The winter passed slowly, seemingly dragging on simply to spite Elle. The only enjoyment Elle found in so much free time was the vast number of books in the library. She discovered an area of books that no one, it seemed, was allowed access to. This simply intrigued Elle more.

On more then one occasion she requested access to the tombs. Father Leo refused. On her fourth request he threatened to send her back to "your Captain."

Elle told him to do it. She smiled at him, hoping he made good on the threat. She would be glad to go home, even if she couldn't be on the ship.

He just eyed her with an angry scowl. His next threat however worked just as he meant it too. If she refused to cease her constant quest to get in the restricted section he would ban her from the entire library.

Grudgingly she gave up. That is not to say she no longer wanted to view the books, she only chose to preserve the access she had.

As spring arrived she helped plant the vegetables in the garden. She was unsure if it truly was enjoyable or if she missed having more to do.
Late into spring Father Leo caught her in the hallway headed outside. She had never seen anyone looking so haggard. As soon as he caught her eye he quickened his steps and looked around as he moved towards her.

He turned them both toward the hall leading to the library. Sweat beaded his brow. His hand  trembled where it gripped her elbow.

"Father?" She managed to asked as unease churned in her stomach.

"Shh." He said and pulled her along.

They crossed through the library. At the door of the restricted section he dropped her elbow, looked around and pulled a set of keys from his pocket. He quickly had the door open and pushed her inside.

With a final look around he followed her inside and closed the door silently behind them.

As much as Elle wanted to believe he had changed his mind about letting her read the books, she didn't.
"What's going on?" She demanded.

"A messenger arrived an hour ago. Sir Liam James and Lady Emmaline will arrive in the morning to meet you."

Elle felt the blood drain from her face. "What?" She yelled.

"Quiet. This section is not sound proof." The father warned her.

She grabbed his sleeve. "How can you be so bloody calm? They must know I'm a fraud. Oh, my lord. Can I be arrested for this?"  Her heart pounded. She felt like her body weighed three times what it should.

"Watch your tongue."  The priest chastised her. "I am far from calm, young lady." He said, sounding to Elle very calm. Only moments ago she had seen look as shaken as she felt.

Elle started to hiss a whispered protest.

"It's quit simple, child. When Sir Liam and Lady Emmaline arrive they will simply be told you have disappeared from your room. I'm sure they will insist on a search, the search will of course cover every inch of the property and rooms. With the exception of this room. You simply couldn't have gotten in here with out my key."

They returned to her room, gathered her belongings and again went back to the restricted section. He locked her in and didn't return for hours.

When he did return he pushed a cart laden with everything she could possibly need.

There were two chamber pots, blankets, food, jugs of water, candles, a lantern, ink wells, paper, parchment, and other things piled on top of each other.

"You needn't worry. The amount of supplies is purely a precaution." Father Leo said as he caught her eyeing the things as they unloaded the cart. He placed a stack of blankets on a cream colored lounge. "As soon as they leave I will retrieve you and you may return to your room."

They spent the next hour and twenty minutes making the area liveable. They turned the lounge, that set closest to the back of the room, into a bed. They arranged the cart to serve as shelving for the items he brought, placed all the food in the wooden crates and shoved them under the desk that she would use as a table as well as a desk.

The room was only twenty by ten feet. The shelves went from the floor all the way up to the ceiling.  The last five feet of shelves stood empty so they drapped them with blankets so she had a place to take care of her personal business and change clothes.

"What have you told the nuns?"

"Nothing. I will not lie. I'll simply say as much of the truth as I can then let them and the royals come to the wrong conclusion on their own. As for when you return you can just tell everyone that you needed to get away. They needn't know why or where you have been." He told her.

Elle noticed that he had not asked her to lie. She wasn't sure if that made this whole thing better or not. Her face pinched as she though about it. No. It didn't make it better, not really.

"Come here." She followed him to the front left of the room. He opened a small door built between the shelves.

"I hope that it's doesn't become necessary but I will send you messages or food thought here if I must." He indicated the dumb waiter. He gave a heavy sigh. " It was meant to be used for books. I must be honest, child, I will be very glad when your situation is resolved." He admitted tiredly.

Elle gave him an honest smile. "Me as well, Father." She told him sincerely.

He looked around at the book covered shelves. "I supposed it would do no good asking you to leave the books alone." He said.

Elle smiled. She looked around. Fascinated. She had no idea why the church would want books hidden. She was non the less anxious to take a look at as many books as she could before her time in the room came to an end.

He soon left her alone in the room full of restricted books.

For a moment the room felt too too big. She felt to alone. She shook off the feeling and reached out for a book written by René Descartes.

She spent the next hours reading. She found on thing  about to Desecrates writing to be offensive.

She placed a piece of parchment between the pages, blew out the lantern and snuggled up between the blankets of her makeshift bed.

She had to admit this was much better then her first hidden bed. She sighed softly. That seemed so very long ago. Yet it was no more than five years.

I'm having trouble with writing Chapter 58 as well as trying to edit 59. I'm not sure how many chapters are left but in my opinion it shouldn't be a lot. However I need to get chapter 57 in order before I can continue.

If you've read to this point I wonder if you know the significance of  the past. I think I almost gave it away in an earlier chapter, if not I gave a very big clue.  Especially with the addition of the last few chapters.

Questions, comments, votes? (But I won't tell you the end, yet. :) )