Welcome to Friday Fictioneers! Join our merry band of writers, or check out the other stories on Addicted to Purple, home of our fearless leader Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. To participate: write a 100-word story, with a beginning, middle and end, from the photo prompt provided. Add your story to the InLinkz, and then take some time to read some of the other stories. This week’s prompt was provided by Claire Fuller. It rocks! Lucky me! Being in Scandinavia puts me 9 hours ahead of my usual time zone, 6 ahead of Rochelle… which gives me a fighting chance of not being number 40+ for the entries! Please check out my Facebook page, and hit Like… I’m hoping to hit 500 by the end of summer. I’d love your help!
I’m currently in week 2 of a 3-week trip through Scandinavia. Each day has been an incredible adventure, but exhausting and allowing little time for writing or reading. However, wherever I am, when it’s Wednesday, you know where you can find me! I’ll do my best to read your stories, and I appreciate each of you who take the time to read mine. I always welcome honest, thoughtful feedback. Please leave a comment.
© Claire Fuller
Time Marches On (95 words)
I fought bravely beside my men, never fleeing the storm of battle. I returned to my Queen– regal and pious, and children who grew strong and curious, in my absence. I have no regrets, though I long to rest my bones and set down my sword– to listen to my children play. I’ve done my best for country and kin, and the subjects who depend on me. History will show I was a good and righteous king.
“Mom, who’s this?”
“I don’t know honey. Looks like another one of the kings we keep hearing about…”
* * *
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TALES FROM THE MOTHERLAND 
Ah, yes….the tragedy of spending your life trying to make a mark, just to be forgotten or remember as one of the…
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Alas… touring Scandinavia, seems I’ve read so many plaques here, of kings, royals, etc that no on really remembers now… Frederick the IV, V, VI… ? Thanks for taking the time; it’s much appreciated!
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I was so immersed in what the king was feeling that the last two lines totally ripped me out of his world and into the present. Well done! I could have easily read much more of the king’s voice. Hope you are having an enjoyable trip.
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It’s been an INCREDIBLE vacation, Sue… I’ll be posting about it soon. I’m so glad you enjoyed the story, and the voice used. I was tempted to keep going with the king’s voice… but 100 words doesn’t allow for it! Or, choices must be made. Thanks for taking the time!
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Dawn, Good story. I could hear the king’s voice and how weary he was. We only remember a small percentage of the kings that existed down through history. That’s a sad reality. Well written as usual. I also hope you’re having a great trip. 🙂 —Susan
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Thanks Susan… it’s been amazing! I will be posting about some of the trip on Friday (it’s all cued to go) and more later. I’m trying to catch up on things today, and then will be busy for the next 10 days or so before going home in 2 weeks. It’s been a whirlwind!
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I liked the voice in this, he sounded a weary, conscientious monarch. But it’s in the nature of history that sacrifices made impinge only marginally on future generations. Nicely done, Dawn.
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Thanks Sandra. I love that you got that… it’s exactly what I was going for. Thanks for stopping by, and making the time. 🙂
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I really liked the good king, he did what good kings do–cared for his people and his family.
Very enjoyable read.
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Thanks so much Blawson834, and thanks for stopping by Tales From the Motherland. I’m so glad you enjoyed the story.
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Dawn, the voice in the beginning made the sword (which one can imagine hanging from his hand) is too heavy. Then the perky “Mom …” is such a contrast. I was kinda’ going for the same idea, but you did it more eloquently. Nice. Hope your trip is going well.
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Thanks Alicia. I think all this history I’m seeing, impacted my story telling. I’m really glad it hit the mark… I had a very specific idea in mind.
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Poor king’s not getting the recognition is he? Sad.
(I spent time in Helsinki and Jakobstad in Finland recently. Full of curiosities! Enjoy the journey.)
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Thanks Patrick! I think so many famous people slip from collective conscious. Large statues, that few of us can say anything about… thanks for taking the time.
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This really made me think. We learn so many historical facts but little of the actual people. Nice to humanise an old king.
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Thanks Fabricating… it’s so true. And even people, we learn so little, given some of the histories! “All we are is dust in the wind…”
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Dear Dawn,
It’s been said but I’ll say it anyway. The voice the king, his longings and regrets, are driven home by the dispassionate voices of the present. You’ve written an entire novel in 95 words. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks so much Rochelle… I really appreciate your very kind feedback. I think touring all of this amazing history– so many statues and old kings to see, really has left a mark. Thanks for your time and thoughtful words. Shalom, d
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Your spare words hold such a great story. Well done!
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Thanks Lynda; it’s really great to hear from you! Seems like it’s been a while since I’ve seen you on here? Thanks for making the time; it’s much appreciated, as always. 🙂
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I loved how the last part just blew away all that he’d been and done. Clever job 🙂
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Isn’t that how time is… we all just fade away, eventually. Even the most glorious.
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We kind of forget there are other people in the world, past and present, besides ourselves with feeling and passions and stories. This brought it home once again.
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Thanks Perry. I think we do tend to forget. We were walking along the canal in Copenhagen yesterday, and I said to my son: “Think of all the lives that have been lived along this street! Hundreds of years, and here we are just walking along taking photos.” It really has hit me this trip… must be my age! 😉
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Aw, so jealous. I’ve got to tell you that I would be ignoring us until you got home. Your trip sounds like a once-in-a-lifetime journey. We’ll always be around. Can hardly wait to see your pictures. Safe travels.
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Thanks Eleanor. It has really been an amazing adventure! This is my 3rd time in Denmark– we have very close friends here– but it’s fun to see it all with my son. I am posting part 1 of our Iceland trip, today; watch for it. Monster’s Throw Down is one of the books I brought to read. 😉
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Denmark is on my bucket list. I’ve heard that the people are so lovely and the country is beautiful. I noticed some pictures in my feed. I’ll check them out after I exercise.
Nice of you to take my book along. Hope you enjoy it. When it freaks you out, remember, I’m still standing! Blessings!
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I love it here. We have VERY close friends in Århus, for 20 years now, and our exchange (student) daughter from 2 years ago, lives in Copenhagen. It gives us a wonderful window to the inside world of Danes, rather than just the tourist view… it’s very different. That gives us even more reason to visit!
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I’ve just been reading about the vikings and how hell for them is being forgotten, so this was timely! How sad to work so hard to be remembered and all in vain.
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Such is history, right? We are in Denmark now, visiting so many Viking sites. Amazing all the things they did! Thanks for stopping by; it’s much appreciated.
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We went to a place called Hell in Norway a few years ago, just so we could say we’d been to Hell and back! Have a great time
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Now that’s a great idea! Something I would do too. 😉
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Everybody dies but not everybody lives. In trying to make a mark, I hope we all get to fully enjoy life and its rewards. Beautiful constructed story 🙂
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Thank so much Camgal. That is so true… I suppose we all hope to make some kind of mark, but yes, living is the real thing to aspire to. 😉
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Scandinavia, that sounds so exciting. oh i envy you right now! enjoy your vacation. great story , Dawn… and quite sad. i agree with what you said to camgal, “living is the real thing to aspire to” 🙂
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It is, no doubt… but then it all passes away.
You should check out my new post, K.Z. to see more of Iceland! 🙂
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Dear Dawn – Oh to be you for a week – or at least to get to see what you did in a week! Fun, fun, fun I’m sure! I love your story and that’s what we’re here on Earth for – to make our mark, if only for a short time (and to procreate). To me, history should be completely accurate and it is one of the most important studies of all. I don’t give a flip what a History Professor wants me to learn – I want to know the truth and the whole accurate truth. I feel so sorry for the King because he has been forgotten, as we all will. Only the lucky few will remain on the lips of the generations to come. Thanks for being a friend to me, Dawn – I’m in awe of your ability! Nan 🙂
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Nan, It’s so true that what we learn in class is only a small piece of what happens for real!
You should check out my new post, about Iceland… lots of photos and more details about the trip! It has been amazing!
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He may be forgotten but at least he got a statue. How many of us are able to say that?!
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No kidding! That is the truth, Dawn… so many of us really do just vanish from history.
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There are so many kings to remember, who can keep track. I enjoyed your take on the prompt. I feel as though we lived much of the king’s life through your words. Wonderful that you were able to fit so much history in so few words.
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Thanks Lisa. I really enjoyed this prompt… and I think all this travel to see historical sites in Scandinavia really stirred my fictional story telling! So much material…
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History only remembers the trend setters and the truly dastardly. Just watch the news or read the paper. The really good guys, the ones our kids and grandkids should be trying to emulate, get no ink or face time in the media.
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Ain’t that the truth, Russell! Thanks for taking the time… trying to catch up, whilst traveling… but alas… so hard! I loved reading about your visit with Rochelle, Janet and Doug! Sounded fabulous. 🙂
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I just read this after a mind-numbing session with Ancestry.com – couldn’t be more appropriate. I can’t help but wonder if this mom is a descendant of the king without even knowing it. It amazes me to think of all who’ve lived before us and made us who we are today.
Very cool that you can fit writing into your travel schedule! Happy reader here! 😀
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Thanks Val! I am so intrigued by Ancestry.com… especially after reading some of Alicia’s cool posts about it! I have family members who have really done some fine research; I should get on the ancestry train, given how much I enjoy all that history! Glad you enjoyed the posts. 😉
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Warning: at this time there is no known cure for Ancestry-addiction. Beware!
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