"Lavena, my dear, are you awake?" A knock on my door startles me.
I set down my hair brush and answer, "Yes, Philippe, you may come in if you wish."
The door creeks open as Philippe steps into my room. I turn away from my mirror and look to him. He smiles, striding towards me then kisses my hand.
"You know you have no need to knock, you can come in whenever you wish. This is your home after all." I smile up at him.
"You need your privacy and I wouldn't want to catch you at an inopportune time." He grabs a chair and pulls it up next to me.
I turn back to the mirror and continue brushing the waves from my long brunette hair.
Suddenly, Philippe plucks the brush from my hands. "I see no more knots, why do you continue to brush? The waves are beautiful."
I roll my eyes, "You sir, have no idea what it's like to be a lady."
He leans over my shoulder, his breath tickling my neck, "Then show me." He then flips my hair into my face.
I try to hold back my laughter as he grabs me from behind.
"We do this everyday my love, you never have to be prim and proper with me." He turns me around and brushes my hair from my face.
Setting my head on his chest, I reply, "I know, but it is much more fun to make you tell me I am beautiful everyday."
"I would say it every minute if I had to." He whispers in my ear.
I grin, wrapping my arms around him. He pulls me close for a moment before letting go.
"How does a walk around the grounds of the country house sound?" Philippe asks.
"Wonderful." I respond.
Philippe offers me his arm and we set off. The sound of the swishing of my dress perfectly in time with the soft thud of his boots.
Eventually we sit down under a large oak tree a short way from the house, I hum softly as I lean against it's bark.
Philippe suddenly starts, "As you know, I turn seventeen in a few months and Miss has been wanting me to marry..." He trails off for a moment.
Miss, the old maid who had worked for Philippe long before I joined them here, has been trying to get Philippe to marry since he turned sixteen. Most men like Philippe would have been married the moment they turned sixteen and most girls like me would have been married off long before now. Just like Philippe, most girls are married off before they even turn sixteen. I turned sixteen just a few months ago.
"...And I have been putting her off. Until now." Philippe finishes.
I sit up, grinning and clasping my hands together, "Oh that's wonderful! Who is the lucky girl?"
Philippe takes my hand and helps me up then kneels down. I sigh realizing what is happening. I kneel down in front of him. "Philippe, please. You know I love you deeply but there are much better ladies than I. Please, choose one of them instead."
He shakes his head, "No, I've fallen in love with you. I want to marry you." He takes my hands and presses them to his chest. "Do you feel that? They beat for you. You are my joy, Lavena, my love; you are my life. Please, just marry me! You are all I have! Please, Lavena!"
"Are you sure?" I ask him, "You know about my past. You know that if they find me, we will both be put to death by the king."
He nods. "The chances of them finding you here are so small that you should never need to worry."
"I can't, I could never put you in danger." I shake my head.
"Please, you know other wise Miss would make me marry one of the proper ladies from the village. You also know that I can't stand them." Philippe begs.
I sigh, "Alright."
"Thank you, my love." He grins. "Now, we have to flaunt it in front of Miss. She would love to find any way to tear us apart."
"I agree, the old woman will be beyond furious." He helps me back up as I speak.
"Now, what do you say my dear fiancée; shall we head back to the country house?" Philippe asks, offering me his arm.
I take his arm replying, "I think we shall."
"So how about the wedding? Should we invite the entire village or keep it small and simple?" He gins glancing at me as we start walking.
Lightly hitting his arm and laughing, I reply, "It is entirely to early in our engagement for this!"
"It's never to early for anything." He shrugs.
"What would you like to do Philippe? How do you want your wedding?" I ask.
"I believe everyone should see our wonderful love. You will also be the most beautiful bride, I want to show you off to the rest of the France." He grins.
"And I believe that all the girls in the village will be swooning over you. Why... Look what you've done Philp, I'll be beating them back with a stick for the rest my life!" I jest.
He pauses, turning towards me, "I only have eyes for you." He kisses my forehead.
"I know." I sigh, "Lets go in, it is getting a bit chilly out here."
We continue into the country house as a scream suddenly pierces the air. Philippe and I halt mid-step.
I gasp, "That was Miss!"
"That was... Come on!" Philippe jumps into action, pulling me along with him. "My sword is in my room!"
I hike up my dress as I race up the grand stairs behind him. "Please slow down, Philippe! I'm not as fast as I used to be!"
He disappears into his room just as I reach the top of the stairs. I scream as I feel someone grab me by the waist, a sharp blade presses against the soft skin of my neck.
"Lavena!" Philippe skids to a stop just as he exits his room. In a flash his own sword is drawn and held at ready. "Don't you dare hurt her." He growls.
I struggle against the man who holds me, but he is much stronger than I.
"Come with us or she dies." The man says.
Philippe shakes his head and readies his sword once more.
I hiss in pain as the blade starts to press into my neck, I can feel the blood trickle and slide down to my breasts. I watch Philippe's eyes as they follow the blood.
He'll give himself up just to save my life, I can't let him do that. He starts to lower the sword. My tears drip from my chin, intermingling with the blood.
"Don't do this Philippe. Please, I am not worth it!" I beg him.
He shakes his head once more and slowly sets his sword down. "I cannot let you die."
"PHILIPPE PLEASE!" I exclaim as two men seize him by the arms.
The metal blade that is now stained with my blood is removed from my neck and we are dragged down the stairs and out the door of the country house.
YOU ARE READING
The Man in the Iron Mask and the Girl in the Iron Chains
Adventure(Inspired by the movie 'The Man in the Iron Mask') He was imprisoned unfairly and enclosed in an iron mask. She was forced to care for her lover in the dark Bastille. Then, six years later, a miracle occurs. They are broken out of prison by three h...
