Eleanor
Gemma: "Please join us ladies and gentleman in welcoming to the stage Sir Elton"
Gemma clapped as she turned to greet Sir Elton he bowed as he turned to Gemma and blew kisses to her holding her hands. Taking the Mic Sir Elton turned to everyone bowed again and blew out kisses.
Sir Elton "Thank you everyone for having me it's with the heaviest of hearts that we say goodbye to the people's king. So please help me welcome one of the most beautiful royal voices england has ever heard Her Royal Highness Princess Eleanor"
I swallowed as I stood up Liam squeezed my hand as the whole congregation stood to applaud.
My heart pounded in a million different ways as I slowly went up on stage. I was sweating and shaking but than I looked around and found Phi's smiling face. Shining from the front pew next to her dad and Marcus. Her eyes were so warm full of confidence full of love. I felt peace for just a few seconds than I got on stage and shock Elton's hands as he took mine in his and kissed mine. We walked to the piano where he helped me to sit on top of the massive instrument. Elton sat the bench as he prepared to start playing. I locked eyes with my mum who nodded at me her eyes scanning my whole body. Cross your legs Eleanor. I could read her mind you better have knickers on. Taking a deep breath I nodded to her as I crossed my legs. Elton started playing his melody was beautiful and haunting.
"They say we bruise too easily "Word is out, silence seems so loud "And nobody ever tells you"
I don't know if it's that way for me
I've seen 'em come, I've seen 'em go
I've seen everyone I know
Fall in and out of love
It's just the way it goes"
There's no light above or below me now
I've seen it grow, I've seen it live
I've seen everything I give
Falling out my hands, no matter who I'm with"
I jumped off the piano my voice carried high into the church's ceilings as I walked down the aisle greeting the people. Camera's flashed as I posed with kids hugging them, stopping to receive kisses from elder members.
"When love is dying, when love is dying "There's a pain you never can explain
It just gets a little colder
And we stop trying, we stop trying, yeah we stop trying
Oh when love is dying"
Cuts so deep time and time again
I felt it then, I feel it now"
"But nobody told me how
To fight a world of hurt
Somebody help me now"
My mind was focused only on giving the best performance I could. I wanted my voice to carry to the high heavens so my dad and my brother could feel my love hear my words. Maybe my mother could finally get to understand all the pain she has caused this family. "And nobody ever tells you
When love is dying, when love is dying
It just gets a little colder
And we stop trying, we stop trying, yeah we stop trying
Oh when love is dying"
Maybe she would get it why I take so many drugs. Why I drink till I black out. Why I hate my damn life so much. Why there was no way in this world I would ever subject my own child to this life.
"Love never makes it easy "And nobody ever tells you
And I never got that feeling
No we never stood a chance
When love was dying''
When love is dying, when love is dying
It just gets a little colder
And we stop trying, we stop trying, yeah we stop trying
Oh when love is dying"
"Turn me loose from your hands ''For this dark and lonely room
Let me fly to distant lands
Over green fields, trees and mountains
Flowers and forest fountains
Home along the lanes of the skyway"
Projects a shadow cast in gloom
And my eyes are mirrors
Of the world outside"
Walking further into the church little kids came forward to give me roses tears fallen from their tiny faces. Did they even know that they were apart of history? I nodded as I was greeted by celebrities Joss Gem a popular singer who was close friends with Robert. Sir Paul a man who helped change the face of music in the late 60's. T-Swift who was crying as she handed me a huge bouquet of pink red white and purple roses.
Dignities who nodded and touched my face as I kept my composer keeping the song going my voice filled with emotion and strength. I didn't even know I possessed. Photographers took videos and pictures as I went up to join the choir who were singing at full force their hands clapping.
"Thinking of the ways "For just a skyline pigeon "Fly away skyline pigeon fly
That the wind can turn the tide
And these shadows turn
From purple into gray"
Dreaming of the open
Waiting for the day
But he can spread his wings
And fly away again"
Towards the things
You left so very far behind
Fly away skyline pigeon fly
Towards the dreams
You left so very far behind"
I looked up to the ceiling wondering could they really hear me? I fought back the tears and the fear that my voice was falling on death ears. Singing always left me feeling powerful like I was apart of something far greater than myself. I usually felt closer to people. Now though I just felt scared that my dad would never know how much I loved him and just wanted to make him proud.
"Let me wake up in the morning
To the smell of new mown hay
To laugh and cry, to live and die
In the brightness of my day"
Squeezing Phi's hand as I went forward. I felt her love and her fear for me she knew me to well she could see it in my eyes. I paused at my dad's coffin the guards parted just slightly for me as I stared into his face. So lifeless but so royally made up he didn't look like my dad. Maybe this was some horrible cruel joke that mum and Cyrus had concocted. Maybe he was really alive somewhere unable to move or speak being held prisoner by them.
"I want to hear the pealing bells
Of distant churches sing
But most of all please free me
From this aching metal ring
And open out this cage towards the sun"
Now I was being stupid and childish Liam was right it was time to grow up and be mature. This wasn't a joke. I bowed over the coffin as I gently laid down the roses that I had been holding you wouldn't get how difficult it was to juggle a Mic and a pile of roses. Leaning over I kissed his forehead.
He was cold so cold and waxy. My dad was jubilant with life and warm. It shock me to the core a few tears even escaped as I tried to hold myself together breathing at a normal even pace. Squeezing his hand I turned around. My war paint was my voice and I needed it now. Elton came over Mic in hand as one of the alter boys took over the piano. Taking my hand he walked with me down the center aisle.
As we finished the few selected congregation members lined up to say their final goodbye's before the procession would start their journey to the burial grounds at Windsor. My Mum, Liam came to stand beside me as uncle bastard and his Slapper daughters stood across from us. As the line moved forward and people paid their respects they shock hands with each side of us. People whispered their condolences to us as I kept singing. I wondered though how many really gave a damn that my father was gone for most of them it was civic or royal duties. My mum didn't seem to give a damn why they were here she greeted them all with grace and strength. I admired her for that as much as I would never admit that. I did wonder though was she just playing a role to maybe she really didn't give a damn he was gone. Maybe she was the reason he was gone. Focus Eleanor and sing.
"For just this skyline pigeon
Dreaming of the open"
Was she glad that Cyrus was king? Was this her plan all along? I felt so small looking at the vast sea of people the union jack flag rung proudly as the church doors were opened and so would begin the longest walk in my life. My eyes caught another flag it was black and white with red in it squinting I tried to see what it was. Suddenly I was yanked away my mum nodding to me to focus on my task at hand. Cyrus turned his back on the coffin as we prepared for transport. Liam took my hand as I wrapped up.
"Waiting for the day "Fly away skyline pigeon fly
That he can spread his wings
And fly away again"
Towards the things
You left so very far behind
Fly away skyline pigeon fly
Towards the things
You left so very, so very far behind"
At the very end my voice cracked as the tears I had been holding in fell. I saw Phi cover her mouth as Mum grabbed my hand and together the three of us walked down the aisle behind the coffin a family of four for the last time. How was I suppose to do this? How do you say goodbye to the only parent you've ever really had? The only one who has ever encouraged you? Somebody seriously tell me how cause I have no idea.
Lyrics belong to Elton John and the respected writers for each song. When Love is Dying and Skyline Pigeon.