One
Evelyn walked through the woods being guided by the stars above her, she wasn’t allowed outside the manor on her own but the walls she was trapped behind easily made her feel suffocated making her need an escape. She felt at peace in the forest, it reminded her of home.
She hadn’t seen her birthplace in almost two years now, on her seventeenth year her father had finally given her to the man she would wed. Her fiancé while a seemingly decent man was never present at the manor as he had many business dealings in far off places. In the time she had been at the manor she had only spoken with the man a hand full of times, he was very straight forward and not the most talkative person around.
Evelyn knew while her life with him would not be the enchanting fairytale she dreamed of as a child, she would be comfortable and live a decent life. She hoped once they were wed he would become more lenient in allowing her alone time in the forest, there were few feelings she loved more than the earth underneath her bare feet. It made her feel connected to something bigger then herself
Evelyn stayed in the forest until the sky started to grow brighter, she quickly ran back to the wall surrounding the manor and climbed the tree that allowed her to get inside undetected. Once inside the walls she moved slower not wanting any of the guards or staff to see her sneaking around with dirt covered feet.
It would be very obvious where she had been and not one person here would keep her secret. They were for the most part all very kind to her but their loyalty lied with the man who pays them.
It didn’t take Evelyn long to reach her room on the second story, after she had found the hidden stairwell that lead from a small closet to her fiancé’s room a little over a year ago her ability to sneak around unseen was greatly enhanced.
Once in her room she went straight to bed knowing she only had a few hours to rest before her maid came to wake her for the day. Falling asleep Evelyn dreamed of something out of place. A town in ruins, fire spreading, the feeling of anguish enveloping her, and the fleeing towns people who were screaming and crying. She looked around trying to see if this was a place she had once been but recognized nothing but as she looked upon five people walking down the main road she felt a sense of belonging. The people kept walking closer until four of the five stopped besides the man in the middle, when he was close enough to barely make out his face she could have sworn the man smiled at her before she abruptly woke up.
“Miss Evelyn are you alright?” Her young maid Matilda asked as she stoked the fire in her room.
“Yes, just a strange dream.” Evelyn tried to shake the weird feeling it left her with but the way the man had smiled at her wouldn’t leave her mind.
Placing her feet on the floor Evelyn let out a hiss at how cold the stone was, she hadn’t noticed until now but in the few hours since she had fallen asleep the weather had turned from just a slight chill to now having a light layer of snow blanketing the village. She could see from her window that the tree tops were covered in white and some of the staffs children were building a snowman near the garden that she would need to work on once this weather passed.
“Would you like a hot bath before you start your day ma’am?” Matilda asked as she had finished all of her morning tasks already.
“No thank you, but could you bring me a warm cloth?” Evlynn had remembered how her feet had yet to be cleaned from the night before.
“Of course ma’am.” Matilda swiftly went to making one as Evlynn went closer to her window to see the beauty that was the winter’s first snowfall.
“It is such a beautiful day, you must be delighted that Mr. Arthur is returning this afternoon.” Matilda hands her the warm cloth before going to make the bed.
“I thought he wasn’t returning for another week.”
“Oh, I had thought someone had mentioned to you he sent word that his business dealings ended sooner than expected.” Matilda squeaked out. She was a small nervous thing who was just a year younger then Evlynn. She had quickly becomes Evlynn’s favorite person at the manor due to her kind soul.
“Thank you for letting me know.” Evlynn smiled at her which calmed Matilda down right away.
Evlynn always had a way about her that could make some of the most nervous or angered people calm with her soft words and beautiful bright green eyes. She was a beauty unlike any other, or at least the was what Matilda thought since the moment she saw her.
Once left to herself Evlynn quickly dressed in one of her thicker dresses, a pair of winter boots, and picks up her favorite cloak that her mother had made for her before she left. It was a dark blue color with what looked like stars stitched into it. It was one of the few things she had left to remember her by as soon after she left home her mother had fallen ill and died.
Leaving her room Evlynn was greeted by one of her regular guards, Henrik, a buff man who looked like he could take on an ox. While Henrik did look frightful to others though Evlynn had quickly learned he was harmless to most, she had once watched him climb up a tree to return a baby bird to its nest after it had fallen out.
“What are the plans for today little lady?” He asks Evlynn as they walk side by side.
“I need to go to town and pick up some supplies to make my mother’s soup.” She and her mother had a tradition that on the winters first snow fall they would always make their favorite soup to help warm them up and have a good start to winter. She continued the tradition when she came here to help her keep a part of her home with her.
Instead of taking the carriage Evlynn decides to walk to town since it’s only a half a mile away and she won’t be able to get as much time outside once Arthur returns. Henrik walks silently next to her like always. He was a good companion as he knew when to speak and when to stay quiet. On the walks to the village Evlynn is always so entranced by what’s around her he didn’t even believe she would hear him if he did speak.
Once reaching the village, the sound of sellers and children filled the air. Most people did not have an actual store to sell in but small carts they could take home at the end of the day. The village wasn’t the most lavished or populated one around but the people here were kind and the things to buy were usually plentiful.
Moving from cart to cart Evlynn bought everything she needed for the soup and a few extras at the carts that seemed to be not selling much today. She was almost ready to leave when she spotted a new cart with an elderly lady running it.
The cart was full of trinkets and jewelry like a few others in town but when Evlynn got closer a silver pendent on a simple chain caught her eye. Reaching the cart Evlynn grasped the piece of jewelry in her hand and brushed her thumb over the swirling design. It was very simple and slightly bigger than a gold coin with an interesting black gem in the center of it that she had never seen before.
“How much for this?” She asked the lady who was paying little attention to the girl.
“Three silvers.” She spoke in a raspy voice.
Henrik handed the lady the coins while Evlynn put on the necklace. She didn’t know what it was about the pendent that caught her eye so much but as the pendent laid upon her skin something inside her just felt right, like it belonged on her.
Stepping away from the booth Evlynn had a smile on her face as they started walking back towards the manor unaware of the look of unease Henrik was giving her and the pendent he had seen once before.
