Atr'eya's Love

Word Count: 272

Atr'eya's Love

Atr’eya stared unseeing at the wide river, surrounded by elves but feeling completely alone. A brisk breeze blew his light blonde hair back from his forehead. He was the king of the elves; he knew he had to put up a strong front for his people, even though he felt like he was dying inside.

“Your Highness?” James Price spoke from beside him. “Are you ready?”

Atr’eya turned to face his advisor and accepted the burning torch James held out to him. James patted him on the shoulder and then stepped back, one human amongst a crowd of elves.

Atr’eya turned back to the river and the barge that rode low in the water. He knew he should say something uplifting and hopeful for the future, but he feared he couldn’t speak past the lump in his throat.

“We will all miss her, Your Highness,” James murmured. “But now it is time to set her spirit free. Help her on her way to the spirit world.”

Atr’eya bowed his head. The smoke from the torch obscured his vision, or maybe that was the tears that now coursed down his cheeks.

“Goodbye, my dearest Ali’ana,” Atr’eya whispered before throwing the torch onto the barge. The dry wood was quick to catch and soon the shrouded figure in the middle was ablaze. Two elves stepped forward to untie the barge from the docks, letting the current catch it and start it sailing slowly downstream.

Atr’eya watched it, feeling numb inside. How would he be able to go on without his love? His greatest treasure was gone, and now he must face the world alone.