by D. J. Holmes
***
Jehanne’s father has finally reached his low point also. As he goes to sleep, dreams of bells ringing continue to interrupt his sleep. “Am I being called?” he asks himself. “Bells are usually a warning or a calling, some type of announcement. What could this mean?” The answer that comes to him sounds loud and clear: “FREEDOM RINGS ONLY WHEN EACH INDIVIDUAL RINGS THE BELL.”
“What does that mean?” he says to himself still half asleep. Pictures of Jehanne leading her troops come into view. Finally they are covered by dark clouds. Individual pictures appear of patriots, finally standing up on their own, following Jehanne’s example, fighting for their own freedom and for the freedom of those that depend on them.
“Freedom rings only when each individual rings the bell.” Jacque continues to say it over and over in his sleep. Finally a clear understanding emerges. Images of all the French dressed in eternal courage, standing up and fighting for their freedom. “Ah. So unless everyone stands their ground and fights for their God-given freedom, it won’t happen. It can’t be won by one person, and it isn’t taken away all at once.”
“We kept our freedom when Charles Martel and his men fought the Muslims. And Charlemagne raised France to new heights. Now, years later, little by little, it has been taken away. All the lives that were lost for our freedom throughout the history of France, how do we pay them back?”
Continuing his thoughts, he says, “Jehanne has been a great French commander. With her intelligence and knowledge of the tactics of war I knew that she would be great. But little did I know that it would lead to this. She needs my help! I can wait no longer! None of her soldiers that I know of are riding to her rescue.”
Knowing that she has been sold to the English he says, “I have heard what those English prisons are like. No one can last this long in their care.” Getting out of bed, Jacque gathers his things.
“Where are you going, Jacque?” Isabelle asks her husband as she follows him to the stable. Concerned with the determination that now covers his face Isabelle watches as he begins to saddle his horse.
“I’m going to ask all of Jehanne’s soldiers if any of them have enough courage to rescue her, to stand with her! She was always there for them! I will ask …. Will you be there for her now?”
Accepting the inevitable, she says, “I will pray for you both,” Isabelle knows that there is nothing else that she can do or say to stop his leaving. She had taught Jehanne that God would always be with her. Now she would ask Him to be with both her daughter, while she is in prison, and her husband, as he rides to their daughter’s rescue.
Riding up to the soldier’s tents, Jacque yells, “HOW MANY OF YOU WILL RIDE WITH ME TO RESCUE JEHANNE?”
“But, she is in Rouen! The English soldiers will be there.”
“Do you fear English soldiers? Rouen is in France. The people are French. We are French soldiers, and we ride to rescue a French commander!”
Most of the soldiers stand up at Jacque’s call to arms and within the ranks can be heard, “…Finally, someone with enough courage to lead us to rescue her. We have been waiting all this time for someone to lead us!”
Sitting on his horse in front of the soldiers, he announces, “I am Jehanne’s father, Jacque. I have come to lead you just as she did. We must move as quickly as we can, she has been imprisoned for months and now, she is on trial. What must she be thinking when no one has come to her aid, and after all she has done for France! Will you come with me to rescue, Jehanne?”
Memories of Jehanne in battle flash in the minds of the soldiers as they whisper to themselves.
“She saved my life.”
“Her standard in the middle of battle, moving through our ranks, always gave me hope.”
“She was always the first into battle and the last to leave.”
“I remember her sleeping in her armor at night, when we were fighting day after day.”
“She never complained, not once; even when the arrow from an English longbow found its mark.”
“We were low on food and she gave me hers.”
“I was cold and she gave me her blanket.”
“We had no water. I know she was thirsty, but she gave me the last of her water.”
“She called us brothers and made sure that we were all right every night before she went to sleep.”
More and more soldiers continue to stand, and soon Jacque is leading hundreds of soldiers, riding as fast as they can, to Jehanne’s rescue.
