Goldest and the Kingdom of Thorns

by Joanne Durda

  A few of the Willow Warriors entered the dining hall carrying romantic, decorative wreaths with red berries, white flowers and white satin bows, without any trace of thorns. Behind them walked Octagon and the stumbling Imbecile, with Onion helping to pick him up. The dining hall grew quiet; the music stopped. Octagon bowed his head first to Goldest and Esbri, then to Ushi and the Tooth Fairy Princess, and last, but not least, to Savagio and Floriana. All sat and waited for Octagon to speak first.

  “We bear gifts of flowered wreaths – minus the thorns – from the Kingdom of Thorns as wedding presents for the Ladybug Castle,” Octagon gallantly stated. He then laid down a grayish cloth bundle on the floor. “Inside are candles made from the juice of tangerines to attract prosperity and love. You will also find incense cones of tangerines with the candles – all made by us ancient Monks.”

  Savagio had taken notice that the Monks were attired in white gowns with exotic red-hooded robes instead of their normal gray or black-hooded robes.

  “I see there is a dramatic change in their dress and demeanor,” Savagio whispered to Ushi.

  “Their bearing is filled with the utmost respect. I see a change taking place amongst us here today,” Ushi responded.

  “Something tells me it is a transformation for the good of all the kingdoms,” Savagio remarked smartly.

  A regal Goldest stood up from the table in respect to Octagon. She bowed her head to him, and was not surprised to see him there. They must break through their shame and start over again, thought an unbiased Goldest to herself. She wanted him to feel welcomed and respected after all that had taken place between the ancient Monks and her. That was part of being a just Queen and ruling over a kingdom, thought a very wise Goldest to herself as she faced Octagon. She said, “How great-hearted and thoughtful, and very much appreciated. The wreaths are stunning and shall be hung in this main dining hall. The scent of tangerine is most alluring and is worth the love that it calls upon. Why did not Theo bring the gifts himself?” Thus her private thoughts were voiced out loud, revealing her suspicions. Octagon’s reply was not long in coming.

  “One night, not too long ago, he was seen in the fields holding his own private, symbolic ritual under full light of the full moon. Theo’s rage was so great after losing his Thorn Warrior Army to a bunch of ladybugs. His ego and self-trust were tarnished and crushed, even though he denied it. He called forth the shadows of the dead and invited them to partake in this evil rite. It was the night of the eclipse of the moon. No other Monk dared go out there to be with him. All came in for the night. It is against the Monks’ long-held belief to be out and in the open when there is an eclipse of the moon, when the shadows of the dead have risen to roam the open night, feasting on the evil sins of the earth. Evil spirits are conveniently evoked during a midnight eclipse of the moon, and are partial to us ancient Monks.

  “A horrid, covenantal ritual is set up to convene with the shadows of death, which would enshroud the essence of the ancient Monks’ souls if called upon – return the essence of our minds to emptiness, and release our souls into the unknown, making us empty shells, lacking the intelligence and wisdom that we were naturally born with from our past ancestors, who belong to our ceremonial covenant.

  “The uninvited shadows of the dead come forth and rule over our souls and knowledge, which could bring about disaster and destruction. We lock ourselves in our rooms as we burn frankincense in urns and pots for protection, and to remove unwanted evil influences. Darkness had covered over us and our kingdom for a while.

  “Only Theo was not amongst us, but in the fields hovering over his raised burning structures with the disembodied shadows of the dead. When the moon came to be again, a dark, headless shadow in a Monk’s robe was seen riding a black horse with four white stockings above the hooves, galloping across the fields under full light of the newly awakened moon, which was not shining white as it should have been, but was a cream color.

  “Theo is still with us, but he has no shadow. He appears to be frivolous and hollow with no pneuma, quite unlike the strong, unyielding Monk that he once was,” Octagon explained continuously.

  “But we are forever on the alert and have a watchful guard, because we do not know what mysterious, secret bond Theo had made with the unfleshly shadows that night,” Onion added, making sure that others were warned.

  “A-a-and the f-f-face of the m-m-moon c-c-carries a f-f-frown now,” Imbecile managed to get out, wanting others to look at the unhappy moon, too.

  Octagon noticed that everyone at the long table had leaned forward and listened intently to his explanation. Some of the women had gasped. Silence prevailed, waiting for Octagon to take the lead again. Everyone seemed infatuated with him. Some of the royal females stared at him in fascination, or as if they were enamored of him. Octagon knew he was a handsome Monk, with the stunning red robe making him more alluring and dramatic with such colorful, baroque ladies of the Court.

  He continued to explain, “I am now overseeing the affairs of the Kingdom of Thorns. My Brothers wanted me to be their mentor and esteemed leader, and they, my obedient followers.”

  Savagio now took over the questioning. “And might I ask what is the futile Theo doing?”

  “He is now the gardener to our exotic, temperamental herbal gardens. The Council decided he needed to soil his hands a bit,” Octagon told them.

  “A Council has been formed now?” Savagio asked with curiosity.

  “Meek, Alme, Onion, Oxon, Radish, Emm, Sooth, Asp and Bean decided to develop a Council for the sake of the kingdom, and I was to be at its head.”

  Now the King of the Willows was more than curious and said, “I am sure Theo did not like that. I am surprised he did not set fire to his kingdom and all – or plan an attack on you with these bodiless shadows of the dead that he called upon. How in demon’s name did you overpower him?”

  Octagon smiled. “We had a little help from Frangelico and Carlos, with some of their Gypsy Warriors. They had put their superstitions to rest for a short time.”

  The table looked at Frangelico and Carlos, and they nodded their heads in acknowledgment at what was said.

  “There will be nothing to fear from the Kingdom of Thorns, now that Octagon is in charge. He will rule with a compassionate heart as well as with all the knowledge and wisdom that he has gathered and accrued by study throughout his many years in the Domain,” Frangelico told them all.

  “I intend on putting our innermost hidden heritage of talents and mental powers to work for the benevolence and well-being of all within the Domain,” a most gracious Octagon remarked as he bowed his head to all.

  “We will earn our noble esteem and respect back,” Onion added.

  “Henceforth, the gypsies will, from time to time, keep a third eye on that Kingdom,” Carlos added. “It is up to we gypsies to make sure Octagon has no persistent, pestering shadows lurking to seize control of that Kingdom.”

  “Why, I need a keeper to stand watch over my prized cherry trees! Please inform Theo that he is welcome to do that,” a thoughtful King of the Willows, with other intentions, said to Octagon.

  Octagon bowed his head in respect to the King, saying simply, “I will do that, sir.”

  The Queen of the Willows elbowed the King and whispered, “Is this wise?”

  The King smiled at her and patted her hand. “Do not fret, my dear; Shadow can keep an eye on him.”

  But in the King’s mind, he concluded that he would take the troublesome, heartless, fleshly Monk away from his own kingdom and keep his own watchful fleshly guards hovering over him at all times. Theo may be without shadow now, but his men will always have theirs, thought the crafty King to himself. He did not wish to alarm his Queen or the guests present, but kept the real reason sealed. He would find some way later to have Theo discreetly brought to his Kingdom of the Willows. It was the best outcome for everyone. A man, especially a Monk, without a shadow can be even more dangerous and deadly than the shadows themselves, thought a
knowing and shrewd King. He sighed heavily in his deep deliberations.

  The Queen heard him sigh heavily and looked deeply into the eyes of her thoughtful husband, and knew immediately that something was amiss and he was stirring in the ingredients, himself I will deal with him and his underhandedness later, thought the sharp Queen of the Willows to herself.

  “You must all be famished from the long ride. Come, please join in the festivities and fill your plate. I will have my maidens fix up a castle room for you by my cellars, since all the other rooms are occupied,” Goldest told the Monks.

  “Thank you for your kind hospitality,” a satisfied Octagon replied.

  “I do not wish for you to ride immediately back to your kingdom. You need to eat and rest; and perhaps, we may engage in conversation about what your plans are, now that you, Octagon, are their notable leader,” Goldest said to Octagon. “You and I should make haste our friendship and seal our futures together. We may need one another some day,” a prudent Queen of the Ladybug Kingdom added, with power to her words.

  “You are a remarkably astute and sagacious Queen, my Lady,” Octagon remarked slowly.

  Octagon, Imbecile and Onion bowed their heads and went to the long side table to gather food and drink. The beauteous wreaths were taken away to be hung later, along with the tangerine candles and incense cones.

  Ushi stood up. “It is time to dance again.”

  Ushi, the Tooth Fairy Princess, Goldest, Esbri, Savagio and Floriana rose up from their seats, left the table and proceeded out to the dance floor. The King of the Willows, bowing to the Queen of the Willows, took the Queen’s hand in the dance, and Aparicio took Lowilla’s hand. They too proceeded out on to the dance floor. They all gracefully danced a waltz, side by side, to the slow, romantic music. The lovely melody made eyes grow tearful.

  “Why, what has happened to your wild dancing, my Lord?” the Queen of the Willows asked the King in a mocking manner.

  “Here I am trying to tire you out, and instead, I’m the one who is tiring!” the King remarked back to her, farting abundantly.

  “Tsk, tsk,” the Queen shook her head. “I see – too much exotic food and drink! I think it is time to put you away for the night.”

  “And what about you, my Lady?” the King asked suspiciously.

  The Queen smiled back at him. “Now, now, no playful tactics tonight. Leave them be with each other,” the King told her sharply. Then he added as an afterthought, “You can tuck me in tonight instead of them, my Queen.” The king chuckled sinisterly.

  A contented and gleeful Augean watched them dance for a while.

  Then she realized that someone was missing here. “Marcus, Marcus!” she whispered to herself. She looked around the room as she realized that he should be here with them all. Goldest was his friend, as we all were, she told herself. I wonder where he is at now and what he is doing? she wondered. Will I ever see him again – will we all ever see him again? she asked herself.

  Then her thoughts turned to her newly appointed roommate and friend, Lady Vexilla. She was fascinated with her and found her lovely, smart and very wise. Shadow accepted her and treated her delicately, because he was not sure how to respond to her. He knew Augean was quite fond of her and Vexilla was kindly and considerate towards Augean.

  Augean laughed at how Goldest had brought in more potted plants and even trees in her castle room to make Vexilla feel more at home. I feel like I am sleeping in a forest instead of a bedroom now, Augean giggled to herself. Her thoughts floated back to the dance floor.

  “Come on, Shadow, you can be my partner,” an eager Augean said playfully.

  Shadow followed Augean, who was dressed in a cute pink gown decorated with light pink ribbons, and wearing her pink ballet slippers, out on to the dance floor. She also wore a tiara of rubies with a ruby necklace and delicate rubies sewn into the bodice of her gown.

  Shadow rocked back and forth with a giggling Augean. Augean had to be extra careful not to step on his unusual, enormous paws. Augean noticed that Shadow’s paws seemed to grow larger and larger every day – outgrowing him! It is as if he is being molded into a fighting machine, thought a keen Augean to herself Shadow’s future must have something planned for him, a knowing Augean told herself.

  Aparicio and Lowilla looked at Augean with pride, their son lying in his rocking cradle in their room, being watched by his appointed nurse. The nurse, of course, was chosen by the Queen of the Willows. Prince Luxnon would grow up having all the luxuries that a prince should have, including his own nurse. His grandmother, the Queen, would see to that.

  A most beautiful scene unfolded, with the gorgeous wedding dresses and bridal finery being the delight of all.

  Savagio noticed that it did not take long for a flock of various flamboyant females from the different Courts to gather around Octagon, engaging him in conversation. He was very well received.

  The night was getting far too late. Shadows were everywhere. Augean yawned and remembered that she was the one given the honor of rolling down the covers of each bride’s bed and putting a white rose on each of their pillows. She had told Shadow to stay in the hall and enjoy the festivities, saying she would be right back. Shadow had whined in protest, but was enjoying himself so much that he stayed. Augean was now in a friendly, peaceful kingdom and he figured no harm would become her. Besides, many decorative guards were posted on every floor in the castle, as well as all over the kingdom.

  Augean went to collect the three white roses in the cellar to put on their pillows. She saw a dark figure lurking in the shadows wearing a smirk on his face. It maddened her and she angrily told the dark figure, “Wipe that ugly, evil smirk off your face. It is so savage and nasty. You are evil!”

  As the dark figure slipped away, it looked like a headless shadow. She gasped. “It must have been my imagination… Too much food, cider and excitement,” she whispered to herself.

  She shrugged the incident off, assuming it was only a sleepless dream creeping out of her imagination, and continued on her way, telling herself, “I won’t say anything about this to anyone and ruin their wedding day, because they are all going to love each other and live happily ever after.”

  The ongoing saga continues with the frightening, spellbinding sequel, Marcus and The Kingdom of Shadows. Filled with delightful and spooky, haunting surprises as a handsome and very talented, grown-up Marcus comes back for this sequel and finds a beautiful, enchanting Princess Augean all grown-up herself. He must make the final decision to stay permanently in his dream world forever, or go back to his true home and heritage on Earth – never to see his Princess Augean again, or all his other treasured friends. And what about his own family…?