Survival of the Rose

Trigger Warning

Deanna walked through the village, carrying a basket full of roots, herbs, and flowers from the royal gardens. She kept her hood up to hide her face.

She wasn’t worried about people recognizing her because most villagers were pretty friendly. It was only the servants who were fiercely loyal to the queen that scowled at her and spat at her feet as she walked by, as if she were a disease.

But the villagers treated her as if she was any one of her sisters, and normally she would stop with any of them and trade pleasantries. However, she did not want to explain the red hue that painted her face.

She couldn’t believe all she admitted to Aeon. She had never admitted such things to herself, much less to a strange man. What came over her? What made her think she could bare her soul to him?

For all she knew, he could go right to the queen and tell her what she did. She didn’t even swear him to secrecy before slamming her door in his face. Yet, she somehow knew he wouldn’t say anything to the queen. She knew he would keep her secret.

Deanna approached the hospital. She took a few deep breaths before going in. She had visited the school first to bring them special cakes made in the castle’s kitchen. They immediately noticed her rosy cheeks.

If children could tell something was amiss, she had no doubt adults would. She took one more deep breath before pushing down her hood, pushing past the cloth hanging in the doorway.

“Princess Deanna!” a few patients greeted.

“Hello, Princess,” the healer said, walking up to her with a warm smile.

“Hello, I’ve brought some plants I think might be helpful,” Deanna said, holding out her basket. The healer sifted through the basket and then smiled up at her.

“You know your plants as always, Princess,” he said as he took the basket from her. Deanna walked further in. She greeted a few patients who had been there awhile, introduced herself to the new patients who gawked at a princess in a village hospital, and the few helpers that helped the healer tend to the patients.

Finally, she reached the back where a child sat on a bed playing with a fancy doll. Her large blue eyes looked up at Deanna.

“Pwincess!” the child squealed.

“Hello Piper,” Deanna smiled, sitting down next to her.

“Pwincess, guess what,” Piper said excitedly, “I’m allowed to go home. Mama is coming to get me later today!” Deanna hugged her. Piper had been sick for so long.

Deanna had done everything in her power to help her recover. She brought extra plants from the royal gardens she thought might be of benefit. She also snuck cakes, and sweets from the kitchen to give to her. She even gave her one of the expensive dolls her father had bestowed on her as a present when she was small, which Piper now hugged tightly.

“I’m so happy you are feeling better now,” Deanna gave her a little squeeze. The girl would never know how close she had come to death.

“Will you play with me until Mama gets here?” Piper asked.

“I can’t,” Deanna said, “I only stopped by for a moment to check on you. I promised my elder sister I wouldn’t be gone long this time.” Piper frowned.

“Are you feeling all wight Pwincess,” she asked, “Your face is all wed.” Deanna cursed to herself.

“I’m fine I promise,” Deanna assured her, “My sister just needs me.” Piper looked at her suspiciously.

“Okay,” she finally said, “Come back to the village to visit soon okay?”

“Okay,” Deanna agreed and gave her another hug before going to meet the healer up front. The healer gave her back the basket.

“Thank you again, Princess, although you need not waste your time bringing us these plants. I can find them easily out in the forest,” the healer said.

“The forest is a half a day’s journey from here,” Deanna said, “The royal gardens are so close. It should be put to good use.”

“You have a big heart,” the healer said, “I think the people here heal faster due to your beauty rather than the plants you bring with you.”

“Thank you for your kindness healer,” Deanna smiled, “I shall be back soon.” Deanna pulled her hood back up and left the hospital.

***

Deanna climbed over the wall where she had helped Mary escape the night before. Back on castle grounds. Deanna scoffed to herself.

As a woman with royal blood flowing through her veins, this should be the safest place for her, yet this is where she’s shut away from anyone to see. This was where the queen and her son tried to get rid of her by forcing a poor girl to try to kill her and then sentence that maid to death for failing.

Deana kicked the grass as she walked. Her father was right. She was in danger, but how was she to escape? She couldn’t bear the thought of leaving her siblings, but what choice did she have?

She looked over her shoulder at the horizon just beyond the wall. She had to leave. Besides, if she were gone Helena could marry Prince Francis. She had mentioned that he was becoming weary of her pushing out their engagement. This way Helena could finally stop worrying and have her happily ever after like in the fairy tales, and that’s all she wanted for Helena.

Deanna made her way back to the kitchens. She was about to turn the corner when something suddenly and violently shoved her up against the wall. Her head cracked against the stonewall bringing tears to her eyes.

A hand covered her mouth while an arm was shoved against her throat, keeping her pinned. Deanna was shocked to see her attacker. Lamont. The queen wouldn’t send her own son to kill her, would she? That was far too risky. What if someone saw? It was still daylight. But who would speak out against the future king for a bastard princess? Deanna struggled against Lamont’s arm.

“Hello little sister,” Lamont smiled at her. Deanna tried to scream underneath his hand but it was too muffled. His hand smelled and was slick with sweat.

“You know I’ve hated you since you were born and your filthy whore mother,” he spat, sending drops of spittle all over her face. Deanna managed to open her mouth just enough to bite the palm of his hand. He yelped and pulled his hand away with an angry growl.

“Let me go, Lamont,” Deanna ordered.

“Father always liked you the most,” Lamont ignored her as he searched for something on his belt with his free hand.

“Father loved all of us… equally,” Deanna wheezed as Lamont increased pressure on her throat, “Please Lamont.”

“I hated seeing your smiling face when Father praised you or when you played with Helena. Why should the daughter of a whore have such happiness?” Lamont pulled a dagger out of the sheath on his waist. Deanna’s eyes grew wide as the weapon glimmered in the sunlight.

She put all her strength into pushing Lamont away, but he was much stronger than her and was much bigger than her slight frame.

“I’m going to take away that happiness,” Lamont said.

“Please Lamont, do not do this,” Deanna begged, “You will not receive happiness from killing me.”

“Kill you?” Lamont laughed, “You’re right. I would not receive happiness from your death where you can rest in peace with Father. No, I’m going to take from you what every maiden saves for their husband.” He suddenly thrust the dagger between her breasts and cut through the cloth there.

“Lamont no! You can’t!” Deanna struggled and kicked her feet out hoping she’d make contact with him hard enough for him to let go, but she was having no such luck. He only pressed his arm harder into her throat. She was starting to get dizzy from lack of air.

“I can and I will. You shouldn’t be sad though. It’s not like any man wants a bastard for a wife anyway. At least now you can experience the touch of a man before you die,” Lamont said. He brought the dagger down further and further.

The sound of her dress tearing was deafening. She could feel the warm air tickle her skin caused by the cold slice of the dagger dragging across her skin as it shredded the cloth.

“But Lamont it is wrong,” Deanna tried to argue through a wheeze, “I am your sister.” Suddenly Lamont removed his arm from her throat. She dropped to her feet. She hadn’t even realized that he had been holding her off the ground.

Lamont grabbed a fistful of her hair and threw her to the ground. Deanna coughed and gasped, trying to catch her breath not even having the strength to sit up.

“You are not my sister,” Lamont yelled, “You are a daughter of a whore which means you are a whore too. And I will do what is to be done with a whore!” He then bent over and used the dagger on her skirt and petticoats, cutting through the layers one by one.

Deanna had no strength to fight him off. She tried to pathetically crawl away, only to be yanked back.

“Please stop Lamont,” Deanna said hoarsely, as he finished cutting through her skirts so he could flip them open for easy access. He was reaching for his belt when suddenly he was yanked away and thrown to the ground.

“I should cut off your hands for laying them on a lady in such a way.” Deanna looked up and gasped. Aeon stood in place of Lamont. His large shadow shielded her from the sun. He stood with his back to her, facing Lamont.

“Who the hell are you?” Lamont demanded. “Do you know who I am? How dare you threaten me!”

“I do not care who you are,” Aeon said fiercely. “If you were at all smart, you would walk away before I acted on behalf of my threat.” Lamont glared at Deanna until he noticed Aeon start to reach for the sword on his hip.

“This is not over,” he said before turning away and stomping off. Deanna couldn’t tell if he was speaking to Aeon or her.

She decided not to put any more thought into figuring it out and focused on rearranging her skirts to cover her legs back up. While clutching together the front of her dress, she took deep breaths. She was safe. For now.