Yes, you’ve talked about this day since you were a little girl, though I’ve never understood why. I have given you all you’ve wanted. You cried to me, laughed with me, dressed me in front of your friends. I watch over you. I protect you. Ever since that first day when you named me.
Suddenly, Chorlette drew in a sharp gasp.
"Look! There he is!" She pointed at the white carriage lumbering its way into the courtyard. “My love has arrived. Do you see him?”
I see a darkness of boxed arrogance. I remember him, the one who first touched you. Touched you in the way I always wanted to. I will fight for you. Just ask, and I will destroy him.
The last rays of sunlight moved across the statue’s face. The sharp wind carried threatening tunderclouds. Soon, it would be darker than the deepest night. Cholette caressed Quarzite’s face again, then reached for a small glass orb that rested on the bench against the wall. A gift from her uncle long ago, the globe sparkled like ice and never ran empty of the silver flakes it contained. Sometimes, when she was tired, sad, or even simply at peace, she’d roll it around in her hand, and through small holes in the sphere silver flakes would sprinkle in her palm. She took in a deep breath and blew, a cloud of sparking light erupting from her hand out into the dusk colored night.
I remember when you first did that. It was beautiful. Like a thousands stars at the touch of your fingers. You were so adorable then. You squealed with joy and hugged you uncle’s leg so tight.
Cholette set the globe down beside the statue, and pulled her shawl tight against the cold, gazing out on the massing storm clouds. Abruptly, she felt his presence behind her. Soft hands came around her shoulders, followed by strong arms that held her tight, warming her. Lips gently kissed her strawberry blond hair.
“Good evening, my love,” came his soothing voice.
“And to you, my love.” Cholette turned to face the object of her admiration. She rested her hands on his broad shoulders, his jet black hair just brushing her fingertips. He bent down softly and kissed her of the forehead.
Wretch! Lower the worm to your grave, wretched filth.
“We should go inside,” his deep voice rumbled. “Your wedding day is no time to catch a chill.”
Uncast your spell from her, unwind this dilution
of affection.
“Bernard! Always my guardian!” She playfully patted his arm.
“I am your love. There is nothing else.”
My lady! My love! Do not go in there with him. Stay on the balcony where it is safe. Safe with me. I will watch over you.
They crossed through her chamber, hand in hand. Cholette softly touched the bed with her free hand as they passed. “Tonight,” she whispered.
“I must make an appearance to our guests.” His warm breath brushed so close to her ear that she swelled from the fire rushing through her senses. “Will you be ready soon?”
She smiled, and touched her nose against his. “My heart is ready now, but I shall be down soon.”
With a final kiss, he left as quietly as he arrived. Feeling light as a feather, she walked to her bed and stretched across it, staring at the swaying white curtains to the balcony beyond, to the statue fixed on the rail in the chilled evening.
Fear not, my love. I will set everything right.
**
High over the manor house, dark clouds grumbled with thunder and spewed forth searing lightning. The flickering light raced through the ballroom’s sky windows, causing shadows to spray across the powdered faces and waxed hair of the dancing guests. A line gather to one side of the room to congratulate the newly married couple. Many kisses and humorous ribbings were given to Bernard and Chollette for which each offered a polite laugh.
He wore a pressed black suit. Chollete wore the traditional white dress, long and flowing, cut a little too low in the neckline for some, but time were changing. During a pause in the stream of well-wishers, she leaned to his shoulder and said, “There is such a terrible storm outside.”
“We shall be fine. My driver will pull the cover tight and bring the carriage close to the steps. Not one beautiful hair on your head will get wet. Nothing shall ruin this night for us.”
Filth! What is it? Her wealth? Her family name? You are not deserving of her.
Cholette briefly lifted her eyes to the wide glass windows overhead. A nearly solid wash of rain was streaming across them, but as lightning tore through the night sky, she clearly saw the hunched outline of Quartzite as her stone guardian perched on the balcony. She smiled slightly. The flickering shadows made it seem as though he had turned to gaze down upon her in the ballroom.
That beauty. Those diamond blue eyes. Oh, look at that face, that magnificent splendor that is her face. The way she moves, the way her hand reaches out to you when she talks. That adorable way she stands on her heel when she listens. She is love. All of her
Cholette kissed Bernard slightly on the arm, a kiss hidden from the room, meant only for him, before returning to her guest and greeting them with a smile.
You know nothing of that, you cad! You buffoon. You miss the most simple things before your eyes. And you will miss me. Oh, indeed, you will not see me coming. I will be your undoing. I will expose you for the fake you are. I will protect her. I will destroy you.
**
In the icy, wind-blown darkness of the courtyard, the white carriage stood. Its horses, a black mare and a brown stallion, were partially protected from the rain with heavy blankets. The driver sat hunched on the clapboard, his coat, hat, and scarf drawn tight against the wind and rain, his head nodding as the rhythmic pounding of the raindrops and the strains of music from the distant ballroom conspired to lull him to sleep.
Then, suddenly, heavy wings flapped wildly next to his head, with the sound of a wild turkey in a cage. The horses whinnied in fear and snapped their heads against the reigns like a tempest. They lurched forward ripping the leather straps from the driver’s hands. Then, the mare raised up on her hind legs, fighting against the stallion’s will to pull it down. Between the two frantic horses the harness snapped, sending the carriage off balance and crippling one of the wheels.
The driver cursed loudly, only barely managing to keep from pitching head-first onto the cobblestones. He jumped from the listing carriage, calling to the horses, clicking his tongue and trying to calm them. Again, he heard the sound of beating wings and this time a gust of wind so strong that it carried with it pebbles that struck him in face and on the head as his hat went tumbling away into the night. He followed the gust over his shoulder but saw nothing but the dark courtyard.
“It’s all right!” He grasped with one hand the mare’s bridal, the other rubbing softly against her neck. “It’s just the wind, old girl! Spooked both of us, but it’s just the wind.”
He looked past the horses to the damaged carriage. “Well, it’s not entirely all right, I suppose.” He continued to stroke the mares neck as he looked into her solid black eyes. “I don’t want to be the one who tells him he won’t be leaving in the wedding carriage. You should do it. You’re the one who broke it.”
**
The guests streamed from the front door of the manor house, ladies raising their dresses to guard against the shimmering puddles, while their husbands shielded themselves with the brim of their evening hats. As Bernard and Cholette bid farewell to the last , and instantly the ballroom heaved a sigh of relief. For a moment, servants and maids leaned over in chairs like floor mats waiting to be dusted, or stooped low over their knees, gaining a short, well deserved rest. Even Bernard rubbed the back of his neck, staring at the floor.
“You were brilliant, tonight.” Cholette whispered in his ear. Slowly, he turned to search her sky blue eyes, a smile across his face. They embraced, and around them the room slowly came alive once again as the staff began the grueling task of cleaning up. The handsome servant men with grey hair in black suits, along with the rest of the maids with white lace around their necks, snickered to themselves as the newlywed couple made their way up the stairs to her bedroom. Bernard couldn’t help but laugh as Cholette bashfully waved them away, which brought only more laughter from the staff.
Once at the top of the stairs, Bernard scooped his bride into his strong arms, and pushed the door to her bed chambers open with his foot. Without warning, a jolt of horrid rage surged through his veins. Cholette at once saw her room and buried her face into this shoulder. The mattress had been torn into thousands of pieces, goose feathers spread all across the floor. Vases were destroyed, floor boards ripped up. The silk curtains along the balcony way were shredded, letting the rain pour inside.
“Bernard? ”She stared blankly into her shattered dream as he dropped her roughly to her feet.
“What madness is this?” Bernard growled, storming across the room, kicking a pile of feathers into the air. “Who would do such a thing?!”
Cholette’s eyes grew red around the rims, and she fought to catch her breath as she slid to the floor. She tried to choke back a sob as Bernard burst onto the balcony, angrily looking for the culprit, the “accursed monster!” who had destroyed the chamber. His heedless charge toppled a stand near the door, causing an unbroken vase to topple and burst into a thousand pieces.
Do you see? Do you see how weakhe is?
“Bernard, stop.” Cholette began to weep cried without shame, a painting of torn, swirling emotions. She watched with a tinge of horror as Bernard raged in the storm shouting threats at the unknown vandal.
He is mad. See his rage, his foolishness. Is this the love you want?
Cholette’s sobs seemed to finally penetrate Bernard’s need to vindicate this favor of destruction, and suddenly his imprudence caught up with him.
“Oh, my love. I am sorry.” He rushed to her and embraced her, but this time she stiffened.
Yes. Now you see who is better.Come to me Cholette. I will treat you like the angel you are.
“Let me make it up to you. Let me make an attempt to save our first night as one. He smiled down on her, brushing blond hair from her face. “We can make it to Shepherd’s Cottage tonight. It is not nearly as romantic, but it should be pleasant enough.”
She forced a smile through the sniffling. She nodded.
“Thank you, my love.” He strode out onto the balcony, once again ignoring the rain, but this time with purpose instead of rage. He leaned over the railing, next to the statue of a squatting lizard creature. “Samuel! Ready the carriage! We’re leaving within the hour!”
Cholette heard a man’s voice rise from the courtyard. “I am so sorry, sir. Truly, you must understand how sorry I am. If I could have done something I would, but it all happened so fast, and—”
“What happened?”
“The carriage is broken, sir. The horses were spooked by the wind. They panicked, you see. And there was nothing I could do about it. The harness was snapped before I even felt the tug on my hand.”
You see now who is better. You or I. The beauty of it. Her beauty. Yes, her beauty. That which you are not worthy, that which none other then me can see. You can not take her from me. She loves me, and I her.
When where you there for her? What have you done to deserve her love? Do you know of Geoffrey, who broke her heart when she was twelve? Or do you know of the scar on her knee she scraped when she was seven? Was it your hand she cried on? No, it was mine. I have been there for her. And no one can ever love her like I do. And she . . .and she loved no one else.
“Be at peace, good Samuel. It was not your fault.” Bernard sighed as he loped his way back through the room, through the piles of torn white linen. He was brushing grit from his hands, dirt he had somehow picked up on the balcony. As he stormed past her and out into the hall, his face was set in a mask of frustration and determination. Without another word, he left her alone.
Standing in the remains of her perfect evening, an endless maelstrom of questions torn by rage mixed with helplessness spun through her head. Finding her way to the balcony on wobbling knees.
“Oh, Quartzite.” She sniffed, leaning her head against the statue’s stone arms. “What’s going on? Things are spinning so fast I can hardly think straight. I am nervous about this new life, living a new way. Am I doing the right thing? Is he the right man?”
There. Cry. Tell Quartzite all about it. Stay here where it is safe. I will watch over you. I will be your strength, as I always have.
“What should I do?” She turned with water filled eyes and looked into the piercing grey stone that made its face. Then, from the depths of her sorrow, she chuckled. “I come to you for everything, don’t I, my stone-hearted friend?”
You do. And I love you for it. We will be together, forever. I feel the warmth of your tears, it burns a fire inside me. I will keep you happy.
Still laughing to herself, be brushed the back of her fingers against its stone cheek. “I always said someday we’d get married, that you would fly me to a distant land, that you would show me wonders. And I’d never have to worry again.”
We will share joy and love like none else in history. You are so glorious. I love your touch.You and I are one, forever.
“But that was all just a little girl’s dream.”
Cholette?
She shook her head, remembering thoughts of a distant youth. Her voice remained steady. Eyes drawn narrow and focused. “I am a grown woman, now. Someday I will raise a family. I have found a good man.”
My love. I am your love. We are one. Can’t you feel it?
“Such a terrible night. All I wanted was a simple wedding, beautiful and memorable. Now all I take with me into this new life is the prospect of misery.”
But, it was all for you. Stay here with me, then. Safe from the storm under my wing.
Again she laughed, quietly, to herself, flicking up her wrist in futility. “Oh, I’m just being dramatic. So I may never see those perfect dreams we talked about. He is a good man. We will live a good life.” A crisp breeze swept through the balcony. A painful sigh echoed from her trembling lips, and she gently stood off the stone statue. “Things went so wrong.”
My love, I am so sorry. Forgive me if I hurt you. I only wanted to make things safe for you. I love you. Know this! I love you. I always have.Don’t walk away!
“But I can’t hide from life forever. Someday I must
grow up. He is a good man. He will take good care of me.”
Cholette. Why are you doing this? You mustn’t go. Don’t leave me.
Bernard reappeared, as quietly and as calmly as he had when he first arrived. But now his head was held low. "The carriage is beyond repair. I'm sorry, love, but we will have to wait for another one to be brought up or take two horses from the stable and ride. But I wouldn’t ask you to—“
“No. Let's take the horses. Let’s go. It’s time.” Cholette’s voice barely rose above a whisper.
Stop
“Very well,” he said, nearly as quiet, and left.
“Such a horrible night.” Cholette reached down and picked up her silver globe, rolled it around in her hand, and let the flakes fall, flaring into a hundred points of light then fading away. “But again, Quartzite, what would I have done if you hadn’t been here to listen. What a pair we made. I still remember dressing you with my friends in my night shift, all those silly flowers sticking from you.”
I remember that time. You pretended to have a wedding. I stood tall in the evening light and watched you all laugh. I thought it would last forever. No. You can’t leave me. No, my love, not like this.
“Good bye, Quartzite. I will miss you watching over me. You know the secrets no one else will. You were always there for me.”
No, don’t go.
“I will never forget you.”
Stay.
Cholette placed the sliver globe on the statues hands where it rested, cradled into its legs and body. She took one last look across the valley, and left.
No.
Rain pounded the balcony. Water dripped down from the awning, across the statue’s rough stone texture, over its wing, down its reptilian back and off its tail. More rain bounced off its head, sending thin streams running over its dull, lifeless eyes, only to pool up and slowly drip from the bottom of each. It never again looked away from the empty valley below.