Kate Ryley
English 052
Rebecca McLaughlin
December 17th, 2011
Christabel, Part III (in fairy tale format)
Bracy the bard stood silently, stunned by Sir Leoline’s dismissive and fleeting regard for his warning, albeit a warning that came in a dream. Sir Leoline was never one to question Bracy’s sense, for his sense was always good and accurate. ‘They should not leave today, they should postpone immediately,’ thought Bracy. But that was simply no longer an option. Sir Leoline had made up his mind, it appeared, and there was no changing it. To have led Geraldine away, leaving his beloved daughter Christabel in a puddle of tears and emotional turmoil on the cold castle floor, despite her pleas, was strange behaviour on his part. ‘Something was amyss,’ thought Bracy. Sir Leoline’s behaviour was surprising, for Christabel was the one person Sir Leoline would do anything for. She was his only daughter, and the only living reminder of his dead wife that he so adored. ‘Something terrible is looming over the castle,’ thought Bracy, but he did not know what. Bracy led a wailing Christabel to her bedroom, shaking his head.
Moments passed, and Sir Leoline and Geraldine were walking through the castle. Geraldine stopped Sir Leoline suddenly, sobbing quietly. She turned to Sir Leoline and looked deep into his eyes. Her eyes turned snake-like and glared. Sir Leoline did not appear to notice, but only seemed mesmerized. Geraldine began to speak, and expressed her regret for having caused Christabel to act so wildly. ‘I want nothing more than the best for dear Christabel, who helped me seek refuge here in your beautiful home,’ exclaimed Geraldine, ‘but she has pained me so with her hurtful words and her wild and erratic behaviour.’ Geraldine began to shiver and pout, looking small and frailly into Sir Leoline eyes. ‘Lovely Geraldine,’ said Sir Leoline, unphased, ‘my daughter’s hostility is inexcusable. I can see you are shaken up and will catch a cold if we do not get you into warmer attire.’ Geraldine’s expression softened. She appeared to have a hold on Sir Leoline. Satisfied, Geraldine led Sir Leoline down the hall towards his dead wife’s dressing room.
Later that morning, Christabel sat at her vanity table. In an effort to comfort herself, Christabel wondered whether her knight would arrive, and save her from the castle and relieve her of her sorrows. Christabel was interrupted suddenly by Sir Leoline and Geraldine entering unannounced into her bedroom. ‘Christabel, I ask that you apologize to me for your unladylike and cruelness towards me,’ said Geraldine. Christabel took one look at Geraldine and screamed a scream filled with fear, anger and sadness. Geraldine was wearing her mother’s favorite gown! Christabel had her father recount the very romantic story of this gown endless times: the gown had been a gift to her mother from her father, on the night of their engagement. It was their family’s most cherished item, for it was a symbol of the deep love between Christabel’s mother and father, a symbol of a wonderful time, the happiest time of their life. Christabel, enraged, leaped towards Geraldine in an effort to take the gown back, or hurt Geraldine, or both. Geraldine slapped Christabel across the face, and she crumbled to the ground. ‘I banish you to the deepest, darkest part of the woods forever!’ exclaimed Geraldine, with her serpent eyes. Sir Leoline did not flintch, but stood there passively without any expression on his face.
Geraldine dragged Christabel down the stairs and through the court where both Christabel and Geraldine had walked through not so many hours before. They passed by the female mastiff, who began to moan angrily again, only this time she was not asleep and her moans turned to growls and ferocious barking. Her teeth were barred, her eyes were dark, and saliva was dripping from her mouth.
‘STOP! RELEASE CHRISTABEL!’ yelled someone in the shadows. The figure came forward and Christabel saw that is was
