The Wishing Princess - Chapter 23

23. The Princess and the Queen

"Kill her!" the Queen ordered. "Kill her now!"

Not a single person moved to obey her. All eyes were upon the Princess. She was clasping her hands at her wounds. Step by step, she walked toward the Queen.

The Queen could stand it no longer. She walked past the Guards toward the Princess and pulled out her pistol. She aimed at the Princess, the barrel pointed to her chest. Her finger upon the trigger. The Queen look at the picture given by the gun sight. She saw the Princess's delicate face.

The Queen saw the Princess's lips moving, but could not hear any sound. "What is the Princess saying?" Slowly, painfully, the Princess took one step after another toward the Queen. The Queen tried to read the Princess's lips.

"So cold... So dark... So painful..." The princess was saying it over and over. Her face was pale, and her eyes was glassy. There was no life in her eyes. She stared straight ahead. She saw nothing but darkness.

"So cold... So dark... So painful..." The princess didn't see the Queen standing there pointing her pistol at her. The Queen kept her aim at the Princess as she walked past.

"So cold... So dark... So painful..." The Queen just stared at the Princess. The Princess was dead and she didn't know it. The Queen looked at the Princess's clothes and saw that it was soaked with blood, all the way. As her gaze fell to the ground, the Queen saw that the Princess left a trail of blood upon her path, marking her death march on the desert sand.

"So cold... So dark... So painful..." as the Princess reached the Guards, they parted, yielding to the Princess. At last, her strenght failed her. She has lost too much blood. She sank to her knees, and finally dropped to the sand, and lie there. All the Guards moved to protect her.

The Guards parted when the Queen came. The Queen looked at the Princess, then dying among her Guards. She was pale, and bleeding profusely.

"Why do you oppose me so?" the Queen asked the Princess.

"Please don't kill the child. He hasn't done anything." said the Princess.

"That child will one day take over my kingdom and rule throughout the lands." said the Queen.

"You must be so proud," said the Princess, "to have such a fine heir."

"Heir?!" The Queen did not think that way. The old prune. Childless Queen. The Queen who did not marry, did not have heir.

"The child is prophesied to rule throughout the lands. What better kingdom would be best to raise him, but the biggest of them all?" The Princess said. "There is no kingdom bigger than yours."

And the Queen was stunned! The prophesy is true! She who had no child, will one day die, and without a clear heir, in-fighting and bickering will fragment and destroy her kingdom. Here was a neat solution, and she had overlooked it!

With deep pangs of regrets, she realized, then, that none of this had been necessary. Had she trusted the rest of the kingdom, and worked with them, she could have had the child entrusted to her without bloodshed. But now it's too late. Too many lives had been lost, and everyone hated her.

"There is no hope for peace. Too many lives have been lost." The Queen told the Princess as much.

"There is always hope for peace, as long as life exists." The princess said, "But especially now, that everyone is here."

The Queen shook her head. It was too late for her. She then looked around her and was surprised to see everybody mingled with everybody else. Her Guards, her troops, the various kings of the kingdoms and their troops. All gathered together around her and the Princess.

The Wishing Princess - Chapter 22

22. The Princess Falls

The kings were celebrating their victories. It was a marvelous one. Never in their wildest dream that they would turn back an mighty army many times their number! The princess was congratulated by the kings. She was extended many invitations, which she graciously accepted. Even the Tall Prince, who had always been derisive of her, finally admitted that she was a capable leader. All was merry in the encampment.

An even better news broke during the celebration. The prophesied child has been born! Cheers went up and wine flowed. The Princess could not stop the flow of wine, but reminded them that until the day was done, and the Queen's army retreated from the land, the danger had not passed, and wine should be consumed in moderation.

Suddenly, the Princess's ear perked. She looked around her and saw nothing but jubilant faces. The Captain, who always looked after her, noticed this. He approached the princess. He, too, looked around him and saw nothing amiss.

"Is there something wrong, Princess?" asked the Captain. The Princess said nothing. She kept looking around her. Everything seemed fine.

"I don't know." said the Princess. "Everything seems normal. There doesn't seem to be anything wrong, is there?"

"Everything seems normal to me." answered the Captain.

"Perhaps, someplace else, then?" said the Princess doubtfully. "Is the child safe?"

"As safe as can be." replied the Captain. "They are with the shamans of the Three Mountain. The child is very well protected."

"Then, where else could it be?" asked the Princess. As she looked around her, she heard the unmistakable sound of gunshots so far away. Instantly, her eyes went to the Queen's camp. "They're shooting at their own people!" The Princess was horrified at the revelation. Instantly, she was up on her horse and rode for the Queen's.

Her action was too swift for anyone to stop her. The Captain immediately signaled the horsemen and rode after her. As one, everybody ran after the Princess. There was no argument, no discussion, no orders. It was all instinctual. Everybody loved the Princess, and they will follow her to the death.

The Queen saw the lone horse rider going toward her, and recognized that it was the Princess. Addressing the Old Warrior, the Queen said, "Kill her."

The Old Warrior was surprised. He knew the Queen was mean, but he didn't think she would breach war etiquette. "Your Majesty, it is forbidden to kill a messenger." He didn't want to kill her.

The Queen merely regard him as a child. "She is the source of all our troubles." the Queen said, "Kill her, and our troubles will melt away." The Old Warrior looked at the Queen. He was really reluctant to do so. "Take the Guards and kill her." The Queen ordered the Old Warrior.

There was no more discussion. The Old Warrior, honorable and obedient to the Queen, had no choice but to obey. He formed the Honor Guard as a shield to the Queen, and instructed them to shoot the Princess.

The Princess was hurriedly riding through the troops. "Make way! Make way!" she shouted. The troops, recognizing that it was she who spared their lives, obeyed and parted to make way for the Princess.

The Princess rode past the troops, saw that the Guards were aiming their musket at their own troops. She spread her arms protecting the troops, as if a hen spread her wings protecting her chicks.

The Old Warrior had no choice. "Ready." he said. "Aim..."

The Guards also didn't want to kill the Princess. One admitted to the other, "I don't want to shoot her."

"So, shoot the horse," came the reply.

"... Fire!"

As one, the Guards fired their musket. The Princess's horse crumpled. There was not a single Guard who desired to kill the Princess. All aimed at the horse. At once, the Princess was flung from the horse onto the sands. She landed poorly.

The Guard stood transfixed to their spot. They couldn't move. They were all waiting for the Princess to stand.

The Princess laid on the sand for a long time. Then she slowly got up. The Guards all let out a collective sigh. But there was something wrong. The Princess expression was that of pain. She was wounded and bleeding!

Though all the Guards aimed at the horse, not all have hit their target. A few bullets hit the Princess, and she was struggling to walk.

She walked not back toward her encampment, but toward the Queen. The Guards's heart melted at her bravery and compassion. Not a single person moved.

The Princess was walking toward the Queen, slowly, painfully, one single step at a time.

The Wishing Princess - Chapter 21

21. The Victor and the Defeated

The Queen, the old prune, was livid. Her whole army turned back! Why? She was too far back to realize what happened. All she saw was that the enemy cavalry slowly crossed her army and the progress halted.  And through her glass, she saw The Old Sarge stood by and conversed with the Princess. Why didn't he kill her? The Queen's mood was very dark, indeed.

The Queen personally led her reserve troops to turn back her retreating army toward the encampment. "Kill any who refuse." ordered the Queen. Though reluctant to kill their own fellow soldiers, they obeyed the Queen. Even the Old Warrior can see the logic: Either die like a soldier while fighting the enemy or die like a coward killed by their own army.

As the retreating army reached the Queen, they find that the Queen's Honor Guard stood in a line, aiming the musket at them. They were confused, but not the Sarge, who understood what's going on. The Old Warrior flanked the Queen and the Guards with his reserve troops. He eyed Sarge sadly, knowing that the Queen will kill The Old Sarge. It was time to say good bye.

Sarge signaled the group to stand still. Then he walked and faced the Queen by himself. "I fear that I have failed you, Your Majesty, for I cannot defeat the enemy."

"Why do you not attack while you still have troops?" demanded the Queen.

"The enemy cavalry was superior. No one could make a dent in their rank."

"Then you fight to the death! There is no excuse for you to return defeated."

"Your Majesty, a senseless slaughter is not the answer. We can regroup and attack again later, once the troops are rested." Sarge bowed his head.

"Nonsense!" said the Queen. "You will attack now!"

Sarge merely shook his head sadly. The troops were not only tired from forced march last night, they were undoubtedly weak from hunger. A meal and some rest, and the troops would fight much better.

"Sarge," said the Queen with extreme menace in her voice. "Face the troops and tell them what I tell you."

With reluctance, Sarge turned to face the troop. Sarge said, "The Queen desires that you turn back and attack the enemy encampment immediately."

The troops were undecided. They were broken. They had just waded through the dead and wounded attacking, and again while retreating. They had no desire to go back through the killing field once again.

The Queen added with a shout, "Or die!" With that statement, she shot The Old Sarge, honorable and loyal soldier to the Queen, in the back.

He had expected this. As blood poured from his wound, his breathing became labored. His knees became weak, and he sank to the sand. He looked up once more to the sky, saw the sun hanging in the sky. It was not even noon. It was only mid morning. He saw that the blue sky was without cloud and beautiful. Then his vision darkens, and he fell to the sand. As Sarge lie dying in the sand, he saw his troops. They were confused and scared. They cowered. Sarge regretted that he couldn't protect them anymore. Then he died.

Bereft of their leader, the untrained, undisciplined raw recruits didn't know what to do. They just stood there staring at their beloved Old Sarge. The Queen seethed with anger. Why didn't they turn back at the enemy? Clearly, she would kill them if they refused.

She signaled her Honor Guard. As one, they fired at the poor troops.

The Wishing Princess - Chapter 20

20. The Cavalry Attacks

The Queen was watching the battle from the rear. She thought that the line would end up encircling her troops. She had planned to fight the last point, keeping it open and overwhelm the rebellion troops. There was some concern about the cavalry, but she's confident that her personal guards, armed with musket would make short work of them.

However, the expected closure never happened. The line kept retreating, yet still form a line. It never broke nor turned into a circle. The Queen thought that it was unwise, keeping only a small section of soldiers to fight her whole army. What she didn't know was that the Princess had arranged the most skillful and battle hardened soldiers to fight the raw recruits. There was no contest. The veterans decisively beat the Queen's inexperienced soldiers.

Further and further, the Queen's army kept pushing, while the line kept retreating. Finally, the Queen decided that the line will not change, and will keep retreating to the encampent. She halted the advance of her guards and reserve troops, in a desperate effort to bait the enemy to close the circle.

The Princess and her cavalry was waiting on the wing of the battle formation. She was explaining to the Captain that she had suspected that the Queen would have kept a reserve of soldiers, which would make encirclement problematic had they been unable to overcome the reserve units. Seeing the muskets that the honor guards carrying, the Captain agreed that delaying tactics would work better. It was clear that the muskets stayed behind and posed no threat to the current battle.

Still, the battle rages on, and it was getting close to their position.

"Oh, no. There's too many deaths." said the Princess.

"There's hardly any casualties that I can see." said the Captain.

"I meant on the Queen's army." explained the Princess. "Why won't they turn back?" asked the Princess. "They must have had to walk over their dead and wounded!"

The Captain cannot say anything. There's nothing to explain. You can't predict nor understand the act of raw recruits. The line got closer to them still. At last, the line of battle approaches them.

"Princess," the Captain said, "We should go elsewhere. The battle is closing."

The Princess did not move, but she began to sing. Her voice is clear throughout the battlefield. She sang songs of homeland. Vision of home floods the soldiers, fighting on the battlefield.

The visions hardens the old soldiers to fight even stronger, defending their home and loved ones, while the same visions caused the Queen's young soldiers heartache as they miss their warm home and hearthy cooked meal. More casualties on the Queen side.

Still, the line advanced. Soldiers now penetrated the cavalry. Still, the Princess sang loud and clear.

"Princess," begged the Captain.

In response, the Princess drew her sword. Every horsemen did likewise. Still, the Princess sang.

The line of soldiers finally gave way to the line of enemy. They attacked the standing cavalry. An enemy soldier attacked the Princess, only to be brought to stand still by a downward stroke of a sword. The weapon fell from the enemy's hand into the ground. The Princess sword then moved quickly to the enemy's neck, but there it stayed, and moved away. The enemy soldier was confused. The Captain said, "Go home. Our princess has touched you."

One more attack. One more strike. "Go home. Our princess has touched you."

One more attack. One more strike. "Go home. Our princess has touched you."

One more attack. One more strike. "Go home. Our princess has touched you."

Then the Princess turned her horse sideways and trotted the horse along the battle line. The enemy's advance was halted as the cavalry swept through the line. Still, the Princess sang.

One more attack. One more strike. "Go home. Our princess has touched you."

One more attack. One more strike. "Go home. Our princess has touched you."

One more attack. One more strike. "Go home. Our princess has touched you."

The enemy was confused. The cavalry merely cut down their hands to disarm them of weapon, but not kill them. They could have, but they didn't. After the cavalry passed by, they had expected the resistance soldiers to attack and kill them. They had become defenseless.

But the resistance soldiers did not do so. All they did was to say "Go home. Our princess has touched you." As the Queen soldiers were disarmed and can no longer fight. That is what they did. They picked up the wounded and went home. Still, the Princess sang.

The Old Sarge, finally realized that the cavalry was invincible, signaled the troops to stand still. The cavalry passed by unmolested, and at the same time, no longer attacked his troops. Still, the Princess sang.

Finally, the Princess cleared the enemy soldiers and reached Sarge's position. She stopped and faced Sarge. She finished her song. She looked at Sarge, expectantly.

The Old Sarge was impressed. He was mesmerized. "Why didn't you kill us?" he asked.

"Because there is no need to do so." replied the Princess. "The prophesied child will be born today, and peace will rule throughout the land."

And tears formed in The Old Sarge eyes. Here was a kind and gentle leader. One he always dreamed of, but he can't serve her because she was the enemy of the Queen. There was nothing he could do to be her servant. There is only one thing he could do, and that is to go back to the Queen, who would certainly punish him severely for his failure.

"Good bye." Sarge said to the Princess.

"Be well." said the Princess.

Sarge shook his head sadly. The Princess did not know the Queen like he did. Sarge gave a signal, and the whole Queen's army turned back and withdrew.

The battle of the kingdom of Red Sand has ended.

The Wishing Princess - Chapter 19

19. The Advance

"You want us to do what?" asked the Tall Prince incrediously.

"March to the enemy camp." replied the Princess.

"Suicide!"

"We don't have to attack them. They will attack us."

"Undoubtedly. So, then we run."

"No. We will form a line longer than they, and maintain it."

"Ah, I see. You are trying to encircle them and destroy them within the circle."

"No. Keep maintaining the line as we withdraw."

"But that's not how we win!"

"We don't have to. The prophesied child will bring us peace."

"I'm not doing this! I'm taking my soldiers out, and you can die alone!"

"Please! It's the only way!" begged the Princess. "Please!"

The Tall Prince, haughty as ever, was ready to pull his soldiers out. The Marsh Soldier looked at the Grass Soldier. "What should we do? Can we do anything?"

The Grass Soldier thought for a while, then he unexpectedly sang, "Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord;" Everybody, including the Princess and the Tall Prince stopped and looked at the Grass Soldier's direction.

A few more soldiers joined him on the next line, "He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;"

Yet more soldiers sang the next line, "He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword:"

By this time, half the troops sang the next line, "His truth is marching on."

The Grass Soldiers drew his sword out of his sheath and raised it high in the air. Everybody did likewise. And everybody marched at once, singing the chorus:

(Chorus)
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
His truth is marching on.

The whole troops marched with determination toward the Queen's Camp! The Queen's camp went into panic mode, and they hastily formed up to meet the attackers. The Queen was roughly roused and emerged a short time later. She shouted orders to gather weapons and form up.

Meanwhile, the resistance troops kept advancing briskly and sang:

I have seen Him in the watch-fires of a hundred circling camps,
They have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps;
I can read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps:
His day is marching on.
(Chorus)
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
His day is marching on.

The Queen's soldiers barely grouped when the Queen gave the order to advance. The Old Sarge ran to the head of the group and gave order to go forward. The group was ragged, but they started moving forward.

In the meantime, the resistance troops became bolder, and bolder as they sang:

I have read a fiery gospel writ in burnished rows of steel:
"As ye deal with my contemners, so with you my grace shall deal";
Let the Hero, born of woman, crush the serpent with his heel,
Since God is marching on.
(Chorus)
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Since God is marching on.

Panic was among the Queen's troop and they hung together closely, each tried to support each other. Sarge was shouting orders to stragglers in the back to try and keep up. The Queen calmly called her Honor Guards and reserve troops, led by the Old Warrior. Each Guard carried a musket. They are loading the muskets.

The resistance troops advanced boldly and had crossed half the distance. They sang:

He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat;
He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment-seat:
Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer Him! be jubilant, my feet!
Our God is marching on.
(Chorus)
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Our God is marching on.

The two opposing groups are formed and bound to meet in a great clash. Suddenly, horse riders bearing signal flags rode in front of the resistance troops. The square slowly changed its shape to become a line.

The Queen noticed this. She frowned. She mounted upon her horse and led the Guards out to follow her main troops.

Still, the resistance troops sang:

In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,
With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me.
As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free,
While God is marching on.
(Chorus)
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
While God is marching on.

Both sides got closer and closer. Finally, the two armies met together in the tract of sand. Weapons held. Nerves steeled. Fate fulfilled.

He is coming like the glory of the morning on the wave,
He is Wisdom to the mighty, He is Succour to the brave,
So the world shall be His footstool, and the soul of Time His slave,
Our God is marching on.
(Chorus)
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah.
Our God is marching on.(1)

At the end of the song. Both armies stopped moving. They are at a stone's throw distance from one another. For a while, it seemed that the time stood still. Neither armies moved.

Suddenly, without any warning, both armies exploded forward and clashed in a terrible battle. In an instant, the Grass Soldier cut down six enemies with his sword, before coming to his senses.

"Strike one down, and one step back." he said. He took a step back. Everybody else did the same. The Queen's army attacked again. They got cut down, and again, the resistance army took a step back. This event was repeated many, many times.