Listen To Your Heart

Chapter 9

On the next day, Gilbert and Elsie rose early from bed once again. This time the fearful anxiety had left and given its place to excitement. They both got the job they wanted after passing through very difficult tasks. Elsie told Gilbert how she thought she had failed when Évè defeated her and he told her how he almost burnt himself at the forge. Now that it had passed, they could easily laugh at their situation and the least they could say was that they were relieved that things were working out in their favour.

They marched again to Copper Cove Academy and met Évè and Pierre at their office to discuss the final matters on their hiring. They agreed on the payment, which wasn’t a fortune, but it was enough for the lifestyle they were both looking for. Later, the academy heads took them on a complete tour of the surroundings.

Évè told them that she wanted to make sure they knew where everything was, so neither of them would get lost on such large land. There were also many students that day, running from class to class, preparing essays or herbal mixtures, sharpening their blades, talking and even fighting.

At the end of the tour, Gilbert followed Pierre to the forge where they met Ollie once again. Ollie welcomed Gilbert with warmth but told the boy that he expected mastery and commitment. He would not allow laziness on his forge. Gilbert already knew how to work for a demanding master and was willing to do his best. At first, he would follow the orders precisely as Ollie asked them, but if he showed good work and Ollie had confidence on him, he would be allowed to fly solo on small projects. Gilbert followed Ollie throughout the forge, learning the process of the work. It was very different from what he was used to, but he was determined not to fail his new bosses. Gilbert would also be allowed to stay through the lessons and was expected to help some of the students as well.

In no longer than an hour, Gilbert had already learned his way around the forge. Ollie didn’t need to tell him twice the orders and he quickly adapted into his new environment. He was feeling happier than he ever did. He never thought he would leave Nevettia nor that he would work on one the greatest academies of the world. Life was good and he really hoped that it was good for Elsie too.

Meanwhile, Évè took Elsie to the Archery Tracks. She showed her where to find bows and arrows and how the classes should be conducted. Évè stayed with Elsie through her first class of young children, they were no more than six years old. In the end, Elsie figured out that she enjoyed working with small children and that she had the patience with them. Her heart also melted for two little girls on her first class and she promised herself that she would be an example to those girls and would never discourage them only because of their gender.

After a whole morning of teaching, Évè took Elsie to drink some water and to take refreshment. They both sat down on the square patio in front of the founding couple fountain. The two of them hit it off quite well with each other and that was only the start of a good friendship.

“And how are you feeling after that whole story with your family that you told me?” Évè asked.

“I’m a bit better. Each day that goes by I feel less sad, but I miss my family very much. Sometimes I even miss my Mother telling me to behave like a lady. She would lose her mind if she saw me wearing pants like this,” Elsie smiled sadly at the memory, but shook her head knowing that it was still a tough subject for her. “What about your family? Do you have children, Évè?”

“I’m afraid I don’t. I never wanted to,” Évè answered.

“Really?” Elsie was even more fascinated. She had never met a woman who didn’t want children and was able to not have any.

“Oh, don’t get me wrong. I’ve been in your shoes once years ago. I was married and happily in love with my husband and glad to say that I still am. We were young and we wanted to conquer the world together, but also, I wanted to train my fighting skills and I never thought of being a mother even when I married him. I wanted to live my life for me without the responsibility of raising a child. I knew that it was expected of me to give Pierre a son or daughter to heir this place when we were older,” she confided and Elsie nodded encouraging her to go on.

“At first, I tried to push back those feelings and I started resenting myself for staying at home, telling the servants what to do and even prayed to be with child. You see, my parents by law were very blunt on that matter. The Beauchamp family must have an heir and Pierre was their only child. A year passed after our marriage and I couldn’t be more miserable. That wasn’t me and Pierre understood that, so he invited me to run the academy with him and he even fought his parents about it. It only made me love him more.What about you, Elsie? Do you think of having children? You have quite the way with them.”

“I was really surprised to know that I do,” Elsie laughed. “I’ve always associated having children to be stuck in an arranged marriage and I never wanted either for myself. But now that I’m with Gilbert I feel free to make that choice and yes, I do want a family with him. Not now exactly, life is too agitated and still a bit uncertain, but in the future it would be nice.”

“You do know that there are ways of avoiding getting pregnant, right? Herbs, teas and things like that, so you can enjoy yourselves for a while,” Évè said and Elsie blushed. “I can help you if you want.”

“That would be lovely. I don’t know how to thank you enough, Évè, really.”

“You can thank me by putting all your efforts in your classes and always be open to learning new things. You remind me of myself when I was your age.”

Elsie would never forget those words in her entire life and her bond with Évè only tightened after that very first day.

The days started to pass then, and the weeks turned into months and months into years. Gilbert and Elsie were very welcomed at Copper Cove by both faculty and students. Elsie improved her skills by teaching her archery class to children but also by attending some other classes on the academy. She was becoming well known at Copper Cove by her fighting abilities. Most of the students weren’t really used to see a young woman who knew how to fight better than them. Some of them were very impressed and even admired her. However, the other half had to be taught respect. Évè allowed Elsie to take any challenge from a man who thought of himself as better than her. Elsie beat them all and the misogyny died in a matter of days inside the academy, even though the rest of the world still didn’t think like them.

Gilbert also felt more at home each day that passed by and he also enrolled in some lectures whenever he had the time. He learned to speak French and improved his poor writing and reading skills. His quick learning and thinking impressed even more Ollie and the man already let him run his own projects on the forge. Gilbert’s first project was a sword for Elsie. It was thin and pointy just like Évè had told him to do. The handle was made of wood and he carved a winter rose just like the one on the brooch her father gave to her and that she still kept as the most valuable thing she owned. Elsie still missed her birth home and her family and she even tried to write them, but with time the responses were becoming scarce and with the rush of daily life, Elsie sometimes would forget to write back, until the correspondence just stopped.

In less than a year, Évè had already an affection for Elsie as if she was her daughter and they were always together around the academy since they were the only women there. However, they both had plans to change that and convince more families to send their daughters to at least be educated and know how to defend themselves. It was a hard goal as many families still didn’t see the girls fighting with good eyes, but there were a few victories that counted a lot for them.

On the third winter holidays at Poisart, Évè and Pierre took them to Paris to celebrate Christmas at their city manor. Elsie and Gilbert fell in love with the capital even though the smell wasn’t as good. They walked by the Seine, tried the new spices and foods the French people were so proud of and even went to a ball on a duke’s palace.

Gilbert felt a little out of place with so much luxury, but the hosting couple did not let him pay for anything, not even for his new fancy clothes. Elsie, on the other hand, felt nostalgic seeing the French court. Obviously, the duke’s manor was much more elegant than Nevettia’s keep and she had never seen so much gold on a room before, but it reminded her of the feasts she used to hate so much to attend. She also taught Gilbert to dance to fancy music and they had quite a blast that night.

On their fourth year living in Poisart, Gilbert and Elsie finally bought their own place. It was located on a better sight of Poisart and closer to the academy. They also bought horses and invested in their own comfort. It wasn’t an extravagant place, but it sure was a good life for both of them.

The biggest news the couple received to lift the mood came a little more than a year after they have been living in their new and bigger home. Elsie was finally with child. She took Évè’s advice as to avoid the pregnancy for a while. However, they were both making a living out of the academy and things seemed stable enough to increase their little family.

The first few months, Elsie managed to keep teaching archery to the children. But that was until the morning sickness started. She had to back away from her job for a while, but Évè made her company and took care of her while Gilbert was working. Months later, a baby girl, with black hair and grey eyes, was born. They named her Abigail and they both fell completely in love with his little daughter.

Abby was a very quiet baby and she barely gave her parents any trouble. Elsie stopped teaching because the baby demanded a lot of her attention. Nonetheless, Évè did not let her go so easily. Évè asked Elsie to help her run some of the academy responsibilities, like coordinating classes and even help some students to learn English, so she could both keep working and take care of her new baby. Gilbert was also very helpful with Abby although it took him sometime to know his way with her as he was always afraid to drop her or squeeze her too tight.

Two years later, Gilbert became the head of the smiths as Ollie had an accident with his hands and decided to retire. He nominated Gilbert to take his place on the forge and as a teacher. By then, Gilbert was already a different man. He had mastered the French language, his smith skills had improved impeccably and he was an amazing father. To him it was a great honour to run a forge on his own and Pierre didn’t take long to bring him a pupil to help around. In that moment, Gilbert wished Ury could see him and where he got.

No more than a few weeks after taking charge of the forge, Elsie announced her second pregnancy and Abby was officially promoted to big sister. This time, Elsie didn’t have as much trouble as in her first time carrying a child. The morning sickness barely came, and she was able to keep working until she was almost in labour.

Emma was born on a stormy night and she was named after Gilbert’s late mother because she resembled him more than Abby. Once again, their lives turned upside down. Taking care of two babies was quite the challenge for Elsie, but Gilbert, Évè and even Pierre did their best to help and be there for them and the children.

Unfortunately, when Abby was three and Emma nearly one, Pierre died of a sudden heart attack. His abrupt death was a hard hit on them, especially Évè. She barely left her bed on the first week and Elsie took her to her own home to take care of the woman she grew to love like a second mother.

Seeing Évè in such a somber mood and caring even less about the academy, Elsie and Gilbert proposed a partnership, so they could take care of the business for her and help her through the worst moment of her life. With part of the money they gathered throughout the eight years they worked for the academy, they invested in Copper Cove, becoming owners of one quarter of the place.

Six hard months followed Pierre passing. Évè was desolated and Elsie and Gilbert juggled between taking care of their daughters, helping Évè, working and looking after the academy in consideration for the woman that gave them the opportunity of building a new life at Poisart.

When Évè was finally feeling better she decided to go on a trip to Italy to clear her head and find a new meaning to her life now that her love was gone. She told Elsie that she needed more time to put her head in place and to find herself again. Évè also put the control of Copper Cove Academy on the couple’s hands and asked them to take care of the academy with the same love they had for her. She paid them a good amount, but they would’ve done it even without payment. They knew that their friend was suffering and that she needed that time out.

With a bigger family and all responsibilities they suddenly had on their hands, Elsie and Gilbert bought a bigger place. Their new home was basically a manor, although Gilbert didn’t like to call it that. It had a decorated garden with trees and fountains, three floors and rooms for even more children. They also had to hire a few servants, despite not really being fond of the idea, but there was no way they could make if they didn’t have help.

Évè returned when they least expected after two years being abroad and Elsie couldn’t be more relieved to see her looking happy again. Évè was feeling much better, as she told them. She took the time traveling through Italy and around the French coast where she had a few friends and remaining family that took her in for the time being. She took her time to grief the loss of her husband and being away from the academy helped closing the open wound in her heart. She was ready to go back to work and keep the place as Pierre would’ve wanted.

Elsie asked for a small dinner to be prepared with the girls and Gilbert and Évè couldn’t have asked for a better welcome celebration.

“It’s a small thing. I hope you don’t mind,” Elsie sat in front of Évè while trying to keep Emma on her seat.

“It’s alright, dear. I’m just glad to see you. The girls have grown so much,” Évè replied smiling at Abby who was playing with her food.

“They get bigger every day,” Gilbert replied and turned to his daughter. “Abby, food is meant to be eaten, not played with.”

“Carrots would be much nicer if I didn’t have to eat them,” the five-year-old replied receiving immediately a disapproving look from her mother.

Évè couldn’t help but grin at the girl’s response. She was glad to be home and with her chosen family. She also went back to work in no time, giving Elsie some time to breathe and to get rid of the nanny, which gave her the opportunity to spend more time with her daughters.

A year later, Elsie got pregnant for the third time and happiness was the ruling sentiment on their home once again. The girls wished for a little brother to play with and Gilbert agreed that it would be nice to have a son for a change.

Once again, Elsie gave up her lessons that asked too much from her physique and started tutoring the students inside the classrooms. Her working hours were also reduced, and she managed to handle the pregnancy, her job and her daughters exactly the way she wanted, without too much stress.

Elsie gave birth to a baby boy, exactly how her daughters and husband wanted, and he was named Alec. However, the boy was fragile as a baby and Elsie stopped working for the first six months of his life to take care of him. Alec beat the odds and grew stronger with all the love and affection of his family.

When Abby finally turned six, she started to attend a few classes at the academy and she didn’t only have her mother’s looks, but also her stubbornness on not letting anyone tell her she wasn’t good enough. Elsie and Gilbert couldn’t be prouder when they saw her first strikes with a wooden sword. She was going to be a fighter, just like her mother.

Alec was almost two years old when Évè caught a ravaging flu. No matter how many healers they brought to see her, Évè’s health only got worse, especially when the fevers began. On a brief moment of lucidity, she called Elsie to her room. The younger woman sat next to her next to her bed and held her hand.

“Elsie, I just wanted to thank you for giving me a family that I never thought I would have,” she said between coughs. “I’m so proud of who you became and I’m glad I could be part of your story, a happy part of it. And before I go…”

“Oh, Évè, don’t say it like that,” Elsie had her eyes full of tears.

“Don’t fool yourself, my dear. I know the end is near and I just can’t wait to see my Pierre once again,” Évè smiled. “What I’m trying to say is that I left a piece of parchment on my office’s table. It’s my will. I never had anyone to leave anything for and life has been kind enough to give me you, Gilbert and your lovely children. I’m leaving everything to you. My house, the Paris Manor, the academy, the money, everything.”

“Évè, I don’t even know what to say.”

“You don’t have to say anything as long as you promise me to keep our good doing at Copper Cove and I know I can rest in peace knowing it will be on your hands alongside Gilbert,” Elsie agreed nodding her head. “However, let me give you a last piece of advice. Life is too short, my dear, and I don’t think we value it enough. You made a great life here in Poisart, but your children deserve to know where they come from. And I believe you heart still aches for the loss of your family so many years ago. I know your story, Elsie Asheye of Nevettia. Anger makes us say things we shouldn’t. Don’t let it fill your heart with regrets. Contact your brothers. Forgive your father. You formed a family now and you know what is like to be a parent. Think about your decision and promise me you will consider talking to them again. Promise me that you’ll at least think about it.”

“I will,” Elsie’s voice cracked through her tears.

Three days later, Évè passed away. As she had said, Elsie and Gilbert inherited everything she had left. They sold her house at Poisart and used the money to invest at Copper Cove Academy. They made a beautiful service for Évè and buried her alongside Pierre on his family’s crypt.

Right after they got home, the first thing Elsie did was to write a letter to Theo for the first time in years. She wrote it with an open heart, and it made her feel lighter. After sending it, all she could hope for was for that letter to reach her brother and for him to write her back.