Princess Alyssia

One candle burned in the small dark room creating just enough light to see. The mother sat by the bed keeping watch over her daughter. The child was sick and, as the mother sat by the bed holding her hand, she could feel the life force leaving her. For days she had kept this vigil knowing, somehow, that her little one knew she was close by, feeling her love and comfort.

But now the time of waiting was drawing to a close and silently the mother wept. She remembered days past when she and the little girl would play by the shore of the great ocean. There was much joy and laughter then. They would listen to the whale song and watch the dolphins dance. The little girl would smile and her laughter would fill the air. They promised to be together always.

Sometimes at night, the little girl would sit at her mother’s feet and play songs on her flute or read a story. Sometimes they would play games and take turns letting each other win. They would dream about the future then and the little girl said she would always be at her mother’s side.

In the distance, a bell chimed and interrupted the woman’s reverie. The child lay so still and she was so small. The mother looked at her with so much love and spoke softly, "Dear one, I am with you. Feel my love and let it give you strength to get well." And, as she sat there, in the small dark room, she held her daughter’s hand and prayed. "Great White King, I am your daughter and I have served you these many years. Please make my daughter well and restore her to me for I do not know what I shall do without her. She is my light and my love and I cannot bear to see her so. You have great power and I believe that you can make her well. Thy will be done."

And so the woman prayed throughout the long night. So caught up in her prayer was she that she did not see the small white dove perched on the window. But, White Dove heard the woman and was moved. He carried her prayer to the Prince of Light and, as he listened, he wept for he knew the great love the mother had for her daughter. He remembered the little girl. She was a gentle child, full of light, who loved to sing and play. So on the woman’s behalf, he went before the King. "Father, I have heard the prayer of my sister. Her daughter is gravely ill and near death. She asks that you heal her and I come to you on her behalf."

Now, you must know that the great King is not a harsh master. He is good and kind and loves his children dearly. But, He holds the balance of the universe in His hand and He knows things that no one else can know. So, when He heard the woman’s petition, He was not unmoved. Still, He could not grant her prayer. He looked at His Son and said, "The child’s time in the Land of Man has ended and she must return home. But, I have heard my daughter’s prayer and I will not forsake her. Go to her and comfort her. Tell her that her daughter’s life is not ending, but just beginning. I have great need of her and I have sent my Son to bring her home. Her daughter will dwell with us in the City of Light. Tell her that the darkness that shadows the Land of Man will never again cloud her days. Tell my daughter, also, that she is my good and faithful servant. I will not leave her arms empty and her heart bereft. Bring her this babe to console her in her hour of need. Let this child be my pledge to her that I have not forsaken her. Tell her to keep the child well, to care for her and love her, for she is Hope, a fair and beautiful child of joyful spirit, who will fill my daughter’s heart with light once again. Let this be my promise to her."

And so the Prince of Light traveled to the Land of Man with the small babe and gave her to the mother with the Great White King’s promise. He took her daughter in his arms and cradled her to him with great tenderness. And, as the sun set on the waters of the great ocean and the sky was filled with a dance of color, he carried the child away. And, that is how Princess Alyssia came to dwell in the City of Light. She had many grand adventures there, but that is another story.

The mother stood by the water for a long time, long after the Prince and her daughter were gone, and she wept for the loss of her beautiful child, but she remembered the Great King’s promise. The babe in her arms stirred and the mother looked at her with so much love and spoke softly, "Dear one, I am with you. Feel my love and let it give you strength to grow." And, with her words, the babe nestled close and the mother had Hope.
The End