Subsistent Lies

I had heard the whole thing. Colin was to ask for my sister’s hand? And Gabriella was actually going to go through with it? What in heavens name was wrong with the world? I left the stables shaking my head. Colin had coaxed my sister into a lot of things, but this? This was absurd. “What’s troubling you my lady?” I heard a voice ask.

I turned around and smiled at Calib. “Tis nothing.”

“Are you sure? For the past few weeks you’ve seemed troubled. I invited you to my house to steal you from that.”

I smiled sincerely and walked toward him, “And for that I am thankful, but I can never run from the troubles thrown at me. But tell me, are you participating in today’s festivities?”

He smiled. “Aye. I’ve entered myself for sword fighting and wrestling.”

“Well then I worry for your safety. The King’s knights are strong and tough. One of the best in all the land.”

“It will be fine. But enough of this talk, I came to you to ask something of you?”

“Speak your reason and fast. I must find Gabriella and Isabella.”

He nodded. “Does my lady have a keepsake to wish me good luck in battle?”

I thought about it then smiled. “Aye, she does.” I took off my purple ribbon which I had fastened in my hair and handed it toward him. “Good luck. Hopefully you and my ribbon will return in one piece.”

He smiled, kissed my hand, and walked off. I shook my head and headed toward the opposite direction.

**********

I sighed as I took a seat on a nearby stool. I had searched everywhere, for Izzy, Gabby and mother, but I could not find them anywhere. “Is something wrong my lady?”

I sighed, hoping it wasn’t Calib. The poor boy busied him with my problems when he needed to prepare himself for battle. “Bay Calib, I’ve told you my worries.” I waved off the matter.

“Ahh my lady, I’m not the man you think me of.”

I looked up into the most dazzling pair of green eyes and blushed. “I am sorry,” I noticed the young mans embroidery and felt even more stupid. This “young man” was a lord and wore high rank colors. I blushed more at my foolishness. “My lord. Tis nothing.”

“Ah, I’m sure my lady lies.”

“Nay. I just don’t want to burden my lord with my worries.”

“It would not bother nor burden me.”

I started to fiddle with the hem of my dress. “It is just my sisters, I worry for them both. Particularly one.”

“Yes?” He said in encouragement.

“My sister’s friend asked for her hand in marriage. She accepted.”

“And this worries you? Surely you should be happy that your sister has a suitor, especially one she knows.”

I sighed. Everything that this stranger was telling me was true. But why was I still sad to see her be married to him? “Maybe……do you…..possibly the influence of your own marriage could reflect on how your sisters may be…”

I looked up from my thoughts and turned to him. “Oh no, I haven’t found a suitor yet either, I haven’t even been officially declared betrothed.”

“You have not?”

“No, I’ve been sheltered from life as well as my sisters….”

“Maybe your scared that this friend will take advantage of your sister.” He shrugged.

I smiled and stood up. He had just given me an idea, though his words I’m sure weren’t purposed to do so. “Thank you my lord. I will remember this, I’m sure.”

“T’was nothing.” he smiled, standing up as well. I turned around and headed toward a stand that would have everything I needed.

**********

I walked into the stable area and spotted Colin grooming Epona. “Colin, preparing for your first event?” I asked.

He turned around and smiled at me. “Yes. I want to make sure that she looks her best.”

“Aye, that would be the rightful thing to do.”

He nodded and turned back around. I fiddled with the flask in my hand until finally I said, “I came here to wish you luck. I also wanted to grant you a drink before you head onto battle.”

“Thank you for your luck but spare me the drink. I want to be better prepared when I go onto the battle field. A drink of wine for after my victory, I would gladly take.”

I bit my lip. There wasn’t many times where Colin had passed up a drink and it seemed that he decided to today. I sighed about to admit defeat when another thought popped into my mind. “But Gabriella wishes to give this drink to you. For luck, she points out.”

I knew I was lying and that was a sin frowned on by the church but this was the only thing I knew that would get Colin to drink the wine. I was right because he hesitated and finally said, “I will, I suppose, for my love.”

He grabbed the flask and took a large gulp of wine. “Ah, she even makes it sweet for this good day.”

He took another gulp before turning around and returning his attention to Epona. “The flask, Colin.”

“Ah, of course.”

He turned around and threw it in my direction, but missed me completely. He didn’t seem to mind because he shrugged it off and continued to groom Epona. I sighed. The only thing that the opium did was throw off Colin’s sense of direction. That was a waste of my 10 rubbles. I turned around and started to walk out of the stable house when I heard a large thud behind me. I turned around and saw Colin sprawled on the stable floor. I immediately ran to him. “Oh god, please say I did not commit murder on this sunny morn.”

I bent down in the smelly straw and put my head against his chest. I felt the slightest form of heaving and sighed relief. The good thing was that he was still alive, and like I had planned the opium had put him to sleep. I was happy for a moment, but sighed when I realized that I had no ideas after this. The idea was to put him to sleep, I never thought of what to do after. I smiled when a thought came to me, I would shield him away from today’s festivities. He would not remember when he awoke, and I would be free. I started to grab his legs and started to drag his arms when I heard someone walk into the stable house. I tried to pull him faster when I heard, “What’s going on here?”