The Half Left Behind in Ghaoil

2/3/2021

A bridge cut and burned. One side has collapsed and the other is still suspended.

This sacred bridge once joined two kingdoms in the land of Ghaoil.

My kingdom is the half left behind; abandoned to ashes alone. Ended.

“My kingdom for my betrothed’s loyalty! I was her greatest ally and confidant.

What have I done to deserve ill-treatment of such irrational magnitude,

From the woman who chose to be my future wife?”,

I pledged and I cried words of that ilk, day and night.

Giving your all to someone special and cherished,

Only to eventually be regarded as unworthy once the fire wanes,

One cannot keep a fire meant for two alive on their own, so it begins to die.

“Being left alone with this dying fire in my heart is nearly chief among the most crushing feelings in the world,”

I said to my Father, the King of the lands of Ghaoil, in a private court.

“I’ve been isolated with unmet expectations, misplaced trust, once-shared fantasies of the future,

Her broken facade, and dark forces invading our lands with the intent of breaking down our strongholds, so they can destroy us.

The Enemy knows our kingdoms were stronger together, so he turned her against us, Father.”

I shed more tears of grief in mourning of the love I knew.

“The golden days are spoiled, broken, And all that remains is burnt chaff.

What is a man meant to do with the ashes?” I cried pleadingly as he dried my tears,

then embraced me as He said, “You both made mistakes and will continue to make mistakes,

but you and she are not mistakes. I still love you both with immeasurable amounts,

This is not the end for you, my son. My grace does not hold this failing against your account.”

What is a prince to do when his and his Love’s lands are besieged by the enemy of mankind,

Yet his lady refuses to even acknowledge that her once-beloved’s kingdom still exists and is also under threat of destruction?

“We were to be married and I swore to her my kingdom and my life,

Both of which You entrusted to me! Why has she chosen to abandon me, Father?

Despite all the arrows she’s deigned ‘civil’ to shoot over my walls,

Along with the seeds of deception she’s sewn among our courts,

I yet desire her fellowship; to feast,

Celebrate, comfort, encourage, embolden,

Embrace my Dearest.

My once-sweet princess, formerly my ardent ally and friend,

turns away and mocks our messengers pleading for peace,

And her kingdom’s aid with extreme prejudice.

Am I a fool to hope?

I require a graveyard to lay her scores of broken promises to rest.

The moon has waxed and waned a few times and now,

The part of me that still loves her is dying,

Slowly and has the drive to fight; to die in battle.

A worthy death would be better than living,

With the most sacred parts of body and soul left with a void,

Where she once was held sacred and blameless.

The Enemy sends me wretched letters mocking my condition,

Threats to uproot my foundations with his malice,

Relishing in his destruction of her kingdom.

My once-beloved decreed for her people to flee to a new land as a response.

I sent more letters with great speed imploring her once more,

I dare not recite such vile and merciless replies.

She was no longer the lady I knew I wished to rule with;

Now immature, bitter, and cruel… was it all a guise?

“I want to fight for her!”, I told my Father in a fit of desperation,

Regardless of the pain, she caused me.

“I’ll do anything in my power to aid her if she’ll just let me!”

Father calmed my unrest for her sake and prevented my protective instincts,

From driving me mad as he enlightened me with his wisdom.

“Patience, my son. Now is not the time for you to return to battle.

You are deeply wounded and need time to heal.

Until her pride shatters and she falls, she will remain as she is now,

Lost. However, fear not. I assure you that once she falls,

My hand will be there to catch her and I will restore her,

To better than she was before.

Behold that a mountain has grown before you, my son.”

“I sense its presence, Father. I have faith that someday,

That mountain will no longer impede my way,

You shall order it to be moved, it will move,

Then I will be filled with new purpose.”

What lies beyond is uncertain.

Will there be a more honorable, loyal, and loving woman,

For me to be found when my kingdom can explore

Beyond the pass between the peaks,

Through the curtain to distant shores?

Will my Beloved be restored to me?

More grief and tears are found in the well of uncertainty.

Darkness descends on the land of Ghaoil,

Yet fires of hope burn again in my kingdom.

My lady’s kingdom was broken when I found it.

I had helped her rebuild it as best I could.

Will her people survive this war alone?