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By Dallasgirl Date: 2001 Aug 27 Comment on this Work [[2001.08.27.19.43.16648]] |
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Along a deserted beach the warrior princess walked - returning home in search of something she'd lost long ago. There was mud on her face and battle scars telling the stories of demons and dragons she'd slain. Her armor tarnished and beaten spoke volumes of her courage. Many years had passed since she had left on her quest. As she looked around, the place she'd once called home was barely recognizable - altered by her new perspective. It no longer held the same magical appeal it once did for her. The colors seemed faded, the skies gray and sad. She scanned the horizon for something cognizant, then she saw him. A man standing alone on the cliffs, his robes whipping around him violently like the wings of a bird about ready to take flight. Something about him, this place and the drizzling rain seemed vaguely familiar...déjà vu! As she walked closer, physically drawn to him, she could see that he was sobbing uncontrollably. She called out to him, but he could not hear her - the wind carrying her words away until they were no more than a whisper. She waved her arms frantically trying to capture his attention, but so caught up was he in his misery that he did not see her. She ran towards him screaming his name in vain. Then through the haze of her own tears - she saw him plunge to his death, his body breaking upon the rocks. Horrified she stood frozen...incapable of commanding herself to move. She shook her head in denial - this could not be happening. This was not how the story was supposed to end. Helplessly she watched as the tide towed remnants of the man she loved out to sea. Desperately she raced to the waters intending to salvage what fragments she could of her lover, but the rising current and her armor slowed her strides. Despondently she cried and as the realization of what happened dawned on her. Soon everything began spinning and the waters rose around her. The anguish drained her strength and she simply resigned herself to the strong current letting it pull her under...welcoming it's promise. She looked up in time to see the storm overhead let loose just before the darkness overtook her... Later she awoke on the shore, water lapping around her. Disoriented she looked around only to see the heart of her true love in her hands broken and bleeding, it's blood dried black upon her. She cradled it to her bosom like a child as lightening flashed around her echoing her fury. Memories washed over her and she began wailing, her body wracked with agony over her loss. As she raised her face to the dark skies, the rain mixing with her tears - she cursed the Fates and Father Time and beseeched her Lord :"Why?!" She wept. "How could you be so cruel as to bring something so precious, so beautiful into my life only to selfishly snatch it from my grasp? I am broken now...are you happy? Are you satisfied? Why did you do this to me?!" Then a voice of Thunder replied "It was not I that took him from you - it was I that brought him to you, but you walked away." She screamed "But there were battles to be fought! And I came back for him! Why did you not let him see me or hear me?" The Thunder gently bellowed back "The wars you wagered were not mine - they were yours. And it was I who brought you both to this place to be reunited. Would I have done so only to hide you from him? He could not see or hear you because of your foolish pride, that shield you wear so proudly around your heart. You had but to set it aside for only a moment and the colors of your love would have shone like a beacon guiding him home to you." As the truth of his words rang through her head like church bells she fell to her knees crying "Lord - what have I done? I've killed his love - the gift you had given me so graciously. Father - can you ever forgive me?" The voice replied "All is forgiven. I am sorry for your pain as it is mine also. Can you not taste my tears upon your lips? I have done everything in my power to bless you and still you weep - I cannot bear it. Do not think him dead. He has simply moved on and so shall you one day. But first you have to let go of his heart. Set it free and forgive yourself." As the clouds parted the sun began drying her tears and she asked "But how? It is all I have left of him! And how can I move on? I feel dead without him!" The answer came as a whisper in her ear "Simply let it go and believe in me. Like the rainbow's promise - your tears will stop and Love will find you again. You may not recognize it's face or name, but you'll recall the look in his eyes when he says he loves you. Remember all that I have told you and have faith ..." As the voice faded off in the distance she looked up to see a rainbow smile stretching across the heavens. She replied "I will Father." Slowly she pulled herself to her feet and walked to the water's edge. Like a child letting go of a kite, she reluctantly placed her lover's heart afloat and said "I am so sorry - know that I always loved you. I always will." Wiping the blood from her hands she turned and walked away afraid to look back. She followed the footsteps in the sand hoping it would lead her to the rainbow's end. Then out of nowhere she saw a crow and a dove flying free wing to wing across the skies and through the rainbow. She smiled back at them as one lone tear of hope glistened in her eye... |