Rose's POV

Keelan was facing the pond before he cleared the awkward air between us.

"When I was a young child, I couldn't swim. I had a fear of water and my father patiently waited for me to overcome my fear, before he taught me. He was always caring of me. Me and my sister, Eleanor. My father was good friends with the human king and whenever he visisted his son would come along. Henry was friendly and I immediately treated him like the brother I never had. Eleanor,on the other hand, didn't see him as a brother, but something more. They were both two years older than me and it wasn't long before they went on their own adventures. I was always the one left behind, but it never bothered me, until one day. I was busy playing in the gardens when I heard Eleanor cry. I immediately searched for her and when I found her I saw she had a few bruises. When I asked her about it, she only said she fell when she and Henry played. I didn't believe her and the next day I followed them. I saw them playing together until they needed to pick a new game. Eleanor wanted to play another game and refused to play his game, that's when he started to hit her and scream at her. I ran towards them, but when she saw me she ran off into the woods. I told Henry I was going to tell my father. He got mad, and knowing I couldn't swim, he pushed me into the pond." Keelan said as he turned around and our eyes locked.

"The pond you rescued me from, and where I gave my pendant to you." Everything about that day came back to me and the puzzle pieces started to fit. Keelan came closer towards me, before he continued.

"When Eleanor heard that I was going to tell father about Henry's abuse, she told me she would never speak to me again if I told father. So I decided to keep quiet, only I wish I didn't. When we were older my father told us my sister was to marry Henry, she wasn't as thrilled as I hoped for. She then left to marry her Prince, but she never returned. A few months later we received a letter saying she passed and he brought the urn with her remains a week later. I was so angry and I blamed him. I didn't believe him and I felt it in my gut that he wasn't as innocent as he wanted to appear. And then I went to the coming of age ball only to see you, and then he proposed. I was so angry and mad and...he took my sister away and now he was about to take you away too." He said with a sigh. I felt so sorry for him, I could clearly hear in his voice that he was disappointed with himself.

"I was overwhelmed with the thought of revenge and I immediately grabbed the opportunity to get him back for what he did. I had a plan and everything, but then I started to spend time with you. And then I realised something. I couldn't see you hurt, and I couldn't hurt you by keeping you away from the man you love, no matter what he did. Rose you're free to leave, and I don't care if the forces aren't ready yet, all I care about is that you are happy." He said as he tucked a piece of hair behind my ear. I felt every word he spoke and I was surprised to hear about Henry. I could hear the defeat in his voice.

"I'm sorry about everything." I said.

"Its not your fault. You deserve a better life than being locked up in a tower. Your free to go." He said as he turned around to face the pond once more.

But I didn't want him to think I hated it here. I took in a big breath before I did the thing I feared for the most.

"I want to stay." I said softly as I looked up at him.

-*-

Keelan's POV

I whipped my head around to face her again. Her words shocked me to say the least, I thought she hated it here.

"You...You want to stay? Why?" I asked.

I saw her eyes glaze over and I knew she was recalling a terrible memory. She closed her eyes, took a big breath before it was her turn to talk.

"I met Henry in the woods one day, he was charming and handsome and I fell in love. After he proposed I moved into the castle to help with the wedding arrangements. One day I was helping the servants when he barged in and dragged me out of the room. He, he slapped me-"

"He slapped you! That formoggal Wait till I get my hands on him!"

"He promised it wouldn't happen again, but..."

"It did." I finished for her.

"I came late from a visit to my mother and he lost it, because I didn't ask permission. He pushed me and slapped me again. That afternoon I had a dream. Keelan it was a dream about the future. He whipped our son because he scared off his dear. I was warned and I knew I had to leave, but while I was packing he came in and asked me what I was doing...he called two knights and they...they..." her throat started to clamp up.

"Rose, your safe with me, you can tell me. What did they do?" I asked as I pulled her into my embrace.

"They took me to the dungeons and then... Henry...he whipped me." She said as she let out a sob,probably reliving the moment and my arms instinctively tightened around her.

He dared to whip her, he was so going to pay for that. I rubbed soothing circles over her arms as I tried to calm her down.

"How...how many?"

"I don't know, I lost count at the 15th." She said.

"I'll kill him." I said.

"Keelan, can I stay here please? I don't want to go back." She pleaded.

"Of course, you don't have to see him ever again. I'll keep you safe, I promise." I said as I held her closer to me.

-*-

We spent few hours talking outside after the revelations. I was glad she wanted to stay here, because I didn't want her to leave.

When the sun was starting to set I told her we had to get back before my father sent out a search party for us.

"I'll move you to another chamber." I stated as we walked back to the castle.

"Why?" She asked.

"You surely don't like that tower, do you?"

"All I can say is that it has grown on me." She said with a smile.

"Then it shall remain yours. But first we need to speak to my father. Now you don't have to tell them about the whipping-"

"No Keelan, I want to. They should know the truth." She said.
"If your certain." She nodded.

When we arrived back at the castle I asked to see my mother and father in the parlour to ask them for permission. We offered knights asylum, so why couldn't we offer Rose asylum.

Rose and I waited patiently for my parents to arrive. And after a few minutes they finally arrived.

"What's the matter, the knight said it was quite urgent. Are you alright Rose?" My mother asked as she went to sit down next to Rose.

"I wanted to request asylum." My father's expression turned to that of confusion.

"Asylum from who?" He asked confused.

"King Henry." She said.

"We don't understand." My mother said.

Rose looked at my father, then my mother and lastly at me. I nodded, encouraging her to go on. And she began to tell her tale. I watched my parents expressions morph from one emotion to the next as Rose told her tale.

"You were right about Henry my son, he isn't as he appears." My father said after Rose finished her story. She did not cry through it and I was proud of her. It wasn't easy to share such things with your captors. But I believe we weren't her captors anymore, but more her friends.

"So can I request asylum?"she asked.

"Yes you may, your more than welcome to stay here as long as you choose." My father said.

My mother then took Rose to go look at her wounds and to see if she could make it better. While my father and I went to his study.

"What do we do now?" My father asked.

"I think we should send a letter saying that we couldn't take her whining anymore and we killed her. Then we know he won't search for her anymore and she would be safe." I said as I took a seat.

"What about her mother, she would be devastated." My father said.

"What if I went to her tomorrow and asked her to come back to the fae realm with me. We could explain everything to her here."

"That's a brilliant idea, you can go there tomorrow. Now you just need to tell Rose."

"No, I want to keep it a surprise for her. I'll just tell her I have business to attend to." I said.

"Alright then."

My father and I kept on talking about the kingdom and what should be done and after a while I decided it was time to retire.

Before I went to my room I went to Rose's to tell her that I would be leaving early tomorrow. I knocked on the door, hoping she was still awake.

When I entered I saw her sitting infront of the window. She stared at the twinkling sky outside and I could see she was lost in thought.

"Can't sleep?" I asked as I went to sit down next to her.

She looked up at me.

"Yes, and you?"

"I doubt that I will be able to. I wanted to tell you that I'll be leaving early tomorrow there is some business I need to attend to, you'll be alright, right?"

"Yes, Keelan don't worry about me."

"Alright I'll try." I said as I stood up.

"Try to get some sleep, I'll see you when I return. Goodnight Rose." I said as I stood up and walked to the door.

"Goodnight, Keelan." She said before I left for my own room.

-*-

The next morning I got up early to go search for Rose's mother. I knew where she lived and all I had to do was find her and convince her to return with me.

I rode fast to the farm lands in search of Evelyn Thorne. But the sight I found shocked me.

All the farm lands were crawling with knights and I quickly threw my hood on to hide my face. I searched for a commoner who I could talk to and who might know something about Evelyn's whereabouts.

I saw an old lady standing on the side and approached her.

"Excuse me ma'am, but do you know where I could find Evelyn Thorne?"I asked.

"Evelyn left months ago when the King came and kicked every farmer out of their homes, including Evelyn. I don't know where she went, but she's not around here anymore." The old lady said and my shoulders sagged.

Where would I start looking for her. Then a sudden idea popped in my mind, I could ask the knights to search the cities for her.

I thanked the lady before I rode back to the fae lands. Now I could only hope the knights would be able to find her.

____________________________________
Hey guys

Chapter 12 is finally here and the air is cleared. The truth is finally out, Yay.

Where do you think Evelyn is? Did Henry kidnap Rose's mother?

I guess we should wait and see. Until next chapter.

Happy reading.

-Amorie

*PS :remember to comment and vote;)*