Times Treasures

Chapter One

Screams echoed off the damp brick walls of the castle. As Caterina walked down the corridor the screams became louder an filled with more anguish.

She rounded a corner an came to a set of stairs with a huge oak door at the top of the them. With every step she took she became more frightened of what lay on the other side of the door. Everything in her told her to turn and run, but she couldn't. Something pushed at her to open the door and continue on. Step after step until her hand was on the door knob. Slowly turning it she began to pull the door open.

As she opened the door she came into contact with a large velvet curtain, the screams of a woman just on the other side. Slowly, with a shaking hand she moved the curtain aside just enough to peer in unnoticed.

There on the other side was a bedroom lavished in beautiful white and green silk drapes that were pulled closed hiding two large windows and doors leading to what Caterina assumed was a balcony. The paintings on the walls were master pieces of the 16th century. Opened chests full of silk gowns, an tables with cristal bottles of perfume, jewelry boxes, writing scrolls an ink wells. but the most beautiful part of the room was a large fire place to the right of the hideaway door. It stood as tall as a full grown man an had white marble angels crafted onto its oak wood sides.

Caterina gave these things no more then a passing thought as she opened the curtain more to see a large canopy bed covered in silks just as exquisite as the rest of the room, and in the middle of this bed was the screams source. A young girl of maybe sixteen lay in bed in what looked like a very difficult delivery. She had long auburn hair and brilliant green eyes which were squeezing open and shut in pain. Just as she took a step toward the girl the main door to the room slammed open and three women dressed in wool dresses rushed in with bowls of water, rags and fresh linens.

As Caterina went to take a step back they pasted right by her without a single glance an began preparing the girl to give birth. Caterina took a step closer to the girl and as she did the young beauty turned an looked directly at Caterina.

" Are you an angel here to take me to the lord."

Caterina stood there looking at the young girl in confusion.

All the maids turned to look in Caterina's direction but saw nothing. The oldest maid that had a grandmother quality turned to the others "she's delirious." she said to the other two girls."Mistress there isn't anyone there. You must lay back and get ready to push on your next contraction."

The mistress did as she asked but didn't take her eyes from Caterina.

" Will you let me stay long enough to hold my child?" Mistress asked. Tears and sweat rolling down her face.

Caterina took a step closer. "I'm not an angel and i don't know how this will end."

"What are you then" mistress asked.

Caterina said the only thing she could think of at that moment. "A dream."

Mistress just stared at her for a moment as if to consider this "dream." Then reached out her hand and gestured for Caterina to come closer.

Caterina took the girls hand in her own and held it while another contraction hit her. The girl screamed even louder then before as the old maid crouched below her.

"OK mistress push!"

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After half an hour of pushing the mistress gave birth to a beautiful healthy boy.

As mistress lay there feeding her son for the first time she turned to Caterina and smiled. Mistress turned the child just enough to show Caterina the baby.

"His name will be Nicholas."

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June 16th 2012

"CATE!......CATE WAKE UP WE'RE GOING TO BE LATE!"

Caterina came awake just as she heard the babies name.