Teddy Bear

My first attempt at lowlight still-life photography
Materials used: Pot pourri, Teddy bear, purple stained candle holder and candle

The Curse Of Youth

“There is no feeling more comforting and consoling than knowing you are right next to the one you love.”

He touched her cheek as they were both kneeling down on the floor, trembling from their joint pain. They were hit with one strong intense realization and they trembled like leaves in the wind; with the realization that maybe all was lost. Maybe their perceptions were flawed… Maybe they weren’t distinguished from the common mass at all as they had thought themselves to be… In fact the hard truth of their youth had hit them… Nature cannot be flawed… They sought that which was not theirs and now they’re cursed with eternal separation…

They lost everything. To circumstances… to cruelty… to infidelity…  all because of their youth…

The stygian shadow of separation lingers over their heads. They want to freeze time… They want to enter those sepia tinted books again… They want to freeze time… They want to stop the world from turning… So the next day… week…month…year doesn’t start again… They just want to live in those eighteen years of happiness … They wanted time to just revolve among those eighteen years… seamlessly without the dawn of tomorrow… They had plucked the beautiful cardinal rose and now as it withers away they’re left with only the thorns cutting their hearts…   

     

'Irresponsible' Heirs?

"Ryuu! Ryuu! " Master Jun called out as he went fleetingly through the forest of 'Mourning Pines'. What is wrong with His Highness, I wonder? He is constantly been shirking his duties. Always trying to fool around. He's always up to pranks runs away at the slightest provocation. He loves to put the royal household in royal distress…The famous one of course being the cockroach in the kitchen!!! The cooks actually believe him.

And so… the hopeless master strode on through the forest looking for his truant pupil, the one who had been eluding him since morning. Now it was almost mid-afternoon with the sun's dim crimson turning to a more bright sanguine.

Suddenly through the glade came a sound of a horse galloping through the clearing with a very cheerful voice exclaiming cheekily, "Master Jun! Here I am. You haven't been able to catch me!!!" "Prince Ryuu, you have abandoned your duties yet again… I do not understand the meaning of your actions. Mindless frolicking has been unheard of in the royal family of Natsuke since centuries. Really Prince Ryuu you should know better than to behave in this common fashion." "Well… Master Jun," the cheeky boy tossed his red haired head and said, "It's fun!" "FUN!" Master Jun exclaimed in anger and surprise, "Do you know the importance of who you are, Prince Ryuu? You are the heir of the Natsuke family and it is of paramount importance that you realize your duties towards the kingdom, sire. The kingdom looks up to you to be their righteous, fair and just ruler. They expect you to rule with compassion and dignity and keep their security. In you they trust…" Ryuu slowed down his horse Fairheart for only a moment before turning away again and saying, "I guess I am not worthy enough to rule the kingdom… Ask Ni-san Rin to rule."

The kingdom always wondered why the king chose Ryuu to be his heir rather than Rin, his elder brother in spite of his rambling ways. Ryuu was younger than Rin by 7 years and a very well known frolicker. The reason why King Elroy chose Ryuu over Rin was because the goddess Sadama, goddess of fate had visited him during Ryuu's first winter and amidst the snowflakes she said to him that there is dormant evil in Rin's heart which would awaken when absolute power is given to him though it would not seem so. She also said that Ryuu would be very playful and always frolic around much like a young deer but the king should not feel hopeless and lose faith in her and Ryuu's abilities. She said that the boy has no idea of his destiny and his dormant abilities. He would realize them only six months after his sixteenth birthday.

*****

"Oriana!" the queen called out as her daughter walked in. "Where have you been?" she demanded looking at her muddy daughter, "Do you realize that the Royal Ball is going to start in a few hours? Three hours to be precise and YOU walk in NOW!!!!!" "Mother," Oriana said nonchalantly, "I do not understand the meaning and use of Royal Balls except as marriage shopping for their children or philandering. I refuse to be a part of such frivolous and flippant practices. I have better things to do than this…" "LIKE WHAT!" Queen Chamarou interrupted "I will not have my daughter turn into this…" gesturing wildly at her daughter who was dressed in tom boyish breeches and had a whip across her shoulder. Walking away from her mother Oriana said calmly, "Mother, I like myself the way I am and I refuse to change. Also mother, I refuse to be a part of the ball. Do what you want."

Oriana, queen Chamarou thought looking at her daughter's receding figure, why have you turned out to be like this…so serious. You do not even like entertainment. You insist on helping your father with the affairs of your state. You do not like your personal guards and would do anything to lose them. You are anything but a lady my dear… I hope you get more receptive, willing and more lady like. Now, when you're sixteen… I hope you change soon because in a few years we need to arrange your marriage to Prince Taiyou.

******

Glossary:

Ni-san: Japanese honorific for brother