Tristis Nox

The dinner ended and the guests slowly left for home. No one said good-bye to me so I remained in the shadows, waiting for the last person to leave. Once she did I slipped out of the room and headed to my room. As I made my way up the second staircase my name was called. Surprised I turned to see the King walking to me.
“Tristis, you are quiet fast and hard to keep up with.” The King laughed.
“I’m sorry! If I knew you were behind me I would have waited.”
“No matter. Let me walk you to your room.” I nodded and we continued. “I’m sorry for my son’s behavior. I do not know where he got his manners. My late wife and I worked hard to make him into a gentleman, but we seemed to have failed.”
“Think nothing of it. His curiosity must have clouded your teachings. And each person is his own, you taught him well, it’s up to him to listen.” I said reassuringly. He couldn’t help his son is a jerk. “Plus, I didn’t mind that much.”
He looked at me and smiled. “You should not lie to an old man like me; I saw the look in your eyes. Why did it affect you so?”
I looked down and thought, “The tale is twisted of course, but the basics like the girls personality and punishment, is true… and I knew the girl.”
“May I ask what happened to her?”
“She’s probably still doing missions.”
“Probably? Have you seen her lately? And what happened to her friend?”
“I see her from time to time and usually only for brief moments. As for her friend, he’s still with her just not all the time. He wasn’t the one banished after all so he has to go to the homeland and take care of the political aspect of the job.”
“How sad she must be and lonely at times…” I merely nodded as we approached my door. “Here is your room, Tristis. May you find the night calm and restful.”
“Thank you King Lucus… for everything. You’ve been too kind to me.” I smiled gently at him and bowed.
“Anytime, my dear. You are a pleasure to have. Good night.”
“As you, may God watch over and protect you.”
“And you, Tristis.” He then walked away into the shadowy hallway. An eerie feeling washed over me as I turned to my room and got ready for bed.
With a jolt I woke up with sweat pouring from my body. A nightmare had corrupted my dreams and deathly silence welcomed me to reality. Uneasiness guided me as I got up and walked through the castle. I followed pure instanced as I turned into a large hallway. I stopped at a partially opened door and dread gripped me.
I took a deep breath and gently pushed open the door. “Hello?” echoed quietly through the library as I crept in.
“Tristis?” a gargled voice came to me and sheer terror, shock, and sadness hit me.
“LUCUS!” I yelled as I bolted toward King Lucas’ crumpled body. “What happened?” I dropped to my knees and pulled him onto my lap as I pushed the palm of my hands onto his gushing wound.
“I don’t know.” he took a short breath that gargled and spattered blood in his mouth. “He… he came out of-f… no no where an-an… attached. I-I c-c-could not see see hiss f-face.”
“King Lucus let me get someone.” I went to get up, but was lightly forced to stay sitting.
“No, p-please d-don’t g-g-go.” It was then that I looked down and saw him crying.
“Lucus.” I whispered and wiped tears away.
“D-don’t go. M-my en-end iss near… I k-know I w-w-won’t live s-s-so please ssstay.” I nodded.
“Are you afraid of d-death?” I asked, my voice cracking as I tried to keep tears at bay.
“D-death is easy, dying is th-the hhard part, m-my dear.” He laughed a little before chocking and coughing.
“Lucas, be careful.” I smiled down at him as blood usurped everything around us.
“Oh let me h-have f-fun.” He grinned weakly. “How iss your v-voice at ssinging?”
“Ah…” I was baffled for a moment. No one had ever asked me that before. “I’m okay, I guess. Why?”
“I w-want to h-h-hear you ssing a n-native ssonng. Pleasse?”
I once again smiled, tears now freely falling as I began,
“Kinderly is now my coming
Into this world with teres and cry
Litel and povere is my having
Britel and sone I falle from hit
Sharpe and strong is my deying
I ne woth whinder schal I
Foul and stinkande is me rotting
On me, Jhesun you have mercy!*”
“Beautiful. T-take c-c-care Trisstiss, may I ssee y-you in aw-while.” I smiled weakly as his spirit started to depart this world for the next. I bent down and whispered to him before he said his last words, “Thank you, Gefallener Engel.” That said, he passed on to paradise. I cried hard as I clutched his lifeless, blood soaked body. Yet another friend lost.
The sun shone down on me as I stared at the dead man on my lap. Three guards entered and started alerting the castle of the king’s death. I just sat there in a trance until a maid helped me up and I realized Lucas was no longer in my care.