Thomas
New Friend

As Thomas grew he kept his vow. He knew his only way to gain the intelligence and skills to make his mother proud was to listen in and hide in the shadows a silent pupil. Thomas befriended the Lords daughter, Lady Annalise. They met while Thomas hid behind the tapestries in the library where Annalise studied to become the lady of the castle. When the tutor stepped out of the room to collect the tea for Annalise she heard a small sneeze coming from behind the tapestry of her father’s brave conquest. Annalise’s curiosity and innocence lifted her from her seat to investigate the disturbance. She slowly approached the sound and reached out to examine the art when she felt the warmth of a body and the pounding of a heart terrified.

“Don’t be afraid I won’t tell Sir Andros. Come out so I can see you.” Annalise spoke softly and sweetly, she cooed so softly Thomas’s heart beat more swiftly and urged him out of his hiding spot. Thomas timidly stepped out from his sanctuary to meet the angelic gaze of Lady Annalise, the Lords only child. Thomas stood bravely before her and he spoke, “I am Thomas son of Miss Mary the Kitchen maid.” He said each word with pride as well as a stubborn chin held high, his small 10-year-old fist balled nervously at his sides. At this sight Annalise giggled, the sound was like a bell twinkling in the summer sun. Every heavenly note of her laughter melted the ice Thomas formed around his heart towards the “Privileged”, Thomas stood brave and tall, the laughter did not make him falter or titter in reply. Annalise stopped laughing as the sound of steps echoing off the hallway walls approaching the library.

“Sir Andros is coming quick hide, you can stay for the rest of the lesson, Thomas.” Annalise smiled whispering softly into Thomas’s ear sending shivers down his spine and leaving his cheeks hot and red. Annalise scrambled hurrying Thomas into the shadows. Sir Andros returned with tea, biscuits, and the new atlas for Annalise’s next lesson. This marked the beginning of a special companionship and a life of lessons for Thomas.

Thomas spent each afternoon studying in the shadows of the library with his new friend Annalise. Every word Sir Andros uttered would captivate Thomas he stayed engulfed in his studies determined to gain the knowledge of Kings. Only when the lessons where at a rest would his eyes gaze upon the great beauty of Lady Annalise as she grew each day his heart longed to be near her. When the lessons were over for the day Thomas and Annalise would sneak out to the river’s edge to practice fencing and hand to hand combat. Annalise studied with the knights upon her father’s request, Lord Ezekiel wanted his daughter to bow down to no man. The kingdom depends on it. These moments with Annalise where the moments Thomas longed for, to see her parry and strike as the setting sun lit up her long cascading fountain of silken auburn locks. She would catch fire and the light would illuminate her alabaster skin creating an ethereal glow, Annalise was Thomas’s Angel even if only in his eyes.

Annalise never thought of the kingdom or anything but her time with Thomas she giggled in the freedom she felt with him. Each moment with Thomas was a day when Lady Annalise was nothing more than Anna a Stable-boy’s playmate. The months swiftly passed for the children turning to years, each day the two companions explored their surroundings and their relationship. The children grew swiftly towards adulthood as they blossomed so did their friendship escalading into a unidentified love for one another.