The Full Moon!

And instead of a pony, it was a horse - a full grown black beast with mane of a lighter brown color, with eyes that did sparkle, but carried a weight. Amilija, at once elated, lightly jumped on her feet; the next second she fixed her eyes on the horse’s. Her eyes uncomfortably curious; she stood in wonderment, like a child who was being recited her favorite poem. She reached the beast’s beautiful mane, caressed it, and whispered something. Her pendant burned against her bosom. She clutched it.

Her mother Lily and elder brother Fred gave a quizzing look- “What was that?”, Fred inquired.

“What?”

“What did you say to the beast?”

“Nothing, I just brushed his hair.” Fred and his mother did not pursue the whisper further.

“Mother, will this horse know its way? Are they familiar with the ways of land like the old ponies are?”, Amilija asked.

“Of course it would. If anything, I reckon it is a positive sign- getting a horse for a pony.” Her eyes brightened as she forced air out from her mouth.

“Your father would have arrived before yourself. We will come to see you sooner than you will know it. William is a gentleman of high honor, and I am sure he will give you a decent life. Here, take some bread and water for your journey.”

She hugged Lily, and Fred. Fred’s embrace was fuller, and eyes dewy. Lily fought back her tears, and Amilija let them roll down her cheeks.

“You should go.”, Lily said while loosening her embrace.

She half-wiped her tears, looked at Fred with a promise in her eyes. She turned towards the horse — he was called Usoda — looked into his eyes, and felt all the pain of parting, receding. She knew she was ready.

Amilija mounted on Usoda, and he galloped away. He had flying feet — the wind in her hair, water spurting from the corners of her eyes, the excitement welling in her heart, the strength building in her bones. She felt sure; there were no doubts. She bared her bosom to the rolling green mounds, to the gurgling streams running along, to the higher, harsher distant peaks, to the white meringues, to the bare and fuller trees, to the decaying rocks and building boulders, and then, she cried.

Everyone understood.

Usoda was sure of foot; he maneuvered his way through the skies, greeting the fowls of air, and through the depths of streams- sometimes he had his feet grounded — all the while, untiringly galloping towards the ominous Northern Mountains.

Amilija knew that wasn’t the path that led to William. She had been forewarned.

She could do nothing to steer Usoda, not that she tried. Instead, heeding the howls of wind and the rasping kack-kack of the falcons, the rider and the beast rode closer to the mouth of smoky mountains. The cacophonous thundering of water became ominously melodious, and gave way to a drape of smooth water gliding over the basalt columns, rendering absolutely no color to the perfectly silver fall, which fell to the invisible depths. Usoda seemed not to see the treacherous fall, and bolt towards it, only this time, he was on the ground. Squeezing and expanding her eyes, Amilija tried hard to see a path that might skirt the fall. But before she could find the path or fathom her fear — swoosh! They tore through the silver curtain to an enchanted land.

Usoda stopped at last; she alighted. The crisp green grass brushed her bare ankles; the trees were rather short- they looked young but the trunk-rings suggested otherwise. While the grass was crisp, the dew of Eden had settled on the orange leaves. She touched a leaf, and it morphed into a yellow-orange butterfly and eluded her. Her eyes smiled. She could see the Northern Mountains up close, but they did not feel treacherous anymore, and she continued towards them.

The peak was crowned with two mystic radiating columns of gold. Rays of the Sun were comfortably illuminating them. Her pendant burned hotter with every step. The rolling stones, the short trees, the ever growing butterflies, the sailors of the carribean-blue stream, gathered and followed her. The forgotten Usoda had burst into flames — it had fulfilled its purpose.

Fully aware of her following, she planted one sure foot after another.

What felt like a walk in the park to Amilija, was in fact, a precarious climb, not scaled by anyone known to that land. As she reached the summit, the columns of gold shone ever brightly. These were the tombs of Queen Adrijana and King Bogomir. A broken piece of silver hung by a hook-like branch from over the queen’s tomb. She extended her hand to reach for it. Her pendant burned hotter.

She picked the metal- it was the other half of her broken and burning moon. She brought the pieces together and they became one — Full Moon.

She whispered, “You are my destiny”; the same words she had spoken to Usoda.

“All hail the Queen”, all exclaimed.