The Fountain
From his earliest memory, his dreams were shared with others. He didn’t see them, these others, but he knew there was more than one. He didn’t know how many, but it always seemed as if one of the many was in trouble, and needed help, yet he could never find them to give aid. As he got older, his dreams began to get more and more vivid. He kept seeing an overgrown garden with a fountain in the center. In the middle, there was a beautiful female statue, poised as if waiting for some one to help her step down from her perch. He also began hearing a female voice calling for help. He wondered if he was going crazy, until his twenty-first birthday. On that day, after the elaborate celebration had wound down, and all the guests had left or retired for the evening, his parents sent for him. The look on his parent’s faces had him worried; they looked as if they were carrying the weight of the world instead of just the kingdom on their shoulders. “Son, there is something you need to know, tonight,” his father started the conversation with a long sigh and an even longer look. “Father, if this is about my finding a bride, I promise…..” he replied. At this, his mother broke in, “In a way it is yet isn’t,” she said with a shake of her head. “What do you mean?” he asked. “All we can tell you is.” his mother began. “Mora.” His father gave her such an intense stare it was as if they were talking to each other without even saying a word. “Duncan, we are allowed to tell him. At least this much, is his to know!” Mora exclaimed. “What?!? What am I supposed to know? What is going on?” he asked, looking at both parents in confusion, concern and with a bit of fear.
“Fine, but you do it Mora. I will not anger them on this point.” “Son, Jaysin….Please don’t ask any question until I’m done. As a matter of fact, you won’t be able to ask anything even then, for I can’t tell you any more than this. You will need to listen carefully to what I do say, for your own safety, and ours. You will be shocked, you may even feel hurt by what you find out, but please remember, your father and I both love you and there are rules that we had to follow.” She gazed at her son and husband with love as she paused to gather her thoughts. “Twenty-five years ago, I met your father. He had dreams, exactly like yours. On his twenty-first birthday, his father told him the same things as I tell you now. The kings of this castle are only allowed to marry one type of woman. We are only allowed to tell our sons about it and yet we can only tell them some of it, when they come of age. It is a sacred binding. A deal made between the forefathers of our peoples. Your father was sent on a quest to find his bride, just as we will send you on yours. You stand here before us, the next king to our people, our pride and joy, so it is obvious that he was successful. You are to go in search of a Sacred Fountain, this fountain is where you will find your bride my son.” Mora paused to take a drink and watched as Jaysin absorbed what she was telling him. “You will bring her back to us, along with a casket of water from the fountain, and some piece of the stone that lies within. This is your proof that you completed your journey. You must leave tonight. Before dawn crosses the horizon, you must be off of castle grounds. Your gear is packed and a horse is waiting for you near the North Gate. Jaysin, we can tell you no more, just remember, head North and follow your dreams, they will lead you in the direction you need to go.”
-52-
