Wishing On The Well Of Pity (Book 2)
From Atlantic Roleplay Wiki
Title: Wishing on the Well of Pity (Book 2)
Author: Vinco Omni
Book Two.
As Old Age Takes It's Toll, Things Just Aren't What They Used to Be.
Chapter 1.
Queen Jade lays awake, clutching the sheets in pain. She is dying. Rufus weeps by her side, holding her hand tight, and a tear rolls down his face. He tells her how much her loves her, and what to do when she's gone. He is frantic. His hands are shaking and clammy with perspiration caused by his mourning anxiety, his forehead drenched in sweat from the fear and panic put on by this tragic event. The last words muttered out of Jade's mouth were, "I'll love you forever, as much as you loved me back then." Her eyes rolled back, her limbs went weak, and her breathing ceased.
Rufus nodded in approval. No, not harmonic approval, but solemn approval.
He understands that this had to happen someday, for we all don't live forever, do we? Must we reap these heavy burdens as each one of them takes their toll upon innocent lives? Even kings and queens are but pawns on this massive earth. You can't control it from happening, you can't stop it from moving.
Death captures everyone at one time or another. But why all this dramatacism if they are only pawns? Because everyone has feelings. Everyone loves. Everybody hurts, cries, feels sorrow, feels anguish, has happy times, has sad times, and has the best and worst of all that has and is yet to come. Everyone lives such a great and prosperous life, and yet it's thrown all away from one little moment. One moment is yet all we have to capture a lifetime of memories.
Chapter 2.
The picture frames that bear her face are covered in black. Today is the day of the funeral. Rufus decides not to watch, and keeps to himself in his chambers. The jesters and the concubines try and console him, and tell him that everything will be okay and will work out to an advantage, but deep down in everyone's lying hear, they know it's not true. How could it be? Jade has died. Rufus' one and only love, his flower of light, his beam of contentment, all washed away on this sad tide of dark water.
He gazed out of the now black curtains into the courtyard where the burial was taking place. His eyes were fixated on the casket. The only thoughts that could enter his mind were of sadness.
Could he go on living?
He didn't know, nor did he want to find out. He thought that this may very well be the end of it all. The heat rose to an scorching degree.
Tears rolled down his cheeks, and his eyes were full of water. And if you gazed into his eyes for a moment or two, you would see an ocean. The ocean where his wife's casket was laid on a boat and put out to sea.
This was the common burial custom of the days, and it was not uncommon for royalty to do this. Perhaps you're wondering why this tale is so sad? Perhaps we all wonder why life is so sad. But actually, in some perspective, it's not.
Chapter 3.
Life is flowing. Life is beautiful, life is all around us and is everything as it moves. Look no further than your shadow and you will find life and living.
Look in between the lines for the answers to life's riddles. As you gaze into the well of pitiful wishes, look deeper than into the stone and wood. Look into your soul. As you see the water moving, or as Rufus watches the water moving, he notices the ripples.
They echo through out the pool. The ripples take form, they take shape into more ripples. And those into more, and more, and so on. For life is one giant splash in the wishing well. And the ripples are our conscience, feelings, empathy, and ethics. If you look around this room you might notice the great possessions.
But in this day, in this age of prosperity and wealth, the possessions don't matter. They are worthless rocks in a quarry of stones.
Another tear drops from his eye, falling into the well and creating more ripples. Rufus turns away from the window and walks through his large chamber doors.
He walks down the steps, stair by stair, until he reaches the bottom and looks down the long hall. He sees his only son and two daughters coming in the front door, both crying, and both adorning black clothing from head to toe. The older of the two sisters, tried to console her older brother and younger sister. Rufus' son, Ludos, walks to his father and tells him that it will be okay.
Rufus puts his hand on his sons shoulder and says "Yes, yes it will be some day my son."
Two months later. . .
Things were back to normal. The King was taking care of his royal duties, the princesses were both engaged to be married, and the prince was on a trip to a foreign country to study the arts. . .
Chapter 4.
Today was the day of Kira's wedding. The older of the two sisters was finally getting married. The day had come. The castle was prepared, the royal guards were on their alert, and the reception hall was fully open and ready for those who were staying. As you walk into the reception hall, you see that everything is draped in white. There are a dozen white roses on every table, and one hundred white roses placed on the altar, some in honor of Jade, some in honor of the wedding. On each table rested six glasses, and three bottles of the finest and most elegant champagne in all of the country.
An hour later. . .
The trumpets played, and the wedding had begun. The bride, locking arms with her father walked down the aisle. One step at a time, one tear for each step...
"Where have I heard this before?" Rufus thought.
One tear for each memory, one ripple for each laugh, one step for each tear. One wishing well to cast your pity in. One bride, one groom. The day was sunny and beautiful. The birds chirped, and the trumpets ceased.
Chapter 5.
"I do," she said. And then they kissed.
The wedding was over, and the reception began. Rufus stood up and tapped his glass, and pronounced that he had a toast.
"This has been the best and worst year of my life. A great joy, a great sorrow. Many things have occurred in this year. . ." And he went on.
. . .The End. . . (of Book 2)
mySithie
Thank you.