The Handsome Prince

On the 15th Day of the 8th Month of the Year 2016, in a strange fugue from being bombarded by multiple translations of same issues/ events, I wrote a piece of experimental prose wherein highly value-judgemental statements were made, but the actual side and issue was never discussed, to mirror the parallels in the diatribes of opposing sides. The basic story idea came from a discussion with the wife sometime back.

Somehow the scenario hasn’t changed much. In fact it has become more pronounced: the vitroil in the opposition and the refusal to address the issue, only addressing the “character” and antecedents of the opposers. Hence, reposting a piece that may not have aged well.

You may need to read this twice after you reach the end. It was designed this way, as an experiment in literary perspective and preconception.

Not a true repost, as I reserve my editorial rights 😀

As usual, apologies in advance.

Dramatis Personae:

1. The Eldest Brother. The Leader. Respected for his able administration, and for his adherence to the rules. Let’s call him David.

2. The Second Brother. The Muscle. Known for his physical strength and his readiness to undertake and complete any task entrusted to him by his elder brother. Let’s denote him as Bill.

3. The Supreme Archer. The Talent. Feted for his skills with the bow, and for his many victories for his side. Can we refer to him as Andrew?

4. And the titular Handsome Prince. The Brain. Respected by his allies for his shrewd planning. Equally abhorred by his opponents for his readiness to use any means whatsoever to achieve what he considered right. Known for his unconventional good-looks and easy to identify in any gathering by his head-dress adorned by a simple feather. He was also The Outsider. Related by blood and marriage to the others, strengthened by years of heart-felt friendship. He remains the Handsome Prince.

ACT NOW. SCENE RIGHT NOW.

It was a sombre meeting. While the rest of their allies slept fitfully, after the last full day of preparation before the inevitable war, four able statesmen and reluctant warriors sat quietly in a well lit room.

“Inspite of your repeated efforts, war is inevitable, O Handsome One.”

Andrew said looking at his friend with adoration writ large on his face.

“As this war is not just inevitable but required.”

“Those Usurping Cousins have time and again crossed the limits of propriety in their love for power.”

“And it is our right, nay… our duty to once and for all defeat them and close this issue.”

The Handsome One said, still smiling inspite of the grim contents of his speech.

Sensing that his elder brother still felt uneasy of the prospect of war against blood relative, Bill walked towards him and knelt in front of him ceremoniously.

“At long last this throne shall fully and inconvertibly be yours, my Eldest.”

“Every time you have given those Usurping Cousins of ours the benefit of doubt”

“and let them get away with such disrespectful deeds that if you had not stayed my hand each time, I would have killed each one of them many times over.”

Bill finished, his well-documented anger evident to all present.

“Patience, strong Bill. Patience. Your righteous thirst for vengeance can wait one more night. Prince David’s actions have been always beyond reproach till date, other than during that fateful game of dice.”

The Handsome One intoned in his calming voice.

“That’s the reason of my lasting discomfort, O handsome relative of mine.”

“I am afraid even after the war is over… whatever be its result…”

“be it Victory for us brothers or Defeat by the hands of our cousins…”

“the future generations will remember me most for my actions on that day.”

“I could have walked away from the game.”

“I should have walked away from it.”

“But the way they talked.”

“As if any refusal to continue the play would be cowardice.”

“As our opponents increased the ante, I couldn’t believe this was actually happening.”

“The idea! Of betting brothers into slavery.”

“The abhorrent way they treated the Eldest Daughter-in-law of the combined families…”

An expression of immense pain crossed the strong visage of David as he relived that day.

“In that I agree my Eldest.”

“You should have stopped the game.”

“I could not openly castigate my eldest brother in front of the whole gathering,”

“but you could have at least looked into my eyes as I silently beseeched you to stop.”

Bill said, looking equal part sad and angry. Whether his anger was directed towards his brother or his cousins was anyone’s guess.

“You are awfully quiet Andrew.”

“It is your skill with the bow and arrow that we all bank upon come tomorrow morning to win us this war.”

The Handsome Prince said putting a gentle hand on the forearm of the Celebrated Archer.

“I know not if I am ready to fight them tomorrow.”

“Once I start fighting I would not stop till either victory or death stays my hand.”

“But to start… to point my deadly arrows towards those who claim kinship? This is something I may not be capable of.”

Andrew said, holding his bowed head with both palms.

“You must fight Andrew. Let me tell you something.”

“This war shall be remembered for not just a few generations, but beyond thousands of years.”

“When people would not be sure if this was history or just tales spun by bards.”

“And this will be known as not just a war but The War… The War between Forces of Good and Evil.”

“If we win David will be rightly known as the Prince who always stood in the Light of Righteousness.”

“If we lose he would be the Power Hungry Prince who never knew Right from Wrong.”

“That one transgression of yours, David? That would be seen as the culmination of all the Evil in you.”

“It would be known that you caused the Infamous Game and the Abhorrent Bets in your thirst for power.”

The Handsome One said his voice rising to a crescendo.

“How can it be? How can the Eldest by held solely responsible, that day both sides…”

Bill as usual stepped in for his elder brother.

“It would, O Strong One.”

“As for you, if we win you shall be known as the Epitome of Brotherly Spirit”

“and your Strength and Valour, not just acclaimed but increased in re-telling to superhuman levels.”

“And if we lose, you would be the cowardly fool-hardy second brother.”

“The means of truly evil deeds on the behest of David.”

“So truly abhorred that the story of your death would be sung in morbid fascination and maybe even just punishment.”

The Prince of the Feathered Head-Dress said looking sharply towards Bill.

The other three looked at their mentor with shock written openly on their expressions.

“And you Andrew. They will respect your skill, as there is no way they can make the populace forget that.”

“But your death shall be seen as unfortunate result of your fighting for the wrong side.”

“They may even invent some misdeeds, such as abetting the abhorrent wrong-doings during that game.”

The Handsome Prince spoke softly this time as his soft corner for Andrew became obvious.

“And what about you, O Player-of-tricks?”

David asked, his face stoic, as he saw the truth in the words of their common mentor and respected relative.

“Me… mine would be the highest glory if we win.”

“I may even be deified for my contributions.”

“But if we lose, the black-wash of my name shall be the most extreme.”

“I am celebrated for my handsomeness. The same genetic good looks that was the cause of my sister being kidnapped to be joined in marriage to your family.”

The Handsome Prince said, his eyes looking away in the distance.

“Are you still sore of that, my friend. I thought you had reconciled on that”

Andrew said worriedly.

“That I have. Just sometimes it still stings.”

“But as I was saying, my celebrated good looks would be the first thing that will be attacked.”

“I would be described as ugly, or may be deformed.”

“My being an outsider emphasized.”

“My strategy renamed as trickery.”

“And my prowess in war craft forgotten.”

“My death made just a footnote.”

The Handsome Prince said, his smile marred by the sadness in his eyes.

“And what about our other brothers, O Prince?”

Bill asked, always known for his brotherly love.

“Win or lose, they would never reach the same heights or depths as us.”

“If we win, even their minor deeds would be sought out and mentioned.”

“But if we lose, no one would even remember their names.”

“They will be the Forgotten One’s. Their lives unsung and their deaths just numbers.”

“So, I repeat. You all must fight hard!”

“As not just your rightful claims and your lives are on stake, but our names in posterity.”

“Let’s turn in now, we start early tomorrow.”

The Handsome Prince said, politely, but with finality honed through years of command.

One by one, the other three took the Handsome One’s blessings and took their leave, Andrew being the last to depart.

As we are left alone with the Handsome Prince, the titular protagonist of this story, we pause and try to look closely at the feather in his head-dress.

Is it as we all [or at least those who have some passable knowledge of the Epic written after The Great War] expect the feather of a Peacock?

Or is it some other feather?

Tail feather of the birds of prey known to live in high places?

The feather which can be misreported by opponents as belonging to the plumage of the carrion-eating birds?

The feather of vultures?

Is the Handsome Prince dark in complexion, hailing from the kingdom of sea-faring folks in the West?

Or is he fair in complexion, from the kingdom in the far North-West?

May be the same conversation happened on both sides of the war. Read it twice and see if you can categorically exclude any option.

In these parallel worlds, no one is the villain of his own story.

– Parallel worlds with two Handsome Princes.

– Each supporting the claim of the Eldest Prince of their side, whom he saw as the Righteous One.

– Each side with a Second Brother, who loved his brothers and was the one whose deeds were the most reviled by their opponents.

– Each side boasting of The Supreme Archer fighting on their side.

Whoever won were feted as the heroes, and whoever lost reviled as the villains.

Either Black or White, why not Gray?