Yay! Second installment of Maddie's Diary… Please enjoy...

Dear Diary,

In 1534 I met a man named Francis Bonnefoy. I speak French now, but back then I couldn't understand a word he said. (Even the ones he said in English.)

I remember it like it was yesterday… It was snowing then; Kumajirou and me were cuddled together. Kumajirou always kept me warm, he still does. I was sleeping, Kuma was awake though, I think, because when the man got close. He growled and woke me up.

I looked up at the man, confused. "Who are you?" I said rubbing my eyes. He didn't look like any of the people native to my, land at all. He had beautiful blue eyes, they looked like the pure blue waves of the sea just east of there. His hair was golden like mine, resembling the sun's light (or that's what Kuma said my hair looked like.) He was completely out of place like a rose blooming in a blizzard.

"je m'appelle Francis."

"Eh?" I stared at him even more confused.

He paused, he seemed to be pondering something. Then he spoke "I am called Francis." His strong French accent was practically dripping from every word. "What is your name?" He said turning his mouth into a smile.

"M-madeline." I shuddered out. Come to think of it, I don't know why I did. He didn't look scary or anything. Not like Abigail's papa. He bent down in front of me and reached out his hand.

"You will catch a cold."

I stared at his hand. Do you know how you can meet a person and know that they are… Okay. Without even knowing them. That's how I felt when he reached his hand out to me. So I took it and stood. Kumajirou whined a little, but then I hushed him and told him it was okay.

"So where are your parents?" he asked.

"I don't have any." I said earning a sympathetic look from him.

"Well, you just come with me. I'll find someone to take care of you." He said lifting me into his arms. "I don't need parents." I said, then he replied "Oh you poor thing 'ow 'ave you been keeping healthy in all of this snow and ice." We walked for awhile Kuma following behind us. I don't know what it was about him, but I trusted him. So I decide to confide in him my most important secret, the fact that I was a nation. I explained that I didn't need parents, and that the cold is nothing to me. He was ecstatic with the news. He was happy he was the first person to find me. He asked me if I wanted to go live with him back at his settlement a small settlement call Quebec. And that's how I came to live with Papa… For a really long time we spent all of our time together cooking, singing, and playing. But eventually papa got busier and busier. And no longer had time for me, he would stay in him study or at meetings, going to battle. When I'd beg him to take me with him he'd just shake head and say "Non that is not a place for a young girl." I'd try using the argument that I was a nation too, with a small militia but he still said "Non."

It made me really sad went papa had to go away. He made me worry nonstop. Later during a brief period of peace I told him that I was tired of being useless and always idle without him. He told me when I learned to use a sword I could help.

"Then teach me!"

"Non, women do not do such things. And don't go begging the soldier's they will tell you the same thing."

I started to cry and grab at his coat screaming, "Papa it's not fair." He never taught me to use a sword.