He continuously feeds me… How thoughtful. Soon after night fell upon us, he brought me up to bed and kissed my hand goodbye. I hope I dream of him, My dear Ivan… Wait. What am I thinking, there's no way he would want to save me out of all people, he'll report me as soon as he finds out… I killed my father, there's no way I can forget that. I bite my lip, anxiously. I am nothing but a murderer. A cold blooded killer. He wouldn't be acting like this if he knew, if only he knew. I can't hold on to this forever.
The sun has risen once again, two days since I murdered my father and two days since I've been here. I open my eyes to Ivan sitting on the edge of my bed, I shutter. I'm scared. He'll find out and kill me the same way. I can't marry him… I mustn't. He'll kill me if he's ordered. He stares at me so menacingly. He grabs my wrist harshly, feeling up my veins.
"Don't worry, I have brought a healer today," He pauses, "The pain will be relieved." He kisses my forehead delicately. He plays with my hands, "Your hands are so soft"
"Do not say such things," I hesitate, "It's a little… embarrassing" I retract my hand from his, wiping it off on my thin dress.
He looks visibly upset but continues, "He's here," he raises his voice, "Come in" he greets a strange man.
The man's hair glimmers from the sun in the window, shining like a crystal. His hair is that of a swan. His hair flows down almost magically. How incredible. His eyes meet mine, his eyes are as white as clouds. How peculiar, I've never seen such things. Although I have been trapped in the castle since I was nine years of age. He approaches me slowly… He drops to his knees in front of me.
"Hello my lady," He starts to speak and slowly grabs my hand, "My name is Espen, I'm a healer" he gets up slowly and bows, "I'll be at your service."
"Oh my…" I stare at him, "You needn't do such things but I thank you anyway" I smile.
Ivan looks uncomfortable, "Can you just treat her?" he says sternly, "I hired you to help her not engage in useless conversation" I shudder at his voice. Right, it's useless to talk to me. I'm a useless daughter. Useless.
"Right, of course sir." He grits his teeth, "Can you lay down for me? I'll start to examine you." He says politely. I do as he says…
"It might be a little strange since you've never had healing magic done before..." He says. Although it's completely untrue. Anytime my father would strike and hit me I was healed... I'm no stranger to this kind of magic. I do not correct him, I nod and wait.
He chants unrecognizable words, the ancient language, it fills my head. The words cause a searing pain at first but then strangely enough it feels rather reliving. The words he chants orbit around me. Almost hypnotizing me. This experience is strange, the pain is evaporating into the air. Indeed this is familiar. Although it's similar to what usually happens, my body relaxes like it never has before... I feel so refreshed. A beaming light is seen throughout the room. Holy light. Magic. How fascinating. I have never seen it so pure before. It might be possible that he is in the church? I am not quite certain but this is for sure definitely something special. He is truly extraordinary. Shortly afterwards, my wounds and injuries heal up perfectly. As if it never happened. As if my father never tried to kill me. As if I never became a murderer.
"I'm forever indebted to you" I say to him, "I'm extremely grateful for this treatment" I attempt to express my happiness.
"No worries lady," he pauses kindly, "It is my pleasure to help a beautiful young woman like you" he grabs a hold of my hand gently and lays a kiss upon it. "I bid you farewell" then as quickly as he came he left once again. Maybe that man was dropped as a baby? It seems so . He left without even saying goodbye to Ivan. He looks extremely annoyed. We look at each other awkwardly.
"Do you like him?" He asks, anger within his voice
"What?"
"I said," his voice raising, "Do you like him?" he looks… Jealous? His anger makes me feel miserable, the silence is deafening. He sighs loudly and begins to stand up, attempting to leave. I cling onto him, unable to let go.
Tears welled up in my eyes, "Please stay…" I began to beg, "I need you here" he stares at me
"F**k" he grabs onto my face wiping my tears away and kisses me passionately, "I can't control myself around you" he looks at me, "No other man should look at a beautiful woman like you" he consoles me in his arms. I've never felt so safe.
After a while, he gets up, though still with me in his arms. He calls for Sophie.
"Sophie!" He yells.
She comes to my room quickly, almost too fast... "Yes sir?"
"May you bathe my lady?" He asks
I look up at him, "Why do I need to bathe?"
He looks down at me and laughs to himself "You no longer smell like a lady but as if you were a knight, you are very dirty Rosaline" I become red quickly, flustered.
"There is stale blood all over you, though your wounds have been officially healed it doesn't clean up old blood." He states.
"I see..." I look down extremely embarrassed.
He pats my hair gently tussling me, "I'll be outside the door waiting, then we'll eat together." He says.
Sophie grabs onto me and guides me to the bath as he steps outside guarding my room. A big wooden tub is being filled with warm water and rose petals, the scent is extraordinary. She undresses me... Scars are seen all along my back. Slash marks from the whip my father used. Though we had a healer wounds can only heal to a certain point depending on the strength of the healer. She helps me into the tub trying her best to ignore it but I know it's making her anxious. She looks nervous. I sink down into the tub. Sophie helps me wash my body. Scrubbing the blood off of me. The tub stains a deep red. How grotesque. I lay my head into the water. I'm so miserable. The fumes make my head throb in pain. I'm not used to being treated so lavishly.