The Red Satin Shoes

A Story by Aviababy

The Red Satin Shoes

That day eighty nine years ago it all began! That day I was born. I lay in my bed tonight to say goodbye, my lady in waiting looking at me nervously.

“Madam you look paler than usual!” uttered my lady.

“Oh Palma you are such a pessimist, I am fine just a little old and tired.” I composedly replied. “Or it just maybe this darn old castle! Never have I been so cold not even on my trip to get it! Those horrible red satin shoes!” I wailed.

As soon as I said it I regretted it. She had that hurtful look on her face. She knows I know that look. She’s trying to get me to understand I hurt her.

“My dear you need to remember I am old and can get a bit cranky!” I almost bellow, “You need to understand I love you my sweet.”

“I guess you are correct. I know you love me but what will I do when you are gone?”

“You must find a husband and have a life. Once I am gone you can take over this castle and become a noble woman.”

“My lady will you please tell me the story of your coming to this castle? Since you brought it up! I always love hearing the story,” Palma implored vigorously.

“Oh fine my young damsel! I hope you know such a story wearies me.”I endued.

“Please my lady! I will bring up some delicacies from the kitchen.” She impetuously bustles away.

“I never believed that I would have to tell a story to a soon to be married maiden.” I divulge to myself.

I calmly await my scurrying maiden. She finally arrives and I eat the fruit cakes and wash down the tiny snippets left in my gullet. I calmly clear my throat and re-attain the nearly forgotten recollections.

“I believe this is how it goes….”

A young woman is wading through a small cove in the Atlantic Ocean. Rarely does she get any real detached time from family or any village burden. She slowly lays her calico stitched blanket across the down soft beach. The surrounding stone obstruction slightly slanting towards the sea, hoping to one day reach its gleaming blue wells of the sea waves. An odd looking man rounds the corner of the barricade-like wall.

He dashed past the young woman, not seeming to notice her outright. Very little after did she heed notice of horse cloves, overwhelming anything in their wake. Two, very enticing old tigresses, round the same corner the man did.

“You there! Yes you! Did you see a grisly old man come anywhere in your sight?”

“Why yes madam, I did. He ran that way. May I ask what he did to be chased by such beautiful patrons?”

“If you must know, he stole the treasure of the island of Calme. If he is to take it off our land, all will be lost.”

“Well my father says my mother was the holder of this treasure but was murdered. She always regretted being the keeper. I was never told the hoard.”

“Now it is our turn to ask of your origin.”

“Oh! I am not sure! My father felt I was too young to know to be able to take the burden of the family heirship.”

“Well you are to come with us. It seems you know too much to be around vile lowly commoners.”

“No! I must go back to my father; I was only to be admitted here for my name day!”

“Well happy birthday but you must come with us. We will inform your father after you are comfortably rested in the castle.”

With that she was pulled onto the back of the dark haireds mount.

They led the horses back to the castle, giving in to the man’s escape.

Reaching the castle, she quickly asked if she may bathe.

“No, we must, let’s say. catechize to see if you have any knowledge to your ancestry.”

“But I told you I know nothing! If you consult my father here he may be able to help you.”

“Fine young child, we will. Avia! Go fetch this child’s father. He seems to be a peasant. My yearling, were be your father?”

“First of all I am to be married in one month, so I be not a child! Secondly peasantry is not forced upon us! We simply choose a transparent life! My father be at the miller’s home. I and my father are more royalty to these provincial folk!”

“A feisty one we seem to have here. It seems we must keep an eye on her. If you please I would like to personally walk you through what has happened here.

“Well if you really would like to understand your heritage, we will be able to get the leak out of your father. So as for the treasure, they are two very dazzling red satin shoes. These shoes are so very important to our island because they have special finesse. Your mother, as we believe, was the noble woman named Teresina. She was the titleholder of these regal shoes. They were made by god himself. This island, you see, was where his lady Aneria died. He was devastated and wanted our island preserved at its finest in honor of his Aneria.

“To this day no one seems to believe us. They think god is perfect in every way. Well yes he is a man of honorable being, but not as many other gods may be to other races. Think of the Greeks, their gods were more realistic; they had what every gods real nature is. The people of Christianity want to be the kin of all kin. Not a flaw may be seen in god. Well he started as any human, guilty, jealous, angry, and resented. Why, if I didn’t know better, I would not pay homage to this “man”.

“Well he was human and still will have truth of human nature! So no one ever sees him as an idle to their children if he is like any mortal. So these shoes were the “shield” of this island. He told your great great great grandmother that to keep this island safe forever these shoes must be on our lands. But he also said that if these shoes were taken and were to somehow not be here, they can be a shield or a destroyer, so if this calamitous will happen we will all be lost.”

“My! What a horrible fate! I see why I was constrained here, but what are you I need of me to know my kin?”

“Why, that is simple my dear! If you are Avia’s daughter, you are part of the Calminarity nobility, well more than that you are a princess. I understand you want a simple life, but you don’t really have a choice. And if you do take that man and put him in his place, you would be a hero and completely take a hold of your palace, here, and gain control over Calme! You will be ill-fated and will have to carry the burden of the red satin shoes, of course.”

“Well it all does sound nice, but you must understand, I have never been in a castle, other than this one time, let alone rule a large society! My father would never allow it even if I willingly agree to your proposal.”

“Well that is no big complicant my sweet, your father could always be bribed.”

“Bribed! Do you think my father so lowly? You shall forget this parley, because this island is not mine. Why can’t you rule it?”

“Well I am sick, old, and weary I don’t have the blossoming advantage that you have. Please do not fret; I am only stating my past struggles.”

“Well fine then. But my father is not just any thieve; he is noble in his stance. If I am to travel I must then be taught the proper schemes. I will also need to be provided with travel equipment!”

“Oh yes my dear, all will be taken care of!”

For some days I was pushed hard with travel statistics, how to fight and ride, along with wilderness survival skills (only considering the surrounding forests). I stopped counting the days after ten, but I believe two weeks passed before I was fit to track down the downright lowlife sap.

My father reluctantly allowed my adventure, I only said yes for the good of the people. When it was finally time to leave on my journey I was obliged to take a journey man with me for the first part of the expedition.

“Be on your way then, this is the best part of day to start your trek.”

For three days and three nights, only with my companion for one day, I tracked the scoundrel. He was highly elusive and I lost his tracks many a time. By the third morning I sighted fresh prints! He was recently here, I knew it. He may even be here now! Maybe a half an hour later I inaudibly stumbled upon my prey. I could see the deep red satin corner of a shoe sticking out of his pack.

After some time following him I decide to trick the man into submission, and so it be that way. Luckily when he ran past me it was true he was too busy in his affairs to see my face. I inched my way around him at night and went a mile down the cobble road, he and me reaching another little town. I lead my stallion to the opposite entrance to wait for him there. When he hurriedly strutted to the gate I flung myself at him asking for a coin. He be no man of charity that rat, he simply brushed me off. I again went after him but this time held him fast at the ankles. He was affronted by my perseverance and slapped me hard to the face. I then became angry, as I planned, and picked up the well placed shard of flint from the cobbles cut the shoulder straps of the bag and ran, hoping he would follow none too vigorously. I was happy to know it seemed I caught him by surprise. At the very last moment noticing he was only a few paces behind me I tore my bow and arrow from its easy to collect pouch and shot only inches past the man’s head. The expressions showing on his face flipped quickly from bewilderment, to wonderment, and finally to anger. I flung myself onto my steed and raced around the man’s right flank tripping him. I flew down to him and tied him in a hog tie, and knotting it tightly. I ripped part of the cloth from my shirt and silenced him.

Many people were watching the scene. I calmly told them of my situation leaving out the value of the voyage and told the people just of his criminal acts. They were satisfied and slowly dispersed. I walked to my horse dragging the man behind me and rode home.

“I was greeted warmly and have held the shoes to me to this day. Now young lady you are to know that after I die you will carry the burden of Calme in your hands. It is not that bad as a matter of fact, you have let me live long and happily. One day you will have this castle as I do today! I do so love you, my daughter!”

Those were her very last breathes, ones of joy and happiness. Her daughter married a handsome noble and the generations went on and on. THE END!