Elenore Clement
Adult
Posts : 390
Birthday : 2006-12-14
Join date : 2015-12-12
Location : Versailles, France
 | | Subject: Childhood Memories... Wed Aug 29, 2018 7:25 am | |
| February 2008
The smallest of footsteps sound through the withdrawing room of the Palace that morning. Small, uncertain, clumsy. Still trying out this new movement with an air of uncertainty that won’t leave the small child as she reaches out to the person before her, small hands clawing at the air to try to get closer to the person, the goal, as if this will make any difference to the process happening below, with the child’s feet. The child is not deterred though, the shakiness running through the child’s legs showing that the effort was great to make this happen. But the young child did not stop as she continued forth, hurrying in to the embrace of the woman before her with the softest of gurgles of happiness as the older woman scoops her up in to a cuddle, moving back to where the child had started before putting her down again.
The game had been going on for some time now, the happy sounds emitted from the youngest Clement paying testament to Lynnette Clement’s work with the child. Elenore had not walked as early as her brother had, the boy had been a talent of his own in every way, but that didn’t matter right now.
The only thing that mattered was that Vanessa and Louis had not seen this moment.
At fourteen months old, the youngest Clement had taken her first steps, well behind her brother, but not late in the eyes of the Maesters of the Palace. The young witch was simply taking her time to show her potential, and nobody in the Palace seemed to wish to spoil the moment as it happened.
It would be the former Lady Clement’s great pleasure to divulge the news at dinner that evening, or after dinner where the family would gather for an hour to catch up for the day, perhaps they could see for themselves if Elenore wished to comply, but the first… the first steps had gone to Lady Lynnette Clement, the third of her name, a fact the older lady had never forgotten.
The Lord and Lady Clement had never once commented upon their daughter’s progress in a negative manner, they had always encouraged and supported their youngest child. This, however, did not stop the subtle comments from the eldest Clement to the small child that denoted she hadn’t achieved the goals her brother had, gently easing an element of self doubt within the child who never could understand.
After all, how could you realise that you were being fed lies when your Grandmere held you close and told you you were perfect just the way you were?
***
July 2008
”Can you say ‘Jacques’?”
“Gr’mere!”
”No, Elenore, I’m not Grandmere, I’m Jacques. Jacques.” The Clement heir sat patiently trying to get his sister to say his name once more because he couldn’t understand why she couldn’t talk to him like everyone else in the Palace could. The boy was as patient as he could be at his age with his little sister, and his parents couldn’t be more proud as they walked around the grounds with the children that afternoon. The excursion made to help Vanessa’s recovery by walking enough to help her regain some strength, but also to spend quality time with both the children whilst the Lord Clement had time.
“Gr’mere!” The youngest replied once more to her brother, smiling happily in that moment because her brother had replied with an exasperated ‘Elenore!’ only a moment later, looking to his Maman for help in that moment because he wasn’t sure how to get his sister to comply with his wishes.
”It’s okay, Jacques, look.” Louis replied to the child, lifting Elenore up as they continued to walk. ”Who am I, Elenore, can you say… Papa?” The Lord Clement encouraged the child, only for Elenore to shake her head, throwing herself in to his shoulder for a cuddle so that she didn’t have to comply with her brother’s wishes, or her father’s because they all knew that the vocabulary of the youngest Clement was no further than ‘Non’, ‘Oui’, and ‘Gr’mere’ at present. Not for lack of trying, of course, all of the family was trying, but Elenore was moving along at her own pace, and no one could make her go any faster.
“Maman, is Elenore okay? She doesn’t talk.” Jacques asked, making the small child look up curiously at her brother, as if understanding the words he’d just spoken. Vanessa had moved to quickly hush her son, telling him that Elenore simply needed more time in order to be able to say his name, that his name was hard, but eventually, eventually she would be able to.
“Non!” Came the reply from the Clement heiress before she rested her head back on her Papa’s shoulder, rubbing at her eyes tiredly as she settled. Louis pressed a soft kiss to his daughter’s head, a fond smile upon his lips in that moment. His daughter might not be a milestone breaker, but Louis didn’t care for that, so long as she was happy, that would be all he would ever ask for.
”It’s okay, Maman, I still love Elenore anyway. But I will get her to say my name, soon!” Jacques had whispered his promise to his Maman, eyes upon his little sister who had settled her head upon their Papa’s shoulder. Elenore would not have heard the words, but her Maman had, and she’d been proud of her son anew for his unwavering determination to help his little sister through everything in this world.
The children were going to be inseparable, both the Lord and Lady Clement knew that much.
They just needed time.
***
July 2009
At two and a half the small piano had arrived at the Palace, Elenore could remember that moment of her life with clarity. The beautiful instrument had been presented to the young witch with a smile from her Maman. It was hers, to play with as much as she liked, because her Maman knew how much she loved her music. That had been shown with the toys Elenore played with most, making simple tunes upon the plastic instruments she’d been bought. The upgrade to a real instrument had made the young witch marvel at the black and white keys as her Maman explained how to use the instrument properly.
They had sat for an hour with the Lady Clement showing the youngest Clement how to use the instrument, the young witch watching intently until there was a lull in the conversation at which time Elenore would glance towards the door, wondering where Grandmere was so that she could share the news with her. She had her own piano now, this was exciting news!
After the hour had passed with her Maman and the lesson, Elenore had hurried off on her short legs across the Palace to find her Grandmere. To share the news.
Elenore had found her Grandmere in her withdrawing room, and after giving the older woman a small hug and getting comfortable on the sofa -- why were all the sofas so tall? -- Elenore had explained everything to her Grandmere.
“Maman got me a small piano!” The witch explained, very very happy with this news. The witch’s vocabulary had improved massively in the last year, where Jacques couldn’t get through to his sister to say more words, Grandmere had aided the young witch in getting full sentences strung together each day until Elenore could speak quite fluently in French, English had been added to the youngest Clement’s studies now, and slowly Elenore was building up from there.
“Did she?” Grandmere replied, a small smile upon her lips that was polite, if nothing more.
“Yes!” Elenore replied happily, legs swinging against the sofa because she was much, much too happy in that moment. “It’s a small one, Maman said I have to learn lots more before I can get a big one!”
“Sit still, my darling girl,” Grandmere insisted. “You’ll show me how you play one day?”
“I will!” Elenore replied, placing her hands neatly in her lap making sure to sit still so that her Grandmere wouldn’t correct her again. Wobbly feet were more fun, but it wasn’t proper, so Elenore knew not to do that. “Maman is very good, though, she showed me her playing, and it was really good.”
“Your Maman is very good,” Grandmere agreed, though the manner in which the older witch had admitted to such things had gone over Elenore’s head. The malice wasn’t hidden, but the two and a half year old child didn’t understand that. “You will have to practice very, very hard to be as good as your Maman, and she won’t let you keep playing if you don’t practice hard, and do things perfectly. So, you’ll have to work really hard to make sure she doesn’t take the piano away.”
Elenore paused for a moment, contemplating her Grandmere’s words and wondering if there was any truth in the words that had just been spoken. Would Maman take away the piano if she wasn’t perfect at playing it? Would that mean just one mistake could be made and the piano would be taken? The two year old wasn’t sure, and she didn’t want to lose her piano… So the witch just nodded to her Grandmere. “I will play it the best in the world!” Elenore insisted, putting the worry aside because she would do that.
Or… the witch thought she’d put the words aside...
***
August 2010
Jacques’ sixth birthday had arrived with the usual fanfare of presents and guests at the Palace. Elenore stood tall in her white dress that was embroidered with some of the most beautiful black details the witch had ever seen beside her parents as she greeted some of the guests with them. There were people from all over the world here, people that had come to the Palace for Papa and Maman’s birthdays a couple of months ago were back again, and people she didn’t recognise had also come. Beside Elenore stood her Grandmere who whispered softly the country from which each person had come from. Elenore was up to three languages being fluent, with many more having the smallest of greetings prepared. It took a lot to remember all of them, sometimes they got a little bit muddled, but for the most part, the youngest Clement could greet the guests with a variation of ‘hello’ that charmed them quite easily into liking the young witch.
It made Elenore happy to be able to talk to all of the other people in their language, it made them smile widely as they spoke to her to hear their own language in a foreign country. It also eased them in to conversation with the three year old and her Grandmere for a short period before they moved on to mingle with the other guests that had arrived.
Grandmere had insisted she not let anyone down with using the wrong language in the wrong place, and Elenore was doing her very, very best. After all, she did not want to embarrass the family by saying hello in the wrong language, did she? No, her Maman and Papa would not like that at all. Nor did Elenore want to ruin her brother’s birthday, either.
No, Jacques wouldn’t like that!
Rocking on her feet as she waited for the next guests, Elenore felt the gaze of her Grandmere upon her there would be no need for a hand upon her shoulder like many young children might receive from disapproving guardians in that moment. Stilling the movement before she could be told off without words, Elenore focused upon the entrance, perfecting the smile on her lips and trying to relax in to the moment.. It was improper to sway, but Elenore was nervous, and at her young age nervousness preceded the need to act proper. She would grow out of it eventually, though, Grandmere always insisted she would be the perfect lady one day.
For a long time -- or so the witch thought -- they stood greeting the families of other nations, waiting to move to the main ballroom for Jacques party. Her older brother was really big today. Six! That sounded super old to Elenore, being double her age seemed… well, the witch couldn’t fathom how it would be to be as old as Jacques, but with Jacques age came lots of responsibility. That much was clear from the way Maman always asked Jacques to help her, or to show Elenore how to do things. Maman trusted Jacques, because he was older, Elenore was sure of that much! One day Maman would trust Elenore just the same, the young witch was sure of it, look at her with the same loving smile she gave Jacques.
Elenore was sure of it!
Such thoughts were cut short, though, as Grandmere turned the young witch towards the ballroom, following Maman, Papa and Jacques but moving off towards the small piano that was undeniably for the youngest Clement. The young witch moved to settle upon the stool, feet touching the floor just about from the way it had been altered especially for Elenore’s small frame. In the background, Elenore could hear her Maman and Papa making a small welcoming speech to all those who had come to the Palace, thanking people for making the effort, expressing their gratitude to those who had come to their son’s birthday party. It was the same kind of boring speech every time, Elenore didn’t much enjoy them, in truth, except for taking a moment to admire her Maman’s dress.
Lady Clement always looked remarkable, beautiful, capable of making even the simplest of dresses in her wardrobe look out of this world. Elenore did not know how such things were possible, they were among the many things in life that Elenore didn't yet understand of this world. It was something to understand at a later point, maybe next year, Elenore concluded to herself, next year she would understand how to be a lady like her Maman. The perfect lady, like her Maman. Everyone insisted Maman was perfect in every way, so it was only right Elenore be the same as her Maman, wasn’t it..? That was the child’s logic on this point, a logic that would not be shaken, not once!
Elenore’s focus came back just in time for her Papa’s cue, motioning across the room to the youngest Clement who was about to give her brother’s first present of the day. Elenore’s small hands settled upon the white keys, taking a moment to compose herself, allowing the room to hush itself. The smallest of notions to continue from Grandmere and Elenore’s small, slender fingers pressed down on to the keys to bring forth the simple melody of a very famous French nursery rhyme.
Elenore had chosen Frere Jacques because it had Jacques’ name in it. Jacques had always wanted her to say his name when she was younger, Grandmere had said, so this was a great choice by the youngest Clement. The melody was simple, but Elenore was only three years old, before a room full of people, but most importantly, her Maman. Elenore’s eyes focused upon others in the room as she effortlessly played the melody of the nursery rhyme, but also went one step further, and sang it for him too, the French falling from the young witch’s tongue effortlessly, without defect as she continued on through.
It was not a long song, but before a large group of people, it felt like a lifetime for the child, but she did not come undeterred during the process…
Until the witch’s eyes landed upon her parents..
As Elenore looked to her Maman, hoping to see the older witch’s pride written clear on her features, Elenore found her Maman not looking at her, but at her Papa. There was a smile on the older witch’s lips, but Elenore couldn’t read it for what it was. The three year old’s features had momentarily flashed with hurt, even if her singing and playing had not faltered, a lurch came in the witch’s chest. An unknown feeling…
Why was Maman not watching?
Was she not playing well enough for her Maman’s liking? Had she not picked a complicated piece for her Maman’s taste? Everything made Elenore worry in that moment, shouldn’t she have sung for Jacques? Did Jacques not approve of this song? Elenore’s eyes flickered away from her parents who were looking much too intently at one another and not her…
As the song finished and everyone applauded the youngest Clement’s efforts -- with many looking fondly to the small child who had managed to complete the song perfectly -- Elenore took a small, shaky breath.
Maman isn’t mad with you, Elenore tried to tell herself as the uncertain feeling filled her as it always did when it came to playing the piano. Elenore just wanted to show her Maman how good she was at the piano, but her Maman didn’t… she wasn’t watching… Almost as if on auto-pilot the young witch’s hands moved to play the Happy Birthday song for her brother. Simple as it was, Elenore’s eyes moved to her hands, making sure they didn’t mess up the melody of the song that would ensure Jacques’ birthday would not be ruined.
But as Elenore finished the second song, she quickly retracted her hands from the small piano, not quite hearing the applause because she wanted nothing more than to hurry in to her Grandmere’s arms, to get reassurance that she hadn’t done anything wrong with the performance she’d just given. It was with uncertain glances to her Grandmere that Elenore raised from the stool, managing to navigate the short distance to the older witch before reaching out for her Grandmere’s hand, holding on to the one person in the world she knew wouldn’t be upset, disappointed or mad with the performance.
“What did I do wrong, Gr’mere?” Elenore asked softly a short while later, when they had a moment alone from other people.
”Why do you think you’ve done something wrong, my darling girl?” Grandmere had replied, curiosity upon her features.
“Maman and Papa didn’t watch…” Elenore explained, looking to the crowds of people who blocked her view of her parents.
”I’m sure they were watching, they love you, of course they were watching!” Grandmere replied without missing a beat, leaving the small nugget of doubt in Elenore’s mind. Her parents did not love her, they had not been watching her, and even the three year old could work that much out.
These things were simple to understand, weren’t they?
***
May 2012”You don’t see Tess Marie playing with such things, do you, Elenore?” Grandmere asked softly as Elenore looked down to her newest gift from her father. A bow and arrow sculpted from the finest of wood in the country, the wood had been bleached white, the details completed in a jet black, showing off their house colours with pride. The small arrows had been crafter in much the same fashion, the black and white feathers sticking out of the top of the quiver that had Elenore’s name embroidered across the top of it. “But, Grandmere, Papa gave it to me…” Elenore had replied softly, looking sadly at the two items before looking to the older woman. ”That’s because your Papa doesn’t know how to choose gifts for a little girl, my darling.” Grandmere explained, moving to stand before the youngest Clement, caressing her granddaughters cheek softly. ”He forgets you’re a Lady of House Clement, but I do not.”~~~ Winter 2014, LyonPapa’s eyes have been on the young witch with intensity for the last hour, watching her competing in the archery tournament hosted by their distant relatives. Elenore Clement is the only witch in the competition, the rest of the tournament filled with boys of varying ages and skill. Elenore Clement’s name had given rise to very hushed whispers in the first moment her name had been called out, whispers that quickly dried up when the Lord Clement did not try to correct a mistake in the readings, instead smiling at his daughter with the look that said he knew she could do this. That she was going to do really well, so long as she remembered everything she’d been taught. The witch had been performing brilliantly, too, in truth. The other boys were good, but Elenore had been better. Lord Clement had ensured that the best tutor had been brought to the Palace for Elenore to practice with, and the witch had made full use of that time, keeping the escapade from her Grandmere because they both knew she didn’t approve of the action… The galloping of a horse had cut through Elenore’s concentration in the final moment, her arrow flying of course and hitting the outer circle of the target instead of the inner one. Whirling round, the seven year old looked to find her brother hurriedly relaying a message to their Papa. The Lord Clement’s features had darkened, making Elenore’s arms wrap around her bow protectively, before he’d hurried off. Jacques, now ten had moved to Elenore with the confidence that exuded from him at all times.The younger Clement watched him carefully as he came closer, not knowing what had just happened. “Papa had to attend some business, Elenore,” Jacques explained, his expression calm despite their father’s reaction. ”You’re winning!” He added happily, motioning to the scores behind them, his smile growing in to one of pride. “Will he be back, Jacques?” Elenore asked of her brother, who shook his head gently. A sinking feeling swept through the young witch in that moment. What was the point in competing if her Papa didn’t see her win? She wanted to show him… to impress him, but Papa had just left… ~~~ “Do you think Papa and Maman wanted another boy?” Elenore asked her brother as they headed back to the manor they were staying in currently. ”Why would you think that?” Jacques asked, confusion upon his features as he looked to his younger sister. “I just wondered.” Elenore replied softly, not knowing how to explain everything going on in her head in that moment. Grandmere said archery wasn’t ladylike. Papa said it was okay for her to do it. Jacques said she was really good at it. Francois had poked fun at her at the tournament for entering a boy’s competition -- even though Elenore had pointed out nothing said that it was a boy’s tournament. ”I think Maman and Papa love both of us, just the way we are. Don’t ever forget that.” Jacques insisted, giving her small hand a soft squeeze as he led them both back to the chambers like their Papa had instructed him to. ”And I love you, too.”Jacques didn’t say that very often… in fact, Elenore couldn’t remember the last time she’d heard her brother say that. But he had. In that moment. A fleeting moment, that was all it was, when everything in the house seemed to be right...
***
May 2015
Maman and Papa had gone to America a month ago to see a friend. Elenore didn’t know they had friends in America, there weren’t many Americans who came to the Palace, there were lots of European families that came to the Palace, but not many Americans. Only when a really big event was on did the American dignitaries come to France, and Elenore didn’t think any of those people were her parents’ friends.
Grandmere couldn’t answer the question of who they were going to see, either, which made the whole thing that much more curious to Elenore.
Perhaps they weren’t really going to America?
But, why would her parents lie to her about such things? There wasn’t any need to lie, everyone knew the Clements were important, that they had lots of things that needed to be done each and every day. What did America have to offer, though?
The answer -- as the eight year old saw it -- came in the arrival of winged horses at the Palace. A gift from her Maman and Papa because they were away again. Elenore’s smile had been beatific upon seeing the beasts, her hands reaching up gently to pet the animals that were now hers. They had been soft beneath her fingers, not nervous of her as she’d approached, and both the Lord and Lady Clement had looked pleased with themselves as they watched their daughter with the animals.
It had been the lightest of touches, the smallest of eye movements from the Lady Clement before the Lord Clement moved forth, hoisting Elenore up on top of one of the beasts in a side saddle position for Elenore to truly see the beauty of the world from atop one of her new horses.
”Isn’t she beautiful?” Louis asked Elenore, though his eyes had moved to his wife, asking the question not to Elenore of the beast she sat upon, but instead asking his wife of their daughter in that moment.
”She is,” Vanessa had replied, stepping forth to stroke the mare to ensure it did not take flight before their daughter was safely secured. A small conversation that spoke a thousand words between the Lord and Lady Clement, but one that had been too subtle for their daughter to understand. The horse was beautiful, though, Elenore could agree with that.
Motioning to come down, the eight year old held on to her Papa for a little longer to show her gratitude. “Thank you!” She beamed happily, before moving to give her Maman a hug too. “Can I come to America with you next time if you’re out there finding beautiful creatures? Please?” The eight year old asked excitedly, looking between her parents with hopeful eyes.
”You have to stay here with Grandmere, Elenore, it’s not… we wouldn’t want you to get hurt.” Louis had replied softly to the request in that moment. ”But, if you name the creature you would like next time, I will ensure we find you one!”
The bargain had been enough to keep Elenore from wanting to ask why she couldn’t come if she promised not to do anything that would get her hurt. The Lord and Lady Clement had been appeased by their daughter’s behaviour and the three of them had seen the horses back to the stable hands before they returned inside.
~~~
September 2015
Four months had passed. Another beast had not arrived at the Palace. Maman and Papa had been gone from the Palace more and more with their trips to America. The trips had become longer, too. Elenore didn’t know what was keeping them from her, and Grandmere still couldn’t tell her, either.
But the whole world got worse with the news that Jacques had decided to go to Hogwarts. The British school for wizardry and witchcraft. Why?
Just… why?
Jacques had ruined everything in that decision, Elenore had already known that much when she’d heard it. If Jacques was going to be going to Hogwarts, it would mean she had no choice but to follow her brother in to the realms of the United Kingdom. Her dreams of the Beauxbatons school, the stories her Grandmere had told her of the Palace they would be staying in… they were lost with her brother’s decision to attend Hogwarts instead. How could Jacques be so selfish as to do that to her?
Rain washed down the window pane of Elenore’s room that morning. The youngest Clement had not appeared for breakfast because she’d felt deeply sick. Grandmere would understand, Elenore was sure of that much. Jacques had gone to England the following morning, looking determined with the new adventure, not looking even remotely unsure of his decision. Confidence radiated off of him as always as he left with Maman and Papa for King’s Cross Station in London. Elenore hadn’t offered her brother more than a soft goodbye that morning, she hadn’t returned her parents hugs as they denoted they would be off to America after seeing Jacques off to school. Everyone she loved was leaving her all at once…
Everyone, except Grandmere and Grandpere.
It wasn’t fair, though, being left behind. Why couldn’t she go to America with her Maman and Papa? Why did she have to wait behind for everyone to come back? When would everyone be back? Nobody answered her questions, nobody believed she needed to know all the details. Everyone just promised to write to her, or bring her gifts back, as if that would be enough.
Elenore eyes focused out in the grounds as she caught herself, her left hand moving up to swipe away the tears that had stained her cheeks as she pondered the situation. What had she ever done that made everyone around her, everyone except Grandmere, not want her around, or to be happy? Hadn’t she always been a good daughter? Hadn’t she always done as was expected of her? Grandmere could see it, so why couldn’t the rest of the world see it too?
So many questions of the world circled around in Elenore’s mind, but nothing brought forth an answer.
Why would it, after all? She was only a girl, and girls were only here to be told what they should and shouldn’t do. Girls were not a necessity in this house, Elenore knew, because everybody cared for Jacques more, everyone liked him more, and whatever Jacques wanted, he got.
It had been the summer of 2015 that had cemented that much in Elenore’s mind.
She would always, always be second best in this House.________________________________________________
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