Caen, France - May 1st, year of our lord 1067
Word had been sent for Johanne to return home. She had been tending to the business of her husband's estate. Which had taken her away for two days. Meanwhile Gerold was still in England with his master, William the Duke of Normandy. Johanne thought of him as she rode. They had been together as man and wife for 7 years now. It didn't feel like it had been that long. But this latest absence did. For the last eight months he had been at war. William had been promised the throne of England by Edward the Confessor only two years before the King passed. But upon his death, Harold had tried to betray his word and keep what he wasn't worthy of. She like most of the court had met him. Harold had once greeted her and kissed her hand at meeting. Johanne wanted to spit at the memory of Harold, and for keeping her family separated. It wasn't Christian, nor was it charitable. Harold was dead, but bringing peace to William's lands was proving elusive. It had been months since the battle of Hastings had concluded, deciding once and for all the truth of the matter.
Yet word had still not come for Johanne, or any of the other wives to travel. The duke had promised lands and more to those who had ridden with him. Gerold was favored among his Knights, so Johanne hoped he would be rewarded with regent of Caen. Or perhaps a larger estate here. But both were dreams that didn't have much likelihood to see reality. As close as the two were, he was poor and had little influence outside of his sword. No, likely as not her present home would be their only one. Not that Johanne hated her home, but it was very small. Smaller even than her fathers, with less potential for income. Still now wasn't the time to think of wealth or lands. Now was the time Johanne hoped she would receive some word, any word on Gerold.
Perhaps this summons to return home was the news she had been waiting on. She hoped so. It had been far too long since she had seen or felt her husband. Her two young children were growing up. She knew, but refused to admit out loud, that Charlotte was not likely to see adulthood. She was a sickly child who had barely survived her infancy. Her older brother Louis had been less fortunate and now was sleeping for all time at St Stephens. Time had hardened Johanne. But she knew she could get by, lack of funds, shifting loyalties in friends, sickly children, all of it. As long as she could count on the love of her family, and that of Gerold.
As she entered the small estate her husband had been gifted in Villers-Bocage, she found her servant waiting. She looked cross, which meant she didn't like having to stand out here when her work wasn't getting done.
"My lady there is a messenger waiting for you from the Dutchess. He has been waiting several hours!"
She had no more said it when the messenger came from the house and approached Johanne, and bowed. The messenger was a young man perhaps less than 14 years old. From his attire it was clear he belonged to the court in Caen.
"My Lady, The Dutchess of Normandy has sent me to inform you that your husband is well and in good health. He has returned to Normandy this day."
At hearing this Johanne did not follow social protocol and quickly dismounted, she gripped the courier and asked for more details. How did he look, is she to set off for Caen to see him, was she to stay here, all asked rapid fire.
"You husband is well; He seemed in excellent spirits and was well received by court. His arrival is much valued by the Dutchess, she was relieved to have word of the Duke. They have been successful in the southern part of the land he said, and they are now focused on the north. The Dutchess asked me send her well wishes to you. She wants you to know your husband is under the duke's orders and will be occupied with thus while he is home. If I may, I would not expect him to be here long he was already making plans for his return voyage when I left him."
On hearing this she yelled for her servant to begin to prepare her things that she would set out for Caen at once. No sooner had she said it that the messenger's visage grew concerned.
"I am sorry My lady, the Dutchess also wanted me to convey her deep regret at your situation. She knows it will be a great hardship as your husband is set to the tasks assigned him, she felt your presence would be deleterious to his commission. She asked me to send her sympathy at your sacrifice."
Johanne gritted her teeth at that. The Dutchess was basically saying stay away, I don't want to see you in my home. She wasn't even trying to hide it that much. She could have come with a far better excuse.
"As such she is worried about your household, and asked me to inquire on yourself and to give you this sum for your trouble. Shall I tell the Dutchess that you have any other needs? She was very keen to see you and your house well."
He handed her a bag of coins; one she didn't need to open. From the weight the sum was not a small one. She could easily feed her entire household for a month on this bag. The amount and the way the courier spoke made it clear the Dutchess did not want her ridding all the way to Caen. It was disappointing but not unexpected. The two ladies did not get along, while her husband enjoyed a strong friendship with the Duke, she wasn't so lucky. Matilda had taken a deep disliking to her; on what cause Johanne still didn't know. Seeing the message clearly, she thanked the courier and told him to inform the Dutchess that she was indebted to her for her kindness. But she also asked the courier to pass Gerold her own message. One begging him to find cause to return to their home, if only for an hour.
Without pause the messenger made his thanks and asked for his horse. Johanne felt so hollowed out at his leaving. The news he had provided was good. Her love was well, and was home and safe at least for now. But the Dutchess did not want her visiting, and likely as not Gerold would not come to her before he returned to England. The courier stopped before mounting the horse and just stood there frozen in time. How odd, Johanne thought. She was so puzzled she went to him and touched him but he did not move.
"So, Hope how are you this morning?"
The woman who spoke was familiar but the name wasn't. She turned and saw the woman standing very near, it nearly gave her a fright and she asked her whom she was, and by what magic did she possess?
"It will take a moment for your personality and memory to come forward, but it will. Your name is Hope and mine is Nancy. You are in the link child. Reliving times that are long past now. Remember you came to Medford for your interview. I asked you to relive some memories for me."
Bit by bit shades of another life came into view. Almost like apparition's, flashes of another time, one far distant came into view. It all seemed madness but then she remembered another man whom she loved and suddenly a glut of memories slammed into her with the force of a thousand hammers.
"Not so fast Hope, let it come back to you slowly, don't try to force it. There, hold on to my memories a bit more. You do not need to rush to regain your other self. It will be far less painful if you let those memories come to you naturally."
Hope, as she knew she really was, now felt the thunderous head ache and had to hold herself upright with the help of Nancy. Nancy guided her home, back into the house past the servant and into a chair that Gerold had made for her. It was her favorite possession, because he had made it in love. It wasn't the best thing she had ever sat in, but it was so funny watching him try to make it. She laughed a bit at sitting down. Nancy smiled probably remembering the same thing.
"He made that for us, I had nearly forgotten. So, you have lived seven years in this place now. How do you feel? What have you learned my child."
Hope looked around at her home and didn't care if it was just a memory or not. It was her home, and Gerold was her husband whom she loved. This was where she belonged and where she wished to remain. Adelard and Charlotte needed her, and soon her love would return. No, that other place was a lie, just a false thing. That other man…
"Your former life is not false; this is just a memory Hope. Don't let your concerns worry you, in time they will pass."
Hope was about to bite back and ask Nancy to leave her to this place when more of her mind returned. In a flash the fierceness she was clinging to her children and Gerold faded a touch. She suddenly realized they were not hers, but in fact Nancy's. The moment that truth became real to her, she asked what their fates were. Desperate to know what happened to her babies. Nancy smiled thinly and sat next to her holding her hands.
"Charlotte died before Gerold sent for us. I buried her next to Louis in the same churchyard. I held on to Adelard very tightly after that, he probably hated that his mother was so clingy. He grew up into a fine young man Hope. He was our companion while we waited on Gerold, and after….. Gerold sent for me in the spring of the next year."
Hope knew that Charlotte wasn't long for this world. But hearing the definitive end for her caused her to lower her head to try to push back the emotions she knew weren't far away. Nancy went on thankfully, ignoring her obvious signs of feeling. Changing the subject helped her in a small way to deal with things.
"Once we were reunited it was time to travel to our new home. William had granted him lands near Jorvik, a vast tract that he was to oversee. But first our family, Gerold, me and little Adelard traveled to Lundenwick. The part of you that is Hope would know that place as London. I went there along with Matilda, and her children. Isabe came as well, it was special because Matilda was crowned queen of England. I stood next to Isabe and Matilda's children as she was crowned. I never felt prouder of Gerold, and Isabe too I suppose. If you recall Isabe was Matilda's lady in waiting?"
Hope smiled for her sister, Isabe had grown to a woman of 16 by then. She was serving as an educator for William and Matilda's children. Hope thought very kindly of Isabe, in the years since she had married Gerold, it was Isabe who she stayed very close with. Hope asked of her fate as well.
"You will see child, as you will see Adelard's. The years that are coming will not always be easy for you. But you will manage, and you will learn a great deal I wager."
Hope felt off a bit, she had been inside the link for 7 years now. What of her job, what of her own Gerold? Suddenly the drowsy and hazy feeling she had, begun to disappear and her alarm came up. Just how long was she supposed to live inside this place?
"Rest easy child, time outside of this place does not pass at the same rate. When you have seen the last thing I wish you to see here I will release you. In the real world only a fraction of time will have passed, your job and your life will be waiting on you. Calm yourself."
Hope closed her eyes trying to process all of it. She knew she was Hope, the same one who had traveled to Medford. But yet she wasn't, not by any stretch. Finding out that Charlotte was going to die soon rocked her very hard. She knew Charlotte was ill and had been preparing herself to lose her for some time. Knowing her fate didn't make it easier, she started to shed tears for her daughter. Then she shook her head at it. Charlotte had been dead for 10 centuries, and she wasn't her child. But why did she feel very much like she was? Hope felt the memory of giving birth to her, naming her. It was all very real. God what was Nancy doing to her? How much of her feelings were Nancy and how many were hers? She looked over at her wanting to know. Nancy smiled and patted her hands again.
"Inside this place my memories will dominate you, but later once you leave the link they will lessen. I suspect you won't mourn Louis and Charlotte like your heart does now. It will depend largely on you my dear."
Hope looked down and wanted to run to little Charlotte now. At this moment she would be with Adelard, God why did such a precious one have to go so soon. And how on earth would she deal with it when she did. What would she say to Gerold? Even now the memory of Gerold was strong to her.
"When next I see you child, you will be in England. Living in the land that William granted Gerold for his service. And then you will be a different woman."
Hope knew what she meant, up to this moment Gerold had never once spoken about being a vampire. For some reason that knowledge had not been inside her as she lived these years. But looking back there were strange signs of it. A young woman who was a servant to them, who was very attached to her master. Hope asked Nancy and she shrugged in return.
"I do not know whom his thrall was, but I suppose that guess is as good as any. When he takes you to Jorvik he will decide to change you. That is when you will take your own thrall and live as I did. As I do in real life now. I want you to see for yourself what life as a vampire truly is. Judge for yourself, you will experience it just as I did. Nothing is changed, or altered. It will be just as I knew it to be."
She asked if then she would be allowed to leave and Nancy only smiled. Next she asked Hope if her thoughts on marriage were different.
"No, I can't say it is. I hope my Gerold, if we do marry, doesn't leave me for a year! But I have to say your memories of your Gerold are beautiful. You were so alive and in love with him! He is… I suppose was so dashing, so charming. It's no wonder you fell for him, he isn't like my Gerold but I think I see some similarities. I think he has the same dedication to his purpose."
Hope then wondered just how related the two were. She had supposed her Gerold was a distant child of the other. Clearly Nancy had named him for this man. When she asked, Nancy smirked and said no, that today there was only a single descendant of Gerold alive. And that had been the French secretary at the place where Hope had done her interview. She wrinkled her nose at the memory, wondering just how she was related. Then she asked about Gerold's fate.
"He died child. Vampires can live for centuries but we still die from many things. Some even die very young, just like humans. You never really know. But you will see that before you leave as well."
When she asked how Gerold died, Nancy stood and walked towards the open doorway. She paused lowering her head before responding.
"He volunteered to help others. He left home with many of the other men, and died protecting us. I named your Gerold after him. In tribute to his sacrifice and to the man I once loved."
Hope processed that and heard a lot of sadness in her voice. So, their Gerold had not made it into the modern era. It almost sounded like he would die soon. At some point in the ten centuries that relationship had ended. The way she said it made it sound like she did not love him now. Did something happen to cause her not to love him? She asked but Nancy just waved it off saying that she would see. That worried Hope, she didn't want to live all 10 centuries. No matter how accelerated it was, she didn't want that.
"No child, I would not subject you to everything. But there is more for you to know. Child, when you go back to the memory I would wish you to do something for me. I want you to hug that child, remind Charlotte how much her mother loves her."
Hope heard the request and didn't need the link to see that after ten centuries, the loss of a child still hurt. She shook her head yes and knew she would be happy to do that for her.