Introduction
Eleanor sat staring out the window. She could find no beauty in the English countryside. It seemed that all the beautiful colors she had always enjoyed were being sucked from the world. She had already read that day, done some weaving, and had looked out the window long enough. She decided that perhaps she could wander around the castle for a while.
She came to the castle a year ago, imprisoned for aiding her son in his revolt against the king, her husband. Always confined to her room, the first few months passed. Then the guards allowed her to wander the castle freely. By the sixth month anniversary of her confinement, she was free to wander to the grounds as long as she was within eyesight of a guard. She was always careful as to which guard she chose to accompany her when she had the choice. Some were more sympathetic to her than others.
It had been a year since she had seen a friendly face. At first she assumed that her husband, the king, had forbidden her family, friends, and particularly her children from visiting her. However, as time wore on, she realized that people must not know where she was being held. Surely her son Henry would have tried to make contact by this time, considering she was being imprisoned because of her help in his revolt. But more than that, why hadn't her favorite, Richard, come to see his mother? They had been thick as thieves, each other's source of support and affection. Now she was all alone in England.
Her mind often wandered to times gone by, particularly to her time of independence in Aquitaine. Once a duchess and leader of her own land, now a woman imprisoned and at the mercy of her adulterous husband. Despite the distance of both time and space, she could clearly recall the beautiful, eccentric court she had held in Aquitaine. She missed the extravagant dances and gowns. She missed the interesting people she invited to entertain her. She missed the freedom that came with her unusual amount of power.
But most of all, she missed her troubadours, the artists who composed and performed great poems of chivalry and courtly love. She had made her court into a refuge for those who loved and cared for the arts. She loved stories and the people who created them. She missed her troubadours who were more like great friends than simple, poor artists.
She came upon the small courtyard of stone that overlooked the expansive field. She turned to see one of her favorite guards watching her, standing at attention in the door. This guard who she knew almost nothing about was the closest thing to a friend she had for miles. In despair, she collapsed to the rock ground.
Suddenly, she could hear the sound of a horse approaching. She looked up and was shocked to see an old friend.
"Pierre! Pierre!" she shouted, jumping from the ground.
Pierre stopped the horse just in front of Eleanor, the guard racing to meet him.
"Who are you?" the guard shouted.
"I am Pierre, a simple troubadour. I traveled with Queen Eleanor from Aquitaine through all her journeys, husbands, and homes. The king sent me from the castle to come entertain her and her guards who might enjoy my tales."
The guard stared at the troubadour for a while, and Eleanor hoped he would not suspect any trickery. It seemed to Eleanor that the guard must not have found Pierre threatening as he simply nodded and returned to his post.
"Dear Eleanor, I would have come sooner, but no one knew where you were and that you were even imprisoned! The king never announced your arrest and claimed you had isolated yourself for your health and to recover from your son's defeat. Of course I knew better. I knew you would never gone anywhere without me. I have searched everywhere for you this last year. Forgive me it took me so long."
"Oh Pierre. You were always my favorite, and the greatest friend I have. You understand me better than anyone else."
He kissed her rings and kneeled before her. "I am here for however long you are. I will serve you as best as I can."
Eleanor wanted to return to her chambers, have Pierre tell her everything that had happened in her absence, and tell her stories of old. Instead, she was blessed with a better idea.
"Pierre, here is how you can serve me. I have suffered loneliness and boredom this last year. No longer! I want to fill these halls with laughter and stories, just as we enjoyed in Aquitaine. If I cannot have my own children, I will care for stories as a mother."
"Eleanor, I do not understand."
"Go out and spread the word, Pierre. Go out and find stories and storytellers. Tell them to come here from the furthest reaches of the world. Who knows how long my treacherous husband may keep me locked away here? If I cannot be free and travel the world discovering new stories, I must ask the stories and the world to come to me."
Pierre smiled. "I missed you so. I will go immediately." She watched him mount his horse and depart.
Though he left Eleanor alone, she felt hopeful. No matter how long she must wait for her next visitor, time would go by more swiftly than before.
Winchester Castle, outside the Great Hall. Where it is believed Eleanor was held at the beginning of her 16 year imprisonment.
Photo: Christophe.Finot Source: Wikimedia