The princess and the rain (2)

“My prince,” said the king’s great aunty, “One day, a day very far away and very near, this gift will be of a great use to you.  It is not an ordinary umbrella although it looks like one. It can withstand the most unusual rain. It is almost impenetrable. If you spin it long enough, it lifts you off the ground and you can fly for a little bit. Do you want to give it a go, my handsome prince?"

Of course the king at that age only cared for swords and shields. But the king told his great aunty that he would look after the umbrella very well. The king kept his promise, and had wrapped the special umbrella with a satin cloth which has now gathered dust through the years.

The king ventured down to the dungeon where old treasures were kept, and unwrapped the special umbrella his great aunty had given him. The rain was still pouring outside and this had made the servants very lazy because there was not much for them to do. The king had the advantage of sneaking out unnoticed without the need of telling more lies.

The king opened the great castle door very early in the morning, before the cockerel crowed, wearing a very long robe with a big hood to hide his identity from everyone in his kingdom. Not that people would have been outside to notice the king except at noon, but the king knew he had to be very careful  not to attract any attention and especially worry from his beloved queen.

The rain of course was very hard. When people have tried to go out in the rain, they came back with bruises and aches for many days. If one stayed out for too long then the rain would eventually kill them.

The special umbrella protected the king from the rain and the king was very happy that he was able to roam freely through the town.

The king really did not know how to go about his task, so the king sat underneath an oak tree to sigh. The king wished he knew how to find his great aunty, for she didn’t have a name and there are no traces of her, or where she lived in the family history.

When it was noon, the king watched the people gather food and as each day went by there was less and less to gather.

The king feared that the people would grow hungry, so the king became more urgent and determined to find the cause of this peculiar rain.

The king asked many questions to the wise people of the land but there was none to provide an answer.

It was now the nineteenth day since the rain began to pour and the king sat once again beneath the oak tree with a big sad sigh.

A woman whom no one had never seen before, especially the king, walked with a purpose towards the king. The king did not notice her at first until the woman said,

“King of the high kingdom, why do you sit beneath this oak tree with a sigh? A king should always be merry and happy.”

The king looked at the woman with a sad frown and said to her,

“Dear woman, does not the rain hurt you? you must go inside before this peculiar rain kills you.”

The woman stared at the king and began to laugh a creepy smile. The woman said,

“Ah! king of the high kingdom, this is what makes you sad. You wish to know the source of its origin, the reason why it falls? I know, king of the high kingdom.”

The woman then twirled and walked away. The king rose immediately to his feet and ordered her to stop, but the woman kept on walking. No matter how quick or fast the king walked the king could never catch her.

The woman finally stopped and said to the king, “King of the high kingdom, do come inside.”

K.Oni