Promise

Unease

           

"Caroline?" Someone whispered and it was from her back window. Geraldine went close to the window to see who that was.

"Milady, it's John" Caroline ran to the window side right away.

"Shhhhh...be quiet, Geraldine!" Caroline gave a look to Geraldine. She didn't mean it. She just didn't want to put any one of them into trouble. "What are you doing, John? You're not supposed to go out by yourself. What if someone from the training site noticed that?"

"Happy 15th birthday Caroline! I have something for you" John took out a grass-made ring. "I made one...finally. You taught me the other night." He slid the ring into her index finger.

"You are such a silly boy. You came here just to give me this. You could get expelled." Caroline looked at the ring. Deep down, she appreciated his hard work. She was admiring her ring and didn't pay attention to the next thing.

"Geraldine, can you help Caroline climb out of this door? And don't tell Sir Claire I'm taking her out."

"Are you mad? Sir will kill me"

"I just want to take her to go on the last horse riding with me. I don't know when I'll be back after I leave today." John basically begged Geraldine. He had to leave for formal knight training and had to commit his duty as a knight. It could be five years or even twenty years for their next meet.

"What did you just say? Where are you taking me, John?" John had picked up Caroline and hopped on his horse before she could finish those sentences.

"Hold on to me. I want to take you to a place before I leave for a period of time."

Caroline sat up and realised she was only dreaming about the bittersweet moment of her life. She walked to her window. She couldn't go back to sleep, so she decided to watch the beautiful sunrise. After being uneasy and unsure for a night, the sunrise was as if lifting the stone out of her chest. She waited until the sun shone through her room.

"Milady?" There was a knock. Instead of answering, Caroline opened the door. "Madam is asking you to have breakfast with her"

"Alright." Caroline went down to dining room looked like she had lots on her mind. "Good morning, mother"

"Good morning, dear. Well, your father didn't mean what he said yesterday. I talked to him last night. He wants to apologise but he has work early today." Caroline's mother looked up and saw Caroline wasn't paying attention. "Caroline?" she held Caroline's hand. "Why is your hand so cold? Are you sick?"

"Yes? No no I'm not sick. I just...I have so much on my mind."

After having breakfast, as usual, Caroline went out with Geraldine but only this time she was pretending to go to the fair. Geraldine knew where Caroline was going. She just couldn't tell a soul about it. She knew the Claire would scold her about being mad and unrealistic with Caroline. Sometimes Geraldine felt bad for the Lady. It was true Caroline was the Baron's daughter. She was rich and could get anything she wanted but the love she had been waiting for 20 years.

"Milady, the temperature has dropped this morning. Keep warm" Geraldine put the cloak over Caroline and secretly gave her the bracelet. Caroline looked at her maid.

"Thank you. Shall we go?"

"One moment, Milady. Don't forget to bring maltose to the children." Geraldine said loudly to let the owner of the mansion hear that and put the maltose into the basket. The other day Caroline was staring at the small stall that sold maltose at the fair. Maltose was something Caroline loved the most but her mother never let her have that because it was considered as the food only the poor consumed.

They walked to the direction of the fair until the mother couldn't see them. Caroline wandered around the area she used to hang out with John as a kid and a teenager. She was finally there, under the old tree where they promised to meet each other, realising the place was so empty. No one was there. She picked up a twig and looked for the treasure they buried 20 years ago. A while pass, she had no idea how long she used to dig up the treasure. She found the rings at last.

When I come back to find you, we will sit under this old tree and dig up the treasure.

She was now the only person sitting under the old tree. Regrets and sorrow hit her hard. She regretted she didn't ask if the man was John. She regretted she didn't blurt out the name. She regretted to stay silent when they met. Putting on the ring on her index finger was the last time she did, to remember the one she loved the most in her life.