<div class="floatright"><em><strong><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: comic sans ms;">For:<br/>(http://www.angelickitten.com/gal/avatar/isabella.jpg)<br/>Isabella de`Guignes </span></strong></em></div><br/>The garden was still in early bloom, the bushes and vines around the garden were budding green, the bright colors that Bella recalled from her youth were still a few weeks away.  A walk here next month might be particular pleasant she thought.  The brief walk, the encounter with her brother, all contributed to nostalgia she was feeling at the moment.  Times were different now, and she was not the person she was those long years ago.  She had been sent away and in her absence she had drifted from Cameron.  They had been quite close and she often wonders, if she had not been sent away, might it not be she who would be queen instead of Adhafera?<br/><br/>Cammy was much as Bella remembered him, the sunny haired child with the easy smile, except, that wasnt what he was any more.  He needed to be the regal king of kings and lead the Euro Empire, no small task.  A fine notion when you were a child and the duties felt a lifetime away, not so minor a detail when you were living it.  Cameron had matured, while he was still sunny topped, his brow was now weighed by the weight of the crown.  While he still had smile lines, the edges of around his eyes seemed to have a few crinkles from worry.  The Kingship had come early and a surprise to him when King Edmond had mysteriously passed.  He was a young king.  The sort that might be easily manipulated by his advisers if he were not careful.<br/><br/>Cameron had his back to Bella, caught in quiet contemplative thoughts.  Her name had that musical quality to it that no mortal could produce, she was literally the blood of legends.  Her mother had taken to servicing Queen Rose, retiring before her time with the queens blessing to start a family.  While a Rose's beauty was remembered forever their actually terms of service was often short.  It was a hazardous life style, and as beautiful as they were, Roses were often fleeting, it was a rare rose indeed that was enduring.<br/><br/>As Cameron turns he feels his pulse quicken, the only thing that might have rivaled Bella's voice was her physical beauty.  She was simply bewitching.  They say you never forget your first.  Your first kiss, your first time, Bella was both of these for Cameron, and for this reason if no other, she would always have a special affection in his heart for her.  That they grew up together as childhood sweethearts only entrenched these natural feelings for her.  The unfortunate incident that forced her departure from Northwind was as much his fault as hers.  He had wanted to shoulder equal blame for the matter, but Arthur had advised against it and indicated that this was what she wanted, and that he should honor the wish and let her do this for him.  This was all a lifetime ago and yet the memories were as clear as if they had happened yesterday.<br/><div class="floatright">(http://rpolportraits.shannara-rose.com/mfw351.jpg)<br/><em><strong><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: comic sans ms;">Cameron Edenburgh</span></strong></em></div>"Bella... the years have been kind to you.", it was an understatement, the years had been exquisite to her.  He had a momentary image of the fair skinned slight of a girl that danced before him super impose over the full figured woman before him and he couldnt help but smile.<br/><br/>"As you know, Northwind has a new queen...", Cameron pauses and wonders what it might have felt like to have Bella as a queen, but that boat sailed long ago and Adhafera was his beloved and the woman he had wed.  He needed to get past the what might have beens and focus on the what is.<br/><br/>"With her return, the Order of the Rose returns to active duty.  Your mother has made most passionate request that her daughter serve as a Rose.  It is dangerous but also honorable calling.  To serve the pleasure of my queen and guardian of her safe return from where ever it is she might wander.  While it is the Queens honor to appoint her Roses, it is not done without council.  At our request, the queen has decided to grant you an audience.  Are you ready for this?"<br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/>