The Ghosts of Christmas Eve by A. F. Bouchard

Author:A. F. Bouchard [Bouchard, A. F.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781524529703
Publisher: Xlibris US
Published: 2016-09-09T04:00:00+00:00

11. The Story

The Old Woman knew there was much that he wasn’t telling her. She didn’t know why she needed to know. Anything unfortunate that happened to the people on the road had nothing to do with her.

“Nothing matters, I suppose,” she said.

“Everything matters!” he exclaimed. “If nothing mattered, why do you think people are here? Why are you here?”

“Why am I here?” she asked. “I owe nothing! It all seems that this Host is selfish!” she spat. “Making these poor people stay on an empty road, just because they have no gifts to give him! Is that someone who thinks everything matters?” She shook her head. “No one deserves that! If this Host had a heart, none of you would be here!” When her sermon had gotten no reaction, she turned away from the young man. “I don’t know why I want to see him! I don’t even know why I should care. I’m too old and tired to keep walking, and my pockets are now empty. If he demands gifts to make himself appear, I suppose I will stay a prisoner. I have nothing left!”

He shot her a glare that made her shudder. “The Host doesn’t demand gifts! He demands nothing!”

“Then, why do they have to bring gifts?” she asked.

“Have you noticed, in your travels, that everyone here just appears on the road?”

“I have, and none of it makes sense,” she answered. “Every person here has a terrifying tale of something happening to them before they came here.”

The young man nodded slowly. “Aye.”

“Do you?”

He sat on the hay mound next to her. “There was a king who had a son and a daughter. He taught his children to love every subject in the kingdom, and he made a promise to crown one of them if they showed as much compassion to the people as he did. The young prince showed a great deal of interest in the kingdom, but it was for his own selfish reasons. As for the little princess, she became a servant to the people, and loved every man, woman, and child. As the years went by, the king saw how his daughter loved unconditionally and how his son had a love for power. The king didn’t think it was right to give his kingdom to a woman. In his eyes, women were weak and couldn’t face the problems of a kingdom. He also didn’t want to give his crown to a power-hungry tyrant.”

“What happened?”

“The king sought council from the White Soldier. He trusted the White Soldier because he was wise, he was skilled in battle, and he walked with humility and high authority. The king favored him and gave him power above his own son, because he served the kingdom, and he loved the princess. The White Soldier was willing to give his life to save them all.”

“Fairy-tales,” she grumbled.

The young man ignored her cynical comment. “During that Christmas season, the king had become deathly ill. It was then, the dying king gave the White Soldier the crown and his daughter!”

The Old Woman’s eyes rolled.

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