Rosalie

Hermione sat on her bed, aghast from recalling the morning. No matter how she thought of it, it just did not sit right with her, no matter the angle she looked at it, she didn't get it. Lord! This man was driving her crazy.

Going to the Castle? For what? Because the Crown Prince invited her? Oh no, she would love to sit out of this one.

A resounding knock on the door brought her out of her thoughts. Hermione paused for two seconds before dragging herself all the way to the door.

Upon opening it, her eyes widen in a pleasant surprise. Hermione immediately let herself fall on the person by the door.

"Rosalie, thank God you came. I needed you." Hermione whined.

"What is the matter?" Rosalie questioned with concern laced in her smooth yet small voice.

"Come in, I shall tell you all about it." Hermione readily pulled Rosalie in by her hand, bouncing the wooden door behind them.

They chatted over a cup of tea as Hermione poured out all her bitterness to her best friend, not omitting a single detail.

Rosalie was shocked about everything. She suddenly started to feel sorry for her friend. How was she going to console her? God! This is big news.

On the other hand, Hermione was unsure wether to cry or just continue to remain bitter about her life.

Her eyes instantaneously shone with a certain glint as she looked at Rosalie. Rosalie smiled back with expectancy, waiting to hear what idea Hermione had come up with.

"I can just run away when the evening comes?" Hermione proposed.

The smile on Rosalie's lips automatically died down. "Are you nuts, Hermione? Where will you run to, and what if you fall a victim to the creatures out there?"

Hermione nodded, it actually made sense.

"Or…. I could refuse to go with whosoever he sends?" Hermione doubted this idea herself as it left her mouth.

"My friend, did you hit your head under the rain last night?" Rosalie commented with a worried expression.

"You want to defile the Crown Prince's orders?" Rosalie seconded.

"Urghhh!" Hermione grumbled in frustration, tugging hard at her hair.

"Ouch!" She shrilled at the light slap Rosalie landed on her hand that was tugging at her hair.

"I remember telling you to stop doing that." Rosalie warned.

"I can not help it." Hermione pouted.

"I can not help it." Rosalie imitated, mimicking Hermione's face, and both girls laughed hysterically at themselves.

"Put that aside for the meantime." Rosalie urged as she took out a meal from the basket she brought with her.

Hermione gasped when the aroma diffused into her nostrils. "Apple pie!" She exclaimed.

"Oh Rosalie, you are the best." She squeezed Rosalie tightly in a warm hug before letting go.

Hermione hurriedly dug in without any hesitation.

"There is this…." Rosalie started but paused when she saw the way Hermione looked at her.

"Say! Say!" Hermione purported with a frantic nod.

Rosalie covered her face with her hands. "I can not say, when you look at me like that."

"Alright." Hermione dropped her apple pie on the table beside them, she turned to look at Rosalie without any weird expression. "Now, I am serious." She muttered.

"He is a soldier…." Rosalie continued still feeling very shy under Hermione's gaze.

"We met at the stream when he was injured, and I helped him clean his wounds." Rosalie paused looking at Hermione who was not helping matters with the wide grin on her face.

"And then….?" Hermione seem to be taking pleasure in her friends discomfort as she continued to pry.

Rosalie breathed, she pulled her lower lips away from in between her teeth. "And then…He asked for my name. We began to meet secretly at the stream when he is chanced." Rosalie finished with a huge blush on both her cheeks.

"Oh my Lord!" Hermione gasped dramatically. "What is his name?" She asked.

"He is Rohelio." Rosalie replied.

"Mhmm." Hermione teased, wiggling her brows at her Rosalie.

"Stop it, you make it sound weird."

Hermione laughed. "Okay, okay, I will stop now." She gave in, receiving the glare Rosalie threw at her.

"I hope he means well? You are my everything Rosalie, and I would not want to see you sad for any reason." Hermione implied turning serious.

Rosalie pursed her lips. "I understand Hermione, you are my everything as well, and I promise you, I will take of myself."

"Good." Hermione smiled.

They two girls hugged each other, seeking comfort in each other's embrace for a while before pulling away.

Rosalie decided to help Hermione do her house chores. They left for the stream together with a basket full of clothes in both their hands as they chatted, not minding the few gazes coming from the women who were still at home or who were house wives.

They washed and played in the water, not minding that they did not have extra dresses to change. Their giggles and laughter echoed throughout the stream while they made fun of each other. It was a beautiful moment that they both hoped could last longer before going back to the judgemental reality they lived in.

By the time they were finished, it was already past the curfew time, they both had forgotten about the morning worries as they strolled home together with their wet clothes laughing about something.

Unbeknownst to them their wet clothes which clunged tightly to their curvy bodies had attracted a few unwanted stares and gazes from the men around. Even if they were, they would not care less.

When they arrived, Hermione and Rosalie fell flat on the mattress, exhausted and famished, not paying heed to their wet bodies.

It was a long day and they were tired.

It had been long since they did this, the girls took warmth in each other's presence forgetting how far time had gone. Not until….

Knock! Knock!

As if alarmed, they both sprang up from the mattress, looking at each other with utter dread in their eyes.