KNIGHTS BALLAD

​                            KNIGHTS BALLAD

                                       By Ablah Shwaika

    A golden temple with a silver statue of the warrior Goddess Lilianna. I can’t help but marvel at her; it makes my soul burn. I look into the eyes of the sacred statue and I feel like bursting into a senseless rage of battle. Round face, scarlet eyes made from the temple's jewels, long-wavy hair with curls that look like they’re dangling from the ends. A sword in one hand and a shield in the other as well as a golden breastplate.

    Kara, my sparring partner and she’s like a sister to me; she’s also a descendant from the line of the sacred warrior Lilianna. I, Clair, will be forever faithful to Kara.

    “Clair”, Kara calls and I come to her in a flash; just like Lilianna’s statue calls to me. Kara owns my soul just like Lilianna’s will does. Kara’s eyes are the same color as Lilianna’s: oval face, ebony hair, fair skin, short slim stature with curves. She’s always wearing Lilianna’s spiritual body armor.

    “Clair, why is it that I always find you here in this forsaken temple?” Kara asked trying to catch her breath. She must’ve run here from the guild of the lady knights. “please don’t give me that rubbish about the sacred Goddess Lilianna, calling you to her temple!”

    “Well, the temple did call me here!” I replied with a scowl.

    “Are you ready to spar with me? because I’m bored to tears!” Kara asked with one hand on her hip and the other on her sacred sword of Lilianna.

    The days went on and on, always the same: The drills, sparring and the leader of our guild lecturing us, lady knights falling in the clutches of men knights. Women are more skilled warriors and superior to men. All of us believed in that except for one… Kara. We were all devastated to learn that Kara fell to a man. 

    The castle of Eradon where the king ordered his men to attack our guild and war descended upon us. We fought with all our might; Kara and I were on the battle front fending off knights. “Kara, use the power of your sacred sword now!” I said with urgency. Swords clashed, and blood was spilled, but not mine… Kara’s.

    “I can’t!” Kara cried out with a look of defeat and hesitation in her eyes.

She couldn’t kill the man that she fell for, but he killed her in cold blood with deceit on his face. I looked him over: Strong tall muscular build, black moppy hair, square face and green eyes with a yellow hue. I took her sacred sword and a golden ray of light surrounded me. Kara’s lover and I were eye to eye with the same fierceness on our faces; but my will and determination to spill his blood was stronger. 

We were in battle ready position: I charged at him with great haste, not giving him the chance to dodge me, attack or defend himself. When our swords clashed, the sacred sword sliced through his ironclad sword and pierced through his gut. Blood spilled from his mouth as well as his gut and he fell on his knees. victory never felt so good and vengeance never tasted delicious.

“You killed and betrayed my sister in arms and best friend you MAN SCUM!” I said with anguish in my tone and tears welling from my eyes.

“You got it all wrong lady knight. This is how I wanted it to end!” he said in a gruff voice, his eyes gazing in mine. “Now, if you would please lay me beside her!” he shouted with desperation in his tone.

I clenched my teeth, filled with rage. “You lie! I will not grant your selfish request! Now DIE!” I said raising my sword, getting ready to vanquish HIM 

“You’re the selfish one: if you kill me and not put me beside her, then our world cannot change.”  Kara’s lover/killer said, catching his last breaths. I’m the descendant of, of…” then he perished without revealing his heritage. 

“Ethan”, Kara said in a whisper.

I looked over my shoulder and ran to Kara with the sacred sword that I forgot I wielded. How could I wield such a weapon, when I’m not tied to Lilianna or her will? Unless Kara, who is a descendant of Lilianna, willed it to me. I dropped down on my knees by her body, abandoning the sacred sword, and looked her over: Her beautiful hair was covered in blood and dirt, her face was severely bruised, and the slit in her throat... Was the killing blow.

     " Kara, I’m sorry I wasn’t there to protect you. you were savagely murdered, and it should have been me! I failed you," I said with a sob.

   

 

    " No Claire, you’re wrong; This is how it was supposed to play out, and it’s been this way for centuries. You have always been a part of this day... Descendant of ARTIMIS.

    I heard Kara's voice again. I turned and saw Kara’s... SPIRIT? Oh, fates she’s glowing! And it looks like nothing violent has happened to her. Keep your composure Claire; You’re a knight, I said to myself. ( Descendant of Artemis? who is Artemis?). I felt a strange feeling in my body as Kara approached me, gazing dearly into my eyes; as if she was seeing through my soul.

    " Lilianna never bred with a man, but she did put her will in an unborn child she would foresee as special, to fulfill her wishes. That’s how we descended from her. She also had a companion named Artemis, who you are exactly like, only you are so much more exceptional. Lilianna fell in love with the first ruler of Eradon"...

    I feel like I’m in a vast sea of visions, and everything inside me is burning with a brilliant light. I can see everything Kara is telling me.

    " Ethan." I said in someone else’s voice.

    " Yes Claire, an exceptional warrior, and king. Every generation of the descendants of Ethan and Lilianna, is born with this knowledge of what you are about to see; And we see it before we are born. please, fulfill my wish Artemis.

     I feel every part of me changing, as these visions of Lilianna and Ethan’s feelings are seeping in my soul. They hated each other, just like we feel. Men thought women were the weakest beings. Later on, they saw each other as equal opponents. As a result, they wanted equality for all.

   " Yes, we wanted to change the notion of how women and men see each other, and create a better world and we were close to it too." I heard a voice say to me, and it wasn’t Kara’s.

    Darkness fell upon me and I couldn't see anything, but a horrific battle. I felt Artemis's jealousy because she wasn't the only one by Liliana's side and her disdain for men pierced me in my gut. Lilianna and Ethan died in their final battle for equality. I feel the pain of their death, their last emotion.

  " I want to die by your side and change the world."  I heard a man’s voice this time.

   " I won’t let that happen," a different woman said this time.

   " Artemis, please put me by Ethan’s side... This is my final wish.

   " Artemis survived and didn’t grant Lillianna"s wish, equality was not achieved. Artemis killed Ethan, but he didn’t blame her for killing him." I hear Kara"s voice inside my head, everything is dark, But I feel different and warm inside.

   " Go find the temple of Ethan: Find his tomb, and put his sword in the empty hand of my statue. Only then, can Ethan and I can become one, and change the world for the better." I heard Lilianna’s voice in my head, but I couldn’t see her. I finally opened my eyes, and a blue light surround my body.

  " Only you can fulfill my wish Artemis," I heard Kara’s voice one last time, and it was lights out for me again.

    I woke up, and as I regained my consciousness; I looked at my surroundings, my head was fuzzy but I could tell that I was a few feet away from our guild. But how did I get here? I remember seeing a white-golden light blinding me, and I felt the force of it going through me in the darkness of a bubble. Aww, to gone and the fates with all of this confusion! I need to report this to Tessa, the sword master of our guild, that I’m going on my own quest. I walked inside the guild hall, until I got stopped by Tessa.

  " Who are you? I don’t  think I’ve seen you before, lady knight." She said suspiciously, unsheathing her sword and pointing it at me.

   " No disrespect to you master, but... Have you gone mad? It’s me, Claire: I’m wearing our guilds crest! I’m here to report"-

  " Claire? Our best knight and my pupil? I don’t think so, you look nothing like her. You’re an impostor! What kind of sorcery are you trying to pull on me?" She asked irritably. Okay, okay, she’s definitely gone mad; Way too far gone. Maybe even further than that.

  " I’m Claire, I tell you! Kara’s first knight, or I was her first knight." I muttered that last part.

  " I hate to tell you, whoever the fates made you think you are, but... YOU. LOOK. NOTHING. And listen up when I say, NOTHING! LIKE. HER! You don’t have her short fiery red hair. Plus, she is always equipped with GILATHIUS SHIELD." She said in a fit of rage, which I found very humorous.

  " Uh, master Tessa; I truly don’t mean to come off rude, I said, bracing myself, hoping she won’t kill me. But are you deluded? I mean, I know you've been in more battles than I have, so I understand if you’re too far gone."

   " You don’t believe me? Tessa asked and I just stood there still hoping she wouldn't kill me, because I have to fulfill my sister-in-arms wishes and I need to be alive for that. Fine then, take a look at yourself in my sword."

   I scowled at her and snatched the sword out of her hand, and looked at my reflection. I was shocked to my soul! I had scarlet eyes with flecks of my natural eye color, silky smooth ivory skin; a Heart-shaped face, and long ebony hair with fire-red curls dangling from the bottom.  Oh, fates NO. I’m petite! And my shield was replaced with the crescent shield. My armor. My beloved armor is gone! My armor is replaced with the one that Kara once wielded. I looked up at Tessa with shock and awe. She gave me a look as if she was saying ( I told you so).

The sacred sword was glowing and I ran out of the guild as fast as my feet would let me, which wasn’t that fast. ( This body be damned!)

    How did this happen? I asked myself with disbelief in my tone. Catching my breath, I looked east and I saw the castle of Eradon for the first time. Ethan’s tomb has to be there! The thought of infiltrating the castle made me feel queasy, and I was trying to fight the feeling of vomiting and failed. I went to the temple of Lilianna, in hopes to get some answers to my questions. The temple denied my presence, but she granted me her shield; Which had the design of gilathius, but it wasn't the gilathius shield. It looked like it was fused with the crescent shield. I turned away and headed for the castle of Eradon.

   The night sky was in perfect harmony, and the stars were perfectly aligned. I looked into the sacred sword, and I still can’t believe I look like this! My heart feels different as well. I can not rest until I make it to the castle.

    I made it to the castle, almost unable to breath. It’s  heavily guarded and I’m still getting used to this cursed body! I walked in without a strategy plan, and the castle is in chaos! Men are such barbaric fools: Fighting over who should be crowned king, and cursing out the person who killed their previous king. My heart is stammering, and I put my hand on the sacred sword for comfort. Men stopped fighting each other and stared at me, which gave me great discomfort.

  " You are so beautiful, and yet you wear the crest of the scarlet knight guild!" A beautiful man with sapphire eyes said to me.

  " Or maybe, I’m an impostor." I replied sarcastically to the knight. He raised a brow and smirked at me.

  " You, my lady, are most definitely charming." He replied flirtatiously. My sacred sword started to glow so brightly, and the knight saw it too. suddenly my heart fluttered at the sight of him... What’s happening to me?

   " You must be a descendant of Lilianna to wield that sword," he said, studying me.

    I panicked and punched him really hard in the face, kneed him in his gut, and elbowed him in the groin. I was about to run off until every man was charging at me with Their swords, shields, and fists. All I could do at this point was dodge my way to the dungeon and that’s exactly what I did. Running for my life, I somehow made it to the secret entrance with minor cuts and bruises. WOW, it’s like a maze in here!

    " Let me help you;" I heard a man's voice echoing in my head. Suddenly, I could see a map of Ethan’s tomb in my head. I kept on walking until I saw a carving in the ground that looked similar to my shield. I placed my shield inside the carving, and the floor started to shake, and I found myself going underground. I took my shield out and slid off, and landed really hard: face first on a pile of the gold armory. Fates I hate this body, I said to myself, as I sat up: Then floods of memories come rushing through my mind, and they aren’t mine. I realized this is where Ethan’s tomb is! I unsheathed my sword and braced myself, Then it slashed through the wall and there it was: Ethan’s Tomb... But no sword. REALLY!? NO SWORD?  I exclaimed.

  " You must be looking for this, aren’t you? '' Lilianna."

    I turned fast, and it was the knight that I assaulted. I looked into his beautiful sapphire eyes.

    " Ethan?" I said in Lilianna’s voice, not mine. He grabbed me in his arms and kissed me.

   " I love you," he declared, as he stabbed himself with the sword of Ethan. Take it: So we can change the world, and be together again." He said, lovingly as tears were running down my face.

   I took the sword and ran out of the castle: I can’t believe it was already nightfall, and the temple was far from here. My body is about to give out and I don’t have much time left. I hopped on a steed and raced to the temple. When I got there, I wasn't denied entrance this time around. I looked intensely at Lilianna’s statue: She looked so sad and lonely, and I never took the time to notice it whenever I visited.

    I walked forth to put Ethan's sword where Lilianna’s shield used to be. Before I could, the whole temple was shaking and every piece of armor was radiating amethyst and royal-blue light. I put the sword in her hand and the light went through the very essence of my soul, and I saw everything from Lilianna’s past, and how she came to love a man. When I let go of the sword, the light pushed me back; Practically sent me flying, and it really hurt! The amethyst and royal-blue light fused together, and it felt like my spirit got sucked out and put back in again, I looked up, and the glowing lights took the shape of Lilianna and Ethan. OH, WOW... He really is handsome. Brown eyes with a green hue, strong tall build. The left side of his tunic was a crest that resembled our guild. I can feel his soul's energy and Lilianna’s bond: So strong, it’s incredible.

    " Before you show me any form of gratitude: I didn’t do this for the both of you, I did it for Kara." I said boldly to Lilianna, hoping she won’t smite me.

  " We know Claire, and that's why you succeeded," Lilianna said, with gratitude in her tone.

   " UH, excuse me your excellencies, and I don’t mean to sound dishonorable, but... THAT’S IT!? And were you really that SMALL AND WEAK? BECAUSE I WANT MY BODY, SWORD, AND NORMALITY BACK!" Lilianna had a bemused look on her face.

  " Once you step out of here, you will see a new world where women and men peacefully coexist. You don\"t have to fight anymore Claire, and new memories are what I will give you in return."

   I couldn't\ stop looking at Ethan. He reminds me of the knight that kissed me, and confessed his love for me. Thinking of him now gives me an overwhelming pain in my chest. He died for this. I honor his life, with the one that has been given to me, I declared to myself. But I thought I killed the descendant of Ethan? I questioned myself aloud, not meaning to.

   " I did what had to be done, and so did Lilianna. I put my will inside of him, and Lilianna  put her will inside you Claire: Descendant of Artemis." He said, looking proud and slightly arrogant.

   " The boy who sacrificed his life is alive, so is Kara. She won’t remember you and you won’t remember her, or anything that has conspired." Ethan said, in a casual tone, He maybe handsome, but I truly find his arrogance repulsive.

   " Now, turn away from here and breathe new life: Make new memories, and be with the boy you fell for at the castle. He’s waiting for you Claire!" Lilianna said in a commanding tone, pointing towards the door.

   " Okay, but can I have my sword back? I asked, feeling a wave of regret; Judging by the way Lilianna is looking at me, I ran out of the temple.

    I was outside, and I saw a beautiful boy smiling at me sweetly: Gazing deep into my eyes like he’s been waiting for me his whole life. He walked towards me, holding out his hand for me to take.

  " Hello, I’m Ethan. I smiled at him sweetly, feeling like I’d known him before I was born and now I’m seeing him for the first time.

  " I’m Artemis," I replied, taking his hand. It’s like I’m seeing the world for the first time. Women were holding babies, and men were talking to women and holding hands. The village made you feel rightfully at peace. The sky was so blue, it made me feel like crying. Ethan and I looked at each other, tenderly smiling at one another. I know it in my heart... It’s the perfect WORLD.

                                                                     END?

  " LILIANNA IS NOT YOUR ALLY. I’LL PUT ALL OF MY WILL INSIDE YOU, ARTIMIS. THE WAR WILL START WITH YOUR OWN BETRAYAL!" 

  I heard a voice, and I turned my head and a sword and shield dropped on the ground in front of me. It’s the perfect world... RIGHT?

                                                           MAYBE

FERRON AND THE FOUR REALMS

                                       

                                

        Its dark as night, but there’s a blood-red glistening light that covers the carnivorous mountains in the kingdom of Ferron. Rem couldn’t fathom how she ended up there. Her purple eyes gazing from the distance of her lost kingdom. Her long-wavy silver hair blowing from the angry wind, with fury playing on her beautiful oval face. The crown princess of Ferron; that’s what her servants, as well as the captain of the guard always called her. Now all she can do is find the person responsible for putting her on the mountain with only a switch-blade, and two short swords.

       “No food or water? They could at least provide me with a fur coat made from the skin of snow wolves!” Rem said irritably, stomping her boot in the unsteady snowy mountain.

       Rem surveyed the area, looking for a trail that leads to a village. She walked for a long time in search for a trail, and her body was worn out from the cold, as well as fatigue. Her body was about to give out until a Vulcan appeared with the intent to kill her, then take over her body with magic that was lost thousands of years ago. She took hold of her switch-blade to defend herself, but her vision became blurry and her body gave out. Rem tried her best to stay conscious. The Vulcan got closer to her; before she passed out she saw a silhouette of another creature. I can’t die like this, she thought to herself.

       Four stone corners and a cold sturdy surface, is where she woke up disoriented and unarmed.
 “You look rather familiar, though I could be mistaken.” A man said casually, holding Rems weapons.

       Rem studied the man cautiously: black hair, golden-brown eyes, tan skin, muscular build and strong features. Her instincts told her he can prove to be dangerous. I need to focus on my mission and I can’t be bothered with such trifles! She thought to herself.
 “Thank you for saving me from the Vulcan and now I must take my leave young man.” She said, trying to sound like a peasant woman.

“ Fine, but you won’t be needing those unrefined weapons, The man said to Rem. by the way, my name is Lexzorus,” he added.

       Rem looked at him with disbelief and charged at him to get her weapons back. Lexzorus dodged her attack making her stumble, and land on her bottom.

 “Give me my weapons back, you unruly man!” Rem said in a commanding tone. He also looked familiar to her as well.

      
“You’re better off using magic, your highness. And please, leave the physical stuff to me. plus, we need to get our kingdom back.” Lexzorus said exasperatedly, surprising Rem.Rem and Lexzorus went from village to village, getting information on the person responsible for Nobody knew anything about the disappearance of their lost princess, Rem. She decided to go and raid the castle, but Lexzorus thought it a bad idea. Lexzorus protest didn’t matter Rem and she found that there was conflict in herself: Find out who’s responsible for leaving her on that forsaken mountain to die and save her kingdom. Even if it means leaving her companion behind or, stay with Lexzorus and leave her kingdom behind to start a new life.

       It’s been a fortnight since she’s been abandoned on that mountain. Rem couldn’t wait any longer, she must leave Lexzorus. even the thought of that gave her a tight feeling in her chest. After nightfall, I will sneak out while he’s asleep, Rem thought to herself. So, she left him behind and was halfway to Ferron, until she felt a familiar warmth flow through her body that made her cry out in unbearable pain.

        A black and purple aura surrounded her, and she turned her head to see who it was that had harmed her. It was LEXZORUS! Her eyes widened in shock and fury. Wolfsbane! She remembered the events that occurred the night she was dumped on the mountain. 

“Your real name is not Lexzorus is it?” Rem said angrily. Her eyes turned into a midnight blue and her pupils were hardly visible. A blue-golden light was shining from her chest, and it took shape in a form of a double-edged sword. She wielded it and charged at him.

     
  “I’m sorry sister, but I’m the one who should rule Ferron. If I must fight you for it, even if it means to the death, then it shall be!”

   The wolfsbane was taking effect, but Rem had to make her move before it takes full effect. 

“Zorus, I should have known!” Rem said furiously with sadness in her eyes. I cannot kill him! he's my brother, She thought to herself.

     
  “I will take over Ferron and diminish all magic, not even you can stop me now!" Zorus said grimly, squaring his shoulders preparing to attack Rem.

   Zorus charged at Rem and before she can go on the defensive, the wolfbane took over her and she was paralyzed. Why didn’t he let the Vulcan kill me? she thought to herself. As if he read her thoughts; 

"I didn’t save you.You summoned Bealioths better-half, and you vanquished the Vulcan yourself.”

       Rem was in shock, realizing what she done. She summoned the sinful blade of the demon that once destroyed their kingdom thousands of years ago. She knew her tyrant of a brother sent the Vulcan after her. Her anger outweighed her physical pain and paralysis. She lashed out in a whirlwind of rage, that harmonized with the spirit of her sword. The clouds were clashing with each other as the eclipse of the blood moon of Hearigon descended among them.

       Rem and Zorus were eye to eye, with the same intent. They charged at the same time. Right before Zorus slashed his sword into Rems gut, Hearigon, the warlock who created Bealioths better-half, and the demon himself, appeared and protected Rem.

       “You summoned both of them.” Zorus said in shock and awe with fear in his eyes.

       
“That’s right, Zorus. One more move, and I will command them to kill you." Rem said darkly with a grim look masking her beautiful face. She was bluffing because her body was giving out from using too much of her power, as well as fighting off the poison at the same time. Plus, she didn’t know how she managed to summon the ancient warlock, and Bealioth.

       “You will not reign over my kingdom Zorus! if you know what’s good for you, and the realms. IF it’s a fight to the death you want, then die!” said Rem. She was about to unleash Hearigon and Bealioth, but she stopped when she saw Zorus eyes turn milky-white.

       “Darius shadow, take over magic: SOULS REVERSE!” Zorus was chanting. A red and black magic circle appeared, and the dark apprentice of Hearigons appeared and tried to take over Rems body and soul. Hearigon entered the fray on his own accord and started fighting Darius. While they were engaged in their own battle, Rem and Zorus continued theirs, along with Bealioth by Rems side.

       “I will not lose!” Rem said. "COLIDE Bealioth and Better-half! In the name of Ferron, and the four realms:“HELL'S SHADOW AND PURITY'S SHATTERED FORCE!” Rem chanted. A roar ascended from Better-Half, as Bealioth infused himself with the sword. The ground shook as light poured from the heavens and hell fire erupted from the ground. Bealioth over shadowed the eclipse, steeling its power and combining it with Rems purity power and Hearigon disappeared. “Bealioth is whole and at his full strength, now that he with his counterpart.” Rem said imperiously.

       “No, don’t, please!" Zorus, bowed on his knees. "I surrender and I’m sorry for such atrocities towards Ferron and its people.” Zorus said stricken with fear beyond all four realms.

       Rem didn’t consider a word her wretched brother had said to her.
 “Too late!” Rem said fiercely. A golden light was glowing from her chest, she held out her hand, and Bealioth took it. A light- blue ray of light in fused with black and red from Bealioths power, burst out of her chest. It went through Zorus, annihilating him along with Darius. Ferron and the for realms have been restored from Zorus treachery. Rem got her kingdom back, and the citizens and villages are safe once more.

       “I’m dark and light.I’m the protector of the four realms. I’M also the princess of Ferron: the first realm. most importantly, I AM REM.…Don’t you agree Bealioth?"

      

                                   END

THE ANGEL"S WOLF

                                 

                                                             

She’s an angel who loves to play with the wolf. The sound of her lushes’ voice echoing through the forest and into the wolfs den. The wolf is entranced by her smell, voice and skin: even though they haven’t touched yet, the wolf feels like they have.

She is a virtuous young maiden and the wolf longs to be touched by her. Sapphire, is her name but, her name doesn’t do her justice, the wolf thinks to himself. Honey silk hair, ember eyes, soft features, olive skin. When she runs in her dress, it looks like she’s wearing wings.

“I wish you would talk with me, as much as we play together,” she says to the wolf.

I’m vicious, crude, and dirty: I am a ruthless killer and I made people bleed out rubies; he wants to say that to her, but he remains silent. They are strangers to another: one is made out of all the most brilliant bright colors. The other stranger is dark: full of sin, even when he was in his most victorious moments as a boy knight. The angel still wants to play with the wolf.

                A castle full of dreams is what she strives for, instead of a castle full of dukes and knights: a king who neglects is daughter and a queen so harsh; not even love can out weight the riches, she showers her daughter with. The forest is where she belongs; her castle is not the inner parts of England.

The wolf stalks the angle tracking her scent, wondering where she is running off to. He finds her looking about in his den. where am I and where did he go? She asks herself. A cave filled with wonder, a strange picture lit by the candlelight of a handsome, vicious looking boy holding a sword, she instantly recognizes those beautiful pale blue eyes.

Sapphire sees a silhouette of the wolf and quivers at the sight of him. She looks into his eyes and her heart slows down. The angel who he sees past his eyes, delicately takes the picture of the boy and studies wolf closely.

“I know who you are,” she says to the wolf with a sad look playing on her face. “Don’t just stand there and nod! “talk to me boy knight.” The angel with a heavenly smile, disappeared for a moment and that moment only; or was his eyes deceiving him by her olive skin he never touched or the warmth of her wide spread wings.

Why does the angel look so sad and disappointed at me? what can I possibly say to her? The wolf asks himself, puzzled by the way he feels right now. the angel’s eyes looked swollen with her sorrows, but she still managed to propel herself forward gracefully out of the wolfs den. The wolfs eyes widen in horror of the thought that, once she leaves the den he’ll never see her again.

The wolf sprinted forward, and leaped in the air, and the wolfs paw landed on the hem of the angel’s dress; in a plea for her to stay. The angel turned back, and she saw a strange look in the wolfs eyes. The wolf realized he touched the angel, without harming her. The wolf surprised himself: “I touched someone without hurting them for the first time”, he thought to himself. The wolf looked up to meet the angel’s gaze and she, waiting for the wolf to say something, or do something: Nudge her with affection, paw her playfully. The wolf said nothing, and the angel started to tear up again.

“Are you that afraid to be my friend?” she asked the wolf. Then she strode away with the bottom of her dress torn from the wolfs paw, still on the piece of the dress, watching the angel walk away once more.

The wolf howled in despair, crying and tearing himself up inside. Why? why couldn’t I say anything when I know that I can speak? The wolf questions himself. The last thing the angel said to him before she left, echo’s in the wolfs head, and the thought of friendship breaks the wolfs heart.” Can the angel be so cruel to me?” “who would ever want to be my friend, when all I ever did was kill?”  the wolf asks himself in his time of dispaie.

Years passed by and the angel wasn’t a young maiden anymore; She was to be crowned queen. As the wolf aged, he was dying by his cursed sword. There hasn’t been a day that passed by, when the angel and wolf haven’t thought about each other, Their hearts wither with the happy, and painful memories that they created together. The wolf looks back at his youth, when he was a boy knight; he gazed upon his blood-stained sword, with countless lives he took in the mits, of battle for his majesty the king. ‘I’m no boy knight, if was; I’d have honor, but I do not”. “I’m a killer, a savaged wolf”.

His sword saw straight into his soul, and turned the boy knight into a wolf, the flash back of his knight hood reminded him what he used to be, and how he became what he’s been for years. He goes to his sword and gazes into it once more; before he takes his final breath. He looks back on the happy memories of him and the angel, and the last words she spoke to him.

“The angel was never afraid of me! not once had I scared her”. She really did want to be my friend, and when I touched her: I didn’t kill her or harm her, wolf said to himself. Warmth rushed through hi heart and he saw his human appearance in his sword.  He looked himself over many times, and he was human again. “This is who the angel saw all this time,” he said to himself. He rushed to the castle to see the angel, to seek for her forgiveness.

Everybody in England attended princess Sapphires coronation. Before she got crowned queen, everybody; especially sapphire heard: clings, grunts, and groans, coming from outside. A guard went through the door landing face first, and she saw a scruffy, but handsome man holding a sword in his hand; with a slight cut on the bottom of his lip, blue pale eyes, and a lean muscular build. His eyes were wild and kind. The angel sat up from the throne and gazed into the man’s eyes, from a distance. She wasn’t quite sure but, she was hoping she was right, the man walks to the angel eagerly and touches the angels hand and held it gently. He looked up at her smiling. “I didn’t hurt you again angel sapphire”, the man said to her. The angel was smiling with him, and hugged the man tightly, as she said: I always knew you were my friend, my wolf.

                                                   She’s an angel who loves to play with the wolf.

The Music Man

                 

                                      

                                                                                                                      

He’s a music man yet his soul is sound asleep; Along with his piano in his dimly lit loft. When she sings he doesn’t sing sweetly, it’s too soft and gentle. The piano he sits at is dusty but so elegant; it makes the most beautiful sound that can wake a soul just with one touch of a key. He sits there looking at the black keys of the piano reflecting, pondering where did she go.

She, the goddess so beautiful and mysterious. He never saw her, but he knew she was inside him singing a tune in his soul. She was his muse and he knew she was the one responsible for the lovely music that illuminated his soul and granted his desire to play and create music. He wants the notes to flow through others just like his goddess flows through him.

Every time he sat at his piano he closed his eyes and imagined what she looks like. Long wavy black hair, big blue eyes, ivory skin, average height or perhaps she’s bigger than the world. Other times it was different but still, the result was the same: A bright warm light that fulfils his inspiration and only beautiful melodies would come pouring out of his soul through his fingers and on to the ivories on his piano. The unlively streets of Paris is where he played so the music could flow through and make the people of france feel lively.

Now he only looks back to the days when music came his way and where his goddess went. He sat many times looking at his reflection in those dusty black keys and thought to himself; I was younger then but now I’m just an old man who used to have everything. A sad notion but a painfully logical one indeed. He nods in agreement to his own realization.

He thinks back at the days when people heard his music in the lightly lit streets of paris and loved it. It was hard in those days in france, getting to have people come and see a person at a piano; trying to bring peace and tranquility to the people during the time of war. He knew trying make a living from his passion he knew he would still live a meager life, but he would continue to play.

The music man was so obsessed and in love with his goddess. He really didn’t know what love truly was as a young naïve man. Short light- brown hair, lanky, and green eyes. He never walks with confidence unless he’s walking towards a piano. He eventually found real love; he wanted to find real love, his own inspiration and his own soft but gentle song to sing.

It was a dark but a beautiful night; the moon pouring its celestial light as it saunters around lady Malina and the piano that catches the music man’s attention. Silky Golden- blond hair that falls over her shoulders, heart shaped face, fair skin, rosy cheeks, and hazel eyes. A noble? Or my goddess? He thought to himself as his gaze never left hers and time was lost in an

abandon street where nobles are known to roam. She stands still in the moment with him and he sees the gleam in her eyes as if she was dancing to the melody of the song in his heart.

He finally found love and continued to play his favorite song to his first truest love lady Malina, and she too was happy with the music man. She decided when she first met him that, even though he’s a commoner; that fact could never change her heart. All that mattered to her is what’s in the inside of her love the music man. He stopped playing through the song and gazed at her as she was dancing. He then realized that Malina is his goddess. How she makes his soul spiral: the thought of her illuminated his soul, the music stuck in his head.

Years went by and their love was getting stronger, but they were getting older. They could not wed because a noble cannot marry a commoner, but they still wanted a family. The music man still wanted the beautiful sound of his dusty piano, dimly lit loft where he creates his music, his sacred haven. He knows he must give that up for a family; for his lovely Malina He knew he wouldn’t be able to support his family with his music; he must give up his passion for his love, and a family. He abandons his piano, trying to ignore the music in his head, fighting and trying not to go back to the haven he once knew. Malina was his strength not to go back and leave his dusty fine tuned piano behind. One look in her eyes and he knew he wanted that family.

Together hand in hand was his musical paradise. Over time the goddess was fading away, abandoning the music man and he felt it too. They could not be wedded, and she could not be with child. The music man felt a sad song in her iridescent heart. Could she still love to dance? He gently took her hand and twirled her around with a somber look on her face. She met his gaze as she saw him smiling at her and she suddenly found herself smiling with him. They were dancing once again, the music man was humming and there was still a hope in the song.

Finally, she was with child and the music man kept on humming the melody of the song he named after his love. Every note in his soul was on key. Their happiness was short lived.

They lost their child and his love fell ill. She was depressed, broken-hearted and not even her love the music man; singing to her couldn’t bring her joy. Years passed, and she perished. The loss of her child, her broken heart and depression; killing her ever so slowly throughout the years. Before her final moment: she held on long enough and smiled at the music man and him seeing the gleam in her eyes dancing once more. The smile faded for it was the very last time he would ever see her smiling again.

I am the music man and my soul has been asleep for far too long. Lovely goddess, I beg of you to come back so I can play my best masterpiece (Malina) once more. I implore you to pleases come back to me! I’m an old man and “This is my final hour. He sits alone back at his loft waiting for the goddess to reply. The goddess did not respond and in his last moment, he heard the piano play his masterpiece. I am The Music Man and the music shall always live and die with me. FIN