The Frozen Rose

CHAPTER THIRTEEN: At the library

William sighed. Today was not a good day. There was so much to write about, yet everything he wrote was bad. He could write about the rehearsal of the first scene, including the right costumes, dances and props. But every word he used, did not seem to fit how he felt while seeing it.

It was magical – but he could not sell that word to grown up critics. The dancing was performed perfectly – but that was too vague for a connoisseur. The colours of the costumes were just right – but that did not include the right lighting yet, so he could not judge that. And finally the props were amazingly done – but he had already dedicated a chapter to the making of every piece of art behind the actors.

So instead of sitting behind his desk and writing the same useless words, he decided to look at other people's writing. He called for his carriage and drove to London's biggest library. He would often find a library when he did not come up with the right words for a review. Reading other people's work brought him inspiration for new words and sentences, and better comparisons than "blue as ice."

He entered the red bricked building and looked through old newspaper they had collected. He knew that some contained his works, and he refused to read those. He was glad he had grown as a writer, but his first reviews were simply ridiculous. Everyone could see that he was only just beginning.

It was probably about half an hour later that he suddenly heard someone say his name. Looking up, he found a woman with gorgeous brown hair and a golden dress. In her hands she was holding two books, and on her face she had a smile.

"Elizabeth," William said surprised. She walked to him and gave him her hand, which he kissed on top – a way of greeting a lady.

"What are you doing here?" she asked.

He pointed at the newspapers on the table. "Reading reviews. To better my writing."

"I did not know you do that," she told him.

He shrugged. "There is a lot you do not know about me."

She looked at him with her head tilted. "I know."

Pointing at the chair on the other side of the table, he asked: "would you like to join me?"

She looked at him, then at the chair. She seemed to be doubting, but eventually smiled and said: "why not."

He pulled back her chair so that she could sit down easily, then went back to his own. She picked up one of the books she was holding and started reading it, while he pretended to be reading reviews. Pretended, for he could not concentrate when he knew she was sitting in front of him.

He tried for what felt like hours but was probably only one, until he noticed she had closed her book and was looking around.

"Are you alright?" he asked her.

She startled and reached for her heart. Then she smiled at him. "Yes, I am alright, if I do not think that you just startled me to death."

He laughed at her comment. "My apologies, I did not mean to. Do you want to leave?"

"My head merely needs a break. I can only read so much at once."

"Then would you like to go out for a walk? My head is full of review language as well."

She smiled at him. "Tis not the best time for you to write, then?"

"If you do not want to walk, that is alright for me."

A grateful smile appeared on her face. "I do want to walk. I just do not want to keep you away from your work."

"Mind not," he said while closing the newspaper. "My head needs some rest as well."