Sauver la famille royale (Rescuing the Royal Family)

Rescue from le Temple

"I want Maman! I want Maman!" The little boy cried. His face was streaked with tears as he continuously wailed for his mother. Louis-Charles the youngest son of Marie-Antoinette and Louis XVI, the deposed rulers of France huddled in his bed wondering where his mother was and why she wasn't here to rescue him. But she did not come. Simeon, the caretaker of the child was a brute and hit him to make him listen but it was to no avail the little Dauphin cried and cried for his beloved mother. But still she did not come.

Not far from his constant wailing, steps away was the former Queen sobbing into her daughters arms. She had just lost her son and only joy and now there was so no happiness. They had killed her dear friend Madame Lamballe and poor Auguste was now gone forever. His life cut short by Madame la Guillotine. She shuddered with tearful gasps, clutching her only daughter as if she were to fall away like ashes to the wind. She heard the wails and her heart... how it ached for her little child. "My dear sister... please read it. We must have courage." Madame Élisabeth said softly to her sister-in-law. The King's youngest sister tried to get the Queen to read from the Bible but it was no use. She pushed it away and held close her daughter who was crying bitterly for her little brother.

The little prisoner lay there huddled in the bed that was given him in this cell. This horrible place called "Le temple." A tall, foreboding place as it was. All the Royal Family were imprisoned in this terrible place. The King was now gone and now his little son was separated from the people whom most loved and cherished him. They could do nothing but wonder was he alright? Was he okay?

"Child, come here. Now." Simeon said menacingly. Louis-Charles terrified did as he was told and walked over to his caretaker. His wife was sitting with him and they had been talking about what to do for the poor child. "Why must you scream like this?" He questioned as he looked him straight in the face. The little boy very bravely spoke up "You are not Papa! I want Maman! Please let us be together! Please!" He cried, tears trickling down his face.

Simeon growled and told him "No! She is not your mother anymore! This is your mother!" His wife winced at the way he lectured the poor child. He didn't deserve this and she thought that the boy should be with his mother. It was cruel to have them separated. But she was afraid, especially for their livelihood of what could happen to them if she tried to bring him back.

"Simeon! He is only a child! We ---" She was cut short when her husband slammed his fist down on the rough surface of the wooden table. It quaked and bounced up by the force of his hand. She no longer spoke and looked again at Louis-Charles who was now running off, back to his bed and the dark cell which was now his new home.

A creeking sound could be heard as the heavy door swung open, making Simeon and his wife jump. "Who is there?" Simeon asked, taking a wooden stick for security as he and his wife huddled near the corner as a man dressed in a black cloak, and a soft grey suit came through the threshhold. "Good evening Madame, Monsieur." The tall, dark-haired gentleman said bowing and then quickly shut the heavy door which closed with a loud, metallic thud. "Who the devil are you!? Where are the guards??" Simeon barked as his wife cowered behind him, she herself stealing a glance to make sure that Louis-Charles was still in his bed.

"That does not matter in this particular situation. Where is the boy? I've come to take him off your hands. It is the express wish of the Committee of Public Safety that I complete this task." The gentleman said with a stern face. His eyes were an iridescent blue and it was no secret by his dress that he was a man of noble birth. His frockcoat was a simple grey but beneath his waistcoat shown with solemn creativity of pink pimpernel's entwined with embroidered leaves on a creme back-ground. He was an absolute dandy of a man! His cheeks were slightly rouged which accentuated his facial features of a prominent but handsome nose, full lips and those as Madame Simeon noted to herself... gorgeous blue eyes.