Someone Else's Kingdom, BOOK II - Scene LXXX

Brynnyfirdia stood alone in the dark sea. Night had fallen, and the fires burned, as the island inhabitants made their plans to defend against the coming invasion. However, a few on the island were making plans to leave. Liofia, Julen and Goola had all fixed their hearts: they were going. Of the gang it was only Box that hadn't come around to Liofia's way of thinking. She looked like a hard, but tiny pebble as she stood there defiantly. Yet, her weight was like a boulder to the three others. They simply couldn't contemplate leaving without her.

"I can't leave," she insisted, "We left the half-tails, now we're leaving again. I can't do it. Look around at the people preparing to make a stand. I don't want to run away and leave them alone to fate as well."

"Most of these people know it's futile trying to fight," retorted Liofia, her tone soft and heavy, "I share the sentiment, but there's nothing we can do. Nothing at all. We can't help."

"It really is foolish to stay," added Goola, insistently, as she tried in desperation to peck at Box's stubbornness, though the words only rung bells in her own mind. Reminding her of long ago, when they'd first trundled into the Maiden Lands - before they'd even met the Princess Liofia.

"Remember the fool, sat waiting in Fools' Harbour," she pleaded, "Throwing his life away for a hopeless cause."

Box remembered the story equally well. The foolish young duke, who'd waited and yearned for the return of the merchant's daughter, only to find disappointment after so many wasted years. It was a corny tale, for sure, but it had left an impact. The sad, but no doubt apocryphal, story now having an air of poetry beyond the blood and war they'd all witnessed.

"I took a different meaning from it," replied Box, determinedly, "I think he was wise."

"Wise?" interrupted Julen, finally entering the conversation, "He wasted his life waiting for a girl who had no idea who he was."

"Well, maybe not wise ..but noble. Heroic, kind of."

"But she didn't even know who he was. He allowed himself to believe in something that wasn't real, based on barely anything ..and he wasted most of his life for it."

"But he loved her, his love was real," noted Box, finding resolve in the tale, "Just because she didn't feel it back doesn't mean his wasn't real. He took the chance. He remained dedicated and never abandoned her. Kinda brave. Plus, imagine if it had worked out. Imagine if she had felt the same and he'd given up on her. If anything the fact that he went to that length at such cost to himself proves the realness of love more. Sure, I know, not everyone can be that idealistic. Most people have to be practical - not so foolish - but surely someone has to take the risk. Someone has to prove that love is worth wasting your life for. That things are worth dying for."

"So, you want to die on this island, just to prove that someone will die for it?" piqued Liofia.

"I'm not saying I want to die. I'm just saying I feel like I need to be brave enough to take the risk."

"And we'll all die needlessly with you too, because of this," added Goola, moodily. Still finding the idea of leaving Box almost impossible to envisage.

"The fool didn't want other people to stay and waste their lives with him, and neither do I. I want you to go, because that's what you want to do. I'm just explaining me."

"You should take the fool as your standard," laughed Julen, "Perhaps the blacksmith will carve the image into your sword hilt if you're quick."

Box laughed, and as she did she felt a touch embarrassed that she was being so dramatic. Still, her desire to stay was unshaken. She looked up at the starry night sky and wondered if she was indeed being foolish. What was the purpose of all this? Why was she here? She then remembered the half-tails, who were no doubt fighting hard in the cool forest air at that very moment. They knew what they were fighting for. Still, nevertheless, the bigger questions remained. She then looked back at her three friends. For the first time she noticed how different Liofia looked. Her once girlish figure more adult and clumsy. Far more practical than ideal. The shawls around her body, like rugged waves on a rounded earth. The stars above her head a sparkling holy crown. She did indeed look royal, but not as they had once imagined her to be, in the days long before, when they'd wandered the streets of Patina, hopeful for a glimpse of her enigmatic presence. Now she looked more living, and less like a fairy story princess. In fact, even Julen and Goola looked older and more earthy. As she surveyed her sister with affection she noticed the still-bright red rubies in the ring on her hand. The ring that Liofia had given her after Eldskeep had been killed. She then held the ring that hung on the chain around her own neck between her fingers, pondering their twin-like connection. Her amber stone a more pallid hue. She knew their lives would now be branching off. It was a hard moment of realisation, but it just felt meant to be.