by D. J. Holmes
***
“Pierre, my angels have told me that I need to be by the King’s side before we are at mid-Lent.”
“That doesn’t give us very much time. We had better tell your father and mother, and prepare to leave.”
Walking into the cottage, Jehanne tells her father and mother what her angels have asked her to do.
“Oh, Jehanne with all of your brothers gone, we felt that we would always have you with us.”
“I don’t want to leave you, but I have to do as I have been asked to do.”
“I will go with you, Jehanne,” her father states.
“Father, I would love to have you by my side. You have taught me everything that I need to know for battle. But, someone needs to protect mother. I’ve asked Pierre to go with me.”
“I am so glad that you have been prepared for this time in your life, Jehanne. You know the tactics of war, and you know how to defend yourself. I am very proud that Pierre will be by your side.”
“Thank you, Father and Mother. It is because of you that I am prepared.”
Isabelle puts her arms around her daughter. “Jehanne, from the day that you were born, I was told what your mission in life would be. But for some reason, I never thought that you would be leaving us. I thought that we would be going with you, to help you, and to protect you.”
“Mother, I wish that could be so. I believe that is why Pierre has been sent to us.”
“My heart tells me that what you have said is true, Jehanne. Your father and I have tried to help you to be prepared for this day. It has just come so quickly.”
Jacque adds, “Our Father in Heaven has made it possible for all of us to be prepared for this time. He knew how hard it would be for us to let you go.”
“When will you leave, Jehanne?” her mother asks with apprehension.
“In the morning…”
“…So quickly….. Why is it that all of our children leave so quickly?” Isabelle asks with tears coming to her eyes.
“I am so sorry Mother, but I have to be by our King by mid-Lent,” Jehanne says with a hint of sadness. Yet, within her heart is the knowledge that this is her mission alone, and she must go at this time.
“What can we do to help you prepare for this trip?” her father asks as he holds his wife’s hand.
“I have known about this for a couple of days and I have been getting everything that I need put together. All I need is your love, and your prayers.”
“You always have that, Jehanne,” her father says as both her mother and father hold her.
Looking over at Pierre, Isabelle extends her arm toward him, “Come here, Pierre.” He joins their circle as she begins to cry realizing that Jehanne, her youngest child will be leaving their home. Her sorrow reaches out to join a world of mothers left behind as their children leave to fulfill their own destiny, never realizing that all mothers cry when their children are gone.
“Mother, we will be fine. My angels have told me this,” Jehanne assures her.
“I guess it’s time for all of us to get some sleep, so that we will be rested for the coming day.”
Early the next day, the rooster crows and the sun begins to rise. Morning comes too quickly for everyone.
Standing outside Pierre is helping Jacque with the horse. “I’m so sorry that we only have one horse for both of you,” Jehanne’s father apologizes.
“It’s alright, Jacque, my father, mother, brother and I use to ride on the same horse. I’m sure that Jehanne and I can do the same.”
“I wish that it was a ‘Destrier’.”
Pierre looks at Jacque strangely.
Answering his questioning look, Jacque states, “That’s what the nobles call a stallion that has been prepared for war. But this Dapple Gray ‘Rouncey’ has been the best war horse that I have ever seen! …The point is, they are both ‘Chargers,’ but this horse was trained by me. He has served me well in every battle that I have ever fought,” Jacque says with pride, as he strokes his horse.
Jehanne walks outside and hears their conversation, “Then what horse will you use, Father?”
“I will train another horse, Jehanne. Don’t worry about me I just want you and Pierre to have the best that I can give you.”
“Then I will be proud to use a horse that you have taken into war, Father. And I will make sure that he is well taken care of,” Jehanne gratefully states as she gives her father a hug.
As Jehanne turns around to look at Pierre, he asks, “Do you want to ride in the front or the back, Jehanne?”
“Until we get out of our village, I should ride in the back. After that, maybe we could trade places, and you could teach me how to ride a horse,” she says, looking back at her father and mother with a smile.
Jehanne’s mother and father respond back with a smile that is guarded, so that Pierre won’t see it.
“Maybe we should just bring one of your sheep. You could ride up to your King on a sheep, Jehanne.” Pierre begins to laugh.
Looking directly at him, Jehanne says, “Listen, Pierre, I remember that day.”
“It was so funny Jehanne,” Pierre says, having trouble containing his laugh.
“Just help me get up on the horse, Pierre!”
After she is sitting behind Pierre, she continues their little game. “What I remember about that day, is that you rode a sheep with your head at its rear, and it threw you off into the mud puddle,” Jehanne laughs.
“Well, I don’t remember that. I just remember how many times you were thrown off of the sheep,” he says in response.
“How could you not remember, Pierre? I remember the look on your face when the plume of beautiful smelling air hit your nose.”
Isabelle breaks in, with a strictness in her voice, “Remember you two…you are to protect each other’s back. Be respectful, and only speak with kindness to each other.”
Looking down from her place on the horse, Jehanne answers with a smile, “We’re just remembering some fond memories, Mother. Don’t worry we will be kind to each other.”
Looking at Pierre, Jehanne says, “I guess it’s time to go, Pierre.”
“See you when we return Mother and Father,” Pierre states sadly.
“Always remember that I…well, we love you both very much,” Jehanne declares as the horse begins to move, taking them on their journey.
“Good bye, Jehanne. Good bye, Pierre.” Jacque and Isabelle say in unison as their hearts break, waving and watching each step of the horse, as it takes Jehanne and Pierre further away.
Never knowing what life will be from day to day with a feeling of excitement for a new adventure; yet a feeling of sadness for those they were leaving behind, Jehanne and Pierre turn around and give a final wave of their hands, shouting “We love you! Good bye!”
Jack and Isabelle raise their arms as high as they can, waving their final good-bye as Jehanne and Pierre disappear over a ridge.
Silence accompanies their travels for quite some time….
After a while, Jehanne begins to speak. “Pierre, I think that we are far enough away that you could start teaching me how to ride this horse.”
“Alright, let me trade places with you.”
Lifting his right leg up and over his horse’s head, Pierre slides off the side of the horse as Jehanne moves forward onto the saddle. Pierre mounts the horse again, getting up behind her. Taking the reins, he says, “Now the way that you sit on a horse is very important. Make sure that your feet are in the stirrups, while you sit straight and tall in the saddle.” Leaning forward, he says, “Hold the reins this way to guide your horse, to let it know where you want it to go, and to let it know who is boss.”
Handing the reins over to Jehanne he continues his instructions, “Here, hold the reins, Jehanne, and try to guide the horse. Don’t let him walk in a straight path all the time. Try making him go to the right, and then to the left.”
After a while, Jehanne is getting the feel of how to make her horse move from side to side. �
�How’s that, Pierre?” she questions.
“You’re catching on, Jehanne. Now that you’ve got that down, try to make him stop by pulling back on the reins. Then let him know that you want him to begin walking forward again, by releasing the hold on the reins, and pushing in with the inner part of your knees, or a slight slam with the inside of your heels.”
Jehanne follows his instructions. Without warning the horse raises his front hoofs up into the air. “HOLD ON PIERRE” she yells.
“AHHH…too late!” Pierre yells as he falls off the backside of the horse as it begins to gallop. “HOLD ON, JEHANNE! HOLD ONTO THE REINS AND WRAP YOUR LEGS AROUND THE STOMACH OF THE HORSE AS MUCH AS YOU CAN. JUST LIKE YOU DID WITH THE SHEEP!” he yells as he runs trying to catch up to her.
After running for miles, Pierre stops for a moment, breathing very heavily. Looking around at his surroundings he says, “Jehanne, I hope that you are alright. I told your father that I would bring you safely back to him. We’re just a half day from home and I have no idea where you are.”
Turning around in a circle, he continues to look in every direction. “Jehanne, where are you?” He spots a huge rock and sits down thinking, “Maybe I should just rest for a while and listen to see if I can hear her at all.” After a short while, hearing only the sound of birds, and wind in his ears, he begins to worry. “I hope that she’s alright.”
Finally, hearing the whiny of a horse he turns around and sees Jehanne riding her horse with the capability of a seasoned rider. Jehanne rides up closer to Pierre. Looking down at him she circles the rock that he is sitting on to get his full attention. Then she kicks her heels into the side of the horse and it begins running as fast as it can. Eventually, she brings it to an abrupt stop, turns it around, and heads back to Pierre.
“Is that what you wanted to teach me?” Jehanne shyly questions.
“Why, yes……..you learn very fast, Jehanne,” Pierre responds, shocked at her expertise.
“HA!” A huge smile comes to her face. “Actually, after father found out from Phillip about the sheep incident, he and Phillip taught me how to ride a horse in the barn when you would take the sheep to graze. I’ve known how to ride for quite some time, Pierre.”
With a shocked expression on his face and his hands on his hips, looking up at her he asks, “Well, what took you so long to come back then?”
Pointing to the forest she says, “I’ve been over there, watching you.”
“You were watching me while I sat worrying if you were all right or not?” Pierre asks, continuing to look up at her, wondering why she would do something like that. “You worried me, Jehanne. I thought that something had happened to you! While I have been sitting on this rock, looking at the ground, I noticed several English horse shoe prints in the ground, and they are fresh, Jehanne!”
“Where did you see them?”
Walking just a few feet from the rock, Pierre squats down and points, “Here, do you see? …ENGLISH!”
“How do you know that they are English?’
“The middle of the horse shoe tells it all. The English keep the inner part of the shoe the same as the outer part. It’s high and round, just as the outside is…the French have created a V shape in the inner part of the shoe. Now look at it and tell me what mark looks the freshest to you?”
“…The English.”
“Can you see why I was worried about you? I am your protector, Jehanne. I am supposed to be by your side every moment you are away from your parents…. I promised them, Jehanne,” he says with concern.
“I know…I’m just getting you back for that whole sheep thing. Are we even Pierre?”
Looking at her thoughtfully, he finally responds, “Maybe…only time will tell,” Pierre says with a smile.
Dismounting the horse, Jehanne sits on the rock next to Pierre. Sitting quietly for a while, they notice the sun beginning to set.
“Maybe we should find a place to rest for the night, Pierre.”
“We need to find a place that is protected from marauding English soldiers.”
Looking around at their surroundings, most of the area is either flat or rolling hills. In the distance, Jehanne sees several trees. “Look over there” she says pointing with her right index finger, “I can see what looks like a forest.”
“That would be a lot better to sleep in, than out here in plain sight. Would you like to continue riding in front?”
“No, I think that I’ll turn the reins back to you. You really are a lot better at riding a horse than I am.”
Smiling, Pierre mounts their horse, and bends down extending his hand to help her up. Grabbing his hand, Jehanne throws her right leg up and over the horse sitting directly behind him. “Thank you for helping me, Pierre.”
“No, no, Jehanne,” he says with a laugh. Thank you for giving me the reins again!” As the horse begins to gallop he quips, “I feel a lot more secure now,” showing his playful nature.
“I know that you are just playing with me, Pierre, but I really do feel more secure when you take charge.”
Slightly turning his head he yells, “Do you really feel like that?”
“I do. I can take charge, I can lead and I can do my part. I have a mind of my own, which, as you know, I voice quite often. But there are times that I just feel more secure when you take over…I feel like you are my protector.”
“I’m glad to hear that, Jehanne, because that’s exactly what I am doing. Right now I’m protecting you from yourself,” he says with a huge smile.
“Pierre, I am being serious.”
Laughing, he responds, “So am I!”
Hitting him on the shoulder, Jehanne comments, “I never know when you are serious, or when you are making fun of me.”
“I’m not making fun of you Jehanne, I have too much respect for you to do that. But I am playing with you most of the time. Just know that I would never hurt you intentionally. Take my comments for the fun that they are meant to be, alright?”
“Alright, Pierre,” she agrees as her arms tighten around his waist and her head rests on his back.
Riding a short distance to the edge of the forest, they slowly enter, realizing that there are many more people who have already prepared places to spend the night.
“Who are these people?” Jehanne asks.
“My guess would be that they have been run out of their villages by the English.”
Ridding to a suitable place Pierre extends his left hand. Jehanne takes it and slides off onto the ground. Pierre then dismounts and ties the reins of their horse to a nearby tree.
As they prepare their place, a few of the people that are already settled, come over to welcome the newcomers.
“Hello. …you are new,” a woman states.
“Yes.” Jehanne answers and then asks, “…how long have you been here?”
“We’ve been here about a week.”
“…A week? Don’t you have a home?”
“We used to, but the English continue to take everything. We have no food left, and they have taken all of our animals.”
“How do you exist here?”
“There are plenty of deer in the forest. And everyone shares what they have with everyone else. In fact, I have some meat cooking right now. Would both of you like to eat with us?”
“That is very kind. Do you know of anywhere that we could get cleaned up?”
Pointing to her right, their new friend says, “Oh, yes, there is a creek just over there.”
“Thank you. And, yes,” Jehanne says while looking at Pierre, “we would love to eat with you.”
Pierre nods in agreement.
Finding the creek, Pierre suggests, “Jehanne, don’t get your dress wet, or you will be cold all night.”
“I was just thinking about that, Pierre. How am I going to get cleaned up?”
“I’ll raise my pant legs, get into the water, fill the cap I have in my pocket and bring it back to you.”
“You’ll be wet then, and there’s no
time to dry off.”
“Alright, then I’ll walk on the rocks, bend down and fill my cap with water.”
“That’s a much better idea,” Jehanne says approving his plan.
Walking over the rocks, Pierre bends down to fill his cap. Standing back up, he is proud of what he has accomplished. “You see, Jehanne, it’s not hard to do.” losing his focus, his feet slip on a wet rock. Falling back into the water, Jehanne begins to laugh.
“You look just like you did when the sheep turned and threw you into the mud. Only now you are covered in water instead.”
“Well, come here and help me out, Jehanne,” he says as he extends his hand.
“Ha! I learned that trick a long time ago, Pierre. If you will remember, this whole thing happened because you didn’t want me to get wet. Now you are thinking about pulling me into the water with you?”
Unable to trick her he says, “Never mind, Jehanne I’ll climb out by myself.”
“Don’t forget the water for me, Pierre.”
Pulling his cap behind him, it fills with water. Walking up to the water’s edge, he lifts the cap up, and throws it to her face.
Shocked from the cold water, she takes a huge breath, as the water runs down her face. “Ah, that’s just as cold as the water that mother threw at us while she was helping us to get our bodies free of all that mud after we were riding the sheep.”
“I know, Jehanne. I wanted you to get the full effect of what I have just experienced.”
“Why, you little stinker!” she says as she pushes him back into the water.
Flinging his arms backward while desperately trying to regain his balance, Pierre falls back into the water. Struggling to get his footing on the slippery rocks, he grabs a low hanging branch pulling him up high enough to grab a breath of fresh air as he says, “I sure hope that there is a huge, warm fire burning somewhere. We both need to get dry.”
Watching him maneuver his way out of the water and hearing his declaration, Jehanne begins to laugh. Eventually both of them are laughing while they try to wring the excess water out of their clothes.
Walking up to the fire, their new friends comment, “It looks like both of you took advantage of the water. Do you feel like you are cleaned up enough for dinner?”
Pierre answers, “I’m hungry, but right now, if you don’t mind, I’d like to stand by your fire and dry my clothes.”
“Actually, we do double duty around here.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean that while you stand by the fire, take this piece of meat and eat it.”
“You don’t mind?”
“Of course not, we do what we need to do to survive, my new friend.”
“Thank you.”
Looking at Jehanne, the woman asked, “What about you? Why don’t you stand by your husband and get dry, so that the dirt won’t become mud on your wet dress.”
“Thank you, but he’s not my husband. He’s my brother.”
“Oh…I’m sorry. I got a different impression as I heard you playing in the water. Where are you headed?”
“We travel to Vancouleurs.”
“Are you accompanying your brother to the wars?”
“…In a way.”
Looking up at her, for a moment, the woman asks, “Did you know that there is a legend of a girl who will save France?”
“I have heard of that legend,” Jehanne softly acknowledges.
“I can feel something when I look into your eyes. Are you that girl?”
Jehanne lowers her eyes, “Only the Lord knows things like that.”
“If you are, know that we pray for freedom from the English every day.”
Looking at them directly, Jehanne states humbly, “Know that your prayers have been answered.”
Fearing for her safety, Pierre states, “I think that it’s time that we get some sleep Jehanne.”
“Thank you for your food and for your conversation my new friends.”
“What can we do to help you, Jehanne?”
“Keep this to yourselves until you hear how the wars go. Then tell every French man to have courage. And tell every Englishman that their time is short.”
“We will, Jehanne, may God be by your side.”
“Thank you. He is.”
In the morning a cool wind blows through the branches of the trees, as the crackling sound of cooking fires burn and the smell of breakfast floats through the air.
Word has spread throughout the camp about Jehanne. As Pierre gets their horse ready to leave, all of the people staying in the forest come to introduce themselves and with renewed courage about the future of their country they thank Jehanne and Pierre for their courage and willingness to fight against the English. “We will keep both of you in our prayers.”
“Thank you for your thoughtfulness. Keep all of the French soldiers in your prayers. Pray that they will have the courage and strength to push the English back to their own land.”
Getting on their horse, Jehanne turns to speak to them directly. “Thank you for your kindness. Have courage! Allow all men the freedom that they were given from God from the very day that they were born, and demand that same freedom for yourselves! Try to live your lives in peace, but if you have to defend your life, your home, your family, your land or your country from enemy forces, fight to the death for these things. No one has the right to take them away from you! Until we meet again, may God be with all of you.”
As Jehanne and Pierre leave, all of their new found friends watch them as they ride to fulfill their destiny. A short distance away, they both turn around and are amazed that their new friends are still watching them. Stopping for a moment, they wave and shout, “Good bye friends. May God be with you, till we meet again….”
With that said, they turn in the direction of Vancouleurs, and gallop to their next place in history.
A few days later, they arrive in Vancouleurs, France, where they meet Jean de Metz as planned. Following him to his home he says, “Let’s get both of you cleaned up.” After a quick bath, they meet in the dining room where there is a meal ready for them to eat. Because of the privacy of his home, Jehanne tells Jean what her angels have asked her to do. Believing her, he arranges for clothes, armor and haircuts.
“I have to have my hair cut?” Jehanne questions, “My beautiful long black hair?”
“Jehanne, your hair is past your waist. If you are going to be in battle your long hair will be a disadvantage. It needs to be cut so that it barely hits your shoulders. This way your hair will be short enough for battle, but it will be long enough so that the heat from your coif and from your helmet will not burn your ears, face and back of your neck.”
“You know what is best. By the way, what is a coif?”
“It’s chain mail that goes under your helmet, on your head and over your shoulders.”
“Is that what you are wearing?”
“It is.”
“I’ve seen it often, but I’ve never known the name.”
“Now you know what to call it. While you are getting your hair cut, I’ll get you some clothes also.”
“Make sure that they are men’s clothes! I need to look somewhat like a man so that the soldiers will have their minds on the battle, and not on me.”
“What are you going to do with the dress that you are wearing now?”
“When I change my clothes, we can give it to someone that can use it, Jean.”
“That’s a great idea, Jehanne.” Looking at Pierre, Jean asks, “What do you want to do with your hair, Pierre?”
“Since it’s as long as Jehanne’s maybe it’s time to have my hair cut also, don’t you think?”
“Good choice Pierre. I’ve seen very few men with hair as long as yours,” Jean comments with a smile. “Come with me. I will have the gentleman who cuts my hair take care of both of you.
Walking over to a man who is cutting the wool off of his sheep, he asks “Albert, would you mind helping my two new friends? They both nee
d their hair cut.”
“Yes Sir.”
“Please cut their hair the same length as mine.”
“Yes Sir.”
“Jehanne, would you like to go first?”
“I think that I will watch Pierre get his cut first. I’m having a hard time getting use to the fact that I actually have to have my hair cut. Since I was a little girl, I’ve always had my hair this long.”
“…Girl? Did you say girl?” Albert questions.
“Yes, Albert. Jehanne is a girl. Did you miss her dress?”
“But Sir, I’ve never cut a girl’s hair before.”
“There’s always a first time for everything, Albert. Just make sure that you do a good job.”
“Yes Sir, but I don’t know if I should be doing this. I’ll cut the gentleman’s hair. But you know what the rules are for the length of a woman’s hair. You never know… the next thing she might do, is to wear men’s clothing.”
“Don’t worry, Albert. Everything will be fine. I will take responsibility for everything.”
“Yes Sir.”
Finally, with their hair cut they walk back to Jean’s house.
Looking at them Jean mentions to Pierre, “I noticed that he didn’t cut your hair as short as he did Jehanne’s, you may want to pull it back and secure it with a string of leather so that it won’t fall into your face and hinder your vision when you are in battle.”
“I can see where that would be a great benefit, Jean. Thank you for your suggestion.”
“I just want to make sure that both of you will be coming back….” Looking into the next room he says, “Come with me. While you were gone I got you some clothes so that you could look your part.” He hands Pierre a gray wool woven doublet, a white linen shirt, breeches, gray hose and a navy blue tunic, along with soft black leather boots that extend above his knees.
Jean hands Jehanne a white linen shirt and breeches, black hose that attach to a black woolen doublet, by twelve long leather laces. The doublet, which ends at her mid-thigh, has a high collar and full sleeves that taper down to fit tight at the cuff, and narrow at her waist. Over her doublet, she wears a heavy gray tunic; on her feet, high soft leather boots. For each heel of her boots, she is given short spurs to wear.
On a nearby table are soft, black woolen hats. Draped over the back of two chairs, are hung two heavy hooded capes. Next to them is their armor.
“This armor is exquisite, Jean,” Pierre states, as he places his hand on the shoulder of the breast plate.
“How do you know that that set is for you, Pierre?” Jean questions.
“It isn’t hard to guess, Jean. The white armor is a lot smaller than this silver armor. I knew in an instant, because of its size and color, that the other set would be for Jehanne,” Pierre states with a smile, knowing that Jean was joking with him.
Jehanne enjoys the play that is going on between them.
Walking out of Jean’s home, two horses, both ‘Chargers,’ along with their high back saddles, have been placed next to the horse that Jehanne and Pierre rode on to Vancouleurs.
“I picked these prize horses for both of you,” Jean says with pride. “They come from my own barn.”
Walking up to the horses, Pierre and Jehanne look at the magnificent girth and strong legs of their new horses. Pierre looks over to Jehanne. “This reminds me of the horse that my family had, Jehanne.”
“They are both wonderful animals, Jean. Thank you for your thoughtfulness, but I will keep the horse that my father has ridden into battle,” Jehanne boldly states.
“If that is what you wish Jehanne,” Jean replies.
“Thank you, Jean. If you don’t mind, so that I can make sure that Jehanne is taken care of, I will keep this one. I will take care of it just as if it were my own,” Pierre promises.
“It is my honor, Pierre. I would be proud for you to ride him into battle. He has been trained by the finest horse trainers in this country, and has been in our family for the last three years.” Looking back at Jehanne, Jean says, “I hope that you like the color of your armor, Jehanne, I felt that white would be appropriate for your mission.”
“Your choice is perfect, Jean.”
Jean’s servant walks over to him, and hands him two swords. Turning around to Pierre and Jehanne he says, “Here are two swords, made of the finest steel.”
Pierre reaches out and takes one sword, admiring its workmanship. “This is the finest sword that I have ever seen.”
“Would you like this one, Jehanne?” Jean asks as he hands her the second sword.
“It is beautiful, Jean. But God has all ready chosen a sword for me.”
“Where is it?” Jean questions.
“It’s in the Chapel of Ste. Catherine-de-Fierbois, behind the front alter. This wonderful sword has been buried under the dirt for hundreds of years. We must go within the next few days to retrieve it. But before we leave, I need to ask one more favor of you.”
“Whatever you need, I would be glad to get it for you, Jehanne.”
“Do you think that a Standard could also be made for me to carry?”
“…Of course. Do you have a specific design in mind?”
“Yes, because the Lord has asked me to do this I want the people to know that anyone that fights by my side fights for the Lord. We represent Him and what he wants for all of his children. To show that loyalty, I would like it made from white canvas, with a picture of the Lord sitting down, holding a world. On either side of him, I would like two angels, Archangel Saint Gabriel, and Saint Michael, representing Justice and Mercy. Close to the pole, where the standard is attached, I would like the motto, “Jesus Maria,” and on the end of the standard, Fleurs de Lys. The whole standard, on its pole, needs to be three feet high, and twelve feet long. ”
“It sounds wonderful. I know the best Standard makers; I’ll have them work on it tonight.”
“Thank you, Jean. You have been so kind to both of us.”
Walking back into Jean’s house, Pierre and Jeanne take time to change into their new clothes. By the time they are dressed, a meal has been prepared for them to eat. Throughout the evening, Jehanne and Pierre talk with Jean about the condition in which they find their country.
“The English take what they want…our food, our animals, the comforts that we have in our homes. They dishonor our women, and take our children as slaves,” Jean declares.
“We saw people living in a forest, within two days ride of here. They were saying the same thing,” Pierre comments.
“The taxes seem to be getting higher and higher every year, and our French nobles don’t do anything about it,” Jean complains.
“That’s because they are part of it,” Jehanne states.
“Jehanne, you must be wrong. Our Nobles would never betray us like that!” Jean states with confidence.
“Open your eyes, Jean,” she says as she holds a cup of hot tea in her right hand. “There is no reason that you should trust these people. Because they are of noble birth, they are supposed to look after their people, yet, the only thing that they look after is their own wants, desires and greed!”
“You speak very forcefully, Jehanne.”
“Yes, I normally do when I know the truth!”
“How do you know that it is true?”
Sweeping her left hand in a half circle, Jehanne continues, “Look around you, Jean. Listen. The very condition of our country tells you it is so.”
“Your words ring true, Jehanne. But I can’t believe that our nobles want this country to fail.”
“Oh, they don’t want it to fail. They aren’t looking that far ahead. They only look at what they need right now, never realizing…or possibly even caring, because they have been told that they would be given land, castles, and all the money that they will need for themselves and for their children, as soon as this war is over, never realizing that the whole plan is to keep this war going forever. Of course some get a pittance here and there so that they won’t get discoura
ged.”
“Is that why Lombard moved into a new castle recently?”
“Where did he get his money, Jean?”
“You know, I don’t know where his money comes from.”
“Then I will say that your taxes probably helped pay for his new castle. You know they give them money to keep their loyalty.”
“If that is really what is going on, we had better get you ready so that this war is over sooner than later, I’m tired of paying these high taxes and having our land taken from our people.” Jean declares.
Walking them to the rooms where they will rest, Jean states, “Pierre here is your room.”
“Jehanne and I will sleep in separate beds, but in the same room. I am her protector,” Pierre forcefully voices.
“Very well, if you will help me, Pierre, we will bring another bed into this room.
“Thank you, Jean.”
As the morning church bells ring, Jehanne and Pierre begin their long journey. After traveling for many days, they have finally arrived at the Chapel of Ste. Catherine-de-Fierbois. Walking through the doors and up behind the alter Jehanne begins digging with her hands until she can feel the cold steel of a sword.
Lifting it up out of the dirt, she explains, “It’s perfect! Thank you so much,” she says as she looks toward Heaven. Walking out to Pierre, she says with a smile, “Here it is. It’s a little dirty, but it’s beautiful. We’ll have to clean it up.” Looking at it, as though she was looking right through it, Jehanne asks Pierre, “Do you know who this sword belonged to Pierre?”
“No, but I can feel a strength emanating from it.”
“That’s because it used to belong to a very important man.”
“Who did it belong to, Jehanne?”
“Charles Martel.” Seeing his blank stare she adds, “He saved France from the Saracens. You know, the Muslims! He was the grandfather of Charlemagne.” Holding her hands out to the side, she continues looking at Pierre in an attitude of don’t you understand?
Pierre finally says, “Jehanne, you forget I don’t come from here.”
Taking a breath, it finally dawns on her, “I’m sorry.” And to make amends she continues to explain. “Charles Martel. He is a famous general who secured the fate of Christian Europe in the battle of Tours against the Muslims.”
“You see, the Muslims came up from Africa to war with Spain. They made alliances with Spanish nobles, telling them that they would leave as soon as the war was over. Because they were such great warriors, the Muslims and Spanish nobles, who were warring with the Spanish Emperor, took over Spain. After the war was over, the Muslims never did leave Spain. All of the people they had conquered, including the Spanish nobles with whom they had made alliances had to convert to Islam, or pay heavy taxes, and assume a second class status.”
“From Spain, the Muslims decided that they would take over all of Europe. They crossed the Pyrenees mountain range into France, where they came up against Charles Martel and his great army. He was a Frank. Do you know what Frank stands for in the Frankish language, Pierre?”
“No, I don’t.”
“It means ‘fierce or free’… and it was the fierce, free Charles Martel who controlled that area of Europe. His people were loyal to him because he wanted freedom for every individual living under his rule.”