A Story
Garments
It was a beautiful sunny
day. Fishermen launched their boats for another day's catch. The
island buzzed with visitors, a great opportunity for the locals to
improve their business prospects. The boats were moving in and out
of the harbor and the fishermen congregated to examine their catch.
Others shouted greetings across the waters to their comrades. While
gluttonously devouring the leftover fish seagulls mixed their
cheerful shrills with fishermen's bellows.
Princess Ilenia slipped
through the crowds in disguise in order to enjoy herself by taking
part in the activities of the island. The sun was marauding through
the barren sky in solitude. Its regular companions, the clouds,
moved into a different territory that day. The fiery ball reached
its zenith and began to sink into the other side of the sea. Ilenia's eyes still feasted on nature's ever-changing beauty when a
small boat obscured her vision. She felt a stream of excitement,
yet not knowing why. She realized that someone was watching her
with a real interest. As the boat approached she quickly swayed her
eyes away from the horizon and toward the boat. In that instance
she understood the cause of the rising excitement for the boatman.
Mesmerized by her sight, he strenuously attempted to turn his head
in another direction, but in vain. Nothing existed except the
living sculpture of the girl standing on the shore, frozen...
still... breathtaking.
Their eyes met and locked
together as in a mystical bond. Both ends held on to this invisible
cord. Then silence was broken. "Hello" - the man waved. "Hello" -
was the reply. "Beautiful day, isn't it?" "Yes, but too bad that
it is coming to an end so soon". "Yeah", the man carried on, "But
actually, I was looking forward to sunset. I am tired and hungry."
"Aaah, I see", the princess responded. "Are you a visitor on the
island?", he asked. "Yes". "For the first time?" "Yes". "How do
you like it?" "Oh, very much. It is very picturesque." "I agree",
the man continued. He stopped the boat, came to the shore and said,
"My name is Iconeus, but they call me Ico. What is your name?" "Ilenia,
but you can call me Ila" "Okay, Ila. It is nice to meet you."
"Likewise", she replied.
They kept on exchanging
words and glances as they were watching the sinking glittering
fireball getting redder and more distant with its setting. The
reddish brush strokes of the painter accented the colors of the
endless ocean. Now their ears instead of eyes began to take
pleasure in the harmonious and rhythmic pulse of the waves.
First stars began to
twinkle and silence started to rue for the night. "Would you like
to come with me on my boat to the harbor?", Ico asked. After a
pause Ila replied, "Well, why not." "Great, hop in!". Once the
boat docked the two slowly strolled toward the town. That evening
Ico and Ila agreed to have a meal together. Ila then revealed her
true identity, and as everyone already guessed....they fell in love.
Time passed. Ico and Ila
exchanged letters. Winter arrived and the sea became cold and
turbulent. The people of the island prepared for the off-season.
Ico became restless for he was consumed with love for Ila. The fact
that he was just a simple fisherman in love with a princess was too
heavy to bear. He hated the social structure of the society. That
was the pinnacle of injustice to him. Nothing else existed in his
world but his love for Ila.
Ilenia suffered also. Her
suffering became unbearable when her father busied himself arranging
her marriage with some spoiled royal brat whom she had never seen
before. Time was mercilessly moving on and the king was getting
impatient. Spring was knocking on the door which was the season for
wedding feasts. Ilenia could not bear the separation anymore and
decided to travel back to Dietan.
"Ila, my darling! I
missed you so much. I cannot live without you. I am consumed with
love. I would rather die than live without you." Ico kept
embracing Ila, kissing her tears of joy and utter happiness. She
was again in the arms of her beloved. "Let's run away to a distant
country!" - she whispered. "But what about your father and the
kingdom?" "I don't care, I just want to be with you", she
insisted. But Iconeus was not ready for this. He didn't have any
money, position, or future, while holding in his arms a future
queen. It was a hard thing to digest. "Oh, I wish that I was born
in a royal family. Why did I have to fall in love with a princess?
An orphan who does not know even his own parents and is loved by a
king's daughter?" Ico despaired.
The next day Ico and Ila
went to visit an old man, a bookbinder named Pharius. Pharius was
someone Ico had known since his childhood, almost like his own
father. He was a kind, upright man, wise and generous.
"Pharius, it is good to
see you", Ico greeted the old man. "Oh, Ico. I am so glad to see
you, my son. And who is the lady?" "This is Ilenia, the woman I
love." "Bless you my child", Pharius reached toward Ila and kissed
her forehead. "Woman you love, huh? I don't blame you, mmmh,
beautiful. What brings you here, my son?" "I need advice", Ico
carried on. "Ilenia is a princess". Pharius lowered his head, his
glasses slid down to the tip of his nose, eyebrows raised with his
blue eyes wide open, he replied; "A princess? You want to marry a
princess?" Pharius wandered with his eyes from Ico to Ila and back
to Ico. It seemed that eternity just passed and no one said a
word. "A king's daughter and a fisherman. An impossible union.
Not in this day and age. I have no advice, sorry."
Their hearts fell back
into the state of desperation. "We will run away!", Ila exclaimed.
"We will leave this crazy world of impossibilities. Love has no
borders, no limits, no social barriers, love will never be isolated
and locked into prison. Never! Never!". Her passions were aroused
by the injustice of this world and she could not stop herself.
Pharius interrupted her "Ila, Ila, wait. I understand how you
feel. This world is not a prefect place for lovers, yet love is
found in these imperfect surroundings. Love is a diamond found in
dirty earth and when it is found its price becomes more precious
because of the dirt it was found in. If we walked on earth made of
diamonds, how could we appreciate them? Because of the seeming
impossibility your love is more precious. Only if one would be willing to
pay price for the real thing."
After a pause Pharius continued, "I am connected with royalties and dignitaries. Perhaps we can do something. Perhaps we can even arrange a royal wedding and if the truth comes out you can always run, but then already as one." "What are you trying to say Pharius?", Ico insisted. "Leave it to me", he replied. "Come back to me next week. Then you will know".
A week passed and Pharius presented his brilliant idea. "I
have arranged for you to be a paper prince just for the wedding."
"What!" Ico exclaimed nervously. "Yes, a prince", chuckled Pharius.
Ico shook his head. "I do not understand". But Pharius carried
on. "I have prepared special garments and royal entourage for you
to make you look exactly like a prince. I even have people who
would not hesitate to play the role of high dignitaries in the royal
palace. Just for you. For true love! What do you say?" "Wow. I
am shocked. I don't know what to say. Is this possible?" "Of
course. Both of you do not care about social status anyway. All
you care about is your love for each other. Isn't that a fact?"
"Right". "Yeah, we do not care" - the princess added. "Well". A
pause. "Let's do it". They all laughed.
Upon hearing the good news, king Hileous was anxious to meet his future son-in-law, the prince Iconius. Ico arrived with his entourage dressed in exquisitely tailored clothes, handsome, strong and intelligent. The young man made quite an impression on the king. The date was set. The wedding day arrived.
The capital resounded with music and
joyful noise. Iconius and Ilenia were made one and the feast
carried on throughout the entire night. Pharius was the "prince's"
advisor and without him Ico would not dare to engage in any
conversation with the king. The wedding feast came to an end, the
newlyweds departed for their honeymoon to one of her father's
castle in the mountains. The bookbinder had to return to his island
and Ico's entourage with him.
Soon their honeymoon was over and the young couple returned to the capital. The royal dowry was quickly spent and the fisherman prince had to look for income. The royal palace did not feel like home to Ico. The cost and presence of servants and strange faces was not to Ico's liking. The constant awareness of him being an impostor was getting to him resulting in tension between the lovers. Ico wanted to depart for his island and to go back to fishing, but now he would have to have the royal company with him. It was hard to hide anything.
Though
their secret was not yet discovered they decided to leave secretly
for Dirtan. They left a note with no detailed information, simply stating that they had to leave the
Ico and Ila enjoyed the
island living humbly from fishing, Pharius was their frequent
visitor. Very soon the king of Balomeos received the devastating
message: "Your son-in-law is just a simple fisherman on the
The next day, as usual,
Pharius came to visit Ico and Ila. He quickly learned from the
neighbors what had taken place the day before. One part of his plan
had failed and the couple had no chance of escape. It was too
late. Pharius despaired. Plagued by guilt and loneliness sleep
alluded him that night.
Weeks past. Ico was in
prison and Ila was put into seclusion. Suddenly a guest was
announced. "Your majesty, Pharius, the bookbinder, wishes to see
you". Pharius is allowed to come and present the purpose of his
unexpected visit. Pharius had barely crossed the threshold. "Pharius,
you conspiring thief!", the king charged. "You are responsible for
this disaster. I could have you arrested and thrown into dungeon.
How dare you to come to my palace!" "Please, may I be heard? - Pharius interrupted the
king. "With your permission, please let me
speak". "Well, what!", the king shouted back angrily. "Would your
majesty listen with patience to the words of wisdom, not of a wise
man, but a bookbinder." Thus Pharius introduced his monologue.
"Your majesty can see how anyone can be fooled by appearance, at
least for a season though the truth will always come out at the
end. Nevertheless, your majesty was impressed by the looks and the
presentation of the young lad and for a while Iconius found favor in
the king's eyes and even kindled a warm feeling in your heart.
Isn't that true, my lord? But upon learning the deception your fury
took pre-eminence, not because of the humble status of Ico, but
rather that your royal pride was hurt."
After a short pause
Pharius continued. "I have documents with me proving the birthplace
and the family tree of Iconeus. When he was just a baby, I rescued
him form a burning palace in today's non-existent
"Those of us who survived
scavenged the palaces and the rich people's estates. In Sutaleos'
palace I found the baby boy almost suffocated by the smoke. My
heart went out to him. I settled in Dirtan and learned my trade,
raising Ico as my own son. I never revealed his real identity and I
never would have done so had he not fallen in love with the
princess. Ico, in his ignorance, followed my plan to disguise
himself as a prince. The truth of the matter
is that he is indeed a real prince, although he still does not know it.
Don't you think that someone should tell him?" Pharius ended his
tale.
The king was very moved by
the story. He examined the documents, then replied, "You are a
bookbinder. You have the skill to forge any document. Why should I
believe you?" "I have gone through much trouble to obtain these
documents from different survivors and servants at the royal
palace. Here are their marks of attestation of this truth.", Pharius replied and continued, "Your
majesty has total freedom to
make up his mind to believe or doubt me. I cannot force my Lord to
believe me. Ico's kingdom does not exist. The royal couple may
even be dead. All that is left is my story and these documents
are indeed real", Pharius concluded.
Both parties were silent
and a gentle cool breeze swept through the chamber. The king took a
deep breath and said, "Bring the prisoner".
"Pharius!", Ico cried with
joy upon seeing his old friend. "I am so happy to see you!"
Pharius knelt down on one of his knees and responded, "Your
royal highness, Pharius the bookbinder at your service". Ico
opened his mouth in disbelief. "What are you doing? What
is going on?" King Hileous raised himself from his seat and approached
Iconeus, placed
his arms around his neck and kissed him, saying "My son, please
forgive me...". His voice trembled
The prince was immediately brought into the king's chamber. The Queen rushed in after hearing the good news. Soon the scene was that of hugging and kissing with tears of joy.
"This calls for a feast" -
thundered the king.