Whistler (The Pied Piper Retold)

Jurgen's Choice

"Help me?" The king scoffed, and snapped his fingers for another goblet of wine, "What could you possibly do to help me? I am king of this land, and king of you! What could you possibly offer to such a lavish, well deserved lifestyle?!"

But it was not the piper who answered Jurgen, it was his wife, stood in the centre of the parlour in her flowing silk gown, contempt written all over her face. "You disgust me Jurgen. Do you understand? Disgust. Was it not you, yourself, complaining of these rats not days ago? Was it not you who swore to find a solution? Fought me over your pride and dignity to hold onto your control? And here, someone from your own kingdom, which you hold as an object rather than a responsibility! Someone from you own kingdom, is offering to help you, drag your sordid affairs out of the hole you have dug for yourself over the past five years, and you treat them with the disdain that they have the right to show you!!!"

Jurgen stared at his wife, so calm and collected despite her utter rage lurking beneath the surface.

"Out, Aleksandra. I had no idea you could speak to your king with such ill-respect. I will reflect on your appalling outburst at a later hour." He said, his face purpling with rage, but fighting to keep his voice under control.

"You have gotten yourself into this mess, Jurgen, now you get yourself out of it." She said dismissively and spun on her heels, walking away with her head held high.

On the floor, Anna and Markus watched the Queen leave with something like fear. Without her fair-minded perspective, who knew what the king would decide? They no longer felt safe in his presence with an Enchanter in such close vacinity.

"Sir? Our piper friend says he has a way to end our troubles, if only you would hear him out." Markus said with a far stronger voice than Anna could've imagined he would use under the circumstances. She suddenly felt a fierce, fierce pride for her husband, and squeezed his hand tightly at his side.

"I have no troubles, commoner, you cannot trick me into believing your inane problems concern me. In fact, I have the idea that you probably brought them on yourself." Jurgen laughed, just as a rat began nibbling at his leather shoes.

"Speak to them with respect, Jurgen, they hold far more dignity and wisdom than yourself." The piper said mysteriously, "They call upon me at great personal risk, because they know the consequences if you should... disappoint. You hold their fate in your filthy hands."

The piper's rude, yet accurate description of the king sent shudders down his spine, reminding him horribly of Aleksandra, the wife he knew he did not deserve. Suddenly, he felt an overwhelming need to win her back, to prove to her he was still fit to run his country, and still fit to earn her love again. He was so caught in his idea, he did not even call the piper upon addressing him so informally.

"Tell me what you will do, Piper." He said, staring at the silver lute between his fingertips, excitement barely concealed.

"I will rid you of your rats, in exchange for gold and silver." He said, and indicated to Jurgen the amount he desired.

"What use of gold to an Enchanter such as you?" King Jurgen asked, barely hiding his smirk. This mysterious piper was no better than the peasants before him, dressed in rags and begging for gold.

"That does not concern you, good sir, all I require is that you pay me what you owe."

King Jurgen fought hard not to call his guards to strike this piper before him, for using such word as owe in his own court, but held his composure. Just.

"Alright. You rid me and my kingdom of my rats, and I'll pay you your gold."

"I have your word?"

"You have... my word." He replied sullenly, and held out his hand. The Enchanter approached him and held out his own muscled arm against Jurgen's plump one, and held out his knife. The knife glinted and shed a little light on the piper's face, just for a moment, and revealed a manic, masochistic smile of lust for the blood he was about to spill, but in that same second it was gone. Before Jurgen could change his mind, call him up, pull away his arm, the Piper ran a long, bloody slash across from his wrist to Jurgens, so their blood leaked and filled the other's veins, sealing the deal.

"My side of the bargain will be upheld, Jurgen. Will yours?" But he did not wait for an answer, merely disappeared in a swirl of thick, black air, leaving nothing but a sense of ill will in his wake.

Sat on his gilded throne, the King put his head in his hands, and wondered silently if he'd made the right choice. This was why he'd stopped caring, this was why he'd stopped fulfilling his duties as King. He couldn't deal with the consequences of making the wrong decision, or the fear that he had. It was so much easier being languid.