Nostalgic Desert Sands

How I still clearly remember the sands

And the memories that lie within

How I wish I could return

But alas, fortune, I cannot

Ah… I can still hear the call of those sands

The winds that carry them, still whistling in my ears

Remind me of the desert's liveliness

As only its king and felicity reigned

And all of a sudden, in such a short time

I found myself so distanced from the jubilant land.

Too well do I recall you

The one who brought me to my ultimate doom

I'll never forget that chance meeting

I, a helpless child, lay with the lowest of life forms

My life seeping into the Earth's core with them

But just as my soul was ready to roost itself in the clouds

A pair of feet was present before my eyes

With what little strength I had left

I slowly elevated my head from its resting point

Gazing upon the one to whom the feet belonged.

I saw a blonde-haired youth

Covered in black, and emblem of holiness around his neck

He stretched out a helping hand

To such a poor, needless creature

"Come with us. We'll give you a place to stay," spoke he

It would be the worst of crimes

To refuse such benevolence

So I accepted the giving hand

And with its touch, its wondrous warmth

I felt a burst of energy, starting my life anew.

We had journeyed to the heart of the desert

And contrary to my life of melancholy

I found only the most gratified solace

No matter where I looked, near or far

Even the poverty-stricken loved to live under so gracious a king

As did I, for my shelter is now here

I joined the other children in their games

Led by the one who graced me with the breath of life

I became so accustomed to my new companions

That I was all too terrified to lose their fellowship.

I had learned much from my stay here

Adding to the vast knowledge I already had

So accustomed was I to my new abode

Now more than ever, they could not know

The true nature of the blood in these veins

Only those of mixed race could live

In this kingdom of the brightest wits

And, unbeknownst to them

Freezing blood course through me

Much colder than they thought their own to be.

But most of all, the soil's thunder

For all that is good, ensconce that knowledge from him

He has freed me from the umbrae the abyss

And now looks at me with love in his smile

Lustrous happiness in his eyes

Would he do the same if he knew?

I tremble, shudder frantically

All the world can know

They may sneer at me as often as they wish

But not him, the one to whom I owe my life.

In paying off my debt to the now former crown prince

I vowed everything to stay by his side

Assisting him in whatever way

I could trust him with any words, any feelings

We were close enough, shared the intimacy

To disclose any secret, however dark

Save the one of my true lineage

Yet there was one so abstruse deep within me

Lying dormant, wanting not to be unveiled

That try as I might, I could not discern it.

"Hello there!" the desert prince greeted me one day

I replied with an almost warm grin

Oddly, he wanted to stroll around with me

And knowing what charity he has shown me thus far

Could I dare refuse?

He took my hand in his

The blood in that hand so lukewarm

Almost nullified the curse in my own blood

Further heating me was the anticipation

Of where fate would now guide us.

His guidance had led us both

To the apex of the desert's highest dune

The residents below seemingly isolated from reality

Illuminated by the setting sun

So close to me was he

His body heat becoming my own

Bringing my sleeping secret to the light of the fading sky

No longer was it vague or obscure

"I love you," came the secret in a whisper.

They were so faint, those newborn words

That I was sure he could not hear

And I really hoped he did not catch wind of them

True as there were, powerful they may be

If he knew of how I felt, he would surely scorn me

We flew down from that sand dune

To the royal castle in which we would rest

So worn from the words being drained

I lay in bed, slowly shutting my eyes

The revelation yet instilled in my mind.

Much time had passed

Since I found the one to whom my heart belonged

Yet he still showed me his magnanimity from that meeting

Or, better yet, more compassion still

But he could still keep a poker face

Within my presence and that of others

Even though I knew he did not feel

What I thought of him with every waking moment

That he still treated me as if I were human

Was enough to placate me for the time being.

The next day I aimlessly ambled on the desert's outskirts

After so many a year of staying here

Why did I not see this before?

A spring out of the blue

Like an oasis in the arctic

Curious to know what lay within

I doffed what I wore

Submerged myself in its waters

For being in the midst of arid land

This spring soothed those who entered quite well.

The heat of the blessed water

Brought my blood alive

Knowing that no tangible eyes pried upon me

I became my blood's true power

A creature that few did know of in modern times

A monster of subzero temperatures

With diamond-crushing limbs and fangs like swords

I broaden my wings as far as I could reach

Slam my spiked tail against the spring water

And to the sky that afflicted me, I uttered a piercing cry.

Having purged my heart to the heaven above

My capricious emotions quelled

The inferior human remnants in me returned

I had my fill of the decent portion of ocean

Heading back to the desert kingdom

I wanted to see the dear prince again

And found him I did indeed

But it was not for my good

Beside him was his king

Such icy, heartless looks on both their faces.

"What troubles you, o gracious king?"

Questioned I to the desert ruler

"I hereby strip you of your position as crown prince,"

Replied he in a solemn tone

"For you know that only those of mixed blood

Are allowed to call themselves my people.

You, however, have a home

In a land quite different from this one.

You are officially exiled from my kingdom

Yet because I am a just ruler

You have a day's time before you must go."

No! How on Earth did he know

Of that curse, when I thought I was alone?

Could it have been that he watched me?

The one in whom I trusted all?

I know it, I certainly knew it

For after the king's declaration

The crown prince fled swiftly

Far from where we stood

Wait! There is so much I still want to know

I did not want him to run, for I needed him now.

Yet he became so deeply lost

Faded away into his land's soil

If he evaded me so

Then my purpose here is nothing

Away with me! I was never meant to be

With him in any way, in body or soul

He hated me forever, I knew

Yet despite that, I still love him

Even if he longed for another.

Ten years have drifted by

And out of my enduring feelings

My feet urged for me to go back

To my surprise, he now bore the crown

He had given his hand to another prince

An embodiment of youth so akin to him

Slept soundly in his arms

Indeed, I found it hard to approach

But his eyes, dancing across the lands he now ruled

Chanced upon I, the ex-prince.

My heart froze, turned into stone

As did my voice, imprisoned within me

As did he, my everlasting passion

"Why art thou here?"

His voice so deep, resonating in my mind

"I'm so sorry, but I had to see you,"

My most profound feelings now overflowed

He put the little one in his resting spot

Walked to me with a gradual grin

Pulling me close to feel our hearts touch.

"I'm forever regretful of what I've done

To you, when you deserved it not

But I want you to know this:

Hear your soft confession I did

To know you loved me, my heart fluttered

Racing as fast as yours must have been.

My prince, at one time I loved you

But now I am wed to another

Still, I will part you with this gift,"

Spoke he as his eyes and mouth neared.

I feared his partner would know

But mollifying my sorrowful memory

With such a precious benefaction

Could I really feel any anguish?

That is the last I remember

Of those times I once shared

With you, my love and destruction

Now I lay here, once again in deep despair

With nothing to guide me to a new life

Save the call of the wind and the nostalgic desert sands.