Cécile: Gates of Gold

An Unexpected Reward

Cécile follows the woman’s moans until she sees a stout woman laying on the ground in a muddy ravine. The woman looks to be about the age of a grandmother, and was clearly riding with the King’s hunters. The fabric of the woman’s left shoulder is ripped, and her shoulder is protruding awkwardly. Cécile knows her father, a medic who heals anybody who needs help, can assist her.

Cécile ties up the horse, and hurries her way back to her thatched hut. Her father nods along while Cécile explains the situation, and then stands up to wash his hands. Cécile insists the woman doesn’t care what he looks like, but he explains “It is better for her health if my hands are clean.”

Cécile leads her father back to the woman, who hasn’t moved from the ground. He inspects her shoulder, arm, and neck, before determining her arm has been pulled out of its socket. He instructs Cécile to help him hold her shoulders down while he pops her arm back in.

A few minutes later, the woman feels well enough to begin to sit up, claiming he worked a miracle. She explains she is not the queen, who is dead, nor is she the King’s “secret” wife, Madame de Maintenon. She is Elisabeth Charlotte of Germany, la Duchesse d’Orléans, sister-in-law to the Sun King, and known as “Madame.”

Cécile explains she’s learned how to calm animals from her father, Monsieur Revel. Madame eyes Cécile’s father, and asks what he’d like for a reward for their assistance. After a few moments, he slowly says that he simply would like to spare his daughter a peasant’s future, and he’d like her to have a position at court.

To her surprise, Madame accepts his offer, stating that she needs a new servant to help take care of her six dogs. Although Cécile doesn’t want to travel to court, as she doesn’t want to leave her father alone—his cough is continuing to worsen. But Cécile knows that girls her age don’t have the power to choose their own future.