As the sunlight poured in through her window, Mona stretched and yawned before slinking out of bed. She wondered to herself if yesterday had all been real. She thought back on the dangers in the forest and how Jonathan's face held so much fear as they ran. Her thoughts drifted to her hand in his, how warm it felt, and being enchanted by those piercing eyes of his that seemed to look right through her soul. Her face flushed as it all came flooding back. After quickly getting dressed and brushing her hair before tying it up in a ribbon, she headed down to the kitchens.
"Good morning," she sing-songed.
"Something's got you in a right good mood. Working for Nostradamus going that well?" Her brother laughed to himself as worked at the dough for this morning's breakfast.
"You could certainly say that," she adjusted the basket on her arm.
"What's got you back here then?" he raised a brow quizzically.
"I'm gathering an ingredient that I wasn't able to find yesterday and I thought my guide into the woods might appreciate lunch." She picked out a few apples as she spoke, gingerly setting them in the empty half of her basket.
"A guide? You haven't got your first week's pay yet. How did you hire a guide?"
"He volunteered. I got a bit lost," she admitted. "He found me, brought me back, and offered his help this morning. He works in the stables, but hunts in the forests, so he's familiar with the area," she explained as she gathered ingredients for sandwiches.
"Ah, that's why you're in such good spirits today," he picked the dough up, putting it carefully into the pan before sliding it into the fire.
"Hm?" she looked up from the cucumber sandwiches she'd been assembling.
"You like him," he replied as he wiped the flour from his hands on a rag. "You're bringing him food, so you must really like him."
"Oh hush!" she waved him off, then finished what she was doing, carefully wrapping them in a clean cloth.
"What's his name?" he asked with a playful tone.
"Jonathan," she answered begrudgingly. "He's really nice, so please don't go doing anything stupid."
"Hey," he held up his hands in surrender. "I wasn't gonna do nothin', just watchin' out for my little sister is all."
"If you want to be a good big brother, then help me," she whined. "What should I pack? I don't want to bring too much and look silly…" she grumbled.
"Well, food is usually the way to a man's heart. I say as long as you don't bring so much it weighs ya down, you're on the right track. Here," he picked up some thick bacon that he'd set to the side to cool. "Add some of these in there. Men need meat, especially if they're gonna be doing a lot of walking."
"Thank you," she quickly got to work fixing the sandwiches. "Anything else?" she asked, rewrapping and packing them away.
"Bring water. You'll need it. Grab a couple of those jugs there and make a stop by the well out back."
"I take it all back. Thank you, Leith. Really."
"Just lookin' out for you. What are big brothers for, eh?"
Mona filled up the jugs with water, then walked as quickly as she could up to Nostradamus's chambers. She gently knocked on the door, hoping he was awake.
"Enter," came a gravelly voice.
She gingerly opened the door. "Good morning."
"Ah! There you are. I hoped you'd made it back ok." He appeared to have just woken up, still in his nightgown, his hair standing up in all directions. Mona suppressed a giggle.
"Yes, I'm so sorry. I should have reported back. I got a bit lost, you see, but I managed to get almost everything. I'm heading back out this morning to get the lemon balm. I'll learn the forest with time, but it's so vast."
"Excellent! Are you certain you want to head back out alone again though? I'm not sure that's such a good idea. What's to stop you from getting lost again?"
"I'm going with a guide," she reassured him. "Someone that seems to know the forests well."
The pair turned as they heard a knock on the door frame. "I'd say I'm likely the best man for the job, but that'd be boasting. Good morning," Sebastian greeted them before turning towards Mona. "Ready to go?"
"Almost! I just need to put yesterday's ingredients away. Back in a moment, Jonathan" she said before practically skipping to the back room. As she sorted, Nostradamus looked at him, tilting his head in confusion. Bash gave him a meaningful look and gently shook his head.
"All done. Let's go," she announced, coming back into the room. "I'll be back later with the lemon balm," she called over her shoulder as the pair headed out.
What trouble is that boy getting himself into? Nostradamus wondered, shaking his head. It's too early for this.
"So, how far into the forest is it?" she asked, redistributing the weight in her basket before quickly closing the lid.
"The walk there and back should have us back at the castle sometime late this afternoon," he held out a hand to guide her over a thick collection of gnarled roots.
"Good," she took his hand, stepping onto them carefully.
"Good?" he chuckled.
"Yes," she confirmed as she landed right in front of him, stepping down. "Good," she looked up into his eyes, smiling coyly.
"So, you like being stuck with me for the better part of your day."
"I wouldn't phrase it that way," she giggled, "but yes. Now, lead the way, oh wise guide of the forests," she smirked.
"Right this way, m'lady."
The two of them walked for hours, him guiding her around every hunting trap and poison oak bush they found along the way. She gathered a few plants he'd pointed out that she'd remembered being in the book Nostradamus had her read.
"So, what exactly is in these woods? You never did give me a proper answer," she pointed out as she bent down, gathering a few plants to add to the collection.
He sighed heavily. "Not all of France is as safe and glamorous as it seems. There are… people who live in this forest. They worship nature, but also… sacrifice to it."
She stopped and stood to face him. "Sacrifice to it in what way?"
"Blood. Human blood."
"That's not… I don't know much of paganism and nature worship, but from what I've read, that seems to go against everything they stand for."
"That, it does. I don't believe them to be a part of the majority, but that of a smaller group. They only come out under cover of darkness, so we're quite safe," he assured her, seeing the worry flood into her eyes.
"You're certain?"
"I know these woods. They won't attack us in broad daylight."
She nodded. "Alright. Are we almost to the glade?" she asked hopefully.
"Actually, yes. Right this way." He seemed to perk up at the change of subject, offering her his arm. She smiled, happily taking it. He guided her into a break in the trees, the circular opening flooded with sunlight. She gasped at all the different flowers around them and the beauty of it all. She looked up at him with a sly smirk.
"Well, with this much sunlight, do you think it'd be safe to stop for lunch?" she asked, holding up the basket.
He grinned. "I think we'll be just fine, yes. Why don't you go pick us a spot? I'm going to check the perimeter to be sure."
She giddily ran off to find a spot in the center, laying down the thin blanket she'd brought with her. Holding one corner down with the basket, she took a seat and began to pull out their feast. Bash circled the glade's edge twice to be certain, stopping as he went to listen for the sound of twigs snapping or footsteps. Having heard nothing of concern, he disarmed himself to sit beside her.
"Thank you. I may have forgotten to eat this morning," he admitted with a chuckle before beginning to devour his sandwich. "Mm! Is there bacon in this?"
"Perks of having a brother in the kitchens," she smirked before taking a bite of her own.
"So," he started, trying to hold his tone steady. "Is this a, um… date?"
"If you want it to be, yes." She took a sip of water from her jug, handing him the other.
"Hm… well, seeing as you've arranged the first, I think it's only fair I arranged the second, yes?" he asked, taking a sip and carefully setting it down. He laughed as she seemed to choke on her water in surprise.
"Y-yes, only fair," she managed to sputter out.
"The castle is having a grand boating party tomorrow night. Everyone goes out on the water to watch the fireworks. It's really beautiful, especially how they seem doubled when they reflect on the water."
Her face lit up. "That sounds wonderful!"
"So, you'll allow me to escort you then?" he asked eagerly.
"Absolutely!"
He chuckled at her ecstatic response. "Good."
"Good," she smiled, leaning towards him.