Trust in your dreams and make them come true / Astorga 1808

Next day in the morning I woke up in my secret tower and prepared as always. I planned to go to the french camp again - to spend time there and check if there are more of my friends there. After yesterday`s few kilometers walk my poor feet cried for help but, having only the black pointed slippers tied with ribbons, I had to wear them again, and do it with grace adequate to my new, shiny outfit.

Morning in the camp was as usual - soldiers sleeping or making cartridges or cleaning their weapons. I met again few of my friends there and, fond of the meeting went further to cavalry area as I noticed few of my friends there too! I approached to say hello, and, among them all, during our soft conversation, I saw him - quite busy with commands and his horse. A while after he noticed me and came closer for a greeting. The whole time until noon I spent conversating kindly with Napoleon! 

In the camp I also made new friends with Yolande and we spent the rest of the day together. There was ceremony in the town and a dinner in the camp, which was paella served from the biggest pot I ever seen and we ate it in ridiculously funny way having our plates laid on the ground! (that was the workout dinner: when you make push ups and eat in the same moment while wearing a ladylike outfit. Fun! ). 

There I also discovered with joy, that my British friends are also in Astorga! It was obvious allied forces will be there but since their camp was further I have not seen them yet.

 

The battle was quite far away, with a lot of marching, so the way I like because I really love to march on the side with soldiers, talk with them or listen to their songs. I recall one of them stole an apple right from my hand!

The battle started and as at the beginning we were sitting in the high grass, we realised the troobs moved and we should move as well to follow them. 

We went through thorny bushes, grass high and long, dry blackberry and holly and scented, feathery plants. The ground was orange colour. When we crossed dried river, we saw very picturesque battle field! It looked like a living painting with all the troobs moving, cannons shooting and cavalry! Allies withdrawed and we followed them to a very beautiful, medieval village. With streets made of stone and old-styled, cottage houses the village made lovely impression- especially when French were attacked by Spanish people in their folk dresses! 

Honestly, I fell in love with the Spanish beauty and these folk costumes, too. And vice versa, as Spanish people - maybe because my pastel person differs so much when among them - stopped me so many times just to say, they find me good looking!

The night was falling down slowly as we marched back through the village and looking on my little watch I realised I have little more than 1 hour to be back to my place, take everything off, wash off battlefield dust and then put my ball outfit, make new makeup and hair and run to the Casino for the ball!

I don`t know how I managed it but I stepped in the ballroom right on time! Wearing the dress and accessories which surprisingly matched Casino decoration!

As soon as I stepped in, I found my Spanish friends and we talked for a while. Then suddenly everybody went silent - the Emperor and his staff was announced - and so he came powerful and victorious right from the battlefield. After a moment everyone was back to dances and party, and so was I - laughing with a friend right after I shared a hilarious story from the last ball in Czech. Meanwhile I noticed the Emperor`s bicorn is turned right in our direction. Should I touch the fan? Should I do anything? I thought and the same moment a notable came to deliver compliments for Marie Walewska from the Emperor and ask if I want to answer back. The real Walewska should be mean and unkind but since I am fake and we were not in Warsaw, I kindly thanked and shared excitement with a friend. We went to drink something and after we were back he was not there anymore. I searched the bicorn among the guests and suddenly got involved in dances, which I enjoyed much!

Later one of the generals approached me and asked about Bonparte - but if even he did not know, then nobody knew where Emperor was. Actually it was quite obvious, Napoleon didn`t really like ballrooms and parties, what we know from history. Anyway, I enjoyed time in a company of general and few other people from the staff, having nice conversation and secret jokes about Highlanders sitting right about the corner.

The ball was finished. I went back to my secret tower and left incredible mess of shiny things, cameos etc. thrown anywhere around. I laid myself to sleep like egyptian mummy in her tomb and waiting for the next day to come.

And it came - rainy, cold and gloomy day. I drank my morning coffee, got dressed and, pleased with my hairstyle tried to go out 3 times - the heavy rain didn`t want to stop not even for a moment. In the end I knew it is better to do anything than to waste my time sitting on place and so I left it despite rain.

fot. Antonio Martinez Fuertes

On my way I met officers who informed me all morning activities are cancelled because of the weather. So I had free morning for a walk. Maybe I can meet someone in the rain? 

Soon I had hem of my dress and petticoat all wet and heavy. Also wet shoes and stockings, and hat. I stopped near cathedral, hid by the door of someone`s home and waited. The longer I waited, the longer rain didn`t want to stop. I thought it makes no sense and if in 15 minutes anything changes, I am going to visit cathedral. 

My watch showed 12 minutes past when the door opened and I saw my newly made Spanish friends, who organized the event, including the one who stole my apple before the battle and the one, I had phone call with few days ago, in 21st century. Reminding how miserable I was then, and how great I am now, I had to thank them for help, for creating this event and everything else. It was raining, so we went back into the house.

I realised the house is very 19th century also from the inside. My friends were leaving it but asked, if I want to go upstaris, and added, I may guess who is there. Having 19th century brain, I realised, I just can`t go upstairs right from the street so I caught one of my friends and asked for presentation. We went there, I only managed to check in the big, golden framed mirror, I am all wet already when we stood in the room. My friend said something funny, I laughed and HE turned out and noticed me. Napoleon stopped the council they had, my friend tried to present me but Napoleon said only "I know her" and showed me a place to sit down just on his left. My hat was carefully laid on a golden console, I was offered a drink and then could look around the room.

Generals and marshalls - the ones I know and the ones I don`t were discussing vividly in French. One other lady present in the room made me feel as I don`t really disturb them in discussion, so I could freely imagine what they are talking about. Soon all rain from my dress soaked into the carpet - and they were finished as well. Napoleon turned to me - he was wearing his colonel de grenadier uniform, what means the dark blue which made him look little different, maybe more elegant than he looks usually, on a battle field. We had light conversation but soon general came and brought some information. Napoleon explained he must leave to fulfill his other duties, we said goodbye and it was time for me to go, as well.

fot. Antonio Martinez Fuertes

It was not raining anymore and soon there was closing ceremony at the square with lion and eagle sculpture. I went there to see all the soldiers - Spanish, French and British unite to honor the real ones who died 210 years ago on the real battle field. The ceremony was beautiful and hearing all the cries and bursts of fire, after all the story of these few days really touched me. I was crossing the square few hours later, when everything was over and there was no one there. I approached the monument. After all there was still the one wreath lying with three bows waving in the wind.