He then started wondering – what was the real reason for his presence ? Serve the royal order ? Take his own freedom ? “ The time has come to listen to my heart “ an inner voice whispered in his ears. Going back to England would be such as going back in a prison, hell ? He was in France, the country pleased him very well ; because of his companions – they must have been dead already by then - and his French friends – they betrayed him, one and all – he was on his own, and therefore free to make his own choice. The first time he made his own choice for himself. He actually could not make up his mind, except for how he would venture to enter the castle. The following day, he recovered an old lute an odd musician had left in the refuge and learned a few pieces on it. Then he bought a minstrel costume for a handful of dimes, one or two golden buttons to fix and that would do…
In the afternoon, he danced upon the high mountain on which the castle was built. Some black-armoured knights were standing on the way and laughed at him, for he was looking ridiculous and stupidly stooped beside them so that they would not perceive his tall and thin figure. The first test was a success for him, he had passed without the least problem. He tackled towards the last turn and then the entrance of the castle, after the crossing of a deep pit.
Bent, he arrived and yelled some stupid jokes at the ladies who were looking out of the skylights. After two or three jests they begged the black guard, who surveyed the entrance, to open the gate because they longed to hear the joker talk to them. Without a single problem the disguised minstrel got into the court and saw, with amazement, five stagecoaches and a lot of people around who were getting luggage off, among these were big chests of gold and lots of jewellery.
A young boy brought the minstrel along to the throne hall, just opposite the castle’s church. Inside the hall, at the far end, sat the count on his big, throne-like, armchair. Beside him sat a young and beautiful young lady who looked quite submissive compared to the powerful count – or was it the perception the minstrel had which conveyed this impression ? The distance which the two of them shared on the one hand and the minstrel on the other hand was also intensified by the huge fire burning in a wide chimney, set in between the two poles. The count yelled down : “ Come here you monkey, and make us laugh, these days were rude and I need be diverted ! “ As soon as the sentence was shouted the minstrel ran through the hall and almost slipped to the ground when he stopped. In front of the chimney he bowed and while he manifested his high gratitude his head almost touched the floor, his feet slipped backwards and he crumbled on the ground. This was his first mockery in front of the count. The first day were mainly mockeries. Well, he achieved success, Dumiel even saw the lady grin and fairly laugh at his improvised jests.
This was a great start, and the count allowed the minstrel to come again, he even proposed him a lodge at the castle. Dumiel accepted without any hesitation, for he had nowhere to go but to the refuge and that was a shelter to pay whereas in the castle he only had to make people laugh. That was how it all started. He was lodged at the very top of a turret, with a nice view towards the valley and, at the far horizon, on the fields where the farmers had to work hard for the count. There was hardly anything in the room, what did a fool need ? He had a sort of bed, that was all he owned, a pretty view, that’s alright for the beginning and, if he won some more consideration of the count, he may travel in another, a better place in the castle. Anyway, right now it did not really occur to the minstrel.
At dawn, Dumiel heard the sound of horses’ hooves and yells in the court, some riders were leaving the castle to ride at the far end of the count’s land. What did they ride there for ? This doubt pursued the minstrel during the whole morning, until later he could foresee their aim : the boys of the castle prepared the court for a big parade. In the late afternoon of the following day the riders came back from their trip with carts and wagons filled with farmers, old and young. He could see smiles on each of their faces, they were happy to visit the castle, their lifetime through they had longed to see it from inside. Finally their sovereign did care for them ! Around four the party began, the trumpets announced the overture.
Anyway, something appeared strange to Dumiel, who was also present at the parade : there were only men in the court and whatever feminine presence was severely forbidden. The minstrel must not have been the only one who wondered about the fact. Why ? Late in the night came the answer, the count told them at last. It was a paradoxical atmosphere, it brought about a big change, and not only on the faces but also in minds and thoughts, everyone started wondering and worrying for their own family.
“ You know, fellow-farmers, in this country there’s no order and every sovereign has to fight, to defend his own territory. Now the time has come, even for us, to show our neighbours how strong we are … I would have been happy to have had more time, but this is a state of emergency, and we need all of you ! I heard, not long ago, that the enemy’s getting closer, so we’ve got to block his way, and ‘ you ‘ will help us ! “ yelled the sovereign in a clear and loud voice so that everyone could hear. While his last words still echoed in the court sadness settled in every farmer’s soul and a cold wind seemed to blow above their heads. Not only did taxes rise since the count’s return, terror had also been restored since.
Of course, the minstrel knew about the falsehood of the speech, even if it may be true in a certain way. He knew the thing that mostly bothered the count was that the countess might be found. Later in the evening the sovereign came to the minstrel and confessed him his sorrow for being obliged to leave his castle and the dear company of the countess. He told him to take good care of her and to divert her as much as possible until he would be back. “ Until I’ll be back,…“ – “ Until you’ll be back I’ll be far away with the countess, and ‘ you ‘ will have lost your challenge ! “ the minstrel later thought to himself.
Anyway, it wasn’t as easy as it first appeared to be : the minstrel was not the most powerful character in the castle. The “ Wolf “ remained in the castle. It was the most count-like knight on the heights, a very anarchist convinced character mixed with a cynical temper and a violent personality. The minstrel couldn’t change the previous situation, he went on; day after day, diverting the ladies and diverting the countess.
One afternoon, the ladies had just vanished to take their usual nap, the minstrel did manage to be alone with the countess. All of a sudden she asked him in her clear and tender voice : “ Why don’t you sing while playing the lute, it would be much more charming, don’t you think ? “ – Oh yes it was ! and it brought new ideas to Dumiel. “ You are absolutely right, madam, and I will write a lyric for you, I’ll dedicate it to thee “. During that night, he remained awake for a long time, not so much was it the writing that troubled him but the words had to fit perfectly, so that she could guess by their meaning and, why not, understand them, understand him.
The countess was not such as the other ladies in the castle, she was able to understand for she had studied and, maybe, had the means for studying. This is not meant to prove any superiority of whatever kind, they all had the same chances, the same luck, only was the countess different and able to judge whether to seize the opportunity or not. The past of these ladies didn’t really matter to the minstrel. They all seemed quite silly, hypocrites. It was easy to guess that they didn’t really need to be clever, for it was their physical appearance and not their intellect that had led them inside the castle, their presence was meant to satisfy the knights’ private needs. Even if they had many flaws they had power over the guards and were easy to charm.
Anyway, the minstrel felt relieved when he found the countess alone on the rampart and could present her, alone, the song he had written for her :
“ Oh my dear lady,
For my love is true.
Always very courteously,
I have followed your rules.
I stood inside the turret,
While knights fought their swords.
I had to comfort you,
For the sovereign’s good.
Lately I have slipped,
Into your confidence.
Lately I’ve understood,
On what it all depends.
Still, I don’t know,
If good or bad romance.
One thing’s for sure,
Minstrel should always dance. “
The first part pleased her very well for she could recognise the love he felt for her and the actual situation. As he began with the chorus, she frowned a bit because she was wondering what it could possibly mean. Did he know about her imprisonment or was it only by chance… and she, herself, who expected him to know ? Anyway, she wasn’t that silly, was she ? There were some doubts, something she wondered about.
“ Oh my dear lady,
I would follow you.
I’d give you honesty,
And plenty of joy.
Amongst these amusements,
When I was your fool.
A feeling’s been growing,
Does it touch you ? “
Oh yes it did ! She would have liked to cry into his face, she could have shivered, she would have entwined with him, proved her love to him… Since his arrival she could not stop thinking about him. First because of his jokes, his strangeness, somehow his talent. And now because of his thoughts, his intelligence, his romantic side.
People were so unromantic at that time, especially those she knew : the awful and much too cynical count, including all of his people : they only thought about power, violence, even in corporal relationships. She had to be submissive with them, it was awful ! At first, she admired powerful people, knights who showed all of their strength, that proves the origin of the relationship she frequently entertained with the king of France. But this experience of being the victim of such powerful men opened her eyes, and showed her that intelligence and cunning were the best of all. Normally, these were said to belong to women at that time. But she found it all the more attractive when a man had it and, of course, especially when she took such a great importance in it.
“ It’s a very pretty song “ she told him after the private section, and this compliment came straight from the heart - “ could you show me the lyric ? “ .
Her voice was so soft and tender that the minstrel would have liked to trust her his love had there not been the skylights, the people around, the living rules of a court. Anyway, he had managed to make her enjoy the song and she seemed to appreciate the lyric as well, that was a first step.
That very night, he was standing about in his room, looking at the stars that brilliantly shone on the black-painted sky, he wondered how it could possibly turn out. Suddenly, he heard some sound resembling somebody’s steps on the old and creaky wooden stairs that led up the turret he was lodged in. He didn’t pay much attention to the noise : there were so many little sounds throughout the castle, mice or rats… He went back into his dreams, until somebody knocked at the door. He slowly turned his head and went, half asleep, towards the door as this one opened. It was the countess, much lovelier than he used to see her before because right then she was natural.
“ I couldn’t sleep, eh… and enjoying your company… I had many doubts ‘bout the song you sang… I beg your pardon, did I wake you up ? “ She was so puzzled she did even forget the rules, but this didn’t bother Dumiel, he was keen on people who made their own rules and were not obedient all the time. “ No, you don’t bother me at all, I’ve just been thinking ‘bout the same… “ . The night went on, and this was just the start for them. They did speak – listen ; speak – listen ; and you know what man and woman could do for the rest of the night ! Anyway, they had to look out for the sunrise and even before the sun did rise, before the cock had produced the first sound, the pretty lady had reached her room again. They did both share a secret, the secret joined them.
What a great night it was ! No sooner had the minstrel closed his eyes, and the cock hadn’t made a sound yet, than he heard horses and cries in the court. What could this be ? So early in the morning, had there been somebody awake, somebody who could denounce them ? The minstrel’s room had a window, the sole window was turned on the outside of the castle. He bent through the window and could see a carriage leaving the castle, going towards the little village down in the valley.
Later on, he came down from the turret but only found the knight, sitting alone at the table. He asked him whether he knew what had happened in the early morning but the knight hardly said a word. “ You monkey don’t need to know “ was his argument. Knowing it was better not to argue too long with such a character, the minstrel went on looking for the ladies. He found the ladies but not the countess. He couldn’t get rid of the ladies so easily, he had to spend his day diverting them, at least he had to follow the rules of the court, which determined his role and defined his presence. In the meantime he couldn’t really think about the countess and where she was about to be sent, the only thing that was clear to him was that the event and the disappearance of the countess were linked.
© 2017 Matt Oehler
No comments:
Post a Comment