The Arena
The Strange & Unusual Universe of Silver Moon Unicorn
(This is part of an old tale from our planet. It’s about a young elf, who was condemned as a sorceress at a young age. I have read that a similar period happened in the human history of Earth. —Silver Moon Unicorn)
The day was cloudy as usual. Trees without leaves surrounded the oval arena. Dead flowers lined the walkway leading to the entrance. Made up of gray marble, the arena could hold a million spectators including the whole royal family and their servants. The family had their special box in the middle of the Northeast part of the arena.
The masses gathered in the arena to see a witch consumed by hungry lions. The witch, with long dark hair and big bones, sat, chained to a bench, just inside the arena, where the spectators would not see her, but she could see into the arena. The prince had just passed a law stating that if she should survive, then she could live in the castle with the royal family. Her chances of survival were rather bleak. The lions had not eaten in a few days.
“Madam Sorceress, it is time.” A servant walked over to her to release her chains. The spectators roared as the witch was led into the open. The king stood up to motion everyone into silence. The servant walked back out the same way he came in and locked the gate. The witch, known as Natali Nu, stood alone in the arena with a million people staring at her and cursing her. She raised her head up to see the royal family when her eye caught Prince Nathan…
******
Nathalie had walked down her family’s garden path almost every day of her life. The sun hid from her side of the world, which made her feel gloomy as usual. The garden was filled with trees lining the pathways and there were flowers all around. Even patches of grass filled in where there weren’t any trees or flowers or the big hedge maze right in the center of the whole garden. Often there were birds, whenever there wasn’t a storm, who would chirp and sing to one another. Nathalie had always felt that she never belonged to this Old World. She thought she would just keep her mouth shut and play along until the day she would be able to break free. Suddenly she stopped in her little reverie when she saw a young man standing next to the map of the hedge maze. She could tell from his eyes that he was to become important in her life, but at that time, she did not realize in what way.
Nathalie moved her arms behind her. Her right hand latching on to her left wrist. “Good day, sir. Are you having trouble with the map?”
He turned to look at the lovely young lady. “Oh, hi. I was just wondering if I would remember the layout once I’m inside or if I will need to call for help. Count Philosophie challenged me to enter the hedge maze and be out before the dinner feast.”
“Oh, that sounds like him. My father, the Count, is quite a joker. Don’t worry if you get lost—he’ll send someone after you when you don’t return within a few hours.”
“Your father is Count Philsophie?”
“Yes.”
“Oh, then you must be the Lady Nathalie that I’ve heard so much about. The Countess went on and on about you.”
“Yes, well, she will do that sometimes. Who are you?”
“I’m Prince Nathan.”
“Oh, well, no wonder she told you about me.” Nathalie shook her head. “That woman is trying to marry me off as fast as she can to some nobleman. Don’t worry about her. I know I don’t—she has enough servants to order around and my brother to chase around the castle.”
“Wow, and I thought life at my castle was pretty bad. So does the Count teach you how to sword fight?”
“Yes, he does and I like it very much.”
They smiled at each other and then Prince Nathan said goodbye and walked into the maze, leaving Nathalie standing beside herself watching him go. Her heart beat fast and her face felt warm and flushed, but she said nothing as he disappeared further into the maze. Eventually, she sighed and turned away from the maze to see the head cook, a kindly crone, watching her. Neither spoke and the young girl released her wrist and spirited away to another part of the garden to visit her feline friends.
It didn’t take her long to find her little furry friends. Some were sprawled out on the path in front of her. Some were rolled over the path, exposing their underbellies and meowing at her. Some were even hiding in the brushes and staring her. Then they came, greeted her, and left. Nathalie plopped herself down in the middle of the path near the cats. A few immediately waltzed up to her and rubbed their heads against her legs.
“Hello, darlings. You won’t believe what just happened to me!”
“Meow, meooow!” The cats continued to rub against her as she petted them.
“I just met the Prince and he’s sooooo cute!”
“Meoooow!”
“Well, I don’t know. I guess he’s okay, but I still love all of you!” She kissed each cat on top of their heads. She sighed and whispered, “Prince Nathan Black.”
