Chapter Four
The night before their wedding, Alcina takes the prince by the hand and leads him to the gardens within the courtyard. She tells him of her granted prayer and the cost their love now bears. Paling, the prince draws back.
“Is there no way around this bargain?” he asks, trembling.
“My dearest, there is not. Your life is the price of my love.”
The next ten years are the most prosperous the kingdom has ever experienced. The royal family is full of love and happiness, enraptured by their children and embracing each new day with gratitude.
Epilogue
The anniversary of their ten years arrives. Lead by a glorious procession, the prince and princess make their way to the lake. Li Ban is glowing divinely, surrounded by Alcina’s family.
Prince Albert and Princess Alcina wade deeper and further into the shining waters. Li Ban raises her arms and proclaims, “Truly, this is love at its most profound.” The heads of the monarchs disappear beneath the lake. As everyone stares into the lake, tears pouring down their faces, the water ripples and out fly two beautiful white swans. They circle the mourners and dive back beneath the surface to emerge once again and swoop gracefully towards the castle.
Finis
Now at our journey’s end, our story told, our lovers’ lives sacrificed at the font of love.
As we mourn, let us preserve these tears for posterity, when future generations who read my verse may say, “Here was a love.”
