Chapter 11
Souvenirs
She heard the front door clang and ran enthusiastically towards the man. He held her tight and swirled her in the air, kissing her cheek.
"Bonsoir, ma petite fleur. How was your day?" he asked.
"Excellent, papa. Maman taught me how to bake your favourite cookies, but I can't tell you about it, because it's a surprise," she innocently said.
He laughed loudly and put her down. The little girl looked up at him, to see a deep cut on his arm and ribs. Her little hand held his, and she pulled him to the chair, near the dining table.
"Sit here, papa. Why is it you always arrive home bleeding?" the little girl asked with a frown.
The man patted her head and smiled.
"I'm clumsy Coralie. I get hurt a lot. And unfortunately I think you inherited my clumsiness," he said looking at the scratch she had in her little knee.
"Thankfully, that wasn't all she inherited from you. She has the same ability of getting in trouble," a beautiful woman said laughing. "Luckily, she can get out of it just as easily."
"Colette, ma belle," he said trying to get up.
"No, papa! Stay sit or you'll hurt yourself further," the little girl said. "He's bleeding again maman, can you believe this?"
Colette cleansed her hands in the apron and walked towards them.
"Unfortunately yes, I can believe it," she said bending forward to kiss her husband's lips. "Rough day, eh?"
"Oui, mon amour. They are still looking for her and they're getting closer," he said holding the little girl closer to him. "How is the baby?"
The woman patted her swollen belly and smiled.
"Quiet today," she responded. "Now let's see your wounds."
Colette kneeled in front of her husband, and lifted his green and blue tunic. The cut to the ribs was less deep than the one in his arm.
"Go fetch a bowl of water and clean towels, ma fleur," she said to Coralie.
"Oui maman," she responded, exiting the room and walking towards the kitchen.
She held a wooden bowl on her small hands and filled it with water. Then she grabbed a couple of clean towels and slowly walked back to the room, careful not to spill out the water. She heard her name be mentioned and stopped at the doorway, listening to the conversation.
"...and they're catching up with us, ma belle. I don't know for how long we can hide in here before your brother finds us," he said, caressing Colette's cheek. "And with the arrival of the new baby, it will be harder to run."
"Oh, Acelin. I don't care if we have to run away again. I just want to keep our fleur safe," Colette murmured. "Why does my brother want her so much?"
"I was the Gypsy King, remember? Getting Coralie means making me vulnerable. His mind is too twisted, mon amour, your brother's soul is far too dark."
Coralie trembled in fear with his words. Slowly she approached the couple and put the bowl on top of the table, handing the towels to her mother.
"Merci bien, ma petite fleur" she thanked.
Coralie sat at her father's feet and leaned her dark head against his leg. Colette cleaned his wounds and bound him with several straps.
"This should do it," she said getting up. "Try not to move much, alright?"
"Oui, ma belle."
"I'm going to finish dinner. Stay here and make company to your papa."
"Oui, maman," Coralie said.
Acelin smiled to his little girl.
"Listen, Coralie. Papa is tired. Why don't you sing to me? You know how I love to hear you sing," he said.
Coralie's smile got huge, as she sat carefully in her father's lap. He held her lovingly and brushed his nose on hers.
"Lord, if there are roses in your garden
On the shores of jubilee
Would you pick a dozen of your best,
And deliver them for me?"
Coralie sang melodically, as Acelin hummed the tunes along with her.
For a short moment there was nothing but peace and the beautiful smell of Colette's stew. But that soon was to change.
Three loud knocks sounded on the door. Acelin's body stiffed and he tightened the grip on Coralie. Colette passed through the corridor and went to open the door.
"Who's that?" she asked.
"We are from the royal guard and we demand you to open the door now!" someone answered.
Colette froze and slowly opened the door.
"I'm afraid you can't get in without a written consent signed by the King. This is a private propriety and–"
"Silence!"
One of the guards kicked the door, hitting Colette's belly violently. She screamed in pain and fell backwards, holding hard to her stomach.
"Hide ma petite fleur. Hide well and don't let them find you." Acelin said anxiously to Coralie.
The little girl started to cry in fear, but she nodded.
"Don't cry ma fleur. Je t'aime beaucoup, ma belle," he said kissing her forehead.
"Moi aussi papa," she responded between sobs.
Then she jumped from his lap and hid in a little hole in the wall, where she used to hide when playing hide and seek with Acelin. The wall was big enough to cover her completely, and still letting her see what was going on.
Several men entered the small room, holding swords and bows and arrows. Acelin jumped from his seat and looked around.
"Where is she, you filthy gypsy? Where is she?" a tall and severe looking man said.
"I have no idea what you're talking about," Acelin said with a laugh.
The man made signal to the guards prepare the attack.
"Don't you want to reconsider your answer?" The man said raising his hand and showing a big emerald ring in his index finger.
"I don't think so," Acelin defied.
And with this he ran to a guard and took his sword from him, pointing it at the tall man. The latter looked at Acelin with a mischievous grin and slowly lowered his hand.
"Is this the way you welcome guests in your home?" the man asked.
"Oh, no, it's not. But then again, you are not welcome here, are you?" Acelin said sarcastically.
"Lavalette, show this man a little courtesy," the first one said.
Two seconds later, Coralie saw an arrow trespass her papa's abdomen. He bent down, holding the bloody arrow,
"Are you sure you don't want to tell me where she is?" the man growled.
"Go to hell, you dirty little rat!" Acelin roared.
The man took the sword from Acelin's hands and with one fluid strike he stabbed his chest, perforating his heart. A splash of blood painted the wall and the white carpet. Coralie cried and hid her face in her hands.
"I will find her, gypsy. With or without your help," the man said before making signal to the guards to follow him.
Coralie stayed hidden inside the wall until she was sure they were all gone. When she didn't hear any more sounds, she ran to her father's dead body.
"Papa!" she called. "Papa, please say something. I think maman is hurt, come see!"
But he didn't answer. Coralie shook a hand in front of his wide-open hazel eyes, but she had no response.
"Papa?" she cried. "Please, don't go to sleep. I baked cookies for you, papa. Remember? It's my birthday," Coralie cried.
She laid on his side, on top of the blood pool and rested her little head in his chest, letting her salty tears drip in his tunic.
"But I have joy in knowing
We'll meet again someday
And we'll pick roses together
On the shores of jubilee."
She sang for the last time.
A/N: Just a short chapter before heading off to college. How do you like 5 year old Coralie? Damn am I tired.
Poem by: Lynn Casstevens
Music suggestion: Heaven Is The Face - Steven Curtis Chapman
Next: Realization
*Bloo* with a special thanks to my faithful reader Day-Of-The-Dead-TattooGal for all the support and reviews (I-heart-you) ;)