It was a failed mission, something you miscalculated or a factor you forgot to take into account. Whatever it was, you were cornered and panicked. The only option? Self destruct your knightmare frame and maybe take out some of Cornelia's men and give the black knights a chance to escape. There was a hot flash and the explosion engulfed you.
You didn't expect to wake up, and if you did, you would be waking up on the other side. You opened your eyes to a gentle blue room illuminated with sunlight from a tall Victorian window. The air was fresh with the added tint of newly picked flowers. The only sound you could hear was the rustling of the curtains blowing in the wind. You tried to get up, but a terrible pain in your side and a throbbing in your head prevented you from doing so, you collapsed again on the bed, the pain obscuring your vision. Your hand felt around your waist, a thick bandaging was keeping you from falling apart, you felt for the part where you knew Cornelia shot you earlier before the knightmare frame self destruction, but a hand grabbed yours and removed it. "What did you do? You reopened your wound, you've given me a lot of trouble, now I have to re-bandage it." At a time like this all you could manage to say was "I'm sorry". You couldn't see her face, but you felt her touch and smell her scent as she lifted your head held a glass of water to your lips. "You should drink." you obeyed her orders and felt slightly better. "Now don't move even though this might be a little painful." she said as she began removing the bandages from your side. "Where am I? This pain tells me I'm alive, but you have to be an angel and this place must be heaven." She laughed "You are very much alive, this place is the Chateau de Darcy, a place for wounded soldiers, like yourself, to get better and relax before they have to return to their service." "What soldiers do you serve? Do you work for Britannia?" you asked between gritted teeth as dabbed alcohol on your wound. "This Chateau is for any soldier that is hurt, we have no enemies and no allies. Anyone that is injured can come here and feel safe. I have no obligations to the king, just to the souls of the fallen that need my attention, like yourself." "I like that answer, what s your name?" she laughed "You sure talk a lot for someone who had two bullets in his side and a head concussion." "I'll stop if you want me to." "If you can, please stop, I wouldn't want you to strain yourself." You did as she told you, but your curiosity peaked as to what kind of girl she was. The silence that surrounded the both of you didn't bother you much, you just enjoyed being treated by her affections as she wiped the sweat off your body with a damp towel, you fell asleep to that soft touch.
The next time you woke up, it was to a cold hand sweeping across your face and rousing you from your rest. When you opened your eyes you came face to face with a women in her mid thirties. "Good morning sunshine! Glad you finally decided to wake up, you've slept for so long I didn't want you to get bed sores." She smelled of clean laundry and soap, and her hands were rough and icy. "Whats the matter young man? You look at me as if you're expecting someone else, am I no good?" "Thats not it at all madame, are you the one who has taken care of me all this time?" "Me and my three other sisters Rae, Ann, and Lynn run this chateau with our niece Alessandra and we all look after the patients equally. But the person who was worried sick about you was my little niece Alessandra, she checked up on you every morning, afternoon, and evening. I suspect its her you want to thank and not us old ladies." You kissed her hand "Old you are not, but beautiful and kind, definitely." She laughed "I am old enough to be your mother." Madame Stella gave you a tour of the chateau. It was a big grand house on top of a hill overlooking a field of grass and wildflowers, it was a place that was almost off the map, under clear and beautiful skies where no planes flew. This was the most peaceful place on earth you thought, and with the nicest people. Madame Stella introduced you to her sisters when you happened across them around the house, Madame Ann the chef, Madame Rae the nurse, and Madame Lynn the head of the house. They were all very nice, but you wanted to meet Alessandra so badly, it read all over your face. "Hey Lynn, where did Aless go?" Madame Stella asked on your behalf. Madame Lynn tapped her finger on her lip "I believe she went out to pick some fresh flowers for the young man here." Madame Stella pushed you towards the backdoor to the field "Why don't you go look for her? I think Lynn is going to need my help here." You obeyed and walked out the door, embracing the natural and pure landscape before you, the skies, the fields of grass and flowers, the white clouds, warm sunlight, the cool wind, and the pair of blue translucent eyes gazing up at you.
She has a basket full of flowers in one hand and another one to keep the wind from blowing her long blonde hair in her face. She smiled, and then you smiled, for the first and only time in your life you had fallen in love.
