A White as Red as Blood (PG 13) (Completed)

Chapter 1: The First Note

NO! I simply refused! I shall not marry that buffoon of a man! That fat, egotistic, self centred and controlling buffoon! Who did they take me for? A fool who wishes only for the fame and wealth of being his bride! "Mary-Ann", they say, "You shall do what we wish", they pronounce. Well no! Not this time, this time I simply refuse. I shall not be pushed around and forced to do this.

"If it is for the good of the country mother, then I shall do it"

There I go again, holding my head high and refusing to bow down and shouting and screaming in my mind, but coming out with nothing! I do everything which I am asked to do, and I dislike it profoundly. "Mary-Ann, it's your own fault", I say, fighting with my own conscious.

"May I be excused now?"

My mother looks at me, sympathy filling her eyes. She knows I do not want this, but she also knows that I am bound by legality now and I cannot get out.  If father would simply take charge and change the law, I should be perfectly fine. Why is it that a princess must have a prince before she and he can take the thrown anyway?

"Princess, would you like a parasol?"

Gretel stood by my side as I opened the gardens door.

"No thank you, I should be perfectly fine"

I pulled the heavy wooden door towards me and it were as if I opened the flood gates, releasing gallons upon gallons of sunlight into the big, cold and dark palace. I walked out, removing the suede ballerina pumps which were too small for me and sinking my toes into the wet mud and grass. My poodle sat there, looking up at me and shaking his head, before going back into his light slumber. Dumb dog, who gave him the right to judge me? It's not like I didn't have enough people judging me already. Even Gretel, the fifty year old lady in waiting was still standing at the door, a frown upon her wrinkled face and her arms folded around her chest, displeased with my actions. I don't see what the problem is, all I wish to do is feel the grass and mud between my toes, and feel the soft breeze flow through my hair. It might be my last chance too, since I just agreed to be wed next week. To a big hairy old man who probably couldn't find his arse with a fifty foot pole. Why did father have to sign that contract! Why did Harry have to die, and why must I now give up my freedom.

I sat by the stream in our orchard, picking off an apple I wasn't really hungry for. My feet were soaking in the wet flow of the stream. I never did find out where this adorable little stream went, but what I do know is that I wish I were like it. It moves constantly, free from responsibility and full of life. It is never in the same place for too long.

"Mary –Ann!! Mary-Ann!!"

I turned to see my little niece, the dear, covered in mud and holding her hands like a cup, peeping into it as she ran nearer to me.

"You'll never believe what I found Mary Ann!"

I smiled, astonished by the little girls innocence, wondering if I had ever had that. I cannot seem to remember it if I have had it.

"Oh do tell me, I'm dying with anxiousness"

Her tiny, pale face crinkled up in confusion.

"What is anguihusness?"

"Anxiousness?"

"Yes"

I forget her tender age of four regularly; I do not like to recall her birth, as it was the beginning of the end for me, the day I lost Harry and my beautiful friend Clarice. But that is story for another day.

"It means worry and excitement"

Her little face lit up again in happiness.

"IT's a frog, Mary-Ann!"

She parted her hands just enough for me to catch a glimpse of the green scales within.

"OHHH wow, June he's lovely, why don't you sow him the stream?"

June smiled, walking slowly towards the stream. She opened her hands wide and giggled when the green creature hopped out and jumped into the stream. June screamed and jumped in the air, finding the entire affair rather hilarious.

"June, would you like an apple, you must be horribly hungry after all that excitement!"

"No thanks"

She hopped off, delighted with herself for finding such a rare specimen. I concentrated on the stream again. That's when I saw him. The frog sat upon a rock in the stream, and I swear I saw him smile at me. I shook it off as just another trick my broken mind was playing on me, rising from the grass and walking back towards the house. As I reached nearer, and the big stone walls approached in my sight again, I saw something rather odd. It was a flag or a piece of parchment or cotton hanging off the wall. I decided to go investigate. Sure enough, there was a piece of parchment there. I opened it up, revealing a message.

"You helped to free me, now it's my turn to return the favour. Fulfil your dreams princess. Live your life. Be free like I am"

I did not entirely understand the message, but the writing was immaculate and that of an educated person, which rules out the servants. I feel it will somehow be a riddle, and until I discover it's meaning, I shall not get what the writer promises. I opened the letter again, ensuring I had read it correctly.  I had missed a part, even though I was certain it was not there before hand.

"Ici a douze"

Again, confused by the message I was determined to discover its source. I knew one person who could tell me exactly what the last bit meant. The French resident musician, whom I loved with all my heart...

"Murielle?"

"OOUI Cherie?"

The little old lady sat on her bed, labouring over some parchment.

"Ahh, Mary-Ann", Murielle's voice pronounced my name like a song itself. I was not simply Mary-Ann, I was "Marie Annnnnne".

"Murielle, I was wondering about a note I found outside, it is nothing important or of value, I was simply wondering if you could translate it for me."

"Oui Cherie, what is it?"

I took out the piece of parchment, unfolding it so she could only see the piece I had been curious about, the only problem was, it was gone. The ink appeared invisible, as if wiped from the parchment altogether. I could not believe my eyes; everything which I had been so convinced of was gone? How could that be possible?

"Murielle, it was right here, but it seems to have been wiped away" I pleaded, hoping she wouldn't think I was a insane.

"Cherie, I heard about your wedding. I think maybe you need to get some rest, you have been out in the sun and might be sick, go to bed Cherie."

I sighed; I should have known she'd mention it. Perhaps she was right; perhaps I had been affected by the sun. I stood up, thanking her and walking towards my own room. I lay down and rested my eyes. I woke up in the darkness, hearing a faint thumping on my glass window. I walked to the sound, looking out and finding nothing. Just as I went to close the curtains, something in the garden caught my eye. It was another note, stuck on the wall like before. I ran out of my room, making my way towards the moonlit filled garden.