Sean and ‘Himself’

LOVER'S MOON

Sean sat on the bank of the trout stream. His mind wandered as he watched ripples in the water telling that a fish had just gone by disturbing the water's surface tension. As these ripples fanned out the reflection of the full moon danced. Pleasant and peaceful were the only thoughts he had. He took a deep breath and let out a sigh telling all his body was in sync with his mind in a passive state. Sean thought of the many and varied adventures shared by he and 'Himself'. "'Tis a beautiful evening, is it not?" a voice entered softly into Sean's tranquil state. 'Himself' sat on a rounded stone smiling at Sean. "With the full of the moon bathing the world in its soft light it is a lovers' moon for sure."

"It does indeed cast a magic spell on all. Lovers' moon it is for sure. Not too much light, just enough." responded Sean.

"Did I ever tell you of a time long ago when love was full of bloom and a terrible thing happened?" rhetorically asked 'Himself' and without waiting for an answer continued. "Many years ago, before you were even born, at a time when kings and knights existed, a young stable hand fell in love with a beautiful young princess. It is not likely, in those days impossible, that the two would ever speak. The only meeting was when he brought out her horse. Often their eyes met. Even this was frowned upon as he was far below her station in life. Handsome he was, fair of face and strong of build. Warned thought he was many a time to keep his baby blue eyes looking down. There was an odd caning to drive home this fact.

Once while mounting the steed she dropped her handkerchief, just that he may pick it up and return it to her. Always at the ready, in the hopes that some day ...., he had concealed a note telling of his worship to one above him. On retrieving the cloth he hid within its folds his note. "For you Mam as you dropped it." said he, in the hopes she would get his hidden note and meaning. The princess took the handkerchief, felt the paper stiffness, and with great care placed the cloth with the hidden message up the cull of her sleeve.

Later in the privacy of her chambers she read of his longing for her from afar. The princess had found him pleasant to the eyes in spite of his ragged clothing and unkempt appearance. Strong he was, and those baby blues, if only he were of noble birth she oft times thought.

'Tis said that once a path is broken the path is easy to follow, and so it was with them. In the ensuing months looks, and notes were often secretly passed bridging the artificial wall of noble and commoner. As time wore on they became more brazen which drew the attention of her hand maiden. Although her hand maiden was strongly attached to the princess, the vow taken before the king placed her loyalty to the reigning monarch.

Pained her as it did she reported to the king the subtle passing of notes and looks. The princess was called to the royal chambers. With the information laid out before her, in tears she confessed of her, by the kings standards, wrong doing. Now the king must decide what to do. The princess was betrothed at birth to a prince in a far away land who was several years her senior. It was a marriage of political expediency and alliance. This could not be broken. The princess was still shy of the age of marriage. The king immediately shipped his daughter off to a neighbouring kingdom ruled by his cousin. Without a chance of a fare well the princess and her hand maiden were sent off.

The young lad was thrown into the dungeon, in the basement of the castle, to await his fate. At first the king was for a public beheading. His council advised him that "Sire it would only make a martyr of him and the princess surely would never forgive you." Next he thought banishment from the kingdom. Again council suggested that would but allow him to live and search for the princess. If death was no good and banishment from the kingdom no good, what to do? Keep him in the dungeon until he is released by death? "No Sire", council said, "The princess would always know where to find him."

Questions, questions, but not an answer. The court magician stepped forward. "Sire I have a suggestion, if it pleases Your Majesty. Using my magical powers I can remove him to where all can see him, none can hear him and none can reach him." The king perked up and told him pray continue. "There is a barren site all are aware of. The rapscallion could be forced to preach his love for ever as a torment. It could further be used for all of eternity as a warning to all "do not step beyond your bounds". In love one must take great care as there are often times consequences."

The king liked the idea and asked how this would be accomplished. "With you permission Sire I would approach." Permission was granted. The wizard whispered in the king's ear all of the details. The reason he whispered was he did not wish to give away any magic secrets to those present save the king. His royal highness smiled and agreed telling the magician to begin at once.

The princess could always see the stable boy anytime the moon was out. Using incantations known only to the wizard, he placed the boy on the moon many times larger than life. There forever visible to all, he stands and proclaims his love eternal. None can hear him, but all can see him. Time has blurred the image. Lost is the true picture that was. Look carefully at what is considered to be the nose and mouth of the face of the man in the moon and there you will see his head as the nose. The lectern, shoulders, and part of his body make up the mouth. Small wonder the stable lad in full view is also called the lover's moon." ended 'Himself' leaving before any response from Sean.