Page 36 of Love Me Forever

“You stick bad guys with the pointy end,” said Remus. “That’s your first sword lesson.”

“But not Remus because he’s not an evil nanny,” said Sébastien.

Remus tilted his head. “Huh?”

“I’ll tell you later.”

To go with the sword, Éloïse also got a shield, dollies in little dresses with yarn hair, a little wooden horse that was the right size for the dolls, toy soldiers, and a large packet of glass marbles which would likely be all over the house within three days. Éloïse wasn’t giving him such a stony glare anymore, and the presents had certainly softened her attitude toward him a little. It wasn’t quite enough, and Sébastien had an idea.

“Éloïse, do you remember how you asked me if there are monsters under your bed?”

“Uh-huh.”

“Well, sometimes, it’s best to check again, and I think Remus should do that.” Sébastien gave him a meaningful look over the top of her head. “He should check all over your room just to be safe.”

“Oooh, yeah,” agreed Remus. “When you have a new bedroom, it’s best to thoroughly check. I can do that.”

“But Sébastien looked under my bed last night,” said Éloïse.

“Hmm, but…uh…monsters don’t usually come until the second night.” Dear Elira, Sébastien hoped this didn’t lead to alifelong fear of things living under her bed or in the wardrobe. “There’s a way to make sure you’re safe.”

Éloïse’s eyes grew huge. “How?”

***

Sébastien and Éloïse stood in the hall upstairs while Remus stomped around behind her closed bedroom door. “I knew it! They always hide in the wardrobe first. Get over here! How dare you move into Éloïse’s room?! I’m going to kick your ass.” Something banged against the wall.

“There was a monster in the wardrobe?” demanded Éloïse. “It’s not bedtime.”

“He came early, but don’t worry. Remus has it.”

Remus thumped on the walls and floors to make it seem like he was fightingsomething. Sébastien fought to keep a straight face at the grunts and small roars which were likely supposed to be the “monster.”

Remus finally threw open the door with a bit of his hair sticking up and his coat crooked. “Éloïse-quick!”

“But I’m scared! You have to hit it.”

“It’s weak! If you get it now, no monster will ever come back to your room. You’ve got a sword. Show it how brave you are! Monsters are afraid of tough little girls.”

Sébastien was suddenly afraid their idea was a bit much because Éloïse looked ready to scream, drop her sword, and run. After a last glance at Sébastien who hastily nodded, she squared her little shoulders and marched in with her wings spread to look bigger.

“It was just a farting wardrobe dweller, and they’re weak, so give him a good whack!” exclaimed Remus.

Sébastien hadn’t mentioned any names for the supposed monster. That one worked...Éloïse lifted her wooden sword and brought it down on the sack Remus had stuffed with a pillow.

“Keep hitting him. Jab him with the pointy end too!”

Éloïse poked it. “This is for coming in my room! Take that!”

Remus let out a grunt when she hit the “monster” again. “He’s dead now. No monster is ever going to come back here because they know Princess Éloïse will get him with her sword.”

“See? You did it!” Sébastien gave her a quick applause, and she stood there in stunned silence with the tip of the sword dragging on the floor.

“He’s dead?” She gazed down at the motionless sack.

“Yes, and your room is safe forever. Tell Remus thank you because they’re quite hard to wrestle into a sack.”

“They wiggle a lot,” added Remus.

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