The night before Rosalina was supposed to leave a feast was held to say a proper goodbye. The next day the weather seemed to share the mood in the castle. The sky was dark gray and the rain poured as if from a pitcher in the sky. The King sat in the chair staring into the fire brooding. The Queen finally stopped trying not to cry. Bethany held Rosalina's hand crying. The three toddlers do not really know what was happening so they played on the floor. Their laughs were the only sounds to break up the crackling of the fire and the rain beating on the window.     Tears fell silently from Rosalina's eyes, Edric walked into the room to let them know that Fenris was waiting at the carriage. The women gasped and grabbed each other. They hugged and cried on each others shoulders. Prince James stood up and pulled on his mother's skirt, “ Mamma, why you cry?” he asked.

Lady Rosalina stepped into the black, box carriage with tears streaming down her face. Lady Lucia followed and sat next to her mistress. As the carriage started to move, Lady Rsalina collapsed into Lady Lucia's lap and sobbed. Lady Lucia just held the young woman and let her cry it out. SHe knew that Lady Rosalina was hurting and there was nothing that could changed what fate had handed her. The journey to the port passed with nothing more than the sounds of the horse hoofs clopping on the cobblestones, and the soft sobs of Lady Rosalina in Lady Lucia's lap. About an hour of travel and they arrived at the port. General Fenris awaited his daughter to ferry her to her future. The carriage stopped and a page opened the door. Lady Lucia stepped out and helped her mistress exit the carriage. Lady Rosalina stepped onto the dock and approached her father. Her head was down, eyes staring at the cobble stones of the road and the wooden slats of the dock. Fenris help a broad smile and made

Lady Lucia sat up late one night and penned the letter. She left out as much detail about Rosalina’s life as possible without Edric missing the point of the letter. When she was finished, Lady Lucia called a messenger and told him to get the letter to Mercia as quickly as possible. She knew that Edric would be furious when he read the letter and would go straight to the King and Queen. She hoped that soon her mistress would be saved from the monster she had been forced to marry. Lady Lucia returned to Lady Rosalina’s chambers and laid down in her bed until Rosalina woke up. The sun rose in the sky and the birds began to sing. The light invaded the windows and crossed the stone floor to the bed where Lady Rosalina was sleeping. The rays of the sun illuminated the bruises that covered her face. The bright light of the sun hurt her eyes, she was a little thankful that her eyes were swollen, so that she didn’t have to squeeze her eyes closed. Lady Rosalina rolled over and gasped at the