Patrick Scalisi . com

These Walls

"These Walls" was originally published in the 2005 edition of the Sacred Heart University literary revue, Horizons.

The gloom of the massive city walls loomed in front of me. They cast a long shadow that seemed to envelop my whole being. The moon shone brightly above and provided at least a little illumination on this particularly dark night. My torn tunic swayed in the light breeze. I scanned the stone structure for its familiar foot-holds, nooks and crannies. I began to climb, taking careful hold of the wall's imperfections and ascending a peak littered with ramparts.

No guards patrolled this section of the city; they would have little to do with the poor that lived in the slums. The streets were littered with garbage, and no one was present, lest they run into a band of ruffians that would steal the little money they possessed. I used the night as my ally, sneaking in and out of the shadows and alleyways between cramped buildings, hoping no such bands were on the streets tonight.

Suddenly, faint voices filled my ears from up ahead. I stopped cold, barely daring to breathe. I ducked down another alley and waited for them to pass. My eyes squinted, my nose twitched in anticipation. Suddenly, a fat, old merchant and his page strolled by, obviously lost, and grumbling to themselves about the poor condition of the slums. I sighed in relief, waited for them to pass and continued on my way.

Looking at the slums as I passed, I noticed for the first time how much they resembled a ghost town at night. Everything was silent and untended. The windows and doors of the surrounding buildings were all closed and locked, if they possessed such safeguards. In the near-darkness, they looked like stone soldiers guarding some precious treasure.

Abruptly, a change came over the area without me even noticing it. I had passed out of the slums and into a sort of middle district. The streets were well lighted and cleaner; garbage did not clutter the roads, and rats did not scurry about. My feet echoed merrily on the cobblestone. An oil lamp occupied one window; a green curtain hung from another.

In this new, brighter light, I could see the castle situated near the center of the city. Its towers stretched high into the night, sorrowful windows yawning in exhaustion from years of sleep. I stopped to gaze at it briefly, its massive ramparts swarming with iron-clad soldiers, its towering ceilings, ornate framework and the treasure held within its walls. The whole building illuminated the night sky in a gay, yellow warmth.

"Move along!" yelled a soldier as the hilt of his sword struck me in the back. The blow knocked me from my trance. "Go home, peasant!"

He struck me again. I lurched forward and began to walk again towards the castle. The gruff soldier moved in the opposite direction, snarling and occasionally looking back at me.

Trying to keep a low profile, and to avoid any further confrontations, I once again resorted to my friend, the night, to hide me away. Other guards, in their clinking finery, passed me by as if I were barely a shadow. As I moved on, the castle grew larger and larger until I was almost in front of it.

I stopped for a moment to consider myself as I had done so many times in this exact spot. Who am I to come rapping at these fine gates of silver and gold? Who am I to think that I am worthy to glance upon the finery that waits within?

I shoved these thoughts to the back of my mind, shaking my head in doubt. I continued forward, throwing all inhibition to the wind.

Carefully avoiding more guards, I climbed over the small wooden fence and into the delicate gardens. The aroma of a multitude of flowers and herbs assaulted my nostrils, yet I ignored them; they seemed more familiar now than ever. Hiding myself in some thick brush under the balcony, I waited...and waited...and waited. The night and everything around it progressed while the balcony and I were locked in one distinctive moment.

Suddenly, the noise of opening doors sounded above me. I stared upward as the princess exited onto the balcony. She was right on time.

Her silk nightgown danced merrily in the wind as she gazed skyward. Her dark eyes reflected the pale moonlight, and candles from within the castle illuminated her fair face. My glance was locked on her and her alone.

I had met her once, during one of her father's campaigns in my own city-state. She treated everyone as an equal and even descended into the crowd...

A voice called from inside the tower, and the princess looked backed longingly at the stars as she proceed inside. Her soft skin dissolved into the candlelight, two essences become one. Just as she had come, she was now gone. I had seen her for six minutes.

Carefully, I climbed out of the castle gardens and made my way back to the city walls. The castle looked small and distant now, yet just as beautiful.

I turned and climbed over the ramparts, anxiously awaiting tomorrow night.