Isabelle had not left her chambers nor had contact with anyone since the conference with her father and his advisors. She had been laying on her bed with her hands under her head staring up at the ceiling contemplating what she should do when there came a little popping sound.
Isabelle quickly shot straight up in bed and looked around, but when she saw nothing there she recommenced her staring contest with the ceiling. Just then she grabbed her hand feeling that something had just bitten her. Once again Isabelle surveyed her chambers and found nothing in sight. Right as she was about to lay back down upon her bed a stone flew through her open window and nicked her in the side of her head.
"Ow!"
"Isabelle," a voice called from somewhere below her window. "Isabelle, its Daniel. I am in dire need of your advice. Please, Isabelle, I need to speak with you." She rose from her bed and walked over to her window and looked out.
"Daniel, what is it? What can possibly be so urgent that you would call upon me at such a late hour?"
"Please Isabelle, come down here. What I have to say is best not shouted up to you for anyone to hear." With that Daniel stepped out of Isabelle's view. Not wanting to speak with any of the servants or her parents, Isabelle carefully and quietly made her way out into the yard. She finally found Daniel standing beneath the old oak tree, that as children they had, much to her parents' disapproval, climbed on many ocassions.
"Now Daniel, what is so important that," Isabelle started but was immediately silenced when Daniel turned to face her. His clothes were torn and filthy, his hair unkempt, and his face, atleast the parts not covered in filth, was extremely pale. "Whats wrong Daniel? What happened?"
"My father is dead Isabelle. I do not know what happened, so please do not ask. This afternoon I fell asleep under this very tree, and when I awoke I was at home in my bed. The house was silent as the grave and in complete disarray - bits of furniture littered the floor. As I was searching for my mother I peered into my parents' bedchamber. In there I found my father, or rather his rancid corpse. He's dead Isabelle, stabbed through the heart. I don't know what to do." Isabelle was speakless. She opened her mouth to speak several times, but closed it deciding against it. After a few moments she found her voice again.
"Daniel, we have to tell my parents. They'll understand. We'll find whoever did this. We-"
"No Isabelle," Daniel interrupted her. "I can't, I will be executed. I cannot account for my whereabouts. Everyone will think I killed him. We can't tell anyone. I believe the best thing for me, for everyone, would be if I just left, tonight."
"Well, if you're going, then so am I."
"No Isabelle you can't. I won't let you."
"Either we tell my parents or we leave together. Its up to you."