"I'd be pleased to accompany you tonight." Leonardo examined his friend's somber face. Only days before, that stone mask had been radiant and lively, full of animation and passion. 'But', he speculated, 'that was because he had discovered real love.'
Henry bowed his head stiffly toward the master artist, "Thank you, signore. You have no idea how much your presence is appreciated."
"Oh, shut up, will you?" Leonardo stared at the boy suddenly angry, his nostrils flaring. "You've been acting like a bloody prick for the past few days and I am quite sick of it!"
He hastily rolled up a piece of parchment he had been sketching on, and stalked past Henry. "Stupid boy! You don't understand what you are doing!"
Henry's eyes flashed and the veins in his neck became much more visible. "I stupid? You are the one who stays locked in this room with complete and total disregard for authority; dreaming about things that will never come to be. You, signore, are living in a dreamworld! Why are you angry anyway? You have no reason to be irate at me!"
Leonardo spun around and stared Henry dead in the eye. "What happened to Nicole, Henry?"
Henry's face fell, the anger melting away and in its place filled sorrow. His eyes, having been fiery and challenging, now grew into soft, dark spheres of gloom and despair. His red, inflamed cheeks now paled and his lips parted uncertainly. "She..-"
He inhaled sharply and turned his face away. "She's married." His words fell dull and flat, hanging in the air between them.
"Oh God, Henry." The old man looked toward his friend with compassion and sympathy. "I'm so sorry." His eyebrows furrowed and he stroked his chin thoughtfully. It didn't seem logical that she was married. Leonardo tended to have a good judge of character, and Nicole had not been an actress.
"But how are you sure?"
"Why should I doubt what I know to be obvious? I told you what happened at Amboise! I feel like such a fool not to have known it then." He hung his head in shame and humiliation.
Leonardo stroked his beard and gazed thoughtfully at Henry, "Who was it that gave you the news, if not Nicole herself?"
Henry frowned a little, dark creases formed heavily in his forehead, "I'm not sure. My mother told me, and some noblewoman told her."
Leonardo inched forward, his eyes locking meaningfully with Henry's, "Which noblewoman?"
Henry's lips parted in confusion for a second, but then his forehead smoothed and his eyes brightened, "Are you suggesting that I find this noblewoman, and ask her about Nicole?"
Leonardo nodded slowly, "It's the only way to ever be sure. And, if the woman's information proves to be correct, you can then be sure and rest easy."
Henry snorted incredulously, "Rest easy? Easier said then done, signore. But, I will ask my mother who this noblewoman is, and find out every bit of information about Nicole I can get before my wedding." Henry's face soured and his eyes darkened. "My wedding-" he spit the word out.
"Is it wise to be marrying so soon after you have had your heart broken? Are you sure, if Nicole is indeed gone, that this new wench is one you can live with the rest of your life?"
Henry paused for a long while, mulling it over in his mind. "Anything is better than Spain. And- Marguerite's looks are pleasing." His voice was flat and emotionless. "She would make a beautiful queen."
Leonardo sighed and shook his head, "If that is what you think is best then-" he trailed off. "I will have the pleasure of her aquaitance tonight, I suppose."
"Yes, I suppose you will."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The door creaked open again, this time giving way to a timid, and concerned Paulette.
"Oh my dear, Danielle." The middle-aged woman caught Danielle up into a warm, motherly embrace, "Poor, sweet, child. You don't deserve to have all this misfortune."
"Oh, but what shall I do, Paulette?" Danielle's despairing voice, muffled by her friend's apron, cried out, "I am no more than a slave now. I am nothing!" Tears flowed again, and Paulette knelt over her, her own tears falling.
"Danielle, there is only one thing you can do, dear." Gently, she pulled Danielle's head up, looking her in the eye, telling her that what she had to say was important. "You must run away. If you don't, you'll either be sold to Monsieur Le Pieu or shipped off to the Americas for sure."
Danielle fell silent, wiping away her tears, "But, where would I go?"
"Anywhere, pet. Anywhere that is as far away from here as possible. You have to escape, Danielle, and you have to do it now." Silence followed, and Danielle could hear the pounding of hooves outside."
"Is it true then?" She inquired sadly, already knowing the answer, "Henry is engaged to Marguerite."
"Yes, dear, I'm sorry." More tears spilled from Palette's eyes, full of grief for the child that she loved and cherished as her own daughter. "Which is why you are in more danger. Rodmilla wants to get rid of you as soon as possible."
Danielle stood up, and wobbled to the side. Regaining her balance, and wiping away the last trace of her tears, Danielle knew it was time to go. "I'm done with crying and feeling sorry for myself," she whispered quietly to herself, "At least now, I can start a new life, somewhere else outside of France." She gazed at her friend, the one who had acted as a mother and mentor for almost all of her life. "I'll need supplies, and food."
Paulette nodded eagerly, holding up a brown sack. "I've already packed all that for you, miss. Your clothes- Maurice has them in a bag by the back door, where you can make your escape."
Danielle grabbed the sack and gazed, for probably the last time, at her dear friend. "I love you, Paulette."
"I love you too!" Paulette embraced the girl, fighting back hot tears. "Be good! Write me as soon as you get settled, under a different name, of course."
Louise emerged from the shadow, "Good-bye, Danielle." She too, embraced the child, but refusing to hold back her tears, let them fall freely.
Saying goodbye to Maurice, Paulette, and Louise was the hardest thing she had ever done since watching her father die at the gate. Danielle choked back more tears and walked down the path toward the woods, the place where she would be safe from encountering anyone.
Free. It hit her suddenly. She was free from Rodmilla's clutches. A small smiled played about on her lips, the first genuine one she had felt in days.
A pebble hit the back of her head. Danielle ducked, alarmed that she had been found.
"I don't believe it!"
She turned round, looking for the source of the voice.
"You were honestly going to leave without me!"
Another pebble whizzed past her ear.
"Gustave!" She cried. She ran over to him and hugged him close. "I'm sorry, I-"
"No excuses, you. I don't care what you say, I'm going with you."
"Oh, Gustave," She pulled away from him to give him a fond slap on the head, and gasped. "What happened to you?!"
Gustave's cheeks turned red and gingerly touched his casted arm and bruised eye.
"It's just a scratch."
"Tell me what happened." Danielle crossed her arms intimidatingly in front of her chest, indicating that she would not let him brush it aside.
"Igothitbyacart." He babbled.
"What?"
"I got hit by a cart." The blush now spread from his cheeks to his ears.
"Why aren't you dead then?"
"Oh, I'm sorry. I guess I should just go back and complain to the driver that he didn't hit me hard enough, and ask him to please, pretty please run over me again properly until I stop moving." His voice rose defensively.
"Oh, Gustave, I'm sorry. That's not what I meant." She touched the bruise under his eye gently, "I'm just surprised, that's all. How did it happen?"
"I didn't look both ways before I crossed the street," he muttered. "I was on my way to the castle to tell Leonardo to help you when a cart came out of nowhere and knocked me out. Luckily, the horses were well trained and were able to stop before they trampled me to death."
Danielle stood stock still for a moment, "You were going to the castle?"
Gustave nodded quickly, "I would have made it too, if it hadn't been for that crash." "Danielle," he added quickly, "I'm sorry. I heard about-" he bit the inside of his lip and gazed questioningly at her, not sure how to go on.
She shrugged her shoulders weakly, "That's all in the past now." Her eyes looked far off into the distance, searching. "I'm leaving here, Gustave."
"I know. And I'm coming with you." He grinned and tapped her shoulder. "I still can't believe you were going to leave without me."
Danielle smiled gravely, "I'm sorry. I just- I dunno." she sighed. "I guess we'd better get going, shan't we?"
"Oh," Gustave grabbed her by the arm, and steered her left, "We have to go pick up my things."
"Gustave!" she moaned, "I can't be seen by anyone."
Gustave raised his eyebrow at her, "Who said anyone was going to see you? See, I have everything planned out. We take the backroads to my little shack, I pack up my things, kiss my mum g'bye, and then we head on down the road, under to cloak of night mind you, leading to my future as a famous artist."
Danielle nudged him the ribs, "And I thought you were coming with me to keep me company."
Gustave chuckled to himself, "Ha!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Henry tried hard to suppress a yawn, clamping his mouth shut hard. It was impossible, so he raised his hand discreetly to hide a large and rather loud yawn that he had been holding in all afternoon.
Marguerite raised a delicately tweezed eyebrow at him, "Are you tired, my darling?" She rolled the 'r' in darling, making Henry wish he could command her to never say that word ever again.
Feigning his best smile, he said "No, not really. It is only a bit hot in here."
At the other end of the table, Rodmilla tittered and rang a small bell placed beside her hand. "Maurice!" she called.
The poor old man creeped through the door and bowed his head reverently toward both the Prince and Leonardo. Henry glanced up at Maurice, and felt a spark of remembrance in his head. The old man looked so familiar. He gazed intently on his face, his eyes traveling over ever feature in his face, hoping to pinpoint exactly where it as he had seen him; it felt important.
"Open the windows, you fool! Can't you feel the blasted heat burning us all up?!" She waved her hand away in disgust and turned to smile graciously toward the prince, "I am so sorry, your highness. We should have been more considerate toward your needs."
"There is no need to apologize, Madame." He felt Marguerite's spidery hand creep over his and clasp it. It took all of his control to not wretch it away. Still following Maurice's movements, he saw a flash of the man in rags. Rags? He frowned to himself, pondering. Where could that have been?
"Signore Da Vinci," Rodmilla de Ghent broke the sudden silence that had fallen over the table, "How do you like France?"
Leonardo cleared his throat, "Quite well, Madame. I know I shall miss it when the time comes for me to depart."
Henry now focused his friend in surprise; he had never before mentioned leaving. "When will that be, signore?"
Leonardo shrugged his shoulders and gazed around the room, "When my work here is done, I suppose."
"You can provide no clearer answer than that?!"
Leonardo's eyes hardened at his young friend, "You will know when that time comes."
"Darling," Henry flinched at his fiancee's sudden ejaculation, "When exactly will our wedding be?" Marguerite widened her eyes attractively and stroked his hand with her index finger; more than anything Henry wanted to be on the opposite side of the room.
"My father said before a fortnight." He attempted to smile lovingly at her; it felt false on his face, he gave up.
Marguerite smiled to herself, as if holding some secret close to her. "The sooner, the better, my love."
Henry glanced pleadingly at his friend da Vinci, who in turned looked away, telling him that she was what he had chosen, and he had to deal with it.
"If you'll excuse me," abruptly, Leonardo stood up from the table and stretched, "I think I shall go for a walk."
Rodmilla, hardly caring, said apathetically, "Must you? It's so dark outside; will you need an escort? Jacqueline would be happy to join you."
"Nonsense!" Leonardo stared at the woman as if she was mad, "I have been living on my own my whole life. I don't need an escort 'now'! No offense my dear," he glanced down apologetically at Jacqueline, "I would love to be in your company, but I will be fine by myself." Jacqueline nodded to him, quite relieved.
He bowed and had almost disappeared when Henry shouted out, "I'll join you!"
Rodmilla arched her right eyebrow, now concerned. "But, your highness, we still have much to discuss."
Henry stood up and had already joined his friend at the doorway. He needed to get out; if he was left alone with these women he would surely go mad.
"We will discuss it as soon as I get back, Madame. I promise." With that they disappeared.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Danielle!" Gustave panted from far behind, "Wait up for me!"
Danielle rolled her eyes and turned around, "Hurry up! You are the slowest human being that I have ever met!"
"Am not," Gustave muttered. "Just-" he inhaled deeply, "Let's-" he exhaled, "take a break."
"Oh, no you don't! We haven't even traveled two miles from your house. At this rate we'll never get anywhere."
"Never say never," Gustave murmured, sitting down stubbornly on his trunk.
"Why did you bring that huge thing anyway?" she said, pointing to his large, gigantic trunk.
"I needed it to carry paint, supplies, among other things."
Danielle rolled her eyes again. "Well, take your break quickly. I want to get out of this are as fast as possible." She glanced around tentatively. Having started from Gustave's house, they were only half a mile from her former home. A half a mile too close.
Gustave sighed and looked around him, "What do you suppose you'll do when we get to another town?"
Danielle shrugged, and spun around glancing cautiously at the woods to her right. She could have sworn she'd heard a twig snap. "I don't know. Maybe find some job working somewhere."
Gustave snorted, "Now that's a plan if I ever heard one."
Danielle grinned at him, "Oh shut up. Have you had your rest now?"
He shook his head fervently. "No, give my five," he held up his hand, "Just five more minutes and I will be ready to go."
Danielle shook her head and muttered something. Her eyes grazed over the trees and trails, trying to adjust to the dark. She jumped. Another twig had snapped farther off. She peered into the woods, trying to find a shape.
Gustave noticed her edginess, "It's probably just squirrels," he whispered in a comforting tone.
"Perhaps," she rubbed her arms and glanced up at the moon, frowning.
"You still think about him, don't you?" Gustave asked.
Danielle smiled to herself, "All the time."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Did that man, Maurice, look familiar to you, signore?" Henry grabbed a twig and hit it against a tree.
Leonardo frowned, "No, not really. Then again, I have seen many faces and it would be a true miracle if I could remember every one."
He sighed heavily and stopped, "Where are we?" he began to notice that he had lost track of where they were walking. He was surrounded by thick trees, and the manor was no where in sight.
"The middle of the woods, my absent minded friend." Leonardo chuckled a little bit. "Luckily, we have the moon out tonight to guide us."
"By the way," Leonardo gave Henry a side-long glance, "did you happen to ask the queen who it was that she obtained her information from?"
"No." Henry sighed and broke off another branch, running his finger against the wood. "I intended to, but she was out calling on certain courtiers."
Leonardo stopped and held out his arm. "Shh..."
Henry quieted and perked up his ears, "What?" he whispered.
Suddenly, he felt a hard hand collide with his skull, knocking his vision out of focus. "What the-" Before he could lunge out in self defense, he was tackled and pinned to the ground by someone strong and large, who wrestled his gold chain off his neck almost choking him.
"Gypsies!" Da Vinci's muffled voice rang out in the night. "Help!"
The old man was stifled with a harsh 'Oomph!'
Henry struggled and bit the hands of his attacker, "Leave the old man alone!" He threw the gypsy off of him, only to be charged and pinned by yet another one. "Someone please help!" He cried desperately, knowing it would be futile being situated in the middle of the woods.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It was an old man crying for help. Danielle panicked and ran as fast as she could toward his voice as soon as she heard the word, 'Gypsies'.
"Danielle!" Left with no choice, Gustave ran after her, bracing himself for the worst.
They came into view now, she could see the old man's beard being tugged at by a gypsy, as they searched him for jewels and money. She groped the ground for rocks, and prayed for help.
"Leave him alone!" she cried, and aimed a rock toward a gypsy's temple. Before he could look up at her, she pelted him with the rock. Too frightened to pause, she began hitting every single man with rocks at breakneck speed. One flew and hit a gypsy right between the eyes, knocking him unconscious. After she had fired the first fifteen, she bent over to grab more, but the gypsies fled.
Gustave ran up behind her and patted her back, "Way to go, Danielle." he told her, and out loud so the gypsies to hear, "You better run you pansies!"
Danielle, too concerned to laugh at Gustave, ran over to the elderly man and helped him up. "Are you all right, sir?" She brought his arm over her shoulders and let him lean on her.
"I'm-" the old man paused, "not dead."
Danielle smiled a little, "That's a good start."
A dark shadow moved, farther to her right. Had another gypsy stayed?
"Signore," the figure said, feeling his head, "Are you all right?"
At the voice, Danielle paled and almost dropped da Vinci. Clutching him closer, more to hide her face, she apologized.
"I am fine. It seems we have been saved by a guardian angel."
Danielle glanced pleadingly at Gustave, who obviously had no idea who these two men were.
Henry rubbed his head again and opened his eyes wide to darkness. "Who?"
Gustave jumped in front of him, finally understanding, "Just me and my friend, Danielle, sir." Danielle's heart fluttered at Gustave mentioning her name, but she remembered that Henry only knew her as Nicole. Still, she could kill Gustave for saying it.
"Just us, sir," Gustave continued, "We heard your cries for help and we came to aid you." He whistled, "I've never seen so many gypsies in my life. 'Twas a good thing Danielle was here to save the day. I must admit, I'm not one for courage, sir."
Henry shook Gustave's hand, "I thank you just the same, and your friend, Danielle."
Danielle began to tremble now. Henry was coming closer and any second he might see her face.
"Are you cold, child?" Leonardo asked her.
"No, I,-" Danielle bit her lip, keeping her voice a whisper, so that Henry couldn't hear. "I'm just a bit tired, after throwing all those rocks."
"And rightfully so, my dear. But it's a blessing that you have perfect aim." Leonardo straightened a little bit, and began to take his arm off her shoulder, "I think I can walk now-"
"No!" Danielle cried, Leonardo's head shot up, and before he could see her face she hid it under his arm, throwing it back over her shoulders, "Are you sure, sir? I wouldn't want you to fall."
Leonardo chuckled a bit, "No, I won't fall." He again withdrew his arm, "I think I can manage."
Danielle nodded, and, keeping her head low, walked speedily toward Gustave, hiding her face behind him. She pinched him lightly on the arm. He understood, "We really must be going now."
"Oh please," Henry stepped toward them, "Let me thank you with something."
"Well, that would be-" Danielle pinched Gustave harder, "Ah!--Uh, well, no. That won't be necessary."
"Are you sure? Because I-"
"No!" Gustave cried forcefully, the circulation to his arm being slowly cut off. "Please. Don't bother."
Danielle stared down at her boots; they were unlaced. She had almost made it away free, she would have to tie them when they got back on the road. Feeling remorseful, she shut her eyes tightly. 'It's for the best,' she thought. 'I want to be with him, but it could never work. Fate won't let us be together. I should have known that from the very beginning.'
With her eyes shut so tight, she didn't see the large rock coming right in front of her foot. She tripped, and almost fell on her face if Gustave hadn't caught her.
"Are you all right?" Henry stepped forward, eager to help them in some way to show his thanks.
Gustave sighed, "Yes, she's fine." He helped Danielle regain her balance, but when she put her foot on the ground, she felt the cold stone and twigs. 'My shoe!' she looked around for it.
Gustave gazed at her questioningly. 'My shoe', she mouthed to him.
"You lost your shoe?!" Gustave said, rather too loud.
Hearing this, Henry gazed intently at the ground looking for it, determined to help in some way. Leonardo did the same.
Five feet to the left of Gustave and Danielle, lay a small bulky shadow. Henry ventured over toward it and picked it up. It was a worn and tattered boot. Henry grinned. "I found the lady's shoe."
Leonardo walked over to Gustave and tugged at his arm. Gustave gazed in wonder at his idol. "You are that boy who was painting in the street, aren't you?" Gustave, speechless as being recognized, smiled dopily and nodded. "I liked your work, could you step off to the side and talk with me a bit?"
Gustave followed him over like a puppy, forgetting all about Danielle, who was now exposed.
She grabbed the air, and lowered her head. 'That cursed boy!'
Henry walked a bit closer to her, then stopped when he noticed her tension.
"Is this your shoe?" He asked quietly. She nodded and stretched out her hand, staring at the ground.
Henry examined the girl standing before him. In the shadows he could make out that she was wearing something very similar to rags. 'She must be a servant girl,' he thought to himself. 'A very shy servant girl at that.'
"Please don't be afraid of me. Look at me." An order. He probably hadn't even known that it was.
Danielle felt her face slowly lift against her will, her eyes began to fill with tears. As much as she dreaded him seeing her, she desired to see him more than anything.
Henry stepped back at the all too familiar face, nothing hidden by the shadows as the moon chose that one moment to shine brightly upon it.
His heart beat quickened, and it seemed to heal right at seeing her lovely face.
"Nicole." he breathed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`
My note: OK, I have just one last chapter left. But please review this, just to make sure I have this going in the right direction. Thanks very much.
Henry bowed his head stiffly toward the master artist, "Thank you, signore. You have no idea how much your presence is appreciated."
"Oh, shut up, will you?" Leonardo stared at the boy suddenly angry, his nostrils flaring. "You've been acting like a bloody prick for the past few days and I am quite sick of it!"
He hastily rolled up a piece of parchment he had been sketching on, and stalked past Henry. "Stupid boy! You don't understand what you are doing!"
Henry's eyes flashed and the veins in his neck became much more visible. "I stupid? You are the one who stays locked in this room with complete and total disregard for authority; dreaming about things that will never come to be. You, signore, are living in a dreamworld! Why are you angry anyway? You have no reason to be irate at me!"
Leonardo spun around and stared Henry dead in the eye. "What happened to Nicole, Henry?"
Henry's face fell, the anger melting away and in its place filled sorrow. His eyes, having been fiery and challenging, now grew into soft, dark spheres of gloom and despair. His red, inflamed cheeks now paled and his lips parted uncertainly. "She..-"
He inhaled sharply and turned his face away. "She's married." His words fell dull and flat, hanging in the air between them.
"Oh God, Henry." The old man looked toward his friend with compassion and sympathy. "I'm so sorry." His eyebrows furrowed and he stroked his chin thoughtfully. It didn't seem logical that she was married. Leonardo tended to have a good judge of character, and Nicole had not been an actress.
"But how are you sure?"
"Why should I doubt what I know to be obvious? I told you what happened at Amboise! I feel like such a fool not to have known it then." He hung his head in shame and humiliation.
Leonardo stroked his beard and gazed thoughtfully at Henry, "Who was it that gave you the news, if not Nicole herself?"
Henry frowned a little, dark creases formed heavily in his forehead, "I'm not sure. My mother told me, and some noblewoman told her."
Leonardo inched forward, his eyes locking meaningfully with Henry's, "Which noblewoman?"
Henry's lips parted in confusion for a second, but then his forehead smoothed and his eyes brightened, "Are you suggesting that I find this noblewoman, and ask her about Nicole?"
Leonardo nodded slowly, "It's the only way to ever be sure. And, if the woman's information proves to be correct, you can then be sure and rest easy."
Henry snorted incredulously, "Rest easy? Easier said then done, signore. But, I will ask my mother who this noblewoman is, and find out every bit of information about Nicole I can get before my wedding." Henry's face soured and his eyes darkened. "My wedding-" he spit the word out.
"Is it wise to be marrying so soon after you have had your heart broken? Are you sure, if Nicole is indeed gone, that this new wench is one you can live with the rest of your life?"
Henry paused for a long while, mulling it over in his mind. "Anything is better than Spain. And- Marguerite's looks are pleasing." His voice was flat and emotionless. "She would make a beautiful queen."
Leonardo sighed and shook his head, "If that is what you think is best then-" he trailed off. "I will have the pleasure of her aquaitance tonight, I suppose."
"Yes, I suppose you will."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The door creaked open again, this time giving way to a timid, and concerned Paulette.
"Oh my dear, Danielle." The middle-aged woman caught Danielle up into a warm, motherly embrace, "Poor, sweet, child. You don't deserve to have all this misfortune."
"Oh, but what shall I do, Paulette?" Danielle's despairing voice, muffled by her friend's apron, cried out, "I am no more than a slave now. I am nothing!" Tears flowed again, and Paulette knelt over her, her own tears falling.
"Danielle, there is only one thing you can do, dear." Gently, she pulled Danielle's head up, looking her in the eye, telling her that what she had to say was important. "You must run away. If you don't, you'll either be sold to Monsieur Le Pieu or shipped off to the Americas for sure."
Danielle fell silent, wiping away her tears, "But, where would I go?"
"Anywhere, pet. Anywhere that is as far away from here as possible. You have to escape, Danielle, and you have to do it now." Silence followed, and Danielle could hear the pounding of hooves outside."
"Is it true then?" She inquired sadly, already knowing the answer, "Henry is engaged to Marguerite."
"Yes, dear, I'm sorry." More tears spilled from Palette's eyes, full of grief for the child that she loved and cherished as her own daughter. "Which is why you are in more danger. Rodmilla wants to get rid of you as soon as possible."
Danielle stood up, and wobbled to the side. Regaining her balance, and wiping away the last trace of her tears, Danielle knew it was time to go. "I'm done with crying and feeling sorry for myself," she whispered quietly to herself, "At least now, I can start a new life, somewhere else outside of France." She gazed at her friend, the one who had acted as a mother and mentor for almost all of her life. "I'll need supplies, and food."
Paulette nodded eagerly, holding up a brown sack. "I've already packed all that for you, miss. Your clothes- Maurice has them in a bag by the back door, where you can make your escape."
Danielle grabbed the sack and gazed, for probably the last time, at her dear friend. "I love you, Paulette."
"I love you too!" Paulette embraced the girl, fighting back hot tears. "Be good! Write me as soon as you get settled, under a different name, of course."
Louise emerged from the shadow, "Good-bye, Danielle." She too, embraced the child, but refusing to hold back her tears, let them fall freely.
Saying goodbye to Maurice, Paulette, and Louise was the hardest thing she had ever done since watching her father die at the gate. Danielle choked back more tears and walked down the path toward the woods, the place where she would be safe from encountering anyone.
Free. It hit her suddenly. She was free from Rodmilla's clutches. A small smiled played about on her lips, the first genuine one she had felt in days.
A pebble hit the back of her head. Danielle ducked, alarmed that she had been found.
"I don't believe it!"
She turned round, looking for the source of the voice.
"You were honestly going to leave without me!"
Another pebble whizzed past her ear.
"Gustave!" She cried. She ran over to him and hugged him close. "I'm sorry, I-"
"No excuses, you. I don't care what you say, I'm going with you."
"Oh, Gustave," She pulled away from him to give him a fond slap on the head, and gasped. "What happened to you?!"
Gustave's cheeks turned red and gingerly touched his casted arm and bruised eye.
"It's just a scratch."
"Tell me what happened." Danielle crossed her arms intimidatingly in front of her chest, indicating that she would not let him brush it aside.
"Igothitbyacart." He babbled.
"What?"
"I got hit by a cart." The blush now spread from his cheeks to his ears.
"Why aren't you dead then?"
"Oh, I'm sorry. I guess I should just go back and complain to the driver that he didn't hit me hard enough, and ask him to please, pretty please run over me again properly until I stop moving." His voice rose defensively.
"Oh, Gustave, I'm sorry. That's not what I meant." She touched the bruise under his eye gently, "I'm just surprised, that's all. How did it happen?"
"I didn't look both ways before I crossed the street," he muttered. "I was on my way to the castle to tell Leonardo to help you when a cart came out of nowhere and knocked me out. Luckily, the horses were well trained and were able to stop before they trampled me to death."
Danielle stood stock still for a moment, "You were going to the castle?"
Gustave nodded quickly, "I would have made it too, if it hadn't been for that crash." "Danielle," he added quickly, "I'm sorry. I heard about-" he bit the inside of his lip and gazed questioningly at her, not sure how to go on.
She shrugged her shoulders weakly, "That's all in the past now." Her eyes looked far off into the distance, searching. "I'm leaving here, Gustave."
"I know. And I'm coming with you." He grinned and tapped her shoulder. "I still can't believe you were going to leave without me."
Danielle smiled gravely, "I'm sorry. I just- I dunno." she sighed. "I guess we'd better get going, shan't we?"
"Oh," Gustave grabbed her by the arm, and steered her left, "We have to go pick up my things."
"Gustave!" she moaned, "I can't be seen by anyone."
Gustave raised his eyebrow at her, "Who said anyone was going to see you? See, I have everything planned out. We take the backroads to my little shack, I pack up my things, kiss my mum g'bye, and then we head on down the road, under to cloak of night mind you, leading to my future as a famous artist."
Danielle nudged him the ribs, "And I thought you were coming with me to keep me company."
Gustave chuckled to himself, "Ha!"
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Henry tried hard to suppress a yawn, clamping his mouth shut hard. It was impossible, so he raised his hand discreetly to hide a large and rather loud yawn that he had been holding in all afternoon.
Marguerite raised a delicately tweezed eyebrow at him, "Are you tired, my darling?" She rolled the 'r' in darling, making Henry wish he could command her to never say that word ever again.
Feigning his best smile, he said "No, not really. It is only a bit hot in here."
At the other end of the table, Rodmilla tittered and rang a small bell placed beside her hand. "Maurice!" she called.
The poor old man creeped through the door and bowed his head reverently toward both the Prince and Leonardo. Henry glanced up at Maurice, and felt a spark of remembrance in his head. The old man looked so familiar. He gazed intently on his face, his eyes traveling over ever feature in his face, hoping to pinpoint exactly where it as he had seen him; it felt important.
"Open the windows, you fool! Can't you feel the blasted heat burning us all up?!" She waved her hand away in disgust and turned to smile graciously toward the prince, "I am so sorry, your highness. We should have been more considerate toward your needs."
"There is no need to apologize, Madame." He felt Marguerite's spidery hand creep over his and clasp it. It took all of his control to not wretch it away. Still following Maurice's movements, he saw a flash of the man in rags. Rags? He frowned to himself, pondering. Where could that have been?
"Signore Da Vinci," Rodmilla de Ghent broke the sudden silence that had fallen over the table, "How do you like France?"
Leonardo cleared his throat, "Quite well, Madame. I know I shall miss it when the time comes for me to depart."
Henry now focused his friend in surprise; he had never before mentioned leaving. "When will that be, signore?"
Leonardo shrugged his shoulders and gazed around the room, "When my work here is done, I suppose."
"You can provide no clearer answer than that?!"
Leonardo's eyes hardened at his young friend, "You will know when that time comes."
"Darling," Henry flinched at his fiancee's sudden ejaculation, "When exactly will our wedding be?" Marguerite widened her eyes attractively and stroked his hand with her index finger; more than anything Henry wanted to be on the opposite side of the room.
"My father said before a fortnight." He attempted to smile lovingly at her; it felt false on his face, he gave up.
Marguerite smiled to herself, as if holding some secret close to her. "The sooner, the better, my love."
Henry glanced pleadingly at his friend da Vinci, who in turned looked away, telling him that she was what he had chosen, and he had to deal with it.
"If you'll excuse me," abruptly, Leonardo stood up from the table and stretched, "I think I shall go for a walk."
Rodmilla, hardly caring, said apathetically, "Must you? It's so dark outside; will you need an escort? Jacqueline would be happy to join you."
"Nonsense!" Leonardo stared at the woman as if she was mad, "I have been living on my own my whole life. I don't need an escort 'now'! No offense my dear," he glanced down apologetically at Jacqueline, "I would love to be in your company, but I will be fine by myself." Jacqueline nodded to him, quite relieved.
He bowed and had almost disappeared when Henry shouted out, "I'll join you!"
Rodmilla arched her right eyebrow, now concerned. "But, your highness, we still have much to discuss."
Henry stood up and had already joined his friend at the doorway. He needed to get out; if he was left alone with these women he would surely go mad.
"We will discuss it as soon as I get back, Madame. I promise." With that they disappeared.
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"Danielle!" Gustave panted from far behind, "Wait up for me!"
Danielle rolled her eyes and turned around, "Hurry up! You are the slowest human being that I have ever met!"
"Am not," Gustave muttered. "Just-" he inhaled deeply, "Let's-" he exhaled, "take a break."
"Oh, no you don't! We haven't even traveled two miles from your house. At this rate we'll never get anywhere."
"Never say never," Gustave murmured, sitting down stubbornly on his trunk.
"Why did you bring that huge thing anyway?" she said, pointing to his large, gigantic trunk.
"I needed it to carry paint, supplies, among other things."
Danielle rolled her eyes again. "Well, take your break quickly. I want to get out of this are as fast as possible." She glanced around tentatively. Having started from Gustave's house, they were only half a mile from her former home. A half a mile too close.
Gustave sighed and looked around him, "What do you suppose you'll do when we get to another town?"
Danielle shrugged, and spun around glancing cautiously at the woods to her right. She could have sworn she'd heard a twig snap. "I don't know. Maybe find some job working somewhere."
Gustave snorted, "Now that's a plan if I ever heard one."
Danielle grinned at him, "Oh shut up. Have you had your rest now?"
He shook his head fervently. "No, give my five," he held up his hand, "Just five more minutes and I will be ready to go."
Danielle shook her head and muttered something. Her eyes grazed over the trees and trails, trying to adjust to the dark. She jumped. Another twig had snapped farther off. She peered into the woods, trying to find a shape.
Gustave noticed her edginess, "It's probably just squirrels," he whispered in a comforting tone.
"Perhaps," she rubbed her arms and glanced up at the moon, frowning.
"You still think about him, don't you?" Gustave asked.
Danielle smiled to herself, "All the time."
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"Did that man, Maurice, look familiar to you, signore?" Henry grabbed a twig and hit it against a tree.
Leonardo frowned, "No, not really. Then again, I have seen many faces and it would be a true miracle if I could remember every one."
He sighed heavily and stopped, "Where are we?" he began to notice that he had lost track of where they were walking. He was surrounded by thick trees, and the manor was no where in sight.
"The middle of the woods, my absent minded friend." Leonardo chuckled a little bit. "Luckily, we have the moon out tonight to guide us."
"By the way," Leonardo gave Henry a side-long glance, "did you happen to ask the queen who it was that she obtained her information from?"
"No." Henry sighed and broke off another branch, running his finger against the wood. "I intended to, but she was out calling on certain courtiers."
Leonardo stopped and held out his arm. "Shh..."
Henry quieted and perked up his ears, "What?" he whispered.
Suddenly, he felt a hard hand collide with his skull, knocking his vision out of focus. "What the-" Before he could lunge out in self defense, he was tackled and pinned to the ground by someone strong and large, who wrestled his gold chain off his neck almost choking him.
"Gypsies!" Da Vinci's muffled voice rang out in the night. "Help!"
The old man was stifled with a harsh 'Oomph!'
Henry struggled and bit the hands of his attacker, "Leave the old man alone!" He threw the gypsy off of him, only to be charged and pinned by yet another one. "Someone please help!" He cried desperately, knowing it would be futile being situated in the middle of the woods.
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It was an old man crying for help. Danielle panicked and ran as fast as she could toward his voice as soon as she heard the word, 'Gypsies'.
"Danielle!" Left with no choice, Gustave ran after her, bracing himself for the worst.
They came into view now, she could see the old man's beard being tugged at by a gypsy, as they searched him for jewels and money. She groped the ground for rocks, and prayed for help.
"Leave him alone!" she cried, and aimed a rock toward a gypsy's temple. Before he could look up at her, she pelted him with the rock. Too frightened to pause, she began hitting every single man with rocks at breakneck speed. One flew and hit a gypsy right between the eyes, knocking him unconscious. After she had fired the first fifteen, she bent over to grab more, but the gypsies fled.
Gustave ran up behind her and patted her back, "Way to go, Danielle." he told her, and out loud so the gypsies to hear, "You better run you pansies!"
Danielle, too concerned to laugh at Gustave, ran over to the elderly man and helped him up. "Are you all right, sir?" She brought his arm over her shoulders and let him lean on her.
"I'm-" the old man paused, "not dead."
Danielle smiled a little, "That's a good start."
A dark shadow moved, farther to her right. Had another gypsy stayed?
"Signore," the figure said, feeling his head, "Are you all right?"
At the voice, Danielle paled and almost dropped da Vinci. Clutching him closer, more to hide her face, she apologized.
"I am fine. It seems we have been saved by a guardian angel."
Danielle glanced pleadingly at Gustave, who obviously had no idea who these two men were.
Henry rubbed his head again and opened his eyes wide to darkness. "Who?"
Gustave jumped in front of him, finally understanding, "Just me and my friend, Danielle, sir." Danielle's heart fluttered at Gustave mentioning her name, but she remembered that Henry only knew her as Nicole. Still, she could kill Gustave for saying it.
"Just us, sir," Gustave continued, "We heard your cries for help and we came to aid you." He whistled, "I've never seen so many gypsies in my life. 'Twas a good thing Danielle was here to save the day. I must admit, I'm not one for courage, sir."
Henry shook Gustave's hand, "I thank you just the same, and your friend, Danielle."
Danielle began to tremble now. Henry was coming closer and any second he might see her face.
"Are you cold, child?" Leonardo asked her.
"No, I,-" Danielle bit her lip, keeping her voice a whisper, so that Henry couldn't hear. "I'm just a bit tired, after throwing all those rocks."
"And rightfully so, my dear. But it's a blessing that you have perfect aim." Leonardo straightened a little bit, and began to take his arm off her shoulder, "I think I can walk now-"
"No!" Danielle cried, Leonardo's head shot up, and before he could see her face she hid it under his arm, throwing it back over her shoulders, "Are you sure, sir? I wouldn't want you to fall."
Leonardo chuckled a bit, "No, I won't fall." He again withdrew his arm, "I think I can manage."
Danielle nodded, and, keeping her head low, walked speedily toward Gustave, hiding her face behind him. She pinched him lightly on the arm. He understood, "We really must be going now."
"Oh please," Henry stepped toward them, "Let me thank you with something."
"Well, that would be-" Danielle pinched Gustave harder, "Ah!--Uh, well, no. That won't be necessary."
"Are you sure? Because I-"
"No!" Gustave cried forcefully, the circulation to his arm being slowly cut off. "Please. Don't bother."
Danielle stared down at her boots; they were unlaced. She had almost made it away free, she would have to tie them when they got back on the road. Feeling remorseful, she shut her eyes tightly. 'It's for the best,' she thought. 'I want to be with him, but it could never work. Fate won't let us be together. I should have known that from the very beginning.'
With her eyes shut so tight, she didn't see the large rock coming right in front of her foot. She tripped, and almost fell on her face if Gustave hadn't caught her.
"Are you all right?" Henry stepped forward, eager to help them in some way to show his thanks.
Gustave sighed, "Yes, she's fine." He helped Danielle regain her balance, but when she put her foot on the ground, she felt the cold stone and twigs. 'My shoe!' she looked around for it.
Gustave gazed at her questioningly. 'My shoe', she mouthed to him.
"You lost your shoe?!" Gustave said, rather too loud.
Hearing this, Henry gazed intently at the ground looking for it, determined to help in some way. Leonardo did the same.
Five feet to the left of Gustave and Danielle, lay a small bulky shadow. Henry ventured over toward it and picked it up. It was a worn and tattered boot. Henry grinned. "I found the lady's shoe."
Leonardo walked over to Gustave and tugged at his arm. Gustave gazed in wonder at his idol. "You are that boy who was painting in the street, aren't you?" Gustave, speechless as being recognized, smiled dopily and nodded. "I liked your work, could you step off to the side and talk with me a bit?"
Gustave followed him over like a puppy, forgetting all about Danielle, who was now exposed.
She grabbed the air, and lowered her head. 'That cursed boy!'
Henry walked a bit closer to her, then stopped when he noticed her tension.
"Is this your shoe?" He asked quietly. She nodded and stretched out her hand, staring at the ground.
Henry examined the girl standing before him. In the shadows he could make out that she was wearing something very similar to rags. 'She must be a servant girl,' he thought to himself. 'A very shy servant girl at that.'
"Please don't be afraid of me. Look at me." An order. He probably hadn't even known that it was.
Danielle felt her face slowly lift against her will, her eyes began to fill with tears. As much as she dreaded him seeing her, she desired to see him more than anything.
Henry stepped back at the all too familiar face, nothing hidden by the shadows as the moon chose that one moment to shine brightly upon it.
His heart beat quickened, and it seemed to heal right at seeing her lovely face.
"Nicole." he breathed.
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My note: OK, I have just one last chapter left. But please review this, just to make sure I have this going in the right direction. Thanks very much.