirrors. There was at least one mirror in every room and she even had a special room filled with nothing but mirrors so that she might look upon her beauty. There was one mirror in particular she loved, a full-length golden and jeweled mirror that she often liked to pretend was a magic mirror.

Whenever Rose went in the room to polish the mirrors, she would hear Cassandra say to her favorite mirror,

"Mirror, mirror on the wall

Who's the fairest one of all?"

There would never be any response from the mirror, but if Chip was in the room, he'd reply, "It is you, Mistress!" And while it was a kind thing to say, it only added to the problem. In Cassandra's case, beauty really was only skin deep.

Cassandra also made it quite clear how she felt about Rose. Rose wasn't be to seen by others outside of the palace. She was only permitted to attend two parties held once a year to keep up appearances. Other than that, Rose was just an ill-treated servant and even then, Rose was just to look pretty—not as pretty about her stepmother, of course—and speak only when spoken to and do what she was told. She remained inside the castle walls at all times and hadn't left in several years. She knew little more than Cassandra's cruelty and harshness.

Because of this life, Rose had no real friends save for Chip, whom she saw as a friend and brother. He was always nice to her and would help with her work if Cassandra was out and Rose cherished their friendship dearly. It was one of the few good things in her life. The only real happiness she had anymore was with her friendship with Chip and thinking of her past when she opened her locket which she never took off and contained a small yet highly detailed sketch of her parents.

At last she came to the well and filled her large bucket almost to the brim with water. Since it was quite heavy and she'd finished most of her work for the day, she decided to rest a moment before going back inside to scrub.

She sighed as she leaned against the well. Her father had told her that if she made a wish into the well and she heard her echo, it meant her wish was going to come true. But would it? Or was it all just a bunch of childish nonsense?

"I don't think it'd hurt anything to make one little wish," she said to herself. "What've I got to lose?"

She knew exactly what she wanted to wish for—someone to love who'd love her in return and grant her freedom. She then started to sing to herself, smiling inwardly when she heard the echo.

I'm wishing (I'm wishing)
For someone to love
Who'll find me (to find me)
Today (today)
I'm hoping (I'm hoping)
And I'm dreaming of
The nice things (the nice things)
He'll say

I'm wishing (I'm wishing)
For someone to love
Who'll find me (to find me)
Today (today)
I'm hoping (I'm hoping)
And I'm dreaming of
The nice things (the nice things)
He'll say today

"Today!" sang a voice.

Rose nearly jumped out of her skin, as the voice startled her. She looked to see a tall, slightly balding man with enormous ears and lovely blue eyes standing before her. He was quite handsome and wearing the strangest assortment of clothes she ever saw in her life: black shoes, black pants, a blue shirt and a battered black leather jacket.

"Oh my goodness. Forgive me, sir, you startled me," said Rose.

"My apologies. I didn't mean to," he said, kindly.

He didn't appear to be dangerous, so Rose relaxed a little.

"It's all right," she said. Then she frowned. "Sorry, but how did you get in here?"

There was no door through the walls surrounding the castle and the only way inside was to go through the front door of the castle and walk until you came to the back door. The front door was locked and only Cassandra and her newly acquired guards possessed the key.

"I sort of climbed the wall," he admitted, looking sheepish.

Rose stared in disbelief. "You climbed that wall?" the walls surrounded the castle were at least ten feet tall. "Out of curiosity, why?"

"Well, I heard you singing and I wanted to see the face behind the voice," he said. "And if it's not too bold, you are very beautiful, Miss—?"

"Rose," she said, blushing, slightly. "My name is Rose. Might I inquire of your name, sir?"

"I'm the Doctor."

The Doctor? What kind of a name was that? But it didn't matter, because he seemed to be a nice man—genuinely nice. Rose then looked at the sky and the position of the sun reminded her the time.

"I'm sorry, but it's getting late and I need to get back inside. I have duties to attend to," said Rose. "I'd let you out through the front door, but I don't think that would be wise." Her stepmother would have a hissy fit if she saw a stranger in the house. "There's a ladder in the gardener's shed you can use to get out. It's down that way and the door's unlocked, so you shouldn't have any problems. Please, excuse me."

"Wait," said the Doctor, before she could go. "Would you mind if I carried that for you? At least to the door?"

Rose hesitated, but then nodded. "That would be very kind, thank you."

He carried her bucket up to the door and then Rose took it from him.

"Thank you, again. It was a pleasure making your acquaintance," said Rose.

"Pleasure was all mine," said the Doctor. He cleared his throat. "Sorry for being so forward, but I hear there's to be some party here tonight. Is that right?"

She nodded. "Yes."

"Will you be there?"

Rose was surprised. No one had ever asked her such a thing before. "I can't promise anything, but if I can be there, I will."

She wasn't always allowed to attend Cassandra's parties. Sometimes, Cassandra had Rose locked up in her room until the event was over.

The Doctor smiled. "Then I'll be looking for you. Good day to you, Rose."

"Good day, Doctor."

Rose waved good-bye as he left and then she went inside and got back to work. She could not believe what had just happened. The last thing she'd expected was for a complete strange stranger to do what that man had done.

I cannot believe he said I was beautiful. I'm not anything of the sort. He was just being kind because he liked my singing, nothing more.

Though her father had always said she was the most beautiful girl in the land, Rose had never truly believed she was beautiful. She always looked a mess when she was working and she'd met the man while being a hot and sweaty mess and wearing a tattered old brown gown.

In Rose's mind, the only time she even looked a little nice was during one of Cassandra's parties. And even then, she didn't think much of herself because her self-esteem was practically nothing due to her stepmother's constant belittling and criticisms.

Ah well, it doesn't matter. Who's to say I'll actually see him again or that anything will happen? But then again, there's no harm in making a little wish and dreaming, is there?

Rose sighed to herself as she finished heating the water and then began scrubbing the floor. She couldn't think about that right now. She had work to do.

Hours later, the castle was spotless and Rose was tired and sore from all her work. There was three hours before the festivity and she had to double-check that dinner was right to her stepmother's satisfaction and then see if she was going to be able to attend the party.

She had just entered the kitchen when she heard the sound of something breaking. She looked to see a pot of tea on the table and Chip fretting to himself over a broken teacup.

Maybe I should've made a wish for Chip too.

Chip was exceedingly loyal to Cassandra and very nice, but he was also dreadfully clumsy.

"Oh, dear me. That was one of Mistress's favorite cups!" he fretted.

"Chip," said Rose, catching his attention. "It's okay; I'll take care of this."

"No, Miss Rose. I should take care of it," said Chip, as he fetched a dustpan and broom. "You are milady's stepdaughter and I am her servant. I should do this job. Mistress will be angry enough as it is."

"Nonsense," said Rose, firmly. She knelt down, took the dustpan and broom from him and quickly cleaned up the broken remains of the cup. "Chip, don't worry about it. If she notices, I'll just say it was my fault."

"What was your fault?" said a sharp voice.

Rose looked up, startled once more. Her stepmother was in the kitchen, looking anything but pleased.

"Forgive me, Stepmother. I was making a cup of tea for Chip and I accidentally broke a teacup," said Rose, before Chip could speak.

"Did you, now?" said Cassandra. She looked furious at seeing the broken. It was just Rose's luck that the cup that broke was one of Cassandra's favorites. She slapped Rose, leaving a bright red handprint on Rose's cheek. "Do not do something like that again, you stupid girl, or I'll punish you further by locking you in your chambers for a week. Do I make myself clear?"

Rose bowed her head. "Yes, Stepmother."

With one final cold look, Cassandra stormed out of the kitchen, muttering to herself.

Chip looked upset as he fetched a cold, damp rag and dabbed at Rose's stinging cheek. "You shouldn't have covered for me."

"You're my friend, Chip. What else could I have done?" she said.

Chip smiled a little. "Then at least allow me to help you prepare for tonight in repayment. You are to attend and I shall make you look like the angel you are, Miss Rose. May I?"

Rose smiled a little. How could she refuse her friend? "If you wish it."