Chapter 27
A Trip to Carcassonne
It matters
not how straight the gate, how charged with punishments the scroll. I am the
master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul. – William
Blake
The voice
of my higher soul said unto me, Let me enter the Path of Darkness, peradventure
thus shall I obtain the Light. I am the only being in an abyss of darkness.
From the darkness came I forth ere my birth, from the silence of a primal
sleep, and the Voice of Ages answered unto my soul, I am he that formulates in
darkness. Child of Earth; the Light shineth in the darkness, but the darkness
comprehendeth it not. – from the Golden Dawn Neophyte Ritual
(MacGregor Mathers)
The
day was as pleasant as a day could get in mid October in Carcassonne. The sky was a perfect azure, not tarnished by
a single cloud. The temperature had to
be close to 80 degrees F. The sun shown
down its wondrously warm rays that Marie felt on her exposed arms and
face. She paused before the large structure
before her, taking in its magnificence with her awestruck gaze.
“This
is my first castle,” she said in a quiet voice.
“Well,”
said her guide, her secret crush, Barry Allen.
“You’re doing it right then. La
Cite, or the Citadel of Carcassonne, is the largest castle in Europe. It is the second most visited tourist site in
France, behind only the Eiffel Tower.
That said, it is a bit touristy inside, but that’s to be expected. It is nonetheless, and amazing place to check
out. Come on.”
He
brushed past her and Marie felt a little tingle of excitement as his arm
accidentally touched hers, and continued walking, leading her up to the mammoth
medieval gate in the outer wall.
“Inside,
you’ll see the medieval village that surrounds the castle proper.”
And,
so she did. Narrow streets lined with
shops, bakeries, pubs, restaurants, cafes.
Cheap plastic swords and knight helmets were displayed in the first shop
window she saw, a mannequin in a stockade, another decked out in a red tunic
with the yellow cross of the Cathars guarded the door. The next shop window was filled with flags,
models of the Citadel, postcards, and refrigerator magnets. She took in all the colors, all the sights,
with her hungry gaze. She scarcely
noticed Barry’s concerned expression and searching looks all around them.
“This
way to my favorite restaurant here,” he said with a gesture. They have great steak and fries.
They
sat outside just before the entrance to the castle proper; Barry had selected a
nice quiet corner in the shade. The
waiter approached with a smile, “Bon Jour.”
“Bon
Jour” replied Barry, “Deux Steak Hache et Frites, por favore.”
Turning
his attention to Marie, “What would you like to drink? You want wine, or?”
She
turned to the waiter, “Deux Coca-Cola suv uplay.”
The
waiter nodded graciously, and walked away.
“Nicely
done,” Her companion commented.
“Merci.” She smiled sweetly.
This
time she noticed Barry’s searching, wandering gaze, scanning the moving crowds
of tourists.
“Looking
for someone?”
He
nodded, “Yeah, but I don’t want you to worry about it. You’re supposed to be enjoying your
birthday.”
“Well,
if that’s the case, you should try and look less worried.”
He
sighed, “I’m looking for Wally and Company.”
“Oh.” She had almost managed to forget about Them.
“Don’t
sweat it. I’m sure they have no idea as to our whereabouts. Our whole mountain is staked out with
vibratory emitters, not unlike the Doc used to you, prevents Them from getting
close, so it’s hard for them to keep an eye on our whereabouts. Still, never hurts to be cautious.”
“Fair
enough.”
“So,
the Eagles won yesterday,” He said to change the subject. “Shut out the Giants 27-0. Sacked Eli eight times. How’s that for a birthday present.”
“No
shit?”
“I
kid you not. Our boys in green are now 5-1.”
“YES!”
“I
knew you’d like the Birds; it’s required sports loyalty for our area, isn’t it?
They
spoke about their shared culture of origin until the waiter brought their
food. They ate in relative silence as
the hungry often do. After the main
course, the smiling waiter brought out a chocolate crepe with whipped cream and
a lit birthday candle on top. Barry and
the waiter serenaded her with Happy Birthday in French.
Afterwards
they walked through and around the giant chateau, battlements, and ramparts of
the Citadel.
“This
Citadel never fell to conquest, or not in the technical sense.” Barry
explained. “After Arnold Amaury, Simon
de Montfort, and friends destroyed Beziers, they turned their attention to
Carcassonne, and this castle. They were
preparing for a long and drawn out siege, one with all likely hood they could
not win before their knights and their companies had completed their forty days
of military service required for their indulgences. But, the wily Lion de Montfort had a plan.
“After
the invaders had set up their camp and assembled their siege engines, they sent
a lone emissary to talk with Count Raymond Roger Trancavel, the lord of
Carcassonne at the time. Apparently they
sent Trancavels’ brother in law or a cousin, someone he trusted. The emissary reminded the embattled count of
what had happened at Bezier, and begged him to ride out under the white flag
and treat with the invaders. It was, he
said, the only way to survive. The pope
would never stop until Carcassonne yielded to the will of the Church, the man
claimed.
“Roger
was not stupid, and knew his trusted relative was telling him just like it
was. So, the next day Trancavel and the
emissary rode out under the protection of the white flag to negotiate peace
with the Northern invading force. He was
immediately slapped in irons and imprisoned.
With their liege lord captured the Cite surrender immediately. Simon de Montfort was granted Trancavels’
lands, and the poor, trusting Raymond Roger spent the rest of his days in his
own dungeon, eventually dying of dysentery.”
“Wow,”
said Marie taking in his words as she stared over the battlements, the rich
farm fields spreading out below. “I
thought the white flag meant you were safe?”
“So
did Trancavel, to his detriment. The
Crusades against the Cathars marked a great departure from the norms of battle,
and in fact, pretty much ended knightly chivalry, and many long standing
traditions. It also set the stage for
the Police State or National Security State, that we enjoy so much today. But, that’s a story for another time.”
After
they left the Cite, Barry took her to the Inter-Marche Supermarket so she could
pick up a few things before they headed back to up the mountain.
It
was the best birthday Marie had enjoyed in a very long time.
copyright 2017 Diana Hignutt
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