A Glimpse Beyond - A Romantic Fantasy


They meet in the castle garden just as the sun disappears behind the stone wall. Not a sound can be heard but the gentle breeze stirring the auburn leaves of the noble trees. As she arrives at the western gate, the wind sends a chill through her body.

He walks from the east, oblivious to the cold air. For coming toward him is woman. She sees his advance, but is unsure what will come of the encounter. She is curious, but afraid. Slowly they walk toward one another and stop as they meet face to face.

All is silent. They dare not utter a word. To do so would be unholy. His eyes gaze into hers with such intensity that she is mortified. She looks away sharply. His eyes remain fixed.

Unable to control her curiosity, she looks back at him again. As she contemplates his piercing eyes, she begins to understand.

He is looking straight into her soul. He sees all that she is. He sees beyond the visible. He sees who she was, who she is, who she will be. Yet somehow in his mind they are all the same. She is woman, queen, goddess. She is the fulfillment of his longing. But still, she is broken. If he embraces her, then he too will share her brokenness. But he is willing. For no matter how broken she may be, who she is will never change. His eyes remain focused as his longing intensifies.

She begins to feel utterly exposed - so exposed that she clinches the garment covering her frame to make sure it is still there. Never has she felt so vulnerable. The urge to flee as fast as she can enters her thoughts, but her curiosity keeps her at bay. She begins to allow his presence to permeate her mind.

She sees him also. She sees his faults, his fears, his failures. But most of all, she sees his love.
She sees him in the past. He loves her.
She sees him now. He loves her.
She sees him in the future. He loves her.
His heart, she sees, is formed of the purest gold. And he is offering it to her, and her alone. The reality is so overwhelming, that she can do nothing but weep.

The tears. The redness. The broken silence.

He slowly moves his left arm toward her and places his hand lightly behind her right shoulder. She quickly brings her arms around the small of his back and pulls his body to hers, still weeping uncontrollably. The emotional intensity so envelopes him that he begins weeping also. Embracing, weeping, while the autumn wind continues to blow through the crisp leaves.

This is where they belong. This is union that they were searching for, yet neither one imagined that the fulfillment would go beyond what they could ever conceive. Desire was both quenched and awakened in that holy moment.......
 
There is no sight of the sun now. The crescent moon shines upon the garden, causing swaying shadows in the breezy night. She cautiously removes herself from his embrace, only to look into his eyes once more. Their faces, now tear stained and shaded with crimson, begin to move toward one another as their eyes remain mesmerized. Just as their faces are about to touch, their eyes instinctively close. He places his hands beside her shoulders and their lips meet ever so gently, as two rose petals being moved by the breeze might brush in mid-air.

As they are becoming lost in each other’s presence, the wind suddenly quickens with biting cold force. The courtyard walls are hardly sufficient to quell the meandering waves of air that are quickly becoming unbearable. They release their lips from each other and he clasps his arms around her, shielding her from the onslaught.

They must get inside the castle, he concludes. They lower their heads and move gingerly toward the north to the castle door, fighting the wind with every step. As they reach the entrance he luckily finds the bolt to be rusted away and is able to pull the door open and bring her inside. For the first time in what seems like centuries, he gathers his breath to speak.

"Are you alright, my lady."
"Yes," she gasped.
He could see that perhaps she was not quite truthful by the squinting of her eyes. Perhaps some dust was blown into her eyes by the wind. He looked around to take note of their surroundings, and found that they were at the end of a long corridor. The moonlight provided them with some light in their immediate vicinity by shining through the cracks in the door, but further on there was nothing but darkness. The wind was only intensifying, so there was no thought in his mind of returning to the garden. In fact, he became fearful that the wind would eventually shatter the aging wooden door. They had to continue on to the inner part of the castle for safety.

"Come," he beckoned her as he placed his arm around her waist and they moved cautiously through the dark corridor.
"I've never seen such a strong wind," she exclaimed.
"Yes, it’s quite unnatural. We must move further into the castle where we’ll be safe."
She almost chuckled when she heard him say the word "safe." For even back in the garden with the feverish gale threatening to carry them off to some dreadful fate, she felt safe - safer than she had ever been in her life. Had he asked her to brave the storm once again, she would have done it as long as he was there with her.

As they moved through the darkness they found the way to be unimpaired. His only thoughts were to bring his love to safety. If truth be told, she was just as capable of guiding them herself, but he felt such an intense unction to protect her, and she gladly obliged.

After braving the long passage for what seemed like hours, they finally came to a deadend. ‘There must be a door,’ he thought. He released his arms from her and felt all around for something to pull or push. While he was fumbling for an out, she captured his attention.
"Look!" she shouted. "Over to the left is light."
He gazed over to his left and indeed there was a faint glow coming from what seemed a long distance away. Evidently the corridor had not ended here, but simply turned toward the left. He felt embarrassed by his lack of perception. He had not even considered that the passage might turn. This time she grabbed his hand and began pulling him toward the source of the light. She was moving a little too fast than he thought was appropriate, but nevertheless he acquiesced to her enthusiasm.

The light became brighter and her pace quickened. He became afraid that perhaps the passage led back outside to the blistering wind. Maybe they had missed a turn. Should they have looked for another turn - to the right, perhaps? His fears became irrelevant as something happened that neither of them expected. Noise - voices could be heard. Not one or two but many. Some of it even sounded like laughter. The source of the revelry was finally found.

The door that they had blindly searched for was now in view, and beyond it, light, people, and safety. But wait. This was an abandoned castle. There had not been inhabitants for hundreds of  years. Why would there be festivities in such a place? He became concerned that they would be unwanted intruders. Was this some kind of secret gathering perhaps? Was it meant only for a select few?

Her thoughts were nothing of the sort. She became intrigued by what might lie beyond the door. Besides, on this night she had experienced enchantment beyond imagining. The whole world permeated with goodness in her mind. If something good lied beyond, it could only add to their bliss. If there was evil, it could be conquered as long as they were together.

She pushed the door open and it moved easily, but gave a loud creak. The laughing stopped, a hush came over the crowded room, and all eyes were fixed in awe at the couple entering through the door. The pair looked over their surroundings, utterly amazed and curious at what they saw. What appeared to be hundreds of men and women, dressed in the finest of medieval garments, were standing in a great banquet hall. The walls were filled with lush tapestries and the room was lighted by a grand fireplace on the wall directly in front of them, along with torches spread around the remaining walls. Dark wooden tables were placed end-on-end in the center of the room, with high-backed chairs of intricate design filling each spot. A kind of mist seemed to permeate the air, along with a sweet incense that rivaled even the choicest of spring flowers.

Both the woman and the man felt that they must be in a dream. The scene reminded him of something from his childhood. It was certainly not a real memory, but something that came from a story he was once told. As for her, she recognized it instantly. She had fantasized about such a place. Ever since she was a child she had dreamed of a gathering in a place like this. In this dream she was a princess in her father's castle. She was honoured and revered by all the people of the kingdom..

Finally, a voice from among the silenced crowd spoke.
"The time has come! The hour is now! All souls witness the hand of grace, the fulfillment of mirth, and the promise of love to come!"
At these words a rousing cheer came from the guests. Just as quickly as it started, the cheer died down and everyone went back to the talking, laughing, and general merrymaking that was evident before the couple entered the room. The two then noticed the source of the proclamation coming toward them. He was an elderly man with white hair and beard dressed in a shimmering blue robe. One could hardly imagine such a powerful voice coming from the frail image that they saw in front of them.
"Welcome!" The old man exclaimed with a bright smile. "We have been expecting you for quite some time."

"Sir, what is the meaning of this gathering? Why are we here?" asked the younger man, still a bit skeptical even though he was in awe of the situation. The old man gave out a chuckle. "This is not the time for questions such as that, my lord. Put your mind at ease and let your heart be merry." At this moment the woman jumped to her lover's side, grabbed his arm and looked at him and offered a playful laugh. At this his defenses broke down. He smiled and began to chuckle at her. She grabbed his hand and her feet began jumping as she moved his hand overhead and twirled herself around. On seeing their playfulness, the old man clapped his hands twice and yelled, "Musicians!"

Upon hearing his words, a young lad scurried through a side door and closed it quickly behind him. In a matter of seconds, the boy came back into the hall and following him were five minstrels, each carrying a different instrument. One carried a harp, another a wooden flute, another brought a hand drum, one had a lute, and the last carried a hammered dulcimer. As the musicians took their place toward the far end of the room, servants moved the tables to the side to allow room for dancing. The dulcimer player began striking the strings with a fast, percussive cadence, and the rest joined in a few measures later. The tune was played with such fervor and joy that one could not help but move to the rhythm. Nearly all the lords and ladies present hurried toward the center of the room and began to dance in a show of delightful exuberance. Smiles could be seen and laughter heard as the dancers would cavort around each other in skipping motions, changing partners quite frequently.

The honoured couple had yet to join the festivities, but were laughing as they watched the dancers with great interest. The woman very much wanted to dance, but she knew that her lover would be apprehensive. She finally decided on her course of action. She would not try to persuade him with words, but with something a little more enticing.... She leaned over toward her lover as if to whisper something in his hear. Instead of speaking words she simply gathered her breath, and blew warm air into his ear. Then she placed her lips upon his earlobe and gave a gentle tug.

Her wooing obviously worked, for the man became completely bound by her spell. Without a word she took his hand in hers and led him out toward the dancing nobles. Neither of them had much dancing experience, but to their amazement the steps came easily. It was as if they had been dancing this way their whole lives. They knew instinctively which way to turn and what steps to take. Their feet felt so light that at times they felt like they were flying. As they moved intricately from partner to partner, they would always keep their eyes on one another, smiling and laughing at each other.

Soon the upbeat tune ended and the flute player began a beautiful but haunting waltz.  The lovers were at the center of the great hall at this time and all the other lords and ladies moved to the side to watch them dance.  Still mesmerized by each other’s gaze, the two began moving as one to the elegant, slow cadence.  He began to feel a sweet pain in his chest, as if his heart were so filled with joy that it was crying out in protest.  She, on the other hand, was almost numbed by an exhilarating tingle sensation that started in her arms (where she held him) and made its way to her breast and down to her legs and abdomen.  She felt as if she were surrounded by tiny bubbles filled with shooting stars.

Soon the other musicians began to join the flute player, fervently but lightly caressing their instruments as they delighted in the sacredness of their art.  As the couple continued in their reverie, something quite extraordinary began to happen....

Gasps of astonishment could be heard from the crowd of nobles as the lovers’ feet began to slowly lift from the ground.  Soon they became suspended high above the floor, their heads nearly touching the high roof of the great hall.  The two dancers were totally oblivious to the miracle, still gazing into each other and stepping perfectly to the slow, rhythmic sweetness of sound coming from the flute player’s lips.  Their feet moved is if they were on solid ground, yet they moved freely through the air, slowly rising and descending with the ebb and flow of the music.  Around the hall they moved with such grace, defying any notion of gravity that might hold them back.  Those present had never witnessed anything so beautiful.  The site was so moving to behold that many of the ladies (as well as some lords) began to weep.  

While eyes were still damp and the lovers still caught up in rapture, the musicians gradually quieted their instruments, leaving only the flute player who then slowed the tempo and ended the waltz tune.  When the last note was played, the dancers made their last step and then began to descend slowly straight down to the floor.  Again, they were completely unaware of what was happening.  When they reached solid ground, their mesmerized state was broken and they both grinned at each other, and then turned toward the fellow guests, who were silently staring at them in amazement.  

Then suddenly the silence was broken by the footsteps of the old man coming toward the middle of the hall where the lovers were standing.  Once he stood close to the couple, he stopped and cleared his throat.

“Now, lords and ladies, you will witness the union of souls, the reconciliation of life, and the hope of one.”  No one really understood at the time what the old man meant by these cryptic words.  They could understand the part about union of souls, but reconciliation of life and hope of one?  (When he spoke such announcements, they always seemed to be threefold.)  Nevertheless, those present knew the old man to be very wise and kept his words in their minds to ponder.  

Both the man and the woman were now facing the old man, who quietly instructed them to face each other.  As they did so, he took his left hand and her right, pulled them up in the air above their heads, and brought the palms together so they touched, thumb to thumb and finger to finger.  “Are you ready?” he asked them both.  They instinctively knew what he meant, and both nodded their heads in assent.  Then the old man closed his eyes while his face took on a look of deep concentration.  He clasped both of their hands between his and held them tightly for a few seconds.  Then suddenly he jerked his hands and shouted in pain as if they had been burned by fire.  At that blessed time the crowd witnessed the second miracle of the evening.  But this time, the lovers were also aware.  

As the two stood there in the middle of the hall facing each other with arms raised above their heads, their hands became indistinguishable.  Their two arms came up to form one hand.  Needless to say, the crowd gasped in amazement, while the lovers were caught up in a state of both awe and terror.  She was just about at the point of fainting, when their hands became distinguishable again and they moved them apart and down by their sides.  As the guests and the couple stood in stunned silence, someone in the crowd began slowly clapping.  Soon others followed, so that eventually the whole gathering was clapping and raising their voices in celebration of the union.  The lovers looked at each other and smiled, each giving out a slight chuckle that hinted of both joy and relief.

When the din of celebration subsided, the old sage called everyone to attention, lifted is arms in the air and in a hearty, jovial tone proclaimed “It is done.  Let the feast begin!”  At these words one of the hall doors opened and servants brought countless platters of delicacies and placed them on the tables, even as other servants hurried to get the tables back into their original positions.  The finest of fruits, cheeses, and wines were placed first, and then fresh game and fattened pork followed on huge platters.  When all the servants had finished their chores and left the room, the old man beckoned the lovers to be seated at the head table at the end of the hall.  Once they had found their seats, all the lords and ladies took their places in the remaining chairs.  

When all the nobles had been seated, the old man, who was still standing, took his place by the lovers and called for the musicians.  “Minstrels!  Would you give us the pleasure of a little dining music?”  The head musician, who was the dulcimer player, bowed in agreement and started a lighthearted tune with a medium tempo.  “Let’s eat!,” the old man exclaimed, trying to be heard over the music.  At this everyone began passing dishes, chatting, pouring wine, and feasting on the aromatic, sumptuous dishes before them.

The man lover, though completely caught up in an ecstatic trance with his lady just a moment before, began to feel the weight of rationality enter his mind.  “Wise Sir,” he exclaimed, “I’d really like to know the meaning of all that has happened to us here?  One moment I was walking outside what I thought was a ruined castle, and I met this unbelievably beautiful woman that has made my heart burst with passion and filled my soul with such longing.  (The woman blushed at these kind words).  Before we could even speak I knew that I wanted to be with her forever.  Come to think of it, we’ve hardly had the chance to speak!  The storm brought us into the castle where we fumbled our way through a corridor and into this great hall.  I’ve never seen you in my life.  I’ve never seen any of these people, and you all look like you come from another...  “Hold on my son,” the sage interrupted his lengthy inquisition.  “I’ll tell you some things, but there is much you will have to learn on your own.”

“What you have experienced and what you are experiencing now is a dream.  However, not a dream in the sense that you are thinking.  The dream you are in now is far from unreal.  In fact, this dream is more real than reality itself.”  At these words, a grin came across the woman’s face, but the man was still puzzled.  

“You speak in vague generalities that I don’t understand.  What can ‘more real than reality itself’ possibly mean?” asked the man.  “What I mean,” said the old sage, “ is that there is a realm beyond that of mortals like yourself that is greater, further, higher, stronger, bigger, deeper, grander.... well, the enormity of the whole thing is impossible to describe in your language.  If I spent your whole lifetime describing it to you I could only scratch the surface. Anyway, what you have been given today is a small glimpse of that realm.  The world you have known since you were born is what you know to be reality, but the dream that you are in at this time is a taste of the higher world which has more permanence and ‘realness’ than your world.”  

The woman became quite intrigued at this point and broke in with her own question.  “So what about dreams that we have as children — of places such as this, and other wonderful worlds that kindle our imagination.”  

“Ah,” said the old man.  “You’re starting to see the point.  Those dreams, like this one you are in now, are also glimpses of the higher realm that I speak of.  In fact, children have a much easier time sensing the existence of the higher realm, for their dreams are both bold and pure.  When people in your world become adults, the boldness and purity of their imaginations begin to fade.”

“How much longer will we be in this dream, and if we have to leave, when can we return?”  The man asked.  

“Well, this is a temporary situation, and you will have to return to your own world soon, but be assured that some day you will experience the higher world and it will be permanent.  Of course, to fully experience this world, you will have to be purified.”  

“I don’t quite understand.”  The man said.  

“Remember how I said that children’s dreams are more bold and pure?  You see, in order to fathom the higher realm, you must return to that state of purity.  People in your world have been bound to a bland, lifeless existence for so long, that they don’t believe there is anything better.  You yourselves have a hard time believing, which is even now preventing you from experiencing a greater ecstasy.  You must go through a purification process to return to a state of innocence and trust.  Then you will be prepared to experience the higher realm in all its fullness.”

“But just what is this purification process all about?” asked the man.  

“That is a difficult question to answer, my young friend.  The process is different for everyone, but there are some common characteristics.  Unfortunately there are many in your world who go about it the wrong way.  Some of them come close, but fail understand the guiding principle.  Just remember to always seek what is pure and lovely, and look beyond the surface of things to determine the truth.  Don’t be afraid of disappointment and grief, for they will sometimes be your best teachers.  And above all, wherever love may be found, pursue it with all passion.  Seek to love everyone and everything by looking for the good in them all.  For all of creation, though it may be temporarily flawed, is good at its core.”

“I think I understand some of what you are saying, but I still don’t have a clear picture of everything,” the younger man said.  

The old sage laughed.  “Don’t we all wish everything could be clear as bell!  There are quite a few things in which even I have little understanding.  I believe one of the writers in your world said it nicely: ‘There are more things in heaven and earth, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.’”  

“You mustn’t worry too much,” the sage continued, “ about understanding everything concerning your existence.  When you commit yourselves fully to loving all of creation, you will gain understanding in proper time.”

The woman lover had up until now been very keen on what the old man was saying, but she became puzzled by his last statement.  “How do we even know what it means to love all of creation?  It seems so unobtainable.”  

“Yes, it is very difficult, but the love that I am speaking of has been manifest in your world as a gift, and you would do well to seek out the source.  On this I will say no more.”

This last statement seemed to confuse both the man and woman even more, but they knew from the old man’s tone that they were not to ask any more questions.  

During the time they were questioning the sage, they had almost forgotten about their food and had not eaten one bite.  With the silence they finally realized how hungry they were and began to feast on the bountiful delicacies before them.  While there was silence among the three, the man lover began quieting his mind and allowed himself to enjoy the moment.  

The woman of his dreams was by his side and they had just formed a union with each other.  The room was full of some of the noblest and finely dressed people he had ever seen.  The food was so unbearably delicious, it was all he could do to slow his eating pace.  The music being played was sweet and elegant, with a timeless quality that had the power to enchant the attentive listener.  The beautiful tapestries on the wall, the smell of incense combined with the aroma of freshly cooked spiced game, the fireplace burning softly on the far wall....... All of these wonderful things joined together to form a perfect symphony for the soul.  The man stopped eating and simply felt the goodness all around him.  Yes, this was good.  This was pure.  This was noble.  This caused him to feel such joy that he could do nothing but sit there, awed by the moment.

The lady lover noticed that her man had stopped eating and gazed at him with concern.  “Is there something wrong?  You look as if you are in a trance?  “Oh, no, I’m fine.  Yes, I am very fine.  This moment — everything about what is happening here — It’s so wonderful!”  

“You’re just now figuring that out?” teased the woman.  She laughed and then leaned over to kiss him on the cheek.  The man, now ready to match her playful mood, took a red grape in his hand and brought it toward her mouth.  As she opened her mouth to accept it, he pulled it away and placed it in his own mouth.  She caught the idea of the game and placed her mouth on his to retrieve the grape.  Their lips lingered together for quite a while.  When they pulled away from each other they both smiled and laughed at themselves.  

Their gaze at each other lingered beyond that laugh, and the man’s mood turned serious once again.  He quickly decided on his course of action.

The man abruptly stood up from the table and addressed the crowd.

“Lords and Ladies, my I have your attention!”  The diners put down their food and glasses and looked toward the head table at the man.  “I would like to propose a toast.  No doubt this very evening you have witnessed beauty beyond compare.  This banqueting hall certainly has some of the most exquisite furnishings in any world, our minstrels have played some of the sweetest and jovial tunes to be heard, and all the ladies in this room could calm even the vilest of beasts with their beauty.”  The men in the room voiced grunts of approval at this last statement, while some of the women could be seen blushing and bowing their heads.

“However, there is one in this room whose beauty is surpassed by no living creature, past, present and future.  She is my lover, my bride, the desire of my soul.  Her presence turns darkness into light and death into life.  Aphrodite herself becomes jealous at the sight of her.  To hear her voice is to be calmed by the smooth sounds of a gentle mountain stream.  Her scent is that of the choicest incense or spring flowers.  The smoothness of her skin rivals the finest silk.  But most of all,” the man then turned from the crowd and fixed his eyes on his lover,  “the deepest part of her, her soul, is made of the purest gold.  I have gazed deeply and discovered that she is indeed a princess, a queen, a goddess, the very essence of nobility.  But she is most of all, my lover for eternity.  So Lords and ladies, please rise and honour her majesty, the queen of my soul.”  The man faced the crowd again and raised his goblet.

The woman’s eyes were beginning to tear as everyone in the room stood up and raised their goblets on her behalf.  The man looked into his lover’s eyes and spoke softly but with utter conviction.

“To my love.”  

He drank and the others followed his lead.  After the wine had been tasted and the goblets were being put down, someone in the room started to chant “long live the queen, long live the queen...” and all the others soon joined, repeating the phrase over and over while giving their attention to the woman before them.  Tears were now streaming down her face and her lover smiled as he witnessed her being moved by the adulation.  Then, they were gone....

All of the sudden the guests, servants and musicians simply vanished from the room, leaving the old sage and the two lovers there by themselves.  The lovers both scanned the room and gasped at what they saw.  They turned to the old man, who had been unusually quiet for a long time now.  He sat in his chair with eyes closed, as if in some sort of meditative state.  

“Sir,” the younger man said, “what has happened here.  All the guests, the musicians, everyone has just disappeared!”  

“It is time,” said the sage.  

“Time for what?,” the young man questioned.

“It is time for the two of you to be on your way.”  

“So the dream is over,” said the woman in a melancholy tone.  

“Oh no, not just yet, my dear.  You must leave this castle and take a short journey.  And what you experience at the end of that journey will be much more beautiful than anything you’ve experienced to this point.”

“So what are we to expect?” the man said.  

“That I will not say, my friend.  I will point you in the direction you must go, and provide you with a horse.  In fact, your ride should be waiting for you outside.”

The sage slowly rose from his chair and beckoned the lovers to follow him.  He led them to the far end of the great hall and opened a door.  As he and the lovers passed through the exit, they witnessed far in the distance a towering mountain range spotted with forests and snow-capped peaks.  The sweet songs of birds could be heard and a cool breeze refreshed their skin.  To their left they heard steps and looked over to see a fine black stallion being led by a young boy.  The old man walked over and took the reigns from the boy and dismissed him.  He stroked the horse’s mane and seemed to whisper something in it’s ear.  The horse neighed as if in reply to the man’s instruction.  

“Come here,” said the sage to the lovers.  They walked over to where the old man and the horse stood.  “Yes, I believe this horse will serve you well.  Now, there’s no sense in wasting time.  Ride to your destiny, my children.”  

“But will we see you again before we leave this world?” asked the woman.  

“No, I’m afraid you won’t.  The rest of your time here must consist only of the two of you together.”  

“What should we do when we go back to our world?  I mean, how are we to explain all this to those around us?” asked the man.  

“That’s not so important in the beginning.  There are very few persons who would believe you or understand your experience.  You will know what to say when the time comes.  Until then, you would do well to not even mention your time here.  The most important thing is that you hold this place dearly in your heart no matter what may happen in your world.  Never cease to believe in paradise.”  

“What do you mean?  Of course we would never cease to believe!  It’s so real and so vivid and so wonderfully enchanting.  We could never cease to believe!” said the man.

“Ah, it’s much easier to forget than you think.  Your world can be so stifling and rigid that our land of enchantment will seem like some distant fantasy that you merely conjured up as an escape from the pressures of life.  Even the glory that you see in each other will be dimmed by the diseased corruption inherent in your race, so never forget the true image of each other that you have seen on this day.  It will help you through many difficult times.”

The couple could hardly imagine that they would become forgetful or full of corruption as the old man suggested.  Nevertheless, they knew it would be futile to argue with him.  

“Enough has been said,” declared the old man as he beckoned the lovers to mount the horse.  “Be on your way and godspeed.”  The woman approached him and embraced him, and the old man held her tentatively and chuckled in surprise.  

“Thank you for your kindness, great sir,” she said as she released him,” “and peace be with you.”  “Yes,” said the younger man, “we are grateful for all that you have shown us.”

The man took the reigns of the horse and mounted. He then reached out his hand to help his lover claim her seat behind him.  The man shook the reigns slightly and the horse gently cantered toward the forested mountains.  “Never forget, my children!  Never forget.”  The sage waved to them as they disappeared into the mysterious landscape.

As they rode toward the forest and out of site of the castle, the man started to notice the breath of his lover on the back of his neck and her soft, petite arms around his waste.  Every so often she would press her lips against his cheekbone in a display of affection.  Neither of them said a word as they journeyed through an unknown world.......

After a few hours of riding, the woman’s joints and muscles started to ache.
“How do we know when to stop?” she asked.  
“I’m not sure, but I imagine it will be obvious, judging by what the old man said.”

For quite a while they had been traveling on flat land, with the mountains far in the distance.  Now they seemed to be climbing slightly as the terrain became more rugged.  Instead of open grasslands, the land was increasingly filled with conifer trees interspersed with wildflowers and various species of thick green plants.

“Listen, do you hear something?” the woman said.  The man stopped the horse listened.  “It sounds like water.  There must be a stream nearby.”

“Yes,” his lover answered.  “Our horse must be quite thirsty by now.  We need to stop and let him drink.”  

The riders continued along the trail until they arrived at the banks of a swift rushing stream.  The man got off the horse and helped his lady down to the ground.  The horse bent down to drink the cool water, and the couple themselves quenched their thirst with the refreshing liquid.

The man had a look of concern on his face as he gazed across the stream.  “The trail seems to end here, and I don’t see any way to get across the stream.  The water looks much too swift and deep for the horse to cross it.”  

“Yes, and notice what’s on the other side.  There doesn’t seem to be any visible trail.  It’s all just thick forest with no clearing for a trail at all.”

The lovers took each other by the hand and looked around worriedly, trying to find a solution to their predicament.  While searching to her left, the woman noticed a slight clearing.  “Look here.  It seems that there might be a trail leading higher up into the mountains.”  The trail was barely discernable and quite steep.  

“Surely the horse couldn’t make it up that trail,” the man said.  

“Well, perhaps we should at least try,” the woman countered.

The couple looked back toward the stream where the horse had been drinking.  But to their surprise, the horse had vanished - just as the banquet guests had vanished from the castle a few hours before.  If the horse had walked away they would have surely noticed.  The only way he could have gone would have been back the way they had came.  

The man raised his hands slightly as if to surrender to the circumstances.  “Well, looks like the decision has been made for us.  What do you say we continue on foot?”  

The woman answered by placing her hand in his and offering him a confident grin.  The man then led her up the steep, wooded trail…….

---------------------

The couple had laboriously made their way through the dense forest for nearly an hour until they caught sight of a clearing.  “Look up ahead,” the man remarked to his bride.  There seems to be quite a bit of sunlight in the distance.”  His words gave the woman strength, for she was rapidly becoming exhausted from the arduous trek through the forest.  

As the couple came closer to the clearing, they noticed that there was some type of object right in the middle.  At first the man thought it might be a house of some sort, but when they reached the edge of the forest, they found something quite odd, but truly remarkable.

The clearing itself was remarkable enough, for the forest around it formed the clearing into a perfect circle that was about 50 feet from end to end, with the ground completely level.  In the very center of the circle rested something that would have been more appropriate in the living quarters of the castle they had left behind that day.  It was a bed.  But this was certainly no ordinary bed.  The headboard was standard enough, being made of a dark wood and containing etchings of intricate circular designs on it’s face.  But the posts were the exceptional part.  They were four wooden posts just like one might see on an antique bed, but there was one glaring exception.  These posts reached so far up into the sky that the couple, as they looked heavenward, could not even see where they ended.  Oddly, the bed still contained a canopy overhead at a standard height, which appeared to be made of white lace.

As the couple drew nearer, they noticed the fine white linens adorning the bed and two fluffy pillows at its head.  The woman, without saying a word, looked into her lover’s eyes with a mischievous longing and took him by the hand.  She led him to the edge of the bed and crawled over to the far side, beckoning him to join her.  As he took his place beside her the man was beginning to feel the same ecstatic sensation that he had felt earlier in the day while at the banquet.  The feeling was so overwhelming, he couldn’t speak a word.  

The lovers lay side by side on their backs while holding each others’ hands, their heads slightly turned to face one another.  The woman gazed with a fixed stare into the man’s eyes, searching for his soul.  Soon she noticed a tear descend from his eye and drop to his pillow.  She took her finger and placed it under his eye, wiping away the remaining wetness.  The man then moved his face closer and placed his lips on hers.  They both closed their eyes, allowing themselves to concentrate on the sensation of flesh meeting flesh, with only their lips and their hands touching.  

When the couple withdrew from the kiss, another vanishing miracle took place.  The lovers still remained, the bed was the same as it had been, and the setting was completely unchanged.  But what had left them was their clothing.  They felt a sudden chill and looked down to find that all their clothes had left them.   

Then just as they realized this new situation, a booming clap of thunder sounded and startled them even more.  And just after that thunder came a light rain.  At first the canopy shielded them from the downpour, but the liquid soon began to seep through the lace.  But this was certainly a strange shower, for the water was warm.  Droplets of rain began to cover the naked bodies of the lovers. They made no attempt whatsoever to shield themselves since the fresh liquid felt so warm and soothing on their skin.  The lovers still made to attempt at speech whatsoever, but gently smiled at each other, reveling in the miracles that were taking place.  

When the lovers and the bed they were lying on became thoroughly drenched, the rain stopped and they began to hear a rustling of leaves and limbs in the trees around the clearing.  Like the rain, however, the mighty wind that soon reached them was warm and comforting.  The woman could feel her skin tingle as the wind caused the wetness upon her to evaporate.  After a few moments the wind managed somehow to dry both the lovers and the linens underneath them.  

But dryness was not the only thing the wind would bring.  Soon the couple began to notice in the distance that the wind was carrying some objects, and those objects were headed straight toward them.  The woman clutched her lover’s hand in a combination of excitement and fear.  Her lover squeezed her hand is if to assure her that all would be well.  And well things would certainly be, for the objects they saw in the distance were now close enough to see, and they were the most harmless, light, and beautiful treasures.  They were flower petals - so many different kinds of flower petals that one couldn’t possibly name the kind of flowers from which they came.  The petals swirled in the wind, creating a dazzling spectacle of color for the lovers.  The woman began to laugh as she watched the seeming playfulness of the petals as the wind made them dance in the air. Upon seeing her delight, the man began to laugh with her.  Soon the wind blew the petals straight toward the bed, and they began to fall all over the naked bodies of the lovers.  Their laughter increased as they were covered from head to toe by these light, colorful, and fragrant gifts from the earth and sky.  

The man cast a mischievous smile at his lover, brushed aside some petals from her face, and kissed her forehead.  As he kissed her, he noticed something quite remarkable.  The effect of the rain and flowers had created the most wonderful scent on the body of the woman.  He could especially smell the fragrance in her hair.  He placed his hands on the side of her head and lifted her hair to his nose to breathe in the sweetness.  The woman also noticed that her lover was scented as well.  All the stench that a man gathers after a long journey was nowhere to be found on him.  She detected a masculine, woody scent that sent her heart racing as she took it in.  

Just as the couple was about to bring themselves to a full embrace, they were interrupted by the fluttering wings of a bird.  They both looked up and saw a white dove flying between them and the canopy.  The bird flew away just as fast as he came, vanishing toward the setting sun.  The lovers looked at each other, both puzzled by the brief encounter. Then the man noticed that the dove had left them a gift.  On his lover’s abdomen, he noticed, among some of the flower petals that were still on her, a large white feather that had obviously come from the dove.  Upon seeing it, he immediately knew his next course of action.

The man lover got up from his prone position and kneeled on the bed beside his lover.  He picked up the feather from the woman’s body and brought it to her lips.  He slowly moved the feather across her face and beneath her chin while lovingly looking into her eyes.  The woman had never felt a touch so gentle and kind.  At times the feather tickled, but the movement of the feather across her face while in the hands of her lover caused an ecstatic sensation that sent chills across her skin, but caused her blood to burn with a passion previously unknown to her.

The man used  his warm breath to blow away the flower petals that remained on her body and contunied to move the feather down toward her breasts.  He let the smooth, silky object touch her skin ever so lightly as he took in the beauty of her untainted flesh.  When he reached her breasts, he gently circled around them with the feather, and then brushed their sides with the delicate strokes of an artist.  As he brought the feather up to the nipple of one of her breasts, the woman could just barely contain herself from jumping and screaming, the sensation in her body was so powerful.  Instead she let out a deep sigh as her eyes became wide and her breathing quickened to a faster pace.  

Still transfixed by the body of his lover, the man moved the feather down to her stomach and over to her hips in slow deliberate movements.  Enraptured by the pure and delicate nature of the woman before him, the man paid homage to his bride through his loving touches with the feather.  At this moment he did not even consider touching her with his own hands, for he wished to honor the queen of his soul with a ritual that represented the tenderness, awe and respect that he had for her.  

He sent the feather past her hips and down to her leg, still with the utmost care and delicacy.  When he came to the foot of her nearest leg, he brought the feather over to her other leg and moved it upward to her thigh.  Then he placed the feather over her abdomen, mingling it with the soft hair just above her opening.  The woman’s breathing continued to quicken, her abdomen moving up and down with the rapid breaths.  When the man placed the feather on the edges of her opening, she could barely keep from kicking her legs and leaping out the bed as if to fly.  She understood everything about her lover’s actions. She could feel the honor bestowed to her by this man who loved her more than his life.  Combining that with the physical sensation she was experiencing was almost more than she could bear.  

The last remnants of light from the sun were disappearing as stars began to fill the sky and look down upon the lovers.  The man took the feather away from the woman’s body and released it into the air.  He moved her legs apart slightly so that he could kneel on the bed in between them.  With his knees between her feet at the foot of the bed, he bent down to touch his lips to her stomach, kissing her navel lightly. He then descended downward, tasting the tuft of soft hair between her legs.  Continuing further down, he extended his tongue to encircle the red flesh before him.  

This is not only the physical opening of her body, he thought to himself, but an opening to her soul.  This was the physical manifestation of all that was inside her - the sweetness, the playfulness, the tenderness, the hurt, the insecurity, and the love.  As he moved his tongue inside her flesh, he was not only pleasuring her physically, but letting her know that he accepted all that she was.  The woman could hardly keep herself still as she gripped his head with her hands.

Soon the man lifted his mouth from her and then moved his lower body up toward her thighs.  She instinctively lifted her legs so that her knees were bent and her legs further apart.  The man reached to the side to grab her hand, pulled it up to his lips, and kissed it.  He then placed her hand upon himself so that she could guide him. As she took his manhood into her hand, she pulled it toward her opening, and moved it slowly inside. 

And at that most holy of moments, another miracle took place.  The stars that graced the dark sky began moving - dancing and swirling across the sky.  But their movements were not random, for they were part of a choreographed performance aided by celestial music that filled the cosmos as millions of voices and instruments converged in perfect rhythm and harmony.  This was something that creation had been yearning for.  This was a union of souls to become one.  This was love in its infancy and purity.  All of creation knew it, and it celebrated.

When he entered her, they first experienced the shocking feeling they had earlier in the day when their hands merged together to form one.  But soon the shock gave way to pleasure - a pleasure beyond their imagination.  As the man moved himself inside his lover, he was giving everything he had to her.  This was the ultimate act of his love for her - so pleasurable, so intense, yet there was such a feeling of vulnerability.  He was abandoning  himself to her, as well as to a mystery that he did not understand.  It was as if he was becoming her.  He was no longer his own, but bound to her physically, emotionally and spiritually.  Never had he experienced such gravity and lightness at the same time.  

The woman continually gasped for air as she became overwhelmed with love, passion, pain, and sheer ecstasy.  This man not only cared for her and cherished her, but he mingled his own soul with hers, and she could not imagine anything that she wanted more.  This was a taste of home.  She belonged here at this time and place, with this man caressing her soul.  Just as when she met this man in the garden outside the castle, desires were awakened inside her.  This was so much more than a dream come true.  It was the creation of desires that she never imagined, and the simultaneous fulfillment of those desires.

As the lovers were experiencing the climax of their act of union, the stars became streaks of lightning and the music gave way to booming thunder.  The woman screamed with pure joy as she looked into the man’s eyes.  His mouth was wide open, gasping for air as he released his seed into her.  All the pleasures that the lovers had experienced in this land of dreams could not compare to what they experienced at that moment.  This was heaven.  This was fire.  This was a pleasure so intense that it could not be real.  But it was more than real.  It was joy in its purest form - two souls fulfilling the deepest desires of each other.

As the man withdrew himself, he fell into his lover’s arms. 
All went quiet. 
The stars stood still. 
No sound could be heard. 
Peace reigned.
The breathing of the lovers slowed and they fell asleep in their embrace.

-------------------------


The scene had changed.  The lovers were nowhere to be seen in the enchanted land.  Where the bed had been now stood a giant tree.  And just like the bedposts that were there before, the tree extended heavenward as far as the eye could see.  

From the forest they came - children of all sizes and colors.  They ran toward the tree, took each other by the hand and encircled it.  They danced, they giggled, they sang, they ran around the tree with utter abandon.  

THE END