Chapter five: Dollys, dresses, and names
The girl's mind raced with panic and dread, the little girl had seen he, and was on the verge of tears seeing her holding the decapitated doll. If Eloise were to cry she would then alert her whole family, and they would surly come running to her aid! That was a hassle she didn't need right now, she was desperate she needed to feed her husband, she had been so close, and by her own fault she hadn't paid close enough attention to her surroundings, and now was paying dearly for it!
The girls frantic eyes darted to the woods, and the little girl who was now whimpering, tears were starting to brake from her eyes and streak down her rosy pink cheeks. Two sides of the girls mind clash against one another. One side… her meek side wanted to abandon her mission of getting more food, and flee into the woods praying to not be also spotted by Eloise's family. The other side… the dark, and more savage side of her… wanted to silence the girl by any means necessary even if it meant killing her!
No! She was not going to harm this child this girl was innocent she had done nothing to warrant such a terrible thing to befall upon an innocent such as her. Besides she had already murdered a child in cold blood as part of her revenge against her father. The girl had made another promise to herself, and the sake of her husband, and future children right then, and there that she would never ever do something so despicably heinous to a child ever again!
She knew that she couldn't run either, she needed to feed her husband or he won't have enough energy to heal properly and recuperate!
What was she going to do!? She was between a rock and a hard place! The girl bit her lip in frustration till it almost bleed, she was running out time! Eloise's whimpers were turning into hiccuping sobs, any louder, and the sobs would alert her family and they would be coming to her aid any second now! She needed to think of a way of calming and quieting the small child down with out scaring her or hurting her.
Then an idea suddenly struck her mind like a bolt lightning!
An idea just absurd enough to work! Children are the most innocent and imaginative points with in a human's life. And their naivety could be easily influenced into believing things that would have been otherwise explained away with true facts, and reason with an adults knowingness, and experience from knowing what was real and what was not! Well most of the time anyway… from first hand experience she had dealt with the worst of human adult superstition and fear of things that they couldn't understand. But her goal was not to scare the girl but to have her perceive her as someone none threatening someone she could trust.
Just a little harmless white lie that shouldn't harm the child in any way… well the girl prayed anyway…
Hopefully she was convincing enough to fool the little girl. First step was to look as non threatening as possible, so the girl slowly placed her giant mace dow, and placed Eloise's headless doll gently on the ground. Still crouch the girl crept closer to the crying child trying to appear smaller and less threatening looking.
"Shhhh… it's okay.. it's going to be alright Eloise there's no need to cry."
The girl cooed softly, the little girl looked the strange lady with wide eyes and nervously stuck a thumb in her mouth.
"H-How do you K-know my name?"
The little girl stuttered nervously on the verge of tears again the girl gave Eloise a warming comforting smile.
"There's no need to threat darling I'm not going to hurt you… I'm hear to help you."
The little girl blinked the tears away from her eyes and popped the thumb out of her mouth.
"H-Help me?"
The girl chuckled softly.
"Of course you silly goose I'm a Dame Blanche."
The little girl's eyes went wide as saucers!
"You're a white lady!?"
Eloise then looked fearful at the river then back to the girl.
"If I don't dance with you are you going to toss me into the river?!"
Eloise looked like she was going to cry again, and that was something the girl definitely didn't want that. The girl decided to take a chance, and came close to Eloise and slowly reached out and wiped away the tears from the little girls eyes with a comforting compassionate hand
"Oh no no no silly. I said I was here to help you not harm you. But before I help you I need you to do something for me. I need you to be very, very quiet. If your papa, or your bother hear you, and go to check on you, and see me I will disappear, do you think you can do that for me?"
The girl saw Eloise quietly nod, and she flashed the girl a heart warming smile, and went over, and picked up the doll and it's head. The girl removed her satchel, and placed it on the ground, and brought out a bone needle, and a spool of black thread that was intended to stitch up her own wounds but it would suite this purpose just fine. Eloise watched the girl intently as she saw her skillfully stitch the head back onto her beloved dolly. The little girl rocked back and forth on her heels.
"A-Are you really a Dame Blanche?"
The little girl asked her innocently her eyes filled with curiosity, a faint smile spread across the girl's lips, just exactly the question she had waited for Eloise to ask her. The girl held out her bare palm to the little girl and let tiny sparks dance between her fingers, the little girl softly gasped and her eyes widened with awe!
"You really are a white lady."
Eloise whispered excitedly she grinning wide and showing the girl that she was missing a few of her baby teeth. She smiled warmly at the little girl, this child was truly brimming with youthful wonderment and innocence even after losing her mother at such a young age she still was beaming with it and she admired the girl for it. The girl finished stitching the dolls head back on and smiled at her handiwork.
"There. Good as new."
The girl handed back the doll to Eloise, and the little girl crushed the doll to her chest hugging it tight like the doll would up and vanish.
"Antoinette your all better now! Thank you so much Dame Blanche!"
The girl was practically hopping up and down in excitement the girl momentarily forgot that she needed to be quiet. Then suddenly a gruff masculine voice sounded from the cottage!
"Eloise ma petite! Are you okay my little lovely?!"
That voice belonged to the little girl's father Eloise eyes went wide and she looked back at the girl worriedly, the girl smiled at her a put a finger to her lips.
"Tell your father that your alright… but remember don't tell him anything about me or I will disappear."
The girl nodded and turned towards the cottage.
"I'm okay papa! I was just happy to find Antoinette!"
The little girl shouted.
"Ahhh… good to hear you found your dolly! Come back inside ma Cherie before your supper gets cold!"
"Coming papa!"
The girl decided that this was a good chance to take her leave, so the girl picked up her satchel, and war mace, and dart across the bridge, and into the safety of the woods when she felt tug on the ruined skirt of her dress. She saw that Eloise held the torn filthy fabric in her tiny hand, and was staring up at her with her wide bright blue eyes, her other thumb was in her mouth her doll was tucked securely under her armpit.
"A-Are you leaving?"
The girl asked sadly not wanting her new found friend to leave. Sullenly the girl nodded, the girl really hated to leave after finding a human that hadn't fled in terror when they saw her. But she needed to leave to find more food for her husband before it got dark, and she really didn't want to get spotted by the child's father. The girl leaned down closer towards the girl and brushed a stray strand of hair behind the little girl's ear.
"I'm sorry I would really love to stay longer but, I need find food for my husband."
The little girl's brows knitted together.
"Husband?"
The girl chuckled at seeing the confusion on the little girl's face.
"Yes.. I have a husband he's…"
The girl thought for a moment.
"He's a troll."
The little girl's eyes grew even wider.
"A troll!?"
Eloise squeak in fear, the girl shook her head.
"Oh no no no don't worry silly goose. He's a good troll, he wouldn't hurt you."
The girl saw a look of relief wash over the little girl's face.
"Eloise my lovely come inside! Don't make me come out there and carry you in like a flour sack!"
The little girl's father shouted out playfully and that was the girl's sign to leave! But again she was halted by the small child who ran over, and blocked her path to the bridge, she was a quick little flea! The girl meant that in the most endearing way possible.
"Please! Please stay, I don't want you to leave yet!"
The little girl pleaded with her, shimmering tears started to form again in the corner of her big blue eyes. The girl shook her head sadly.
"I'm sorry little one I can't my husband needs me."
"W-Wait you need some food right? I-I can give you some, we have plenty of food!"
Was this girl really about to offer her food if she stayed? The girl's mind fought with the idea of just running or excepting the the girl's offer of more food, and that look the little girl was giving wasn't helping her case of just bolting. And the girl also thought of the time saved of trying to find food elsewhere. The girl sighed inwardly and caved.
"Alright silly goose you convinced me."
The little girl's eyes lit up with joy and she was practically jumping up and with glee!
"Thank you! Thank you! Dame Blanche, you can hide in the barn I will bring you the food once we're done with supper, and my Papa and brother go back to work. You can hide in our nanny goat's stall her name is Fleur, and she's the sweet goat you will ever meet! She won't bother you none!"
"I'm going to give you the count of ten Cher, or I'm going out there and tickle you until you come back inside and finish your supper!"
Eloise's father playfully threatened, and started to count down drawing out the numbers long and slow.
"Oh I have to go now! See you after supper!"
And with the little girl with her doll tucked under her arm, and dashed to the door of the cottage not before waving to her and opening and closing the door just as fast. The girl giggled and picked up her things and stealthily made her way to the barn.
Eloise was correct when she said that Fleur was a sweet goat, the instant that she snuck into the barn Fleur happily bleated her welcome as she stepped into her stall. She trotted over and nuzzled her horned head against her thigh and the girl giggled and lovingly scratched under the goat's chin. The girl was now lying down on a pile of straw that was bedding intended for the nanny goat to sleep on. The said nanny goat had her head resting upon the girl's lap, and she was gently scratching behind the goat's horns. The girl was completely relaxed, and listened to the sound of the other animals that were in the barn. She could smell pungent smells of living animal hide straw, and manure. She honestly had smelled worse.
The girl smacked her lips, her tongue felt dry, she was thirsty, and she hadn't had anything to drink for many hours. And, the only source of water she saw was the water trough that was meant for the animals but, that was to risky because it was out in the open near the barn. Far to risky of the chance of being seen by Eloise's family. The girl then eyed the pink swollen Tete of the nanny goat, and she gently brushed her fingers through Fleur's beard.
"If I give you a truffle do you think I can have some of your milk?"
The goat lifted up her head and bleated excitedly at the promise of food, the girl grinned, and reached into her satchel for a truffle, and pulled one out, and gave it to the goat and the nanny goat wagged her tail happily. Fleur took the treat, and happily munched on it. The girl knelt near the goat and softly grabbed ahold of the udder, and pointed it upwards towards her mouth. The girl leaned forward and opened her mouth, and softly yet firmly squeezed the udder. A small stream of warm milk came squirting out of the nipple, and splashed into the the girl's awaiting mouth. The wondrous creamy flavor of the milk danced upon the girl's tongue!
Once the girl had her fill she let go of the goat's udder and patted Fleur's back in thanks, the goat bleated out happy that she could help. The girl laid her self back into the bed of straw and waited. It didn't take to long and she heard the barn door creak open, and the girl saw Eloise struggle to carrying both a massive bundle and wrapped in in a woolen blanket, and a burlap sack all at the same time.
"Pessst! Dame Blanche it's me… I got your food."
The girl got up, and brushed the straw off her tattered skirt and legs, and went to help Eloise Fleur fallowed after, the bell on her neck clanked as she walked. The girl took the bundle from the little girl and placed it on the straw covered floor. Fleur bleated, and took ahold of the bottom of the burlap sack between her large teeth, and chewed on the coarse fabric. Eloise gave a huff and tried to push the nanny goat's head away.
"No! Fleur naughty goat this food is not for you!"
The girl giggled at the interaction between the little girl, and the goat, the girl went over to help Eloise. She reached into her satchel, and brought out another truffle and gave to the nanny goat Fleur happily obliged and munched on the truffle the girl giggled, and so did Eloise. The girl took ahold of the sack, and helped by placing it on the ground, it my have been heavy to the little girl but to her it was as light as air.
"Thank you for your help Dame Blanche."
The girl smiled warmly.
"Your welcome silly goose."
The little girl went over to the sack, and opened it motioning for her to come over to have a look. The girl walked over and knelt beside the little girl and looked inside. The girl saw bundles of wrapped cured meat, and unspoiled vegetables like carrots potatoes and onions. And she saw a couple of bottles of wine, she had to give this little girl some praise, she was a lot stronger then she looked especially for a six year old girl. The girl saw a thick triangle shape object wrapped in paper and twine, she reached inside the sack and brought out the paper wrapped triangle.
Eloise smiled as she watched the girl curiously bring the object up to her nose and took a sniff.
"That would be goat cheese if you were wondering."
The girl turned to the little girl and smiled.
" Goat cheese… it smells wonderful!"
Eloise giggled.
"It was made from milk from Fleur! It's the bestest cheese you will ever eat in the whole wide world!"
Eloise exclaimed she proudly patted Fleur on her back. The girl giggled and shook her head.
" I wouldn't doubt it."
The girl placed the cheese back into the sack, and turned her attention back to the blanket bundle.
"Whats in the blanket you have there silly goose?"
The girl curiously asked and the little girl looked bashful away making small circles on the straw covered ground.
"Wellll… I saw that your pretty white dress was ruined and I thought… that I could give you my mama's old dresses… Papa said she doesn't need them anymore because she's in heaven."
The girl couldn't help but feel such a terrible pang of sadness for Eloise to lose her mother at her age was such a heartbreaking thought. The little girl clapped her hands and was jumping up and down excitedly.
"Open it! Open it! Open it!"
The girl chuckled and went over to the blanket, and unfolded it revealing three dresses, and a pair of slightly worn heeled brown leather boots. All the dresses looked like they could fit her so did the boots, she carefully lifted up one of the dresses, and inspected it. The one she was holding was a long sleeved dress of heavy dark blue fabric, the skirt was long, and looked like it would stop just below the ankle. The girl believed that this was a winter dress, the girl placed the dresses back down and lifted one of the other dresses. This one was short Sleeved, and made of a lighter fabric of a modest black in with a white apron and shall.
This looked like to be a dress made for warmer weather. She placed the dress back down, and looked at final dress… and it was truly magnificent! It was a rich light blue the fabric shined in the light of the sun, white frilled lace was stitched to the end of the sleeve and to the front of the dress circling the hem! White roses made of fabric was stitched to the back of the sleeves as well!
Eloise took notice of the captivated look on the woman's face.
"That dress was given to my mama from my papa when he visited Paris!"
The little girl beamed eyes sparkling.
"It's simply gorgeous! All of the dresses you given me are truly wonderful!"
The little girl was hoping on one leg filled with excitement.
"Oh! Oh! Oh! Put one on I want to see you in one of mama's dresses!"
The girl nodded excitedly, and placed the pretty blue dress down.
"I think I'm going to try on the black one first and then save the best one for last!"
Eloise squealed and clapped excitedly!
"Ooooo! Yes! Yes! That sounds lovely! A personal fashion show case thingy, just like the rich ladies do in Paris!"
The little girl sat down and got comfortable, Fleur laid down next to her placing her head on the little girls lap and patted the nanny goat's head. The girl smiled at Eloise, and proceeded to remove her ruined filth stained wedding gown. As she did so Eloise eyes went wide when the girl took off the dress revealing her bare skin to her, she saw that there were the pale silvering of scars that encircled her thighs and her shoulders! The scars were so thin, and fine she almost had missed them!
"D-Did those scars hurt… how did you get them?"
Eloise innocently asked the girl.
"Hmmm…? Oh! My scars…"
The girl gently traced the line of scared skin and shook her head.
"No they didn't hurt.. I've always had them… ever since as was born actually…"
Which was the truth Eloise looked down guiltily.
"I'm sorry I should have asked I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings. Mama told me it was rude I'm sorry I forgot!"
The smiled warmly at the little girl.
"It's okay I'm not mad it was an honest question."
"Really?"
The girl continued to smile, and she nodded.
"Really."
The little girl clapped her hands.
"On with the show!"
The girl had wonderful time showing off the dresses for Eloise doing little twirls, and Eloise would give her a round of applause. The girl felt her heart Soar! It just felt so good being praised by this small child she had never experience praise from anyone before! The girl then came to the last dress, the light blue one from Paris her most favorite or the three. The girl slipped on the dresses, and did a twirl.
"What do you think?"
Eloise looked at her eyes wide her mouth slightly agape.
"Y- you are so pretty Damn Blanche!"
"You t-think I'm pretty?"
The little girl nodded vigorously.
"Yeah so pretty you look like a princess!"
The girl felt hot tears prick her eyes. No one had ever complimented her or told her she was pretty before she thought that her human heart would burst from her chest with joy! Everyone human she had ever med thought she was some hideous horrid monster, but not this sweet precious little girl! God bless her pure heart! The girl rushed over to Eloise and envelope her in a firm hug, and she lovingly planted a kisses on both of her rosy cheeks. The little girl blushed and giggled.
"Thank you! Thank you so much you Sweet girl"
The girl cooed in the little girl's ear, and wiped the tears from her eyes, she then removed herself from and continued to smile completely, and utterly elated!
"Your very welcome Dame Blanche!"
Eloise smiled flashing her a missing toothy grin then the little taped a finger on her chin in thought.
"Ummm… I was wondering… do you have a name?"
The girl shook her head sadly.
"No I do not…"
The little girl gasped her eyes wide with disbelief.
"You don't have a name?! Everyone has a name! You mean that your mama papa didn't give you a name!?"
The girl looked down, and gripped the skirt of the dress she wore tightly, feeling slightly embarrassed and ashamed. Of course she wasn't given a name… her father feared and hated her… why would he…? The little girl's eyes went wide, as she realized that the girl was upset about not actually been given a name. The little girl wrapped her tiny arm's around the girl's body, and gave her a tight supportive hug. The action caught her completely off guard!
"It's okay Dame Blanche don't be sad… I can give you a name!"
"Y-You will?"
The girl was completely stunned and Eloise nodded.
"Yep! Yep! I will give you a name! I think everyone should have a name! That is… if your okay with me giving you a name?"
The little girl was to sweet, and precious for this world and it was making her adore the child more and more! She smiled at Eloise, and she could feel herself on the verge of tears again.
"Yes! Yes! I would love that!"
And she kissed the girl sweetly Eloise giggled.
"Don't worry I'm good at giving names, I've actually named all our animals including Fleur!"
The nanny goat's ear twitched, and she lifted her head and bleated at hearing her name mentioned both the girls giggled.
" I trust you silly goose to give me a good name. Whatever you decide it will a fantastic name!"
The girl was overwhelmed with so many emotions right at that moment. So many feelings she has never felt before, or thought she would ever feel. The little girl stuck a thumb in her mouth and sucked deep in thought on what would be a good name to give the girl. After a few moments Eloise's eyes lit up!
"Oh! I got it! How about Francine, and your nickname can be Fran or Franny!"
At that moment the girl thought her heart was really going to burst from joy! Tears streamed from eyes and she embraced the little girl again not wishing to let this girl go for anything in the world!
"Thank you! Thank you! Sweet girl!"
"Your welcome! Oh! Oh! Let's introduce ourselves!"
The newly named Girl Francine giggled.
"Of course let's!"
The girl's both let go of each other, and stood up Francine was jittering with excitement at being able to use her new name.
"I'll go first!"
Eloise cleared her throat and made her voice sound exaggeratedly posh, that made Francine giggle uncontrollably.
"Greetings my lady, my name is Lady Eloise, to whom do I Owe the pleasure!?"
Eloise was snickering through the whole thing as she curtsied. Francine curtsied right back.
"Ahhh yes! Greetings my good lady my name is lady Francine."
She said back to the girl with an equally exaggerated posh tone. They both stared at one another for a long while both not knowing what to do next, and they both burst out laughing. They both were gasping for breath, as their laughter was dying downs is when Francine took notice from one of barns open windows… that the sun was staring to set. She hadn't realized how time passed she needed to go home to Adonis. She hoped he was doing well.
"Eloise I need to go the suns setting I need to get back to my husband. I wish I could play with you more but I can't…"
The little girl looked down sadly it broke Francine's heart to see the little girl like this.
"Okay… I understand… I-I hope your husband likes the food."
Francine smiled at the little and gently cupped her chin.
"I'm sure he will."
"Oh. Uhh… will.. will I be able to see you again?"
Eloise asked in such a tiny voice that Francine had almost didn't hear. That really surprised her she didn't even suspect that the girl would wish to see her again. She was beyond ecstatic that the girl wished to come visit her again...but.. Should she really be entertaining such an idea. It was also a dangerous idea not only for her but for her husband as well, if she were to somehow get caught she couldn't pretend she was a white lady, especially if it was Eloise grandmother or father. They were adults, and a lot harder to fool then a small child! With her husband in his present condition it would be a lot harder for her if they tried to make an effort of escape if a mob of villagers were after her!
But on the other head she has already fallen in love with this child since the short amount of time that she knew her. She knew the girl was motherless and didn't really have anyone her age to play with, and she wished to pay back the girl's kindness many times over forever if she must. That's the most she deserves!
Francine made her decision.
" I promise I will come visit you again soon!"
The little held up her pinky finger.
"Do you pinky promise?"
Francine looked at Eloise confusion marred her doll like features.
"Pinky promise?"
"Mmm hmm! A pinky promise is the most important promise you can make in the whole wide world! And you can never, ever, break that promise!"
A pinky promise is promise that can never be broken?! She never knew such a promise existed!
"Here! I can show you how to do it!"
Eloise to Francine's pinky into her own.
"We put our pinky's together like this! And now you say, I pinky promise to come visit you again my newest best friend Eloise!"
Francine smiled her heart soaring above the clouds and beyond.
" I promise to visit you again my newest best friend Eloise."