In the Woods of Fontainebleau

Chloe flopped on the grass in a huff. “I cannot play anymore, Louis. Stop this. Let us return to the chateau. I am beginning to melt.” She rubbed her delicate handkerchief across her brow and gathered her skirts together. Chloe, Louis, Amelie, Antoinette, and Charles had come to play a game of croquet on the chateau lawns hoping that the fresh air would relax them a little. But the sweltering heat of France was getting unbearable. “Let us go and ask for something to cool us off,” Chloe cried again, but the others didn’t pay her much heed.

The five of them had grown up in Chateau de Fountainebleau. Charles’s parents belonged to the French royal family, and in his own right, was heir to the throne. Louis, Amelie, and Antoinette were children of the nobility. Chloe’s father served in the military under Charles’s father. Over the years, the children found themselves in each other’s company whenever their parents accepted invitations to balls, meetings, and games. They had become fast friends. Two years ago, arrangements had been made for the five children to spend their summers at Chateau de Fountainebleau. This year, they had made a secret pact to explore the grounds more, having exhausted their curiosities within the walls of the royal residence. They had loudly announced that they would play a game of croquet, and had walked off hurriedly into the lawns. Their game went on in earnestness for a while in case any of the servant were sent to check on them. When the house-keeper brought them refreshments, they were found concentrating the ball so hard that she had to clear her throat nearly seven times before they acknowledged her. As soon as she left, Louis whisked out a piece of paper, on which he had scribbled something and the children pored over it. “Let’s begin here,” he had said, pointing to the cluster of trees, “We’ll move in the direction of the bushes, and hopefully, find something before we wind up near the fountains.” They began to search under branches, leaves, bushes, and even on lower tree branches for any article of interest. Chloe was the first to notice that they had wandered too far off from their course, and warned them. She began to fear that they would not find their way back.

“Let’s stop for now,” she called out, hoping to alert her friends to the fact that they were too far away from the chateau.

“But we have not found anything yet,” Louis called back.

Chloe sat down in protest and began to dramatically wipe of the sweat on her brow, panting a little too hard. Antoinette noticed her.

“Are you okay, Chloe?”

“No. I need to drink something cool. Let’s go back.”

“Ah, look there is a little brook there. Cup your hands like this and fetch yourself a drink. You can use this leaf if you like.”

“A leaf!” Chloe spluttered. “I am Chloe, Chloe Bauffremont! I do not drink from leaves!”

“Then sit here and wait for us to come. We will return when we find it.”

“It? What is it?”

“We’ll know when it comes.”  Antoinette ran and joined the others.

Chloe leaned back against the tree. She noticed for the first time how the trees bent over her and decorated the skies, veiling her from the sun’s sharp rays. She remembered how when she first came to this place many years ago, she had held her mother’s hand, and was shy when she was introduced to the others. They had mentioned ‘bethrothal’. She didn’t understand then, but today, her mother had reminded her of that day, and two spots of red had formed high in her cheeks. Maybe that’s why she was sweating more than the others, the butterflies in her stomach were flying hard against her. She cast a shy glance at Charles, wondering if she knew what she had been told. She wanted to sit next to him on the stone bench at the fountain and find out if he knew she was his betrothed. But he was as stupid as the others, looking for something that didn’t exist in these woods. She let out a heavy sigh and leaned further into the tree. Suddenly, a loud click sounded, and she fell back against the mud. The tree behind her had moved into itself and created a hollow.

“AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH” Chloe screamed.

Louis, Charles, Antoinette, and Amelie rushed to her side.

“The tree moved!” Chloe was beside herself. But instead of being concerned, the others began to investigate excitedly.

“I told you! It was somewhere here. Let’s go in and see what’s inside.” Amelie was shrieking with excitement.

“I proposed this exploration. So I will go in first,” Louis stood firm.

“Why can’t we all go?” Charles interjected.

“But what about me? I am hurt!” Chloe pouted.

“No, you aren’t,” Amelie said. “I will go in because I am the smallest and will fit.”

“Not with our flouncy skirts. Your train will get caught up there and you won’t be able to come back. Let the boys climb.” Antoinette was the voice of reason among them.

“Women, please make room,” Charles moved forward. “I will look for whatever is beyond that hole and will retrieve it. After all, this wood belongs to my family.”

While they were bickering about who would go in and who wouldn’t, a stout leg appeared at the hollow. Chloe felt it against her back and she let out another shrill scream. Charles noticed and immediately clasped his palm over her mouth, muffling her screams. “Shut up will you, don’t cause trouble.” He whispered in her ears.

The leg was followed by another, and in a few moments, a whole person emerged from the hollow. The man looked elderly, and his clothes held a sheen that was uncommon even among the nobility. He had to be a prince or king of some kind.

“Who are you?” Charles asked.

The man looked astonished. He had obviously not noticed five people watching him exit a tree. His jaw dropped slightly.

“Eh… I am Louis. Who are you?”

“But I am Louis.” Louis moved forward and stood with his chest out.

“Right,” said the old man, and suddenly turned and watched Charles carefully. “You look familiar.”

In the distance, the sound of the house-keeper’s worried voice accompanied by the guard’s whistle penetrated the silence. The old man cocked his ears, caught the sound, and made as if to re-enter the hollow. Charles caught him by his elbow.

“Who are you, and why do you live on my land?”

“Your land? Boy, I live on my land, and don’t you talk to me like that.” Before Charles made sense of his words, the man shed his age, and nimbly leapt up into the hollow, disappearing. A click sound closed off the hollow. The sound of footsteps neared now, and the leaves rustled impatiently.

“What did he mean by his grounds?” Charles spoke rather angrily.

“Children! What is the meaning of this?” The house-keeper reached the clearing. “I have been looking for you for so long. Come away from here at once. Charles, your father had arrived, and wishes to speak to you urgently. Please don’t do this again.” With a hand at her breast, the house-keeper turned around and walked slowly, holding on to the guard. The children followed her, puzzled.