I Promised You - William and Ophelia Read online

After a moment’s reflection, William walked back to Ophelia and knelt beside her, taking her hands in his. “I am a good man, Ophelia. I only wish for everyone to live in peace. I would do anything in my power to help others in pain. But I know not what I could do. I am not born of wealth. I have no influence with anyone other than maybe Julia, but as a woman, she also has no power. I will not be asking you today more about your words, but I will not forget them either. Ophelia. I think perhaps it is time for me to return to the Palace. Until we meet again.” William said, kissing her hand and taking his leave.

  Chapter 5

  For the next month or so, William came into the forest several times a week to seek out Ophelia. Gertie accompanied him on a few occasions. William and Ophelia talked and laughed near the waterfall while Gertie slipped away and ran home to spend time with their mother.

  “I have missed you so much!” Gertie said, throwing her arms around her mother.

  “I have missed you as well. Sit daughter, we have but a short time and there is much to say. Tell me everything that you have learned.”

  “The King and the man called Mathew have yet to return. I don’t know how long our luck will last. Julia and I have become friends.”

  “You must be careful, daughter. I worry about you being in the Palace and your sister has been seeing a lot of that young man, William. I am afraid her head and heart is so full of thoughts of him that she is not thinking straight. It scares me that you and she might let your guard down around Julia and the young man.”

  “We do not have to worry about Julia, for her son is one of us! We have nothing to fear from her, and she loves William as if he were her own.” Gertie told her mother.

  “The power must be Julia, for Ophelia tells me what a bad man this Mathew is. Although, there have been more than a few men willing to slaughter their own to keep from being found out. Those are the most dangerous. You must find out, Gertrude, for if he is one with the power it would mean sure death for all of us and we must flee.”

  The door opened and Gertie and her mother were shocked to see Ophelia walk into the kitchen with William.

  “Mother, Gertie, William and I have news to tell you both. We have decided to wed.” Ophelia said, a big smile on her face.

  Their mother sat down at the table and put her hands on her lap. “William, please sit, Ophelia, Gertrude, please leave us, go and bring in more wood. I wish to speak to William alone.”

  As soon as the sisters left, William spoke. “I understand that you do not know me and therefore might not trust me. But I am speaking from my heart, Goodwife.”

  “Rose”

  “Rose, that is an unusual name, one I have never heard before. But it fits you and I daresay Ophelia’s name could also be Rose, such is her beauty.”

  “William, I do not believe I can give you and my daughter my blessing.”

  “We would very much like to have your blessing and consent, Rose. It would mean everything to Ophelia and to me. However, I am here to tell you that I plan to marry your daughter. It would hurt Ophelia if you said no, and that would hurt me as well, but make no mistake, I will marry Ophelia. I love her very much. I will protect her from all harm and she will never know a sad day. This I promise.” William said.

  “There is much you do not know about Ophelia, about our lives here, William.” Rose said.

  “Then tell me so that I may fully be prepared to be a part of your lives.”

  Rose stood up and opened the door to the back of the house. Gertie and Ophelia were pressed up against the door trying to listen and had to scoot away to keep from getting hit by the opening door.

  “Ophelia, come. You have much to discuss with this young man. I want you to be honest with him and mindful of your tongue. If William still wants to marry you then I shall not object. I trust your judgement and I see the way you look at each other, I want only the best for you. You understand the risks are great, Ophelia, our lives are very much in your hands. Come, Gertrude, let’s take a walk down by the waterfall.”

  Gertie looked at Ophelia and William and winked as she took her mother’s arm and walked away from the house.

  “Gertrude, what do you think of this proposed marriage between William and Ophelia?” Rose asked.

  “He loves her, mother, and she loves him. Julia and I have become close and I now believe that she is one of us. As for William, I do not know. Julia loves him like a son, but she has never spoken to me of him in that way. I know not if she is trying to protect him by not telling him about herself and Hugo, or if indeed he does know.”

  “They have spent many years together, it would seem that there would not be much that he did not know about his benefactor.” Rose said.

  “That is true, however, there has always been Mathew with them. He is not a man who would look kindly upon learning he has been deceived. I imagine it was much easier for Julia to hide her true self from him in the past, but with the baby comes questions. Since Mathew and the King are still away, he has not seen his son, but when the day comes that Hugo does something strange or speaks, everything could change.” Gertrude said.

  “I fear for Julia and her child, Gertrude, but my heart is with you, tis you I am more concerned about, and Ophelia.” Rose said.

  “William has been away so much courting Ophelia, that he has not been around Hugo a great deal. Thus being so, I have no knowledge of what he knows or does not know. Things are changing and decisions will have to be made before the King returns. Thus far the delays have been a blessing. I will keep my eyes and ears opened.”

  Much later when Rose returned to her house, William was gone. Gertrude had already left on her way back to the Palace, taking one of the horses from William’s wagon. Ophelia was sitting at the table and seemed very deep in thought.

  “Ophelia, where is William?”

  “William has returned to the Palace, mother.”

  “Is all well?”

  “I am to be married mother, William understands and loves me.”

  “You told him – everything?”

  “I was honest with him, mother. William is a good man. I have given him a lot to think about and much to fear. But William has decided that we are worth the risk. For as long as we can be together, we will be.” Ophelia told her mother.

  “Even though for him that will not be forever?”

  “Even then. William will be back in two days’ time and he will bring Gertrude back with him and we shall be married, here in this beautiful forest. Please say that you are happy for me, mother. I could never smile again if you are against our marriage. I love William, I love him so much, mother.” Ophelia said, kneeling at her mother’s feet and placing her head in her mother’s lap.

  “I am happy for you, Ophelia. With William’s connections in the Palace and with your sister there, perhaps we shall be spared too much scrutiny. Where will you live, surely not in the Palace? Am I going to lose both of my girls to the King’s home?”

  “No, mother. Alma told me that she is going to leave this forest to go live with her sister. The long walks over to the next village have been hard on her. She has offered William and me her home to use for as long as we need it.”

  “Then it is all settled.”

  “Yes, mother. It is.”

  Chapter 6

  William and Ophelia were married in a small ceremony in the forest among the tall trees and wild flowers near the waterfall. Julia had offered them the use of the Palace, since the king and her husband were still off on their travels. Ophelia, however, wished to be married in the forest, among their friends. She also wished to not bring her mother to the Palace, even for the wedding. The more she was noticed there, the more dangerous their situation could be if things changed for the worse. As it was, no one had laid eyes on her mother’s face.

  When Julia and Hugo arrived with Gertie and William for the ceremony, Rose and Julia stared at each other.

  ”Genevieve, is that really you?” Rose exclaimed, rushing up to Julia.

  “Elizabeth! Do eyes deceive me?” Julia cried.

  Gertie, Ophelia and William stood back watching the reunion. “You two know each other?” William asked.

  Julia answered him. “Indeed we do, William. This is my old friend, Elizabeth. It has been a great many years since we last parted. Another time, another place. You are called Rose now? What an unusual name! It is so good to see you again, my friend. I heard about your husband, Robert, and I am so sorry.”

  “Thank you, I miss my Robert a great deal, however, he died saving others, many, many years ago. And you, Genevieve, I have heard quite a few stories of what you have been up to. You now have a son! What a beautiful child he is, how proud of him you must be.” Rose said. “I am so happy we have found each other again.”

  Julia presented Ophelia with a peal encrusted hair ornament which was not unlike a spider web in shape. She told her to keep it with her always and that it would allow her to leave this land when the time was right. Ophelia’s own mother, Rose, placed her hands on the hair ornament and spoke a few words. Sparks flew from the pearls and a puff of gold mist appeared.

  “Gertie, look!” Ophelia said, turning to her sister. “Gold mist, not blue.” William look at the both of them and said “Blue?”

  Ophelia turned to William. “William, my love, you do not seemed surprised or worried about what we have just witnessed. Could it be that you are one of us after all?”

  William looked at his bride to be and spoke with a touch of sadness in his voice. “If only that were true, my love, I would be honored. I spoke the truth before by this very waterfall. Julia took me in when I was but a small boy. I have known about Julia for many years now.”

  “But you never spoke of it, it would have made things much easier if you had.” Ophelia sai
d.

  “I love you, Ophelia, but my loyalty to Julia runs very deep as well. I would never speak for her or discuss her life in any way without her permission. I hope you understand.” William said.

  “You are a good man, William, and I know that you will be loyal to all of us. I am so happy that you and my sister will be as one.” Gertie said, giving her new brother in law a hug. “I still can’t believe that Ophelia is marrying before me!” Gertie laughed.

  “Look, here comes the people from the village. We can begin now.” Rose said. The little boys of their village walked in a line and the one in front was playing a flute. It seemed that the entire village turned out to witness the wedding of Ophelia and William.

  It was a beautiful day and Ophelia made a beautiful bride. She pinned her new hair decoration into her dark brown hair and she carried the little bouquet of wild flowers that Gertrude handed her. It was the happiest day of Ophelia and William’s lives.

  Chapter 7

  Time went on and Ophelia was now with child herself. William continued to drive the wagons to procure food and other goods needed for the Palace and to take Gertie back and forth when she visited with her sister and mother.

  “I don’t feel right being at the Palace when you are going to have a baby.” Gertie told her sister. “Watching over Julia and her son instead of taking care of you and your child.”

  “Do not worry about me. I have mother and William to watch over me. My time is fast approaching. I feel like I have ten children in me.” Ophelia laughed.

  “Look it as well.” Gertie said, falling quickly into their old banter.

  “So tell me, what is the news from the monarch? I am glad you are happy there, Gertrude, but I wish you would come back home. Enough time has passed for you to know what might happen, and now we have Julia with us.”

  “The huntsmen that Mathew and the King hired will be arriving soon. Mathew and the King have been delayed again. As you know, there is no queen and I believe, and Julia does as well, that they are doing less work and more drinking and gambling than befitting their rankings. Of course, Mathew is only a pretend royal family member, being married to the king’s second cousin and all. The longer they stay away the better. As for me, I have settled into life in the Palace quite well and Julia and I are true friends now, although she still treats me as her servant in front of others, but we have to play the roles until we can leave the Palace forever.”

  Gertie took a long lock of Ophelia’s hair and tucked it behind her sister’s ear. “With William with you most of the time, Julia and Hugo would be alone. I know I could come back home now, but I am rather comfortable there in the Palace.” Gertie said.

  “Imagine that!” Ophelia laughed.

  The Great Evil had arrived and although the King was not in attendance, he decided to stay at the Palace. He had been paid well and intended to do his job. The fact that Gertrude was also in the Palace and possessed such great beauty, made his decision final.

  One day Gertie noticed a beautiful red ruby ring that Julia was holding in her hand. “What a bright stone! It is very fetching! I noticed you looking at it once before and wanted to ask you about it then, but you put it away quickly and so I held my tongue.”

  Julia looked at Gertie and said “This ring is very important to our wellbeing, Gertie. We must keep it safe at all costs. It will be our way out of here forever. Come, sit by me and I will explain its power and how to use it.”

  When Julia was finished explaining the ring’s capabilities, Gertie was amazed. “And that will actually work? For all of us?”

  “It must, Gertie. The huntsman has decided to stay. As you might already know, he is known as The Great Evil.”

  Gertie felt her legs giving out under her. She steadied herself by holding onto the bedpost. “The Great Evil.” She said, repeating the dreaded moniker.

  “Gertie, him being here is not my idea at all. I stand for nothing that my husband or the Great Evil does. My cousin does not feel the need to make changes, but he is weak and wishes to be more powerful and gain the respect of others, so he will do whatever this Great Evil person suggests he do. Please believe that. I feel ill just knowing that man is here.”

  “Surely he will not stay long since your husband and the king are not here, correct, milady?”

  “I do not know.”

  “William should be back shortly from his gathering. We must start planning now, for our time is growing short.” Julia said.

  William drove the wagon to neighboring villages to gather food and supplies. Quite often he would be gone for days. William made it a point to talk and listen to people to gather any information he could that would be helpful. He knew that Julia had summoned her friends Cynthia and Ashton to come to the Palace to increase their numbers and help plan their escape when the time came. William reported all he had learned to Julia and Gertie, but tried to spare his wife any unnecessary stress.

  William usually came straight back to the Palace from one of his trips. But he had been gone for days now and he was anxious to get back to his wife, so he went home first. When William got home he found that Ophelia had given birth to not one child, but two. Two beautiful little girls. “Go, William, bring back Gertrude!” Rose said.

  “I will go tomorrow or the next day Rose, for now I want to spend with my wife and new daughters.”

  Julia and Gertie were discussing the soon arriving Cynthia and her husband when they heard a very excited William downstairs calling for them. William was back from his gathering trip. As the two women rushed to see what was happening, they saw William laughing and smiling. “There you are! Ophelia has given birth! We have two girls!”

  Julia and Gertie wanted to be happy, but they only grew more afraid. “William, the time has almost come, when we must leave here and never come back.”

  “But we can’t leave, not with the babies. Where would we go?” Julia did not know how to answer him, and Gertie told him to wait outside for her so that she could go with him to see the new babies.