A Rose in the Wind

 

William stared at the sky, for once, utterly bored with nothing to do. The new, open-air theatre was something he wanted to see. Peers his own age dancing to techno music and costumes flashing in the moonlight. Of course, he was sat in the Royal Box at one end of the entire stadium. The show hadn’t started. Of course, he could see the dancers on the side nearly ready to jump out of the stadium.

 

Finally, he saw his father and granny walk in and sit on the opposite side of the auditorium. They waved to him and he waved back like he was taught. Harry had fallen asleep from the long wait. William looked closely at the women backstage. They nodded to each other before disappearing. One dressed like a jester smiled winked at him, causing him to blush and look away.

 

A loud explosion filled the stage as red and purple smoke filled the air and merry laughter rung in their ears. “Ladies and gentlemen, Royals and commoners alike! I welcome you to Cirque de la Luna! Our show features acts of past and the future! Watch as your eyes mingle on the very soul of entertainment!” cried out a young lady in a blue and white sports top with baggy jester pants with the classical hat. “I am your Mistress of the Night: Harle Quinn!” She floated down from the harness, holding a microphone. “Now, for your pleasure…

 

“From the shores of the murky our beasts of the orient!” she screamed as the sound blasted behind her, streaming her strawberry blonde hair into sparkles. Harry woke up long ago and now focused on the stage. Will sat amazed. Never had he seen a show as so powerful as this. Right away, they had leapt into the excitement.

 

Their eyes were glued to the stage and were always at the edge of their seats. William was especially surprised when Harle appeared in the middle of the show, again sending the crowd into a roar of screams. “Tonight, in honor of the Etonians out in audience this night, we will play a version of the Eton Wall Game with our award winning acrobats.” Harry and Will watched amusedly as the acrobats built a human pyramid and a line of ten acrobats charged and jumped systematically.

 

After a few more heart thumping acts, the stadium became dark. Warm tinkling filled the air as one spotlight shone upon a lone figure on the stage. The most beautiful voice filled the stage as she began to sing:

 

“I was born at daybreak

To the road I did take

Trembling as the ground shakes

Under my feet

Cracked in the stone heat

Never ending motion

Way across the ocean

Into your devotion

Long have I gone

So far from my home…

 

What to do with this love that I'm in?
I have given you all my soul
Flying all my life like a rose in the wind
Tell me why I am always alone
On my way home

 

Dreaming always begins
Find a door that's opening
Something there is shining
The light in your eyes
When you were all mine

All alone as I wake
Moving in a new place
Shivering as I trace
A road of my own
Cut by the deep cold…”

 

William looked over to his father, for the first time noticing what he was wearing. He began to snicker which could be slightly heard from the awed silence of the audience. Unfortunately for him, she noticed and glared at him while she sang the chorus.

 

“What to do with this love that I'm in?
I have given you all my soul
Flying all my life like a rose in the wind
Tell me why I am always alone
Hang on to me tight, and a rose in the wind
Will be with you wherever you go
All the way back home

 

Can I take you back there?
Drifting on the warm air
Say you'll follow anywhere
All of our nights
Into the jade skies

I'll be true to you
Flying over the moon
Lying in the bamboo
I'll always know
The light in the window…”

 

William’s snicker escaped him once again and intensely grew despite the dirty look from the singer. He can tell that his father and Grandmum were also appalled by his outburst of laughter for he was usually reserved. She continued through the final verse before disappearing in clouds of red and purple smoke.

 

What to do with this love that I'm in?
I have given you all of my soul
Flying all my life like a rose in the wind
Tell me why I am always alone
alone…”

 

Harle returned in her jester form. “Pardon, but what was so funny about an actual serious song?” she asked.

 

“Well, I’m terribly sorry,” William chuckled, “But…Haha…I really can’t see why this is suddenly so funny…hahahaha…but Father is wearing half of a business suit and the other half is a plaid kilt and knee socks…” he laughed, knowing it would get him into so much trouble.

 

Even from across the theatre, William could tell his father was ready to burst out loud when Grandmum began chortling; a sound no one has ever heard. “Mother, this isn’t funny!” Prince Charles said.

 

“Yes it is, my dear.” Grandmum laughed. “Too bad the monkey got it!” she laughed.

 

Harry laughed. “Well, that random.” The entire crowd laughed at the light mist the air had created.

 

Their jester of the night smiled and raised her arms. “Ladies and gents, Royals and people. Our job is done. We have broken up the stiff air and replaced it with the wonderful sound of laughter. We close our show. I am Harle Quinn but you all can call me Diana.” She winked at William. “Good night to all!”