Chance Encounters | Armaud&Simone
@simone--baptiste
Perhaps it was uncommon, to say the least, for a man of Armaud’s standing to be out in anything less than his cardinal red robes, but on occasion he missed the anonymity provided to him by the regular black cassock, and finding himself with a surprising amount of free time for the day, Armaud had gone to Sainte-Chapelle in a priest’s black cassock. Once there, he took the time to admire the space of the upper chapel. It very much on a whim, which was unusual for him, but on occasion and under stress, Armaud knew himself well enough that moments of spontaneity were good once in a while.
Even in repair, Sainte-Chapelle stood tall and wondrous, faithfully gleaming despite its recent hardships. To be inside sacred space such as this was undoubtedly Armaud’s favorite feeling in the world, enraptured by the beauty of humanity’s creations in the name of a higher power. Midday and still under construction due to the recent fire there were few people milling about, but the sunlight still shone through the stained glass and illuminated everything like a rainbow preserved forever. The tall ceilings made the space feel so grand, and Armaud felt a slight tremor build inside him, reminded of his insignificance in the face of the sublime.
He crossed himself and prayed, allowing himself time to meditate amidst the splendor around him. Calmness washed over him and he took a moment to appreciate the temporary peace in his mind. Loss of faith was never something Armaud ever worried about, he was too devoted to God to ever stray from the righteous path, but there were times when he wavered, found himself lost or wanting reassurance that what he was doing was good and true. Being in a place like this, surrounded by all of mankind’s potential, understanding the great lengths that could be achieved with a little ingenuity and some divine inspiration, Armaud found himself settling back into old resoluteness.
Uplifted, it was with this mindset that he left Sainte-Chapelle in a much better mood than when he entered. His mood lasted an entire minute before Armaud missed a step near the entrance and fell. To be literally brought down by his own carelessness! His joints protested at their rough treatment and he snarled, still mentally admonishing himself. Armaud was no longer a young man and the fall hurt him more than he’d care to admit. Mood effectively ruined, he slowly began to steady himself.