Elements of Glory: The Princess of Nothing
Chapter Eight: Facing Tomorrow

’You don’t believe that you’re special, Aragam, I get that, but it doesn’t change the fact that you are. I’m going to tell you a truth; everyone’s special. But I don’t mean that in the way that you think – everyone’s special, so no one is. Aragam, everyone is special. Everyone brings something wonderful to life, but you have to start being who you were meant to be, who you were set on this world to be, not who you’ve let yourself become…’

-Grulem, teaching Aragam a truth about life

Wrapped in a ratty blanket, leaning against Togik’s furry, black, horse body, with a small fire burning and crackling near them, Aragam stared out at a hilly green horizon as the sun set in a spectacular show of red, pink, and purple. It was the kind of sunset that took your breath away, and made you feel as small as a mouse, and as big as a mountain-giant at the same time. It was the kind of sunset that made you dream of impossible things, and somehow, they didn’t seem so impossible.

Aragam’s task seemed a little bit impossible, but the majestic sunset was making him feel loads better about the ordeal already. His mind was almost unceasingly on Emily. He could remember – usually with a smile – how it had been when he’d first met her, how he’d not liked her that much, and how she’d not cared for him. He found it funny that now he was in the wilds of the world, under a crisp night sky, thinking fondly about the Princess of Nothing, and hoping against all hope that he could replace her and bring her home.

‘What a strange life it is, Horse,’ Aragam commented, a bit of steam leaping from his mouth with the words, as the horizon deepened in red, glowing almost like lava.

‘Indeed it is,’ the Stryth agreed raising his head and turning to look toward Aragam. ’Especially considering I’m still allowing you to lay against me after you called me Horse, yet again!’

Aragam smiled warmly at his friend. ‘You don’t mind the name, and I know it, Togik.’

Togik snorted and laid his head down. ’What do you know, Human?’

Aragam smiled, and was silent for a time. ‘Do you think we’ll replace her?’ he asked, turning to the sunset again.

’It’s your quest,’ Togik responded with a little chuckle as he looked up at Aragam. ’Shouldn’t I be asking you that?’

‘Probably,’ Aragam responded with a smile.

Silence fell between them.

‘Why?’ Togik asked after a long moment.

‘Why what?’ Aragam wondered, turning to the Stryth.

’Why are we out here, in the middle of nowhere, heading into wild regions, to look for a woman you barely know?’ Togik asked with genuine concern.

‘Having second thoughts?’ Aragam wondered.

’Not at all, I’m just wondering how you got here? This is a rather brave thing for an inept Wasgician to be doing.’ There was a note of humour in Togik’s voice.

Aragam smiled. ‘I suppose it is,’ he responded, feeling the comment hit a little too close to the mark.

’Do you love her?’ Togik wondered, cautiously.

Aragam shook his head. ’I can’t say if I do or not, but I care what happens to her… she’s… special to me… and…’

‘What?’ Togik asked.

Aragam looked toward the green hills that were painted so warmly in red. The meadow grass swayed; and stands of leafy and evergreen trees sighed in an evening breeze. ’For so many cycles I’ve found it really hard to believe in myself… but she believed in me.’

Emily’s face popped into Aragam’s mind stronger than ever, and tender feelings for her wrapped up his heart like a cosy blanket. She’d changed him, this woman he barely knew, this Princess of Nothing. She’d changed him and he didn’t know if he’d ever be the same again.

Togik smiled at Aragam and laid his head down. ‘Ahh,’ he said. ’Be careful your feelings my Wasgician friend. Don’t forget, when you return her home, she will be a Princess no more. She will be a Queen… and a Queen may never be with a Wasgician.’

Aragam nodded, feeling an empty hollow form in his stomach. His heart chilled, as if the blanket of warm feelings had been torn away. He stared off into the dusk and his face filled with true sadness. ‘I know,’ he finally whispered.

‘Yet you will still replace her, and bring her home?’ Togik asked.

‘I will,’ Aragam replied boldly. ’I will not abandon her.’

Togik turned to look at Aragam once more; there was concern in his horsey eyes, and sadness too. ’Very real pain awaits you, Aragam,’ Togik said quietly.

‘I know,’ Aragam whispered back, his eyes on the twinkling stars. ’But I will not abandon her.’

His mind and heart were set, nothing could sway him now.

Togik stared at Aragam for a long moment, then turned, and laid his head down on the ground.

Aragam’s eyes stayed locked on the horizon. In that quiet moment, he realized, truly, for the first time, what he was getting himself into. His heart ached, but he remained unshakably resolute. He knew what he had to do, what he would do, and he had no regrets about it, nor would he turn back. His future was clear before him, and he accepted it with all of his heart.

As Aragam continued to stare into the nightfall, warm tears leaked from his blue eyes.

He hated and loved tomorrow…

He would face it, no matter what…

END OF

The Princess of Nothing