#pic1000 "The Return of Arthur"

Source Pic is AI generated by @wakeupkitty for this contest

What I see
A sad lady, in the company of her dog, looking out to the full moon. The clock has been thrown to the floor with the books on the shelf untouched.

What I feel
She has lost all human company, the only company she has now is that of her dog. Her last hope lies beyond the window, a promise or perhaps a son.

My Story
It has been three years since, Arthur departed in search of "the lavender of the gods". Three years since Emelda was confined to stay in a room at the extreme of the palace, a room that was formerly the royal physicians library. She only goes out to give the prince his medication. Her dog, Jilong, just returned from going into the bush to get the local rose which she would use to mix medication to buy the prince a few more days, while waiting for Arthur to come back. The previous plants he got littered the room, some were already growing on the windows and door panes . Jilong has now joined her in looking out the window, patiently waiting for Arthur's return.

Three years ago the prince was poisoned during the great feast, the royal physicians tried their best but admitted they did not know what to do. She had volunteered to cure the prince but informed the king that the antidote was in a rare plant beyond the seven kingdoms, a plant called "the lavender of the gods". She would need at least six months for the journey, she had announced.
"What would be of my son till you return?" The king had asked. "I would leave my son Arthur, he would give him daily potions from the local rose plant, this would keep the disease from eating up all his organs till I come back". The king was not satisfied and insisted she switched places with her son, the king believed Arthur should come back earlier than his mother, he was one of the bravest warriors and a friend of the prince.

It's been three years, still no sign of Arthur or the lavender. The king had moved Emelda to the palace, urging her to read the physicians books that perhaps she would see the cure in the books but she could not read and was too ashamed to tell the king, besides she was sure of the cure.
She was tired of being treated like a prisoner for her good intentions. Her redemption only lay in the hands of her son, Arthur if he was able to return with the coveted "lavender of the gods" the antidote to the prince deteriorating condition.

She held unto hope and prayed everyday for Arthur to return even if he didn't find the lavender, she missed her son, her only son. She had thrown down the clock from the wall, too weary to keep time, the ticking of the clock seemed to increase her anxiety.
Her breasts ached everytime she thought of her only son, her heart ached whenever she imagined what he was passing through.
Every full moon she would sing a song to her son who could not hear her

*Arthur it's another full moon
Will you come back by noon?
I've been waiting for you

Arthur you can leave lavender
He won't live forever
I need you than ever

Arthur you know that I love you
I've been waiting for you
And am still waiting for you
Please come back by noon.*

She was counting. This was the thirty-sixth full moon since Arthur left, she knew he was alive but the journey was not an easy one, she regretted agreeing with the kings demand.

The End!

This is my submission for the "a picture is worth a thousand words contest" posted by @freewritehouse

Thanks for reading. I hope you enjoyed it
Do have a great time.
See you soon😊