Xenolilly

Day of Truth

"Have you come to fight me Princess?" Asked Jubal in long drolling tone.
''I need to know how to rule, and you are the possessor of knowledge. Since you refuse to restore the books in the Library. I must take the information from you." I stated.
"Look at you armor and everything... everything but a weapon. I suppose that's why you're here. What would you like? Would you like a sword? A dagger perhaps? No. You're a Queen as you say. You need a broad sword."
Jubal lifted a large broad sword off of its mount on the wall. He wielded it with ease. He flipped it in the air and handed handle first to me. I felt myself shake. This was a two handed broadsword, obviously much too heavy for me to carry let alone fight with. My thoughts raced. Should I try to take it? How do I deny it? Why am I shaking? How will I not look foolish? This whole thing is foolish. I can't fight this man, but how else am I to get him to speak, and speak the truth? As I thought these thoughts Jubal scoffed and placed the broadsword back in its place.
"Little Princess, I'd say it is time for you to go home." Said Jubal mock sweetly.
"I can't go. Not even if I wanted to." I said with tears welling up in my eyes.
"But I tell you can. There is a great stone circle just outside the city. Stand on it at the right time of day, and world keeper will grant you passage home. It's that simple. No more confusion for you little dear. Just homework, but you can ask a tutor to help you out with that. No more little lives depending on you. Just look after yourself. You won't be hurting anyone that way, and in your own small way you can make your own world better. Now how does that sound?" Asked Jubal.
"Leave my people alone with you? No."
"Yes, your presence makes them so much safer." Jubal bellowed sarcastically. "We're at the brink of war, a portion of your people are enchanted, and the rest live in terror, hiding in their houses by their night lights. They don't need you. If anything you make things worse."
I remembered the looks on the children's faces before they vanished. It was the look of horror and betrayal. They had so much faith that I would keep them safe. I didn't mean it. I didn't mean to let that happen. I wished that I was better. I wished that I was someone else. Someone more worthy of being Queen. Then just when I would have despaired, a feeling gripped my heart. I was given this task. Be it a mistake or not it is mine. I am the one that fails or succeeds, and no one will rob me of that.
"This is my kingdom. My destiny, and you have no place in it." I said standing tall, but still shaking.
"That would be difficult." Jubal smiled a wide smile, and wider, and wider. His smile stretched so far that his face tore into two. Underneath his broken face was another face.
"The statues!" I gasped.
Slowly all of Jubal's rubbery body peeled away. What was left was my own ugly image.
"I told you. I made them of you at your best. Not as the simpering idiot who flies about like a bird."

Cloudy Day

"Jubal, I need to know how to clean the blotted out books in the Library." I commanded on one overcast day.
"There is no need for that. Little Princess, anything you wish to know from those books I can tell you." He replied.
"I want to know for myself." I said irked.
"It hurts that you do not trust me." He mewed. "I have never betrayed you, and if you had kept to my advice, the Fay would have been appeased by now. Instead not only are they against you but the dwarves have renounced you.  The Mer-people laugh at you, and your own people fear you."
I was fully aware of the situation. Jubal's intent was to torment rather than to inform, and he succeeded. How was I to get out of this mess? My mind was filled with discouragement, as I tried again, in vain, to clean the old library books.
"You have no choice you know." Whispered Minkyoung. "You must get the information from Jubal."
I shake my head.
"There has to be another way. He's the devil incarnate. Nothing good can come from him. Even good thoughts become twisted and wrong." I counter.
"I don't mean for you to ask him for it. I mean for you to take it." She explained.
She looked at me with her shining deep set eyes. There was so much hope there. A hope that I would understand. That I'd know how to follow her plan. I had seen that look enough that the mere glimpse of it filled my heart with remorse for my inadequacy. However, I had to try. I had to fight.
I glided to my room. I was immediately greeted by my ladies in waiting. They changed me out of my gown and into a long silk shirt and slacks. The silk was spider silk. the strongest and rarest material in the world. Over that attire they placed cotton padding. They pulled my hair back in a high tight braid, before they finally pulled chain mail over my head, and clasped plate armor over the chain mail. The ladies assured me that it was the lightest armor available, and yet I felt terribly encumbered. It had to be endured. I had to be ready for whatever was ahead. There were no weapons in my suite. I had to make a long trek to the armory. Jubal was there to greet me.

A Day with the Fairy Queen

I paced before the gate to the gardens. The Queen of the Fay people herself was to meet me there. I paused to peer over the gate. Inside, little babies slept nestled inside cabbage plants. I'd say they were adorable, but... there sleep was too sound. A sense of dread filled me like nothing would wake them. Suddenly, the woman I was waiting for appeared behind me.
"I see you care for the children."
I turned to see the Queen of the Fay. She shimmered in a dress made of wild water's foam, pink crystals, and bubbles. Her voice was ethereal and soothing, and her very presence radiated warmth and goodness. My response to her got caught in my throat. I stood before her soundlessly mouthing words, like a fish on land.
"Do not fear me. We are peers you and I." She cooed.
"I'm overwhelmed. You look like a dream, like a memory from my childhood." I stammered.
"It is right for you to think so. I care for all children. That is why I enchanted the wee babes. A queen is to protect the children, and not use them for political gain." She said firmly.
"I had no direct part in what happened that night. That doesn't absolve my guilt, but it is the truth. I will do everything in my power to set things right." I said earnestly.
She lowered her eyes. I saw flecks of sparkles on her long lashes. Her thoughts seemed to take her far away from me.
"I believe you believe that, but that simply is not true." She whispered.
"It is true!" I implored. "I had no desire for any of people to come to any harm. I will do whatever it takes to succeed."
Her eyes flashed up at me.
"Put Jubal back in the dungeon, and throw away the key." She commanded.
Anguish filled me. I never ordered his release. (I didn't know how.) How was I to put him back? Jubal himself claimed it was impossible, and he was my sole source of knowledge. I choked back tears as I said, "I would if I could."
"Then the children shall sleep. I'd enchant every child in your country. If I had the authority to do so. I am full of sorrow for you. There is no hope for this world if you cannot come to your senses."
With those words, the Queen vanished. Leaving me alone with my anguish and shame.

My Latest Sculpture

The Day of Pain

All my life, I've either gone to weep on my bed or an isolated corner somewhere unseen. Yet that day of pain, in Mist world, I am not some random female needing to hide her tears. I was Queen of the Children, Princess of Souls, Duchess of the seas, and Empress of the Lands. They would know my grief. I sat straight up on the polished throne. I wore my diadem, and let the tears fall. They splattered on my dress.
"Your majesty, consider the moral of the people." Whispered Grayson.
"I have. They must know I made a mistake, and that I mourn for it." I replied.
"Yes, but tears do not solve problems." Said Grayson gently.
"Am I to be escorted home now? Since, I've failed?" I asked.
Before Grayson could answer the doors smack open at the opposite end of the room. Out strode Jubal, his black coat glossy, and shimmering as he moved. His face too seemed to have layer of gloss over it. It reminded of dead people touched up for their funerals. He grinned widely at me.
"Success! The darkling forces have kept their end of the bargain. They have retreated, and will gladly swear their allegiance to you in the twelfth month."
My tears stopped. A coldness gripped my heart. I hated him more than I had ever hated anyone, but he did not hold the lions share of my anger. I held that for myself. Ultimately, I was to blame. This truth did not quench my hatred for Jubal.
"My children have suffered." I uttered.
Jubal tossed his right hand in the air. Disregarding my words.
"Do not disrespect the Queen." Commanded Grayson.
"Your highness, if you are worried about the children, don't be. They are safely nestled in the gardens likely being reborn as we speak." Said Jubal poison-sweet.
"The gardens have been placed under a sleeping spell. In addition, its gates have been locked with an enchantment. The Fay folk are angry. They sent me word that the children will not be reborn so long as we have such ties with the Darkling forces." I spat out each word. Sickened by the fact that he remained my advisor.
"The Fay must be appeased. Diplomacy is a process. I'll ready the appeasement at once." Said Jubal lightly. Nothing ever worried him.
"No. Your role is to advise. Not lead. This is my country not yours. I may be ignorant, but I know what you authorized last night was not right. I will handle the Fay." I commanded.
Jubal's face steeled and widened. His long fingers brushed his hair out of his eyes. This motion made some of the gloss fall like crumbs from his face. He spoke.
"Princess Annabelle, understand that there is no putting me back into that dungeon. I am here to stay."

Mourning for the trees

My Father and two of my uncles own a farm. It's incorporated now. I'm not sure what all that entails, but it seems like my Dad's quarter of the farm is less influential. The Uncle that owns half of the farm makes all of the decisions. I suppose that is fit considering his share. However I was truly grieved about his most recent "improvement" to the farm. He decided that there wasn't enough land to grow crops. So he felled half of our forest. The trees were bulldozed. This injured them to the point where they won't be useful for much more than woodchips. Many of these trees were at least many decades old. (They were full grown, when I was a baby twenty five years ago.) I'm guessing that many of them were well over one hundred.
These beautiful enduring giants were knocked down for no great purpose. The farm grows corn to feed the cows. It is not sold. It's not even good for the cows to eat. Grass and alfalfa is far better for them. None working at the farm will receive a pay raise, but the cows will have more corn. That's like knocking down a forested park, in a poor neighborhood, to build a fast food place. Admittedly, that's a worse crime. However, I cannot help but to feel just as sick. that forest was home to many wild animals. It was a refuge. Now most of it is gone.
I am sorry trees. I am sorry that you didn't live to your fullest extent. I am sorry that your corpses were not used to their fullest extent. That you'll never again hold birds nests in your branches, or bunnies burrows in your roots. That you won't live on as a table or house. I am so very sorry. I mourn for your deaths. Trees are amazing creatures. Alive like any other plant, but with more longevity, and purpose above all others. They clean our air most efficiently. Their leaves nurture the soil.  Their branches hold life. Even at times human life. (Who doesn't love a tree house?) Upon your death, paper, buildings, boats, furniture, and art work can be made from you. Not to mention, your nut and fruit bearing brethren. They provide food each season. Air, food, shelter, and beauty this is what a tree provides. Dear trees, you are crucial to human life. I will strive to prevent the rest of your forest from being destroyed. I hope too that those reading this will fight for the trees in their community as well.