That was just an ordinary night. I was sitting at my usual place, a wall in the crumbled ruins not very far from my shack. I used to sit there all night, gazing at the swirling aurora up in the heavens. There was an inexplicable reason for it, maybe it had something to do with the fact that I had not slept in the past 3 years, the day whence I moved into my secluded shack. Initially I could not sleep, because of some recurring dreams which ended abruptly and violently. Then gradually I got used to not sleeping and hence developed a habit of watching at the sky all night long. In my adolescent years, I had these dreams particularly on the eve of a full moon, which would then keep me awake all night, but as I grew older they thinned out and after a point they ceased completely. Until I moved here, in this shack. It seemed to draw me, when I had found it. Everyone, including myself was surprised when I made the decision to move in here. My needs were simple and the modest amount of money I had inherited was enough to fulfill those needs.
The shack gave me a clear view of the moon, and there seldom were clouds. The nights were distinctly clear as if giving way for the pulsating light emanated by the aurora. I remember my first night at the shack too clearly for comfort. I had a rather sumptuous meal and went off to sleep. No sooner than I had closed my eyes, I saw my old dream. A magnificent city, a woman so unearthly beautiful, a palace courtyard and then flashes of lightning and destruction. Burning houses, piles of corpses and finally a blinding red light followed by a fall into nothingness. I had awaken with a jolt, panting, my face white as bone. I decided to take a walk to calm my nerves down and thats when I found my point of solitude, a ruin aging aeons. It was just at the edge of a steep cliff and the aurora was visible clearer than ever.
This was exactly 3 years ago. I had shortly given up my futile attempts to sleep and frankly,I did not need any sleep. I used to be so engrossed in the throbbing aurora that no rest would be required. Today was a full moon and I was celebrating my third anniversary, alone in my sanctuary. Tonight the aurora seemed more violent than ever, displaying streaks of bright orange and red among its otherwise soothing blend of colours. Also, the pulse of the aurora was remarkably more than the other days. I was so lost in it, that I noticed a bit too late that it had started to descend, descend on me. I was awestruck, my mouth agape. I stood there frozen, unable to move and watched it coming straight for me.
As it descended, visions from my dreams became increasingly reminiscent and clear. The aurora was so close when it started to take form. The dizzyingly pulsating blend started to take shape. It was too hard to tell what was happening, until the realization came. And when it came, I could only emit a gasp. It was completing the ruins, as they had been ages back. All this was painfully familiar, as it was a scene from my dream. I was back in the dream that I dreaded, only to find it clearer than ever. So much so for an ordinary night.
I was standing in the magnificent city of Arathyria, not as myself but as the High-Priest of the kingdom of Traas’nkar. Every thing was so familiar. I was here for a purpose for I knew that this kingdom was doomed, and I could not let my love be doomed with it. Why could not I remember her name? I was here to save her. I tried to warn the king to evacuate the kingdom, but he did not listen to me. He was too busy enjoying his lavish life that he was totally inconsiderate about my words. The people of this flourishing kingdom were believers of the notion that their king was divine and he would not let any peril come their way. So wrong they were and yet I could not do anything. I had come here to save my love, the princess, but for some strange reason I could not remember her name. I tried straining my mind for it but nothing came. Although I could not remember the name, her face was all too clear for me. Hers was a beauty so divine and angelic that she seemed to have stepped down from the heavens itself. And hers was a beauty I would not allow to be marred by anything. I knew that by coming here I was putting myself in a mortal peril but it did not matter, for a thought about her would overcome any fear that I might face.
I finally reached the palace courtyard where we were supposed to meet. Was I here early? Why had not she come by now? I waited a bit, but soon grew restless. I had to save her. I went to her palace and inquired the guard about her. He had not seen her leave so she had to be inside. I went inside scowling, ignoring the guard’s plea to not go inside. If this was to be done, this was to be done now, for the impending doom neared. I could feel it. I went to her room and called her. No answer. Where was she? The door seemed locked from inside but I had to see her. I broke the door down and the scene inside made me weak in my knees. She was lying in a pool of blood, her crested dagger protruding her tender bosom. Hysteria gripped me and a blur took over. I saw a hastily written scroll by her lying beside her. It said – “I know that you will come for me, but know that I will not be able to go with you. The reasons I cannot disclose, not now, but I want you to know that I love you. I have always loved you, ever since I first saw you. Save yourself, for we shall meet again.”
I knew that if discovered, I would be killed instantly. So I made a run for it. But I had only reached out in the lobby when there was a blinding flash and a deafening explosion. So it had begun. If i was to survive, I had to give all my energy to it. Not that I wanted to live now, but she had asked me to, and I had to give her this much at least. So be it, I thought and started running at a good enough pace. I saw the city was burning in places and more red streaks were forming across the crimson sky. I ran as fast as I could, taking the shortest path out of Arathyria. It was bridge over a chasm connecting to the rural area of the kingdom. It was the shortest but also the most dangerous as the bridge was quite old and dingy. I started treading the bridge and slowly increased my pace. The planks cranked under my step forcing me stop sometimes and examine it. Almost at the other end, I thought but just then I saw a burning red streak in the sky coming for me. Its pace was so much, that I froze in horror for a few seconds before realizing and then I made for the end of the bridge. I was about ten meters from the end when a crashing sound came and the bridge snapped. Just then I jumped for the edge instinctively, but stopped short a few meters. Then it was long fall down, and in my final conscious moments I saw the red streak heading for me, as if determined to make sure I was dead. And overlooking the streak was the beautiful blend of light. Aurora, yes that was it. Her name was Aurora. Watching at me from the heavens she was.
I jerked awake in the ruins to find out that Aurora was still there, but now she emanated an ethereal grace, as if she knew. I heard her voice say something but it was not physically heard but I felt it in my thoughts. She said – “You should have saved yourself then. You delayed our union by aeons but all this time, I have been watching you, for the right time to come. Now, is that time”.
Her body seemed to form from that blending light and exuded a divine aura about it. “Now I can tell you the reason why I could not come with you then. If we would have been spotted by any of the guards or soldiers, we would have been executed. I came to know this only after we had fixed up that rendezvous. My father suspected our little tirade, but he could never procure any evidence. He had ordered the army that if anyone spotted us eloping, we must be executed on the spot. I could not afford to lose you. That is why I did, what I had to do to save our eternal legacy. Unfortunately I witnessed you die shortly afterwards. Since then I have been waiting for you to recall the story. Now, since we have been together for the past 3 years, we will continue that, just the way it has been.”
I knew I had seen her smiling and I nodded my approval as I was too happy and content at the moment. That day was 20 years ago, but still we are together and although my time is now short, I still see her from dusk to dawn. We have not talked since that day, but our love blooms without talk. Its only when the morning forces her away, that I go back. I know now, that when my time comes, we shall be united forever, me and Aurora.
