Dancing on Fire: Chapter Three

Chapter Three - Tillie

The thump, thump, thump on the frame of my door was incessant. Dazed, I sat up from my bed and rubbed my eyes, blinking to set the world in focus. There was barely any light from the small window. I felt for the thin dressing gown on the hook beside my bed, slipped into it quickly, and tied it in a knot behind my back as I reached for the door.

“Bathilda.” The man before me stared at my bedraggled hair before focusing again on my face. Self-consciously, I ran my hands through the knots while he spoke. “Get dressed, pack your things. You’re leaving soon.” Gerin glanced down the hall, as if expecting someone to come running after him.

“No, I can’t leave.” Surely this was not real. The thought squeezed my lungs tight. I could never abandon this place, or more accurately, I could never abandon Addison.

“You don’t have much of a choice. You’re leaving with the Princess today for Eldan by the order of the King.” I startled when he grabbed me by the shoulders. Quickly, he spun me around and gave me a gentle push back into my room. He set the candle he had been holding on the small dressing table next to my bed. “You’ll need to pack your own things quickly because you must also prepare Princess Addison’s luggage to be stowed away before noon.”

“Why are we leaving now? Their king was just murdered.” I blurted the words out, but cringed as I said them. The sensitivity of such a political issue shouldn’t be mentioned so carelessly, but all I could think of was how we could possibly go to that place with a murderer on the loose.

“King Taren sent word of the Princess’ agreement to an engagement to achieve peace between the nations.” Gerin explained, pulling open her drawers and indicating that I needed to begin packing.

I pulled out the few things I owned and quickly began packing them into the trunk at the foot of my bed. “Addie agreed to marry the Prince?” I knew that she wanted to be brave, but I couldn’t imagine her agreeing to her father’s wishes after the conversation we had yesterday.

“Of course not. She would never agree to something like that.” The guardsman declared, turning to leave the room. “But you best not mention a word until you are on the road. She doesn’t know.” With that, he swept out of the room, shutting my door behind him.

I couldn’t believe that Addison was going to be deceived in such a terrible way, but I didn’t have any idea of what I could do to stop it. If I spoke one word to her that caused an outburst, the entire staff would blame me. I slipped into a simple day gown, packed away my last few belongings, and hurried out of my room to find Addison.

I knocked softly three times on her bedroom door, but I entered the room without an answer. Addison was never cross with me for coming to her without permission. She would think nothing of my presence here, even though I felt the discomfort of hiding the truth from her. To my surprise, she was already awake, dressed, and sitting at her writing desk.

“Addie?” I questioned, drawing open the curtains of the windows to allow more light into the room.

Turning to me, she smiled. “I am to visit Cellia! My father just sent word that I would be allowed to visit her. I haven’t seen her since she was married. I am writing a letter to send ahead.” Her gladness after the tears of yesterday make me glad as well, but only for a moment. Noticing my frown, Addie laughed. “Don’t look so down Tillie. You are, of course, coming with me.” She turned back to her writing and I didn’t say a word. She truly had no idea that her father was deceiving her, and I so badly wanted her to know what was actually happening.

While Addie continued writing the letter, I smoothed her sheets, and spread the coverlet over her bed. “Would you like me to begin packing your things?”

Addison looked up at me, realizing I had been quiet for so long. “Oh, of course. Let me help you, Tillie.” She stood from her desk, making the final touch to her letter by pressing her seal into the wax.

Putting her belongings into various trunks took much more time than my own packing, but it was enough to keep her preoccupied and give me time to think of anything to say. When she looked at me again, my resolve to keep the truth from her disintegrated.

“I know something is wrong.” Addison gave me a pointed look with her eyes as she shut the lid to one of her trunks. “I can tell by the look in your eyes. You never could keep anything from me.” She smiled, but I could tell she was worried by whatever I was keeping from her.

I hesitated, not sure what to say to explain what was happening.

“Tillie, stop. What is wrong? If you would just talk about it, maybe I can help you--”

“He’s deceiving you.”

“What?” She took a step back, but then her eyes flew to the letter on her desk and she knew exactly who I was talking about.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t to tell you. You’re not supposed to know.” I felt a mix of relief and anxiety as I now worries what she was going to do with the information I had supplied.

Closing her eyes, Addison shook her head. “Do I want to ask where he is sending me, or do I already know?”

I didn’t say anything, allowing my silence to be enough of a confirmation for her.

Her eyes flew open, and she sharply inhaled through her nose, clearly trying to calm down from the emotions that were raging inside. She had been trained her entire life to have manners and avoid outbursts. Usually, she controlled her feelings well. Yesterday was a small exception, but she has been struggling this last month. “He is sending me to Eldan, of course. Why give me an opportunity to confront him about this when he can easily be rid of me?”

“I wasn’t supposed to say anything, Addie. You aren’t supposed to know. We are supposed to get in the carriage and ride the rest of the day.” I watched her begin pacing around me. I waited for her to say something, but she didn’t at first. It took several minutes of walking around me in utter silence until she finally stopped.

“Does he hate me?” The question was lined with insecurity.

I was unsure of how to answer her. Of course, I could never tell her exactly what he father was thinking becauses I didn’t know. “Addie… He’s hurting. You look just like your mother. Maybe he simply wants you to be gone so he doesn’t have to think about her anymore.”

Addison listened, but didn’t respond to what I said. I wasn’t sure if I should press her to talk about it more, but I didn’t. Instead, I waited for her to make the next move. A knock on the door interrupted our silence, and I hurried to allow the men in to carry the trunks.

I felt Addie’s presence as she moved to stand beside me. “Are you ready?” She questioned.

I could not pretend that I wasn’t confused. “Ready for what?” I really hoped that she did not plan to confront the King. If she mentioned a word to him, he would know that it had been I who had spoiled his plan. He might be willing to send me away from Addison forever.

“Are you ready to move to Eldan?” With those words, Addison sealed our fate.