1417. The troupe of performers entered the Court of Miracles. Rene and the others walked on, most having seen the great underground haven before, but Harmonique and the boys all stood in the entrance, entranced by what lay before them. They all smiled at each other, knowing what the others were thinking.
"We could have some fun here boys" Harmonique grinned.
"Wrong. We will have some fun here." Christien chuckled.
As they ran to catch up with the rest of their group Harmonique noticed a boy, who looked only a few years older than herself, surrounded by a bunch of girls and laughed at all of their innocent, naïve faces. The boy himself stopped talking to the girls around him and watched as a beautiful young girl, who could only be a couple of years younger than himself, ran past laughing with her friends.
"Excuse me m'mselle's but there is something that I must go see to." And with that he sprinted off in pursuit of the girl he had just spotted.
Harmonique rummaged through a trunk of clothes and cried out in triumph when she found what she was looking for. It was now evening, not that anyone would have been able to tell in the court of miracles. People were still bustling around meeting with friends, cooking and drinking. The troupe had settled in. They had been allocated several tents to sleep in but there were several people in each one, not that it mattered because they were very spacious. The boys and harmonique were all sharing the same tent. Earlier they had all met Anton Troulliefou, who was the King of the court of miracles and of gypsies, and all of his family all of them, that is, except his eldest son and heir, Clopin. Anton was also one of the men whom Rene had come to see. Rene had known Anton for many years before he left the court to seek a different life many years ago. It had been requested by Anton that the troupe entertained the court that evening, as it was a tradition that any visiting performers put on a show for their hosts. This had completely slipped Rene's mind and Harmonique kindly offered to perform. Rene was slightly hesitant to agree but Anton thought that it was a splendid idea and Rene couldn't argue against his king. So Harmonique and the boys all went off and pretended to put something together. Little did Rene know that they already had something in mind.
It wasn't long now until Harmonique and the boys would be expected to start their performance. They all stood in their costumes and talked about what they were about to do.
"Your father is not going to like this." Adaim stated.
"Good. Look just because he won't like it doesn't mean that everyone else will hate it." She reassured him.
"No but I think we can all agree that there will be several objectors."
"That's never stopped us before. We do what we like, remember?" she laughed, "Well this is it. Lets go." And with that she walked out with the others walking behind her.
Meanwhile, in the centre of the court, people were forming a circle ready to watch the performance. Rene was seated with Anton and the rest of his family including Clopin, who had decided to show up. Rene studied Clopin for a minute. The young boy was 18, had jet-black hair and his eyes were just as dark. He sat on a pile of cushions, propped up on his elbows with his long legs stretched out in front of him. He looked thoroughly depressed and bored.
"Has Carla not travelled with you this time?" Anton asked Rene as he passed him a glass of wine.
"No. Carla died three years back." Rene answered coldly.
"Oh I'm sorry Rene." He paused "How did your daughter take the news?"
"All too well." He shook his head.
"What do you mean?"
"At first she was quiet and didn't talk about it much at all, but that was normal for her. She's always been quiet. Then, well she changed."
"Changed? How did she change?"
"I think you're about to find out." Rene signalled as Christien walked into the performing circle, directly in front of them. The whole court fell silent as he began to speak and Rene put his head in his hands as he prayed that they would not disappoint him.
"Madams and Mesuirs I am very pleased to introduce to you Harmonique Eternaire." He signalled to his right but no one appeared. " Harmnoique Eternaire." He said louder and signalled again but still no one appeared.
"You idiot!" a voice suddenly called out and a girl walked on from the left. "The only thing that you had to do was introduce me and signal to the left and you muck it up. Well congratulations."
"You told me to signal to the right." He shouted back as she approached him.
"No I didn't"
"Hey you two we've got an audience. What do you think you're doing?" Adaim called as he, and the rest of the boys, joined them.
"I don't care about the audience." She stated.
"Obviously not. This was your last chance Harmonique and you've blown it."Paule said.
"You're not talented enough to perform. You haven't got a clue." Christein said spitefully.
"That's because I had you for a teacher. How am I supposed to learn anything from you if you can't even earn enough money to buy a loaf of bread?"
"You've changed Harmonique. You used to be fun and kind but now you're just a contemptuous, conceited bitch and I hope you rot in hell just like your mother." He spat out at her. Anger flared through her and she looked around for something. Seeing what she wanted, she ran towards and picked up a sword, which was lying on the ground near her. Seeing this, Christien took a sword from one of the gypsies watching.
"No-one ever talks about my mother like that." She screamed as she approached him, brandishing her sword.
"Harmonique you put that sword down right now," Rene shouted at her, standing up. He couldn't believe what they were doing or what they were wearing.
Harmonique was dressed in a full-length dress, which bared her shoulders and hung very low. The bottom was multi-coloured and translucent up to her mid-thigh and the top half was turquoise. The other boys were all dressed in a matching tunic and hose in one of the colours from her dress. René looked around at the spectators. Most looked shocked and Anton looked disgraced. The only one who seemed interested at all was Clopin, who was now sitting up straight and was watching which great enjoyment.
"You stay out of this papa. I can fight my own battles." And with that she flung the sword at Christein who managed to block it with his own. All of the other boys moved far out of the way and watched as Harmonique and Christein began a spectacular sword fight. René couldn't believe it. They had really disappointed him and embarrassed him this time. Anton and all of the other inhabitants of his court watched rapturously as the fight developed. Each swing more powerful than the last and each strike more tactful than the one before. But as hard as each of them tried the other always managed to block their attempt. All that could be heard was the sound of their swords clanking together. Clopin watched in amazement, as did the other gypsies, as Harmonique overpowered Christien, knocking his sword out of his hand and pushing him to the dirt floor. The crowd held their breath as she towered over him with her sword pointed towards his throat. Then she moved the sword away and gave him her hand to help him up. The crowd couldn't understand what was going on and were delighted when the couple took a bow. The whole court burst into applause as they realised that what they had just seen was the performance. As they took another bow, harmonique noticed Anton stand up, still applauding and walk towards them. She also noticed her fathers face. René was furious, mainly because she had fooled him as well as everyone else. He could hear Clopin cheering and laughing next to him.
"Monsieur is that young lady part of your troupe?" the young lad asked him.
"She is my daughter."
"She is very talented." He commented.
"I suppose you could say that although I would say that it's a matter of opinion." He grumbled. Clopin was just about to ask René what he meant when his father called for silence and everyone stopped applauding and talking.
"I think that we can all say that none of us have seen a show that good for a long time." He said and the crowd cheered again, he put his hands up to get silence. "I am delighted to have you staying in my court and I'm sure you will all be welcomed warmly. Now" he paused and grinned "Lets drink." There was another cheer as people began to disperse to start up fires, get bottles and meet with friends.
Anton led Harmonique, Christien and the rest of the boys to a fire under the large stage where Pierre's wife and children were already seated with her father, who looked far from happy. As they walked nearer, Clopin moved over to make room for Harmonique to sit down. There were large cushions spread across a large area of the floor for them to sit on. Harmonique sat down next to the boy she had seen earlier that day. He was very tall and thin yet muscular. His black hair fell to his shoulders and his eyes were dark and mysterious. Harmonique found him to be quite handsome. She smiled as she sat next to him. Anton introduced his family. There was his wife, a thin and short woman with a kind face, called Lisette. Then there were his two daughters, his oldest who looked exactly like her mother and was called Celeste. The younger was called Grazielle and had a twin brother called Eteinne. Then there was Robard, their second oldest son and finally Clopin who introduced himself and kissed her hand. She smirked at him and the other boys laughed as he did so before introducing themselves. Robard began to talk about their performance and Harmnoique received several words of praise from the king's family especially from Clopin. Several different conversations started up then. Robard and Celeste talked with the boys about their acting and the twins and Clopin questioned Harmonique about her fighting skills.
"How old is your eldest now?" Rene asked Lisette and Pierre.
"Celeste is 20 now and betrothed too." Lisette answered.
"All of our children are betrothed to someone." Anton added with a smile then his smile faded "all except Clopin. He has plenty of admirers but he won't pick one."
"That's because I don't like any of them." Clopin interrupted, having been listening to the conversation "Just because they admire me doesn't mean that I admire them."
"Well if you don't find someone soon then I'll pick someone for you." Then he added with an evil grin "And it will be the ugliest girl in the court." Clopin sighed. He didn't like any of the girls in the court. They were all too innocent and naïve for him. None of them understood him. He wanted to get married, yes but not to any of them. There hadn't been a single girl in the court that he had fancied since he had been born but today that had changed. He looked across at Harmonique. She was quite tall, he guessed about five or six inches shorter than himself and he was a good 6 feet. She had pale skin, which was tanned a healthy golden brown and had long blonde hair, which hung in ringlets, framing her face. She was obviously half Romany and half gadje. She was very attractive and had a fiery spirit. Clopin found that he wanted to get to know her much better. He listened as Rene told his father of Harmnoique's sudden change in behaviour over the last couple of years. Clopin's interest in the girl was growing by the second. After a few minutes he noticed that she wasn't talking to anyone and looked very bored.
"So ma cheri, I suppose you have not seen much of the court today." Clopin lent across a large pile of cushions to talk to her.
"No not really. I would be very interested to see more of it."
"I could show you around, if you'd like me too."
"Yes I'd like that very much." She jumped at the chance.
"Why don't I show you now?" he smiled charmingly at her.
"That sounds like a good idea." She agreed enthusiastically, grateful for the opportunity to get away from her father. Clopin smiled to himself, that was much easier than he had thought it would be.
"Excuse us papa," he said to his father as they stood up and walked away.
Clopin led Harmonique around the back of one of the rows of tents where, much to his and her relief, it was deserted.
"Merci Clopin" she said, "I thought that I'd have to sit with them all evening. They're so……… boring. I can't stand sitting around with them and having to make polite conversation. No offence to your parents but I can't stand it."
"I understand" he smiled even though he was slightly disappointed that she'd only agreed to go with him to get away from his parents. Well at least he'd maybe be able to get to know her better.
"So are you really going to give me a tour?" she asked
"Only if you wish me to."
"Yes I'd like that."
He led her around the court, showing her the bathing tents, his family's tent and the various merchant stalls. She seemed to be paying great attention to everything he said but every time he would ask her a question about herself she'd quickly change the subject. He sighed with frustration as he ran out of places to show her and realised that they would have to return to his parents and that it had been a complete waste of time.
"Well that's it" he sighed and began to head back to the fire.
"Nonsense." She said, "You haven't shown me any of the more secret places in the court."
"Secret places?" He walked back towards her.
"Yes. Where do you go when you just want to escape from it all?"
"Ah. Follow me." He had forgotten about showing her this place. It was only him who knew that it existed and he went there often when he didn't want to speak to anyone. It was a hole in the wall of the court, which was high up behind the stage. No one could see it because there was a large piece of material draped from the ceiling, which covered up most of that wall including the entrance. Clopin had made a rope ladder to access it and he offered to help Harmonique up but she climbed up it easily by herself.
She was amazed when she got up there. Cushions and rugs were strewn across the floor and cloth was draped from the ceiling to the walls. She also noticed a table with several bottles of wine and a few empty ones on it.
"It's very nice," she said as he stood next to her "You must spend a lot of time up here."
"I do. The best part is that I can see across the entire court."
"You can? How?" she looked around and there was no way of seeing outside. Clopin took her over to the piece of cloth, which covered the entrance and lifted up the small flap that he had cut in it. Her face lit up as she looked out through it. The whole court was laid out before her like a little model village. Clopin put the flap back down again.
"That was amazing." She said.
"Well it comes in handy."
"I'm getting the feeling that I'm going to be spending a lot of nights up here over our stay." She sighed and lent against the wall.
"Really?" Clopin chuckled and put his hands either side of her head, so that he was also leaning against the wall. He stared deep into her eyes, which, like his own, were dark and mysterious. "Well I shall have to make sure that I am up here with you." He smiled and lent forward to kiss her. Harmonique ducked under his arm and out of the way. Thinking that she was just playing he went after her and came up behind her, wrapping his long arms around her waist and kissing her neck. She broke out of his grasp and slapped him hard across the face.
"If you try that again then I'll have no choice but to hurt you." She said strongly and climbed down the rope ladder. Clopin stared after her in disbelief. No one had ever turned him down before or slapped him. Normally the girls were throwing themselves at him. He was angry and hurt. Who was she to turn him down? He wasn't going to give up. Over the next few days Clopin spent a lot of time with Harmonique and, to his relief, she acted as if nothing had happened.
Anton had been badgering his son to choose a fiancé for far too long, so he was thrilled that evening when Clopin strolled in that evening and told him that he'd found the girl he wanted to marry.
"Thank God!" Anton had cried out "Who is she?"
"Papa, I wish to be betrothed to Harmonique Eternaire."
"Very well." Anton said, very pleased with his son's choice. Anton liked Harmonique; she was polite, clever and very talented. She would bring in a lot of money top the court as well but Harmonique also had a strong spirit which none of the other girls in the court had. "I will go and speak with Rene now. I'm sure he will be very pleased that his daughter will be wed to the future king." And Rene was pleased. He was glad that he would not have to put up with his daughters rebellious ways for much longer. He also knew that she would have a good life in the court and that Clopin would take care of her. It was arranged that Harmonique was to return to the court in two years time, when she would be 18 nearly 19 to get wed to him.
