Winter's Rose ~A Beauty and the Beast Retelling~

The Celebration

Rosalind nuzzled closer into the warmth that surrounded her. She inhaled the sweet familiar scent of linens and pine. William. She smiled into the scent. She didn't want to open her eyes--she didn't want to wake from this dream. As she became more aware she could feel her hand rising and falling--a soft thumping under her fingertips. Her hand was on William's chest. Her eyes fluttered to attention. She became aware of the warmth of his hand on her waist. She gently removed his hand and slipped from his grasp. She quickly recognized her room by the smell of the lavender scent that Cassandra uses in her baths. Rosalind sat up, pushing herself up into the mountain of pillows. She gently felt for William. William was softly snoring as she gently ran her fingers through his hair. She felt his hair--reveling how soft it was between her fingers--how it curled around her finger tips. He threw his arm across her lap in a state of sleep; pulling himself closer to her. His head now rests on her upper thighs as her softly sighed in his sleep. Rosalind couldn't help but smile. Rosalind continued to run her fingers through his curls.

How could someone so vulnerable and loving be losing his humanity? She couldn't help but wonder how it was possible. He had changed so much over these past few weeks-- Silas was right. How could she save him? But did she really know what she was trying to save him from?

She hadn't realized but she had ceased moving her hand.

"Don't stop that," William moaned into her lap. Rosalind couldn't help but laugh. He grabbed her hand and kissed it gently, she could feel him smile sleepily against her it. He sat up on his elbows and looked at her. "How is it possible for someone to be this beautiful in the morning?"

"How is it possible for someone to be this cheeky in the morning?" She teased. She loved the sound of his laugh--still darkened by sleep. He pulled her to him and kissed her forehead. Her eyebrows began to furrow again with anxiety.

"Don't worry yourself with the future; everything will be fine." He whispered into her hair. She nodded. He pulled away from her, "Happy Birthday, Rose."

"I had forgotten," She confessed.

"I didn't," William teased. She smiled.

"You need to leave, William." Rosalind told him, as she moved to go to her vanity. William grabbed her by the waist and pulled her back to him. She squealed in laughter. "No! Will, Cassandra is going to come in her and I'll never hear the end of it."

"Let her come," William taunted. He kissed her cheek softly. Rosalind pushed at his chest playfully. "All right, all right, I'll leave if that is your birthday wish!"

Rosalind laughed as he kissed her good bye. She could hear him tumbling into things and stifling a soft laugh of embarrassment. He shut the door softly behind him, as to not draw attention.

Rosalind sat back into her pillows smiling like an idiot. She heard the door open with a creak.

"Will?"

"I knew it!" She heard Cassandra cheer. "I thought I saw William coming out of your room, but I wasn't sure!"

Rosalind groaned.

"Don't worry, Rosalind! I'm not going to harass you too much!" Cassandra teased while helping Rosalind out of bed. "Selene is going to bring your breakfast up so we can start getting you ready."

"Ready for what?"

"The celebration, of course!" Cassandra said matter-of-factly.

"Celebration? William told me it was dinner!" Rosalind said in a panic. She hated being the center of attention. William had made it sound like a peaceful dinner--not some extravagant celebration.