Elizabeth began to awaken, hearing the sounds of the birds and feeling the sunlight on her face. She felt invigorated, renewed, life was different, it was sweeter. Everything felt just as it should, she thought. Peaceful yet exhilarating. She stretched nervously, giggling. She sat up and looked to the other side of the bed. On the pillow, a single, white lily and a note. She knew who that was from…Elizabeth felt like a child on Christmas morning. Slowly she opened the note, and as she did,
"My Lady.." The doors to her room flung open. "Good morning, My Lady." Bess yelled, ordering the other ladies around, preparing for another day. Setting Elizabeth's bath, her dressing table, her clothes. The cook arrived with breakfast. Elizabeth quickly stuffed the note under her leg, hiding it. She barely got a chance to read it.
"Good morning Bess!" Elizabeth was unusually chipper, and nothing could spoil this day. Absolutely nothing. The ladies noticed her changed this morning, but had no clue as to the cause. "What a lovely morning, don't you think?" She sprang out of bed, clutching the note in her hand and still hiding it behind her back. She moved to her desk and scrambled it in with some other papers and pretended it to be some sort of declaration or letter from the King. She shooed the servants away, keeping them far enough back to ensure they couldn't read it. She read it to herself, trying to keep the emotion off her face. "The old oak at dusk?", she thought to herself, reading the request from Jack's letter. She was so excited she could hardly breathe.
As the ladies dressed her, she thought after her father finished addressing the court this morning, she would pass the time wandering the moor, maybe even going to the cliffs to look out at the sea. It was a clear and warm spring day and she would be able to see off the coast for miles. She anticipated the day would move slow as she counted down the minutes until she again saw Jack. Although she was sure that there would be plenty of tasks to preoccupy her.
All the court gathered to hear the King address them. The Queen, Elizabeth, young Catherine, and her older brother George were standing on the platform overlooking the hundreds gathered before them. The mood was tense as if someone had something to say, but dare not. The royals stood like stone creatures, expressionless faces, almost cold and devoid of life. Elizabeth leaned over to her mother. "What is this all about? And why is everyone so somber?"
Anne motioned to her daughter, "Shhh.."
The King began to speak. He was greeted with soft clapping, rather than the usual cheering. "In light of the recent circumstances surrounding the attempt on my daughter's life, and other members of the monarchy, it has become necessary for England to assert herself in a military campaign against our known enemy in Scotland. It is with great sadness that I bring you this news and with great pride that I tell you that your Prince, George," He held his sons shoulder, never prouder than at that moment of his son's willingness to accept his post. "will be our fearless defender and our savior. His efforts will be swift and sure to bring safety to our realm. We wish him much success and a quick return home." The crowds clapped louder than before, in approval of the King's decision. Elizabeth stood, motionless, shocked. She looked at George, he smiled back at her quickly, returning his gaze and his waving to the crowd. The King turned around to Elizabeth, and to Anne, proud of the prince, afraid for his son. Elizabeth stood in disbelief, not quite sure what to say, but she had better think if something, she thought to herself.
The royal family and the Kings counsel moved from the platform, walking along the path through the crowd. People were falling to their knees, kissing the hand of the prince as he walked by. He regally accepted the offerings of affection. The people were also kissing Elizabeth's train on her dress, shouting prayers for the safety of her life, although she was somewhat in another world just yet. The reality of her position and the gravity of the situation began to overwhelm her. These people were actually on their knees before her, they were concerned for her life, they were willing to fight along side her brother, a boy she had known her whole life, yet barely could recognize this day, all in defense of her and England. She was a mere girl, she thought, just a person like them, born into a life of wealth, but a mortal life none the less, not so very different than them. At that moment somehow, all the things that she thought so important, seemed so shallow, so petty. Here she was this morning, so jubilant, so simply happy that she had fallen in love, and here was her brother, and countless other soldiers, marching off to war, leaving wives, children and families behind, who knows when to return.
"Your Highness..", an old woman knelt before her, grabbing her hand and holding it in both of hers, stopping the princess as she walked. The royal family stopped and turned to see what was happening, watching Elizabeth, "take this, please," she removed from her pocket a bracelet, with a brilliant blue sapphire handing from it. She was homely looking and seemed as though she could hardly afford to have something as beautiful as this, let alone give it away. Behind her stood her son, dressed in his military uniform, ready to make the long journey to Scotland. She realized that this woman was giving her son to her, to England, for the preservation of her family, and the crown. The sacrifice moved her practically to tears. The old woman spoke, "It belonged to my grandmother, and has brought my family much luck and protection. it is my hope that it will do the same for you.." The woman said humbly. Elizabeth hardly knew what to say in return. This combination left her contemplating every ounce of her being.
Then, suddenly, Elizabeth's demeanor changed, she became aware of herself, her heart touched by this gesture, and she understood what it meant to be worshipped as a princess. She removed the bracelet from the woman's hand gingerly, and reverently, looking deep into this woman's eyes, "I shall treasure it always." The woman let go of Elizabeth's hand raised herself from the ground and receded into the crowd.
Jack stood at the Oak, it was past dusk, and nearly pitch black. He heard the sound of a single horse, running tirelessly in the distance. It moved closer. A dark hooded figure rode on its back, and began to slow down as it approached him. The figure slid down from the horse, and ran to him. As her dress blew in the breeze, Elizabeth fell into Jack's arms as if all the weight of the world came crashing down with her. She had snuck out of the castle, no one knew she was even gone. She had never done that before and something about it felt liberating. After the day she had, she felt some inalienable right to find herself a release. He was surprised at her. She was different, her aura was heavy with responsibility.
She has never been so relieved to see him in all her life. She needed this, and she deserved it, an escape. Jack felt her hold him tight. He held her back. He knew she was upset, he didn't realize how much, and he imagined she blamed herself for this in some way. He also knew she was frightened of the duties she would inherit in her brother's absence." Do you not think yourself strong enough for the task?"
"You know that is not it."
"What then?"
She couldn't answer, she may not have even known. All Elizabeth wanted was to forget about today and tomorrow for a while. She wanted to be free of her thoughts which weighed so heavily on her. She left his arms and stood, leaning on the oak, looking out onto the moor. She heard a small weeping sound coming from the tree. "Do you hear that?" She tried to focus, Jack listened too. They traced the base of the tree and mixed in the grass, illuminated by the moonlight was a small baby bird who had fallen from the nest in the tree.
Jack looked on it, "A sparrow."
"He lived through quite a fall." Elizabeth thought how amazing that this little one looked no worse for the wear considering his apparent ordeal. "What an amazing little creature." She addressed the little bird in her hand, "You have had yourself some adventure, little sparrow. It was a good thing we were here to help you on your way?! Although I somehow imagine you would have found your way home…" Jack climbed the tree and found the nest snuggled deep in the inner branches. Elizabeth handed the bird to Jack. He placed it carefully in the nest. He smiled at the bird and climbed back down.