THE CROWN'S HONOR

The day’s presence was heavy, with dark gray clouds surrounding the kingdom of Patmos. Such a beautiful island now engulfed with the worst reality imaginable for its inhabitants. The absence of their beloved king. A kingdom living its glory days to suddenly losing what sustained the glory. However, the queen remained but had made no presence to her people, causing an uproar of distrust and anger across the kingdom.

In the meeting room where the king would hold private audiences with his most trusted advisors, was the queen. Stationed there to not forget the presence of her husband. Her eyes glanced at everything that reminded her of him. From the pictures that sat on the brown table with other great leaders from the kingdom and neighboring kingdoms to the frames on the wall with all his accomplishments of war, to the famous chair. The chair was framed in gold that was so bright it could be a source of light, with a white cushion to sit on and lean your back on, in its sides were dark gold statues of roaring lions defining who the king was. It was the throne of the king.

Suddenly, the door opened and the queen’s attention to the throne was disrupted, and she glanced to see who had interrupted her period of grief. When she saw who came through, she said, “Oh, it’s just you, General Iroh.”

General Iroh entered the room and bowed his head as courtesy for the queen. He was about six feet tall, with gray long hair reaching his shoulders, a gray beard that covered his face but taken care of. He wore the uniform of the military which was blood red with details of bright gold. In the left side of his uniform were all the medals that proved why he was the general of the kingdom of Patmos. “Your majesty,” he responded.

“What brings you here, General?”

General Iroh paced towards the queen all the while looking at the former king’s throne. “Well, Your Majesty, it’s about the late king.”

The queen glanced in the direction General Iroh had his eyes focused on. “What would you like to discuss about my husband.”

“As you know, the king was an integral part to the kingdom of Patmos. He lifted the kingdom from its dark age and brought forth a renaissance era, returning Patmos to its former glory.”

“I am aware.”

“Because of that reason, the people are requesting a mourning period to honor the late king.”

“Of course, the people are allowed to mourn him in their homes. As is customary.”

“Actually, Your Majesty, the consensus is to perform a public funeral for the king.”

The queen paused and gave General Iroh a stern look. “I will not allow it. It has always been tradition for the people to mourn the passing of a monarch in private. The funeral services are held in private with family and close friends. Opening it to the public breaks tradition, destroys the precedent set in stone, and devalues the prestige of the crown.”

“Does tradition really matter in times like these, Ma’am? The people are desiring to honor their beloved late king, and we would refuse to give them the opportunity to publicly honor His Majesty?”

“General. A monarch should never be seen in a state of weakness. That is why we have the traditions we have. I won’t let the people see my husband in the state of death. That is not how he should be remembered.”

The room stood still as the queen let out all her pain in just that statement. General Iroh responded, “With all due respect, Your Majesty, while the late king was your husband, per tradition, once a monarch receives the crown, he or she must place the kingdom above everything else. Even when death takes them away.”

The queen stood in silence, holding her hands together as if she was squishing a stress ball. “I stand by what I said, General.”

“It seems that when death enters the room, our emotions confuse our roles and duties in life. The crown takes precedence. The king would have wanted for his people to honor him.”

“My emotions are not confusing me, General. I refuse the request and that is final.”

Both stared at each other in a standstill. Realizing the conversation was going nowhere. “Unfortunately, the conversation seems to be going nowhere productive, Ma’am. I shall take this issue to the new king then.”

“You would dismiss me because it is not what you wanted?”

“Your Majesty, the council voted to take this matter to the new king immediately, but I convinced them to bring this to you first. Out of respect, of course. But as I stated, the crown takes precedence, and while, Your Majesty, is to be honored and respected, She, is not above the wishes of the crown.”

“But I am his wife.”

“Was, Your Majesty. Understand that in the end we serve the crown and that includes you. That is what your late husband always reminded us. I am very sorry, but I must inform the king. Please excuse me.” General Iroh bowed to the queen and exited the room.

The queen fell to her knees in distraught. She felt as her world was breaking into a million pieces with no chance of it being rebuilt. Tears poured out of her eyes as she cried out, “Arthur, why did have you to leave me.”