Iris Wilshire, sitting on her golden rose – carved throne welcomed her gust with a beautiful smile. Albert stood in his place so nervous from all the luxury he was surrounded with that he kept staring at his enemy's face for five minutes, the face that was hidden with a mask the other night was now revealed in front of him. It complimented the wall behind her in perfect harmony. No other beauty deserved to be matched to the picture of vivid dangerous allure like hers. Her beauty was unique, like a sole rose left alone by the winter, blooming red dewy petals yet surround with ice and coldness. The woman didn't say anything waiting the young man to explain his presence but it needed another five minutes until Albert realized this, he bowed a little then said:
"I'm Albert Hudgson, the royal officer of the Amphitrite. I came here to demand you surrender and to share with your people the water of the sacred spring peacefully."
"That Alex, he didn't change over these years! He still does the right thing even if he doesn't believe in it."
The head of the Wilshire family smiled as she leaned her head on her hand, a soft sigh of contempt could be heard parting her ripened lips. The answer was a little bit surprising to Albert, both parties; the captain of the Amphitrite and the head of the Wilshire were in their own castle, floating in their clouds unconcerned by the people depending on them. Irritated but unable to show it, he quickly spoke to set things straight:
"I'm not here representing that man; I'm here representing the king and the people of Panusarea!"
"You people killed my poor cousin Jeremy and now you ask me to negotiate peace with you?"
The woman tone's drifted dramatically, it was no longer soft or melodious, no wonder she could preserve her dominance over such a large family. Albert had the answer in his mind but he wasn't certain if he could say it openly still, so he opted to replying with this explanation:
"His death was a mistake; a word of honor was given for his life but please trust me, the crew isn't responsible for it... please believe me."
Albert's voice went an octave down in a mild plea but the head of the family smirked, obviously not caring about the circumstances in which her younger cousin died, probably realizing his demise was brought by his own treachery and foolishness, but she was clearly relishing the fact itself.
"No one throws a pawn in war that cannot benefit his cause."
That last sentence had a cold echo that made the young officer's face twist in distaste. She wasn't a delicate woman like the roses she appeared to love, that was definite. The way she treated Jeremy even after his death was harsh and disavowing that it had him say:
"I understood Jeremy didn't mean a lot to you, but to speak about him like a mere pawn is too unbearable! "
The rich lady laughed a bird chirping a beautiful song as she remarked:
"On the table of diplomacy you can't express your feelings; I can understand why he chose to send you to negotiate!"
Understanding whom she meant by "he" deepened his dissatisfaction with the whole situation, he was running out of time already, but he found himself repeating firmly:
"He's nothing to do with my mission as I have clarified previously!"
"He had made an enemy out of you too, I see."
Albert legs trembled in their place, nervously. She saw through him like transparent water, was he that simple and obvious? And he was the one supposed to pursue her somehow?! Albert wanted to go on with his offer but his beautiful hostess suddenly shifted the topic:
"Do you know the meanings of flowers? You're aware that every flower has its own hidden message, that's precisely why I left Alex a narcissus among all the numerous kinds of flowers."
This had nothing to do with what Albert came to achieve, he felt that she was playing with him yet, wasting the time she guessed Alex had given him. He couldn't resist the way she introduced this topic of flowers with her musical tone and fantasizing eyes. She had captivated him the same way the web of vernal vines had captured the buds. The young man kept listening as she went on:
"A narcissus is a symbol for selfishness and one's self - love and that's how Alex is."
Albert didn't argue with her there, she was absolutely right in her opinion yet she was just as selfish as him keeping the holy spring to her family alone. Albert had to warm her cold heart to avoid more fighting which was for him cruelly meaningless because he could see something very clearly; this wasn't a war between the king and the rebellious family; it was a war between this woman and Alex, a war of old revenge.
"Please my lady, think of all the families who are dying slowly while watching their children die in front of their eyes! Think how many families will wait for those men returning just to receive their death news... so many men had died so far including your cousin Jeremy... let's stop this insanity!"
Albert thought carefully if he should set Alex's selfishness, which she herself was complaining about few seconds ago, as an example for her to be the opposite and counter his black heart. Fortunately and thankfully, he did not.
"I would have listened to you if the leader of this assault wasn't Alex. The king wants this war that's why he sent me that man; it's simply the king's fault!"
Albert looked at her shocked; she was smiling while playing with her golden hair, his words didn't reach even the outside layer of her heart which was like her smile, full of coldness and cruelty.
"You're just like that man! You can settle your score aside from the spring affair! Don't you think of others? "
Albert yelled angrily thinking of the disappointed faces of the Amphitrite crew he'd have to meet if he didn't succeed, but he was answered with a demand:
"Give me something I might be interested in, something enough to let me give you peacefully my precious holy water in return."
Albert mind stopped thinking for a second. This woman had no need for money or riches, she needed no more lands to claim. What she wants was obvious, and her cousin had already died for that desire but still the words did not leave his mouth, as the thoughts themselves did not dare to introduce themselves into his mind. The head of the brutal family touched his hesitation, she raised her elegant eyebrows musing over the innocence of the messenger for such dire situation. So she once again she asked diverting the conversation:
"Why did you come here, Albert Hudgson? You don't seem a man of war, why did you involve yourself in this matter? Pride in war is above all yet you're asking me to give my strength peacefully to my enemy."
Albert's tongue ceased all of a sudden. The mere presence and striking perception of that woman overwhelmed him. He barely collected himself and replied trying to sound stronger than what he seems in her eyes.
"I came because the people had trusted me to help them and because of..."
"A dream? You've a dream to see what lies beyond our island? You have risked your life for this pitiful reason?"
Iris Wilshire interrupted him. Even if her face did not show it, her tone was laced with mockery and pity.
" I..."
Albert turned his face away shyly, she spoke to him as if she was insulting a child yet he didn't lose faith in his dream even if he were to encounter such degrading comments. Iris left her chair startling the messenger but she meant no harm. She walked gracefully to one of the largest window and raised the curtain staring at the blue oil painting spreading beneath her fortress saying:
"Even the simplest man has a dream. Merely seeing the sun of tomorrow rise on us is a dream we all share but sometimes we've to remove the dark clouds in order to get a glimpse of that light even if this meant the death of the rose which was waiting for their rain."
Her eyes seemed different as if the purity of the sea was reflected into them, and the facial coldness which surrounded her seemed to be melted by the warm sun of the morning. Albert saw his chance in this change of countenance, and he returned the topic to its course through the metaphors she seemed to be fond of but she was the fastest speaker as she continued stopping the man from going on with his offers, and he realized it was wise to wait a little longer as the woman's eyes narrowed dangerously:
"Tell me, Sir Albert, you spoke of a dream. Do you believe that the world ends at these shores?"
Was this a trick question? Or was it a mean to waste more time of which there was not much left. He had to answer preciously without infuriating the woman who held the kingdom's fate in the same scale as her whims.
"I don't believe such a beautiful world can end at a simple shore."
"Simple?"
To his surprise, and although he decided to speak honestly despite all the proofs lying beneath their feet, the family's head was not offended. She huffed in amusement, as if she did not expect such courage but these two qualities; honesty and courage had no place on this island, they were not a part of the myth, and its owe never failed to prove them useless.
"No man dared to say these words to me but one."
Was she applauding him for the first time? Did he finally manage to attract her interest?
"Is it the graveyard lying beneath us that steals their will and implement their fears?"
Iris's eyes were indeed charming, they sang chants of flowers, luxury, sneakiness and the highest song was that of power. She cast her glance at the still ship and her boasting goddess, the flag for negotiating fluttering with heavy movements.
"A graveyard beneath or above this earth is no different."
Albert's was taken aback by that indirect admission. She was no mad woman, she had an entrusted tale to which she held but perhaps never believed herself which made him wonder; did she attempt herself to sail beyond her secured shores?
"A word is said, ancient like an aged wine, promising an unmatched taste that people fear to waste it, and thus keep it to be refined even further. So is an ancient tale, an old myth, a rumor our grand grandparents came up with and people had faith in. In this case the wine that infatuated my family beyond the heavens, made the others retreat in fear and hopelessness. The world does not end here because it does, it does because I say so!"
Iris turned at the stunned royal officer. The glow in her eyes no less brighter than the confidence with which she spoke. Why did she divulge such a dangerous secret threatening her own safety and hold over the seas? Did she take him for a fool? Was she planning to kill him? What here intentions? Victory had already glimmered in her eyes, negotiations were useless at the point but Albert was still in a state of daze in disbelief tried his luck one last time, before he was certain the spears of the guard waiting outside will tear up his body, another proof to the Wilshire's myth resorting to his previous plan on using what she liked.
" You love flowers and they can't live without water, we can all clearly see that the only one who's suffering from this war is the poor people whom I left growing their hopes with their tears of suffering... you spoke with dreams with the passion of someone harboring one. Please, don't you have a dream you cherish?"
" I adore roses, a rose refers to death; this is her hidden meaning. And I wish to see that man tied in the thorny vines of roses!"
Her dream and wish were as dark as her heart. She left him no other choice. And just when Albert believed he had a chance to remove the clouds and open the lady's heart to the light, another intervening answer blew his hopes away as the sound of familiar roaring cannon shook the whole palace. The boy rushed to the window gritting his teeth in anger while Iris, not even moved an inch by the trembling pillars remarked mockingly:
"I see your captain disagrees with you!"
"Curse you Alex!"
Albert muttered to himself, the hour had passed and he had failed. This time it was Iris who grasped her opportunity repeating her previous demand, for the first time since their meeting, speaking seriously:
"Give me something I am interested in!"
Albert need not to think anymore and the key to her satisfaction and yielding which he understood but refused to use was the only tool left.
"I offer you the head of Alex Walcott."
The lady's smile grew in satisfaction. To think that the suffering of an entire kingdom rested in the palms of two persons obsessed with the hatred they harbored toward each other. Albert lowered his head trying to calm the feelings that started to agitate inside of him. This is for the greatest benefit, he thought, for his people's benefit and the crew's safety... what would a single life of a malicious single person matter compared to the thousands his death would safe? He knew this was the right thing, this is how politics and diplomacy worked, this is how the gears of the world rotated. The only doubt that tormented him was the truth for accepting to suggest this offer. Did his personal feelings of jealousy and hatred not rise again and took control of his mind and action? Would he be sacrificing Alex's life for his
people or for his own affair with him? Iris, once again, noticed the change in the officer's face. His pure eyes were tainted with gloominess and no longer sparkled as the first time he entered too self – assured.
"I wonder, can you really take this big decision? Did Alex send the right man after all?"
The barrage of cannon fire was overtaking their voices. Albert stepped closer to the woman and declared:
"Send your men with me and I will surrender Alex to them. I am sure by the time I arrive, you fastest messengers will explain the deal to the crew."
Iris gave him her hand in agreement. The royal officer left the hall accompanied by few guards. After her left, a maid entered to see to her lady's need. This maid who had heard the deal hesitated for long before daring to ask her mistress:
"My Lady, do you really intend to give up the spring that easily?"
"Of nothing interfered, and I doubt that will not happen."
Then she sighed tired as she rested on her throne again and added:
"We're like roses, delicate but surround ourselves with thorns. What a shame .. just after I thought I have found the first man to leave himself bloom in the fresh breezes I was wrong and he was no different. I truly wanted him to see through his dreams with clear eyes, but that will never be anymore."
The maid waited for a while longer before she summoned another bout of courage to ask frankly:
"My lady, may I ask what is it that you wish for?"
Iris turned at her decorated wall and said filling her eyes with the sight of the fresh flowers:
"I want to bloom like a rose, and a rose blooms most beautifully on the soil of a grave."