The following Free Write piece is copywrite © 2009 to Akatala. All rights reserved.
Songs used for inspiration: “Ring of Fire” and “Good People”
Good people deserve a good leader to guide them. His grandmother had often told him this. It was something that had been burned into him in his youth. Yet now as he stood watching the ring of fire consume the pyre of his father, the prince thought about himself and wondered if he was truly that good leader that his father’s good people now needed as their previous king moved onward from this realm to the Other. Over a thousand people had gathered to witness his funeral pyre. Earlier, his uncle had spoken of his father’s legacy, and of a need to carry on that legacy yet alter it to meet the times. His uncle knew far more about politics than he did. So as the young man drew over himself a dark travelers cloak and waded away through the sea of people, he thought that surely his uncle could do a far better job at leading the people than this young whelp of a prince ever could. Sure, he had endured much schooling, yet he still felt as though he knew nothing about everything he needed to and everything about nothing he needed to.
The flames of the funeral pyre brightened the sky, yet the crowd was too busy watching the ceremony to notice as one of them gave a mornful final bow toward the pyre. Then, in silence did the prince fade into the night. Surely, somewhere out there on the roads he had never traveled at his leisure was the answer to what he was truly meant to do with his life. Whatever it was, he knew he no longer belonged here. He felt a great pain for the sorrow he would leave in the hearts of those who cared for him. Yet, the pain he felt from visions of failure was even worse. He could not lead his people when all his heart knew was fear of failing them. So, he left without even so much as a whisper.
A boy must grow into manhood before he could think of doing such great things for others. Though, he was by far no longer a virgin, the lack of purity never meant that a boy had become a man. Such was another odd saying of his grandmother’s. She had been a strange one, bowing to authority and rules when the light was cast upon her, yet always whispering her true heart in the dark as she did what she pleased. What she pleased had always been to help others and teach her grandchildren the ways of the world from a different point of view than their tutors. Though many a male would disagree or perhaps even have her hung for such blasphemy, for whatever reason, the prince believed her words to be truth. How could they not be when it was always she who had breathed light into darkness and life into void?
Aye, the young man agreed. He must learn what it was to be a man before he could truly learn try to learn what it was to be a king worthy of leading those good people he left behind. He wasn’t sure what he would meet out here on this dark road. As he rode a sturdy bay stallion he had hidden in the woods in preparation for this flight, the wayward prince knew that he was riding into uncharted territory. He knew that he would face challenges and perils throughout this journey that he had begun. Yet, he welcomed them all. He knew that only through losing would he learn how to win. Only through trial and ordeal would he learn his true strengths and desires. Likewise, he knew that someday, perhaps as suddenly as he had known it was time to leave, he would know it was time to come home.
The prince had no idea what kind of place he would find when he finally returned home. He could only hope that his people would not suffer over much for the loss of him at the same time as they lost their king. He hoped that his uncle could lead the people in a good direction as he had promised. The truth would have to wait to be learned. If it turned out to be otherwise, then the prince hoped that by then, he would have gained the confidence in himself to be the good leader his good people needed to lead them back into the light of salvation.
End total word count: 772
Time taken to write: 1 hour
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Tags: free write, Huma, wayward prince
