I Promised You - William and Ophelia Read Free

William and Gertrude again.
    When the storms of the prior two mornings
ended and the sun came out to stay again, Ophelia decided to make a
return trip to the Palace. She was up very early and had bundled up
a good supply of her sister’s clothing to take with her, as well as
her hairbrush. She hugged her mother good-day and set out on her
way.

    About twenty five minutes into her journey,
Ophelia sat down on a rock to rest and to also collect her
thoughts. She looked up when she noticed an old woman approach her.
The woman was bent over and used a larger tree branch as a
makeshift cane.

    “Good tidings, Alma.” Ophelia greeted the
older woman.

    “Good day, Alma answered. “Tis a young man in
the forest a day or two ago twas lookin for ye.”

    “Looking for me? Did you know this young
man?” Ophelia asked.

    “Naw. He’ in be pretty enough to the eyes,
wert polite in tongue.” Alma said.

    “What did he say? What did you tell him?”
Ophelia asked her.

    “He asked if I’d be knowin ye and if I knew
where thine be. Is ye hos around here. Of course, I dinna be tellin
him nothing.”

    “Of course not. Thank ye, Alma, tis a good
friend you are.” Ophelia told her. Ophelia wanted to inquire more
about this young man. She wanted to determine if it had been
William who was looking for her, but she could not let her guard
down around anyone. Not even Alma.
    Ophelia reached into her pocket and withdrew
an apple and handed it to the old woman. The woman took the apple,
smiled at Ophelia with an almost toothless grin and was on her way
again.

    When Ophelia finally came to the clearing
where she could approach the Palace, she stopped to look around
her. She could understand why her sister would want to live in such
a grand place, but Ophelia worried greatly for her. Gertrude was
not known for her patience or ability to hold her tongue.

    “Hello there, Ophelia, are you looking for
me?”

    Ophelia had been so deep in thought she did
not see the young man until he spoke. “William, good day. I have
brought my sister her clothing.”

    “I have heard sisters sometimes think alike.
Gertie has sent me on a mission to retrieve her garments. Mathew
and the King have departed and all is well with both Julia and your
sister. Come, you will be able to visit with her.”

    Ophelia was very thankful that she did not
have to interact with the King or that dreadful Mathew that she met
on her last visit. She let William lead her into the Palace and she
was able to have a moment alone with Gertie when William said he
would announce her arrival to Julia.

    “Tell me, sister, has there been any talk of
the purification? Are you sure you are safe here?” Ophelia
whispered to Gertrude.

    “The King and Mathew have left the Palace,
along with some other men. All is well here except that there is to
be a new arrival shortly. A man they call the Great Evil and he was
paid a great deal of money to rid all of England of witches!”

    Ophelia looked around here to make sure no
one else could hear. “But sister, should you not leave now with me,
before this Evil man arrives?” Ophelia asked, fear and concern in
her voice.

    “I am fine and will be fine. I have nothing
to fear. The King was called away unexpectedly, so I am sure that
when the Evil comes that he will not want to stay. I do not want to
leave Julia. We brought forth a little man-child. Julia has named
him Hugo and he looks nothing like his father. I have grown rather
fond of Julia and I don’t think I could tear myself away from Hugo
if I wanted to. Come see, sister, come meet this beautiful little
boy.”

    Ophelia spent a pleasant couple of hours in
the garden with Julia, Hugo, William and Gertrude. It was Ophelia’s
first chance to see the inside of the Palace and her sister gave
her the grand tour.

    “Don’t be getting too used to the
accommodations, sister, hopefully you won’t be sticking around here
all that much longer.” Ophelia said, looking around at