It was bright spring morning. Dawns in the land of Sainted Lakes were something special. And tenderness of those dawns led loyal folks of king Talantus to peaceful feeling that land of their fathers" is best on the Earth, and to be such a wonder at least till the End of The World. Which was inevitable according to prophets and saints of this land, which was abound of good and righteous people in its private and really inimitable way. Generous in fruits and cattle Sainted Lakes" land were teaching benevolent folks the lesson to be generous in the love to fellow beings. And this lovely day of April was doomed to be the day of great sacrifice- the king Talantus was going to offer on the castle altar in midday his biggest white ox to attain merci of Savior, the only God of this land. Now God"s divine grace was to be dedicated to king"s only child, princess Lavinia. She was in her mid-teens, or if to put it down more accurate- fifteen. Pretty girl of slim figure, innocent looks and freckles. The last thing, as we must notice, was the sign of royal blood in her. And in these days freckles could be seen on only this awfully rare occasion, and acknowledgement of this fact sometimes made Lavinia"s virgin heart to beat faster with girlish pride, she felt in these moments that her utmost beauty is a sort of prophecy of her unusually happy future, as we must to admit- girls since then changed very little, and she was, like girls are now-a-days, dreaming of prince charming whose soul to be devout to her caprices. Not a plausible attitude, you know, but with girls that know of their almost unbelievable beauty, with girls that know that all others know about it, the situation is always on verge of funny conclusion that these young princesses are not all there, sorry for the ruthless wording.
This morning was breaking into existence in gentle way that was not to disturb those sleeping and, the same time, was to raise cheerful atmosphere in minds of those who already woke up and started to fulfill their daily duties. These working class and priesthood people were already occupied with their affairs after short but obligatory morning prayers at the saint altars in their houses and on the main squares of their villages.
Sun seemed smiling to the land of Sainted Lakes. And land of Sainted Lakes seemed smiling to the sun with its flowers, fields of corn, forests and famous lakes that gave their name to this land because of purity and medical aspects of their waters which had always been full with fish and lilies.
The castle of king Talantus was already busy with servants, bakers, cooks, and other people so plain of rank and unseen in day-by-day life that their names had not survived till our days. Only few of them now remained in historic rolls of fame. One of them was Nadine, the maid general of princess Lavinia. She was named after her mother, who was in her time maid general of Lavinia"s mother. These Nadine girls were very industrious ones in their time, they had to rise early and after brief washing of their lively and intelligent faces went to prepare dresses and bijoux for their young princesses.
When princess Lavinia"s mother was dying after giving birth to her only child, she asked her best friend in the world, her maid general, you know name of this girl was Nadine, to give birth to maid general for her daughter, and at the end of that year, little Nadine was borne and destined to fate of faithful service to the court and especially to another little girl, who, then in gilded cradle, was waiting for days to come and fortune to fulfill.
1.2
Lavinia slept in her bedroom in her father"s castle. Her rich bed was adorned with flowers of spring, and above her head hung the tapestry with brave prince with freckles on lovely face and in expensive armors. He was riding white horse since occasion when father presented this thing to her at her third birthday. And since the day, the boy, prince was the beautiful boy, was night guest of Lavinia"s dreams. They walk along lakes, they rode chariot, they sometimes kissed, but the latter was secret from the universe. The dearest bijou of Lavinia"s heart, it was considered in her private opinion as only her bijou that was true.
Nadine entered into Lavinia bed-room with little silver bell announcing the time to rise for the princess. Lavinia showed her face from under the blanket with grimace of intolerance to any disturbance of her privacy.
"It"s time to pray, princess." Nadine said as if she had not seen Lavinia"s face.
"Pray, pray. Night and day." Princess teased her sitting up.
"Good people are always praying in the morning." Nadine, long ago accustomed to ways of life in royal family, was steadfast at her duties.
"Good people have no need in praying. God is already on their side and inclined to bless every need of those he loves," Lavinia retorted in her usual morning stubborn mood.
"But why, if you"re right, saints dedicate to prayer most of the time?" Nadine simply asked.
"I think it is old-fashioned tricks," Lavinia proceeded in arrogant mood.
"And if so, their wonder-working is old-fashioned tricks, too," Nadine was unable to hide her wise and sensitive smile.
"Would be. Who need wonders now-a-days? Ill beggars? Stupid crones? Gullible illiterate men? Who?" Lavinia was inexorable.
"I think wonders are needed by every one. Everybody has his grief and sorrow to relieve, sickness to heal, and vital problem to solve," Pious heart of Nadine found due words with steady effort.
"But we have friends for sorrows, doctors for sickness and king to cope with any problem," Lavinia now spoke looking baldly in the eyes of her maid general.
"You speak as haughty princess, if you can see the world as sage one, you"ll know that not everything can be helped by friends, doctors and kings." Nadine sighed.
"This must be appraised as sign of disloyalty?" Lavinia raised her eyebrow.
"Just as you wish. But I beg Your Highness to rise, then though shortly but to pray, then to dress something appropriate, and then..." Nadine began.
"It"s enough, my dear Nadine. Let"s get praying." Lavinia interrupted her.
They kneeled at the window with view to altar of castle, lifted their hands and sang three hymns- first to glorify the God, second to ask Him for mercy, and third to declare their love for Him forever and ever. Getting on her feet Lavinia suddenly asked Nadine.
"Do you remember the knight. Fluctuantius is his name. He was at our last tournament, and won it."
"That who all the time boasted about his riches and exploits."
"Don"t be so rude. He made a several advances to me," Lavinia said.
"I"m awfully sorry to hear."
"But he is rich."
"He is not of royal blood," Nadine retorted.
"Don"t be such a fool. The royal blood is no more ruler of world. The things gold is doing, no king can do."
"You speak like commoner," Nadine smiled.
"But I"m right."
"Noble soul is stronger then gold."
"But even noble soul without purse is nothing."
"I don"t want to go in the theme."
"Don"t give up! You can make me better girl, Nadine."
"There is no better for best."
"I love this line of thought."
Nadine approached wardrobe to choose Lavinia"s dress for the day, and looking at the purple pillow in it she had not found princess" diamond diadem, the symbol of her principality.
"Your Highness, your diadem is stolen."
"Don"t drivel, I was undressed by another maid, and there was no diadem. I think it just was left somewhere. I danced at the yesterday ball till the end and I took off the thing in the middle of the night and it would be in any place in ball-room."
"You must be more careful with signs of your power in future."
"My power is only to obey my father, and to avoid pleading for all little needs of modest girl who want a comfort of paternal understanding."
"Take this dress, Your Highness, I"ll help you to fasten its clasps, and we go to seek it."
After mounting complicated attire on royal figure of Lavinia, they set forth to ball-room of castle. It had still kept traces of yesterday ball. Tables and chairs were covered with colorful ribbons. Pieces of meals and puddles of wines were on the floor. Instruments of musicians were left on the scene, beside them there sat Ririo, clown of king"s retinue. He was funny midget, with soft eyes, and brisk laughter, ready to outburst in every possible moment. Ririo turned his face to girls when heard them approaching.
"Nice morning, Highness. What about the breakfast with me. I see nice apple on the floor- we can go in shares for it, if you please."
"God bless you fools. You can kiss my hand, poor Ririo, to apologize for improper behavior." Lavinia gave him her hand for kissing.
"No matter how improper general politeness is, I am to obey." He blew his kiss to her hand not rising from his place. "I never knew that inviting to the restorative addressed to those who need it is felony in your eyes."
"Poor ugly, you know what I mean," princess said and sat down in her chair. "Do you know by the way where my diadem is?"
"Every fool in the castle knows it."
"And would this every fool show me the way."
"The way is only to stand up and get here." Ririo showed her the diadem which was lying behind him.
"Look, Nadine. I was right- gold will always find its way."
"What do you mean, Highness." Ririo said throwing to Lavinia her diadem.
"We were discussing with Nadine super power of our days."
"And that mighty one was gold?" Ririo asked askance.
"How many wits are in this awkward head!"
"Then I wish to propose little song, one of my latest. The ripe product of gift not to be compared with any in tough poetic business." Ririo said rubbing his sleepy eyes.
"Then we are all the ear, Ririo. Sit down, Nadine, let him make the morning funny."
Ririo took the lyre from scene, and after two or three skillful chords performed the next.
"I feel somewhere that I will die.
No matter how. No matter why.
But it is laughable to think
That death can peace and make and bring.
On tomb of mine will dance new folk
And name of mine will be small-talk.
And purse of mine- the laughing-stock,
With certain hearts will pay its joke."
Lavinia shortly applauded and then, turning to go back, said to Ririo.
"Good piece, my fool, you are deserved your apple on the floor."
He smiled at her back and whispered to himself.
"God bless your heart, my princess."
1.3
King Talantus was old warrior and had simple habits. He never permitted to his servant to make his modest face to blush. He served himself in all his needs. He loved to go hunting alone, to make light lunch from his game. He woke up always early, kept especially long morning prayers for about an hour and then usually went to the library where he was reading books about ancient kings and their kingdoms, about flood that effaced life on the Earth, about brave and honest man who saved human race from perdition in those terrible days, also he especially loved books about travels in distant lands he never saw, about food, animals and languages of those lands. He had tender heart and quick imagination and that opened to him the unseen and the mysterious.
He was clever ruler of his lands. People were not overtaxed, they had regular feasts, and education even among poorest wasn"t rare thing. The first care of king Talantus was weaker ones. He watched that the orphans, the aged, the ailing, and the poor had enough from his treasury. And in the midday he himself was visiting gates of his castle to give alms to beggars, and he knew almost all of them by the name.
When Delio, chief priest of his kingdom, and Ririo, the clown, entered into his chamber that morning, king was still praying on his knees. When he heard them coming he asked them.
"Pray with me, my friends, and would be Savior will show to-day his mercy to us."
"We willingly do what you wish. But what to pray about?" Delio said.
"I feel I must die and very soon. But I want to see my only child happy."
"Then you should not indulge her, Your Majesty." Ririo chuckled.
"No time for laughter, brothers. I am old. And I know that in very short time Lavinia will became the orphan. What I can do to protect her."
"Only way, I think, is to marry her off and do it quick."
"Oh, Delio. You see me through. But marry off to whom."
Delio raised his hands.
"Good heavens. You"re asking me to whom. The kings or heirs can only be contenders for her hand. Daughter of great king must became wife of great king, too."
"I think otherwise, Your Majesty."
"What do you think Ririo?"
"She was educated by fool, namely me. She accustomed to my follies, of which main is poetic gift. She must marry poet. Great poet, for I was great fool."
"Thank you, brothers. Please, kneel down with me. And let"s pray to marry her off to great king who is in the same time the great poet. Must he be also the great fool, Ririo?" King smiled.
"Not necessarily. Poet is enough."
In the midday dozen of silver trumpets sounded over central square of castle, where was situated the altar. King among priests and his faithful knights in something long but lively procession came out from doors of chamber of state counsel. King loved to hear advices from nearly everybody from beggars to his daughter. But especially he loved words of wisdom from Ririo and Delio. Delio was always serious when Ririo was always laughable from first word to last. Even in awful grieves Ririo had often found spot for mockery. And those who were ready to weep a moment ago with Ririo"s cracks had burst with roar of ha-ha and no one could hush them then. They were uncontrollable.
When procession stopped at the center of square between death-stone, where each sacrificed animal was to die, and altar, where it was to be burnt down for sake of God, king lifted his hands and said.
"Be blessed those who in love for they are improving this world! Be blessed those who in war for they are fighting for peace! Be blessed the young and the old for they are alive! Be blessed cruel and merciful for they are humans! Be blessed all in all and each in each! Be blessed our God, The Savior, for He loves us though we are mean and sinful! Amen."
He put his hand on the head of his biggest white ox, and led it to death-stone where according to his life long custom beheaded the animal with his sword in one stroke. Then king took body of ox on his shoulders and slowly brought it to the altar. When king Talantus was young it was pleasure to him to perform this with his strength and agility. But with years it was getting harder and harder to bring body of ripe ox to altar from death-stone. It always took twelve steps. But now everybody could see that face of Talantus was pale and covered with perspiration. King felt that his heart was beating weaker and weaker, he felt that he was about to die. But he would have never postponed this sacrifice for he vowed to God that he was going to do it for sake of Lavinia, his daughter. "She must be happy in her life," he thought. "She must be happy, even if I won"t see it. And she must meet her love, this king and poet boy." When he put body of ox on the altar he already knew that it was his last sacrifice in this life. He put on fire the wood under the ox with torch given by Delio, and held hands lifted to the Heavens till appearance of blue smoke above the altar, which was always sign of the God"s acceptance of sacrifice. His heart was about to stop.
"Oh, Savior, bless my little Lavinia. From now on she is in your hands."
It was his last words. He fell breathless before the altar.
1.4
The funeral service was to have place the next day. King was lying in his coffin with soft countenance with which he died. Lavinia on that night was tired of her tears. From time to time she fell asleep and again woke up and sank in melancholy. Nadine was always near, she had not slept. When Lavinia woke up last time and felt that she cannot sleep more, she told to Nadine.
"Now my life is useless. No one will help me. And the main shortcoming of my new situation that no one will help me to get married in proper way."
"Why you"re so sure?"
"Father had sense of people. He could spot the man in a jiffy. I am too naïve to be able for any of this spot-the-man practices. I"ll be cheated out of my kingdom in one day."
"But you have your knights, and people who love you."
"They love power but not me. Don"t be ridiculous."
"I don"t agree. But you can make them to revere and venerate you, if you try."
"I"m not so rich."
"Your Highness, in ways of love the gold is nothing."
"In ways of gold the love is nothing. That"s right, I think, dear."
"But what the gold is menace to your throne."
"Not precisely gold, but I think someone with comparatively strong army can approach my people with more convenient taxes."