Charles Brown, an American detective writer, went through the airport doors and headed to the open taxi’s door. A man in an elegant dark suit was standing next to it and smiling at him. For a second Charles glanced at him and was bewildered with his attractive face of typical national features. He shacked his hand and sat to the car. That was not an easy trip for him, crossing the ocean, but, first of all, he was a real adventurer who was eager to write a new book and he has already found a perfect place for his crime scene- Castle of Diósgyőr located in Miskolc, Hungary.
The name “Hungary” (or Magyarorszag in Hungarian) may originate from the Medieval Latin Hungary, which is translated as the “Land of Huns”. Another source states that the name is derived from the Turkish words meaning “ten arrows” or “ten people”. I guess, it is pretty fair, as the population of the whole Hungary for today is circa 10 million people. Not much, I agree. Only in Kyiv, as I know, population is more than 5 million, you can compare! Hungary was part of the Celtic world, later the Roman Empire. Hungary is one of the oldest countries in Europe. It was founded in 896 before France and Germany became separate entities. How about that? In the picture above you can see the map dated 1301-1382 and you definitely pay attention that it is very different from nowadays. Hungary was a large country with a seaside and huge territory in the heart of Europe. What about now? Look at the map and compare, perhaps you will be disappointed as well as many Hungarian nationalists who still dream of seeing their country in its full-scale original size. Then they can enjoy lovely Adriatic seaside and many oxygen-rich forests of the Carpathian mountain ridge.
When Charles came out of his car he was impressed with the majesty and beauty of the Castle of Diósgyőr. From the first breath he knew he chose a right place for his next book. He quickly asked his Hungarian assistance to let him in and feel this magnificent place from inside. In his mind he has already sat in his mental writer’s time machine and traveled back in time…
On the display of his time machine he saw the first number – 1241. This was the date when it was built and firstly destroyed by the Mongol invasion. “How much these walls have seen” he thought about the role of architecture, place and memory in re-constructing the sense of self-identity in a built environment. Charles slightly touched the wall and felt how his hand shivered from some electrical impulse. He felt so joyful as if he has got a taste of History…
The castle reached the peak of its importance during the reign of King Louis the Great. King Louis was famous for his campaigns in Naples, where with the help and leadership of God regained command of the Kingdom of Sicily, in Rome, where the Roman nobles greeted him with “Long Live the Hungarian King”. When he entered the city, people accompanied him to the stairs of St Peter’s Apostle Church…“What does Louis fell at that moment?” Charles thought again and tried to imagine…
Charles Arthur Brown regarded himself as a real warrior, leader, a strong personality who can conquer this world, digest and split it out. He was a tough man. In his early thirties he has already seen and felt a lot. He was an orphan without not much information on his family. As he found out his mother died during his birth, she was on drugs, so having a healthy boy was a miracle for this butterfly. As Charles knew somewhere he has a sister, older one, who has been left alone in some other hospital. His grandparents died long before his birth. Chances to get some information on his dad were zero, since his mom’s reputation was “well-known” in certain circles. He can be anyone. He grew up completely alone, a very shy boy with so many complexes. He did not like socializing, instead he was always writing something. His small notebook accompanied him whenever he went. He managed to graduate from school with excellent grades almost at all subjects, but especially he liked literature and history. He entered faculty of History and was a good student until one day he met HER…a mysterious crazy girl who showed him a world from which he was hiding among his notes. He tried everything with her, including drugs…during one of the overdoses they had a car accident and girl died…she was behind the wheel, but Charles felt guilty. He was severely injured, physically and emotionally. He went to a hospital for mentally disabled people…his young student’s years were abruptly over, he had to learn how to be an adult with serious emotional problems. One of his doctors found his notebook and encouraged him to write more as well as to think about publishing a book. This doctor saw a real talent in him, talent for writing very weird stories that you cannot stop reading as they caught your attention to the full. Several years later Charles left hospital as a writer whose first two books became bestsellers…
Later this Castle was a wedding gift for the queens of Hungary, which it remained until the Ottoman invasion of Hungary in the 16th century. By the end of the 17th century it was already in ruins. Archaeological excavations started in the 1960s. In 2014 the castle was completely rebuilt, the reconstructed rooms are furnished with Medieval-style furniture.
“Mr Brown, hey…Mr Brown!” a young Hungarian assistant was desperately trying to bring Charles back from his traveling in the past. He even touched his elbow lightly. Charles slowly turned his head and blinked twice.
“What?” he said angrily.
“I am sorry, sir, but here is your personal guide as you asked – Ms Lokietek”, his assistant shyly replied and showed towards a young lady who was standing a bit further. Charles again turned his head, this time in the other direction, and saw HER…and at this magical instant of time he gasped for air…
Hungarian King Charles had already buried two young wives, so it was not surprising that he wanted to forget it and find new love. A lot of fight tournaments and parades were held in the royal court of Timisoara. He was having a frivolous life and started to think about having a family again. Thus, he met Elizabeth Lokietek who was the daughter of Polish King Wladislaw the Short of Elbow-High. Because of his short height he was nicknamed ‘Łokietek’, a diminutive of the word ‘łokieć’. It translates as “ell” or “elbow”, a medieval measure of length, as in “elbow-high”. Elizabeth gave a birth to five children. From the five, Andrew became the heir to the Naples throne, and Louis later became Hungarian King.
“Mr Brown, please follow me, I will show you their bedroom,” said a very attractive lady wearing a specific medieval dress of that times at whom Charles was frankly staring. He does not for how long he was not able to say a word or even move as if he was struck by lightening. He almost does not feel anything except pure admiration of the natural woman’s beauty. He knew many woman, but he has never seen these big black as coal eyes who were looking at him so innocently and smiling. Yes, exactly “smiling eyes”!
“Their bedroom?” Charles asked abruptly. Ms Lokietek quickly turned her head and looked at him quizzically.
“Yes, sir, royal bedroom…” she replied and blinked with her long thick eyelashes.
It was quite odd for Charles to happen to be in the bedroom with a woman almost at once after several minutes after they met. It has never been so quick before. “What are you thinking about now?” thought Charles and tried to change his completely lost look to much serious one. He decided to leave his inappropriate feelings and thoughts for later. It was strictly unprofessional to do like that in a foreign country where he came for work.
Many Hungarian kings and queens slept in this bedroom. I believe you paid attention to the size of the bed, isn’t it too small? You are right, it is indeed. However, the most weird is that people who slept in it never do it in their full height, I mean they never stretch there fully according to their size. Usually they slept in a bended position, since sleeping straight was a bed sign associated with dead. It was accepted that only dead sleep straight in their tombs. Wow, what a logic?
At that times there was no usual bathroom. As I found out these things showed above were replaced to their room where king and queen took so-called bath. The question is whether they did it separately or not? Who knows, let each of your imagination decide!
Clothes always play an important role in our lives and it is still. Every epoch dictated its own trends. It is very pity that you cannot try on these fabulous dresses. I am certain we, dear dames, would look pretty in them!
And you too, dear cavaliers. Would not you like to try on one of these heavy things? I bet you would look so powerful and strong like real knights in armors who is ready for a battle. On Guard!
Charles listened to his guide very attentively. He regain control over his unexpected emotions and took everything with his writer’s curiosity and professionalism. He even started to made notes while walking with this young dame. She talked with passion about this castle, Charles admired her gestures and voice. Her delicate voice sounded like crystal. Moreover, her English was so well that it almost amazed Charles. She spoke clearly, slowly, but with a hidden delight that was visible only for him, who caught her every word, her every comma…
“Ms Lokietek, will you excuse my brevity, I have one question?” Charles stopped her with a little gesture. He came to her closer almost took her by her hand. They were standing on the top of the castle and looking at the beautiful, almost breathtaking view, of the surrounding city Miskolc.
“Certainly, Mr Brown,” she shyly whispered and looked aside.
“What is your name?”
“Beth…Elizabeth!” she proudly pronounced and looked right at him. Her gaze was silently deep.
“Are you kidding me, you are Elizabeth Lokietek, and you work in this Castle as a guide, the castle where so many years ago lived another Elizabeth Lokietek, Hungarian Queen…Oh my, I came to the right place!” he loudly claimed and started to laugh. Elizabeth also smiled and caught his laughing tone.
“Yes, Sir, you really came to the right place, King Charles, your Majesty, if you excuse me!”she playfully admitted and joined laughing. Her playful tone immediately brought back all his sweet feelings and images in his head. His heart jumped wildly and he felt happy. As happy as a lark…
To be continued!
Dear little Friends, I attached this greeting card specially for you!
Designed by Ann!
Looking forward to your thoughts, ideas, remarks, comments!
Hope yor Queen or King is with you! If not, then I wish you to meet him/her as soon as possible! How about today?
Yours Ann
