Original French version at http://www.versaillesnobara.com Big THANK YOUS to Emeralda, Hitomi, Yue-chan, Lady Ana, Soffy, and all my VnB friends :o))))) WINTRY TALE by Laney The rain was pouring in torrents. Big dark clouds were heaping up in the sky, letting portend an imminent storm. Oscar put her empty glass on the chimney and came closer to the window. Her breath drew a bit of vapour on the windowpane, and she heard herself sigh. The mansion was empty, and she was feeling very lonely· At this thought she came directly to her bedroom and shook when she closed the door ; as the room was situated at the floor, it was colder. So the young woman decided to go down in the living room and light a fire in the chimney. She squatted and watched the flames dancing happily in the hearth. She closed her eyes, and was transferred into time It was a year ago. A year when everything had ended and begun. A year made of doubts and hesitations. So this day, a year ago, Oscar woke up with a bad mood. It had snowed during the night and she was very cold, so it disturbed her sleep. She wanted to stay at bed all morning·had a late breakfast in the afternoon, and let herself drowsy quietly next to the chimney for the last part of the day. She couldn’t forget him. ‘Why is he haunting me this way? I don’t want to think about him anymore·I mustn’t·I can’t’ Oscar straightened herself in a brusque way and stretched out lazily. She decided that she would fill her day, in any way She had given her men a permission. The poor ones stayed almost every time at the barracks, they had the right to spend a day like this one with their family. Oscar smiled. Family ? She didn’t have any. She has never had one, her parents were always busy with the Balls of Their Majesties, the parties, and other trifles. She was alone. So desperately alone in this particular day. In this early hour, the servants were already making a party with their families, her parents were at Versailles, and even Andre wasn’t there. Where on earth could he be ? Oscar sighed and dressed herself slowly. Then she went down at the kitchen to prepare something for breakfast, and her heart flooded with tenderness when she saw that Granny has left something on the table for her. In spite of the smooth smell of the pastry, the young woman lost her appetite fastly. She didn’t like knowing that she was weak· However she felt that, since a few months, many things have changed. So many evidences weren’t so. So many memories went at the surface again, in particular at this period of the year. Feeling tears appear in her eyes, Oscar wiped them in a brusque gesture and came out in the icy coldness, after putting a thick mantle and tied a scarf at her neck. She made a few footsteps in the soft snow, and arrived at the stable. Her white stallion was quiet, and it replied in a favorable way to the young woman’s caress. Oscar spoke to it softly, and gave him something to eat. In all appearance, Andre had forgotten to look after it. After a moment, Oscar’s glance rested on a hatchet. Frowning her eyebrows, she left her horse and came closer to the instrument. She looked at it for a long time, then a sad smile drew itself on her lips ; she took the hatchet and came out the stable. At the first stroke of the hatchet, Oscar realized her work wouldn’t be easy. The trunk of the conifer she had chosen was very tough. But she was obstinate, and she promised to herself to bring the tree to Jarjayes’s mansion. The young woman didn’t like failure. She has never known it before. She has been perfectly able to control her life until now. It wouldn't be a tree which would make her renounce to her values. Until now·In an wave of rage, Oscar stroked stronger the conifer which gave up. Exhausted, she let herself fall in the pure snow and took time to recover her breath. It was one more time a gone-over obstacle. But why did she let herself fall in the snare ? She was almost ashamed of being so weak. The worst thing was that she didn’t know anything about the feelings he had for her. Was it friendship ? Or a well-hidden love ? He has never told her anything really explicit. It was her who was hoping to find out something They got on well, both. They almost didn’t have any secret to hide to the other, and Oscar admitted, blushing, that she had difficulty in not losing control when he was near her. She was lost in her thoughts when she heard a voice behind her : Don’t stay here, Oscar, unless you want to be cold.” The young woman turned back and her heart jumped in her chest. He was here. Smiling, and so gorgeous in his mantle which stuck out the wonderful dye of his limpid eyes. Oscar went back to her mind and stood up, helped by the young man who added : I didn’t know you planned to look after the fir. Let me help you.” Without saying a word, Oscar carried with him the tree until the Jarjayes’s living room. He had kept his mantle, just as if he was ready to leave. Already So the young woman took the risk : Do you want to have a drink with me ? - You know it will be a pleasure.” He smiled to her and she felt herself melt. She was very happy to see him at last. She went to the kitchen to look for the bottle, and almost let it fall when she came back to the living room. He had put his mantle off, under which he only wore a simple white shirt, and Oscar could guess his perfect silhouette under his well-adjusted pants. She felt herself blush, and made a sermon to herself innerly. Then she put the bottle on the table, and head for the chimney in order to revive the flame which was menacing to die out. Oscar squatted and took the poker. He came near her, and looked at her with an extremely intense glance. She couldn’t stand it, so she abandoned the poker and stood up in a brusque gesture. She didn’t dare look at him, and was about to sit on a comfortable armchair, when he gently took her hand and head it to his lips. Oscar had the impression that she was going to explode. However she hesitated to respond to his invitation, and pulled her hand back, as if it had been burned. He was surprised and went away from her. With difficulty, he told her : “I ought to leave, I have still things to do.” Oscar didn’t have the courage to retain him. That was a year ago. Now, lost in her memories, Oscar didn’t hear him come in. Suddenly went back in the reality, she got aware that the warmth of the fire was stifling her. She stood up, and saw him. She was surprised to see him, but managed to ask him : Are you here since a long time ? - No. And the door wasn’t closed. Forgive me for surprising you this way.” He gave her a packet : I see you’ve already decorated the fir. It’s very beautiful. That’s for you.” Oscar took the packet and put it on the table. Her throat tied, she whispered : Thanks. He was ready to leave, but she held his arm and forced him to turn back. With a determinate glance, she held his hand and put it on her cheek, closing her eyes due to the tender contact. He came closer to her, and tightened her in his arms, burring his head into the spelled-smell gild hair. This time, she made the first footstep. She lifted slowly her face, and put a kiss on his lips. Then she whispered : I’m sorry for taking so much time to understand·When I woke up this morning, I remembered all that happened last year. I think about it every day since then, but this morning, the evidence of my feelings haunted me more than usually. - I don’t hold a grudge against you, Oscar. ? She answered him with a kiss. They stood like this for a long time, without noticing that the fire had died out. Many hours later, while they were resting in each other’s arms, the young man whispered : - Merry Christmas, Oscar. - Merry Christmas, Andr·” THE END December 2001.