The Rose That Waits (Part 4)

Rose continued to ponder the meaning behind the letter and who the mystic admirer could be. She heard leaves crunching behind a tree.

“I don’t believe I’m alone here…”

She whispered aloud and pulled out her bow and arrow with quick skill and a keen eye, ready to defend herself. There was a single wolf slowly prowling toward her. The hideous wolf lunged at her and she shot her first arrow but it dodged adroitly to the side quickly. She shot another arrow but this one hit the wolf in the breast, making it drop down and howl in agonizing anger.

“Howllll… grrrr… uggg!”

Before wolf could try to attack her, Rose leapt onto Mona and rode off as quickly as she could.

After several miles of riding through the woods, she came across some thicker woods that were not as familiar as the ones she’d rested in.

Rose noticed an old crippled woman who had her head mostly covered with a dark brown cloak. Her hair was like wispy cotton and her eyes were piercing with icy blue intensity.

“Good day to you, I on the other hand, was nearly attacked by a wolf!”

The woman nodded.

“But you prevailed I see, Rose.”

The woman smiled warmly.

“You know my name?”

“Of course, I know your name. You are of royal lineage in more ways than one.”

“I am?”

Rose hopped down from the horse’s back. Mona was panting for breath still.

“Yes!”

The woman continued to pick berries and other herbs from the woods.

“But how do you know?”

Rose questioned.

“Did you receive my message?”

Rose felt the rolled up letter that she’d hid close to her chest.

“Are you the mystic admirer?”

“Indeed, I am. One of my many jobs is to help you, Rose. You see, I have had many visions of you and Asher.”

“Can you help me find a remedy? If you have visions of him, you must know that he is deathly ill and has no remedy to heal him.”

“I can help! But my arthritis in my body makes me walk slow. Could I ride on your horse to my cottage down the way?”

Rose nodded and then helped her up onto the horse.

“You know my name, but I don’t know yours…”

The woman laughed.

“Some call me a witch but I’m not that at all! I see visions of the people who I’m supposed to help and protect. I call myself the mystic admirer but my given name is Misty Rose.”

“So your middle name is the same as my first.”

“Yes, what a coincidence, isn’t it?”

The old woman handed Rose the basket of berries and herbs. Rose led the horse to Misty Rose’s house.

In the open window rested a carrier pigeon. Misty Rose pointed to the pigeon with her gnarled hand.

“That’s my faithful friend who took you the message.”

“Ah, well, thank you.”

She bowed to the bird with gratitude.

“How can you help me with this remedy?”

Misty Rose smiled again.

“I must boil the rose petals from the rose I sent you and mix in several herbs. After this is done I must stir an ointment into it. This remedy will only work if it is taken on the lips of his lover.”

Rose paused and tried to fully understand.

“Why must it touch my lips first?”

“It’s just how the remedy was made to work. You, Rose, and your sincere love for him are all part of the healing power! If the remedy is applied with a true love’s kiss, then he will be healed!”

Rose handed the flower to the old woman. Part of the stem had been smashed. The intriguing woman started boiling the water and ripped the petals off and put them into the boiling water. Quickly she added the other herbs. She pulled out a bottle of ointment and mixed it in with the other ingredients. Pulling what appeared to be a paintbrush out, she painted the remedy onto Rose’s lips carefully.

“Now you must ride to him!”

She hugged Rose and sent her out the door. She called out to Rose…

“Another important thing, you mustn’t drink anything… for if water washes your lips, then the remedy will not work! Go now swiftly before it’s too late!”

Rose rode her horse as fast as should could down the road to Asher’s house. Suddenly, lightning struck with a jolt and thunder rumbled. Rain started to come down. She felt intense panic rise in her heart as she remembered what the woman had told her.

“Oh no! The remedy on my lips!”

She kicked the horse harder and Mona rushed down the countryside path at a break neck pace. Finally, Asher’s house became visible. She kept her head tilted downwards as much as possible. Not even knocking on the front door, she burst through the door, hoping all the while that the remedy was still strong enough on her lips.

“Asher, my love!”

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Author’s Note:

To read part 5, written by Maryam Batool, follow the link below: