On The Mountain - (On Hold)

Tranquil Decision

"The people of the mountain have buried a treasure deep beneath a stone!" One of the council members called as the audience gasped. "It will be ours!"

"But how are we to get it?" someone in the crowd called, astonishment clearly heard in his voice.

"Kill them!" Cried the village folk.

"No! No that won't do!" Another council member screeched to be heard. "We won't do that unless it comes to that. The mountain people might just give it to us if we ask."

Protests rang through the crowd as he waved his hand for silence. "We will send a message tomorrow at dawn."

"I'll deliver it!" Arthur cried without even thinking.

The crowd turned to him, shock clearly diplayed in their eyes. Embarrassment flooded over him, but he resisted the urge to shrink away and held his head up high. He wanted to prove to everyone that he could do it. He wanted to prove that he was not a coward. The treck up the mountain would be treacherous, and he was determined to overcome the obstacles.

His father looked at him with cold eyes, hiding any trace of emotion, and reminding Arthur of their hardened relationship. His father wouldn't care at all whether or not he went, so be it. He returned his gaze to the courtier, eyes glazed with longing.

The courtier stared back at him for what felt like forever, but was probably only a minute. He sighed in relent and nodded slowly, as if he was still lost in thought. Finally seeming to come to a decision, the man took a deep breath and opened his mouth, nodding vaguely.

"It is decided," his voice rang out over the sinister silence of the crowd, all waiting in tranquility for his responce. "Arthur will deliver the message to the mountain people."

With those words the meeting closed and everyone departed, whispering and muttering. No one was doing something productive; they were too excited and anxious to work. Sitting quietly by himself, Arthur wondered what the mountain people might say, and thought about whether he should have ever agreed to this.

Arthur was seen off, walking up the mountain path to the kingdom. Jagged rocks jutted out here and there, giving the mountain an eerie look. All those that came to see him walk up the mountain watched until he became a speck against the gray, stony mountain, and finally disappeared into the looming shadows of the sky-high trees. A low mist swirled around the center of the mountain, turning into a stead cloud of gray fog and blotting out the clear patches of sky.