Sunday Scribblings ~ Outdoor Assignment

It was getting late and she was very tired, but no one would know by her stance that she was eighty five years old. She held her back ramrod straight and her stride was steady and determined. Passers by tried to make eye contact, but she would have nothing to do with commoners. She always found the people in this country simple minded and lacking in social graces. Bound for home, she increased her pace and breathed a great sigh as the key entered the lock. Closing the door behind her, the weight of her back leaned against it and she was sure to bolt it tight before removing herself. No one knew just who she really was and she wanted it no other way. Her life was a memory and sharing her story would force her to accept that she had grown old, was alone and a stranger in this foreign land. Years ago she was cherished and adored by her own people as their Princess and the heiress to the throne of the blessed country of her birth. Years ago she was young, beautiful and secretly in love with a man not of her standing, but wonderful beyond any dream she could imagine today. Her Father would have killed her had he known of their affair and if it were her decision, she would be dead, because life without her lover was a miserable existence. She was alive because of him, alive and the only member saved of her slaughtered family, thought dead herself. She was here, in this country, breathing, eating, sleeping and living because of him. And

all she had left was her smallest crown that she placed at the top of her ancient bed to guide her dreams and the last note that was handed to her by a stranger right before she fled from her home, her love, her life. Every night she took out the letter that she read by candle light, worn with time, tears and travel. She carefully placed the weathered paper all alone in the drawer by her bed, blew out the candle and laid her weary head on the silken pillow. She closed her eyes, still seeing his written words that were memorized and seared behind her lids ~ My Darling Grace~ Though the leaves are turning~ never will my love change for you. If I should die, let it be while holding a shield over your heart. Forever in Your Service and in your arms ~ Richard. She lay there wondering if he knew that as he was writing such endearments of love, he was also sealing his fate and her future forever.