EPILOGUES - From the author / Bonus epilogues to the story
Dear readers,
The main story ends right here. Thanks to those who took their time to read my story. I am especially grateful to those who read all the chapters, especially that in a lot of them I hid small or quite large hints for the final resolution.
I hope you enjoyed reading this story as much as I enjoyed writing it. It is not a multi-threaded, multi-dimensional story, but it was not meant to be ;) Does it carry any message? Perhaps only that even the actions of very bad people (de Guemene) or very unpleasant people (de Vojer) can have a positive effect on our lives. If you see any others, please share them with me.
As for the idea itself, as I wrote in the prologue, the story was supposed to be completely different. Let me tell you that in the initial version, Andre wasn't supposed to fall in love with Oscar at all. Surprising, isn't it? But when I started writing, I lost control over my characters. Do you know it? The story wrote itself, and the characters made their own decisions, as if without my will. And my Andre just fell in love with Oscar, even though I didn't let him ;)
Perhaps, however, I will use this idea in the next story. Who knows that?
I have a small bonus prepared - these are two completely different epilogues of this story. If you like happy endings, read only the first one ("happiness") - it's kind of complement to the main story. If you prefer drama - read the second epilogue ("sorrow").
You can also read both ;)
Happy reading!
Best regards!
Joanna (Jo-jie81)
EPILOGUE - Happiness
June 1814
- Oscar! Oscar!
Oscar slowly opened her eyes and looked up. Her neck went numb from sleeping in an uncomfortable position, and paper stuck to her forehead.
- I think I took a nap - she yawned widely and stretched sore muscles
Andre looked at her and laughed.
- You have ink on your face, baby - he said, trying to hold back a giggle
Oscar stood up and looked in the mirror above the fireplace.
- Were you writing again? - he asked, sitting down at the table and reaching for the papers
- Yes - she replied, trying to wash the ink stains off her cheek - It was one of those times when I just had to sit down and pour those memories onto paper. Lately, I am a little less energized by the heat, so I wanted to use a day like today.
- What are you describing now? - Andre looked at the pile of papers under his fingers
- Winter 1780, accident and dreams I had while I was unconscious. I didn't even think that I still remember that much - she thought - Every detail..
- Dreams that were not really dreams? - he looked at her seriously
- Yes Yes. You see, weird, but I still call them dreams. I should be talking about memories.
- Maybe I should add a little something to your diaries? Wouldn't you like the other party's report? - he laughed
- It's a great idea, honey! - she clapped her hands
- Okay, when the winter comes, I will have a little more time, so I will think about writing down what I still remember. I see that you managed to wash off this ink - he got up, walked over to her and took her hands in his - Come on, let's go get ready so that the children won't wait long for us.
- Oh, has Pierre also arrived?
- Yes, he arrived an hour ago. They took their horses and all went to the beach, but are due back any minute.
- Did Marie go with them? - Oscar was surprised
- Sure, they wouldn't have left their little sister - her husband confirmed - Xavier went with them too. Only Anna with the little ones was left. Reynier knows you will always take good care of your grandchildren.
- Of course - Oscar replied sarcastically - Although Anna is doing very well for a young mother. I don't have to help her with anything. But should Pierre have already been riding with this wound? I'm worried about him.
- He said his leg doesn't hurt anymore.
- He always says that. He was so tough since childhood - she rolled her eyes
- He got into you - laughed Andre
- Or you - she shook her finger at him - Have you forgotten that I had fallen in love with you when you tried to kill me on a rocky ledge above the Falaise de Aval?
- Liar! It was definitely before! - he laughed, grabbed her halfway and lifted her up like she was a feather
- You still have strength, mon amour - Oscar laughed
Andre set her gently on the ground.
- Ready to celebrate another anniversary of having such a lovely husband?
Oscar began to laugh again.
- It's already the thirty-second anniversary, Andre - she said when she finally calmed down - How is it possible that time flies like this?
- A lot has happened, sweetheart. I've always had a lot of duties in the breeding, you with the city guard. Time with three children also passes very quickly. As if that were not enough, we live in troubled times. Sometimes I wonder if the people who were so happy about the beginning of the revolution even thought about how it might turn out later. That instead of prosperity, there will be poverty and hunger. Instead of peace - constant wars.
- Napoleon was not a savior for France, but an executioner - confirmed Oscar
- Just don't say that in front of Pierre, he still can't come to terms with what happened to our emperor. He's a good soldier, after all.
- I promise! - Oscar held up two fingers as if for an oath
- O! They must be back! - Andre said, hearing the sounds coming from below
- I love you, you know? - Oscar suddenly said
- I love you too, baby - he replied, kissing her softly
- I love you - Oscar whispered again - And I will always love you. In this or other life..
- ..we'll always be together - Andre said, hugging her
- Are we going? - Oscar asked with a smile
- Come on - said Andre
Downstairs, in the dining room, their beloved family waited. The eldest, Reynier, sat on the couch next to his wife, holding his son in his lap. His younger child, a little girl was playing with a wooden horse while sitting at her mother's feet. The younger of Oscar and Andre's sons, Pierre stood leaning against the fireplace, slowly sipping a glass of wine. Marie - the youngest child, a twenty-one-year-old girl - was bustling about setting the table and talking to her fiancé who was sitting nearby.
From the portraits on the walls the relatives, who no longer lived, smiled at them - General de Jarjayes and Madame Margerite, Grandma Marie, Uncle Etienne and Andre's parents.
Upstairs, in Oscar's office, was a bundle of pages written in fine and elegant writing. Memories, experiences, dreams, all have been saved. So that nobody would ever forget them.
EPILOGUE - Sorrow
- Oscar! Oscar!
Oscar slowly opened her eyes and tried to lift her head. Her whole body was numb and she couldn't even raise a hand.
- Don't yell like that, Rosalie, I'm not dead yet.. - she whispered
Before the fog cleared from her eyes and she was able to see anything, she smelled it. Gunpowder and blood, scents she knew so well. A pain pierced her heart, more than the the pain of her body hurt by bullets.
A dream.. It was just a dream.. A delusion.. It never happened.. That life never happened..
That kiss at Falaise de Aval.
Wedding at Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde.
Marital happiness with Andre.
Children running around her legs. Their little glowing faces. Hair smelling of milk and wind.
A small house on a farm in Normandy.
It was all just a dream. Not true..
A small silver tear appeared at the corner of her eye and ran slowly down her powder-stained cheek.
- I was wrong, Andre, I was so wrong.. - she whispered - Forgive me for those words. Meeting you was the most beautiful thing that has happened in my life. If I could choose, I would choose to live with you again, whatever it was. Sorry to keep you waiting so long. I love you..
She felt the life slowly draining from her. Images of their lives together flashed before her eyes. His smiling face. They were happy in their own way. And now she would come back to him. Good thing it would happen so quickly.
- I love you, Andre, and I will always love you. In this or other life, we will always be together. Wait for me, just a little longer..
She took a couple of short breaths. Then she smiled.
- Adieu..