The Prince of Time

The Prince of Time:

 “Time is a befuddling word. The action of time is like the continuous, never-ending flow of a river that goes on as far as the East is from the West. It is always moving and never ceases to be there, but people always say time is running out or there simply is not enough. It is not only the force that drives each and every soul, it is a living soul itself. Without the Prince of Time, I do believe we would all be lost, purposeless souls.” Alistair’s voice then faded away as he stood on the river bank staring at the moon’s reflection in the water. A familiar voice then whispered behind Alistair, the Prince of Time, “What an interesting concept you have formed dear brother.” Aithne’s tiny whisper startled Alistair more than usual as he jerked his head to meet the lavender eyes of his sister. “What are you doing here? It is way past your bedtime little one.” Aithne’s striking beauty for her young age of only five was almost to much to bear as she looked at him through her pleading eyes. “I had a frightening dream that was so real. I could feel everything, and you were in it.” The little figure shifted in the darkness as she sat down on a nearby tree stump, not willing to leave until her brother gave her courage to sleep once again. The breeze stirred gently and the tall grass danced with the disturbance. Alistair kneeled down to look into his sister’s eyes “What is so bad about a dream that feels real little princess?” Aithne shuddered all to violently and went into depth, “Well, I guess that part would not be so bad if the dream was not so horrible. I dreamed I was walking with you on a beautiful night like this. We were laughing so happily don’t you know. Everything was beautiful until suddenly you fell down and chains came out of nowhere to fasten your hands and feet. I tried to pull them off, but their grip was too strong. The cold metal stung my fingers and icy burns formed. You began to cry and so did I. Over and over you kept pleading for my forgiveness, but I was so confused because you have never needed such from me. We are the best of siblings, tied together with the ropes of time to always be together.” Alistair’s gaze shifted to the ground and the silence that followed almost made Aithne cry as she was hoping for some sort of comfort. Tears began to form around Alistair’s eyes and flow uncontrollably. “What a frightening experience that must have been.” He then sprang to his feet and paced the river bank, words pouring with great emotion, “I can’t do it anymore Aithne. I cannot be Time forever. I have to stop or my mind will leave me. You, my darling sister, are the only one that truly loves me while the rest of the world despises my existence. The souls either could care less about Time, obsess over how much Time they think they ‘have’, curse me, or want to stop me. I am no one’s possession for I am only a figment of their imagination although I exist as a living soul. There is no escape from these iron bars that imprison me in an endless journey that tics around a circle. If I try to run, I just catch up with myself and start racing once again. The only way that freedom can become mine, is if the souls that I run for die. I have found a way to escape my chains…I have made a deal with the universe.” By now, Aithne was beyond the point of tears. All of the light that shone from her eyes had dried up, but she seemed to be looking through the eyes of thousands. Her innocent soul was breaking, and her heart began to race. “What are you saying?” Alistair shook his head and looked into her eyes for one last moment, “Please forgive me.” With that, he broke his hands and raced for his freedom.  

In the abandoned darkness, a single breath of wind swept across the sweet grass. Its gentle caress the reminder of a purpose that was lost. A small figure lay abandoned, her breath released from existence as the souls wandered aimlessly, forever lost in a world of no beginning. The Prince of Time ran freely across the valley until finally out of exhaustion, he was forced to stop. Gasping for more air, Alistair’s lungs burned with deep sadness. The pain from his broken hands radiated up his arms and pierced through his fingers. “Universe! Come claim what is yours so I may receive what is mine.” A single star shot from the sky and slowly made its way to the land. Once its arrival had been made, the illumination of the star dampened and its form shifted to that of a woman. Her hair white as snow, gleamed in the darkness as Starlight turned to meet Time. “It is of my knowledge that you have made a deal with the Universe,” recalled the elegant figure, “and it is also within my power to grant your wish. Your struggle for freedom has been apparent, and the universe has had pity on you. Your sacrifice has been greatly acknowledged by the host. For your sacrifice, we grant you freedom from your purpose to be the Prince of Time.” In that instant, Starlight placed her hand on Alistair’s head, and pulled the purpose that kindled the fire in his soul and extinguished its life. And so his soul was all that remained. He looked up in confusion, the fire dying in his eyes, “What is my purpose, Starlight?” The messenger then chuckled a dark cry, “You fool, I agreed to give you freedom not Time.” With that, she disappeared and the souls that were once slaves to Time, wandered aimlessly, forever paused in their life.  

by: Sarah Stark