by Jenny Frame
The whole scene was so different to her own family life, if you could call it that. Their roast chicken dinner was prepared in a warm farmhouse kitchen and served to the family together, in the same room. That never, ever happened in her life. Everyone was served food when they asked for it in separate rooms, and meals were cold and sad compared to this warmth. Roza was basking in it.
“So, Lex,” Jason said, “where are you two hiking to tomorrow?”
Roza felt Lex’s arm stretch around the back of her chair and hold her. It felt wonderful how open Lex was being since they’d arrived here. She wasn’t pulling away any more.
“I thought we’d walk to Foxglove Wood, and stay there overnight, then start hiking up Greenfield Hill the next day and do some climbing.”
“Excellent, have you ever done any hiking or climbing, Roza?” Jason asked.
The word hike actually sent shivers down her spine. “No, but I’m happy to try anything that Lex enjoys,” Roza said.
She was surprised when Lex leaned over and kissed her cheek sweetly, causing her parents to smile warmly at each other. Things were definitely different here. Lex was so relaxed, and she loved it.
When they finished dinner, Lex went to discuss tomorrow’s plans with Ravn, and Poppy took the opportunity to get Roza to herself. They went upstairs to Poppy’s large bedroom. The room was tastefully decorated with pictures of models, designers, and what looked like hand-drawn fashion designs.
“You have a beautiful room, Poppy,” Roza said.
“Thanks. I designed it myself. I love design and fashion. Come and see.” Poppy pulled her over to her desk and computer, and they both sat down. “Okay, computer, display King fashion folder.”
As Roza looked through the designs, she was really impressed with Poppy’s talent. “These are beautiful, Poppy. Are you going to pursue this?”
“Yes, I really want to, but I’m not sure where yet. London would be close to Mum and Dad, but there are great schools in Paris and Denbourg. What’s Denbourg like to live in?”
Roza smiled. Despite all her troubles at home she loved her country dearly. “It’s a wonderful place to live. There’s a good mixture of country, scenery, mountains, and modern cities. Battendorf is very like London or Paris, except more laid-back. People don’t like to rush in Denbourg.”
“Sounds great. I saw video of you at Matthias Boudet’s couture show in Paris. Was it as amazing as it looked?”
“Stunning. Matthias is a good friend of mine, so I got a sneak peek at some of his designs, but it was nothing to seeing them in the flesh.”
Poppy’s mouth hung open in shock. “Whoa! Matthias Boudet is your friend?”
Roza smiled and nodded. “He designs for me quite often.”
“Matthias is my hero. I want to design just like him.”
“Next time he is showing in London, Paris, or Denbourg, you’ll need to come with me,” Roza said.
“Oh, I’d love that. We’d have to leave Lex at home—she’d get bored and annoying.”
“Oh would I?” They both jumped in fright as Lex rested against the bedroom door frame. “Having fun, Pops?”
“Yes, Princess Rozala is friends with Matthias Boudet,” Poppy said excitedly.
“Who?” Lex asked.
Roza and Poppy shared a look and rolled their eyes. “The world-famous fashion designer?” Poppy got up quickly and lifted her bottle of perfume from her dressing table. “Look, you got me his perfume for my birthday. You are hopeless, Lex.”
“Oh, the weird guy?”
“He is not weird, Lex. You’re weird,” Poppy said.
Roza laughed out loud. The siblings had such a great relationship and Lex clearly adored her little sister.
Lex walked in and took Roza’s hand. “Can I steal the princess, Pops?”
Poppy gave her a stern look, and joked, “As long as you don’t keep her too long.”
*
Lex and Roza walked hand in hand through the Kings’ back garden. “This is a beautiful garden, Lex.”
“Thanks, this is Dad’s domain now he’s retired.”
Roza sighed with contentment. She just loved being here with Lex. “I love your family, Lex. You’re really lucky to have them.”
“Thanks. I feel lucky. I put them through a lot when I was an addict, but they never let me give up. Did you have a nice talk with Mum before dinner?”
“Yes, Faith is wonderful. I hope I’ll get the chance to know her much better, and Poppy is just adorable, and so intelligent.”
It made Lex so happy that Roza had fitted in perfectly with her family. As ever they hadn’t let her down and welcomed Roza with open arms. “I’m glad you get on well with them. My family is everything to me.”
Roza smiled and leaned into Lex, clutching her arm with two hands. “I’d love you to meet Gussy. I know he’d love you.”
“I don’t know about that, but I’d love to meet him,” Lex said.
“Of course he will love you, because I love you,” Roza said firmly.
Lex didn’t want to ruin the moment, so she just nodded, and said, “I hope so.”
They walked on down to the edge of the lawn area, and Roza asked, “Where are we going?”
Lex smiled and grasped her hand to take her through the small opening in the trees. “Somewhere from my childhood I’d like to share with you.”
After a few minutes they came out to a pretty little glade with a shallow river, a small stone bridge across, and an old stone wishing well.
“This is so pretty.” Roza hurried over to the well and looked down into the deep dark cavern, which was covered by an iron grille on top for safety.
“I thought you’d like it.” Lex came up behind Roza and slipped her arms around her hips, and rested her head on her shoulder. “Mum used to bring me, then Poppy, down here to play when we were little. She said the fairy folk lived here.”
Roza looked up at her smiling. “The fairy folk?”
“Yes, it’s a village legend. They live down in the well and come up to hunt for food in the forest, but if you leave them a gift of food or money, then they can make your wish come true.”
“That’s so sweet.”
“There’s something else. Come over here.” Lex led her over to a giant tree across the stream. Its trunk was covered by countless carved names with hearts. “This is the magic tree.”
“Is everything magic around here?” Roza asked.
“Of course, it’s an old English village. There were witches here too at one time.”
“I’ve obviously had a sheltered life in Denbourg. So what’s magic about it?”
“The legend goes that a young woman called Constance met her lover here, back sometime in the seventeenth century. Their names are carved on the tree. They were going to run away together because her father didn’t approve of him.”
“What happened?”
“Her father and brother were lying in wait, and they grabbed her true love and stabbed him.”
Roza gasped, completely taken in with the story. “Did he die?”
“Yes, he died against this tree. The young woman took the knife from his body and stabbed herself in the heart, so she could join her lover on the other side.”
Roza snuggled into Lex’s side unable to take her eyes from the tree. “A tragic love story.”
“Legend says their blood seeped into the ground and nourished the tree, and because they sacrificed their lives for love, the fairy folk blessed the tree with the magic of love, and whoever carves their name on the magic tree will find their true love.”
“How romantic. That’s why it’s covered in names?”
Lex nodded. “It started to become a tradition that you carved your name in the trunk when you were a teenager, and then when you did meet the one you loved, you added their name later.”
“Did Poppy and you do that?”
Lex guided her over to the trunk and pointed out the crudely carved names of Poppy and Lennox.
“W
hat a beautiful tradition.”
Lex took a penknife from her pocket and smiled at Roza. “I’ve found my true love, and no matter what happens, you will always be the only one I love.”
Roza clasped her hand to her mouth as Lex carved her name in the bark and formed a love heart around their names. She could think of nothing more romantic than this.
When Lex finished, Roza threw herself into her arms. “Oh, Lex, this is so romantic.”
Lex cupped her face tenderly. “I know I haven’t said I love you as much as I should, and I’ve been wary about what we can be to each other, but I never want you to doubt that I love you.”
Roza looked at her in wonder. “You are my dream come true. Kiss me.”
Lex turned them both and walked Roza back against the tree, and whispered, “I love you.”
They kissed slow, deeply, each kiss reaffirming their love together. Roza pulled back and said, “I’m not going to let you go, Lex. No matter what my family think.”
“Let’s cross that bridge when we come to it and just enjoy our time together.”
Chapter Nineteen
The next morning, after Faith had given them a wonderful country breakfast, Lex and Roza set off on their hike. Lex led the way with a huge backpack filled with everything they’d need, and Roza dragged her heels behind her. They had been walking for an hour and were now deep into Foxglove Wood.
Lex felt calm and happy to be back in her natural element. The sounds of birds chirping and the rustle of wind through the trees were all you could hear, and they were alone—apart from the five security agents twenty feet behind them. That was as far away as Roza could get Ravn to agree to.
Lex took a deep breath and said, “It makes you feel glad to be alive doesn’t it?” When she didn’t receive an answer, she turned and found Roza more than ten feet behind her, trudging along, with a glum look on her face.
Lex jogged back to her. “Hey, Princess. You don’t look as if you’re enjoying yourself.”
Roza gazed at her with annoyance. “That’s because I’m not. This bag is too heavy, it’s too hot, my feet hurt, it’s dirty everywhere, and these disgusting flies keep hovering around and biting me.”
“So other than that, you’re having the time of your life?”
Roza dropped her bag and hit Lex in the arm. “How can you even enjoy this? It’s torture.”
Lex sighed. She thought it might turn out like this, Roza moaning the whole way, but she had been insistent that she wanted to try the things that Lex enjoyed.
She clasped Roza by the shoulders and said, “You have to think about the spirit of the place as you’re walking through, not just trudge aimlessly. This is ancient woodland. Imagine all the sights it’s seen, the people and animals who have come through it. You need to try and connect with it.”
“I’d rather connect with my phone. I don’t know why I let you persuade me to leave mine at your house. I can’t check my email, my social media. Anything could be happening in the world and I won’t know about it.”
“I thought this would let us connect and be alone and cut off from the press. Besides, you’ve got a team of security agents, armed to the teeth and with more gadgets and phones in their backpacks than you would know what to do with. I’m sure if the world is coming to an end, Ravn will let you know.” Lex picked up Roza’s bag. “Now, no more glum faces. You are going to enjoy this if it kills me. I’ll carry your bag, as well as my own, and if you keep walking for another hour or so, we’ll make camp, and I might have something chocolatey in my backpack for you for dessert tonight.”
The smile was back on Roza’s face. “Ooh, is it more chocolate body paint?”
“No, it’s a surprise—plus there’s one more thing I think you’ll enjoy.” Lex leaned over and whispered in Roza’s ear, “Have you ever made love outdoors in nature, under the stars?”
She saw Roza gulp. “No.”
Lex gave her a sly smile. “You have lots of experiences ahead, Princess, if you’re a good girl.”
Roza giggled. “I can be good.”
Lex was delighted to see the spring back in Roza’s step. There was a little part of Roza that would always be the spoiled princess, but Lex would never want to change that about her. She was high maintenance, but that kept life interesting.
They started to walk again, hand in hand this time. Roza squeezed her hand and said, “There is one part of hiking I love. You in jeans, boots, and a tight T-shirt. So sexy.”
“Just keep walking and I might let you take off my boots for me.”
Lex wasn’t surprised when she felt another play-hit, this time to her backside.
*
Roza had to admit that when they reached the camping area, and Lex set everything up, it actually looked really romantic and sweet. The camping area was no more than a large field on the edge of the woods, but it had an outdoor toilet block and power cell points beside each tent pitch. Luckily since it wasn’t a very well-known spot, they were the only ones there.
Ravn and her team were on the other side of the camping area so as to give them privacy. When early evening came, Roza and Lex sat on logs beside the open fire, outside their hard-shell tent, having just finished a dinner of sausages and beans.
Roza put down her plate and said, “That was tasty. I didn’t think you’d eat something as unhealthy as sausages.”
Lex took her plate and put it into the bucket of soapy water she had to the side of the tent. “It’s all right when you’ve been hiking. You need the calories.” Lex sat down beside her and took her hand. “So? What do you truthfully think about camping? It’s not that bad, is it?”
Roza smiled, rested her head on Lex’s shoulder, and pulled her arm around her. “No, I like this part. Just you and me alone and in front of a crackling fire. It’s so romantic.”
She felt Lex kiss her head and sigh contentedly. “Yes. This is nice.”
“What about my chocolate surprise?” Roza suddenly remembered.
“Ah, of course. I did promise. I’ll just be a second.”
Roza watched as Lex rummaged around in her backpack and brought out a box of one pound blocks of her favourite chocolate, and five bags of big American marshmallows.
“Have you got enough there, baby?”
“Well you eat a lot so—”
“Hey, not funny,” Roza said in a huffy voice.
“I’m only joking. I didn’t how much it would take to make a big melty bowl of chocolate.”
“Hmm.” Roza licked her lips. “A big melty bowl of chocolate. Hurry up then, I’m salivating.”
Lex got a clean pot to hang over the fire, and broke up the bars to melt. She handed Roza some wooden sticks and told her to prepare the marshmallows. The chocolate started to melt into gooey, glossy deliciousness, and as Roza gazed across the fire to Lex, her heart and her butterflies fluttered.
“I’ve never been happier than in this moment, Lex. Thank you for making it so special.”
Lex smiled. “You’re welcome, Princess.”
Roza took her spiked marshmallow and dipped it deeply in the chocolate pot. “If there wasn’t melted chocolate here, I would be dragging you to bed.”
Lex nudged her and joked, “Eat quickly.”
Just then they heard raised voices and saw lights snapping on over at Major Ravn’s camp.
“I wonder what’s wrong?” Roza said.
Lex stood up to get a better look and saw them checking their weapons and talking seriously. “Why don’t you finish your mallows and I’ll take a walk over to Ravn,” Lex said.
“Okay, then bed when you get back. I have some aching shoulders I need you to take care of.”
Lex smiled and bowed. “Yes, Your Royal Highness.”
She started to walk over towards Ravn’s camp, but Ravn must have seen her because she came and met her halfway.
“Is everything all right, Major? It sounded as if you had a lot going on over there.”
Ravn looked impassive. “Nothing to
worry about. Just checking in with headquarters.”
Lex couldn’t put her finger on it, but it felt as if Ravn was hiding something. “Are you sure because if you want us—”
“Just some internet threats after the bombings the other night.” Ravn put a hand on Lex’s shoulder. “Go back to the princess and have a wonderful night. You’ve got to treasure all these little moments together.”
Now that was strange. The normally stoic Major Ravn didn’t often use those kinds of words. “If you’re sure, Major.”
“Yes, we will be doing hourly patrols around the perimeter of the campsite during the night, so don’t be alarmed if you see lights in the dark.”
“I won’t. Thank you, Major.”
Lex walked back over to their tent with a slightly uneasy feeling. She looked up at the sky as night fell and the stars started to shine. “Treasure all these moments together.”
She noticed Roza wasn’t at the fire and the chocolate pot was off the heat. Thinking she had gone to use the bathroom facilities, Lex damped down the fire and cleared the plates and disposed of the litter in the bin.
Lex went into the tent and jumped when she saw Roza in their double sleeping bag, beckoning her in.
“Oh, baby, I’m waiting for you.”
Lex wanted to jump in beside her that second. “I’m coming for you, Princess.”
As she took off her clothes, something of Ravn’s words echoed inside her. She wanted this to be special.
*
Roza leaned on her side, never taking her eyes off Lex. She could look at Lex’s body for hours. She wasn’t just sculpted and well-honed in the gym—there was an indefinable something that drew her to Lex, a certain swagger that she had, the way she held herself with confidence, which made Roza want to do bad things with her.
“Lex, hurry up and take those jeans off or I’ll start without you.”
Lex kicked off her shoes and jeans and was in the sleeping bag in seconds. She grasped Roza’s hand and held it to the ground beneath her.