“I
want it now,” screamed the Barbarian King.
“Of
course my lord,” said the Village Elder. “It’s just we’re not sure exactly what
you want.”
“”Love,”
said the Barbarian King. “Bring it to me.”
The
King was tall and powerful. His muscles glistened in the light of the large
bonfire that had been built in the center of his massive yurt. He sat on a tall
throne forged of steel and decorated with skulls, antlers, and other trophies
from his conquests. The sides of the yurt had been raised so his horde could
gather around and watch the villagers and laugh at their failures.
The
village elder bowed again. “We have Melinda,” said the Elder motioning towards
a young woman standing in the crowd. “She is our most beautiful girl. She will
gladly go with you to spare our village.”
The
King rose from his throne and walked towards the woman. He walked around her
judging her as one might a calf at auction.
Melinda
was the most beautiful woman in the village. When she gained marrying age many
of the young men had sought to court her.
The
King stopped in front of her. “Tell me girl, do you love me?”
“Yes,
my lord,” said Melinda.
“I
am all you think of?” asked the King.
“As
you command, my lord,” said Melinda.
The
paused and took a deep breath. Then he screamed, “WHO IS IT THAT HOLDS YOUR
HEART! TELL ME HIS NAME OR I SHALL BURN THIS VILLAGE TO THE GROUND!”
Melinda
backed away, arms held up to shield her from the King. “Malcolm. I love
Malcolm.”
“THEN
GO TO HIM NOW.”
Melinda
stood and ran from the tent.
The
King turned to the Elder. “The sun sets behind the mountains shortly.” The King
walked to his throne and sat on it. “Once it is gone, my men will sack your
village. We will burn it to the ground and leave no one alive. Bring me what I
ask for and you avoid this.”
“My
lord,” said the Elder. “We simply don’t know how to fulfill your demand.”
“How
is this hard to understand?” asked the King. “Love; that is what I want. Is
there no one in this village who can do this?”
“I
can,” called a small voice from the crowd.
Several
people moved to hush the voice and harsh whispers were heard from the crowd.
“Who
said that,” demanded the King.
The
elder quickly moved between the King and the place in the crowd where the call
had come from. “It was nothing my lord. Just a small child.”
“Let
him pass.”
“I
beg you my lord. He is but a boy. He does not know any better.”
“Are
you afraid that if he approaches me and is wrong that I will kill him?” asked the
King.
“No,”
said the Elder. “Not at all. It’s just we wouldn’t want to… yes, my lord we
are.”
“If
you do nothing I will kill you all,” said the King. “Let the boy try and fail.
Better that than die wondering if you could have saved everyone.” The King
turned to the crowd. “Let. Him. Through.”
The
crowd parted and a young boy walked forward. Hs mother wept her hands reaching
out to the boy as he walked towards the King.
“Tell
me boy what is your name?”
“Alton,”
said the boy.
“Can
you fulfill my demand of love?”
Alton
reached into his pocket and pulled out a small ball of fur. He walked to the
King and held out his hands and the ball of fur. The King reached down and let
Alton place the ball in his hand.
The
King raised the ball to his face to get a closer look. When it was closer the
ball rolled over and stretched, it was a puppy; small and golden. The puppy stumbled
up on to its feet and looked at the King. The puppy sniffed the King’s face and
then licked his nose. Then licked it again and again.
“His
name is Eeyore,” said Alton.
The
King stood and turned to his men. “This village is safe. Tonight we feast and tomorrow
we return home.”
The
men cheered.
end
Bring Me Love
end
Bring Me Love
No comments:
Post a Comment