History In The Ice

She met him in the middle of spring. A tall handsome man named Duncan Troethlin. He was rich, high in society and a very smooth talker. Is it any wonder young Patricia Bartholow fell for him?

She was introduced by her father, Lord Harold Bartholow. She fell for Duncan immediately as if it were some sort of spell.

As they got to know each other they walked under the blossoming trees in the forest, enjoying each others company and listening to the petals of the small purple flowers and try to understand the words they whispered. This was their favourite pass time; sitting under the beautiful flowers, just relaxing, without a care in the world.

Many months had passed and the relationship between Patricia and Duncan had grown.

One fine winter day Patricia and Duncan were walking through the peaceful woods on a Saturday morning, as was their custom. Duncan seemed upset and worried and Patricia noticed.

'Why are you worried, beauty surrounds us, will you not be glad and see it?'

'I do not wish to see, I wish to think' Duncan replied quietly.

'Oh yes, think about what? You need not hide anything from me', Patricia said lightly as she danced under the white snowy trees. Duncan watched Patricia thoughtfully without seeing her.

His mind was wondering what to do. All his illegal over seas trading had gone horribly wrong, they had taken his money by bribe and he had been left with hardly a penny. He had been thrown out of his manor with all that he had left: a few old family heirlooms that he wasn't willing to sell. But suddenly, a small but terrible idea whirled into his mind in the shape of young Patricia.

He brought his mind back to the world around him and to the beautiful, young, Lords daughter dancing and twirling before him.

Duncan looked around at the white forest surrounding him and sighed as he fished in his pocket for the little box.

'Patricia dear,' he said sweetly 'there is something I wish to ask you'.

'Ask away my dear Duncan' she said coming to a halt in front of him, her cheeks burning red from dancing in the snow.

Duncan knelt on one knee and opened the small box....

***

'Daddy, daddy, you wouldn't believe what just happened!' Patricia cried as she ran across the red carpet to where her father was sitting by the fire.

'What child, what has happened?' Lord Bartholow said gruffly but not without concern.

'Duncan has just asked me to marry him!' Patricia exclaimed in a high voice. Lord Bartholow raised his eyebrows and looked into his daughters face, which was bursting with excitement and happiness.

He considered her for a moment longer before saying gently 'sit down Patricia, I have something to say'.

Patricia's happiness vanished and nervousness replaced it as she sat down in the armchair directly across from her father.

'Patricia I know that you are not going to like what I have to say but you must listen and understand,' Lord Bartholow began. 'I have a bad feeling about Duncan Troethlin, and I know that you think he is a most worthy man, but I disagree. There is something about him that I do not trust. When I introduced him to you I thought he was a great, honorable man but now I think differently. I should have told you long before now that I do not approve, but I was hoping that you would move on from Mr Troethlin before this'.

'W-what are you saying father?' Patricia asked dreadingly, clutching at the old but beautiful ring in her wedding finger as if her father was trying to take it from her.

'I am terribly sorry Patricia but I cannot allow you to marry Duncan. There are other men, more worthy and better-' Lord Bartholow began solemnly but Patricia interrupted defiantly, 'But I do not want another man regardless how much more worthy you think he is, Duncan is better than any man in my eyes'.

'You will not marry Duncan Troethlin' her father answered, angry at her disloyalty.

'Then you do not care for my happiness' Patricia cried, standing up angrily.

'I care for your life and well being before your happiness. I forbid you to marry Duncan and that is final!' Lord Bartholow shouted as he stood up as well.

Shocked by his raised voice, Patricia stepped back a little. Then regaining her voice she said quietly 'Then I will love no other man but him'.

Patricia walked out of the room quickly and angrily but as she closed the large oak door behind her, Lord Bartholow heard a small sob.

He slumped back in his chair and stared at the fire, lost in his thoughts.

***

Patricia rushed through the forest looking for Duncan; he said he would meet her under the large oak to hear news of her fathers choice.

Finally she found him standing under the large white oak.

'H-he's forbidden our marriage Duncan, what are we going to do?' she sobbed as she threw herself into his arms.

He stroked the back of head as his mind considered the news she had brought.

'Patricia, why don't we just, well, go away for a bit?' he said tentatively.

'Go away?' she said looking up at him in wonder.

'Yes, why don't we just go to a different country-but only for awhile' he said catching the stricken look on her face, 'you know, until your father sees sense and approves of us being together'.

Patricia considered this and said nervously 'only for a while, we will come back?'

'Of course, of course' Duncan replied eagerly. Patricia nodded silently and sighed sadly.

'Meet me under this oak at midnight tonight' Duncan said quickly. 'Bring anything you can, mostly gold, you understand?'

'But you-' Patricia began but Duncan knew what she was about to say and smiled as if in pity. 'My dear Patricia you do not know how costly train rides can be; we will need some help from your dear fathers secret vault as well as my own money.'

Patricia nodded sadly and headed back to her families mansion to gather what was needed...

***

At midnight Patricia was waiting under the great oak with everything that Duncan had told her to bring. It was a very cold night but the moonlit sky was completely clear of clouds. Everything was so beautiful and sparkling as the moonlight shone on the white snow.

Patricia sighed and shivered; it really was extremely cold.

'Are you cold my dear?' a voice said quietly from the shadows behind the oak.

Patricia jumped and twirled around quickly to find that Duncan had arrived at last.

'Oh I didn't hear you arrive Duncan' she breathed.

He smiled and said 'have you got everything?'

'Yes, half of my fathers vault, I hope he will find the heart to forgive me someday' she said sadly, as she gazed at the bright moon.

She really did love her father very much and was sad to cause him grief but there was no going back and she turned to Duncan, determined and ready to leave.

'Are we going soon, it's dreadfully cold' she shivered.

'Cold? Why didn't you say so my dear? I have something that will warm you up in no time' Duncan said smoothly, taking a small bottle from the inside of his jacket.

He handed it to Patricia who lifted it to her lips and let the burning liquid trickle down her throat.

She quickly handed it back to Duncan and screwed her face up as she felt the liquid reach her stomach.

Patricia suddenly stumbled forward into Duncan's waiting arms and he said gently 'my poor Patricia is tired, sleep for a bit and you'll feel much better, my dear'.

He lay her gently down in the snow, under the oak tree.

'But we must be going soon' Patricia mumbled as the stars winked at her gently. He didn't answer and seemed to be gathering the bundles of gold she had dropped.

'Goodbye dear Patricia' Duncan suddenly whispered softly. Patricia felt the beautiful ring that Duncan had given her being taken from her finger but she could do nothing to resist as the poison quickly overtook her limbs and darkness embraced her mind.

Star, snow and tree merged together until the darkness took Patricia Bartholow, the girl blinded by love.

***

Spring arrived and the cheerful sunlight thawed the snow and ice in the forest and through all the land.

Lord Bartholow stood by his window, mournfully gazing out into the patchy white forest that his lost daughter had so loved.

It had been many a day since he saw her last and now he had given up hope. He knew that the Troethlin boy had taken or killed his daughter but no one had seen head nor tail of the man since the day Patricia had disappeared.

As Lord Bartholow stood watching the snow melting he thought of his wonderful daughter who loved nothing more than taking walks in the beautiful forest. His innocent, harmless daughter who had been taken by evil. With these thoughts echoing in his mind he vowed to find Duncan Troethlin and avenge his sweet daughter.

Little did Lord Bartholow know, that his daughter who had died so many nights ago was now vowing the exact same thing......