I stared blankly at the painting of Nicolaus and I that Aarie painted the night of our conversation. Not long after I came home from my conversation with Nicolaus Aarie called me to her “menagerie”. She showed me the painting of Nicolaus and I…and our children…
A while had past since that conversation and my beloved mother’s death. I was eighteen now getting closer to nineteen. I’d been keeping to myself, avoiding everyone, even Nicolaus.
“Lady? Lady Orianna?” Mr. Williams broke me from my silent stare only to bring me back to the real world, which I had fought so hard to abandon. He took the chair next to me and in front of the painting, which had been properly hung over the mantle of the fireplace. I chose to stare at the fire now for a change of scenery and to avert my attention to some other thing.
“Yes Sir?” I said blankly.
“Your attention is not on me today.” He tilted his head to one side. “You are flying elsewhere…” I blinked and brought my attention back to him. He laid a hand on my knee and looked up at the painting. I didn’t want to look at it so I kept my attention on him. I never noticed before now that even though he was only twenty he had worry lines. He was a learned man for his age and a gentlemanly. His attention to the small things in life had attracted me to him from childhood. He seemed to care about things that others did not. He had pale skin lightly darkened by creases from age lines. There was always a piece of his pale almost bleached blonde hair hanging over his right eye. He was thinner than Nicolaus…
I blinked again and looked away deeper into the study away from him and away from the painting. I’m comparing things to Nicolaus now…
“Aarie has talent.” His smooth voice broke my staring. I looked at his icy blue eyes blankly.
“Yes…she does.” I glanced up at the painting again but quickly back down. I stared at the wood floors.
“Your daughter in this painting looks just like you. But…” He left his sentence hanging.
“But she doesn’t look like Nicolaus…” I looked up at him and he nodded. I looked up at the painting again. The little girl in the picture looked like me undeniably but there was one thing that didn’t fit with Nicolaus or me…she had light blue eyes, almost like frozen blue water. Nicolaus had blue eyes but they were dark, sapphire and my eyes were dark too, a dark glowing green. There was a strange coldness about those eyes too.
“She’s like that in every painting.” He said. I looked at him again. There must have been some sort of emotion playing along my face because he flashed worry. “I’m sorry…so Latin…” He started but I gently touched his hand which made him look up at me.
“Is it not time to stop?” I asked. He looked at me for a heartbeat then nodded. He gathered his things and stood up. I stared at the fire tears starting in my eyes.
“Lady Orianna…” I blinked and looked up at him again.
“Yes?”
“Your father will be coming home again, no?” I nodded then went back to my fire. “Do you love Nicolaus?” The question came so unexpected that I jumped slightly. A little bit of anger rose in me.
“Were that information you needed to know then I would tell you.”
“Orianna…” He kneeled back in front of me looking me in the eyes. There was a coolness in those eyes…a cold humor almost. There was something about him…something wrong about him that I couldn’t point out or even figure out…
“Orianna, you need to know something.” The coldness of his eyes seemed to get even colder. I could feel my skin tighten. I pulled my shawl closer to me trying to warm up from his cold eyes. “You father gave me permission to take your hand in marriage.” I shivered slightly.
“You must be joking.” I didn’t believe him…I didn’t want to believe him. He slowly shook his head from side to side in a cold way. I frowned.
“Now tell me…do you love Nicolaus?” I looked down those tears had dried but I felt them coming back.
“My answer remains…” I said quietly and looked down as he stood. He put a hand under my chin and gently brought my face to look at him. It was a gentle gesture but his that coldness of his eyes intensified.
“Tell me.” A tear rolled down my cheek. His face was so soft and understanding but his eyes…his eyes told a different story. I sobbed lightly then took a shaky breath and glared at him.
“Yes…with all my heart.” I let spite and arrogance fill my voice. He took his hand away.
“Orianna, I don’t want to force your love. I only hope you will come around.” I found yet another hint of counterfeit feelings. Had I been anyone else I would have never picked it out.
“I am sorry My Lord…but my love for Nicolaus runs to deep. And as long as he lives…” I stopped quickly and looked down. “As long as I live I will love him.”
There was a small pause then he walked to the door.
“Well if I cannot have your love or hand then I shall have your friendship.” I looked at him unbelieving of his acceptance. He smiled softly. There will be moonlit revels at the Inn tonight your brother is coming will you attend and dance in our rounds?” I looked down.
“If I am free.” He may have nodded but I didn’t see, he just walked out. Michael walked in only moments later.
“Ori when you have a…are you alright? You’ve heard?” He looked distressed. I looked up at him.
“Heard what?” He shook his head.
“Nothing…when you have a moment will you come to father’s office?”
“Of course.” He walked out and I was left to myself. I dried my tears and stood up. I heard a whisper behind me and I turned to see if someone was there but there was no one. I was alone. I walked to the door and paused again hearing a fainter whisper. I turned and looked around again…still nothing.
I went out into the hall and started down it to the office. In mid step I heard more whispers not just one voice. There were many saying different things. I pulled my shawl closer to me.
“Dead…”, “A
woman?”, “Napea…”, “Who is it?”, “Where am I?
Where are you?”, “run…”, “Run…” “RUN,Ori,RUN…”
I put my hands up to my ears begging them to stop trying not to hear.
“Stop…” I said quietly. “Stop…please stop…” My shawl dropped to the floor then I dropped after to my knees. I pressed my hands harder on my ears to try not to hear them but it didn’t help. I felt so scared. “STOP!” I cried out.
“Orianna.” A stern, familiar voice broke everything… the noise, the chaos, the fright. “What are you doing? Get up.” I stood quickly forcing composure.
“Father.” I said it quietly turning to him and bowing my head keeping it lowered.
“I wish you wouldn’t do such childish things.” He stormed off and into his office but stopped at the door to yell something back to me. “Pick up your shawl and stop crying for God’s sake you’re a Lady.” Then he plodded into his office and slammed the door behind him. I picked up my shawl dried my eyes then quietly said: “Hello Father…how are you this fine eve? Me? Oh, well I’m just dandy.” I walked to the door of the office and grabbed the handle but quickly stopped and knock. Michael answered the door and immediately gave me a blank face. I frowned at him and walked in. Father was sitting in his chair behind his desk and Michael stayed at the door.
“Now Orianna I was told you’ve been messing around with the Duke’s son. Though it should not be any of your concern I have some unfortunate news.” He sat there looking at me with his usual cold unfeeling eyes. “But first I want to tell you that I have already told Tomas Williams that your hand was his.” He waited for a response but I gave none I just looked at him with my blank face. “Now I have just been told that Nicolaus was murdered...” My heart jumped slightly. “Just this afternoon.”
“You’re lying.” I simply stated it knowing it would make him mad and it did. His face got red and he stood up.
“You’ll not call me a liar in my house. The boy is dead ask Michael yourself.” I turned to Michael. He nodded then looked down. I coughed holding back a sob. I looked back at my father who had replaced his anger with that blankness. Tears streamed down my face in hot rivers. I touched a hand to them then looked at them sure that they would be stained with blood from my pain but they weren’t. I walked over to my father and held the tear filled hand to him.
“This, Father, is the only emotion you have ever made me feel. This is the only thing that ever held any emotional material attachment. These are my tears Father. The only thing you have ever given me.” I took a letter opener and jabbed it into his desk in anger. It stood up on it’s own for I had driven it in pretty far. He jumped slightly and I ran out of the room grabbed my cloak then ran out of the house. I looked up at the sky that was already turning dark and sobbed quietly to it. I went to the stables and took Fyré, mounted him, sobbed quietly for my lost love and set off for the moonlit revels.
Copyright of PN Luciérnaga 2000-01
Go to Chapter ten--Moonlit Revels