It was the day of Eadlin's eighth birthday. It was April and the sun streamed through the window of her bedchamber, the curtains on her four poster bed dispersing the light.
She was excited. Her mother had told her that today was the day that she would start her education. Her father had told her that today was the day she could leave the castle, all by herself. (well, not quite all by herself, her mother had arranged a chaperone, and she would have her pony. Chap-er-own. It sounded like a man, she thought. A chap. But it was a girl, her mother had told her. A girl just like her, but a bit bigger.)
She bounded out of bed and opened the heavy wooden door. She hated the narrow stone stairs, there were no windows here, just narrow slits in the stone walls and in winter the wind blew in, the snow swirled, following the spiral of the stairs. But today, although it was cold, the dust motes swirled in the early sunshine, too early to bring warmth, but carrying the prospect of summer and hope.
On the next landing she hefted the next door. There was no sneaking around in this castle, unless you knew the secret stairs and you could creep like the servants used to creep around when there were servants. Her mother was already sitting at her desk in the curved wall of where the large window captured the early light. She was drinking coffee and talking to the castle manager who beamed at Eadlin as she entered the room.
"Good morning my big eight year old girl!" Queen Althea swept her daughter up in her arms even though she was far too tall and kissed her.
"Happy birthday, Eadlin." The manager, Gregory, shook her hand in mock seriousness before he too was hugged.
"So... what is it you most want to do today?" Althea asked her daughter.
"Have my lessons!" Eadlin could barely stand still with excitement. "And go outside...on my own." She breathed.
"Yes..." her mother said and seemed to sigh for a moment. "Yes, that's what I want too."
Breakfast was at the long dining table with the whole household wishing her happy birthday as they went past. Nobody usually sat down for breakfast, all the people who worked in the castle helped themselves from the long tables and stood around chatting as they started work, but today everyone was waiting for her when she arrived downstairs and she was allowed whatever she wanted to eat. Tonight might be dinner with just the three of them, but this morning it was nice to be surrounded by all the people she knew.
It was her father who walked her across the courtyard to an old cottage that had been changed into a classroom. It was he who had insisted on this. Other children in the castle had lessons, but they were all older than her and her father didn't think it was right that she should join in with their lessons just yet. Anyway he told her, "One day you will be Queen. These are special lessons, that only you need."
He opened the door of the cottage and instantly the room was flooded with sunshine. Eadlin could barely see across the room to the old woman sitting by the fireplace. She was sitting by a spinning wheel and her foot gently moved as the wool passed through her fingers. She smiled broadly at the King.
"Good morning Aubrey." she said "And welcome young Eadlin. It's a very special day today."
"It certainly is, "said the King. "Well, Eadlin. Don't be shy. Go and join Julienne and have a wonderful time. Listen well and learn. Julienne taught my sister everything she knows." He bent down and kissed her on the cheek. He held her for a few minutes too long and then swept back out into the sunshine, shutting the door behind him and Eadlin was left alone.
No comments:
Post a Comment