Clarisse Cockrill, Featured Author of March

Here it is! What you all have been waiting for. The wonderfully talented Clarisse Cockrill's original work. Thank you all for you patience. Clarisse, thank you for your beautiful submission and congratulations on the win.

 

The Lady in Red

A Bardic Tale

By Clarisse Cockrill

“Come one, come all! I call upon your attention for only a moment. Listen to the wonderful tale I wish to tell,” a young bard announced out to the crowd of the tavern hall. He strummed at the strings on his lute, humming a jovial tune.

“It is a thrilling tale, full of thievery and charm, of deceit and romance. I speak of the tale of the Lady in Red!” the Bard sung as he danced across the stage, drawing the attention of the tavern’s crowd. The crowd oo’ed and ah’d with delight, clapping their hands together for the bard on the center stage. The Bard gave an appreciative bow towards the crowd, with a bit of glamorous flair as he smiled. Once the crowd’s applause stilled, the bard began to pluck at the strings of his lute. A soft melody that could only be related to a romantic tune.

“There once was a young lady of red, innocent and pure and loved by all. Within her heart, she carried a torch of smoldering red flames for a man, burning red with immense passion that is and can only be… love.

“The man was of considerable rank, his pockets full of a considerable amount of coin. The young lady of red, although dressed lavishly in what the man’s coin could buy, did not love him for the coin he possessed, but for his heart of gold. Although she had everything she could ever want, the lady in red had nothing to want other than his golden heart. And during their times spent together, when he would ask what she wanted and she would ask for his heart, he would reply with a smile, ‘of course, of course, my love, I give you my love, which is golden.’

“Then one night, when the red autumn moon rose high in the night sky, the young lady discreetly went to visit the man’s home. A night meant for love, was left to be discovered with tragedy,” the bard paused. Silence fell over the crowd, as they waited in anticipation. He leaned towards the crowd, his expression stern and his fingers plucking away at the strings as the song became ominous.

“The young lady, who once gave everything to the man she loved with all her heart, was befallen with heart-break as she discovered her lover in the arms of another. Oh, yes! For no man, no matter how virtuous and true, can resist the temptations of another woman.

“For there within the man’s bed, he lay! Wrapped in the loving arms of another woman, beautiful and trapped in the passions of love! Listen closely, especially all of the men here tonight, and listen well to this warning. For, a woman scorned is a dangerous thing for a man, especially one who once knew the passions that love provides. Once the young lady discovered her lover lying with another on that red autumn night, the fire in her heart, burning with love and devotion, died out. What burned in its place was a fiery red of hatred and vengeance.

“Under the red autumn moon, with a broken heart, the young lady of red unleashed her rage upon the man she once loved. In a flash of red rage, everything he once owned and used to lavish her with, all of his golden coins and possessions, she stole away. In its place, she left her ex-lover with a small gift.”

The bard whisked out a small piece of red paper, held between two fingers.

“A small red card, perfumed and marked with a lover’s kiss. And written in fine gold ink, was a message for the man. A phrase once whispered over and over again to the young lady in red, once laced with love, echoed on the card as a painful reminder,” the bard hummed softly, before the tune stopped. With a smile, the bard kissed the red piece of paper and gave the crowd a glamourous wink.

“My love for you is golden.”

The crowd in the tavern erupted with applause, as the bard began to strum his lute again and dance across the stage. Then, with a smile, the bard takes a bow.