The Key

Henry was dreading going to his grandmother’s home in Canterbury, England. Fittingly, at the tender age of thirteen, Henry believed he had better things to do than go to his grandmother’s strange old home. At the beginning of the car ride, Henry complained to his mother, Eve, and continued to ask her if they could go another day. His mother was quick to remind him that it was the first Sunday of December, which is the day they always go to her mother’s home. Henry was suddenly reminded of all the years traveling to his grandmother’s house on this seemingly random day of the year. He always assumed it had something to do with his grandfather, but he never truly knew why he and his mother always made sure to travel there on this day. However, something in his mother’s persistence and quick answer earlier led him to believe that his knowledge would change on this scheduled trip.

After driving for what Henry thought to be an eternity, his mother finally approached the winding driveway that led to the house situated on a promontory. As he and his mother arrived at the small cabin-like house, his grandmother, Faye, was sitting outside waiting for them. Henry had always noticed that she was constantly smiling and was never in a bad mood, even when Henry was sometimes moody toward her. They exited the car and Faye quickly approached them as happy as can be. She hugged Eve and did the same to Henry, but she made sure to give extra affection (kisses) to Henry, which was obviously Henry’s favorite thing. Henry gave a quick smile and they entered the house.

Ever since his grandfather’s death, when Henry began to regularly go to his grandmother’s house, he was constantly intrigued by the house’s strangeness and oddities. It was especially strange to him because for some reason unknown to him, Henry believed the small house was out of place on the large hill it rested on. Naturally, they all got into their usual routine: Faye and Eve began to make Henry’s, and his grandfather’s, favorite cookies, while Henry sat on the couch in the family room, as he stared outside through the window. Out of boredom, he would pick up whatever object rested on the table next to the couch, which was usually a small figurine of some sorts, and fidget with it. Without looking at the table, Henry picked up the object. To his surprise, the object felt smooth and slender and was quite obviously not the usual figurine. He examined the object: it was a key with an intricate design at the top, which resembled a crown. He had never seen this before and quickly ran into the kitchen to seek some information.

He held up the key and intriguingly said, “What is this key? I found it on the table in the family room.” His grandmother gently took the key from him and looked at his mother with a longing look. Eve nodded, and Faye suggested that Henry follow her. He did not know what was happening, but a curiosity bloomed in him and he felt the need to keep on watering this sprout. His grandmother walked him to the hallway that led to her room, and he assumed this key unlocked her bedroom door. As they reached her door, he hesitated; since his grandfather’s death, he had never entered her room because he did not want to be reminded of his grandfather. But with his grandmother’s assurance and his intense curiosity, he did not mind. To his surprise, Faye opened the door with a different key, and Henry followed her through the door.

Upon entering, Henry’s curiosity grew to an ultimate height and he was sure he would soon find some answers. As he looked around, Faye handed him the key and pointed to the ceiling. There was a door painted the color of the ceiling directly above him, which was only discernable with an intricate door knob and keyhole, similar to the design on the key. As he examined at the door, he heard his grandmother say, “Look around, and once you find it, come back downstairs.”

“Find what?” Henry said, but his grandmother had already left.

Henry used the key to break the paint sealing the door shut and used the key to unlock the door. The key was a perfect fit, and he carefully walked up the stairs that had just unfolded. Henry looked at the many relics and trifles: an old arras, some chests filled with papers, and old shoes that belonged to his grandfather. Everything seemed to be covered in inches of dust, as if no one had been in there since the Middle Ages. He believed he had looked at everything and thought his search was fruitless. Feeling defeat, he sat down, but was suddenly blinded when something glistening caught his eye. When he looked closer, he discovered the source of this bright light: a sword. He closely examined the sword, and when he picked it up, the intense feeling in him burst out and he was glowing. As he noticed the intricate details on it, he knew he had found what his grandma was talking about, and he ran down the stairs.

His rapid footsteps gave evidence to his mother and grandmother that he had found the special object. As Henry approached them in the kitchen, he showed them the sword, and his grandmother told him to sit down at the kitchen table. He placed the sword in front of him, and Faye began to tell him a story:

“Thea was the smartest and strongest woman in all of Canterbury. She professed her ideas and intelligence influenced by great philosophers, which allowed her to become respected by many, but she desired more. She wanted to become a member of the King’s army and serve as a commanding soldier. In response to this, the men in charge japed at her and castigated her, saying that she only wanted this due to her greed, and that she was not able to because she was a woman.

Headstrong and independent, these iniquities piqued Thea and further drove her to achieve what she desired. She gathered five of her female friends who shared the same alacrity to prove to everyone that they were just as able as any to fight. They would do this by attacking the King’s castle and demanding to be apart of his army. They tore and sewed their evening gowns into more useful clothing in preparation for their battle with the abomination they called their society. This menacing group of women departed from their homes on their armored palfreys and rode into the countryside until dusk. They sojourned in a swamp, but its smell had no effect on these women focused on matters that reeked of a far worse stench.

At the arrival of dusk, Thea and her followers continued on their journey through the morning rain, as their garments grew sodden. When they reached the castle, the guards were bemused to see women in such unusual clothing and with looks of such ferociousness. The guards ordered the women to turn around but they forbeared and charged the castle. Unsuspecting the women to attack, the guards were negligent to their actions and allowed for them to infiltrate the castle. Their dilection of equality and their physical abilities guided these women through the castle with little harm. When they reached the King, the women did not beseech for a position in his army, but rather they demanded it. After some consideration, the King declared that these six noble women were to be immediately placed in his army as their own unit with Thea as its officer. He gave Thea his own sword, an honor which was only given to the strongest fighter in the land. It was marked by his noble family’s crest on it: an intricate crown design. He absolved them for attacking the castle because he was impressed by their skills and believed they possessed the expertise needed for combat. Thea and her five fellow fighters went on to be the most successful division of the King’s army and enabled Great Britain to become the most powerful empire of that time.”

After his grandmother finished the story, Henry remained sitting at the table and stared at the sword. He was examining the design on it when his grandmother said, “Thea is your ancestor. She was your grandfather’s very great grandmother. He wanted to tell you this story on this day, but he never got the chance to. He was told this story when he was thirteen on the first day of December, because this is the day Thea made her attack. This house is where the castle used to be and was the servants’ house.”

After Henry said goodbye to his grandmother, he entered the car, and they left for the long car ride home. As he turned around to wave goodbye to his grandmother, he saw Thea standing next to her, and the house was no longer the small cabin he knew it to be; it was a large castle overlooking the land. When he turned back around, he could not help but smile with that contagious grin of his grandmother, and he could not wait until he returned next year.