She slipped her petticoat off her body, getting into the warm bath she found as she woke up in the privy chamber at the far end of her bed closed off by a screen. 

She closed her eyes slipping under the water letting her head soak completely under the water, As small bubbles made their way up the surface, she let herself under the water. As the warm surroundings took her in. 

"Her Royal Highness Rose Katherin Edward" She stepped out the grand doors of the hallway into the ballroom where stood many of the King's subjects, Royal members of the family, Kights. 

"She is the only child of the King. How shall the kingdom survive?"  

"She will have to be married off to produce an heir as her husband takes the throne"

"Lord Edmund is the only royal carrying the blood and suitable for the Princess." 

"Worst can happen if she does not produce an heir, We can only hope. The queen herself could not finish the only duty." 

"I heard the queen lost a child. A son" 

"She cannot bear children. "

She shut her ears at the voices as she made her way towards the throne where the King stood. He smiled, with proud eyes. His love for their only daughter never faltered. As he laid his hand softly over her head. 

Her eyes sparkled watching her father give a speech to his subjects as they all stood below them. 

That night, she watched her mother cry, her head on the bed. As her maid consoled her. 

"Shall I call for-", "NO !" the queen said sternly. 

"I do not want him to see me like this" The maid frowned kneeling at her mistress and rubbing her back. 

She walked back to her chambers not to cause her mother more trouble. 

Her father watched his child play within the garden with a tiara she and the maids made with twigs, She spun around, her laugh echoing through the castle around. 

"Come, papa! you be the prince, And I the princess!" He laughs dancing with his princess as her mother smiled at them. 

"Today, I shall introduce you to the Duke's nephew, Vincent John Charles. He shall accompany you as a friend and guard. He is your fifth cousin, Be kind to him. He shall be your family after me." She stared at her father as the doors open. 

A young boy, only a bit taller than her, walked towards them his uncle. The duke kneeled for the king as young Vincent bowed to both the King and the princess. 

"It is an honor to meet you, My king. Princess Kathrine-" 

"Rose, It is princess Rose for you" She cut the young man off as the king and the Duke lift their gaze to watch her. 

She stares at the boy as he stumbled on his words. The sudden glint of smirk falling upon her lip as the king sighs in shook his head. 

"Yes, Princess Rose. I shall be your loyal servant and guard" 

The Duke sighs bowing his head to apologize till the king rose his hand to stop the man. 

"The is no need to apologize. My daughter is just - very " He was lost for words. As the duke look at the king and gave a feared smile. 

"Very graceful. We are honored to be in her presence" 

Rose let out a chuckle teasing the young man. 

"Princess -" She turned to him with an arrogant face as he followed her out to the gardens.

"For the last time! It is Rose! I cannot digest the fact that you keep calling me princess, It had given me a headache the fifth time today !" He frowned lowering his head at the little child. 

"Forgive me. I only want to be -" 

"If you want to be loyal then perhaps you should start by listening to me" He sighs pushing his hair back in frustration. 

"Yes, I understand" She folded her hand moving her body to face him entirely. 

"Now then, I want to hear it" He opened his eyes wide and stumbled upon his words. 

"R-R-R-"

"Rose dear-" The sudden voice of the queen startled him as he jumped, 

"Roses look beautiful in the gardens today your highness!" He blurted causing Rose today to let out a loud chuckle. 

"Oh, Is that so" She replied covering her mouth as she laughed. 

"Rose-" She heard as a sudden hand covered with blood ran across her face. 

She gasps pulling herself out of the water and coughing. Her breathing changed as she craved for air and wanted to forget that memory. 

Her lashes were long, her lips sometimes ever saw slightly hummed as she stayed asleep. Her neck was beautiful, something inside him told his hands to touch it. Her hands were filled with cuts and bruises as she explored through the forest every day. Her legs sometimes filled with thorns. 

He saw her wash away the blood and pick them by herself. She winced every time she pulled them out of her skin. He saw himself following her everywhere she went. He felt his heart clenched when he saw her looking at the painting frames. 

He had forgotten. He had no one to answer his own questions. 

"Who are you?" 

She asked and he found himself at the edge of the dark forest. She was wearing a red gown, her hair tucked away and adorned with flowers. her hands covered in lace, As she sat on her knees to look at him. 

He felt his heartache as she stepped near the line of the board. She frowned stepping further towards him, her leg crossing the board and landing on coal-black soil. 

"My Lord, You are bleeding dear. Here-" She said pressing a soft fabric against his head as he watched her intendedly. She had found him. She thought, but it was him who found her. 

His small frame made her wrap her arms around that boy. The cold winds blew making her shiver as she frowned looking behind her. The daylight clearly falling upon the path she walked on. However, The forest was cold. Abandoned. 

"Here, Take this. It will warm you up. Why are you wandering in these woods? This is the forbidden forest dear, You might get lost" She said standing up and smiling down at him as he looked up at the bright green eyes. 

"Come, let me take you home," She said. But he never moved. She took her little hand walking out the trees on the brown soil. But as he stepped over the brown soil, he gasps in terrible heartache, the soil below his leg turning black. He whimpered untangling his hand from hers and stepping away. 

She found herself staring at that new patch of soil in disbelief. 

And when she looked up, he had disappeared. 

He looked at the distant never-ending forest wondering where she came from, for years. He never thanked her. He never knew who she was. She never came back. Although he stood right where she once saw him even years after they met, through the tree line. 

Searching and looking at that path the humans used, it was now abandoned. But he never saw her again. Something about that woman made his heart warm, Like a mother. 

Confused by his own emotions, he looked up at the trees surrounding him. Wasn't his mother the forest? Why would he think of that woman as his mother? 

What was a mother? 

How could he remember such things knowing what they were but never understanding their meanings? 

That was the very first time he had seen someone in his life. His life was the forest, His death was written by the forest. But he wondered what would happen if he cut his ties and stepped out. But he couldn't. 

He clenched his teeth holding his head as it came down with a painful ache. He groaned clutching his hair and lowering his neck, closing his eyes, and sitting down on the cold wet ground. 

Why was he remembering such memories?