Yes, this is a repost. When I originally posted this shot and story I somehow messed it up and almost nobody got to see it. So, I deleted it and gave it a new title.

If you have seen this and had fav'd it already, I'm sorry and I thank you.

Please enjoy



_______________________________________________
Garden of the Elvin King

I left the Presho Plains in the spring of my 225th year--still young for an elf, to seek the Elvin King high in the Fosakk Mountains to complete the coming of age ritual all Elves must pass before they are allowed to marry.

My father told me that the tests were grueling and complex--designed to test the utmost limit of strength and endurance. I feared not the tests, but the humiliation of having to wait another 50 years before I would be allowed to test again thus bringing shame to my family and lose my beloved for all eternity.

The way was long and hard. Many obstacles were encountered and overcome--hunger and thirst, pain and regret, loneliness and sorrow. At the end, all I had was my memories of sweet Akisha and my family when I arrived at the King’s Palace.

I was taken through a simple palace--nothing extravagant or grand contained within, to a magnificent garden where the Elvin King awaited tending the flowers. He finished his small task with the flowers, turned to me and spoke only once:

“You, Mikel, have endured much on your journey. I know the pain and suffering that goes with your coming of age as I have made the same journey you have. Come, refresh yourself in my garden. You will need all your strength for the journey back to marry your beloved Akisha. The journey was the test.”