Stolen

Chapter 2-2

“I have known you for many years and, yes, you are headstrong, but I have never found your instincts to be selfish or unwise. Your message to me said little of why you return so quickly.”

“There are matters that cannot be said in words.” Renée paused and listened for a moment, sensing for some presence and continued. “La petite Reine returns.”

“Have you seen her?” Hannah lowered her voice in concern.

“No, but the Queen of England sends her warning and asks for help.”

“The news speaks much of growing tensions between the two countries. And Napoleon continues his reign over Europe, adding to the problems. Being French, you will have difficulties entering England undisguised.” Hannah stood up and lit a small lantern to combat the encroaching darkness.

“I have not much experience with the politics of the day, but I can tell you much about buffalo and how to make a good cooking fire.” Renée smiled and then fell silent.

Hannah leaned forward and took her friend’s hand. “You fear for her, but she will walk her own path.”

“Even if you know that it is not the right one? Magic should not be used to alter time and break people’s lives.”

“For you, her path is wrong, but she will need to find her own way. Remember when you ran away that time, hoping to find a better way to learn your magic? Have you forgotten that?”

Renée shook her head and laughed. “No, I have not forgotten. I did not listen to you and learned my lesson well.” She pointed to a mark on her arm. “I still have the scar to prove it.”

“Exactly.” Hannah patted Renée’s hand and said, “Cinderella must find her own path as we all must. She will not listen to being told about how to best use her powers. No witch wants to be told what to do. If I had tried to force you not to use your magic for revenge, would you have listened?”

“No, I would have run away faster.”

“So would Cinderella. Let her be. She will learn and, if not, then she will be lost.” Hannah stood up and said, “Come now. Settle into your room and I will help prepare dinner. Get some rest tonight and tomorrow you start anew.”

The vision faded and I gasped when I re-entered my body. For a few moments, I felt unsure of my skin and needed to focus. Bebe’s soft snoring from the wagon brought me fully back. The stars still shone brightly and the quiet of the prairie caused me to think. In such a short time, Renée had traveled so far. I knew not that she had such power. For years, we walked across this great country and in one day she traveled as quickly as the speediest bird. It seemed I had a lot to learn and did not know her as well as I had thought.

Fatigue came over me and I knew that I needed to sleep. I had set my protective spells to protect and disguise us from harm, but I felt certain that I would dream of him again tonight. I pulled myself up off the ground and checked the four corners of the layered charms I had set. All were firm and set tight to keep out unwanted visitors. I had done my best. Now I needed sleep. Perchance to dream? I would see.

***

Once asleep, my body rested for hours, yet in the deepest part of slumber he came to me. I again sat at my writing desk in my old room back at the castle. Outside my window a light rain fell. The fire in the corner burned low and I lost myself in the comfort of its warmth. A knock at my door startled me, yet I had expected it.

“Who is it?” I pretended that I did not know.

“Jeremiah.” He sounded tired and weak.

“You may enter.” I stood to greet him and he entered the room and bowed. “There is no need to honor me so. I am no longer a princess.”

He waited a moment and then pointed at my desk and chairs, “Might we?”

“Yes, of course.” I walked to the table and took a seat at the chair nearest the fire and again he sat across from me. “You come again to visit me.”

He fidgeted with his leg and I could not place his demeanor. “I would have rather not have come.” His voice was thick with emotion.

“What is it?” I watched him carefully and wondered if he tried to trick me. “What disturbs you so?”

“She has come for them back in England.” He lowered his head in shame. “I was not there to protect them. I saw it all in a vision.”

“What did you see? I do not understand.” With gentleness I touched his arm in concern and then pulled it quickly away.

“La petite Reine came to them all and I have lost my contact with the king and queen. All of England is lost to me. I cannot easily return.” He saw my confused look and put his hands out, palms upward, in front of me on the table. “Take my hands and I will show you.”

I hesitated and feared he would trick me.

He kept his hands on the table and said, “You can trust me. Take my hands.”

I followed his instruction and put my hands in his. He gently closed his hands around mine and I could feel their roughness. He closed his eyes and I sensed power in him. He said not a word but inside my head I heard his command. “Open your mind.”

And I did …

I smelled oranges and stood in the queen’s bedroom. I had not seen her since I had left for America all those years ago. She stood in her nightclothes eating the fruit with her attendants, picking out clothes. She hummed to herself and I sensed it. A great darkness hung over the castle and my heart felt tight. The queen heard the wind outside and asked, “Does a rainstorm come?”

From the air, a feminine voice, deep in tone and intention, could be heard saying, “I am the thunderstorm.”

Fear crept up on me. I held still and saw the three attendants stop. They bent forward, arms lifeless at their sides. A gust of cold wind blew through the room with a dark purpose. Wisps of white smoke curled around the feet of each attendant and they sprung awake, eyes looking lifeless, lumbering forward toward the queen. The youngest attendant reached out and spoke. “Your husband had an orderly mind, but I have broken him. He’s mine now.”

The queen jumped back startled and saw the second attendant lurch forward in an awkward way. She avoided her but fell back into the arms of the third attendant who said, “Charlotte, little, little Charlotte. I have such plans for you. Bring me Cinderella and I will let you and your family live. Deny me and …”

All three attendants dropped lifeless to the floor.

I backed up against the wall and watched the queen shriek in terror. I covered my mouth with my hand and wished myself away. I could not stay. I had to come home.

Jeremiah let go of my hands and I woke into the dream. He still sat and I across from him. “Why did you not come back with Renée?”

I stammered not wanting the truth known. “She would not have us go with her.”

“I see.” He tried to stand up but fell back into his seat and for a moment he fell forward, but caught himself.

“Are you hurt?” I saw not physical wounds on him, but could not be certain.

“La petite Reine searches for me and I am running. I have not had much rest and I do not wish to bring her to you.” He pulled himself upright and clenched tightly onto the back of the chair. “Head west if you must, but I beg of you to turn around and change your mind. Go after Renée and then come back to England. If you choose not to, I will be disappointed but can understand that you wish to protect your daughter.”

“You would be disappointed?” I could not keep back the disdain in my voice. “My main purpose in the queen’s eyes was to be a breeder of the next heir to the throne. Failing that, I had no use. Can you not see why I might not want to return?”

“I do.” He swayed a bit but remained somewhat unsteady on his feet.

“And if I were to return, what could I do to help?”

“You are right. I will go.” He turned away and then stopped suddenly. “You must go now. She turns toward me. You must not be captured. Go!”

I stood up and ran to him but he had already broken the connection. I sat up in the wagon disoriented.

Bebe had her arms around me. “Mama, you had a bad dream.” She hugged me and said, “Your heart beats so fast!”

I wiped the sweat from my forehead and then returned her embrace. “Yes, yes. But I am fine now. I am safe.” I took a deep breath, held it, and then exhaled softly while Bebe rubbed my back.

“When will Aunt Renée come back?” She looked up expectantly at me. “I miss her.”

“I miss her too.” I knew not what else to say.

“Can we go follow her?”

“She is far away by now.” I turned away to hide my tears and said, “Your mama has made a mistake. I should have simply followed after her.”

Bebe was quiet for a moment. “I made a mistake the other day when I tried washing the clothes. I spilled the bucket of water and my dress fell in the mud by the river.” She took her head out of my lap and said, “But I did not give up. I took the dress to the river, washed it again, and then hung it up to dry off the back of the wagon.”

I laughed and hugged her tight. Wiping away the tears, I then kissed her on the forehead. “Before you were born, I made a mistake. I fell in love and decided to forget everything but being in love. When you are older, you will see.” I tousled her hair.

“Is that why you do not want to go back to England and see my father?”

I kept quiet a moment and said, “Yes.” I twirled my fingers through her long hair. “I loved your father so deeply and ultimately that I forgot everything else and that was not good. I am afraid what I will feel if I go back. I am a bit foolish when it comes to love.”

“Do you still love him?” Bebe asked.

“I will always love him, but love changes over time. And sometimes what you thought was love, really was only something else.”

“What else? Magic?”

“No, sometimes you think you love someone because you do not love yourself. You look for someone else to rescue you.” I sighed. “Love is complicated.”

“Why would anyone do that? That seems silly to me.”

“And so it is.” I kissed her again on the forehead and said, “Time for us to go back to bed. In the morning, we turn back to find Aunt Renée.”

Bebe hugged me tight. “Mama, thank you.”