The Queens Heart Opal.
Once there was a queen, unlike any other. She had flaws, of course, but she was loved rightly by her family and dearest friends. Through tragedy, loneliness, addiction, and the feeling of utter despair, she remain unconquered. She remained as brazen and strong as the day she was born.
14 billion years ago, the primordial ashes and volcanoes spewed forth hot ash, burning the planet, churning molten stone and bubbling earth, cooling and cracking for billions of years more.
As the pressure formed precious stones underneath the crust of the world, a singular opal was crafted. This opal, found directly in the middle of the, what is now known as,australian desert, was left, unclaimed, unabashed, and left lonely, just like the queen.
One fine day, the queen decided to leave reclusion and meet her new stewardess. One who held her in such high regard. She loved the Queen, and asked her to stay by her side as the conquered their land together. In line with the stewardess, was a humble man.
He was a simple cook. Not too smart. Not too handsome. He was nervous, hands, shaking as he introduced himself to this queen. He caught her gaze and fell madly in love. He knew, that this queen, was worth all of the time he had left.
So, he decided to leave. He scoured far and wide for a gift, worthy of her, and worthy of her praise, if only for a single thank you was uttered from her lips.
He sailed to countries unknown, searched far and wide, and came to a large land mass. Many people sang beautiful songs, danced funnily, and spoke in whistles, clicks, and a language completely unknown to him.
It was a land of love, and of laughter. A land of feelings to grand to ever dare to explain. As he felt so at home here, so loved, so wanted, he remembered his queen. She grew lonely. She grew restless for sure.
So he ventured forth, into the expanse of the sands, to cross and meet his beloved once more. As he paced through the waves of crushed stones, he saw a glint.
A glint of the most beautiful stone. An opal. Resting, nestled into the surface of the sand. He picked it up, examined it, and said, "This stone is the only one Ive ever seen". For it was. 14 billion years ago that stone was crafted. It was made of star matter. Made of collisions. Made of energy. Made for her. The way she made him feel was nearly the same.
So he took the stone, wrapped it into silk, and tucked it away to bring to her.
As he finally arrived home, he noticed that she had been wed. She was married to a handsome, wonderful new king, who owned his land, fathered to a beautiful boy who was right to inherit his rule.
The poor, humble man looked down at cracked hands, a course beard stretched upon his chin, and his eyes, weathered to the sun, now squinting and hunched, realized his journey was at an end.
He made his way to the royal chamber and begged for an audience with the queen, and received it after much hassle. He stood before her. Ragged. Frail. Used by the winds and waters, earth and sky tore him asunder and he looked beaten.
She, as elegant as ever, unaged and perfect, but looking rather distant, saw this ragged man and asked him "You, beggar, what do you need of me?"
The ragged man pulled forth the silken pouch from his bag, held it towards the queen, knelt, and said in a cracked voice, "This, my queen, belongs to you. Its your love. Your heart, from the heart of the most distant place. Your adventure. Your hopes and your dreams here. This stone, is yours."
The beggar then raised himself up, fixed himself proper, and looked up towards the sky. Tears, filling his eyes as he knew that he'd missed his chance to make her happy.
As he began to walk, the queen rang out "WAIT! BEGGAR! PLEASE!" as she ran to acknowledge him. She turned him around quickly with tears in her eyes, thankful to him, looking rapidly all over his face and trying to make the connections of who he truly was.
"Youre the stewardesses helper? The cook, yes? Where have you been?" She cried.
He looked her in her eyes, grabbed her face and said in a soft, raspy voice, "looking for that piece of you, you lost all those years ago. I found it for you. You deserve to have it back."
She looked at him, lips pursed, crying, holding back so much emotion that she exploded into a crying fit only a queen could accomplish. She had never felt so loved, so adored, so recognized by someone, not even her King.
As he held her in that embrace, the beggar cook held her tightly one last time. "My Queen, if you ever forget how much you mean to your people, to us, to me...hold your stone and think of my journey for you. It was never a waste of my time, because my energy was meant to help you rediscover yourself".
She looked at him and kissed his face, quickly, repeatedly and held his eyes for the longest time, without saying a word. Then, let him go, to walk away, on his journey, to find more pieces she may have left along the way.