Beauty 365 … Stories of Love and Life for Everyday

Once, long ago, in a faraway land, there lived a king and queen.

They were everything a good king and queen should be. They were kind, generous and faithful.  Each day of their lives they devoted to the raising of their four handsome princes and two beautiful princesses. They also worked tirelessly for the poor and lived humbly, trusting in God for everything. They were loved and respected throughout the land. In their old age, they were warmed by the love of many grandchildren, and were steadfast in their love for each other.

Over the years, sadly, the king required more assistance than the queen was able to give, so he was moved to a nearby castle, which lovingly took care of all the old kings and queens of the land. The queen visited her beloved husband each day, spending hours reading and praying together. The children and grandchildren visited often too, making the separation a little less painful.

One day, a terrible plague swept over the land, and in order to protect the castle of frail kings and queens, guards pulled up the draw-bridge and made a decree that no-one could enter until the plague had passed.

Knowing full well that her king would surely die should he not see her, the queen devised a plan. She immediately resolved to cut contacts with the whole outside world, ensuring that she would not contract the plague herself, nor, God forbid, pass it on to the castle for retired kings and queens. She knew of a back entrance to the castle, used by the servants. Daily, and under disguise, she stole into the castle to spend an hour with her beloved husband, him, never really knowing the risk she undertook. (Of course, her disguise did not fool the castle guards, but they turned a blind eye to her, softened by the true love story in their midst.)

In time, the plague passed, as all plagues do, and their love endured.

The legend of their love spread throughout the land, inspiring the minds and warming the hearts of all who heard it. And their children, and their children’s children rightly knew how blessed they were to witness to this love that knew no bounds.

Dedicated to my parents.