“This Too Shall Pass”

When Prince Tristan received the break-up letter from his lover, Prince Karman, he shut himself up in his chamber and denied the company of everyone. After a week he emerged, and behind the puffiness of his eyes shown a fire of determination. He called forth the court-witch Abigail, who was also his best friend.

“It hurts so bad,” Tristan said. “It’s always been a challenge for me to open up, you know that. With Karman I didn’t just reveal my heart to him, I cut it from my chest and gave it to him. And it felt more natural for it to be in his hands than within my own body. I would have never imagined that he would rip it into crimson, beating confetti and send it back to me.”

“I know you feel hopeless, Tristan,” Abigail said, placing and arm around the prince’s shoulders. “But, believe me, this too shall pass. One morning you will wake up and once again embrace the dawn with a full heart. For when a heart heals, it is tougher than stone.”

“But how can mine heal if the only poultice for it is Karman? That is why I have called you here. I need to see Karman once again.”

“That cannot be so, Tristan. Karman has said he doesn’t want to see you again.”

“Ah, but, my lovely friend, most magical witch, did you not tell me once that there existed a mirror that could allow the beholder to see one without them being seen?”

The witch’s face darkened. “Yes, my lord, but that mirror sees only what is held in the reflection of it’s sister mirror. Both are in my tower.”

“Then disguise yourself as a fair madden from a far off land, and take the mirror to my love, telling him it is a gift from your father and king. He will hang it in his apartment and I, who will poses the other in my chambers, will be able to look upon my beloved once again.”

“Tristan, pray think about this. It is not a wise decision. You spoke of Karman ripping your heart; what you are about to do is take those pieces and cast them to the wind, where it will be harder to piece them together once again. Turn away from this vain idea.”

However, the king wouldn’t change his course, and within a month’s time, the witch had ridden off to the neighboring kingdom and returned once again. Tristan summoned for her at once, and took her in a large embrace.

“My friend, is the task done?”

“It is,” said the witch. “The sister mirror hangs in your beloved’s chambers.” Abigail turned and looked at the mirror hanging on the wall. It’s frame was , bronze, oval shaped, and decorated with the etchings of flowers, dragons, and ships. Tristan looked upon it, too, and smiled.

“How does it work?”

“Simply touch it’s surface, and as if you were looking through a window, it will show you whatever is reflected in it’s sister’s surface.”

“How can I thank you enough?”

Abigail sighed. “Don’t hate me when the evitable happens,” she replied.

Later that night, after everyone in the castle had retired, Tristan stood before the mirror, his heart as alive as a hummingbird’s wings. He touched the mirror.

It rippled like water’s surface, then his reflection faded, and Tristan was looking into the bedroom of Prince Karman.

His beloved was fast asleep. Karman’s curly head rested peacefully on his pillow. Tristan smiled as he watched his breathing. Gentle, calm. “I love you,” he said to the mirror.

Karman didn’t reply.

Over time was seen lesser and lesser in the court until his presence vanished all together. He could only be found in one place-before the mirror. He watched as Karman dressed himself. He’s wearing the blue robes I bought him, Tristan thought. He noticed several pictures in the prince’s bedroom, some of them of friends or family that he had met and grown accustom to. All this made his heart break.

During the day, Karman rarely stayed in his room, having many princely duties to perform. Yet Tristan stayed at the mirror, never wanting to miss the small chance that he might return. Most of the time Karman would return to his room and go directly to bed, where Tristan would watch him seep until he too closed his eyes. Several times Karman returned to his chambers with a wide smile stretched across his face. “What is he so happy about? What could he have been doing” growled Tristan, who sat, arms crossed, glaring at the prince till dawn.

One night, Karman returned to his room, but not alone.

The boy must have been royalty, for his hair and clothing were much too beautiful for him not to be. He sat on the edge of Karman’s bed beside the prince, and the too stared into one another’s eyes as they talked.

Tristan watched it all, tear’s streaming down his face.

When it was close to sunrise, the new prince rose and made to leave. Just before he opened the door, Karman jumped up and grabbed his hand. He turned him around and placed his hand on the young man’s face.

Tristan had almost forgotten how sweet Karman’s gentle lips were. However, watching him kiss this other prince brought the memory back to his mind, and the aching in to his heart.

He reached for the nearest thing he could, a water basin, and hurled it at the mirror. The broken pieces lay on the floor, only showing him his weeping face.

Keyword: "This too shall pass"

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