The Royal Prerogative

Roleplay Library
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21st May 2019
Following on from [EVENT] The Rose and Her Thistle - Page 3 - The East Pacific - Tapatalk

“Goodbye father,” she hugged him tight, “goodbye mother,” she gave her a tight squeeze. She looked over to her sister. “See you later sis.”

She walked down the entrance steps where she had first introduced her now husband to her father. Her arms locked into his as they strode towards the Royal Redrugus. A man held open the door and she gently clambered in, her husband doing so the other side. They held hands and smiled at one another as they set off for their honeymoon. They had chosen to go to Mazi and the Northern Antilles, two groups of islands within the Morstaybishlian West Pacific. They had never been but her uncle Edmund recommended it because it was where he went for his honeymoon twenty two years ago.

Rosamund recapped. It had been two weeks to the day since their wedding and the last two weeks she and her husband had toured parts of the country. They visited some major towns and cities through Redrugan and Corstania before getting a flight over the Zycannes to Mauge, Lairiana and some of the smaller South Staynish provinces of Saura, Rusikao and Lute. They had flown to Kirdintayos and then to Sani Bursil, where they were now. She had met some amazing people and most of them were kind. She seemed to be quite a popular figure and the wedding had amplified that.

They were to spend one night at one of Cava Aure’s highest rates 5* hotels on the outskirts of the midnight city before taking off at Fort Jubrayn International Airport. They had their luggage taken up to their room and made their way up themselves. This was a hotel for the famous and rich. It suited Rosamund but Edwin was still adjusting to the lucrative style of living that the royalty had. Maybe he just wasn’t tuned in properly just yet, time would tell.

The sun had set hours ago and it was quite late. Rosamund and Edwin walked into their room, the back wall one large glass screen that was designed that they could look out and nobody could look in. The lights in the distance were beautiful, the Trio Towers beaming the colours blue, white and red, it was not visible itself but the hue in the sky above it made it obvious what was in the distance. Edwin removed his coat and put it on the hook. He checked his phone, 23:41. He rubbed his eyes, he was shattered. He walked over to the other side of the room and poured two glasses of red wine that was already out. He looked over to Rosamund, she was staring right at him giving him a look. He rolled his eyes and laughed it off, walking over to her and giving her the glass. She propped herself up from her laying position and sipped on it. He walked back over to the side and checked himself in the mirror. When he looked back at his wife, she had taken her clothes off. With a semi-nervous laugh, he could only mutter one thing.

“Oh.”

2

“You know what I like best?” Edwin gave Rosamund a look as he bit into an olive from a stick at forty thousand feet.

“What’s that?” Rosamund asked. She laughed hysterically as the next olive he ate fell down his face. Edwin felt a flurry of embarrassment as he picked it off his lap. Rosamund kept laughing and it annoyed him. He threw the olive at her face. She was so shocked that it took about ten seconds for her to say anything.

“You little shit!” she laughed, and was about to throw it back but hesitated for a second. Instead, she ate it. Edwin glared at her.

“That was mine!”

“MmMmmm…” she munched. She looked at him in surprise, “This is so good!” Edwin returned a glare as he ate one himself. “Pass me the container I want a few.”

He was hesitant, and so took a small handful, and then passed it over.

“Thank you!” she said sarcastically. She began devouring every last olive.

“You what?! They’re mine!”

“Not anymoreeee!”

[hr]

The plane landing was smooth. Rosamund was used to flying longer distances but Edwin wasn’t, and it showed- he was tired. Their lodge was far in the mountains of Mazi, and whilst they could drive about two thirds of the way, the rest would be on pedal bike.

After cycling for about twenty minutes, the pair made it to the top. The views were amazing, and this would be their hub for a week before they moved onto their next destination. It was a beautifully aged log cabin with three bedrooms and a large kitchen diner as well as a library and an imported late 19th century log burner. It was kinda cute, and very cozy. It was starkly different from her style of living. She was going to have to get used to doing things for herself for a while.

3

It was dawn, and the sun was setting over the mountains in the distance, a beautiful concoction of reds and yellows spiraled around the twin peaks as if it were the wind. Rosamund sighed. It had been a long day and probably her most memorable. She was sat on a nice balcony alone and to her thoughts, her only company whilst Edwin was in the bath was her pen and paper.

— Begin quote from ____

Dear Diary,

Today must have been one of the most unexpectedly thrilling days of my life. Edwin tricked me!! He told me we were going to fly to the Northern Antilles for a canoeing experience! Never in my life was I expecting what came next…

— End quote

10 hours before, 7:35AM

Rosamund and Edwin woke up to an irritating buzzing noise. Edwin groaned, and shot up in realising the time.

“Rise and shine my queen!” his voice proliferated the room as he sharply launched both curtains to the walls. The sunlight pierced through, vociferating its bright yellow hue underneath Rosamund’s eyelids.

“Ahh you knob!” she cried and dove under the duvet covers.

“Aha!” he laughed. He overturned the covers to a Rosamund who was rubbing her eyes. “We’ve got a plane to catch, I’ll make us a drink, but you ought to start getting ready.”
Edwin poured the boiled kettlewater over the hobstiberry teabag. He stirred both and added a little more than a dash as his wife described it the first time they met. No sugar, because she was sweet enough. He giggled. Somewhat over remembering the past but more so what today would turn out to be. He bought the tea into the room, to a Rosamund who was already getting her boots on.

“You were fast,” he passed over her tea. “No need to pack anything, I’ve already paid for the holiday company to do it for us.”

“Oh that’s great,” she sat at the end of the bed, and sipped a little. Whilst Edwin was getting ready himself, she pondered over something. “So… why are we waking up so early if we it takes ten minutes to cycle and a ten minute drive to the airport?”

“Chores.” he grinned.

“…Like what?” 
“We’ve got the dishes and the washing to do from last night. Which one do you want to do?”

Rosamund slumped a little and gave him a stare. “Washing.”
[hr]
After doing the chores, Rosamund and Edwin found themselves cycling down the hillside. Their adventure began today, a canoeing experience in the Northern Antilles with a professional around the coastline of Nimona Island. How amazing will it be? 
Locking their bikes away in a renthouse, the couple were driven to the airport. When they were there, Edwin picked up their two bags. They were boarding a small passenger plane, a Cessna 182, and it would take less than an hour to get there. 
The plane was a four seater, with enough space to comfortably move. They were flying with two middle aged men, presumably also going to a resort. They didn’t speak much, Rosamund thought, but secretly Edwin had asked them to do so until the right moment.
 
The plane took off, and they gradually made it up to flying altitude, which for this plane was around twelve thousand feet. Looking outside the windows you could see the amazing blues of the water and the colourful reefs below- that was something they were going to explore later in the holiday. Some time passed and Rosamund had been listening to music for at least twenty minutes. Edwin got her attention and pointed towards one of the men. Rosamund took her earphones out.

“Okay people, listen up!” he called, looking directly into Rosamunds eyes. “Edwin has planned a nice surprise for you, I want you both to put on these body suits.” he passed some bright orange bodysuits to the couple. Rosamund hadn’t figured out what was going on yet. After fitting on the bodysuits, they were instructed to both but on a large harness.

“Excuse me but what is this all for?” Rosamund asked.

“I’ll explain that bit in a minute.” he commented, making sure the straps were all fitted correctly.  The man moved back to his seat and pulled a lever and the side of the plane door opened up. The noise was earbiting, the wind wrapping and wailing around the inside of the plane.

Rosamund’s eyes widened. She just stared at Edwin in utter disbelief. Literally nothing could come out of her mouth besides a slight cough. He smiled back at her.

“I’M GOING TO ATTACH MYSELF TO FOUR CLIPS ON THE BACK OF YOUR HARNESS, AND MY COLLEAGUE WILL DO THE SAME TO HIM!” the man battled to shout over the winds. Rosamund said nothing but instinctively tied her hair back as it was blowing in her face. The man made his way around her and fastened themselves together. He handed her some thin flexible goggles.

“YOU’LL NEED THESE!”

Rosamund just stared back at him with her mouth open. She didn’t know what to say, and looked again at Edwin in disbelief. Her skin had turned very pale white, her cheeks the only reminisce of colour in her body.

“Oh my god…” she whispered, the voice disappearing through the noise.

The man slung and fastened her bag on his back. He went through some of the safety features as well as do’s and don’ts.

“NAMES BILL BY THE WAY!” He moved towards the door, Rosamund just let it happen and trusted the situation. As she looked over the open door the could make out Nimona Island from far below. She looked back in almost horror, and flailed her arms to get away.

“I can’t I can’t!” she wailed. Edwin was worried that she wouldn’t jump. He nodded to the man on her harness, and spoke five words.

“ILL BE RIGHT BEHIND YOU!”

As he said that, she was flung out of the airplane.

[hr]

— Begin quote from ____

… I was unexpectedly flung out of an airplane at twelve thousand feet with someone who I had just learnt the name of about ten seconds before. I shall admit I was frightened to near death!! What Edwin was thinking I will never know, but he had planned it very well. I didn’t know of it until we were there. Well I survived, that’s the main thing, and what a story to bring home! I gave Edwin a grilling, although I think he knows I didn’t mean it. I whispered to him that he needed to make it up to me in a way only he would know…

— End quote

4

Near enough four weeks had gone by and six since the big white wedding. It was now time to return back to the palace. They had gotten everything packed and ready for home. They’d had an amazing time; skydiving was the best, but they did nature visits, hikes, canoeing, mountain climbing and days of just relaxing, drinking martinis in the hot tub over the amazing views and sunset skies.

They would leave Maza and the Morstaybishlian West Pacific Territories the same way they got there; private jet. Their luggage had been taken and placed into storage. Edwin held Rosamunds’ hand as he climbed up the steps of the plane. They turned around half way up and waves to local news crews. They were saying goodbye to paradise. They turned around and continued up the steps. Edwin began to walk and so did Rosamund, but by the time they’d reached the top, Rosamund stopped, simply exhausted. She bent over and waved to Edwin to not worry. She almost feinted. After getting to her seat and being pampered with water and a wet cloth for her head, she dismissed it as the heat. 
[hr]
“Welcome home darling!” Lambertus raised a glass for the wedded couple as they entered the hall. Everyone around the table did the same.

“Cheers to Mr and Mrs Lamerthy!” Prince Edward cheered. Everyone else cheered around the table.

Rosamund gave Edwin a smile and they sat down. Rosamund raised hers.

“Woo.” she cheered. Conversations ensued, partially questions being fired at the young couple about their holiday, and some conversations about other things.

“We had the most amazing quail dish when we went down to one of the restaurants there…” Rosamund recalled. “In fact, I can smell food now.”

“How? I sure can’t smell anything…” Harriet laughed, shooting a look at Edward who did the same.

“That holiday has made you crazy.” he giggled.

“Probably! Tell me, is it a turkey? I really want to have turkey.”

“Yes, the finest.” Lambertus smiled.

“We’re all so happy for you two.” Rosetta called from the other side of the table.

“Aw, thanks!”

The food arrived, and it was a main course- Sunday roast. They began eating. Only moments later, after a mouthful of food, Rosamunds’ tone of voice concerned everyone.

“I really don’t feel well.”

“What’s up Honey?” Edwin comforted her.

“No please,” she covered her mouth with her hand and her body language asked for space.

“Are you okay?” Lambertus asked.

“I don’t know…” before long, she stood up, briefly apologised and jolted to the toilet.

Confused, it stirred the table into multiple rapid-succession conversations.

“Is she alright?”

“What’s gotten into her?”

“Maybe the Turkey is poisoned…”

Lambertus stood up and ushered everyone to continue eating without them. He ran after her, only catching a glimpse of her as she ran around the corner.

He realised where she was heading too. When he got there, she had left the door open. He slowly entered with a brisk knock.

“Hey hey, what’s the matter?” Lambertus rubbed her back. She raised a hand as if ‘give me a minute’. Edwin hurried down the corridor and was behind his father-in-law.

Rosamund urged, and urged again. She bent over the toilet and began being profusely sick. Once, twice, three times, four. She cried. Lambertus and Edwin looked at each other behind her. When Rosamund stopped vomiting, she looked back at them, her face a mess. She sat down at the wall, unable to stand. She held her abdomen and gave a soft cry of pain. Lambertus looked back to Edwin.

“Quickly, Go and phone for the GP.”

He came back about five minutes later having escorted the on-site GP Verlhanz Peters to Lambertus and Rosamund, the latter in a more stable position.

“Hiya there. What seems to be the problem?”

“Hi Verlhanz, she’s been sick for some time here, and is complaining of having abdominal pains.”

“Ooh not a very nice combination,” He checked her pulse. “Blimey, your heart rate is over 120 beats per minute,” she looked at him worriedly.  “Nothing to worry about dear, but we need to have you checked out in hospital.”
[hr]
“When did you begin to have these symptoms?” the nurse asked.

“Only today.”

Over the next five minutes, she took both a blood and urine test. Her, her mother, her father and husband waited patiently for the results; it felt like a lifetime. Rosamund was laid on a hospital bed, propped up. The nurse came back into the room.

“Are your period patterns regular?”

She had to think about that. “Um. Honestly, it’s become irregular but I have bled since the last time.”

“When was the last time you had a regular period?”

“Um…” she thought. “Just before the wedding.”

“Before the wedding?! That was nearly two months ago!”

“Shhhh…” Rosetta had a finger to her lips.

“Okay,” the nurse commented. “I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

a few minutes later

“Okay Rosamund, do you want the good news, or the great news first?” the nurse smiled.

“Good please.”

“We can confirm you do not have arrhythmia or any other heart related problems…”

They lightly cheered.

“The great news is that you are nearly two months pregnant!”

“Ooooh my god! I knew it!” Rosetta cried. She gave her a hug. Edwin was smiling but in shock.

“Does that mean I’m going to be a grandfather?”

“Sure does,” Rosetta laughed. “We’ll be old gits together!”

“I don’t want to make this public for quite some time, I’m not ready for that just yet. I want to keep it a secret until closer to the time. Like October or November.”

5

Taking a long flight with several destination stops, the loved up couple could would retire their royal duties for the month leading up to the birth of their child. They would enjoy the warm of the North Gondwanan sun one last time at the Royal Residence on the small Morstaybishlian Island of Dalmaghar. A humid landscape, it was a favourite of Edwin - and feeling at home, it would relax him before parenthood. The royal house they were staying at was an isolated 5 bedroom stately home hailing from the era of Queen Rosamund II, and by their standards, the small property that had 350 acres of hunting lands, gardens, a small reservoir and greenhouses growing fine spices and fruit would make Edwin feel cramped. Rosamund just pitied him for his opinions.

Getting there required two stops. Their first trip was from their starting point in Sani Bursil to Tarov, for which was more of a preliminary rest period, and then Tarov to New Jersia, the capital of Rosamund Island. That place was strange, a concoction of Caltharusian, Salovian and Strataric culture made for a funky twist, but they preferred to be known as Llerians. From New Jersia, they would take the longest flight to Dalmaghar’s capital; Riberoe, a large town with a beautiful winding river dotted with colourful buildings of eras long gone by. It was a very culturally mixed island, and it was one of the furthest territories from the fatherland. Despite this, Rosamund felt most at home. It was a period of relaxation for her before it began.

The plane landed on Runway Two. A small passenger airliner, the couple had made a rare flight in First Class and that attracted a LOT of attention. The paparazzi was everywhere, trying to snap a picture for their magazine or online news service. Walking off the plane, the couple was overcome by flash photography and after so long in transit, a tired and hungry Rosamund flipped at a paparazzo for just a moment, a moment she would forget but it would go viral so quickly.

6

“Breaking news,” Edwin had picked up a copy of the Morstaybishlian Times and read out the headline. “Royal stunt as Heir Rosamund shoves Aeternum Press reporter to the floor…” the newspaper lowered to reveal the weary eyes of Edwin.

“I barely even touched him! Get a bloody grip!” Rosamund groaned.

“Well congratulations. Now we’ve got a thousand eyes on us on my holiday.”

Rosamund glared at him, it was early morning and he was tired but that was no excuse.

“Your holiday? YOUR holiday? Excuse me, this is also the last break I am going to get until our baby is born!” she sat down in the armchair opposite. More calmly but still clutching a sense of frustration, she continued: “Besides, I hardly touched him and he didn’t fall to the floor.”

“Well I’d like to enjoy it too! Now its probably going to spawn something ridiculous…”

“Don’t be silly. Come on,” she stood up in her gown. “Let me get dressed and then we shall make breakfast.”

10 minutes later

Flipping the eggs, Edwin picks them up with a spatula and places them on the slices of toast. He carefully pours some mushrooms and beans on the side and joins Rosamund at the dinner table.

“Shall we start the day again?” she smiled.

“Yes, that sounds like a good idea.”

Rosamund smiled. “Good, this egg tastes de-” she held the suspended egg less than an inch from her mouth. Edwin looked at her confused and tracked her line of sight. The couple were frozen both staring outside. There was a man coming towards the house with a gun.

Edwin shot up and dragged Rosamund by her forearm before the assailant saw them. With panic in his haste, he quickly grabbed the phone and dialed the security. It rang once before being picked up.

“Hello Sir?” a voice from the other end casually asked.

Whispering, but achieving very little to be quiet, Edwin was quick to reply.

“Yes, there’s a man outside with what appears to be a rifle… How did he get through?!”

Panic laden the voice on the other end.

“We’ll be right there!” the voice snapped before the phone went dead. The couple stared at each other, Rosamunds’ eyes were wide.

“Where-”

The glass door shattered in the dining room in the next room and Rosamund felt the morning breeze whip up her arm and the sensation of fear gave her instant goosebumps. The downstairs was a a hexagon complex of rooms whereby the dining room had two interior doors; luckily for them, they heard the one leading away from them creak open and footsteps get fainter as the man went into the living room. They quietly moved up the stairs and tiptoed across the corridor to their room, Edwin was ahead and was fiddling with the latch on the glass door to the veranda so they could give another barrier between the assailant and them. Rosamund, in her stride, knocked the alarm clock off the chest of drawers.

“Damnit…” she whispered.

“Come on!” Edwin ushered. "We can hide out on the veranda.

Rosamund was dead still and put her finger to her mouth to tell him stop talking, she closed her eyes and gave a moment of silence, then hearing the footsteps approach the door to the room. With no time to run to her husband, she shifted under the bed frame, where the duvet offered her some protection; a tumultuous Edwin made eye contact with her one last time before having no choice but to hide on the veranda. The footsteps stopped, Rosamund was in a really awkward position on her back with no means of quick exit and being heavily pregnant didn’t help.

The door opened.

7

Rosamund had managed to awkwardly cramp herself under the bed, and Edwin was effectively stuck on the veranda. The door had opened and for a short moment which felt like ten minutes there was nothing but deathly silence.

A loud clank of a footstep rippled the room and Rosamund shook violently, but held her hands so tight around her mouth no noise came out. Another one and the same. Rosamund heard him inspecting pictures on the chest of drawers.

What on urth was he doi-

The picture hurtled towards the floor and smashed into a million pieces, some shards hitting Rosamunds legs and piercing her skin. Pain overtook her and she could not keep all of the shrieking behind the firm hold on her mouth.

“Aha.” was said aloud followed by silence.

In one instant, two firm hands wrapped around her ankles and pulled her clean out from under the bed. She saw his face, he was so ugly and decrepit. Horror bestowed her, and she just screamed at the top of her lungs.

“Get off me, get off me!” she cried. He snarled and wrapped his arms around her chest to stop her from running.

“I’m going to take you back to my little lair.” He said in the most perverse manner. She screamed and kicked but it was no use. He began to lead her to the door when Edwin appeared in sight.

“NO!” he screamed. He had managed to brandish a table leg as a weapon, and upon opening the door found it had been locked from the inside. “NOOO!” he helplessly watched on as his wife was dragged away by this troll. Instinctively he began to try and break the glass. Hitting it once, twice, three times; it smashed in, and he smoothed off the jagged pieces sticking out with his table leg. He slid through the gap but now the room was empty. They were gone.

He ran through the house and nothing. He heard a noise in the other room and he picked up a kitchen knife he had left earlier. He charged, smashing the door into many splintering fragments. An arm blocked his near-deadly assault, for it to turn out as one of the guards he summoned.

“WHERE IS SHE?!” he wailed desperately.

“Sir, we didn’t see anyone leave the house- uh, we…”

“Find them! Call in the police, call in the army!”

30 minutes later

The man yanked hard on rope and the princess winced in pain. They were in the back of a minivan and her hands were bound behind her and tape across her face. All she could manage was an indistinguishable murmur.

“Shat ap.” he growled. His dialect so dissimilar to Bursilian Staynish. If the van was moving, then there was more than one of them. This was a large plot! For what felt like a century passed and the van abruptly stopped. The back opened and the man who had kidnapped her stepped out and greeted a new face.

“This is it.”

“What a beauty!” they both snarled. “We’re gonna make millions!”

“The only problem is, she’s already carrying, l-look…” the man pointed at her.

“Ah. Come, lets talk.” the new man held his shoulder and they moved out of sight. Frantic thoughts jolted through her head at a million knots per seconds. What could that MEAN?! she prayed the prophet Matilda could save her.

8

Visteue Royal Palace
Nurban, Staynes, Great Morstaybishlia

It was very late at night and Lambertus was ready for tomorrow. Royal duties could sometimes be so consuming and demanding that it would send anyone mad and so him and Rosetta had scheduled a day of rest and relaxation. A bath had been running for him and his wife to enjoy before they would retire to bed. With a bottle of Ogloti wine, hobstiberry flavoured of course; the two sank into the warm water. A light chuckle and a cheers to ‘good health’, they kicked back and enjoyed the heat and light bubbles. 
[hr]
Ginnerbury House
Dalmaghar

Edwin was in a frenzy. Pacing up and down the halls like a bareback gorilla for the last twenty minutes, he anxiously awaited communications with the chief of police of Dalmaghar. He questioned literally everything, and panic completely shrouded his thoughts and judgement. He did not know what he had to do. The door opened and a police officer walked in.

“Your Highness, the telephone.” Edwin practically snatched it from his hands and the officer politely nodded and backed out of the room.

“Hello?”

“Yes hello. This is officer Luke Karr, chief of police here.” an old voice replied.

“Mr Karr, I-”

“There is no need for formalities.”

“Luke, I need to know you will get her.” Edwin sobbed.

“Describe everything to me my boy, what happened.”
[hr]
Visteue Royal Palace
Nurban, Staynes, Great Morstaybishlia

It had been quite a while, and they had finished the bottle. Lambertus was first out, wrapping a towel around his waist. He left the bathroom and nearly clashed heads with a maid.

“Cough blimey!” Lambertus closed the door behind him quickly. “Were you spying on us, good heavens what is the matter?”

The young maid blushed, but retained the professional manner by which she was taught.

“Your Royal Highness, there is an urgent telephone call from the chief of police Luke Karr from Dalmaghar, he says its personal matters.”

Lambertus’s face went from irritated to gawping.

“Is it about my daughter, Princess Rosamund? Is she alright, is she okay? She is heavily pregnant, has she given birth?”

“Your Royal Highness, it is not for me to say, I shall escort you to the telephone.”

“Honey what’s the matter out there?” a distant Rosetta called.

“Uh,” he paused and pinched his forehead. “Nothing honey,” he turned back to the maid. “Give me three minutes to get ready.”

“Yes, Majesty.” she bowed and waited outside. Lambertus quickly got dressed into his nighttime attire and hurried down the corridor with the maid to the telephone. Getting there somewhat out of breath, he answered the phone.

“Mr Karr?”

An old voice sighed on the other end. “No need for formalities,” he paused. “Your Majesty, there was an incident at around ten AM this morning, roughly half an hour ago, whereby an assailant had kidnapped Her Highness Princess Rosamund from Ginnerbury House. Her whereabouts are unknown and-”

“Pf-… W-… Y-…” the King was lost for words.

“In response to the incident we have mobilised the garrisons and shut down all outbound vessels and set up checkpoints on all major roads across the island. It’s a complete lockdown.”

“R-… Right…” Lambertus, still shocked, managed to get a word out. Negative thoughts entered his mind and he struggled to keep a tear or two from rolling down his face.

“I’d like to reassure you that we are doing everything we possibly can to get her back safely. We will keep in contact with a representative of yourself. This is a code red alert.”

“T-… Thank you officer.” Lambertus hung up and drowned his head in his hands. Millions of thoughts and emotions battled inside his head. He had to call the Prime Minister and then Edwin.

9

It was a bumpy ride through the countryside. She was strapped to a chair in the back of a van, with her hands tied firmly behind her back and her mouth gagged. She was strapped to the chair only by a rope fastened below her baby bump; they’d ran out to tie her feet to the chair and together in general. She was being frequently watched over by one of the men in the front, who were both paranoid but equally thrilled they’d managed to bag the royal princess. From the tone of her voice, she wasn’t for them. She was to be sold off to the highest bidder for sort of entertainment. It freaked her out, but she kept relatively calm.

The vehicle continued driving for what felt like ten minutes. Rosamund had no clue how long it had been when she was practically thrown in the back, Time just span around in her head just like her thoughts. It didn’t help having a splitting headache. Suddenly, it stopped, and the two men whispered their plan. One of them stared at her and sort of eyed her up to not try something. One of them got out of the van and Rosamund heard him opening the fuel cap. The other got out and walked out of the area whilst holding his phone to his ear.

Rosamund wriggled around to try and get out of the restrains without rocking the van too much. She managed to get a foot on her seat, and tried two times to climb through it; but failed. She became tearful and gave up. For a moment she had no strength left, until she thought of her unborn child. The man fueling up had left the van to pay. She put her foot back on the seat and pushed up, just managing to writhe out of the one rope under her belly. She had to concentrate but it was hard with her headache.  She moved to the floor where the seat was wielded to and found a sharp surface to break her bindings. She saw the man return from his phone conversation and she became extremely paranoid; what would they do to her if they saw she had escaped? She saw him get closer, and instinctively took the rope off of the chair with her now freed hands and put it around just her- so it would appear nothing had changed. She was still gagged, and put her hands behind her back again to appear bound.

The first man got in the car and immediately looked back to her. Satisfied, he waited for the second man, who moments later clambered into the drivers seat, and began discussing the fate of Rosamund.

“So?”

“We have a buyer.”

The expression on the mans face was of pure wickedness.

“H- how much…?”

“A hundred million South Hill Dollars…”

“A hundred MILLION! YES! YES!”

Rosamunds’ eyes widened at the reality of this is she doesn’t escape. The men lent over their front seats.

“Did ya hear that darlin’? You’re going to have a loving owner soon.” they both snarled and chuckled in laughter. The van started and pulled away, Rosamund barely getting a glimpse of a sign headed towards Gantisby.

10

Gantisbury was upon them. The van spluttered out thick black smoke from its exhaust as it drove down the cobbled streets leading to the port. There was a musty smell in the air and a sense of overwhelming disquietude grew on Rosamund, she could hear the tinkering of construction, the shouts of men and their hydraulics. It got louder and louder, and then the van stopped. Blinded in a sense of seeing nothing outside, one of the men jumped out of the van and Rosamund relied on her hearing, and yet despite it being muffled- she could understand it.

“I’m sorry sir, but the island has gone into lockdown, it’s royal business, now if you’d take your cargo and wait in the li-”

“I tell you what, we’re on a tight schedule here, now don’t tell anyone, how about a thousand, and you let us on to that ferry?”

For a moment Rosamund tried to hear, but there was no noise except background work. Anxiety depraved her and she began to get tunnel vision. The drivers door opened and the guy hoisted himself into the seat.

“We’ve got ourselves on the last ferry to Meremaa.” the men cheered. “As soon as we’re off the ferry, there ain’t a hope in hell for our little princess,” one of the men leaned over to look at her. “Hey?” he chuckled and the van spat out a whirlwind of black fumes and rolled forward. The gates reopened, and all hope that resided in Rosamund was lost.

[hr]

Rosamund was alone now. The ferry was announcing its departure and the men had gone to the cafeteria for some lunch. On an empty stomach, Rosamund yearned for food, but her subconscious made her forget about it, for she was in more of a dire situation than ever. Releasing herself of her bonds- easier this time than before, she searched for a way out. The peephole to the front was too small, and the van was parked so close up the jacksie of the vehicle in front there would be no way in hell anyone could see her.

She searched the interior of the van, there were two drawers; one with a work screwdriver and the other with nothing but a pencil, a notepad belonging to their business and some string. She sighed. What use were these? It won’t help her escape, the door is sealed shut from the outside. She sat down in the chair and thought hard for a moment, and then eureka.

She looked at her screwdriver and then the wall of the van. The van itself was nearly twenty years old, and there was spots of rust here and there. She thought that the sheet metal might be broken through with the screwdriver and maybe she could call for help? Sounds good enough.

She began picking at the wall, but after several goes she knew it wasn’t going anywhere. She tried again, even running at the wall but it was only slightly denting it. She began to sweat; they’d be back any minute. That was when she noticed that, directly above her seat was a tiny fist sized solar powered ventilation fan. She stood on the chair and using the screwdriver pulled apart the inside of it- ripping the fan component off, but she couldn’t budge the outer bracing as it was made of metal. Curse!

She thought again for a moment. She felt which direction the wind blew, and it was towards the cars in front. She went over to the drawer and grabbed the pencil and notepad, ripped a page of and began writing, her hands literally shaking in fear. The writing was something that, despite years of training, only vaguely resembled her writing persona, and which said “please help, i am a hostage inside the van”. She poked a hole through the corner and tied a knot with the end of the string and cast it out of the ventilation shaft, hoping and praying that it would be picked up and she would be noticed. She held on to the end of the string and waited and waited until somebody would notice it and pull on it to read.

Moments turned into minutes. Sweat dripped down her face as she was praying to Thaer, but most importantly praying that she would escape this disaster. After a while she began to lose all hope and perched herself on the seat, awaiting the men’s return. That was when it happened, she felt the end of the string lightly tugged, and that meant someone was holding the paper! She sprang up and smiled. Oh yes, she thought, she was going to be saved! She shouted for help and banged on the wall of the van. But there was nothing. She tried to see out of the peephole and nothing. She looked again and saw the last thing she wanted; the face of the driver, snarling into the front of the van, his eyes locked to hers. Dread and fear made her spine tingle. She heard the other man opening up the back of the van and she immediately armed herself with the screwdriver and when the door opened, she charged.

The man who was opening the door fell onto the floor, being crushed by the princess. She practically fell onto him, and knelt up- she had to get out of there. The man prised his hands around her neck and tried to stop her with her clothes, but she used the screwdriver and plunged it deep into his ankle. He screamed in pain and let go. She sprinted out into the open, to the horror of people in their cars, some began to get out and some just started taking pictures of her. She was still lightly jogging, but that picked up when she looked over to see the driver in pursuit. He was armed with a knife and she knew that all hope of selling her to their highest bidder was lost and now he had to kill her. She ran to the back of the ferry and shouted and waved to the dock, but by this time the ferry was just too far away for her to jump; at a guess she would say it was nearing ten meters away, it would be suicide.

There was a police officer on land who heard her screams, and ran towards the end of the platform pointing at her in shock, but there was nothing he could do, the ferry was just a little bit too far. She was him radioing someone, but that was it. She looked behind herself again and the man was right there. He had trapped her and she was defenceless. She looked back at the officer and screamed, he was armed, but firing at the man with Rosamund an obstacle was too risky. Without hesitation, he yelled at her.

“GET DOWN!” he screamed. And so she did, flat on her side. The driver was now practically over her, she could feel his ominous presence and felt the warmth on his malodorous breath. He went to stab her, but his body jerked back, and Rosamund felt a horrid deafening and ringing in her ears, the driver’s body now on the floor and spurting with blood. She whimpered and cried, what a horrible mess. She just laid there in a maelstrom of emotions, to an observer literally void of life. The ferry had been alerted and staff and civilians rushed to her aid, a woman came to her side and she knew she was asking her questions but couldn’t make anything out. She just stared into her eyes and before she knew anything, the world went black.

11

Rosamund woke up in a hospital bed the next day. She went to sit up but initially couldn’t, and felt as if she was paralysed from the waist down. She was a little bit dazzled by this and rubbed her eyes to wake up. She was alone and the curtains of the ward giving her privacy. But still she didn’t understand why she was struggling to move, and then it hit her. She didn’t understand, her stomach was flat again!

She frantically searched the bed as if her baby would be in there, but it wasn’t. She felt drugged up and this was all overwhelming for her. She undid her hospital clothes and there was a sore bright pink line on her abdomen. She just put her head back on her pillow, her eyes like glazed marbles staring at the ceiling.

The curtains fluttered open and it was Edwin. Rosamund cried in happiness, because for some long while she thought she would never see him again. They embraced in a short kiss but she pushed him back and wanted an answer. Her speech was a little drowsy.

“Where is my baby?”

Edwin gently placed his hand on her face and stroked it.

“There’s nothing to fear darling. They’re safe.”

She smiled. She was relieved. wait what? Am I hearing things?

“T… They?”

Edwin welled up, the news was new for him as well.

“It’s twins.”

“Oh my god,” Rosamund cried with happiness. “The scans did not show a second!

“The first one came out at a healthy 3.6 kilograms, and the second was at 2.5…”

Rosamund smiled and all worry left her. She kissed him another two times.

“When can I see them?”

“Let me find out.” Edwin left the room and came back within a minute, accompanied by two nurses carrying the babies, and a trolley that had a few things on that may come in handy.

“Hello ma’am,” a young nurse smiled and came to her side, “It’s a girl, she weighed in at 2.5,” she handed the young soul to her arms.

Rosamund was so happy, she could not help but cry with joy for she had always wanted a baby girl.

“Florence Isobel…” she looked at her husband and smiled. “That was the name we decided if we had a girl wasn’t it?”

“Yes yes… such a lovely name.” he smiled and stroked the baby’s forehead. She took a little longer to embrace her tiny soul before the nurse picked her up and the nurse handed her the other baby.

“A boy…” Rosamund whispered. She cried at his face as it was the spitting image of her late older brother Thadeus. She was emotionally torn; it was very nice that she could see Thadeus in him, but was going to be a hard burden to bear seeing her late brother every time she looks at her son.

“I think we should call him after your brother.” Edwin smiled.

“Yes, I think so,” Rosamund wiped a tear on her sleeve and smiled. “Thadeus will be his first name. But I can’t think of anything else right now.” she smiled and handed back the baby to the nurse. She wiped another tear from her face. She smiled, despite Edwin and the nurses talking to her, it became background noise as at the end of the bed, she saw a figure of her late brother Thadeus smiling fondly at her.

“I’m so proud of you sister.”