"It is nice to meet you, Hanna. I am Rose." the princess saw no reason to hide her real name. There were plenty of young women with flower names.
Anyway, she certainly did not look like a princess just now in her sorry state. Her dress was nearly shredded and her cape was very dirty.
Her body, however, was feeling better by the second. Inside, she swore she could almost feel her bone being knit back together.
"Where exactly did you get that water?" Rose asked. 'I shall have to ask father to have some brought to the palace!'
"Never you mind about that." Hanna pulled a long strip of cloth from...somewhere... and tied it around her arm and shoulder to make a sling. "You couldn't get there in your state anyway. Rest your arm in this bandage. That bone of yours may be feeling better, but it still needs some time to fully heal."
"I understand," Rose answered dutifully.
"I hope so, because strong, stubborn females like yourself tend to ignore their own body's pain to accomplish their goals." Hanna checked the fire and pulled the hot bread onto a thin stone platter. The old woman blew on her fingers, which smoked slightly but miraculously did not seem to be burned.
"What makes you think I am strong and stubborn?" Rose crinkled her nose. The woman likely hadn't meant it as an insult, but it sure sounded like one.
"I was just using context clues. You are out here in the woods, alone, having escaped from an enemy even with a broken arm, riding a horse that is clearly not yours. So you are certainly strong-willed. And you haven't yet asked me for help, even distrusting me to fix your arm. What person doesn't request help in your state if they aren't stubborn?" Hanna's smile took the sting out of her words.
'How do I even argue with that without telling her what has happened?' Rose pressed her lips together. Was the woman trying to trick her into admitting something? "I suppose I am a bit stubborn," the princess acknowledged at last.
The old woman nodded knowingly. "Well, even the most beautiful 'roses' have their thorns. It is in their nature."
Deciding the bread was sufficiently cooled, Hanna broke off a warm piece for the young woman and passed it to her with honey spread across the top. 'Where did the honey come from?'
Rose had not seen the woman pull out the honey nor spread it, yet here it was clear as day on top of her warm bread. 'Maybe I hit my head last night and am hallucinating...' she thought.
Hanna watched the woman stare at the bread with a bewildered expression. "Something wrong?"
Realizing she was being rude, the princess graciously took the bread and dipped her head in gratitude. "Forgive me. Thank you for your kindness."
The bite of food slipped down her throat and the warmness of it spread through the princess's body. It seemed just as magical as the water. The old lady truly had a healing touch.
"Thank you very much," Rose said more enthusiastically, wondering if consuming the whole piece of bread in one bite would be considered a compliment or bad manners. It was really that good.
"You are quite welcome, dear one. Honey has a way of being good for the spirit and the soul." Hanna chuckled softly.
"I shall keep that in mind." Rose knew that the doctor always gave her honey for a sore throat. Just now, it also lifted her spirits.
"I know you said that you were not traveling with your family. Are you heading to see them?" The old woman settled herself on a large stone which doubled as her chair. Rose wasn't sure if Hanna was just making polite conversation or if there was something more behind her words. The princess decided to remain as vague as possible.
"I guess you could say that I am heading to see family." Rose took a bite quickly so she would not have to say any more.
"I am sure they must be most anxious to see you safe and sound." The woman with the colorless eyes tilted her head.
Her mouth full, Rose merely nodded. Hanna passed over another piece of bread and continued to do so until the princess was full. The young lady felt like she had eaten the entire loaf. 'Did Hanna have more than a bite?
"Let me help you get cleaned up. No use continuing on your way all scraped and dirty." Hanna's quick movement to the princess's side made Rose jump, startled. "I don't bite," the ancient woman promised.
Together they went to the water and the princess rinsed her body. There had been scrapes both from the bandits and her mad jump into the bushes, but under the dirt and blood, only smooth skin was found.
"Miraculous!" Just like the broken arm, her body had been magically mended.
Climbing out, Rose found a simple frock where her dirty clothes had been. It had the slightest purple tinge to the fabric, but was still well within what commoners would wear.
"Hanna?" Rose called out, slightly panicked. The old woman had said she would keep watch. If that were true, where had her clothing gone?
"I'm here dearie! Are you decent?" Hanna called from a short way off.
Unsure what else to do, Rose put on the simple dress and the accompanying undergarments, wincing as she slipped her left arm through the sleeve.
She sought out the old woman, who had found another rock to make her chair.
Smiling brightly, Hanna greeted her, "Don't you look lovely! But tsk! That long cloth was for your arm, not your hair."
Hannah took the scarf from the young lady's hair and made a new sling.
"Where did these clothes come from?" The princess asked while the old woman tied a knot to keep the bandage in place behind her neck.
Hanna pulled out the princess's long blonde hair and let it flow down the young woman's back. "A friend lent them to me. Actually she said I could keep them, so have them with my compliments."
"I appreciate it very much, but what about my old clothes? There was something very valuable with them!" Rose looked around for the discarded clothing.
Hanna smiled mischievously. "I rinsed out your cape. It is drying on the tree over there, but I do not think that is what you are talking about…"
From her long delicate fingers, a slender silver chain slid free and dangled in the air. The fairy pendant looked ready to fly from her perch and leave them both behind.
"I believe you are talking about this Seeker right here. I would never let this beauty come to harm. It is far too precious."
"Seeker? You recognize this necklace?!" Rose allowed the other woman to attach the jewelry around the girl's neck. Rose touched the fairy affectionately.
"When you are as old as I am, there are few things that you do not recognize. That necklace belonged to fairies and princesses alike in days gone by. How did you come by it?" Hanna winked at the young lady with a grin.
"It was a gift," the young woman placed her index finger behind the pixie's back as she stared down at the trinket. "Can--can you tell me anything else about it?"
"It is supposed to be able to help you find what you are looking for. Hence the name Seeker. Probably just an old wives' tale, though." Hanna looked away and felt the changing of the wind. A hint of sadness crossed her face, but Rose did not seem to notice.
"Do you know how to make it work? How to make it 'seek' things, I mean." The princess held her breath.
"Wish for it to help, I suppose. How else would it work, Dearie?" Hanna ran her thumb under the girl's chin and tapped it up so the young lady would meet her eyes.
The princess was momentarily lost in the swirling colors of the old woman's irises. They seemed as ancient as time itself. How many secrets did they contain?
"Take care of yourself, Rose. When you find what you are looking for, do not take it for granted."
"I won't," the blue-eyed girl promised. "Are-are you leaving?"
"We both are. You have to get on your journey, and I have somewhere I need to be. Safe travels!" Hanna's voice sounded strange.
Rose glanced back at the river. She needed to go and yet hated to leave the old woman and be alone again. All the time in the world would not be long enough to ask this woman all the questions she had conjured in Rose's mind. Yet the time had come for them to part ways.
"Thank you for everything, Hanna. Before you go, I don't suppose you could point me in the direction of..." The princess brought her gaze back from the river and gasped.
Hanna was gone.