Bonjour. Mi name is Louise and I was born a French princess, however I was banished by my father, King Louis XV, and I now live in Arbroath Abbey in Aberdeen, Scotland.
Bonjour. Mi name is Louise and I was born a French princess, however I was banished by my father, King Louis XV, and I now live in Arbroath Abbey in Aberdeen, Scotland.
“Some may call it Christian charity, but I like to call plain kindness” Louise smiled. Many people thought nuns, novices and people of God were kind to others because it was their ‘duty’ to do so, but she disagreed with that completely. She wasn’t a kind woman because of a duty or God’s calling, she was kind because sometimes people needed it and she liked to offer it. As the girl removed her hood, she finally got a good look at her. She was really pretty, the stunning contrast between her red hair, pale skin and blue eyes was gorgeous. “If you do not mind me asking, how come you are leaving your home?” It was easy to tell she was a native of the land, her accent gave her away. “Oh I am so sorry, how rude of me not to have introduced myself. My name is Louise Smith” That was the name she had gotten in Scotland, since she really didn’t have a last name since her father banished her out of France.
It was not easy for Adlaine to speak so open-hearted about her problems. But it was nice to be able to tell somebody, somebody who was truly interested. The young woman seemed to be a nice company to have and she enjoyed her kindness. As she introduced herself Adlaine felt the need to do the same. “Nice to meet you Louise. My name is Adlaine McNeil.” She bowed politely. “I’m leaving home because my life has become very unbearable lately. My mother died when I was younger. And my father needed a new wife to care for the household and for me and my brother. He married a younger woman. I’m guessing because of her looks. But who am I to judge my dear father. He always did the best he could to give me a happy life. It is my Stepmother who is judged by me. Her treatment is deadful. I know I may seem like I’m overreacting, but my heart and soul aren’t able to stand it anymore. She is pushing me around like a servant. I want to be free and see the world before it is too late. I’m sorry If I’m talking to much. It is my burden not yours.”
Louise felt sympathy for the girl as she spoke of her mother and the fact that she was now dead, replaced by her father by another woman who disliked Adlaine so much. “I am so sorry to hear that” She continued to hear the girl’s story, it was surely a terrible experience for her having to deal with this terrible woman who was her stepmother. “This is no overreaction, Adlaine. I may understand better than anyone the need to be free…” After Louise herself had defied her father’s wishes in order to find her freedom and be independent, and the cost for it had been to leave her country, perhaps forever. “But do you know where you will go now? Do you have a destination? If not, you could stay in the abbey for a few days until you figure that out. I am sure the sisters would welcome you gladly for as long as you might need”
“Here, take this please” Louise took an apple from her basket and handed it over to the hooded girl. Nothing like a juicy apple to improve a person’s ill state. “Fruits then to help me feel better when I am feeling weary. I hope it helps you as well, miss” Louise smiled at the girl. She couldn’t have a clear look at her because she was covering herself, but her pale skin and some strands of her fiery red hair were visible to her. “Oh not, I am not a nun” Truth be told, Louise wasn’t planning on taking the vows anytime soon. “I am novice. I live at Arbroath Abbey, over that hill” She pointed the direction to the girl, but surely she would already know where the abbey was.
Adlaine took the apple from the young woman and smiled thankfully. “That is so very kind of you. It is very rare to find Strangers that treat you that friendly.” Adlaine decided to take her hood of her head and show her face completely. Most of people around wouldn’t notice her, she hoped. Though her father was well known for his wealth. She had never seen this woman before, that was for sure. But she seemed so special to her. She had this glow as if she was wealthy or titled. “Oh I see. Well I was never there before. Actually I am heading towards the harbor. See… I am intending on leaving Scotland.” she whispered the last part.
“Some may call it Christian charity, but I like to call plain kindness” Louise smiled. Many people thought nuns, novices and people of God were kind to others because it was their ‘duty’ to do so, but she disagreed with that completely. She wasn’t a kind woman because of a duty or God’s calling, she was kind because sometimes people needed it and she liked to offer it. As the girl removed her hood, she finally got a good look at her. She was really pretty, the stunning contrast between her red hair, pale skin and blue eyes was gorgeous. “If you do not mind me asking, how come you are leaving your home?” It was easy to tell she was a native of the land, her accent gave her away. “Oh I am so sorry, how rude of me not to have introduced myself. My name is Louise Smith” That was the name she had gotten in Scotland, since she really didn’t have a last name since her father banished her out of France.
Adlaine looked at all the lovely things the woman was selling. She asked the woman for the price. As she heard it, she knew that she couldn’t buy that much because she needed the money for other things aswell. Then she noticed somebody next to her buying some of the goods. As the person started speaking she knew it was a young woman, noticing the thin voice and the polite accent. She watched the woman wrapping the goods and handing it to the person next to her. She looked at the feet. The girl was wearing something very long. Suddenly she turned to her and Adlaine looked up. She was asked if she was alright, the young lady seemed to be concerned about her.
“Oh, I appreciate your concern Lady…uh. But I guess I only need to rest a bit and eat. Then I will feel better for sure.” She turned to the woman who was selling and bought some of her buns and paid. “You’re wearing something interesting. I think I’ve seen once of there costumes before. Are you a nun?”
“Here, take this please” Louise took an apple from her basket and handed it over to the hooded girl. Nothing like a juicy apple to improve a person’s ill state. “Fruits then to help me feel better when I am feeling weary. I hope it helps you as well, miss” Louise smiled at the girl. She couldn’t have a clear look at her because she was covering herself, but her pale skin and some strands of her fiery red hair were visible to her. “Oh not, I am not a nun” Truth be told, Louise wasn’t planning on taking the vows anytime soon. “I am novice. I live at Arbroath Abbey, over that hill” She pointed the direction to the girl, but surely she would already know where the abbey was.
She had been walking for hours now and the only thing she was craving, was a break, a warm place and something to eat. She had packed nothing to eat, since it would have been to loud to pack. She never dared to risk something. She was a cautious person, through and through. Her coat had a hood which she had pulled over her face to keep the snowflakes away from her eyes. Her gaze was on the ground and now after hours of walking she had even forgotten which way she took. Adlaine looked up and to her surprise it wasn’t snowing anymore. And she could see something in the distance. It looked like a market place, crowded with people. She hoped to find something to eat there and walked towards it.
As she reached the market she was afraid some of the people could be thiefs and steal her money, which was the only thing that would bring her somewhere. Adlaine looked around and made her way through the crowd. She passed a woman who was selling baked goods. They looked delicious and she stopped to buy something.
Louise approached the post where a woman was selling bread, sweet buns and things of the sort. “Ten loaves of bread, please” She said, her faint French accent and delicate voice was so different than the strong voices of Scottish Women. The saleswoman handed her her goods and Louise paid. The girl standing next to her caught her attention, though. A hood was covering a bit of her face, yet Louise could see than she was very pale. “Miss, are you feeling well? You look white as death” She seemed tired and perhaps it had been long since the girl last ate something “Is there something I can do to help?”
Adlaine woke up in a cold morning, she took a deep breath and pulled her sheets aside as she stood up. Today would a good day, she hoped. She had been trying to get used to her Stepmother for so many years and now she just don’t had the power for it anymore. It was something she couldn’t do.
She washed her face and combed her hair, while she choose what she would be wearing today. Then she looked outside. She could see the snow covered hills. It had been snowing again. She wanted to see over the hillls and be free. Her father would never forgive her if she would leave and that was why she had been staying here.
“Not…today…”, she suddenly whispered to herself. She would be leaving. Yes. That was her plan and she knew that this was right. She packed all the things that she would be needed into her bag and of course the drawing of her mother aswell. She tied her red mane up and dressed up her good boots. She was ready to start over.
Adlaine wrote a little note for her father which she left on her bed. She had no idea where she was going, but she was leaving. Adlaine used the backdoor to leave the house. She made her way over the hills, the wind was hitting into her face. It was really cold. “This is right, i know it….”, she mumbled to herself as she walked. She would be reaching the harpor in a day and then maybe she would take a ship to get further. Good that she had been saving her gold and money for a few years now. She could really use it.
When Louise woke up the sisters were arguing about whose turn it was to go the market and buy food for the day. One would think nuns were the peaceful kind women but Scottish women had a temper and most of them were really loud. Hoping to end the argument sister Mathilde, sister Isobel and sister Agnes were having, Louise offered to be the one to go to the market. The sisters immediately quieted down since none of them had anything to say against it.
The way from Arbroath Abbey to the market in Aberdeen was quite long on foot, perhaps an hour or so yet Louise enjoyed these long walks. Reaching the town and making her way to the market many men stared at her. No one had ever called her beautiful, yet for the looks of men Louise was aware that there was something about her looks they considered pretty. However none of them ever approach her, let alone even dare to lay a hand on her. Being a novice kept them away and Louise wore her novitiate gowns like an armor against unwanted men. It was one of the positive things of being a woman of God. Well, she wasn’t one yet, but still.
Once in the market she went to several posts where she began to get what the sisters had told her to buy and in a while the basket she was carrying began fill to slowly.
Louise
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English, French and Dutch speaking countries
Meaning & History: French feminine form of Louis. Means “fame” and “war”.
(Source: thathappypresence)
