Chapter 1 May 6, 1895 Festival Of Fools I walked through my parents' small cabin, I grabbed my small satchel that sat on the table like a frog on a log in the river. My mother was in her room resting and my father was off to work at a butcher shop. I grasped hold of my hunting knife. It was finally spring and I knew, when spring comes, food also comes. My father and I mostly hunt for animals when spring season comes, that's when we can kill large deer and kill large owls that sit in trees at night. I was not going hunting today, I was going to the town village. Where I could steal! Yes, I said it, "Steal". My mother has raised me not to steal from anyone, but this situation is a different story. If you people saw that priceless diamond necklace in the jewelry shop, you would steal too. But just my luck, the priceless necklace costs 100 coins. To expensive for my family to afford. I pulled on my hood and walked out my cabin. I peered around the forest to make sure no animals were lingering around, ready to attack me and make me their early morning breakfast. I could not hear a thin but he delicate singing of birds and the work from a man that lived just down the hill from us. I pulled my knife from satchel and walked along the forest ground, looking around, ready to stab a mountain lion or a wolf that thinks that they can take me down. I have always been alarmed around my surroundings. Ever since I was attacked by a bear when I just 12. The wounds have healed but that scar on my lip never faded away like the others, instead there it was, it was healed but it was still visible. I was now 16, and I was ready to make a living of my own. I rushed down the small hill and slides down the slopes of a rocky mountain. The family that live down the hill from my family was watching their father, Mr. Grimsley chop down wood. At that moment, I caught Olivia Grimsley's eye. Olivia was pale and had blong hair that went down to legs. She managed to always pull her hair into a neat bun. Her eyes were emeraled green, and her teeth were perfectly white. Her smile was beautiful, and it brightened my day. She gave me a friendly smile and gave me a wave. I waved back and gave her a friendly smirk. She was beautiful. For some reason, I couldn't stop staring at her. I had been so into her I lost my balance and tripped along the slope and landed back first just in front of Mr. Grimsley. He looked at me and gave me a "I'm gonna kill yoiu frown." I got up from my trip and brushed myself off, Mr. Grimsley stopped chopping firewood and sat the ax down by the now cut stump. "What the hell are you doing?" He said givim me an evil look "I was just sliding down the slope sir, I'm going to the village to pick up a few things for my mother," I lied. He looked at me up and down and shook his head. "I saw you smiling at my daughter, I have already warned you, now I don't want to hurt you boy. But that there, that there is my pride and joy. She is a delicate beautiful young woman and I will not tolerate her going with such a thief, such as yourself." "I have changed my ways, and besides, your daughter and I have splitren up, we are no longer in the talking terms." I lied. I knew what I said was not true at all. Matter of fact, me and Olivia were still in fact much in love, and we had made such sweet love to each other when our parents were not around. "Oh yeah, then why were you smiling at her?" Her father asked "I was being friendly sir," "Yeah, maybe to friendly," he replied with a frown I looked down and avoided eye contact from Olivia, the sun looked so beautiful on her as it beamed from her beautiful blonde hair, to her white smooth skin. I nodded my head and walked down the road to the village....
Chapter 2 Evening Of Nights As I walked up to village I could see there were shoppers and dealers that asked me if I wanted any food or jewelry. I neared around a corner and saw a group of women whispering and giggling as I passed them by. I scratched the back of my head awkwardly, I knew they were talking about me, the young girls always talked about me. They said I was the most handsomest going man in the kingdom. There always seemed as if there were some maiden chasing after me, so I kept my hood on. I walked to the small cabin that held the jewelry I was looking for. "Hello Mr. Piacso," I said with a solemn smile. Mr. Piacso looked at me with wide eyes and smiles. "Hello, Mr. springs," he said walking over to me "Well, may I ask a question?" "Of course," "Well, my mother's birthday is coming up pretty soon, and I really need a good present for her. So, I thought, what better place then Mr. Paisco's Jewelry Cove," " Oh, well the las time I checked, yoiur family was very poor, most of the things here are 50 coins or more, " "Of course, and that is why I have a job now, I work for Mr. Fisher, he pays me 6 coins an hour." "How long have you worked for him?" "About 5 months, and I have made 100 coins, and I would like to buy that necklace that was originated from Paris France. A place where I was also originated," "Oh, ok, well it is a 25 carrot blue diamond necklace, it is actually worth more then I sell it," "Really? How much," I said, arching my eyebrow as we both looked at the necklace through the glass case that protected it. "It is worth 65,000 coins." "Wow, why won't you sell it to the queen? Then you will not have to work anymore?" I asked. I was very confused, once I found out that it was worth that much coins, I would have ran straight to the case and claimed my money front he rich queen. I tapped the glass. "This is very imported glass, from Egypt, right? Where the most protected glass is made?" " Yes, matter of fact, I visited there, to see the pyramids." "Of course, anyway, I must like to hold it to see how actual expensive it is." "Well, I don't allow customers to touch my merchendice, unless if I see their coin bags," "Of course, never trust a French man," I said smirking and digging in my back pocket. I pulled out a small brown sack and shook it, the jiggling of coins was heard and he could hear it. "Yes, yes, yes," he said opening the case. I slowly grabbed the necklace and felt on the diamonds. "Nice, very nice," I smiled "Well, give me the bag of coins already," he said holding out his hand. I smiled and put the bag of coins in his awaiting hand and walked out the door quickly, only to see he followed grabbed my arm and pulled me back in. "Not so fast, your no going anywhere until I count theses coins," he said taking the necklace from my hands and starting to untie the coin bag Uh Oh, I'm busted...
Just to my luck a very beautiful young woman walked into the jewelry store. She had on a peasent's dress with long beautiful black hair and blue eyes. I opened the door for her and steppes behind the counter, glancing at her with glee. The jeweler set down the necklace and the bag of fake coins that was unopened. I watched as he helped the young woman. I then remembered that I had a mission to do and I hurriedly grabbed the necklace and my bag of fake coins and ran out the store. After I was running, I could hear him yell, "Thief! Theif! Guards, seize him!!!" I turned around to see there were 3 guards following me. I looked around frantically, Where to go, where to go! I said, then I saw it, a hay cart, I jumped in the itchy hay, I soon heard the guards run right past the cart. I pulled the necklace in my satchel and peeked out the hay cart. I did not see any guards and I snuck out the cart. "What are you doing?" I turned shocked to see the girl that was in the jewelry store. The sun shone along her black hair. I looked at her. She had her hand in hips. She seemed to be frowning. "Who are you?" I asked still alarmed and looking around for guards. "I am no importance to you," she said, she was beautiful, but she was also a hot head. "I am busy at the moment, I would like for you to leave me alone." "You mean you are busy stealing necklaces from that dear old man?" I frowned at her and walked past her rushing through the crowd. She would not quit, she kept following me. "You should gonanck and return that necklace, you could be thrown in the dungeon for what you have done," "I have been thrown in the dungeon before, it does not scare me." "But, that was wrong, if you had coins, why did you steal?" "Why do you care so much? Anyway, I must get back home, I have thins to do," "Stop, or I will scream," I turned around and frowned at the girl. "Who do you think you are? You can't just come up to me and say things, I am very dangerous." I said, hoping she would back away and leave me alone. "I do not think you are dangerous, you might think you are," she said I pulled out my knife. This will show her not to mess with me. "Back away, or I will slice you and dice you," She did not seem intimidated by my knife she stood there and looked at me with bravery and beauty as the wind blew through her hair. "I am not afraid," I picked up a pile of dust from the ground and threw it at her, she started to cough and weez and that was the perfect way for me to make my escape. I ran up the hill and dissapeared behind a tree hoping she would not follow me or continue to look.
As I approached my cabin, I could see that the girl was no longer following me, I took a look at the beautiful Olivia. I gave her a friendly wave and she gestured me to her. I walked down the mountain to her and she slowly took off my hood. "Where is your father and mother?" I asked "They are in the house, we can walk just about a mile to the west of the woods, where then they will not see us, but I will hear my father call for me," she said with a playful smirk. I smiled widely as she lead me behind the safety and comfort of the trees. --------------------------------------------------------------------- 30 minutes later ... "OLIVIA!!" Her father called from their home. Olivia quickly pulled down her dress and I moved from between her legs. Her hair was now very messy from all the sweating we had been doing. I quickly pulled up my pants and looked around surprised. I saw that she was brushing her hair with her fingers. I quickly hid behind a tree. Her father had come in the woods to find her, luckily, we had stopped just in time. "Olivia, what are you doing here?" Her father asked her "I was just here....um....picking, Umm.....flowers. I was looking for a purple orchid. I wanted to give it to my mother, " Olivia said. "Are you sure? Her father asked her " Yes father, I would never lie to you, " "I know darling, let's just get you out of these woods, you know that boy in the woods." "Dad, do you even know his name?" "No, and I don't want to know it.." "His name is Edward,he is very nice to me, he just smiles at me as he walks past me, we never encounter in words, but what if one day, I want to talk to him?" "Well, I can not stop you, but I do all these thins out of lobe !y dear, " As they started to head back to heir cabin, I ran to mine and found my mother at the door. She gave me a weak smile. "Hello honey," she said weakly "Hello mother, you should not be out of bed," "I needed some fresh air," "Mother, you are sick this weather will make you sicker," "Of course honey," My mother got up from the small wooden steps that held her up. She had small gray hairs peeking from the side of her ears, she had tried so desperately to hide so often. I helped my mother to her bedroom and layer her down pulling the small quilt over her. I went back outside to see that the girl was walking up to my cabin, I quickly got up and frowned. "What the hell do you want?" I said sourly "Is that what you do to a young woman when you first meet her? You throw dust in her face?" I could tell she was furious, I walked toward her and pointed back to the village. "Go back home, " "You do not give me orders you are no the king," she said "If I were I wouldn't be like that loser king we have now. Oh how he is such a mindless idiot," "Do not speak that way of your king! You shall be banished if I hear you say another word about him!" I was surprised how offended she gotten. "Sorry, it isn't like he knows you exist, why take up for him?" "He does know I exist," she said fold in her arms against her chest. I arched my eyebrow and looked at her with curiosity. "How?" "Ummmm...I....I am friends with his daughter," "Wait, you have seen the king's daughter?" "Everyday actually," "Wait, you must tell me...is she as beautiful as everyone thinks she is?" "I do not know," "How could you not know, you see her everyday right?" "Yes but... I am not supposed to tell anyone about this, matter of fact, I must go," without any final words she hurried and walked away, as the wind blew through her black silky hair.
The Next Morning...... As I got up from bed I checked my satchel to see if the necklace was still there. It wasn't. It was gone. I looked around frantically in my room for it. I walked out my room and looked around frantically. "Looking for this?" My younger sister Mildred said as she held the necklace in her hand, I looked at her and gasped. "Um...n-no, I was lookin for Scruff," Scruff was my dog, even though he was very old and very weak, I still found the time to play with him and grasp hold of him, whenever I could, I did not want him to feel like an old dog, I wanted him to feel like a young puppy running through the grass with me, frolicking and playing. "I found this in your satchel, your lucky father didn't find it before I did," she replied looking at it in disgust. "Listen, I bought that necklace at the market yesterday, no big deal
After a couple minutes of talking to Mildred about her day with Lance yesterday, the conversation was shortly cut, our father walked in the door. He sat at the table angrily and banged his large fist on the wooden table, knocking everything over and scaring Mildred. "Mildred, bring me my rum at this instant!" Mildred ran to the basement where dad stored his rum. She was only 13 and yet she looked as if she was 18. I looked down at the floor and stayed silent. Hoping dad would do the same. "Where were you yesterday?" He asked, breaking the silence I gave him a quick glance and fished in my head for a good lie. "I was down at the market, looking for some bread. And a couple things to eat," "We have no money for you to BUY things Edward, you should go out and get a job," he said frowning at me. "Father, I have tried. There is no one that will accept me," I said mumbling "Why do you think so you fool! Your the thief of the market! Market thief is what they call you," he said banging his hand on the table again. I was surprised he heard what they called me. I started to tremble hoping he did not know about the necklace. I scooted it under my lap. "Here you are father, a bottle of rum," Mildred said she set the rum down on the table. My father looked at her and frowned. "Where is your bonnet?" He said, Mildred sighed and looked around. "Father, that bonnet is far to itchy and far to small for me to wear, mother says that she will make me a new one as soon as she gets well," Mildred pointed out "Your mother is a mindless fool! " he replied drinking his rum. Mildred gasped and looked down at the floor. " You must keep that bonnet on at all times, do you understand Mildred?" "Yes father, I understand," Mildred said sourly running out the kitchen as soon as possible. "And for you," my father said, looking directly in my direction. "No more going out this house, every time you do, you get into serious trouble. Once your in the dungeon, your just in the dungeon, understand Edward?" I tightned my fists and clenched my jaw. "Yes, father," I said walking back into my bedroom. I looked out the window and saw that the girl from yesterday was walking right past my cabin. "What is she doing in this side of the woods? Does she not know that there are dangers here, she can't be outside unprotected,"
I knocked on the window, hoping she would hear the tapping noise I was now making. She did not seem to hear it and kept walking looking around. I then started to notice how lovely she looked. Her hair was pulled back in a bun that was straight and lovely. She wore a brown dress, that was very pressed and fit her perfectly. I sat back and watched her as she looked confused and walked through the woods. She looked beautiful confused. I walked out my bedroom and into the kitchen to get a better view of her. She walked down the hill, but tripped over a rock. She quickly started to slide down the hill, I gasped and knew what was awitin for her. Just under that hill, was a ledge, the ledge led to a very deep and deadly hole at the bottom. I mostly used the long way to get to the village, seems as if she used the hardest and deadliest way. I had to think quickly before she fell 25 feet to her death. I slid right behind her. For some reason she wasn't screaming or calling for help or anything, she was just sliding. I wondered if she really needed help, I knew that she was headed for a ledge, truth was, did she? "Hey!" I called out to her. She looked back and seemed surprised to see me. "Your headed toward a ledge!" I yelled "What?!?" She yelled back "Your headed towards a ledge!" I screamed "I can't hear you!" She turned around and finally saw what i was talkihng about and she screamed. "I'll save you!" I yelled as pushed myself to go faster.
As she neared the ledge, I saw that she jumped over the deep hole. "Oh my Jesus," I replied as I watched her jump over it. She did it better then I could, I never jumped that far in my life. And she did it in just a few seconds. I stopped myself just a couple feet from the ledge. No words could emerge from my tongue to out of my mouth. She straightened her hair, I could not help but stare with complete aw. "W-what was that?" I asked her "What do you mean?" She said with a frown "You you just jumped over this long ledge, I tried all my life and I could never make it all the way across like you did," "Well boys aren't all that perfect, are they?" She said sourly "What is your name?" "Why do you care?" "I just need to know," "I am Viola," she said "Viola? That's, that's a pretty good name," "I bet so," she turned around and started to walk away "Wait," I said. She turned around and faced me. "How could a girl do something I can't?" "Esy anserw, girls can do anything a boy can do," she said with a quick glance before walking to the village. "Wow......."
As I watched her walk away. Olivia walked up behind and gave me a fright. "Hello Edward," she said with a smile "Olivia, hi," "I saw that," she said with a warm smile "You you did?" "Yes," she said with a giggle before sitting beside me. For some reason, I really didn't want her sitting next to me. I wanted to talk to Viola more. "My father and mother just left from the cabin, now we don't have to do it in the woods," she said with a smirk. "That's a kind offer Olivia, but I will have to turn the offer down." What the hell am I doing? I never turned down an opportunity to make love. My ansere shocked me more than it shocked her. "Well, are you sure? I would love to have a bit of fun, " she said while pulling on my clothes. "Listen Olivia, instead of sneaking around and doing such things, do you even care that your dad will one day catch us? He would kill me with his Axe. " I won't let him, I love you and I want to be with you," For some reason, I didn't want to say I love you back like I usually did. I just sat there. What's happening to me?