Thread: A Father's Love, A King's Command (Ethereal & The Wolven Lord)

Rosalie had always proved to be a hard worker, though the girl clearly seemed to find herself distracted as the sound of the kingdom's festivities reached the herbalists hut on the very outskirts of the surrounding market place. Most of the work was done beyond the hills past the palace and before the vast forest that extended past it. There, Rosalie and Isaac both lived and worked, the older man teaching her everything he knew about the various plants and herbs that grew around them. He taught her their purposes, their value, which plants could be used in medicinal salves and syrups. He was a healer of sorts, and while many of the poor within the kingdom who couldn't afford a doctor would go to him, no one wished to go to his home among the hills for his services. So in addition, the man acquired a small hut within the kingdom's market place, where he sold his medicinal herbs and offered his knowledge. Many days, Rosalie would work within the hut while Isaac was busy harvesting and planting, or vice versa. Today, both happened to be within their hut in the marketplace, Isaac placing newly harvested stock while Rosalie swept the floors. At 18 years old, this was the life she had always known. For as long as she could remember, Isaac was the man who had raised her. To everyone else, he referred to himself as the girl's uncle, though she seemed to know that this wasn't the case. She knew nearly nothing of her mother, and not a single thing about her father. Isaac claimed to be a friend of her mother's, vowing to care for her after the woman died many years before, though she truthfully had no idea whether there was any real truth in this. For years, she had questioned him on his knowledge of her parent's, though it was almost as though the man knew just as little as she did. One thing he had told her, was that she favored her mother. She had the same, long brown locks. Her face held the same features, though her told her that unlike her brown eyes that sometimes displayed a hint of green, her mother's were blue. She'd always been a petite girl, and she wondered if that was another trait she had inherited from her mother. In the last couple of years though, her body had filled out quite nicely. Her stomach was smooth and flat as it had always been, her legs slender and long. She had the curves of a woman now though, her breasts forming quite nicely upon her chest. Despite being a common girl, she had always been quite the looker, attracting the attentions of many men within the kingdom's surrounding town. There was only one man in particular who seemed to truly capture the girl's interest, a man by the name of William. He was by no means a rich man, yet he was of a higher social status than she, which seemed to make his affections towards her all the more surprising. He had told her once that he was going to marry her, though she was unsure of whether he had truly meant it or not. Of course, she was of the age now, many girls her age and younger already having become engaged and married. There was a part of her that desperately wished he would formally ask her, though she knew his father had been encouraging the man to find someone of a higher standard than she. My, my Isaac. What a pretty Rose you have here today. Is it for sale? William's voice penetrated the room, as though her thoughts had urged him to come to her. He spoke as though he was inquiring about a flower, though he was referring to her by her nickname. A smile instantly formed upon her lips as she hopefully gazed over at Isaac. No, most certainly not. the older man spoke in a stern voice, though it softened as he continued. But I do suppose you could borrow her for the king's speech, as long as you bring her back in as good of condition as you took her. he added, offering a wink in Rose's direction as he took the broom she had been using, ushering her out towards the door. Have a splendid time, do try to make it home before it gets dark. he called to her as she took William's arm, allowing him to guide her through the streets of the market place. The sounds of the various festivities within the kingdom became louder as they further made their way towards the entrance of the palace, the kingdom celebrating the great victory that their king had made against one of their largest enemies. Despite having lived within the kingdom for her entire life, and in such a close proximity to the king's castle, she'd never heard him speak. She recalled one time, witnessing him and many of his men riding through the market place on their horses. That was all she'd ever seen of the man, and the excitement was clear in her eyes as she urged William to squeeze further through the crowd, wanting to get as close as possible to where the king would be standing over them.