In this perfect moment, imagine (if it pleases you) the darkened hallways of a great castle. Now, see you, a member of the King's own Guard, running madly through those halls, until he stops at a great door and pounds and yells, "My King, awaken! Awaken! I saw great fires, in the Eastern Mountains. Our enemies advance, my Lord. Awaken!" He pounds on the door, and yells, "Awake, awake!"
Patrick Sterenchuk The knight continues to pound and yell, until the King opens the door, wrapped in royal robes. From behind Him, you can hear someone calming the children, who have been frightened from their slumber. The King, fully awake now, simply, and quietly says, "What is it, my knight? What is of such import, that you would wake Us thus? And take care, your answer, my old friend. I am tired and you have roused me from my sleep.
The knight takes a deep breath, and launches these words, "My Lord, we must make ready the battlements, and call out the guard! We must bring the people within the walls and make plans to meet the advancing foe! I saw fires, my Lord, in the Eastern Mountains! And they were as bright as the Sun! I am ready, my Liege, to do thy bidding...whatever that be. I am, as ever, your faithful servant."
The King, wise and kind, puts His hands on the shoulders, of this trusted friend, and says, "Come, let us make our way, to the parapet, and you may show me what you have seen. We will make Our decisions, from that great height, and then I shall have my answer." With that, the King, a glint in his eye, sets off for the Eastern battlements. His guard dutifully follows, and they make their way through the darkened halls and up the many stairs, to the Eastern wall.
When they arrive at the great fortified door, of the Eastern wall, the guard, there, bows to his King and sets to opening the way. When the door opens, the night air sweeps in, and the three men step out to greet it. The moon illuminates the land, and for a moment, the King is lost, in the beauty of it. Then at once, He can make out the fiery glow, advancing across his Eastern Mountains.
He moves along the parapet, stopping here and there, to change His vantage point. His voice, sometimes heard above the winds, that flow at this great height. For a full half hour, he does this. The master strategist, judging the situation. Then, taking the guards by surprise, the King, this mighty man, throws back His head and...laughs. Roars, actually. His laughter, as loud as battle shouts, carries on and on, for a few minutes, and then he strolls to his men.
Leading the two guards, to the place of his earlier mirth, He points in the direction of the Eastern Mountains, and asks, "Pray, what do you see now, my good Sir Knights? What is it that advances across Our great Eastern borders?" The old guard, and the new, follow their Kings gaze, and the young one, too, begins to chuckle. Even the old guard must, now, laugh (albeit grudgingly).
The King, wise and gentle, puts His arm around the older guard, and says, "My good man, what you saw, advancing across those beautiful mountains, would be a great foe, indeed, if he were a foe. Thank goodness, for Us and Ours, he is no foe, but the oldest of friends, and We greet Our brother Sun, with great happiness and a cheerful countenance, to match his own."
Ha! It is a great day! Now, am I awake! It is a beautiful day. I think I will take a ride out, and move amongst my subjects. Let them see their King, and know that He is well! But first, what say you, to some breakfast? Would you dine with your King? He is famished, from all these war plans. Imagine, we were almost at war with the Sun! Hahahaha! Indeed!"
Patrick Sterenchuk The knight continues to pound and yell, until the King opens the door, wrapped in royal robes. From behind Him, you can hear someone calming the children, who have been frightened from their slumber. The King, fully awake now, simply, and quietly says, "What is it, my knight? What is of such import, that you would wake Us thus? And take care, your answer, my old friend. I am tired and you have roused me from my sleep.
The knight takes a deep breath, and launches these words, "My Lord, we must make ready the battlements, and call out the guard! We must bring the people within the walls and make plans to meet the advancing foe! I saw fires, my Lord, in the Eastern Mountains! And they were as bright as the Sun! I am ready, my Liege, to do thy bidding...whatever that be. I am, as ever, your faithful servant."
The King, wise and kind, puts His hands on the shoulders, of this trusted friend, and says, "Come, let us make our way, to the parapet, and you may show me what you have seen. We will make Our decisions, from that great height, and then I shall have my answer." With that, the King, a glint in his eye, sets off for the Eastern battlements. His guard dutifully follows, and they make their way through the darkened halls and up the many stairs, to the Eastern wall.
When they arrive at the great fortified door, of the Eastern wall, the guard, there, bows to his King and sets to opening the way. When the door opens, the night air sweeps in, and the three men step out to greet it. The moon illuminates the land, and for a moment, the King is lost, in the beauty of it. Then at once, He can make out the fiery glow, advancing across his Eastern Mountains.
He moves along the parapet, stopping here and there, to change His vantage point. His voice, sometimes heard above the winds, that flow at this great height. For a full half hour, he does this. The master strategist, judging the situation. Then, taking the guards by surprise, the King, this mighty man, throws back His head and...laughs. Roars, actually. His laughter, as loud as battle shouts, carries on and on, for a few minutes, and then he strolls to his men.
Leading the two guards, to the place of his earlier mirth, He points in the direction of the Eastern Mountains, and asks, "Pray, what do you see now, my good Sir Knights? What is it that advances across Our great Eastern borders?" The old guard, and the new, follow their Kings gaze, and the young one, too, begins to chuckle. Even the old guard must, now, laugh (albeit grudgingly).
The King, wise and gentle, puts His arm around the older guard, and says, "My good man, what you saw, advancing across those beautiful mountains, would be a great foe, indeed, if he were a foe. Thank goodness, for Us and Ours, he is no foe, but the oldest of friends, and We greet Our brother Sun, with great happiness and a cheerful countenance, to match his own."
Ha! It is a great day! Now, am I awake! It is a beautiful day. I think I will take a ride out, and move amongst my subjects. Let them see their King, and know that He is well! But first, what say you, to some breakfast? Would you dine with your King? He is famished, from all these war plans. Imagine, we were almost at war with the Sun! Hahahaha! Indeed!"
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