A Wall Made from Stone
Story Three: “Total Collapse”
The once handsome and annoyingly loud rooster is now dead and there is no crow when the sun rises, but
she rarely shines. It rains, snows, or sleets every day in the Kingdom of Brookwood. The once faithful rivers no
longer flow with order, but continue to breed floods of muddy water and fast deadly currents. The rivers have easily
caused two hundred deaths, because the only way out of the town is either by the rivers, or through the forest, which
no one will enter. The Stool Pigeon Mountains appear to have grown larger, an eerie formation of stone towers that
cast a forever dark shadow upon the kingdom. Addonexus Forest is now a dangerous entrapment of thorny vines
and overgrown brush. The millions of trees block out any remaining sunlight, and the forest floor have become so
swampy and thick; passage through the forest implies almost certain death. Mildrid’s castle, a once revered and
respected structure, now appears to be haunted for all of the unspeakable atrocities the evil wizard has committed.
The once glorious rose garden that surrounded the castle is a dead entanglement of sharp thrones and choking
weeds.
Now only one side of the once strong wall is standing. The west, north, and south walls have all
succumbed to their deep fractures and have collapsed. The east face is on the brink of collapse. Each day a new
crack forms, or a stone breaks and falls to the ground. Mildrid wants to see her fall.
Brookwood itself has become a festering heap of torture and death. There is not enough food or water for
even a small dog. Many of the citizens are malnourished and have died from starvation. The citizens are forced to
steal, or die. A cold and harsh wind seems to blow whispers of hate and deception, and the citizens are dressed in no
more than thin rags. Mildrid see’s everything, and he encourages chaos; yet anyone seeking to escape, he kills using
his black magic.
The wizard has become even more hideous. His face now consists of oozing boils and he has developed a
horrible hunch. He still keeps his beautiful ruby firmly mounted on his ring finger. Still three times a day the
citizens must pass through and kiss the jewel. He cares nothing for his kingdom. His only desire is to enslave all.
To be worshiped. People claim they can hear his screeching laughter from inside the castle walls. The ruby has
further possessed Mildrid. He has become all that is evil. He brings nightmares to the people’s hay beds.
12
Inside of the castles oversized dining hall Mildrid whispers in a dry hollow voice to his beloved stone.
“We have everything. All worship our greatness. They love me, and they love you. You are beautiful, and you
make me beautiful.”
“They are all our slaves!” Mildrid roared.
…
Later that night in a small cottage, a boy no older than twelve sat with mother and father.
“Mother, I am still hungry. Do we have nothing else to eat?” asked the boy.
“My son, I….I am…I.” his mother hesitated.
“Anthony, son, we have nothing else, if we eat more food tonight we will have nothing for tomorrow. Be
strong for me son.” his father commanded.
“No, I can’t sleep at night because I am always hungry!” Anthony yelled.
“I know son, but we must be strong. Better days are sure to be ahead.” his father stated.
“You always say that father, but every day is dark and cold! We will be lucky to live through the winter!
It is that dirty wizard and his stupid ring we have to kiss every day.” cried Anthony.
His father jumped from his stone stool. “Anthony! Be quiet! He can hear you, you must be quiet!” his
father yelled.
“No! I will not be quiet, do you not see? It is his ring! Before grandfather died he told me about Mernod’s
stones! He is evil, and the ruby controls him! Do you not see?” he asked in a echoing tone.
“Son!” his father screamed.
A loud knock rang on the cottages thin wooden door.
“Anthony, Rose, hide!” the father ordered.
13
The door slammed open. Appearing at the door were three half men, half something else, dressed in black
robes, all armed with sharp daggers. These ghosts were the new solder’s serving Mildrid. Their souls belonged to
Mildrid and his ruby; they murdered in his name. The spirit in the middle began to ask in a raspy, ghostly voice.
“Who dare speaks of the all powerful wizard and his holy stone?”
The father inhaled and exhaled, “It is I. I speak of all the atrocities the king and the wizard have
committed. I speak of the murders, and for my starving family. I speak for all of the greatness and beauty that
Brookwood once was! I speak for……..” Before he could finish his sentence he had three daggers firmly implanted
into his chest. He fell to the ground and died instantly.
“Now, burn the house!” ordered the second demon. The two other spirits followed his command.
Once the dark spirits departed and the house set ablaze, Anthony climbed from behind his bed coughing,
trying to find his mother. “Mother, mother, where are you?” Anthony struggled to yell due to the excess of smoke.
The flames are now extremely hot and the roof was beginning to collapse. “Mother, where are you?” He found her
pinned under a burning piece of the roof that had already collapsed. He attempted to remove the fallen debris but to
no avail. “Mother, I cannot lift it! It is too heavy!” Anthony cried. The flames have now completely engulfed the
cottage.
“Anthony, my son, do not worry.” spoke his weak mother in a gentle and loving voice. “It is too late for
me.”
“No mother I cannot live without you! You must try! You must try!” Anthony wailed.
“Son, do not trouble yourself. Remember always your parents love for you and always love others more
than yourself. You are strong. You son will be great in life and live for a purpose. Now go! Before it is too late!
Escape through the forest and live!” Anthony’s mother commanded as the flames began to burn her body.
Anthony abided his mother’s command and managed to barely escape just before the house collapsed.
Scared and distraught he began to run wildly. He ran through the village at a burning pace until he reached the west
side of the town. When he finally reached the rubble that used to be the west wall, he abruptly stopped and starred
at the thick and deadly forest before him. Still frightened, he turned around to see his dark and cold town. Then he
14
saw the three ghosts dressed in black moving swiftly in his direction. They knew he escaped. Mildrid knew he
escaped.
“After him, he must not enter the forest!” the second one yelled. “The boy must be stopped!”
With no choice, Anthony turned and began to run into the thick of death that is Addonexus Forest.
Anthony, full of adrenaline, ran blindly through the forest. He managed to run through the first section of the woods
without falling or tripping on one of the millions of overgrown roots; but deeper within the forest the trees make
their own rules. Anthony finally beginning to tire after sprinting for five miles paused to rest again.
“I’ve think I have lost them.” he said breathing loudly. He could hear nothing but the abnormal sounds of
the paranormal forest. He stood in the noise as his breathing finally began to shorten. Sight was nearly impossible.
The forest stunk of rotten wood and decaying earth.
Suddenly the loud crack of a limb echoed in Anthony’s ears. Before he could turn around the evil wizard
Mildrid stood two feet in front of his face. His ruby glows a vibrant red and he has a ferocious look on his face. “It
is time for you to die boy.” Mildrid taunted.
Anthony did not hesitate this time, he immediately ran as fast as he could into the deep of the forest.
“Dumb pest, don’t you worry, I will find you.” Mildrid laughed.
As Anthony moved, the forest floor was becoming so thick, he was forced to climb and jump rather than
run. He knew the wizard was close.
Finally the frantic boy’s feet found a small clearing of high dead grass in the midst of the thick forest about
two hundred yards long. Anthony ran at full speed trying desperately to escape from the evil wizard. When he got
half-way through the field his foot caught on a stone in the ground causing him to fall flat on his face. He hit the
ground with a heavy thud. He lay on the ground motionless. His breath blew the dirt around his mouth. His hands
and knees have fresh bloody wounds.
15
When he came to himself, he sat up and saw the corporate of his fall. He picked up off the ground a tan
stone that was uncut and rough. The mysterious stone seemed to be out of place, but Anthony could not take his
eyes off the rock.
Though it had been rainy and dark in the Kingdom of Brookwood for countless days; a full moon bright
and luminous, pulled back the mask of the thick clouds and glowed brightly upon the young boy. He continued to
gaze intently upon the rough stone. He had an overwhelming sense of calm. For this brief moment he no longer
feared Mildrid and his evil ring.
Appearing from the thick of the woods, a tall old man with a bandage on his head and a deer-skinned flask
on his side walked slowly towards Anthony. Anthony had no desire to run this time. The old man approached
Anthony and asked in a comforting tone. “My good boy, are you the finder of my lost stone?”
“Yes good sir, I tripped over it when I was running.” Anthony said in his deepest voice.
“What is your name my young lad?” asked the old man.
“Anthony sire.” he replied.
“Anthony, you have found a beautiful and powerful stone. Her value is endless and great and can grant you
any wish, but you must know my son. You see, your stone has the extraordinary power to bless those with noble
and trustworthy hearts, but your stone will curse a man with evil intentions. As so before with the obsessed king and
the wretched wizard.” spoke the old man. “Good lad, what wish would you like to see come true?” he asked.
“Sire, my parents are dead, Mildrid had them killed and he has been chasing me. No one ever smiles
anymore. Every day I heard my mother and father crying when they thought I was sleeping.” Anthony said as his
eyes filled with tears. “All I wish is for evilness to leave my kingdom. Our wall was once sturdy and impenetrable.
Now nearly all the wall has completely collapsed. All I know is pain and sorrow. Make our kingdom great again
and rid us of the evil wizard!” Anthony sobbed.
“My boy.” he replied. “Your heart is pure, and your will is strong. With the power of your stone you will
rule and rebuild your kingdom’s good name. As in the days of the great King Leon, with your power, Brookwood
will prosper once more. Now, go back and rebuild your home.” ordered the man in a respectful loving tone.
16
Anthony rose and headed back through the woods back to Brookwood. He no longer feared Mildrid, or
the forest. Before entering the trees he turned and asked, “Sire, you never told me your name?” his voice faded as
he spoke. The moon still clearly lit the field but the old man was gone.
As Anthony returned home, Mildrid was wandering aimlessly through the woods in a crazed fashion. He
had no sense of direction and was becoming increasingly distraught and confused. “Where is he? How could he
have escaped?” he questioned himself. As he stumbled through the forest he saw Anthony holding his stone.
“There you are you dumb boy! I will kill you just like your pathetic parents!” Mildrid roared. As he
reached his arm up to use his magic he noticed his ruby was missing from his finger. “My ruby! My precious
stone! Where? How? You found the third stone! Impossible!” he screamed.
“Yes I did find the mysterious stone that my grandfather told me about. You can not hurt me or anybody
else Mildrid. You are powerless and you are finished. Your ruby is useless, and so is your evil magic.” Anthony
proclaimed in manly voice.
“No, no, how can this be? How could a pathetic boy find the ring? Noooooo!” Mildrid yelled as he fell to
his knees. “I am ruined without my ruby. She has deserted me! I will surely die without her!” he howled.
Anthony looked forward and walked calmly away from the demented wizard, leaving him to rot in the forest.
The next morning, a young, handsome, and annoyingly loud rooster crowed as a beautiful and warm sun
poked her fiery head above the horizon. Her ray’s illuminating a harsh and barren landscape that had been under a
blanket of darkness and repression.
Upon Anthony’s return he was greeted at the ruined wall by all of the citizens of Brookwood. Everyone
was kneeling. “Hail King Anthony!” they chanted. “Long live the king!”
Anthony confused, approached the nearest citizen and asked, “Why are they doing this? I am just a boy.”
“Good sire, Mernod’s spirit came to all of our doors last night. He told us Mildrid was dead and his evil
ring was lost. He also told us of your stone. He said you would rule with honor and love. We all believe in you and
your stones power. He also said the sun would rise again over Brookwood! This morning the sun rose and the
darkness is gone with the dead wizard! Hail King Anthony!” he proclaimed.
17
“Hail King Anthony! Long live the king!” all the people chanted.
…
King Anthony’s first decree was to rebuild the stone wall. When construction began just three days later,
before the entire town, the king placed his magic stone on the ground near the rubble that was the old wall. His
stone will be the first stone and the foundation for an even stronger stone wall.
Though he was young, King Anthony ruled with honor and dignity, bringing piece and prosperity to the
Kingdom of Brookwood. By springtime the harvest was once again bountiful, and the Stool Pigeon Mountains
provided her valuable resources to the townspeople. The two rivers flow faithfully parallel and their water is crystal
clear. Everyone is now well fed and back to work. Every day is warmer and more beautiful than the last. Travelers
once again visit Brookwood and are not only amazed by her beauty, but learn her story. The townspeople serve
their king with loyalty and honor. The castle once again shines a holy white. A vibrant and luxurious rose garden
surrounds its walls.
The end.
18
19