Timeless

|6| The past.

Marguerite looked up at the pale blue sky, the cool breeze making her shiver slightly; the long dress wasn't short of extra material and kept her warm. In the distance Marguerite could hear her siblings voices, the breeze carrying the melodic sound. It had been quite some time since she had heard something other from shouting, crying and the roar of fire. Marguerite and her family had been lucky to avoid the anger of local peasants, able to dodge the consequences of owning land. A revolution was underway in France and Marguerite's hometown was not immune.
The leaves crunched underneath her feet softly not making any true noise. Just as she thought, her siblings, Catherine and Dimitri were gathered together, giggling. As Aria approached the giggling stopped.
" Catherine?" Marguerite asked, an eyebrow raised at her elder sister by no more than a year. Catherine's giggling picked back up. " What is it?" Marguerite asked again, confused.
" You mustn't tell Pierre, Marguerite." Catherine forewarned, Aria nodding her head soon after. " He has brought back a gift - for you, from far away." She said, her voice full of innocence and happiness. " It has great value to Pierre." She promised. Marguerite nodding a broad smile placing itself upon her lips.
" Great value, you say?" Marguerite took off in the direction of Pierre, leaving her sister shouting behind her. Marguerite slowed her pace down as her brothers were in sight. With her hands clasped behind her back, she strode to them.
" Marguerite. Pierre and I have not had the pleasure of greeting you this morning." Her brother, Quentin greeted, taking Aria's hand and kissing it lightly, as he would a female acquaintance. Aria embraced him, his hands lightly touching her back a few seconds later. Pierre coughed, his fist against his lips.
" Marguerite." He smiled. " Do I get a hug from my baby sister." He mostly stated, instead of asking, which was confirmed by the tight squeeze Marguerite felt a moment after.
" Of course, Pierre." Marguerite agreed, sarcastically, mid-hug. " I believe you're back from travelling. How was it?" Marguerite asked her brother, looking up to him a gleam in her eye.
" It was marvelous." He smiled, bending down slightly to meet Marguerite's level. She smiled, waiting for him to bring out the promised valuable present. " I have something for you." He began reaching for the pocket on the back of his trousers. Marguerite's eyes widened as the promise was fulfilled. A beautiful necklace, a pendant hanging from the silver chain.
" Bijou." He noted, holding out the necklace, putting it into the palm of Marguerite's hand and closing it. " Do you like it, sister?" He asked, narrowed eyes.
" Yes. Yes, of course!" Marguerite clapped her hands together, not opening the hand holding the necklace. " Will you put it on me." She politely gave the necklace back to her brother, turning and pulling her hair to the side. He gently unclasp the necklace and placed it around Aria's neck.
" Pierre. Quentin." A voice came from behind from all, everyone of the siblings turning to face the direction the voice came from. Lorette, a girl from the village.
" Ahh, Lorette." Pierre called back. " Im glad you have come." He bowed.
" Good to see you, Lorette." Quentin bowed after Pierre, taking her hand like he did Marguerite's.
" I believe your mother is looking for you all." She glanced at every member of the family.
" My children - " Their mother's voice rang out only coming into sight a while after. " Time to come back to the village."
Marguerite walked in silence for most of the journey, enjoying the cold afternoon air and darkening sky, until Catherine caught up with her. " It really is a beautiful piece of jewellery."
" Indeed." Marguerite agreed, holding the pendant in her palm and smiling down at it.
The village was mostly empty when they arrived. Marguerite ran her hand along the smooth stone of the village houses, drifting from the group. Slowly, Marguerite's family wandered off into the distance.
" Pierre is back." A voice came from behind Marguerite. She rolled her eyes slightly, unnoticed by Lorette, the owner of the voice.
" Yes-" Marguerite began. " You have seen him yourself. Why do you ask?" She asked, knowing the answer to the question already.
Lorette's brow furrowed, catching up to Marguerite from trailing behind earlier. " I'm making conversation, Marguerite." She replied sharply. Lorette's eyes wandered around the little village returning to Marguerite and then to Marguerite's neck. " What is that?" Lorette demanded the answer sharply, placing a hand underneath the necklace and eyeing it carefully.
" A present from my brother." Marguerite noted shortly, glancing in the direction of Lorette who was still glaring at the necklace. " If you don't mind, I'll be getting back to my family now." Marguerite fled not finishing her sentence very well as the wind hit against her soft face, muffling the words.
Opening the heavy door, Aria entered the large home.
" Sister." Dimitri was the first to speak. " We were wondering where you got to."
Marguerite smiled at her brother, her eyes then finding that of her father's. His cold eyes bore into hers. She shivered.
" Marguerite. Sit." Her mother's sweet voice told her. She did as she was told and sat in between her brothers, Quentin and Pierre, much like Lorette did in her brothers relationship. They all ate in silence for the first time in a while, the silence soon braking when Pierre and Dimitri began to talk amongst themselves, the chatter spreading along the table like a infection.
" Where did you go?" Quentin questioned. " We didn't notice you'd left?" Aria raised her shoulders and then let them fall.
" Lorette picked up conversation." Marguerite answered, finishing her mouthful before attempting to speak. Quentin nodded and Marguerite could tell Pierre has picked up his ears and was listening in.
" What did she have to say?" Quentin again asked another question. Marguerite wasn't Lorette's biggest fan and didn't mind putting one of her brothers off her.
" She wanted to know about Pierre's return. Also about the necklace he gave me." She put on her best confused tone and looked up at her elder brother. " Unusual for her not to mention your name." Quentin's face sank, although it broke Marguerite's heart to see him so sad she knew it would be the best thing for him. Sometimes she felt like she was the only one with morals in her family. She saw the way Lorette played Quentin, not truly loving him, she only had eyes for Pierre. She was turning them against each other slowly and Aria saw the effect it was having. It started out with little arguments then they escalated to vast arguments. All over a small girl who'd already birthed a child.
Quentin spoke no more of Lorette all night, disheartened by what Marguerite had said during the meal. Pierre on the other hand hadn't given up on talking about her, asking Marguerite a range of questions every chance he got. Marguerite found a way out of his continuous questioning by slipping into her room. It didn't take Marguerite much time to drift into a natural sleep under the thick and heavy sheets, consciousness swallowing her slowly then all at once.
Sweet dreams soon followed, Lorette far, far away in them. Marguerite didn't once toss or turn in her little bed and was instead peaceful and gentle. An eternal flame inside her burnt in the dream, immortality shown clear. Her family would never have to part. They would live forever and that was all Aria could wish for. No more hurt or loss, not that she knew much of it. There would be a world for them somewhere to never grow old, much like the stories her mother told her as a child.
This utopia dream wouldn't of been disturbed if Pierre's hushed whispers would of been more hushed. His voice filtered through Aria's ears. Big hands soon shook her small arms, Aria recognizing Pierre's touch instantly. She pushed the covers off her, creeping out of the low bed.
" What is it, Pierre. I was sleeping." Marguerite asked, too loud for night. Pierre's forehead creased with sadness, his eyes glistening. " Get dressed." He said simply, making no effort of his own to hush his voice. Marguerite furrowed her brows.
" What - why?" She asked, confusion stricken across her face. She rarely saw any sign of unhappiness from Pierre and with his sombre mood, she began to worry. A scream rang through the house, the shrill sound coming from her parents bedroom. It was recognizably her mothers. " What is it!" She demanded an answer. Pierre looked to the ground. " Dimitri's been taken to the cells. His - " His voice broke, a cough covering the vulnerability in the sentence. " His execution is tomorrow."
Marguerite's world crashed, a heavy pressure consuming her chest. She took in a few shaky breaths, looking up to her brother with glossy eyes. " No." She whispered in denial. Pierre pulled her into his arms, smoothing her hair. " Why- why Dimitri." Marguerite wept, tears dampening her lashes and trailing down her cheeks. Pierre took a few moments to adjust to the details, recalling what his father had told him. " He has been accused of counterrevolutionary."
The next morning, Marguerite's actions slowed, getting dressed into an outfit appropriate for mourning becoming a great task to her. Her mother pushed open her door, peering in. She was ready for her son's unjustified murder, without trial. Marguerite faced away, hoping that she'd wake up and it all be a dream. Her mother's slim hand grazed her shoulder. " There's nothing we can do."
The sky was bright, clear and blue, Marguerite cursing the sky for being so selfishly cheerful on such a day. Her head hung low, the only thing stopping her from bumping into any one person from the crowd ahead was Pierre taking her hand and leading her through the wide streets. She could feel eyes on her, and her family, as they moved towards where they would last see Dimitri.
Aria knew that the dreams she had the previous night were lying, false dreams. She now knew what loss felt like. She knew immortality was impossible and that it was in fact, just a dream. Aria knew that from then on her life would never be the same.