The Faucheuse

This was fun! I wanted to try and write something a little different than normal. Enjoy.

Have you heard the story?

The old tale, you know the one.

The ancient one, the bedtime story, the folklore passed on through generations.

But while everyone knows it, only a few truly understand it. I wonder if you know the truth.

Do you? Could you know? Not many really know.

Countless people have heard the tale. But it would take a specific person to have realized that the story that is told around the fire…the legend that children hear to go to sleep at night…

Is a lie.

You all know the story. It's a simple one. Everyone loves to talk about it, don't they? Do you know story? The false one I mean. The one that lets people sleep at night. The one that reassures them that everything will be okay.

The one that the world wants to accept is quite simple. The great sailor of the seven seas who traveled the world bringing men to their knees with a simple flick of his sword. The sailor who fell in love with the white crystal who shone bright in the darkest of nights. The courageous tale of how the sailor beat the trials set in order to win her heart, only for her to have been taken away by the faucheuse. How the crystal made a deal to free herself from his grasp so the two could be reunited once again.

And they all lived happily ever…

After?

Such a positive ending, isn't it? What a nice way to end the story.

Ah. If only.

History hardly gets it right though, does it?

No, that's not what happened. We both know that, don't we? You saw it, didn't you? The problem in the story? The flaw that only few can see? You must have seen it. But just because you see it, doesn't mean you know what reall happened. The real story was not passed down. It is not the classic that everyone knows. It's a mystery.

I know the real story though. I know what really happened to the sailor and his crystal. The meeting of the two lovers, the test he had to beat in order to win his love, and the deal that the crystal had to make in order to be with the sailor again. And the true meaning to their happily ever after.

Do you want to know?

Are you sure?

Well then I will tell you.

But I am sorry. Do be careful.

I can't stand to see someone cry.

Over a thousand years ago, generations after the two lovers and anyone who had known them were dead and gone, there was a kingdom named Laem. Now there were many other kingdoms as I'm sure you know, but the story has to start somewhere. In this kingdom there lived many people, but we are going to start with the sailor.

Of course, the sailor did have a name. Sinbad, and he was just as famous then as his story is now. Charming, strong, intelligent, attractive and ambitious enough to catch anyone's eye. When the story says he sailed the seven seas, that part is actually true. The story never goes into detail about the trouble he caused, the losses he faced, nor of the choices that he made that be considered very questionable today. But we don't have time for all that. What you need to know that he was a very powerful individual who was well liked in his time. Legends say he had hair the colour of poison and eyes the colour of gold with a smile as tricky as a fox.

Perhaps he really was a fox. He was a very tricky man.

When he was in Laem doing…oh, I don't know what he was doing. Causing trouble with his friends I'd say. But one particular day, a few years before the story actually takes place, he took a special path. No, if you go there now there aren't any signs. No landmarks stating the importance of this road. Even I don't know the name. But it as an important path. Our entire story would be a waste if Sinbad hadn't gone down this one path.

Because as he was walking down this path he saw the lady that he would make his white crystal.

Of course her name was not white crystal. But her name did mean white crystal. Hakuei Ren was her real name. A very kind women, while loved by her family not very popular or well-known outside of her friends. Of course, what reason would she have to be well known? The Ren clan was a family known for their search for intelligence and understanding. They were a powerful family, often known for their desires for battle and war. Hakuei however, was known for her desire of peace and understanding of all people. She had hair so dark it was tinged with blue in the moonlight, and blue eyes the colour of the sea. But her odd way of thinking compared to the rest of her loved ones made others remember the meaning of her name more than the name.

A white crystal in the midst of destruction.

Still, a white crystal among powerful gems such as rubies, sapphires and gold would never be the most desired.

But for a man with eyes of gold whose soul was filled with darkness, someone who was light and different was exactly what he needed.

Their first meeting was an accident. Never spoken of again, even between the two of them. I wish I could tell you what happened that day. What they said that started something different for them. What could have happened to start their longing for the other for years to come? It's a mystery. But whatever happened that day was the beginning.

But for them, it also sealed the end.

It was three years after this first meeting when her elder brothers thought she ought to get married. Hakuyuu and Hakuren, those were her eldest brothers, had been getting offers for her hand for quite some time. Hakuyuu decided they needed to deal with it and deal with it quickly. So, as a family famous for intelligence, he decided to have a test.

Because who doesn't love a good test?

Now, her family did not know about her relationship with Sinbad. You should know that before I continue. That way you'll know they didn't do anything to build the test in his favour. They only knew him as the sailor who came to visit her very often. Others assumed they were old traveling friends who would share his stories of his adventures whenever he was in town.

They didn't know how far out of his way he would go so he could come visit her whenever he was in town.

Or the hours they spent together talking, sometimes not leaving until the morning after for falling asleep from talking so long.

They didn't realize that in those three years they had fallen in love.

And they most certainly didn't realize that Sinbad would stop at nothing to win that test.

All the details of the test were lost to time. I know the basics, lucky for you. Her brother would ask them a set of questions predetermined before the test came out. Some people were able to answer a few. Others were able to answer more. A small number were able to get through all of the questions, and many thought they were going to win.

All but one.

One riddle.

Whenever anyone got to the last question, the last riddle for them to answer in order to have her hand.

But they never answered it right.

Do you know why?

It was technically not a real riddle. That must be why everyone has gotten it wrong. Hakuyuu told the contestants it was a riddle, but the truth was it was a simple question. One that should have been easy to answer. Today, I'll bet most of you could have given that answer. But you see, at the time, in that place, few people valued what Hakuyuu was looking for. But a scholar like him knew how valuable it was, even at the time when it was seen as small. And he wanted his only sister to have it. Whether others thought it was odd or not.

Besides, she was odd.

Many people have tried to guess what that riddle was.

Even the stories who don't get the whole story right have at least made an attempt for the riddle.

No one has been able to guess it. No one has gotten it right.

It's a good thing I have it.

The riddle, I mean.

I know the riddle. I have to. It's too important.

It was the riddle that should have given them their happily ever after.

Instead it sealed their fates.

I mentioned how popular Sinbad was, didn't I? He had many friends. A few enemies of course, but more friends than enemies. Lovers also. Many women loved him as well. But Hakuei just happened to be the only one that he chased after. Most girls were fine with that.

But there was one who was not.

Unfortunately, I do not know the name of this women. She preferred to remain…hidden after all that happened.

She found out about the two. The sailor and the white crystal. But she wasn't as happy as you or I would be. She wanted Sinbad for herself. She hated Hakuei who was too odd and hidden within her family to be good enough for him. At least, in her opinion of course. You and I don't think that way. How could we? We didn't know them. Only their stories.

But she was sure. She thought she was the only one good enough for him. He just didn't understand.

She was determined to make him understand.

But what good did that do? How could she make him believe that she was the only one for him when he was so in love with someone else? She was desperate! She could not let him make such a big mistake! No, she needed Hakuei gone. Gone, out of the way. Forever.

So she got help.

The help that was there for her at that time was not who we would call for help. Not police or doctors or government officials. Back then? Who could she turn to?

She got help from a witch instead.

Her name was Arba. She had no qualms with people knowing her name. She was actually proud of the end result. She'd done her job perfectly. She'd given the girl the perfect curse to ruin them. The ruin the sailor and the white crystal.

It was pretty simple actually. A potion-don't ask me what it was, I couldn't make it if I tried- she slipped it into Hakuei's drink, it would spread through her. Then, with the right word, it would summon the faucheuse, and Hakuei would be taken away. It was perfect.

Except, she didn't tell her what to say.

The women was furious with her. She was able to slip the drink the potion into Hakuei's drink, but what good did that do? She couldn't set it off. She couldn't stop it.

Was that it?

You and I both know the truth.

Sinbad was able to answer all the questions. Every question that Hakuyuu and Hakuren put forward the sailor of the seven seas answered. Everyone watched in fascination as the answers were given easily. Hakuei watched nervously, silently praying for wisdom. I know this scene rather well. It's very important to the story, so I can't tell you the truth without this part. When Sinbad got to the last question, everyone held their breath. Few of them actually believed he would be able to answer it. No one else had been able to, why would he?

But Hakuei hoped.

And Sinbad would not lose.

"There are many things in this world," her brother began, a watchful eye on the sailor with golden eyes. "Some things you can see. Others you can't. Things that can be named and things that will never be named.'

'So tell me. What is in this world that no one can understand, that no one can name, that no one can hold. What is the most powerful piece of this world that bind everything that lives, yet can cause destruction beyond compare. What destroys and builds? What is hidden in plain sight? What gives strength to soldiers that can cause armies to run in fear? What is it that when all of us are dead and gone with keep us alive? What is a soul built on?'

'And," he added, "I wanted you to tell me with only one word."

Well?

What is it?

Do you know?

Have you figured it out?

Did you figure out the answer to the riddle?

You can.

I know you can.

It is there.

You've seen it.

Every day, whether you know it or not, you have seen it.

But it takes someone very special to recognize it.

I hope you have. I hope you can.

Sinbad was one who could recognize it. He knew the answer to his riddle because he had found it. It had taken him quite a long time, longer than he cared to admit. But he'd found it. Hakuei had found it. They both knew the answer to the riddle because they'd found it together.

His golden eyes had flickered to Hakuei Ren. And her blue ones smiled at him in approval. With a confident smile he answered.

"Love."

Love.

That was it.

That was the answer to the riddle.

That was the thing that would allow Hakuei and Sinbad to be together.

But.

Oh there is always a but.

But it was the very thing that took it all away.

For that word.

That special word.

Love?

That was the word set off the spell.

Do you remember what the name of the creature that took Hakuei away was?

The faucheuse.

It's French actually. Such a beautiful language. Some say it is the language of love.

Oh love.

Any kind of love. Family. Friend. Romantic. Love in mercy, love in gratitude, love in kindness and hope. Love is considered one of the greatest gifts of all.

But you know, don't you?

Good things do not come without a price.

What does faucheuse mean? Oh, come now. You must know. You must know what it means.

Faucheuse is French for the grim reaper.

Death.

Death was what stole the white crystal away from the sailor.

There is no cure for that.

As there is no cure for love.

Hakuei Ren was gone before she hit the ground.

Now, I feel my wording is very important to the story here.

Gone.

Lost.

But, actually, not dead.

Isn't that interesting?

How could she be gone but not dead? It was the grim reaper after all.

It would have been better, for both of them, if she had been really dead.

They only found out later what had happened. Her brother found in his scrolls the true expanse of the spell. The fraucheuse would take his sister away and cage her in a prison. A prison far away, one no one could ever find. And he would wait. Was there torture? Who knows? But he would wait. He would wait for her to give up. To beg for the end, pray for him to just let her die.

And then he would let her die.

Of course you know the story did not end there.

Sinbad had never been the kind of man who went along with what fate dealt him.

Hakuei's life had been taken from her before her time. So who better to fix it then the man of time?

King Solomon was his name. A nice fellow, if not a little stiff. But he was always willing to fix the unjust and help those who had been wronged.

Sinbad found him. He begged the king of time to let him see Hakuei again. But Solomon couldn't do a thing. "Sinbad, you are only human. There is nothing I can do! She was taken by the grim reaper, even I don't know where he takes his victims!"

"Please," Sinbad begged. "You have to do something. I have to save her! I can't lose her!"

To his credit, Solomon really tried. He did his best to convince him there was nothing he could do. To move on, if for her and nothing else at least. She wouldn't want him to be alone.

But the sailor of the seven seas? The first class singularity?

Do you really think there are many people in the world who could save him from being alone?

With all his offers however, Sinbad could not convince Solomon to change the past.

However, father time's wife was not as hard to persuade.

Queen Sheba, Mother Nature, was the only one who knew where the grim reaper brought his prisoners. She had to. Someone had to make sure nature took its course. She listened to Hakuei's story. She sympathised with her story and her heart went out to the women who was so close to her love but so far. Hakuei knew she was going to die. Part of her have given up. She'd been in that unknown prison for too long.

But she had one plea.

Just one.

Please.

Just for a moment.

She begged Sheba to let her see Sinbad again. Just once.

A day. Only one day?

Father time and Mother Nature were able to give them a day.

They were able to give them one day for the rest of their lives.

Mother Nature went to her husband and asked him for that. He could set back the time so she would live and Mother Nature would change them so their deaths would come later than most.

"This will not last forever," Solomon had warned Sinbad when he told him. "I can give you only a thousand years. But then Mother Nature…my wife…will have to do her job, and the two of you will pass away. You are both only human, after all."

But Sinbad didn't care. He just wanted to see her again. He agreed, and Sheba went back to tell Hakuei the deal they were offering.

But. But just to be safe.

She gave her a bell.

"Just ring the bell, when you give up," the queen of nature had told her sympathetically. "No one ever rings it. And I hope you won't. I hope your love is strong enough so you won't." She placed the bell in her cell. A cell that only Hakuei and Sheba know the location of to this day. Even I don't know where it is.

Mother never told me.

Father said I had too many things to do.

Being the fourth magi often takes lots of time.

But at least they told me the real story.

And I know what happened to them.

So yes. They were reunited again.

And they were taken away from each other.

Again. And again. And again.

364 days. 364 days was their curse. For 364 days the two were forced to be alone. For 364 days they were unable to see each other, touch each other, hear each other or be with each other. Their hearts were crushed. Minutes turned to hours, hours to days as they desperately longed to be with the one they loved. Have you ever been away from someone you loved? Well then you may understand what they felt. Going through the days wanting nothing more than their lover, but being unable to do anything about it. As the days passed there would be screams. Tears would be shed and they would cry in the frustration and cruelty of it all.

For should love not be simple?

No. You understood that, didn't you? When you heard the story the first time?

Love is never that simple.

But then, love is worth it.

The last day. On the 365th day. The same day they were meant to have wed. On that day the world would do them one favour. They would see that all their suffering was not in vein. 24 hours. 24 hours a year, he was hers. And she was his.

And they were together again.

The bell always there. The snake left the bell exactly where it had been. For when one of the two could not take it anymore and want to be free of their fate, all they would have to do would be to ring the bell.

But they didn't.

For over a thousand years, they didn't.

The bell remained on the table, collecting dust as the two went through each day in agony, longing for the other. And yet they would not ring the bell.

For through all that pain. All those days waiting for the one to see the person they loved. The torment of trying to continue without them there with them each day.

It was all worth it.

For they had the one day.

The one day together.

This was their fate until the day they died.

And death was the only time in their entire lives that they were ever truly together.

…

…was that it?

Was that what you wanted? What you expected?

No. No, I don't think so.

I'm sorry. But you must understand. If you didn't understand, you wouldn't have made it this far.

At the beginning of this story, I told you only a specific person would have guessed that the fairy tale was a lie. Do you remember? Can you guess why?

Because for someone to know that the story could not go that easy, they would have to have understood what the driving point of the story was.

They would have had to know the meaning to understand that it had to be this way.

You would have had to feel what sailor and the white crystal felt.

Love.