The Hall of Shattered Dreams

Long ago, in a world far away, there lived a lonely maiden. Or at least, she was this day. But she was not only lonely, she was also tremendously sad. Her soft, brown curls dripped with rain as she ran into her castle. As she forced her way through the enormous wooden doors she crumbled to her knees putting her face in her hands. Tears fell through her fingers making small pools on her crimson dress.
Lightning flashed outside the door sending gloomy shadows over the hard stone floor. Stumbling to her feet, she slowly crawled up the dark, silent staircase in front of her. At the top of this staircase was her secret hall. The hall where all her dreams gathered and were stored until they could be fulfilled. Unfortunately, there was not much left in her hall of dreams.
When she reached the top of the stairs her eyes gazed at the all too familiar, large silver door covered with the most intricate swirling engravery. Taking a simple metal key out of her dress pocket she slid it into the lock and opened the door. There was not much light in her hallway, a few candles here and there made it so that you could see the paintings hanging on the stately walls.
The maiden always felt comfortable in the candlelight, it seemed to always make her calm and happy. But not today, today those candles seemed as though they were being used for a funeral. She walked into the entryway and closed the silver door with a hollow thud behind her. Gliding slowly down the hall her tears seemed to fall from her deep green eyes with even greater intensity as she stared at the paintings. Before, they had been some of the most beautiful paintings she had ever seen, now that had changed. At the beginning of the hallway most of the paintings were gold framed with diamonds around the edges. The paintings themselves were small, bright and colorful and full of joy. These dreams had already been fulfilled and a small smile creeped about her face through her tears as she remembered them.

The middle paintings of the hallway were still full of life and color but many of them had lost their glow or the glass had been shattered. These paintings were much larger and there were fewer of them lining the walls because of this. The last of the hallway was covered with some of the most elaborate, and newest paintings she had added to her hallway. They had been crammed in almost any place she could put them and were truly works of art. Yet, almost all of the paintings, especially those near the top, had been shattered and cracked. Their frames no longer holding the glimmer of silver or gold. and the color of the paintings scarred with the small glass fragments.

Sobbing, she stared at her shattered paintings with a broken heart. She had wanted so much for these paintings to be fulfilled, more than any she had ever discovered.

Remembering those paintings and what they used to be tore at her inside. There seemed to be no more room for any more paintings on her walls and she did not know what to do.  Picking up pieces of glass that had fallen to the stone floor she stared at them glimmering in the candlelight. Disgusted, she tossed them to the floor and flew out the back door onto a small covered balcony. The storm had passed now and rays of sun were starting to peek through the clouds. She almost didn’t notice the gentle eyes of a tall man staring at her until she turned to go back inside. Frightened she backed away to the other side of balcony keeping her eyes on the ground.

Finally, through little glimpses, she had recognized this man as her Father. She was almost too ashamed to look Him in the eyes. Yet, he seemed to be drawing her to Him. She cautiously made her way closer and forced herself to look into His face. He did not say a word, but just looked at her with the gentleness and compassion she saw in his eyes. He slowly wrapped His arms around her and she gladly rested her head on His chest. Her tears made streams down His white shirt as he caressed her head.

Somehow, she now knew everything would be all right. Yes, some of her paintings were gone forever. But she now realized that her future was in her Father’s hands, and that he had beautiful paintings for her that she didn’t even know about. All she had to do was trust...trust her Father...and everything would be all right.

Never Give Up

...A shiny, black Ford truck came to a screeching halt out in front of the Crystal View Riding Stable. The door flew open as Amy Neal jumped out of the drivers seat. Her red western riding boots hit the dry summer earth creating a cloud of dust. She stormed into the barn and plopped herself down on a bale of hay, crossing her arms across her chest. They had done it again. This was the fourth year in a row she had tried to receive her jockey license. But no, each year they kept insisting that being a jockey is not a woman's job. She didn't know for the life of her why. She had all the experience, her training record was exceptional, the board of jockeys had said so, but they had still denied her. She even had the perfect racehorse, her black Thoroughbred stallion. Black Jack was a tall 17 hands and he ran like shear lightning. Amy had no doubt he could win any race she entered him in. She stood, taking off her cowboy hat, and wiped her sweaty forehead. She walked to her stallions stall, and he nickered and pranced to the door when he saw her. Amy traced the star in the middle of his broad forehead. His big brown eyes seemed to read her thoughts. He pressed his nose against her chin, “All right all right!” She exclaimed, with a little smile. Reaching into her pocket she pulled out a long, skinny carrot which was immediately chomped up by the stallion. She had been ready to give up until she had looked into her stallions eyes. The fire in his eyes seemed to encourage her in anything she did. She would try again, tomorrow. And this time she wasn't giving up as easily. She was going to make those board members see her stallion run. Then they could decide.

The next morning Amy flew out of bed and slipped into her best riding jeans and denim jacket. Grabbing a piece of toast as she ran to the car, she was still jumping into her boots as she climbed in. When she arrived at the stables she hitched up the horse trailer and skipped up to Black Jack’s stall. Today was the day her life would change forever, she was sure of it. Haltering him, she led the horse out into the crisp morning sunshine and loaded him into the trailer. She threw Jack’s racing saddle and bridle in the back of the truck, and took off for the jockey headquarters. She had called the night before telling the board members what she was planning to do. And to say the least, they were not happy. But, she was persistent, and had managed to arrange one last meeting with them at the racetrack that morning.

Driving up to the track she noticed that the board of jockeys had already gathered at the track railing. She stopped the truck and walked to the back of the trailer to saddle up her stallion. She had nothing to say to those men, all she wanted was to make them watch her boy fly. Black Jack could already tell he was going to run. He pranced about her feet as she tightened the cinch and slid the bit between his teeth. Finally, she was ready, she jumped onto his slender back and gathered the reins as he tried to rear. She kicked him into a trot as they passed the track gate and neared the starting line. Her heart seemed to be full of a thousand butterflies, and she could feel that Jack knew how nervous she was. He pulled on the bit as she stopped at the line, tossing his massive head back and forth. Jack seemed to act as if his hooves were on hot coals as he pranced around under her.

She closed her eyes and listened to the silence of the still morning air. A robin sang in the distance as if totally oblivious to the fear and excitement she was feeling. Opening her eyes she took a deep breath and took one more glance at the disapproving spectators. Focusing her gaze at the track between the stallions ears she merely touched his sides as he lurched into a gallop. They were off. The stallion's head and neck stretched out into a straight line as she crouched low on his back. The howling wind blew her light brown hair and intertwined it with the ebony mane of Jack. Guiding him on the edge of the inner rail, she knew he was running as fast as he knew how.

They were halfway around the track now. Jack wasn’t even winded, and Amy pushed him faster as they rounded the last curve. She felt his body grow closer to the ground as he dug his hooves into the soft turf. She closed her eyes once again and pushed her face into the wind. For a moment she almost forgot about her dilemma and merely enjoyed the sense of freedom.The finish line was just up ahead and she could tell that the eyes of the board members were all on her. She knew she had ridden well today, and she also knew her stallion had ran faster than ever before. As Jack’s front hoof crossed the finish line, she caught her breath. Now she had to face their decision.

She slowed Jack to a canter as she moved over to where the men were talking. Halting him at the rail she looked down on them. Somehow, being able to look down at them  gave her a small amount of ease. When they noticed she was there the President turned to face her.

“Well Miss Neal, I have to say that is quite the stallion you’ve got there...and you rode very well.” He said with a sly smile creeping across his face.

“Um, thank you sir, I’m glad you liked it. But please I would like your decision.”

“Yes of course. I’ll get straight to the point....” Now Amy thought she already knew the answer. Her stomach seemed to rise to her throat. They couldn’t do it again, not after today, they just couldn’t.

“We have discussed it and have come to the conclusion that perhaps we were a bit prejudice in our earlier decision.” Amy was speechless. “So...we have decided to give you your license on one condition.”

“One condition....?” She asked, her stomach still wanting to choke her.

“Yes, That you run that stallion of yours in as many races as you can enter. Girl, you have a winner!” He smiled and winked at her.

“Oh! Yes sir! Of course sir! Anything you say sir!” Amy felt like she was floating on the clouds. She had done it! She was going to have her license. She hugged her stallion’s neck with a smile as big as Kentucky lighting up her face.

Leaving the track that day Amy couldn’t stop smiling. She still could not believe what had just happened. And to think that she had almost given up hope frightened her. She had learned a important lesson, never...never give up...

The Act of Forgiveness

....Waking to the pain in her head she tried to rise from the ground only to fall back grabbing her side. Feeling something smooth and wet she gasped in horror at the site of blood, and then it all flashed back. The clashing swords, thundering hooves, and the screams of the wounded knights falling to the ground. She finally scrambled to her feet and limped over the fallen bodies of the brave souls. Seeing the glint of a familiar cape she half limped half ran to the side of her fallen friend. Tears streamed down her face as she fell to her knees beside him. Taking the sleeve of her dress she wiped the dried blood from his face. Why did it have to happen! She didn't mean for it to end this way. Wind ruffled the edges of the fallen knights cloak, almost as though he still breathed. Her heart would leap at each little gust; but no, it was true. He was gone---there was nothing to be done. Rising to her feet, she clenched her jaw and shook her fist at the horizon where the enemy had disappeared, vowing with everything in her that she would be avenged.  She left the field of horror in a blaze of passion and emotion, swinging herself onto a horse that had escaped and thundered away. The pound of horses hooves had barely died away when a movement on the field betrayed that one had not yet breathed his last. She flew from her horse as she suddenly recognized the the familiar face. It was battle worn and scarred but she would know that face anywhere. She screamed his name as she stumbled to his side. He was breathing heavily, gasping for air. She fell at his side and gently removed the silver helmet from his head and lifted his head onto her lap. Her tears fell in little pools onto his breastplate as she wiped his hair away from his eyes. She didn't know what to say, and didn't even know if she could. Her heart beat in her throat as if trying to suffocate her. Finally she was able to whisper “I'm sorry...I'm sorry” saying it over and over again. The knights eyelids fluttered and she seemed to stop breathing. She said his name and he slowly turned to look at her. Fresh tears spilled from her eyes as she stroked his hair. “I'm sorry...so sorry”. He slowly turned his deep brown eyes up toward her glassy green ones. Lifting his arm painfully he touched her face and whispered “ It's ok.....It's ok....”. “ No it's not! It was all my fault I led you all into a trap!” she sobbed as she closed her eyes to squeeze out the pain she had bee trying to ignore in her side. The knight stroked her long brown curls and again whispered “ It's ok...It was an accident...I forgive you” He stared up at her face with a slight smile touching his lips. Her heart seemed to jump at those last words. Forgiven? Her? After all that she'd done? She stared into his face wondering what to do or say. “Will you help me up? I think I can stand...” the knight said, breaking the silence between them. She stumbled to her feet, cringing at the wound in her side. She helped the gallant knight up and put his arm around her shoulder. They slowly walked to the patient horse and she helped him mount it. It was then that she finally found the words to say, “Why? Why did you forgive me after all of this...” she said with tears still spilling down her face. “Because you have always been here for me, and I know you didn't mean it. You are a true friend my dear Princess, and I will always be loyal to you.” Her heart lurched within her, “Thank you....thank you...”. She climbed behind him on the horse and put her arms around his neck giving him a hug. She had committed a great mistake, yes, and it would take a long time to heal. But she had a friend to help her along the way...a friend that would not leave her...and that she was eternally great full for. Galloping off into the morning sun she left that awful past behind. But before her was a new horizon, waiting to be conquered....