Promise

Broken

John really waited for Caroline and stayed there for several hours until the sun had gone down. The fountain, where they first met again, was sort of the default place that they would go whenever they said "meet you at the fair". He looked at the moon knowing it was almost time to leave and Caroline was still not there. He worried about her. He hoped he left the small town already.

"John!" another knight said. "The ships are ready!" he put his hand on John's shoulder signalling they had to leave. John looked at the other side of the fair still waiting for Caroline. He wanted to see her in order to know she got here safely. At the same time, he didn't want to see her because that was dangerous to her. They didn't have time. They left in the next moment.

Meanwhile, Caroline and Geraldine were running to the fair. By the time they got there, John and his team had already gone.

"John? John?" Caroline shouted while looking around. He left. He left for the battle. Caroline was desperate only wanting to see John for the last time before the war ended.

By the side of the fountain, there was a small piece of cloth. It looked like it was torn from the cloth store right next to the fountain. 

My Dearest Caroline,

I hope you won't see this because I don't hope you to put yourself in danger. But if you see this, I've already gone to fight for our country. I promise I will come back to you.

John

What could Caroline do at this stage? Nothing. She looked at the sky. She prayed. She never prayed, not even if her mother was seriously ill a long time ago. Of course, she was worried but never prayed. She looked at the moon praying to whoever, the goddess of the Moon, the God, the mother nature.

"To whom is listening in the heaven, please show mercy to both countries which are fighting against each other now. Please take them home safely to the loved ones. Please protect them."

"Milady...?"

"Let's go home." Caroline said softly.

Caroline went to her room quietly. The house was so empty. Nothing left in the house. She stared at the empty living room. As she planned the whole escaping-from-her-family plan, her room had a little of her stuff, especially her jewel box, was still there. 

"Milady? Are you hungry?" Caroline didn't reply. "I go cook something for you

"No. Stay here please...with me. I don't want to be alone." This was the least thing Geraldine could do for Caroline. She felt the pain and worry Caroline had. In the past 20 years, although Caroline didn't whine about her love life, Geraldine knew everything had been difficult for the Lady. People talked and joked about her. Caroline looked fine every day but Geraldine really knew her really best since no one really talked to Caroline and had been really close to her. Not her parents, not her so-called friends. Everyone wanted to get closer to her because Caroline was a Lady. Who didn't want to marry a Lady? However, after Caroline reached 30, no more men tried to approach her. 

Six months passed, these days were as grey as Caroline's emotion. The bombing stopped in Scarborough after two months the war broke out. It was true the enemy had been leaving Scarborough. Everyone was coming back to the fair. Everything returned to normal. The only different was Caroline. Everyone who was able to move, they all moved. She sat in front of the fountain every day, sunny or rainy making her the only royals left in town.

Two years passed. This was cosidered as a short war. Although the disaster ended, people didn't have a peaceful time in the past two years. Yet, Caroline opened her heart to, what her parents would call, the poor ones. She talked to them. They asked how everyone was. Caroline saw people come and go. And, she was the one who was still waiting for the important person in her life.

"The war is over! We are likely to win. They will come back soon." one of the store keepers said. 

"Is it true? Where did you get the news?" Caroline sat up straight.

"I have got the news from my son, Milady." In the meantime, a familiar face appeared in front of Caroline.

"Mother? Why are you here? When did you come back?"

"Caroline...I came back this morning. I couldn't find you at home, so I guess you're here. I saw Geraldine was buying flowers. She told me you sit here every day." 

"Mother, I'm not going home until sunset. I'm waiting for John to return." Her mother sighed. After she rushed back here two years ago, her mother knew there was nothing that could stop the daughter from waiting for the love of her life. "I'll be fine, really. I have Geraldine."

"Well then..." Her mother turned around and left.

A soldier running from far away towards Caroline just to hand her the letter from the other side of the country.

To Lady Caroline Claire of York,

It is with great sadness and regret that I must inform you that John de Paynes and his entire cavalry was over run and destroyed at the hands of the enemy.

He fought with bravery , honour and courage and will be eternally remembered as one of the greatest in our Kingdom.

Faithfully Yours,

Jacques de Molay

After reading the last sentence, Caroline felt a stab in her heart just like someone using a sword to stab her. It was killing her to receive news like that as she thought John won the war. She couldn't bear with the sadness and she fainted and collasped on the ground.