I'm back! And, with Dimitri spilling his story at the end of out last chapter, it's time to see how Rose reacted! Well, go on, ignore the rest o fmy rambling and get to reading!

~DA2014

Let Your Heart Lead The Way

Chapter 6

Rose sat in a stunned state, a mixture of silence and awe, before bursting out the thoughts running through her mind.

"It's him! I have to go see him!" Rose said as she watched Lissa reporting live from the airport.

"I'm sorry, Your Majesty. You can't see them for another day or two." Sebastian said.

"But Bas, I have to! He was there, he saw what happened to my mother! I have to know what he remembers!"

"And you will have the opportunity to ask him right before you get rid of him Rosemarie." Abe said as he entered the room.

Rose had sat by all her life and tolerated her father's controlling ways. But, she decided, it was time for her father to realize she had grown up, and it was time for her to make her own choices, and make them by herself. She couldn't learn from her mistakes if she never makes any.

"No, I won't get rid of him. You don't even know him!"

"I know enough to guarantee that he will be leaving before this ends."

Rose decided her father didn't merit a reply. She would have to pick her battles, and she'd have to do it carefully. She would let her father think he had won this one, and shock the hell out of him. Tears welled in the Princess' eyes, and her cheeks began to redden. Before her father could say anything more to her, she turned and ran from the sitting room. There was only one place that her father didn't go, and that was the stables.

Bursting from her room, and throwing her heels off as she did, Princess Rosemarie ran. As fast and as far as she could, until she hit the stable doors. Once through them, she ran for Persephone's stall. Without even having to look, she grabbed her bridle and put it on her. Then, after a quick brush, Rose grabbed a handful of Seph's mane, and pulled herself up.

Even in a dress, Rose had the ability to ride better than most of the mounted cavalry. So, spurring Seph on, Rose raced out of the stable and into the forest that bordered the Southern end of the Palace. It felt good to be free, even if only for a moment. Rose knew that in a matter of minutes, the Guardians would be mounted and racing after her. Then she's have to turn back and "return to the safety of the Palace," even if the Palace is the place where her mother's life was taken.

All to soon, Rose was dismounting Persephone and led her to the little brook that slithered through the trees. Seph took the time to get some water, then horse and rider both released a sigh of release for a brief moment. The silence that surrounded them was golden, and it felt glorious. No commotion over preparing for the men of the Selection, no questions about what dress she was wearing on the next episode of The Dhampir Report. Just silence, where Rose could take a moment to be herself.

And, all too soon, it came to an end. Rose could hear the guard riding up behind her and knew he was coming. So, she mounted him up and turned in the direction of the stables. Her father was likely throwing a hissy that she had left his line of sight for even the slightest moment, like many times before, but Rose felt as if she couldn't be herself in the Palace. She always had to be the Princess, the sole Heir to the throne.

Oh yeah, my dream job right there. Ruling over people that I can't help. The thought was a cynical one, but an honest one.

King Ibrahim had fallen into a dark depression after the death of his beloved Queen, and when he emerged from it, he had been so full of fury. Unfortunately for his people, they were the one to pay. Rose had too, in her own way. She had never once been allowed outside of the Palace, not even to accompany her father when he went to visit foreign dignitaries. Her father had promised her all the ponies and jewels this world could hold, but all Rose had wanted was a friend.

Then Lissa had come along. Her father had been the Head of Media Affairs since he was 18, taking over from his father. But, when Eric Dragomir had been killed, Lissa had taken over his position, and she no longer had time for Rose. Ambrose, who worked in the stable, was Sebastian's son, but Bas had long since forbidden the two from speaking. It seemed that Rose was confined to her glamoured cage, and now because of the Selection, others were being locked in with her.

So, as Rose rode back into the stable, he gracefully slid off of Seph's back and bounced to the ground. Then, she led her horse to get more water and removed her reins. After giving her a quick brush, the Princess released one of two prized possessions to run free in the pasture.

Aside from her precious mare, Rose's other prized possession was her mother's anklet that she had brought with her from Alabama.

The thin gold chain sat delicately on Rose's ankle now, and it had a small teardrop shaped pearl. It had been the last gift her parents had given her before she won, when they had been invited to the Palace for Prince Ibrahim to meet them, and get permission to marry their little girl. Rose had never met her grandparents, and it's one thing she hated her father for. The only family she had known was him, and he had never been around for her.

So now, standing at the stable's door, and watching her horse run through the fields, Rose wished more than ever that her mother were here. Her mother would know what to do, what to tell her. Rose could only imagine her mother holding her close now.

Then, suddenly, she heard a commotion behind her. Whipping around to see what the altercation could be, Rose saw two of the Palace guards and a stable boy talking to a nice-looking man, even if he did have a dark and snarky look to him. He looked as if he would stand at 6'2", if he weren't hunched over constantly. His deep black hair flirted with his eyelashes, and his icy crystal colored eyes stared at the ground. He had a tall build, even if it was lean and slightly muscled. Above all else, he looked incredibly happy about being in the Palace.

Walking up, Rose found herself speaking.

"What seems to be the problem gentlemen?"

The guards and stable boy fell into a deep bow but Rose was quick to tell them to rise. She found it ridiculous that everyone had to bow or curtsy to her and stay in such a position until told to rise. That's why Rose never really gave them the chance. As soon as she walked into a room, she immediately told everyone to rise.

The larger guard found his bearings first.

"This gentleman is here for your Selection, Princess, and he just got lost. We were instructed to take him to the Men's Room when he slipped from our grasp and disappeared to the barn."

"Well, it seems the fault is yours, Officer Dijay. You, as well as Officer Lazar, are to return to your previous posts immediately."

"But what about-"

"You heard what I said, Officer. I will see to it that this Lord find his way to the Men's Room. Now go."

With a final bow, the officers turned to go. Then, Rose turned to the stable boy to see what he was standing there for.

"The- The Lord O- Ozera was asking information about the horses, Your Majesty."

Rose then turned to Lord Ozera, who was of her own Selection.

"Did you get all the information you needed, Sir? We have a large equine operation here at the Palace. The Clydesdales are here for training before they are sent to the lower States to do farm and ranch work, the Thoroughbreds for racing, and the Quarter Horses are here to learn showing. In all, our operation generates millions of dollars that I personally send to shelters, soup kitchens, orphanages, and educational stations all over the nation. The money also benefits many wildlife operations in the North and East."

The Lord Ozera seemed speechless for a moment, before asking something that stunned Rose for a moment.

"Oh yeah. What do you do about the homeless? The disabled? Let them rot on the streets?"

"No, Lord Ozera, they are relocated into the nearest shelters where they receive proper nourishment, medical help, and are then sent to a boarding institution where they can begin learning a trade. The 'unmentionables' are some of the nation's most well-treated citizens. And, if your application was correct, you would know. Now, if you would be so kind to follow me, I will show you to the Men's Room and you will not speak of this encounter if you want to see your next meal."

With that, the two set off into the Palace.

"I guess I should be thanking you."

"Whatever for?"

"I can guarantee that all the work being put into caring for the 'unmentionables' was not your father's doing. So, coming from an orphan speaking for all, thank you Princess. If not for your work, I'd have died at the age of 4."

"I won't say I'm sorry for the loss of your parents, because I'm sure that's all you've heard since. I will say that if you need anything, Sir-"

"Christian."

"Sir Christian. Right, okay. I'm still learning all the names. As I was saying, if you need anything, feel free to speak with me. I can tell that even with the medications given to you before arriving, you are still far too thin. I will promise to keep you here as long as I can so you will be cared for."

He silently nodded his head, before the duo came to an abrupt stop in front of two large mahogany doors.

"This is the Men's Room. I am not permitted inside without permission from the King, but you are. I will recommend you not speak of this encounter to the other men, for it may seem an unfair advantage, and I will have to ask you to leave. So, keep this quiet and you will be staying longer than you imagined. Have a good day, Sir Christian, and I look forward to officially meeting you tomorrow morning after breakfast."

Rose walked around the nearest corner and waited to listen as the door opened and closed, before continuing on her way to her room. The cold granite seemed to grow colder with each step of Rose's bare feet. Unconsciously, said feet had carried her to the library, and across the room to her mother's favorite reading spot. Her mother had loved to curl up in this window seat and read for hours, as she had been told by the Head of Palace Staff, Alberta.

Once, when Rose was a young girl, Alberta had been charged as the Head of Palace Staff and Rose's nanny. So, one day, Alberta had been sitting in this very spot, with Rose clinging to her skirts, reading a children's book when a picture had fallen from the pages. Alberta had bent over to pick it up and looked at it for a moment. Then, she let out a quiet sigh as a few tears clung to her lashes. Alberta proceeded to pull the toddling Princess into her lap to show her the photo. It had been one of the Queen curled up in this very spot, but she had a tiny bundle latched to her chest. Rose, in the photo, appeared to be feeding from her mother's breast, while Queen Janine read to her from the book in her lap.

It was a sight that had sent Rose into a tizzy of tears, and Alberta spent the remainder of her time at the Palace telling Rose stories of her mother. Then, one unfortunate day when Rose was 13, Alberta had passed away. With nobody left to console her, Rose had fallen into a dark place. Then, her father had gotten her a horse, Persephone as she came to be known, and Rose slowly began to claw her way out the darkness that had enveloped her. To this day, Rose still had her darker moments, and when they claimed her, she would run to Seph's stall, and cling to her mane as the tears fell.

One thing the Princess had never had in life was stability. And, as it was, it was the one thing she needed.

There you have it darlings! Chapter 6, and interaction with a suitor! Leave me a review and tell me what you think.

~DA2014