princess Rosanna 8

Rosanna quickly became worried ,because if this was true than that would mean something was wrong with her father and all decision making had been left up to King Derrick. “What has happened to my father?” The guard sighed as if struggling to say what he had to. “Both of your parents have been ill, no one knows why they are but your father said it would be good for King Derrick to get the feel for the realm.” Rosanna's shoulders dropped in defeat. “When will that man ever stop?” The guard shrugged his shoulders and led Rosanna into the dungeon. It was dark and dampness was in the air. “What is your name kind sir?” Rosanna asked as the guard was about to shut the door. He turned around and bowed as he answered. “My name is Peter Wright, your highness.” He once again started to shut the door but Rosanna stopped him with her pleading cry. “Sir Wright, please allow me to go to my family. I have done nothing and they must be worried for me.” Peter Wright watched the princess and considered what harm it would do to allow her to talk with her parents. He did not agree with King Derrick on many things but he feared his authority. Before he could make a decision footsteps were heard coming down the passage. Rosanna heard the large door creak shut and as the key turned in the lock her hair stood on end. ~chapter three all hope lost~ All of the sounds that had been so quiet before now suddenly grew louder. A leak of some kind was making a constant drip, drip, drip noise and the little creatures that lived in the dark place were alive with curiosity for their visitor. One brave mouse even came close enough that Rosanna could see its eyeballs staring at her; but Rosanna stomped on the hard floor and the little creature scurried off. Tears began to run down her cheeks and she dropped to her knees. Rosanna felt a hand touch her shoulder and she screamed out in fright. “I will not harm you.” The voice belonged to a woman. “Sorry to frighten you so.” Rosanna's eyes were finally adjusting to the darkness and she could see that the young women was dressed in an elaborate gown not at all what she would have expected in such a place as this. “My name is Amelia and I am guessing that you are princess Rosanna.” Rosanna stood up and pulled a loose strand of hair behind her ear even though Amelia could not see her untidiness. “How did you know who I was?” Rosanna asked suspiciously; it was not very comforting to have a stranger know who she was. “I knew by your conversation with the guard.” Amelia replied. Rosanna immediately felt foolish for thinking ill accusations against Amelia but outwardly she only bobbed her head up and down. Then silence came once again into the dark dungeon and it frightened Rosanna when Amelia sniffed loudly. “I always had my suspicions about Derrick but never would I have guessed his greed to take him this far.” Rosanna turned her head sharply to look at Amelia; it was very uncommon for anyone to call the King by his first name. “You sound as if you have known the king for some time and on personal bases.” Amelia touched Rosanna's arm and began to guide her to one side of the dungeon. “There is a stone over here that we can sit on.” Rosanna was glad that they did not have to sit on the cold, hard floor all the time. When they had seated themselves as comfortable as possible Amelia talked again. “I should say I know him; I am his sister.” Rosanna gasped in surprise. “His sister? Why in the world are you in this place?” Amelia smiled and answered the question with a question. “Why are you here?” Rosanna was once again reminded what a cruel man she was to marry. She should not be so surprised to hear that this man had put his own sister in the dungeon, but she still wanted to know the exact reason. Amelia did not need to be asked, she was only too willing to reveal her story. “In my family, Derrick and I have always been the closest and I was never surprised when he told me his plans, but not long ago my father was planning on handing the throne over to our eldest brother but Derrick had determined in his mind that he would be the next ruler.” Amelia lingered for a moment in silence then began once more. “I will spare you the horrid details but to say it plainly, Derrick made himself king .My eldest brother and I were the only two who knew how he got to that position. I did not let on that I was against Derrick, as our eldest brother did when he left the realm without a trace of where he had gone. Because I was so silent about my true feelings, Derrick continued to trust my confidence which is how I came to know about his plans to take over your father’s realm.” Rosanna gasped with surprise. “You!” Rosanna remembered the voices in the passage and the women who ran, after Derrick had discovered that Rosanna was there. All she could feel now was disgust for the heartless creature beside her. She wished to speak harshly to Amelia but her upbringing made her hold her tongue until she could calm her nerves, then she spoke. “Why did you not help me?” Amelia looked ashamed of herself but she knew that Rosanna was waiting for her reply. “I am sorry about that but, Rosanna, I was scared and confused. After Derrick told me that he was only marrying you because you would be his only key to the kingdom, I was able to see the evil that had taken Derrick from me. If you could have known him when we were children you would not know that he could be capable of such wickedness.” A whimper came from somewhere deep in Amelia's throat and she had to stop speaking to gain control of her emotions. Rosanna waited patiently as Amelia shook with tears of sorrow. After some time Amelia dried her eyes and looked pleadingly at Rosanna. “Do forgive me.” Rosanna was not angry at her and she really had no reason not to forgive her so with a slight nod of her head she replied plainly and with little feeling. “I will forgive you.” This satisfied both princesses so they sat in silence for some time. Then Rosanna suddenly lifted her head. “If you ran away how did you get in this place?” She spoke so loudly that Amelia jumped in surprise then asked. “What do you mean, exactly?” Rosanna was about to explain when Amelia spoke again. “Oh! You mean how I got in this dungeon. After I left that night in such a hurry Derrick decided that I was not to be trusted and he was right because I was headed to talk to your father and mother about what I knew. Before I could get there Derrick had sent a guard after me and locked me in this place .I am still not sure what Derrick told the guard that made him willing put me in this place but whatever it was must have been persuasive.” Both became silent once more and Rosanna shivered as she heard the little feet of mice scampering around on the floor. One ran over her boot and she bit her tongue to fight back the urge to scream. “We must persuade the guard to help us get out of here. If Derrick could persuade him to put two royalties in the dungeon, than certainly we can get him to see things our way.” Rosanna stood up as one who were about to go into battle, then marched assuredly over to the large door and began banging on it. There was no response so she continued to pound on the door, her hand was beginning to sting and she was losing hope that anyone would open the door. Then, without warning, the door slammed open and Rosanna had to move fast in order not to get smashed. On the other side stood an angry faced Peter Wright. “Be silent!” He ordered then the door was put back into its frame and locked. © copyright by Valencia Shove 2012