Winter's Rose

"Rose quickly now, we need to leave!" The door was slammed shut behind Melanie as she made her way to her.

Little Rose could sense the panic in her voice, but her new companion assured her and instructed her to carry on playing with the lovely porcelain doll that he brought her.

She was raised poor all her life, at five years old, her mom trained her to stay all alone in their derelict cottage in the middle of the woods. She spends all day undetected in this house while her mom, Melanie worked as a laundry maid.

Before dark, her mom would come home with bread, on good days she brings some cheese and soup to enjoy. On weekends, they would forage for berries near their cottage and collects fireflies in a glass jar for her to play with when they go home.

Melanie would light up a small fireplace to warm them both at bedtime. This was all the life she knew, they do not have possessions because her mom was constantly on the move from place to place.

Her mom made sure to avoid crowds at all costs and travels only with her when it's time for them to move. Despite this, she loved her so deeply and always anticipated her return at dusk. They may be destitute, but her mom made up the most colorful bedtime stories about fairy tales, castles, and princesses. Her young mind was fascinated at the thought of living in a real-life castle and dreamt of one day stepping into it and living a life of a princess even for a day.

Rose's day started out very normal, she woke to the sound of kettles and pans as Melanie prepared her food before she goes out.

In the afternoon, she slept to avoid the feeling of hunger, but then she was startled when she heard a knock on their door.

Who could that be?

The stranger realized that the door was unlocked so he peeped inside and saw her. She was just staring at him unaware of the impending doom that is about to happen.

This stranger walked in bearing all sorts of goodies in a basket and the loveliest doll she has ever laid eyes on. He never asked for her mom, but her young mind assumed that he may be acquaintances with her mother.

"Rose!" Her mom screamed in horror as she found them. "Get away from him!"

"Melanie." His warm baritone voice sounded confident as he stared her down. "You don't want to scare little Rose do you?"

"No." She said as tears fell on both her eyes. "What do you want?" She said in a shaky voice. Little Rose finally senses danger, rushed over to Melanie, and hid behind her.

"You know why I am here." Quentin and Melanie know each other too well. He was the Duke's hitman. Death Bringer, this is what everyone calls him at the castle. She knew their number was up and the chances of escaping him were slim.

"Please" Her mom pleaded. "I'll do anything you like, just spare her!"

"You are in very deep trouble." His voice cold as steel now begins to scare little Rose as he looks at her intently. "Never leave his seed from any woman live. That was the Duchess' order. You have been risking dear Rose's life ever since you decided to keep her and flee."

"I beg you! The last thing I wanted was to be involved with that demon! He raped me and left me for dead. I kept Rose because she is the only good thing that came out of this."

"Well, that demon, the Duke, is trying to locate you. You of all people produced him an heir! He wanted her, he sent a search party to keep her safe at all cost."

"Nobody knows about Rose. I did not tell a single soul who her dad was."

"Unfortunately, secrets have a way of unraveling themselves. The Duke wants Rose to be saved. The Duchess, however, had other plans for both of you.

"The Duke will never forgive you if... anything happens to her"

"That is correct, I've sworn to protect her at all costs, but..."

He took a good look into her before drawing a deep breath. "I cannot save you both."

"The Duchess has her own faction of assassins. Word got out this morning that they have your trace. They plan to come at nightfall, I came in as soon as I can but I am sure they are not far behind."

"Guard her with your life, then. Promise me!"

"There's only one way to assure that. The Duchess will only relent when...

"You are no more." He whispered the words, hoping little Rose will not comprehend its weight. "The Duke asked me to carry out that mission as well."

Rose stood in silence, catching only snippets of their conversations. Most of the time her mom covered her ears, besides that Her mind was too young to process the information. She instead took the non-verbal cues to assess what's happening.

Melanie's face was in full panic mode as tears streamed nonstop on her face.

"This is the cost of your daughter's safety."

She did not say a word, but gave him a small nod. He handed her a small vial which she quickly accepted and drank straight away.

"You have fifteen minutes. Make sure to keep yourself warm. He handed her the doll and gave her a meaningful look.

Her mom looked at her, her body shook as she hugged her tightly before letting her go.

"Darling, Quentin will take you now."

"But you said run!" She reasoned with her. Rose's eyes glistened as she refused to be separated from Melanie. "He's bad Mummy, let's run away from him together!"

"I am going to travel alone, far away, sweetheart! I need you to go with Quentin so you will be safe while I'm gone." She fought hard not to cry.

"When will you be back? Will you be safe from the Duchess?" She asked innocently.

"Don't worry, we will see each other soon. Where I will go, the Duchess will never find me."

"But I want to stay with you."

"Rose, sweetheart. We are running out of time as we speak. Please, be a good girl and go with Quentin." Melanie said as calmly as she could. She signaled him to go, from which he obliged swiftly.

"No, mom!" Rose screamed as Quentin swooped her little body from the ground. Rose fought hard to escape his strong arms, but she did not stand a chance. Rose left him with no choice but to drug her. It's either that or they will be a vulnerable target for any scouts who are now combing through the forest.

The night's tragedy ended with a big bang that reduced their cottage down to rubble. Her mom carried out the final plan to keep her anonymity. Melanie broke the porcelain doll that revealed a substantial amount of gunpowder. Inside was a wick and a few match sticks.

"I love you, Rose. I wish things could be different, but I'm glad that you are finally under the Duke's protection. I hope you live well, my daughter."