Time to Grow

When Penelope woke, it was to find herself in an open field soaking wet. Rain drove down upon her like thousands of tiny water bombs, plastering her hair to her face and making her sink into the newly formed mud beneath her. She struggled to get up but her limbs were uncoordinated and she was weak with vertigo.

Where was she? How did she get here?

She shrieked suddenly as a warm hand placed itself upon her shoulder. Heart beating frantically, she stiffly turned to the source of her imposing stroke. Whiskey brown eyes met blazing green. It was like looking at chips of green fire, and they seemed to express more than words could. Concern. Caution. And wonder.

“I-I-”

The young man placed a finger to her lips, silencing her mindless stammering. He moved back slightly. She shivered at the loss of warmth his hand had provided. She was so cold. He placed his cloak around her trembling shoulders and pulled her into his embrace.

How silly, she thought as she began her decent back into darkness, wearing a cloak in this kind of weather? What is this- the fifteenth century?

The last thing she saw before she slipped from consciousness were those beautiful green eyes staring back at her. With a small smile for the man, she closed her eyes and knew nothing more.

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The next time she awoke, it was daytime. Sunlight streamed through a large bay window and bathed the small bedroom in warmth and light. Penny untangled herself from the sheets of the large four-poster bed and stared around the room in wide-eyed wonder. The room looked like something out of a museum or Renaissance Faire with its monstrous wooden furnishings and stone floors. It even had a water basin and... Was that a chamber pot?!

“Esta repugnante. Disgusting.” Her nose wrinkled in distaste and she moved her eyes to the window.

The view beyond the glass pane was beautiful. All she could see was acres upon acres of gardens and trees, even a hose stable. It only made her want to know where she was more.

“Je vois que vous êtes évellé,” a raspy woman’s voice said. “Vous nous avez donné une panique hier soir.”

Penny whipped toward the voice to find an old woman standing in the doorway. She was very tall and thin, like a ballet dancer, with a few wrinkles about the eyes. Her light, greying hair was up in a tight chignon that only made the planes of her face seem harsher. Her grey-blue eyes were cold and calculating, and seemed to see right through the young girl. Penny shivered. The woman reminded her of the witch from Hansel and Gretel.

“Etes-vous sourd, l’enfant?” the woman said. Penny gave her a blank look. “Parlez-vous le français?”

“I’m sorry, madam,” she said apologetically. “I don’t understand.”

“Ah, forgive me,” the woman said, finally speaking in a language that was understandable, but still with a strong French accent. “So you’ll be English, then? You don’t sound it. Well, no matter. What I was saying was you gave us quite a scare last night. We don’t get many visitors here, and usually not without some notice.”

“Um.. where is here exactly?” Penny was growing increasingly uncomfortable. Something wasn’t right here.

“The LeCroix Estate. We’re just outside of Paris. I am Madame LeCroix.” She smiled encouragingly. “And you are Penny, I presume.”

“Penelope. But how did you know that?” And how did I get here? she wondered silently.

“Your necklace, mademoiselle.” Madame LeCroix gestured to the nightstand where a gold necklace lay, with a pendant that read ‘Penny’ turned upside-down.

“Oh, right. And, might I ask, what year is it?” She was almost too afraid to ask, but it had to be done.

“Do you not know the year?”

Penny shook her head.

Madame LeCroix chuckled. “Why, it is the year of our Lord fourteen hundred and twenty-six.”

The young brunette’s mouth formed a silent “O”, eyes wide in shock. All the while, her mind was screaming: How did this happen?! This cannot be happening? This isn’t possib- THE RING! How could she have been so stupid? But its not like she could have known her dad would make a successful time machine. She’d thought he was just being crazy. But here was the proof right before her eyes. At least, this was an easily fixable situation. All she needed was to set the ring back to her own time and she’d be fine. But where was the ring?

“Pardon me, Madame, but I had a ring. It was just a gold band, and I don’t see it here.” She gestured to her ringless thumb. “Where is it?”

“I’m sorry, mademoiselle, but there was no ring on you when we brought you in,” LeCroix said. “Perhaps it is still in the field where you were found?”

Penny straightened up hopefully. “Could you take me there? It’s very important that I find that ring.”

Madame LeCroix shook her head. “I don’t know where it is. I’ll have Galen guide you there.”

“Who?”

“Galen was the one that found you. He was quite concerned with your welfare.” The old woman smiled. “He seems very smitten with you. He’s been stomping about all day waiting for you to wake.”

Penny blushed.

“Now, I’ll send up one of the servants with some clothing and breakfast. Once you’ve eaten and been checked over by the nurse, I’ll let you out with Galen.” LeCroix turned to leave with a sharp nod.

“I’m fine, really-”

“You may be, but I would like to stay on the safe on the safe side just in case. Can’t have your death on my watch, now can we? Heaven knows I’ve got my fair share of wicked tales around Paris already.”

With another nod, she swept out the door. Shortly after, a portly woman with rosy cheeks and kind smile barged in, carrying a plate of pancakes in one hand and a small pile of clothing in the other.