Lady Elsie Adonis Carrabelle
'Running away doesn't always mean you're a coward, it means you have too much self-respect to subject yourself to such unnecessary pain.'
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Every year on her birthday since I've escaped, I visit her anonymously and leave a gift for her. The gifts I leave are nothing extravagant, but things from my new home that don't exist in her kingdom. Like cheese and fresh water and fruits of the vine.
The familiar breeze of Pathitikos runs through my mess of hair. I am standing in my wench outfit and cloak under the oak trees with the basket of goods in my hand. I am just a few inches away from the kingdom boundary when I hear the loud, depressing trumpets of the palace. Three…four…five…six…seven…Seven long heart-wrenching trumpets ring out through the air, followed by one hard bell. This kind of noise…not music…no, can only mean one thing. The queen of Pathitikos, Avionne Aimee Maelynn, is dead.
A stifled sob bursts out of me. No, this can't be. I spent seven years away from family for this to happen…no. I rest down the basket and cry, loudly. I don't care if the soldiers find me here and kill me.
Just as I think this I hear a small voice ask, "Hello, miss are you okay?"I look up and see a boy with eyes so blue and somewhat familiar staring at me.
His face is red and around his eyes are puffy. I quickly wipe my face and ask, "No, are you okay? You look as though you were crying," as I say this and I stand up.
"No-I mean-yes, yes I was crying, so were you, why?"
I am a bit surprised by his tone of voice. He seems so concerned and mature for his age and he looks no older than eight.
"Well, someone I loved isn't on this earth anymore," I reply walking toward him. As I get closer I see that he is wearing a gold and red tunic with the royal seal sewed onto it.
"Really? I was crying for that same reason," he replies, "My mother…she died," he says with a lone tear sliding down his cheek.
This boy has to be a prince…meaning that his mother was a queen…the queen, Avionne.
"Was your mother's name, Avionne?" I ask getting a bit excited.
"Ye-no," he says quickly changing his mind.
I look at him and see that he is lying. This is my friend's son, it has to be, the eyes and his voice and the way he changed his answer to my question.
Avionne told him her real name, and the rest of the kingdom knew her by my name, Elsie. The fact that he tried to keep his mother's secret means that I can trust this boy. I am guessing he is the only one that knows her secrets, besides me.
"You don't have to keep any secrets; she was my friend, my best friend. Her name was Avionne but she went by the name Elsie and do you want to know something interesting?" I say as his eyes light up at my revelation.
"What?" he says looking excited. "I am Elsie," I replied.
I feel stupid for letting out my identity to this palace boy, but he was Avionne's palace boy. The boy is speechless. "There is no possible way!" he exclaims.
I tell him to be quiet and not to make any noise to attract anyone. "Really?" he asks with wonder painting his words.
"Can you take off your hood?" he asks walking toward me.
"Why?" I ask a bit concerned. "I want to see if you are as beautiful as my mother described you to be," he replies literally jumping up and down.
"She spoke about me!" I thought to myself and smiled ridiculously. "Well you have to promise not to tell anyone anything about our encounter and do me one favour," I say.
"And what is that?" he asks interested.
"You see, I have a daughter-"I am cut off when he says, "I know!" I look at him and smile shyly. "I never met her before though," he says.
"Okay, so today is my daughter's birthday and I wanted someone to deliver this to her for me, your mother usually did it for me before she died and I would like if you deliver this to her for me," I say handing him the basket of goods.
"No problem, where does she live?" he asks.
"Do you know the huge oak tree around here? Well you just have to locate it, walk through the bushes that are behind it and you will find a small house in the back. Leave the basket on the doorstep and do not let anyone see you, okay?" I say placing my trust in this boy.
"Okay, now can you take off your hood?" he says smiling widely.
"Fine," I say slowly pulling off my hood.
"Wow!" I hear the boy say, "your eyes…oh my…your hair…and your skin…how does your skin look so…so colourful?"
I look at the boy; his face is full of wonder and his eyes so big and bright. I think to myself that he is overreacting. What is so different about me that makes me so…so 'beautiful'? I am just a human, nothing special, at least that's what I think.
"Miss?" I hear the boy ask.
"Yes," I say. "You are so different."
"I know, because I am not from this kingdom," I reply with a smile.
"I do hope to see you soon, Miss," he says.
"Next year, same day," I say with small laugh.
He sighs and nods.
"Goodbye…what's your name?" I ask him.
"Theo," he responds taking my hand and planting a soft kiss on it. I laugh at his adorable gentleman-like gesture.
"Goodbye Theo," I say as I walk away.