The king lingered for two days and nights, regaining consciousness
only once. He slowly reached toward the Queen, who took his
hand in hers. Only their eyes spoke, and as Anna said many years
later, it was as if a magnificent garden were revealed at that
instant. A true paradise of color and love and commitment.
It
was but an instant in time and then the King closed his eyes
and was still. There was not a sound in the Great Hall. There
seemed not to be a sound in the entire Kingdom. Old Gus looked
at the face of the King and at the bowed head of the Queen.
"There is nothing in this silence but the choice to bloom.
Listen."
At
that moment, outside in the courtyard, was heard a high sweet
sound, the first returning songbird of Spring, singing its choice
to live and flourish. Old Gus raised his head at the sound.
"There, in that song, is the first smoke of the fires of
life. The King is not here anymore, but flown away."
Old
Gus kissed the Queen on the top of her head and then turned
and made his way out into the gardens.
