A Forgotten Memory

Chapter 4: Night

Chapter 4: Night

I didn’t follow where Diana was going after Lionel departed. I didn’t linger long after they left.

I headed back to my quarters. A large, stone room, with walls and space that echoed every footstep.I looked to my oak desk. It was simple on the outside, but when I recieved it I found that there were secret compartments.

I reached under the base of the desk, and pulled a small piece of protruding wood- a lever. Out came a small, leather journal. I kept it there for a reason. I didn’t trust many people-especially Diana’s fiance, Lionel. Lionel just seemed too...perfect. He strutted around in an arrogant manner, and I just didn’t like him. Aside from that, he was Diana’s fiance…

I wrote in the journal, chronicling each event today. I faced out of the arched window. It overlooked the forest. The dark forest under a white moon.

And then I heard it.

You had to have the most acute of hearing to notice this. Most would think it a slight bump in the night, like a mouse or a door closing.

But I think it was a scrape on the stone. A footstep.

I leap out of my chair silently, making no noise at all. I reach for my cloak and pull out a dagger. On the gold hilt was a proud stallion. I drew it quietly and extinguish the candle.The door was slightly open, I remembering that I had not only closed it, but locked it.

The black cloak conceals my silhouette from others, with darkness as an extra cloak.

I check within fifty feet of the halls. No one.I creep to Lionel’s quarters. The door is open as well. I look through my area of vision. Nobody.

Then I heard a steely voice. “Going somewhere?”

“Lionel!” I say, quickly replacing my knife in it’s sheath. “I was hoping that none of my letters were mixed with yours! Have you by any chance seen them?” Lionel, with crossed arms, shakes his head. “I assure you, I have nothing of yours.” “Sorry for interrupting you in this time at night. I promise it won’t happen again. Goodnight.” I say and exit the door quickly. Before I could reach it. Lionel puts a strong hand on it, preventing me from leaving. “Oh, and Colin,” he says. “It would be best if you don’t worry about Diana. She’s perfectly fine.”

I tilt my head and look to him at the corner of my eye. I see his dagger in his pocket as well. I nod, and leave when he let’s me exit. I head back to my quarters in a quick stride. When I look on my desk, I see on a small paper of parchment, in red ink:

Rester À L’écart

Of course I could I could read this-it was French, and we lived in France.

It said:

STAY AWAY.

I didn’t go to sleep. I sat by the window in my chair, holding a heavy grip on the knife. When it was early morning, the hilt left an imprint on my hand.

Instead of eating at the dining hall in the castle, I went to the tavern in the middle of town to eat. It was a lot quieter than I had originally expected. The tavern keeper, a gruff man that looked to be about the age of fifty, came to me when I was done. “How’s that young Diana girl?” he asked in an rough voice. I wasn’t surprised that the tavern keeper knew. After all, many people from the castle came down to the tavern to gossip.

“Not changed since yesterday, as far as I know.” I knew I should’ve checked on her this morning, but after my recent encounter with Lionel. “Don’t worry.” he had said. STAY AWAY, the parchment had said in it’s evilly neat, red script.

After my thoughts came back to the present, I realize the tavern keeper was gone.

I lay an English pound of gold on the table, forgetting this was France where pounds weren’t expected. I didn’t care at the time, though, because my mind drifted.

I looked at the grey sky as I pondered. Then I bumped against something.

“Lord North!” I heard a high-pitched voice screech. I looked down to see the chiseled face of Rose Marie. “Madame Rose! I am so sorry.” She pat her pale pink hooped skirt off, as if there were dust all over her. “Madame, Rose, have you seen Diana this morning?” She shook her head. “I’m afraid I hadn’t, Colin.”

I sighed.

“However, I did see Lionel. He said she was out in the gardens looking for roses.” Highly truthful, I thought sarcastically. “Thank you. I’d best be off.” I glide past her. “Lord North! You’ve dropped some-” she stopped.

I whirled to see a small piece of parchment in her hand. The one with STAY AWAY.

“What is THIS?” she shrieked. People from shops and travelers looked at us. She had just created a scene. “Follow me.” I said through gritted teeth. Did I want her to know? Never. Did I have a choice? No. I lead her to the edge of the forest by the castle.

“What is this? A threat to you? A threat to somebody else- from you?” She screamed.

I hastily explained every event last night- from my door being unlocked to my encounter with Lionel to finding the note. “This must be reported! IMMEDIATELY!” she chirped in a threatened voice. Then she ran.

She barely reached the stables before I caught her wrist.

“No! Or else you’ll probably end up in a very bad place! Now that you were pulled into this, there is no escaping!” I said, raising my voice. Her brown eyes watered. I realized I’d been a little too harsh on her.

From here I looked at her, and realized she was just an innocent girl, pulled into this web of mystery. She had lived a life of elegancy; not seeing blood, death, swords, and threats. “I’m sorry, Rose. Truly.” I said in a much lower voice, looking down.

She looked down as well.

“Would you like to come with me into the woods, or stay silently in the castle without getting hurt?” I asked. She didn’t answer. I probably would’ve done the same thing. I went to the stables and opened a door, leading my Cleveland bay horse Rowan to the edge of the wood.

“Are you coming?” I asked her after I had saddled.

Though the woman may be light-headed at times, she was not selfish- actually, she might be one of the most selfless people I have ever met. You just have to discover who she is behind her love for dresses, perfection, and perfume.

She was soon saddled on a young white pony, who she had earlier named Réianne. I flicked Rowan’s reigns, and he nickered and trotted off into the rough path in the woods. After a while, Rose finally spoke in her small, elegant voice. “Why are we here?”

“I plan on finding Diana’s old trail. See where she was and what she was up to.” I saw Rose turn. I did as well. I looked back at the castle before it was completely blanketed by trees. We were now in the dark forest. And night was slowly descending upon us.