Once Upon A Time in a small kingdom tucked away between two mountain ranges lay a small castle and within this Castle one Queen and her three daughters lived all Princess by right of birth. The Queen name was Lina and her daughters. Tulip, a blonde lady tall but thin. She was the oldest and as such was the princess to whom was going to be married to the next king. Raven, the youngest of the three who had brown hair and was the height of barely 5 ft but still had a few years to grow and just like her older sister she was as thin as a rail. She would most likely be married away for political gain by her mother the queen.

But tonight folks the story falls upon the most beautiful princess if the peasants and lords had any say. The name was Rose. Her hair was like her fathers and sported a red mirroring the fires of a warrior soul. Her height reached to 5'2". She was blessed by Aphrodite with the curves of a goddess. But with great beauty came a terrible price.

Dukes and Lords who wanted to be king called her hideous in front of Tulip. Then would drool at the sight of her body swaying away. Barons and Lords have more than once called for her assassination when she turned them down. Oh many people called her beautiful, but their words were hollow. Only seeking her for riches or political gain. Soon this Rose grew thorns, much larger and sharper than any woman should have.

One day she left the castle in frustration from the Royal Court's discussion on who Tulip should marry. In her frustration she ran into a cabbage cart spilling the top half of the cart over onto the floor.

The dealer screamed, "My cabbages! What have you done to them!"

Rosa looked down and with a scowl opened her mouth and was about to say something when a robe flapped in front of her face, causing her enough confusion to forget at yelling at the dealer. The man who wore the robe took out 3 silver coins and handed them to the dealer and helped him to place them once more on top of the cart and even gave a hefty push to help the cabbage dealer.

"Who were you to interrupt me when I was to speak." Said Rose.

The man turned towards her and revealed the lower part of his face while still under the hood and with a goofy smile, "Forgive me princess, but I saw how both parties could benefit from a swift detached from each other. Forgive me."

Rose tried to think of a good reason and while lost in thought, the man walked down an alleyway. The princess catching the movement ran over to give him a piece of her mind, but alas, he was no where to be seen.

Now fuming, but slightly more attentive to what was ahead of her, she went to the shop that make her feel a bit better about life. That's right folks she went to Kandy's Candy and Chocolate Store. Opening the door brought in the smell of sugary delights. She had gumdrops and candy canes and yes, she even had chocolate. Kandy was attending the desk waiting on customers and looked up and saw her favorite customer. Going up to her and give the princess a big hug and maybe... Oh dear a butt squeeze.

"Come to the counter dear, I have a new chocolate creation." Never have more beautiful words have been spoken from one girl to the next. Going into the back, she had a silver dish she used for samples was covered. Looking up at the princess, "Now close your eyes."

Rolling and closing her eyes, she opened her mouth and bit down on the chocolate she was given. It was mixed with... "I call it chocolate turtles!"... Spitting it out Kandy kept laughing and laughing. "It's not made of real turtles dear." The princess smacked the candy creator. After talking about Kandy's new creation for a bit, she got a hold of her normal order of 3 pixies sticks and a dozen of her purest chocolate drops... And 3 chocolate turtles for the trip back. Once more she went back inside of the castle and immediately a servant found her and told her to go see her mother, the queen.

Her mother, as always, was in her study. Waiting impatiently for her mother to notice her, she popped a chocolate drop in her mouth. Her mother instinctively looked up at the smell of the intoxicating chocolate and tapped her fingers on the head of her desk. Rose knowingly drew a choco drop and placed it on the desk. Taking a step back and blinking, the drop was no more her mother ate it while Rose blinked... Scary woman.

"Sit down Rose do you remember Howard Boone. Of course you do. Well, as of today, you are engaged to him. Now go off to the castle library and look for his family lineage. Off with you."

Rose, shocked out of her mind, got up mechanically and started to head to the library. In her head, though she was screaming and throwing a fit. Howard was the worst of the suitors, he always hung around Tulip trying to gain her affection. Worse yet, when he called Rose ugly he meant it. He called her many worse things like a bastard daughter because she didn't look like her sisters and useless because he was having a "bad" day. Even worse, he wasn't even good looking not even average. She rather be married to Kandy and suffer the entire Kingdom scorn.

She finally reached the library and asked the librarian for the Boone family lineage book. The librarian looked over his shoulder and yelled back, "Hey there lad, get the princess the book labeled L93.678."

A robed figure came up behind the librarian and handed him the book. Rose was shocked from her future prospect because he was the lad from earlier, but before she could manage the thought he once more disappeared into the aisles of the library.

This time, though she noticed he had long brown wavy hair not common on this day an age. Just seeing a couple of his locks spill from the hood sent shivers of lightening along her body.

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The librarian aggravated with her blank stares pushed the book into her and shoo her away. So she was about to leave, then turned to the librarian once more, "Who was that lad who helped you find the book."

The librarian looked up from his book, "I don't know his name and he is a mute or he doesn't speak. He comes around and helps me on occasions."

"Shouldn't you know more about him or at least call the guards on him?"

"I tried posting guards at the doorways and he somehow he still gets in and helps. I lay a couple of coins down at my desk when I leave for helping next morning they are gone. That is good enough for me."

After a couple of mind numbing hours the servants knock on the door and ask if she is ready to get dressed for dinner. Giving the servants the go ahead, they get her ready for dinner. With her bathed and dressed for dinner in a loose dress she heads towards the dining room connected to the dining hall.

The Royal family no longer ate at the dining hall unless they were hosting a party. The reasons were simple to Rose. The dining hall was to have the king sit at the front and her dad, the king died. The story her mother told her when she was younger was that after birthing three daughters he grew angry with himself. To prove to the kingdom, he was a man he left when my youngest sister was only a year old and led his armies to glory and territories and that is what he did. He increased our territory twice over. Sadly, he died a warriors death when my youngest sister turned 3. His generals told us he led the siege towards Riverdale fortress. The siege lasted for 4 months, but finally my father and his legion broke down the gates and killed all the soldiers but sadly my father who wanted to still prove his manliness after two years went ahead of his battalion. He fought five knights with a battle ax and buckler. By the end of the fight all the knights laid down behead, but my father was on one knee bleeding out from all the cuts on his body with tears in his eyes. The people lost their king. I lost my father. But we got a story to pass down to my children and my children's children

Sitting at the giant round table sat my mother and my sister Tulip. Taking a sit in my chair we waited on Raven. Tulip and my mother made small political talk. My younger sister walked in a few moments later and places a hand on my shoulder and whispers in my ear, "I heard about Howard. I am sorry." I nod at her once as she goes to her chair. As soon as she is seated the servants exit the kitchen and fills the tables with plates of variety of foods. Finally, all the servants leave, but one who is holding a violin in the corner behind me.

My mother looks at me, "Where did you run off after the Court ended."

I barely registered her question as I was trying to figure out how to get this piece of duck down my throat that was now constricted. My mother noticing my mood rings the bell next to her and the violin starts to play a slow and soft song over the table.

Listening over the rhythm of the song my throat loosens up and makes it easier to eat the food. As i was staring down at my mother is glaring at the violinist.

"How do you know the song?"

The servant stops playing the song and points to his mouth and covers it with the other hand.

Raven chips into the conversation, "Mother, I believe this is the mute servant the head hired."

The Queen looks back at the servant, "play something else if you value your life."

"No mother can he play it till the end. It makes me feel better..." Rose hesitantly asked.

Looking at her daughter, she frowns, then sighs, "I hope so, it's the song I sang for you all when you had nightmares. Fine begin once more."

Princess listens to the soothing song and finishes her meal. Now with a full stomach and a soothing song in her heart her problems seemed lessened. Then she jumped at the table banging her knees against the table, "where is he!"

"Who Rose?" Asking Tulip cleaning her mouth with a napkin.

"The mute servant!"

"After he finished the song, mom gave him the death stare till he bowed and left the room. What is weird is that he was hooded the whole time and mom didn't say a thing."

Leaving the Dining Room she headed back to her chambers. Plopping down on her bed. With one hand she grabbed a pillow and let out a muffled scream. Who was this hooded figure and why was he everywhere? There was a knock on the door. The servant taking the quiet as an answer, she let herself in.

Helping the princess take off her dinner dress and helping put on her silk bed gown. Once done, she bowed and left the princess to her thoughts.

The princess's thought once more wandered towards the lad. Sadly, she needed to worry more about her future husband since her mother would have made arrangements for them to come together and make plans of their wedding. With a wandering mind and a heavy heart the princess climbs into her bed and passes out after her eventful day.

Third Call is the CharmTaotuz's MelodyChapter Two