Into Another Time

Unexpected Betrothals

           

After having our packed lunch in the town, we hurried back to the village as it was almost dusk and as you can guess, everybody eats their supper and goes to bed early. So, days are shorter. This time around I didn't bring up any awkward conversations about Amelia and Barrett's doomed relationship so there was no gloominess. Instead they walked a few paces behind us, having their own private conversations while Eloise and I chatted. My mind was on the stranger I had seen in Windsor castle and how he disappeared, I was pretty sure I didn't just imagine him. Although it was strange to have someone as peculiar looking as him be there and just disappear when I turned back. Anyway, by the time Amelia and I parted our way from Eloise and Barrett to go home, he had drifted away from my thoughts.

" Mother! We're home", Amelia called.

Mrs Roth quickly came out of the kitchen at Amelia's voice and rushed towards her, a big smile on her lips.

" Amelia, Emma, ah you're finally home", she beamed," I have the best news for you, Amelia!"

Amelia and I quizzically looked at each, puzzled over what could her mum's 'exciting' news be. Amelia raised her eyebrows cautiously," And what is the news, Mother?"

Mrs Roth gleefully clapped her hands, almost bursting with joy," You are about to be a bride!", she announced.

Suddenly, Amelia paled and her tanned skin seemed almost white as a ghost as all color washed away from her face at her mother's words. She took a step back and I moved closer to her, grabbing her arms to steady her wavering feet. I was shocked at Amelia's mother's announcement, but it was nothing compared to what Amelia must have felt. Bride? Of whom?. Amelia clearly wasn't in a state to speak, so I decided I had to be the one to do the questioning.

" Umm.. bride to whom, Mrs Roth?", I asked, balancing Amelia.

" Why!," Mrs Roth grinned," to Adlard Webb, who else"

Judging by the way I had to grip her even more tightly after these words, Amelia was NOT happy.

" Who is he?", I inquired, to the more than happy to answer Mrs Roth.

She practically glowed as she answered," Oh, ofcourse you don't know. You have never been to his house", she explained," He is a basket weaver in the town. His parents were just here, oh if I had know Amelia, I would have never let you go today!. They were here while you were there, hah!"

As she ranted on and on about how his parents decided they liked her enough to come over here and finalize the betrothal, and also only demand a 'small' dowry because of how difficult things were right now because of the anarchy, all I could think about was how still like a statue Amelia had become. Her face had officially become paler than a ghost, and her unmoving and unspeaking stance scared me. The basket weaver? The same one we dodged today? How ironic!. But it was good we didnt stay at home today or else Amelia would have to deal with her marriage being fixed right in front of her. Oh god, Amelia and Barrett really were doomed, if we didn't do anything quick enough-

" When?"

Both me and Mrs Roth jerked our faces to Amelia as she almost whispered that single word.

" What, dear?", Mrs Roth asked, confused.

" When?", Amelia choked out, louder," When have you fixed my marriage?"

The happy smile returned to Mrs Roth, she didn't notice the accusatory way Amelia had phrased her question ' When have you fixed my marriage?' instead of ' When is the marriage/date?' and cheerfully replied. I did.

" Oh that was another thing we discussed!", she replied," Since Mille is getting married this week, I thought you wouldn't want to share the spotlight, ofcourse. But we don't want to wait weeks or months, so we thought two days after Mille's wedding would be good enough. Oh I am so happy for you, Amelia, bride at last!", Mrs Roth engulfed Amelia in a joyful hug which was anything but joyful for the latter. After she had satisfactorily squeezed the life out of Amelia, she released her and her eyes fell on me.

" Emma, I know what you're thinking, but I haven't forgotten you", she consoled me," I actually wanted to find a suitor for you before Amelia, but  it's very hard to find men in the village now-a-days as so many of them have gone to the war, or simply not ready to settle down. But don't worry!, right after I get Amelia married, I would double my search and my word, you would be married in less than two weeks!", she promised, which sounded like a done deal.

Kill me, please.

" Now you girls change out of your bliauts quickly, and come for supper. Go on, hurry", Mrs Roth trotted to the kitchen again.

After I was sure Mrs Roth had gone inside the kitchen, I put my arm around Amelia," Amelia", I whispered," we'll get through this, okay?"

She didn't respond as I led her into her room and softly placed her on the bed. I rubbed her arm soothingly as I knew she was taking it hard, absorbing her marriage and shit.  Although Amelia's mum had promised to plunge me into the same fate in less than two weeks, and I didn't have anywhere to go or anyone to run away with. What would I do?. Worry consumed me, Amelia's mum must be desperate to ward me off at this point, and she'll marry me off to the next peasant who said yes!. And less than two weeks!. Oh god!. I chewed my lip furiously and anxiously as I contemplated the implications of my oncoming doom, but one look again at Amelia and I mentally chided myself. Worry about yourself later, the girl had less than three days to get out of her marriage, you have whole two weeks!.

" Amelia", I nudged her,"Say something, please"

Slowly she looked at me, and the look on her face gave me shudders. She had a look of submission, resignation and indifference. Like she didn't care what happened next or who was standing in front of her. She was beyond her breaking point.  I had to will myself not to look away from her, because she was making me feel guilty. I resumed rubbing her arm, though more cautiously now, in slow, steady movements.

" I can't do it", she said, flatly. Her voice sounded way more aged than her normal voice. She didn't sound so submissive or resigned as she had looked, and I had to doubt if I had read her expressions correctly. It was more like she was telling somebody nope, not gonna happen.

" I am not going to marry that basket-weaving fool", she said, coolly, giving me  a blank look and a shrug. I removed my hand from her arm and stood up, taking my time.

" So, um, what are you going to do?", I asked. She stood up way more easily and the shock had evaporated from her face and it was replaced by determination and like I mentioned,  indifference.  Perhaps I had misjudged.

" I am going to do what I didn't want to do before", she sighed, but folded her arms across her chest. There!, there's the submission and resignation I had seen before, I wasn't imagining it!. She looked like she didn't want to do whatever she was about to do but then she looked me in the eye, and all I could see was 100% determination,

" I am going to run away"

Told ya things were going to get interesting from here ;), Amelia is betrothed AND she is determined to run away!.

Because the next chapter is going to be Amelia- centric,

*drumroll*

It's going to be in her POV!!!.

P.S- the surname Webb denotes weaving. Just a little FYI.
Comment & vote and stay tuned!.