(Fantasia) When Lizette met Paul Quillrose

When Lizette met Paul Quillrose

It was a dark cold night when Lizette was staring at the window. There she sought the moon in its full glow giving its silvery rays on the lonely maiden staring from the window of her cottage. There that fairly looking maiden tries to think closely as the moon continue glowing, until...

She sought someone in the field, a man dressed in a black kaftan, in a red beret, black breeches and boots, riding in a maroon troika manned with three white horses! There that maiden Lizette was amazed on what she've seen in the field as a man continue riding towards his lovely palace past by the river.

At that time,
That man, whose name is Paul, was riding towards his beautiful home past by the river. He was a fine, unique man with a different idea that people used to think him too negatively. There he simply tried to restrain himself by locking himself out; preventing from being interfered and even misjudged by the people around him, as well as trying to have a lie-low after the failed conspiracy against the tsar. And thus, the journey back home is his last ride from the entire realm. While in his room, Paul went to his desk and wrote something, there he simply express about women, and a someone who wanted to be with:

The girls of Smyrna

The girls of Smyrna are so pretty nice
When I see at them seduction arise
Till my eyes turned red in blood till it bled
As I stare at them List'ning in the band

The girls of Smyrna are so pretty nice
Seductive beauty like mixed sugar and spice
Sweet as candies, cakes, and turkish delight
Beautiful like jewels shining in the eastern night

The girls of Smyrna are so enchanting
Like red roses blooming in midnight rising
Roses in deep red the colour of blood
Blood of martyrs fallen in the soil once trod

Seductive and enchanting when I once always see
Like spice doused in fire burning fourth upon me
Tis' the girl from Smyrna thus inspire me
Such a virgin on fire as my own eyes now bleed

Just like the serene town this girl once lived
Her serene beauty and love set bliss upon to me
Madness swept away as you gave calm to me
As I myself feel that end me astonished

Even life's a madness ends so easily
That love, like a rose blooming in midnight's bliss
You o beloved one you gave real hope to me
Someday you'll be written in life's history

Upon writing it, Paul simply felt the lonliness as he read every line in it. Then a servant came, carrying a glass of absinthe. There the young noble spoke:
"It seemed that my lonliness tries to destroy me much, whilst my mind hath found a someone to help me."

"Well..." The servant said. "Better to drink this wine straight sir."
And Paul replied:
"Ok."

One day, Lizette tries to find the man whom she sought last time. There she tried to walk briskly, walking and even crossing the river through a boat until she sought a beautiful palace past by the river, there she simply landed and paid the boatman three kopecks and went away to the beautiful abode.

While going, three wolves appeared, and with its faces in an angrily manner, they wanted to attack and devour the maiden Lizette, as she, frightened by these creatures whose faces wanted to devour her, wanted to run away-only to end up being cornered by them in the middle of the woods; and thus she screamed until...

A man, clad in black, came forth and through the sword he carried, he killed the three attacking wolves to save the maiden. There the maiden Lizette thanked him:
"Thank you sire."
Then the man clad in black gave a strange rose to her and immediately left away, leaving Lizette to her journey to the palace. There she continued walking and walking until she found a hatchway towards it. There that maiden, now carrying an oil lamp, entered it and sought ice being covered its the entire path, until she sought again an evil creature wanted to devour her, there she tried to resist until she accidentally poured burning oil with flames against it. There the evil creature was burned and Lizette immediately ran away from it.

As she left the entire place, Lizette finally entered the palace. And with its beautifully created interior she became amazed through it, until the man whom she sought from the window last time appeared and said:

"Is there anything miss?"
Lizette, upon hearing the voice, then looked back and sought him. There she pleaded apologies:
"Sorry sir, I'm sorry for entering here."
"No need." The young man said. "By the way, I am Paul von Clausewitz, and you?"
And Lizette announceth herself:
"I am Lizette Ostrovska."

There he approached her, handed her hand and kissed it. Lizette then felt the warmth of his hand and of the kiss she felt; and said:
"I thought you are mad at me; by the way, why are you alone in this entire place?"
"I don't know why." Paul said. "Back then it was filled with many people around. But then, many people think of me as mad, different for my ideas are different from them; as well as awkward."

Lizette, upon hearing it, then replied:
"But as I look at you, you are not mad, you are not crazy."
"Thanks for that." Paul said. "If you want, you may stay here for now, I made some food from the kitchen."
And Lizette then asked him:
"Where are your servants?"
"Servants?" Paul said. "They're in their quarters, sleeping."
"So why are you still awake then?" Lizette said.
"I prefer awake." Paul said. "Just to think, to write, and to look at the glowing moon and the falling snow around this place."
"How nice." Lizette said.

While eating in the dining table, Paul stared at the maiden eating, Lizette, as she sought him staring, then said:
"Is there anything wrong sir?"
"No..." Paul said. "I'm just amazed at your beauty."
"The next time I see you, perhaps, I will give you a fine dress."
"Really?" Lizette said.
And Paul replied:
"Yes, I will; shall we eat? Here's the beef Stroganoff, I made it for you."
Then he handed over the food to the maiden. There the maiden Lizette enjoyed the food being served, and she said:
"Thanks sir, it tastes delicious."
"No need to say it." Paul said. "For I like to cook aside from writing."
"Oh..." Lizette said. "Ok."

After eating, Paul approached Lizette and he said:
"If you want to come here, my doors are always open especially for you."
"Yes," Lizette said. "I will come and go."
And Paul even gave a white lily to her and said:
"Take this Lizette. This lily reminds of my late wife, She died young."
Lizette, upon recieving the lily, then replied:
"Thanks for this beautiful flower, upon entering here someone gave me a rose."
"A rose?" Paul said.
And Lizette replied:
"Why?"
"Um..." Paul said. "Nothing."
And Lizette bid farewell to the young noble and left away, leaving the man returning to his room.

While at home, Lizette arranged flowers in her vase, there she simply put the lily amongst the flowers being placed in it; but as she wanted to place the beautiful rose, she sought ink dripping from the point of its stalk; there she immediately sought a parchment and wrote poetry in it:

"My mind seemed too low as I stare at the moon
Shining over the town in this night so gloom
Whilst I, alone in this cottage trying to think
Rather than end myself as a freak."

At the same time, Paul was writing a book in his desk, with a quillrose in hand, he wrote a poem to remember the girl he met in his abode:

Luisa

Majestic woman looking over the Neva,
Like a divine goddess, you're open to my heart!
Shining in its vibrant beauty,
as The cold nights gives passion and strength.

So Beautiful -- even in the hardest years
You could withstand all the storms and winds!
With a spirit, immortal, like the Neva,
Come on, to me, unto my heart alone!

My Luisa, remain eternally young!
You may arise the coming day.
Blossom my girl, my beautiful Luisa!
It's an honor to share to me your fate!

Upon writing it, there he simply felt a different emotion towards her; and as he sought the shining moon from the window, he stared then at the poem he wrote and spoke to himself:
"Well...this is just my expression about the woman I met. I don't know why."

The next day,
Lizette went to the palace again, there she was accompanied by the servants into the bathroom where she was given bath and to the bedroom where she was given a beautiful gown made for her. There she felt the beauty being given to her by the servants as the young noble awaits in the stairway. There Paul, in his formal attire of a nobleman, now sought a lady wearing a beautiful white gown and with a tiara on her head, there he said:
"What hath god brought to me!"
"No." Lizette said. "Its me, Lizette!"
Then he handed over her hand to became his partner. With the melodies of the famed musician Gliere being played by a band and a string quartet, the two danced together in the palace ballroom with joy; Lizette became happy as what the nobleman hath gave to her. From a fine dinner consists of curry and sausages being served along with fine red wine to a Faberge egg out of marble, silver as well as studded with diamonds being created as a gift for her. There the maiden Lizette was glad upon recieving it as she said:
"I am happy that you gave me this strange gift."
"You are always welcome." Paul said. "For as I met you, you became a part in my heart."
And Lizette replied:
"Why? Your late wife may likey to become angry for this!"
"No." Paul said. "For she knows what is best for me, and if you look at the portrait of my beloved one, you have the same features as she has."
"Like my hair? My face? My lips?" Lizette said.
"Yes." Paul said. "Including your voice."
And Lizette smiled at him and said:
"I think that is why people think of you as different."
And Paul replied:
"Perhaps."
Then Lizette laughed upon hearing it; while Paul added:
"In fact, this egg I gave to you is originally a gift to my wife before her sudden death. And as I look at you, I am simply remembering my late beloved; and that is why I gave you this as a gift."
And Lizette replied:
"Well...thanks for this beautiful gift you gave to me, aside from this beautiful event."
"You are always welcome." Paul said. "And It's an honour to share to me your fate."

The next day,
Paul, while staying in his palace, heard something outside. There he immediately looked through the balcony and sought people, mostly beggars, trying to enter for alms. There he immediately called the guards to open the gates and he himself will have them sent to the kitchens to eat; there the beggars, upon entering the palace, rejoiced as Paul, in a humble appearance, hath them entered the kitchens where he himself handed bread and bowls of kasha to eat. One beggar knelt for thanks, but Paul hath him stood up and said:
"There's no need to say thanks, for I am nobody."
The beggar, upon hearing it, replied:
"But still, we are thankful for having us given food as alms."

However,
Groups of streltsy then came forth and looking for the young noble Paul continue handing over food to the beggars. There the young noble came forth and asked the sterlets:
"Is there anything wrong?"
"No." The sterlets said. "But you are under arrest for conspiring against the tsar!"
"Me? Conspiring against the tsar?" Paul said. "I don't even think of it! I am simply giving the beggars food and helping them become toilers of the soil; why I should conspire?"
Then the sterlets replied:
"Based on our information given, you belong to a young group of nobles trying to conspire against the tsar, and at the same time, you create propaganda against his majesty!"
"Why I should do it? I am a writer, I am a noble, but I am not a conspirator!" Paul said. "People used to call me crazy, weird, and of stupid, why they wanted to imprison me?"
"Need not to speak!" The sterlets said.
Then Paul stared at his people, and said:
"Even without me, continue helping them! Need not to worry about on helping the oppressed, help them help themselves!"
And with the beggars and the people around as its witnesses, they sought the young noble arrested by the streltsy and being sent to prison by carriage.

The next day, many people were saddened as Paul's imprisonment was heard throughout the entire place, including Lizette as she heard it from a hunter in the woods. Upon hearing it, she replied:
"If he's imprisoned from a crime he didn't commit, then I will save him."
"But you're a girl!" The hunter said.
"It doesn't matter when you are a boy or a girl." Lizette said. "For what I am thinking of is that I want to save him, to save a man who is innocent; or if he is, to a man who is wanted to destroy the system of oppression!"
And thus,
She immediately rushed into the prison, carrying a scythe, and joining with the rebellious peasants in support of freeing the noble who supported them, or rather the maiden's beloved one.

While in prison, Paul was suffered, as he was endured imprisonment and maltreatment. There he felt the uneven sadness since the streltsy hath treated him like a common criminal than a member of the nobility; he tried to be given pen and paper, but the streltsy doesn't give him; he wanted food, but the streltsy also do the same. The agony of the noble man increased as they taunted him severely as well as torturing him for days.

And as the agonies continued in his entire life, being accused of being a conspirator against the tsar; he, out of desperation, wanted to escape from the prison walls and joined with the peasants in destroying the dreaded system involving the tsar and the streltsy, and with a help from a servant who smuggled pen and paper towards his cell, there he wrote poetry in attacking against them:

Pain

My hands are bleeding many times many years
As if like hell that brought me fear
As if like scars bleeding fourth
From a body battered left untold
I am a martyr several times
A martyr of love, an abnormal spine
Being with people whom seeks me for a pain
Like burning me fourth in an eternal flame!

Sheesh!
Like a shit left on someone's door
These whores and bitches! you like to insult me more!
Me a plaything? Might end up in your door
As you being beaten by the one beaten before
Born by pain evermore
Out of scars bleeding fourth
Me set free from secrecy
Born from hell! Killing spree!

Outside, many peasants, beggars, and even the shipmen around joined the ranks of the rebels against the dreaded tsar, the nobility and its streltsy. There they staged protests, throwing oil bombs against the dreaded druzhina horsemen, and even harassing the streltsy on the road! Lizette, now wearing a red beret, maroon kaftan and boots, hath led the army of peasants with her scythe and pistol trying to destroy the menacing foe!

Nighttime,
Lizette, being the leader of the rebels was met by the peasants in the camp. There she was looking at the map in preparation for the attack in the prison in order to liberate the rebellious noble who fell in love with her, as well as the other prisoners inside it. At that time, many peasants wanted to attack the capital in order to topple the tsar and the reaction minded nobility, however Lizette opposed the idea since they have lack of arms to have as well as having a few men to be with. One peasant then asked her:
"Then how can we destroy the tsar? The nobility? The bandit minded druzhina and the streltsy?"
Then Lizette replied:
"By attacking the prison, we will liberate the prisoners as well as carry off the enemy's arms."
The peasant still can't understood what Lizette hath said to him, and the latter finally said:
"Then we will set bombs against them; the more, the greater."
and on the next day,
in preparation for attacking the prison, the peasant rebels hath exploded three petards in its walls, making a hole in order to enter the enemy's abode.

Paul, still in prison, was writing another poem when he heard an explosion outside, there he immediately sought from the window peasants attacking the prison. He was even amazed when he sought Lizette riding on horseback leading them, killing the attacking druzhina horsemen as well as the streltsy who were defending the prison. The guards were in disarray and at the

same time the prisoners renewed their hopes as the peasant rebels advanced through to liberate them. Lizette, in pursuit of finding him, continued to search cell by cell, killing its defenders both by scythe and pistol until she found him. There she fired the lock with her pistol and opened it; and she said:
"Its an honour to be with you again Paul!"
Paul, as he looked at her then bowed and said:
"Its an honour to join with you Lizette."
Then Lizette handed over the pistol to him and replied:
"Here's the pistol sir, you may lead us in the struggle!"
"Sure I will!" Paul said. "For the days they created a mess out of me, then we will create a mess out of them!"
And the two immediately ran away. There the two killed the attacking and retreating enemies one by one and at the same time freeing the prisoners inside, the prisoners; as they looked at them as their new hope, then agreed in joining with them in the struggle against the enemy.

After a series of fighting in the prison and its surrounding places, the enemy end up vanquished as well as retreated; and Paul, as well as Lizette became together again. While in camp, his wounds as well as of other wounded ones were personally tended by the maiden Lizette; and there she gave them care in pursuit of keeping their hopes with them. Paul, upon looking at her caring the wounded, also helped her by assisting in her daily work; Lizette disagreed at first, however she accepted it as Paul continued doing what he supposed not to. As what he said:
"There is nothing wrong in helping you; for I always know is that all are equal."
Then Lizette replied:
"Then you are supposed to be leading in the battlefield against the enemy then."
"I will." Paul said. "But we must always remember that a fighter must also carry different tasks whatever he or she can."
Lizette, upon hearing it, then asked:
"By the way, how can we attack the capital then?"
"I have contacted our men there," Paul said. "But before that, we must concentrate the field, next we will attack the surrounding towns."
Upon hearing it, Lizette then agreed.

And after days, weeks of fighting with the dreaded druzhina and the streltsy, the peasant rebels occupied every town and fortress and at the same time, harassing the enemy on its way; fire and gunpowder swept all over the realm as the Tsar, upon hearing every news, became enraged and felt total fear, and so were the druzhina and the streltsy in pursuit of defending the capital against the rebellious peasants.
Lizette, while in her place, opened a box and looked at the Faberge egg inside. There she grabbed it and opened a surprise inside the egg; there she sought a rotating globe and became amazed in it. Paul, as he went into her room, then approached her looking at the egg's surprise, and said:
"That globe represents the realm of dreams, and this day this realm of dreams will soon be a reality."
"Why?" Lizette said.
"What are we fighting for?" Paul said. "This struggle being set for years against the tsar is also the time when an endless dream must hatch from its egg to become a reality."
At the same time, a messenger came and said:
"Sir, we've captured a fortress on its way towards the capital!"
"How?" Paul said. "That fortress used to be strong, impregnable against the invaders!"
Then the messenger said:
"Our men, disguised as our enemies, immediately overpowered the enemy inside, and they captured pieces as well as raised the banner of our struggle!"
Paul and Lizette then amazed on their act. And the messenger added:
"And another news."
"Tell us." Lizette said.
"Our troops liberated a town, and many peasants offered us bread, grain, freshwater, wine, and salt."
"Good." Paul said. "We will go there."
And thus,
The two immediately went there by troika to meet the liberated peasants. There the people around became happy as they offered them tea and cakes, while the two accepted it. There the young nobleman tasted tea again, and he said to the peasant who offered him:
"Thanks for this hot tea you've been offered to us."
Then the peasant bowed at him and replied:
"It is our honour to offer both of you tea and cakes."
Lizette then smiled and said:
"And we gave you eternal freedom from the servitude of the dreaded tsar, the nobility, the druzhina and the streltsy!
The peasant then smiled and replied:
"Thanks for freeing us; here take some of our cakes."
"No need." Lizette said. "better to give it to everybody."
And the troika left away as the peasant gave cakes to the peasants, and for himself.

Meanwhile, in the capital;
The tsar became enraged as another bad news gave to him; there he hath done his armor, and commanding the entire capital's forces against the rebellious peasants outside. There he hath spoke to his men that:
"Tomorrow there will be no roses blooming in the entire realm!"
And he ordered his men to turn every wall, every tower into a garrison; full of arms and men facing the advancing enemy. At that time, Paul and Lizette was at the old summer palace of the tsars after liberating a town. There Lizette looked at red roses and white lilies blooming in midst of the battlefield, some were stained by the blood of foe and friend as she stared through; and she said to Paul:
"Look at the beautiful flowers, it continues to bloom despite the battlefield we've created."
"Sure." Paul said. "These flowers were the flowers of the struggle; these flowers were grown by the sweat of the servants, the sweat of the peasants; during my life in the palace, I myself tend to grow flowers; and the lily I gave you comes from the gardens I tend and grow these blossoms."
"How about me?" Lizette said.
"You?" Paul replied. "You are the most beautiful flower I had acquired; you are the lily from the woods, the rose of this struggle."
Then Lizette replied:
"Then you are the man destined to pick the flower."
Paul then hugged her whilst Lizette then kissed her in his lips. The two then felt what fate gave them-love; Lizette then asked Paul:
"In most of the girls, why did you chose me?"
"I chose you because..." Paul said. "Aside from your beauty and kindness you have the sense of commitment to the struggle."
"This struggle?" Lizette said.
"Not this struggle." Paul said. "But the struggle we endure for years; and that is why I chose you over the girls simply renowned for their beauty, especially from the same class I had."
"By the way," Lizette asked, "Why did you conspire against the tsar?"
"The tsar was so bad." Paul said. "He used to oppress our family, as well as he treated you as a serf; do you remember when you're still a child? Having the dreaded streltsy forced the peasants into serfdom?"
Lizette then nod upon hearing it, and she replied:
"Yes, especially when my father died our of overwork."
"See?" Paul said. "That is why our struggle is for your father, for the peasants, for the oppressed?"
"Yes." Lizette said. "And with the weapon we carry, we will pay their crime against us."

The next day,
The tsar, still in his palace, was sitting in his throne waiting for the last. A messenger came and saidth to him:
"Your majesty, the enemy is now approaching."
"Where?" The tsar said.
"They're from the north and west." The messenger said. "And they have guns pointed towards our walls."
The tsar then stood up and said:
"Well...go to the bell tower and make a signal for our men to prepare in our last defense."
"Yes, your majesty." The messenger said, along with a bow.
There the enemy hath prepared their defences in its wall and tower, as well as in the palace now becoming a fortress.

However, the people living in its walls were enraged, especially the artisans who were oppressed by the nobles who were given few or no change, as well as the dreaded druzhina and streltsy who made them into slaves; some people also felt being oppressed as they were forced to vacate their houses and their family members, friends were arrested for a cause that they didn't commit. They wanted to escape, but most of them were end up same as the ones who were end up in chains.

Paul at that time, was at his camp as he sought the walls of the capital. There he sought the enemy preparing their last defences against his men; whilst on his camp were the petards being prepared to destroy the walls in order for the men to enter. At the same time, Lizette, now wearing an armor of a female crusader, and having a lily placed in her ear approached
him and said:
"So you are now prepared for the final battle?"
And Paul replied:
"Sure I will; by the way, who made you that armor?"
"The monks gave me this." Lizette said. "That armor is made out of iron and silver; that is why it is white."
Then Paul, as he looked at her with a lily from her ear, then said:
"You look nice when you have that white lily placed in your ear."
And Lizette replied:
"That's my favorite flower, as you like red rose."
"Well..." Paul said. "Let's go out and we'll lead our men."
"Sure," Lizette said. "We will."
And the two went to their horses to command the entire army of oppressed now prepared to attack the capital.

At first, the enemy hath fired their guns against the advancing peasants. There they fired their guns one by one as their enemy continue to approach its walls, however the peasants immediately laid the petards on its walls, and at the same time they lit it; the enemy didn't notice about their action until...

One of their walls exploded and most of them were killed by its blow. The tremendous impact of the gunpowder destroyed one of its tower and walls, and more and more peasant rebels were eager to approach inside; Paul, upon looking at them, raised its horn as a signal for attack! There more and more peasants continued attacking the breached walls of the capital whilst its defenders tried hard to resist them. Bright red blood from both sides now flowing all over the entire realm as scythes and pitchforks clashed with swords, guns against guns, and lastly, classes against classes!

The battle continues as Paul, along with Lizette entered the capital from the breached gates, there its defenders tried to turn every place into a garrison, same as its remaining towers in its walls. Lizette, still with a scythe in hand and a pistol on another, killed many of the dreaded streltsy and the attacking druzhina inside; whilst Paul, with his scimitar and gun in hand, harassed a garrison along with his men in pursuit of entering it. The peasants, in storming the capital for long, were eager to attack the houses where the oppressive nobles lived; there they immediately arrested them all in the name of the struggle; same as the people inside the capital, now risen from its squalor and attacking every detachment of the dreaded druzhina and the streltsy, as well as the prison to set free its innocent captives. The tsar, still staying in its palace, stubbornly defending along with his men the entire palace he stayed for many years, as well as his rule famous for its long oppression.

And as more and more peasants continue to penetrate, Paul's men then stormed the palace with outmost hate; the tsar, still defending, was disrupted by a sterlet and said:
"Your majesty, more and more enemy continue to attack us!"
"No need to say it." The tsar said. "We will still defend this palace for long."
"But..." The sterlet said. "We have more wounded inside our palace, what should we do?"
The tsar, still stubborn, then replied:
"I don't care about the wounded; we must defend the palace even thou they occupied the capital!"
However, outside the peasants hath set a petard in the palace door; there they lit it with a torch until it explode, there many of them immediately attacked the palace to destroy the remnants of the enemy, Paul and Lizette then entered the entire place and sought corpses of streltsy and druzhina around it. The tsar, as he've sought them, then said:
"So are you happy upon looking us dead?"
And Lizette replied:
"We've rather see all of them dead than continue oppressing us!"
"But before you see me die, you must deal me first!"
Along with his sword unscathed.

There the tsar, with his sword in hand, wanted to beat both the maiden and the rebellious noble; Lizette tried to resist as she, with her scythe in hand, tried to overcome the blows given to her; at the same time, Paul received him blows as he could, despite the tsar's resistance. But despite his effort to resist himself, his sword end up perished by Lizette's scythe, and he, defeated and closer to the window near the cliff, fell himself and died. Paul, as he looked at him perished, then said to Lizette:
"That's the last of them, for all of our enemies are perished by the avenging hands of the peasants."

The entire capital was in flames as the battle ended. There Lizette and Paul, as well as the army of peasants sought the entire capital sought the entire place ravaged as flames continue burn, scattered corpses, as well as blood flow staining on its path. And so was outside, as the field were stained both the peasant and the enemy's blood. Lizette, upon staring it, then said to Paul:
"All of my life this is my dream, to end the era of oppression what the tsar made against us."
"True." Paul said. "And this is the time when an endless dream must hatch from its egg to become a reality."

And the peasants rejoiced as they raised their weapon on air, waving the flag of their struggle in the palace once lived the tsar who oppressed them for years; there the young nobleman Paul became tsar, and at the same time ordered to create a duma out of peasant and craftsmen representatives from each town; there he ordered to rebuild the capital, and emancipating the serfs and peasants by decree; Lizette, upon hearing every decree given by the new tsar, then said to him:
"Its good that you changed a tsardom, our realm."
"Thank you." Paul said. "Do you want to become my tsarina?"
And Lizette replied:
"I don't know; at first I need to help the peasants in our community there."
Paul then laughed and he said:
"Well... I can help you-as me."

Weeks passed, the entire tsardom was rebuilt; there Paul, now as a tsar, instituted long term reforms in his realm. There he convened a duma of peasants and guildsmen from each region, emancipated the entire peasantry by decree, given farms for them to till, as well as communes and guilds for them to be organized, Lizette, still a peasant working in the fields, continued working with a scythe in her hand until...

As she finished harvesting the grain, Lizette then returned to her cottage, upon entering her place, he sought Paul and asked:
"Why are you here?"
"Me?" Paul said. "Well...I am here just to ask something."
"What?" Lizette said.
Then Paul approached her, grabbed by the hand and gave something.
"What is this?" Lizette said.
And Paul replied:
"Open it, and you will be amazed."
Lizette then opened it and Voila! A beautiful silver ring; there he said:
"Will you accept this ring and you as my wife?"
"I do." Lizette said. "And I am willing to do both as a tsarina and as your wife."
Then Paul bowed to her and spoke:
"In my hands, I hath offered myself as your spouse."
And thus,
The two embraced and kissed together; as Lizette then wore the ring what Paul gave to her by the new tsar, also the man whom she admired and loved; while Paul felt the kiss coming from a peasant girl who met a young nobleman now a ruler of a vast tsardom.

The next day,
Paul, in his room of the newly rebuilt palace, looked at the shining moon from the window. There he simply wrote a poem in his desk, writing it in remembrance of the maiden he loved, reminiscent of what the famed Suleiman that he even made a version of it:

"Throne of my lonely niche,
my wealth,
my love,
my moonlight.

My most sincere friend,
my confidant,
my very existence,
my tsarina,
and my one only love.

The most beautiful
among the beautiful maidens
I ever met
in my entire life

My springtime,
my merry faced beloved one,
my summer,
my sweetheart,
my winter,
my snow flake.

my sickle,
my hammer,
my foundry and my field
my paper
my pen
my desk where I could think and show

My plants,
my sweet lily,
my red rose,
Blooming from the finest soil
The one that ease my pain in this world

My woman of the beautiful hair,
my love of the slanted brow,
my love of eyes full of mischief,
I'll sing your praises always,
I, lover of the tormented heart,
with eyes full of tears,
I am happy."

While writing it, he simply think of Lizette, and as he continue writing it, tears fell from his eyes. Lizette, at that time, was also staring at the moonlight though the window. In the table, with the rose in hand and with the paper on the other, she wrote a finely made poem in memory of the man he met and love:

"As I look at him, he reminds of a red rose
Blooming in a garden with fine fertile soil
Finely picked amongst the beautiful flowers
That in my entire life I tried and found.

Once with the sickle in my hand
And today with a rose
There I tried and think
To say about the man I have love

I tried to think and say about this
But despite of thinking him I can't say through
But as I remember the features, strength and the kindness
There I hath spoke some word to remember him pure

And as the moonlight as its witness
These are the words I hath describe of him
And the rest will be my affirmation
That the man I hath met is the man that I love."

The next day,
In the garden of the summer palace, the two then met again; Paul, as he sought the maiden Lizette wearing a white gown and said:
"Do you remember me wearing this gown?"
Then Paul replied:
"I remember it, and you look nicer than before."
Lizette then smiled and said:
"Really?"
"Yes." Paul said. "For you are a living lily of my heart."
Along with a smile.
And with a string quartet, the two again danced to the music as the flowers continued blooming along the garden's path.

And after a month of mutual understanding and of amicable friendship; Paul and Lizette, with the sky, nature and people as its witness, were married in the old summer palace. Roses and lilies were in full bloom as the maiden marched whilst the groom awaited; and with the choir sung the first poem for the maiden, many people stared at her in its fine white gown and a bouquet of lilies and red roses; Paul smiled as he stared at her, making the event memorable in their lives.

There the two hath exchanged their rings, wearing crowns, veil and cord; and even had their hands where their rings wore in their fingers then tied together with a cloth while the other, have their fist raised and swore:

“I offer my life to you always
And I will always remember
My love and loyalty to you
Forever and ever.

And I will also offer to god, to country and to my people
Our deepest love, unity, and sympathy,
In spite of sacrifices and hardships we used to be
And thus we promise
Our ambition as couples
Together as one
To the fullest extent of our lives
Forever and ever.”

Many people were rejoiced as Lizette and Paul became husband and wife; and thus, the two; being a joint couple of the crown, lived, same as with the tsardom in peace, for long.

(Fantasia) The Harmonium Player

The Harmonium Player

It was a dark cold night when Paul August Mannerheim went to the garden to play his harmonium. While playing, he simply remembered the days when women used to be with him; however, despite the beauty of the women he've met, none of them found suitable for his inspiration, nor having the sense of friendliness towards him.

Also a hopeless romantic, Paul tried to forget the past by drinking wine while playing is instrument in the tavern, and in response to his music, people taunted him. There the man who dreamed of becoming popular end up being dragged into despair by the laughs and teases of the people around him, until...

A beautiful woman, clad in white came forth in the tavern and had the harmonium player joined with her. Paul, being "redeemed", then stood up and asked her in the garden:
"Miss, why did you do this?"
Then the lady replied:
"Well... I came just to help you."
"Why?" Paul said. "There's no need to help me! You will only laugh at me and my music!"
"No!" the girl said. "For as I listened to your music, you wanted something meaningful, however the past tries to destroy you."
Then Paul, upon hearing what the maiden said to him, simply nod and said:
"You're right, by the way, what is your name?"
Then the girl announceth herself:
"I am Trixie, and you?"
"Well..." Paul said. "I am Paul August Mannerheim."
And Trixie offered her hand to him, and Paul simply accepted her for a handshake.

The next day,
Paul, while playing his Harmonium in the garden, now remembered the girl whom he met in the tavern as well as in the same place he used to play. At the same time, the first snow from the sky fell in midst of darkness, and as Paul continued playing, Trixie, clad in white, then came forth and greeted him:
"Hi!"
"Hello," Paul said. "Is there anything I need to give for you?"
And Trixie replied:
"No, I just like to listen to your music."
"Why?" Paul said.
Then Trixie laughed and said:
"You make me laugh Paul; In fact, I like your music, for it is ethereal."
"Really?" Paul said. "Is it ethereal and calm?"
"Yes," Trixie said. "That is why I like it."
And Paul smiled at her, Trixie, as she looked at him, then replied:
"Why are you smiling?"
"Nope." Paul said. "Except that I like your beauty."
And Trixie joined with Paul by playing her harp in the garden, there their melodies, despite their differences, were infused in midst of the wintry atmosphere in the garden; and Paul, while playing, said:
"You're also a good harp player Trixie."
And Trixie replied:
"Thanks for the compliment."

The two continued playing the instruments until a kid sought them. The kid simply clapped and said:
"How nice both of you!"
"Thanks young one." Paul said. "By the way, why are you here?"
Then the kid replied:
"My mother called me to have you two joined in our dinner."
"Really?" Paul said, then he asked Trixie:
"Trixie, want to join with them?"
"Sure I will." Trixie said.
And Paul replied:
"Both of us will join with you young one."
The kid then smiled and Paul, along with the maiden Trixie, joined with the kid in going to a small hut where the kid's mother prepared food for them.

Meanwhile,
Hordes of infidels came into the entire realm. Valiant warriors fought hard to defend, only to end up killed by the slash of the scimitar; and thus, many corpses of these people, friend or foe scattered in the entire field, while their blood made the fertile soil stained.
Paul, while eating, heard strange noises around. Trixie, as she sought him having a problem, then asked:
"Paul, is there any problem?"
"Nope." Paul said. "But I heard strange noises."
"How?" The kid's mother said.
And Paul replied:
"I heard the noise of war. Clashing swords, noises of warriors."
Then the kid's mother replied:
"Why did you say so?"

Then, outside the cottage, a peasant knocked he door three times. The kid then went to the door and opened it, and the peasant said to the people around:
"The enemy invaded us!"
"The harmonium player's message is true." The kid's mother said. "Let's leave this place."
"No." Paul said. "Let us face them; Trixie, shall we play our music?"
And Trixie replied:
"Yes."
And they played their instruments, creating a sound of sorrow around the entire realm. Many people around heard its melody, and thus they went to the cottage to listen; and most of the people who listen to its melody were the once who used to insult the harmonium player and thus,
After playing, the people around spoke their apologies towards Paul. Paul, upon hearing their apologies, then replied:
"Why I should accept your apologies? Better to wear your armor and fight against the invaders; and to those who survive, then you will be a hero; but to those who died in this sacred war, will enter heaven."
Then A drunkard came and said:
"Why did you say so? Are you a priest? A monk? A bishop?"
Paul, upon hearing it then replied:
"Then why are you apologizing me then?"
The Drunkard didn't speak after what Paul said to him. And at the same time, the people agreed on what the harmonium player said to them.

The next day,
Paul, along with Trixie, walked into the woods to meditate. While meditating, Paul heard sounds of footsteps closer to their place; and he said to Trixie:
"I heard something."
"What sound?" Trixie said.
"Sounds of enemy men waking towards us."
"Then how?" Trixie said.
And Paul replied:
"Then we shall play instead our instrument to this entire place; even life as its price and our souls will enter the gardens of the righteous."

There the two again prepared their instruments and played their music in the woods. The enemies, upon hearing the melody, then searched until they found the two playing their instruments in the woods. They immediately cornered them and the commander of the infidels, with scimitar in hand, came forth and said:
"How beautiful the melody is. What kind of song is it?"
Then Paul said.
"That song is our requiem."
The commander laughed and said:
"Why did you say so?"
"For that is the melody of our fallen." Paul said. "And tonight we will die together."
The commander, upon hearing it, became irritated and said:
"Then before that, both of you will die!"
And he immediately raised his scimitar, ready to kill him; Paul and Trixie continued playing until...

The angel of death came forth to stop them, and he said to the commander in its shrilling voice:
"If you kill the harmonium and the harp player, you will end up dead before reaching your path."
The commander became chilled upon hearing the voice of that being, that even his scimitar fell down from his chilled hand; there he immediately called for a retreat and all of them immediately ran away. Paul and Trixie then gave thanks to the angel of death with a bow, and said:
"Thanks. By the way, what makes you come here?"
Then the angel of death replied:
"I came forth to bring a message for you."
"From whom?" Trixie said.
"From god." The angel of death said. "For he witnessed your melodies being played in this realm."
And he handed over the scroll to the harmonium player. Paul, upon reading it, became glad and said to the angel of death:
"Tell him that thanks for the message given to me."
And the angel of death replied:
"I will."

The two, along with the angel of death, then left away to look at the fields. There Paul and Trixie sought corpses of enemies scattered around the entire field, and as they looked into it, Paul walked towards the field, knelt and pray. While Trixie stood with the angel of death and asked:
"What makes him go there and pray?"
"I don't know." The angel of death said. "But I always know that his sorrow is thrusted into his soul."
"Right I know." Trixie said. "And I always look at him in a sorrowful, emoting manner despite that he often smiled, laughed and even happy along with me."
And the angel of death replied:
"Well... his past experiences made him sad that is why."
Paul, still kneeling in the corpse of the fallen, continued praying for the souls of his people. And after praying, Paul sought Trixie and the angel of death beside him. There Paul asked Trixie, the harp player:
"Shall we play?"
And Trixie replied:
"Sure!"
And the two then readied their instruments and played together, the angel of death, at the same time, readied his drum and joined in playing it. After playing, Paul then look at Trixie, and said:
"Thanks for being with me Trixie; and as I look at you, I would say that..."
"Tell me." Trixie said.
And Paul finally replied:
"I would say that, I love you."

Trixie, upon hearing what Paul said, then replied:
"I always know that you wanted to be with me, and so am I; for as we meet each other, I am deeply admired by your calm despite of your emotion. And now, you have found a person suitable to be with."
"Which means that..." Paul said. "Do you love me?"
"Yes." Trixie said. "And I love you."
And Paul, along with Trixie, then stood up, approached and finally, kissed together. The angel of death, as he looked at them, said to the two:
"That is what I am thinking of both of you."
"Thanks for that." Paul and Trixie replied.

The next day,
Paul and Trixie were married in an abandoned church. With the heavens, nature, and the people as its witness, the two exchanged their rings,and had their hands where their rings wore in their fingers then tied together while the other, have their fist raised and swore:

“I offer my life to you always
And I will always remember
My love and loyalty to you
Forever and ever.

And I will also offer to god, to country and to my people
Our deepest love, unity, and sympathy,
In spite of sacrifices and hardships we used to be
And thus we promise
Our ambition as couples
Together as one
To the fullest extent of our lives
Forever and ever.”

After the ceremony, the two finally became husband and wife, and they lived for many years longer.

(Fantasia) Iskender e Rizza The story of the writer and the devil's daughter

Iskender e Rizza
The story of the writer and the devil's daughter




I

It was a cold afternoon when a writer went his room to meditate, there he simply sat in his chair and closed his eyes to reflect himself for his doings, that handsome man, living in a field not far in the village, used to be with a company of women, however he thinks that the women doesn’t like him, and thus he simply stop being with them and staying alone in his room as if as a prisoner. Due to the fact that he had a beautiful wife who died of illness, leaving him alone.

At the same time, there was a woman, a beautiful woman known for her devilish kind of beauty. Many men in the village like her, however she didn’t like them even the most handsome man ought to do to be with her, many people called her, whose name is Rizza, as a “devil” because of her beauty that as if came from hell, despite that she had a human heart being a daughter of a beautiful sorceress and a devil. Even the priest in a nearby parish church called her a “Succubus” due to the devilish charm that as if enchants men to their deaths, but the maiden simply disregard the words spoke against her, however, the people upon hearing the rumours that she charmed men to their deaths, as well as known that she is a daughter of a devil, wanted to arrest her and be sentenced to death, and thus, she immediately left away.

One day, the writer, carrying a pen and a book, went to the forest. While walking, he went to a nearby river for a drink of fresh water flowing, upon drinking and washing his own face and hands, he heard strange noises around the woods; there he tried to find it, following the sound until he saw a group of three women bathing in the bottom of the waterfalls. One of them, as what the writer saw, is the most beautiful since she carried a seductive charm into it; there the writer simply hid himself as he continuously sought the beautiful women bathing in the cool waters.
The women, at that time, were talking as they washed their bodies and their hair in the waters, one of them, whose name is Cassandra spoke to her friend:
“I like a man whose body makes him strong, how about you Amanda?”
“Me?” Amanda said. “I prefer a man whose handsome charm can relieve my pain away!”
Then, pointing at the last, she said:
“How about you Rizza? What is your ideal person to be with?”
“The ideal person to be with?” Rizza said, “Um…I can’t explain it, it’s too difficult to find a man who can be with, many boys like me, but I don’t like them.”

The writer simply heard the words spoken by these girls as he continues looking at them while hiding in the bushes in the forest; it was midnight at that time, and he thinks that the girls might be fairies, spirits of the woods bathing in their abode, then he immediately left away to avoid being seen by them. At home, the writer, whose name is Iskender, simply stared at the walls and the ceiling of his abode after staring at the beautiful girls bathing in the river, there he immediately drawn in a piece of paper using his own pencil to describe the features of the women he have seen in the night; while drawing, the writer grew tired, and he fell asleep.

The next day,
Iskender, noticing that he fell asleep, woke up and he sought his drawings in a sheet of paper, the drawings he have made are exactly the same as the ones he have seen in the forest last night, and thus he simply placed it along with the papers he wrote. After organizing the papers, he went to the bathroom, there filled the tub with hot and warm water, unclothe himself and dipped in the tub to cleanse himself.

While cleaning, Iskender simply listened to the sound of the chirping birds and smelling the sent of jasmine oil perfumed in his soap, there he also tried to clear his mind as he reflect while bathing in his tub, in preparation for his writing.

At the same time,
Rizza, while walking alone in the roadside, heard strange noises in the field, and thus she tried to look for it, looking for the place where the sound coming from, until she found a house where someone lived. Iskender, newly cleansed from his bath and clothed, heard the door of his house being knocked three times, and thus he went there to open it, and as he opened the door, he sought a girl wearing scarlet and black, whose face reminds of the girl he have seen in the woods, and he said:
“What is your name? Why are you here? You have any appointment?”
And the girl said:
“Me? My name is Rizza, and I am sorry that I came to your house for I heard noises around the field until I reached yours.”
“Rizza…” Iskender said, “I heard that name, is that a name of a spirit in the wilderness?”
Then Rizza laughed, and she said:
“There is no such thing is a spirit of the wilderness, but rather a spirit coming from hell!”
“A succubus?” Iskender said.
“Yes!” Rizza replied, along with a wink of an eye.
And Iskender, still looking at the seductive face of the maiden, said:
“Well…come in.”
And Rizza went inside.

Inside, Rizza sought scattered papers in his house, along with books as well as books in his desk, Iskender then said to her:
“Sorry for my house, very messy.”
At the same time, she found a drawing Iskender hath made, and she said:
“Are you also the one who drawn this?”
“Yes.” Iskender said. “Why?”
“This drawing reminds of the time we bathe in the river last night.” Rizza said. “So you’ve see us bathing?”
“No…” Iskender said, “It comes out from my mind.”
And Rizza smiled at him.
At the same time, Iskender prepared some tea for her, and he said:
“Want some tea?”
“No need.” Rizza said.
“No need…no need…” Iskender said. “I prepared the tea just for you! Here, take it!”
Then Rizza simply accepted the glass of tea and drink. And as she tasted the sweet tea out of jasmine, tea leaves, and honey, she said:
“How delicious your prepared tea is!”
“Then you will reject it?” Iskender said. “I know you will like the tea I have made Rizza.”
And they both laughed.

But Iskender didn’t notice that the girl he met is the devil’s daughter. As he, at the same time, went to his desk and prepared papers to write, while Rizza, still in the house, looked at him writing, and she said:
“What are you writing?”
“Me?” Iskender said. “I am writing a story.”
“Oh! Okay.” Rizza said.
Then Iskender continued writing, there he released his thought on his writings, Rizza, still looking at the man who is writing, asked:
“Iskender, what makes you inspire to write stories?”
“Me?” Iskender said. “The field around here; it gives imagination as I looked the entire place around it, especially the night.”
“Really?” Rizza said. “I like nighttime.”
And they laughed. Iskender then asked her:
“Rizza, will you please help me in my work?”
“Ok…” Rizza said.
And there the devil’s daughter helped the writer in his work, since she used to proofread Iskender's works as well as his poetry while Iskender continue writing.

II

The next day,
Iskender, while writing, fell asleep. While sleeping, he dreamed of wandering a forest near his place, upon wandering, he heard a voice calling him; there he tried to find it until he sought a female devil, with a beautiful devilish look and thus likely for him to run away, there as he run, the devil chased him until he reached home, there Iskender sought a flash of light that lead to his wake.

Upon waking up, Iskender sought again the papers, there he thinks that the devil he had seen, the drawing he had made, and the girl he met is almost the same! There he immediately drank an absinthe and afterwards he went outside alone. It was a dark cold night then.

While wandering outside, he sought a gnome, along with his two pet pigs, begging for food. Iskender, out of his mercy towards the gnome, gave three yams for him. There the gnome became happy and said:
“Thanks for your kindness stranger.”
Iskender, upon hearing it, said:
“You are welcome.”
Then he left away, the Gnome, and his pet pigs, eating the boiled yams Iskender gave him, sought the man and wanted to help him, as Iskender, still wandering, wanted to think continuously regarding the dream he sought, and as he walk in the road, rain and storm came. And he ran away, seeking a shelter for the rain and storm prevailing. As he seek a shelter in midst of the storm, Iskender, running, was slipped into the mud, lead, and a bolt of lightning from the sky pointed to him, likely to strike its fatal blow. Iskender, looking at the sky, prayed:
“Oh god! Help me!”
While praying, he closed his eyes as the sky remained hostile to him. At the same time, the gnome, upon looking at the man who gave yams, came fourth as well as his pet pigs and helped him, and as he recovered Iskender, he said:
“I saw you in the muddy roadside, and so I help you out.”
“Thanks sir.” Iskender, barely stood up, replied.
“You’re welcome.” The gnome replied. “I am here guarding the entire way, if you want, you may come to my place if you want help.”
Then Iskender smiled at him and said:
“Well, in fact, I wanted to know about this.”
Then he put out a pencil and paper and drawn a girl. The girl he has drawn is same as Rizza, and after drawing it, he said:
“Here.”
And the gnome said:
“That girl…she is a succubus, however, she is a daughter of a devil and a human, that girl is named….”
“Who?” Iskender said.
“Um…I forgot her name.” The gnome said. “But I recognize her looks.”
“Well…thanks sir.” Iskender said.
“No need to call me sir.” The gnome replied. “Call me Naning.”
“Well…Thanks Naning.” Iskender said.
And e left away, waving the old gnome and the pigs goodbye. The rain then stopped as the writer left away.

As he walked towards the grotto near the river, there Iskender, wearing soiled clothes after being slipped in the deep mud, sat in a rock and looked at the tall trees in the grotto. While sitting and looking at the trees, he closed his eyes, and meditating.

At the same time,
Rizza, wandering in her lowly shack in the woods, was thinking about the writer Iskender. Upon thinking of him, she tried to resist her feelings as she, being a devil’s daughter, wanted him as an offering to the abyss, and like the vampire, she is been destined to sip the blood of the victim, and that victim is also the one she wanted to save from that kind of fate.

There she also made a spell, in pursuit of protecting the man she wanted from harm. Outside, the wolves howled and the ravens flew, as Rizza wrote the spell and a drawing in a parchment. Iskender, after meditating in the grotto, returned home immediately. As he opened the door, he sought Rizza sitting in the chair he used to. There he said:
“Rizza, why are you here?”
“I am here to be with you.” Rizza said.
“Why?” Iskender replied. “Is there anything wrong?”
“I tried to tell it.” Rizza said. “But…”
“Is there anything that binds you from not saying it?” Iskender said.
And Rizza replied:
“No, but my mind doesn’t want to say it towards you.”
“Well then…” Iskender said. “You may stay here for tonight.”
And Rizza stood up from the desk, came towards the writer and hugged him. There Iskender felt again the seduction of the Succubus, as if like flames blazing forth from within; while Rizza, upon embracing him, tried to stop the attempt of biting his neck to draw blood, and instead, feeling the heartbeat of the lonely writer.

III

The next day,
Iskender, newly wakened from his sleep, sought Rizza from the kitchen cooking for their food. There he went through and said:
“What are you cooking?”
“I’m making Gulyás and Pilaf.” Rizza said:
And as he looked at the food she preparing, he said:
“Looks delicious for me and even you.”
And she looked at him, and said:
“Well…I tried to do this just for you.”
And Iskender replied:
“Ok.”

And he went to his desk to continue writing his story he made. While writing, he, as he sought the succubus, tried to resist his feelings towards her, but then, his heart continues to beat out of emotion coming from the maiden. And thus, instead of writing a story, he wrote a poem:

“How beautiful the maiden I have seen
So beautiful like the stars glowing
As if like a fairy came to me so enchanting
In the shack amongst the green

Her beauty reminds of my loved one
Died from the a tragic past
Despite the anomalies that trying to break us
I tried to forget, but fate tries to bind

And as we meet with the maiden I have sought
And thus likely to be remembered
From every story to every drawing I have drawn
I, marred by loneliness, in the end made me with joy.”

After writing it, he looked at Rizza, and then he quickly kept it; in his desk amongst the papers. Rizza, as she prepared the meal, then called him:
“Iskender, the food is ready!”
And Iskender stood up and went to the dining table where the food is been served. There the two sat down and ate the meal.

While eating, Rizza asked Iskender:
“Iskender, as you looked at me, do you think you like me?”
Then Iskender said:
“At first, I tried to resist for I tried to remain alone after my wife died, but then, I felt that I like you.”
“Really?” Rizza said.
“I don’t know.” Iskender replied.
Then Rizza smiled at him. Iskender also smiled at her in response.

IV

Meanwhile, in Dzehennem,
Rizza’s father, the devil Shimeyal, tried to get in touch with his daughter, since he got used to quarrel with her daughter. At that time, Džehennem, a part of hell, was in distress, since the army of darkness, led by Tvrtko, attacked the place. There Shimeyal and his warriors tried to resist them, but in vain. And thus he dragged his half human daughter to the realm of men in order for the rites of passage she hath been through, despite her daughter’s opposition.

While in his hall, Shimeyal, looking at the hallway, was marred by the noises around it. At the same time, a servant came to him and said:
“Master, your daughter is here!”
“Let her come.” Shimeyal said.
And thus Rizza came forth and asked her father:
“It seemed that the entire realm is in distress.”
“Yes.” Shimeyal said. “That is why I need you here!”
“Why did you say so?” Rizza said. “Is this my will? Or your will?”
And Shimeyal replied:
“That is for your own good.”
“Perhaps, this not for my own good.” Rizza said. “But for your own good.”
Then she left away. Leaving Shimeyal, and the servant in the hallway.

Rizza, upon leaving Džehennem, wanted to return to her shack outside the dreaded place. Upon going to her shack, she saw Iskender wandering around the woods, and thus she approached him and said:
“Why are you here Iskender? What bids you to come to the forest?”
“Me?” Iskender said. “I am here just to be with the trees, and you?”
“Me?” Rizza said. “I am returning to my home.”
“From where?” Iskender said. “From Dzehennem?”
Rizza froze upon hearing the word what Iskender hath said, but then, she replied:
“No… I came from the mountains, searching for wild herbs.”
Then Iskender smiled at her, and said:
“Well…I thought you’ve been there Rizza.”
And Rizza spoke to him:
“Want to show my place Iskender? You may have a rest in my place.”
And Iskender said:
“Well…I feel tiring, ok.”
Then she joined him in going to her shack, upon entering the place, Iskender sought anything woody. Different from his place which is out of daub and wattle; he even sought figures of pentagrams as well as mysterious drawings in the place. Rizza, upon seeing Iskender looking at the place, said:
“Looks different isn’t it?”
“Yes.” Iskender said, and he asked Rizza:
“Rizza, so you used to practice witchcraft?”
“I wanted to.” Rizza said. “But I will use it for good.”
“Well…” Iskender said. “As I look at you, that is what you are, you aren’t into black magic, if you are practicing it, and you simply change its purpose.”
And Rizza replied:
“Yup. And I am trying to.”
Along with a wink to him, and she said:
“Well…you may rest here, here’s the couch, and you may lie there if you want to.”

There Iskender, upon looking at it, simply went to the couch and lie himself. While Rizza then preparing something in her room, creating potions out of the wild herbs she acquired, Iskender then rested in Rizza’s shack, not knowing that the girl also went to the dreaded Dzehennem!

V

There are unexpected events that happened, that leads to the separation of the amity of the two. At first, Rizza became jealous as Iskender was with another girl, there she became angry, as she said:
“Why are you with her?”
Then Iskender, as he heard the angry voice of Rizza, then had the girl be left and spoke to Rizza:
“She is my friend, what’s wrong with you?”
And Rizza said:
“I am jealous as what I have seen you with that girl!”
Then Iskender, in an annoying voice, spoke to Rizza:
“Then be jealous then, are we together?”
And Rizza replied:
“No!”
Then she left away, leaving Iskender alone and going back to his shack.The second event seemed same as the first, as Rizza, upon staring Iskender’s work, made a scribble of it, Iskender, upon noticing what she had done, gone angry and said:
“What are you doing to my works?”
“Nothing.” Rizza said. “Why?”
“You are destroying my works!” Iskender said. “What’s wrong with you?”
Then Rizza replied:
“I have nothing done wrong Iskender; perhaps you have done wrong with me!”
Then Iskender said:
“What is why you do this?”
Then Rizza replied:
“Whatever!”
Along with a foolish tease at him.
Then she left away. Leaving him and his works she destroyed.

But the worst part seemed too serious, as Rizza and Iskender, both drunk in the tavern, went to a nearby inn where the keeper, upon noticing at two, looked at them as weird people. As the two went in one of the rooms, Rizza trying to seduce him, stared at Iskender, and said in a drunken manner:
“Iskender, I think that I need to do this.”
“Why?” Iskender said.
“I can’t say it.” Rizza said. “But I need to.”
Iskender tried to resist as Rizza tried to do it, but then, he became groggy and fell down at the bed. Rizza, being drunk at that time, found opportunity to do it as she simply wanted to make him feel exhausted being a succubus from hell. There she
simply lies on to him in the bed and caressing his body. Iskender, still sleeping dreamed and heard the maiden’s voice like a siren, trying to seduce him. However, as he recognized the girl, whose same appearance as Rizza’s, a succubus, he woke up totally and looked at Rizza, preparing to bite his neck to sip his blood, and thus he immediately rose and said angrily:
“Are you trying to give me nightmares and sipping blood like a vampire?”
Then Rizza said:
“No! I am not trying to give nightmares against you! I am simply being with you in the bed!”
“As I look at my dream, you are a succubus, isn’t it?”
Then Rizza, upon hearing Iskender’s word, then confessed:
“Yes. I am a succubus; I am the devil’s daughter what the people said to me. I came from the dreaded Dzehennem as what you have told me. In fact, I do this as a rite of passage, however as I look at you, I tried to restrain myself and not to do it. However, my mind tells me to do this!”
Then Iskender said:
“Get out of here Rizza! Get out of here!”
Then Rizza immediately get out of the room. Leaving Iskender alone and in anger as he found the truth regarding the girl he have met. He even remembered the times she insulted him many times that led to it, and as he found the truth, there his
interpretation about her changed up.

A week later,
Rizza went to Iskender’s shack, trying to forgive him. at that time, Iskender was writing in his desk, as he sought Rizza approaching through the window, he immediately closed the doors and even the windows of his house. Rizza, as he sought the house being closed, shouted:
“Sorry Iskender for doing this! Sorry for insulting you many times!”
Iskender, upon hearing Rizza’s voice outside, then replied:
“Will you please get out of my place! I’m so tired of your insults and your messages! Please, for the sake of peace, leave!”
Then Rizza said:
“That is why I am saying sorry for doing this! What’s wrong with you?”
And Iskender opened the door and approached her outside, there he said with his hand pointed at her:
“You are the one who is doing wrong not me! You are doing what the people from the dreaded Dzehennem used to do towards people here isn’t it? You want to destroy me? Fine!”
There Rizza became humiliated with the words Iskender hath said, and she replied:
“Well… that is you then, you are contented with being alone!”
“Yes.” Iskender said. “I’d rather being alone than to be with you, so please, get out or I will call the people!” pointing at the road for her to leave.
And Rizza simply left away, leaving Iskender in anger, however, as he returned back in his shack, he wept quietly as he made this act out of being angry towards the girl whom he wanted. But then, he tried to forget her, and so was Rizza, in forgetting him.

Two months after the event,
Iskender and Rizza had separate ways, there Iskender continue writing stories and telling tales to children in the village, while Rizza still performing spells in her shack in the woods, writing poetry in her desk, and still not returning to Dzehennem. Iskender, though countless work and in a state of melancholia, tried to forget Rizza while Rizza also tried to forget Iskender, however she even wanted to accept her forgiveness to him as she tried to.

A week after, Iskender, while sleeping was awakened by a strange sound outside his shack, there he simply got up and thus, sought Rizza again in the field, and he asked her from the door:
“Why are you trying to be here? To insult me again?”
“I am here again just to apologize for what I have done.” Rizza said.
And Iskender simply replied:
“Forget me then, for I need to go back to sleep.”
Then he looked back in his place. However, Rizza immediately approached him, slapped in his face, and said:
“So is this what you want?”
Then she kissed him totally in the lips, there Iskender can’t resist the luscious lips and the seductive kiss of the devil’s daughter. After kissing him, Iskender then wiped off his lips in front of Rizza, and returned to his shack, leaving Rizza alone, and she simply left away.

The next day,
Iskender, in a tavern, drank mead many times and listening Sevdah music being played by an accordion player, a trumpeter and a drummer; trying to forget the girl he wanted to be with and the event happened yesterday. But then, despite his attempt to forget, the memories of the devil’s daughter remained still, as her presence remains in his mind, the kiss he felt, even murmuring her name too. And as he went to the grave of his late wife, Fe, he, being drunk, tried to reflect, but as he
reflects, the ghost of his wife appeared to him, and she said:
“Why are you so sad my beloved?”
Iskender surprised as he heard the voice and even the appearance of his fallen wife, and he said:
“I tried to forget the girl whom I wanted to.”
“Why? Is there something wrong for her?” Fe said.
“Me? Yes.” Iskender said. “For that girl humiliated me totally so much, she is really a devil’s daughter!”
Then Fe spoke to him:
“Does she try to apologize to you?”
“Yes.” Iskender said. “But then she destroyed me much, and thus it seemed too difficult to accept her apology, instead, I’d rather see her in infamy!”
There Fe, upon hearing her husband’s words, then said to him:
“Iskender my beloved, don’t let your anger burst and drown totally on her. Accept her apology instead, for I know that deep inside you like her despite being a devil’s daughter as you have said. Perhaps, she has a human heart that is why, so please,
just for me, accept her apology?”
And Iskender spoke to her:
“Before I accept it, she need to be human like us to do it, perhaps, even she can so it apologizing many times with a mark of being a devil’s daughter on her, it may never erase in my heart because of what had done to me.”
“Well Iskender,” Fe said. “You have the point, to be human than to be a demon only to apologize you because of her deed. And I know that it can be difficult for her, I hope that your anger will ease away, just for the sake of a lasting peace.”
Then she kissed him and disappeared. Iskender then said:
“Fe, Where are you? I need you!”

Meanwhile,
The people, upon noticing the appearance of the devil’s daughter desperately walking in the roadside, immediately cornered and caught her. After her capture, the people immediately sent her to the cemetery where a shallow pit, which the people
called as a grave, awaits her to be buried. The people simply insulted her many times and one of them slapped the suffering girl in the road, along with the words being shouted towards her: “Slut!” “Devil’s daughter!” And the worst word being said
directly at her by an old lady: “Bitch!”

And as they enter the cemetery and its awaiting grave, Rizza, now chained by the angry mob, wept as the people around continue to insult her. At first, she was sent to a magistrate, where he immediately sentenced her to death in absentia by burying her alive, followed by a priest who sprinkled her many times with holy water and speaking with prayers. After the ritual, the people immediately dragged her to the pit, where they simply pushed her and being hurled with stones. There she felt being totally humiliated as the people bury and at the same time, hurled her with stones as if Mary Magdalene is been punished by the people before intervened by the Christ!

The people continuously doing it until the pit hath end up filled, there lies Rizza being buried alive, but then, a group of stay wolves came fourth and digging at the grave, upon digging, a hand totally appeared scaring off a wolf away while others continuously doing it, until it became bit shallow that the girl, still alive, tried to release from the grave! The wolves, upon looking at the “risen”, became scared and ran away, and thus, Rizza, newly rose from the grave, removed off dirt from her dress and walked out of the cemetery, only to return to her shack in the woods.

Upon approaching her shack, she sought nothing but its charred remains as the people burned it, at the same time, the demons, at the request of her father, Shimeyal, forcibly fetched her, but despite her opposition, the demons forced her to return to Dzehennem and thrown at her place, after Shimeyal hath slapped at her face and reprimand her severely:
“Rizza, you simply didn’t do what I told you so! You are simply Dumb! as stupid as your mother! Go to your room before I kill you!”
Rizza was shocked upon hearing it, and Shimeyal ordered the guards to send her to her room. There the demons sent her forcibly to her room, and locked her totally. Shimeyal, as he looked at her daughter being forced to go in her room, tried not to speak, as he, sitting in his throne, sipping a glass of wine and looking at the ceiling of his hall, trying to forget anything.

But then,
As the demons in Dzehennem are in their “peace”, another battle will rise forth against them.

VI

Iskender was writing in his desk in pursuit of forgetting Rizza. There he made a poem, and there it goes:

“As I looked upon you
You have a deep sense of beauty
Like red roses and white lilies
Blooming in the abandoned cemetery

However, anything changed
You give me humiliation
You change my idea
And gives another interpretation

You remained poison to my eyes,
A devil in my shadow
A nightmare in my dream
A sadness and a sorrow

Then you will likely to apologize
Since you used to insult me
But still my anger burst its pressure
I'd rather see you in infamy

I feel the pain what's inside
I can't bear it totally
I may likely not to forgive you
Since you give me an idea to condemn

I guess...
You cannot revive eternal friendships
Until the person you insulted is dead!”

Upon writing it, he wept as tears fell in his work; however, he tried to restrain himself and went to his kitchen to prepare a cup of tea, while preparing, an unexpected visitor came forth.

Tvrtko, leader of the army of darkness, came in Iskender’s shack and thus wanted the suffering man to join with his crusade. There he said:
“Are you Iskender Bukanovic?”
“Yes.” Iskender said. “And why? You will send me to hell?”
“Yes.” Tvrtko said. “But not as a punishment, but to help me destroy them.”
Then Iskender replied:
“Why I should join the army of darkness? Why I should join with you? I felt so sad and weary after the devil’s daughter insulted me much.”
“Then that’s the point!” Tvrtko said. “Grab the opportunity by destroying the vestiges of hell by the army of darkness!”
Iskender, upon hearing the words stated, then stood up and said to him:
“I will, for I am willing to join to the army of darkness! Give me a weapon, give me armour, and give me horse to lead your men!”
And thus,
Tvrtko smiled at him and he said:
“It is good that you joined with us in destroying the armies of hell, I’ll give you immediately armour and a horse.”
“How about a sword?” Iskender said.
And Tvrtko replied:
“Naning the gnome will give you a Baiwan sword to you.”

Then he went outside, Naning, wearing armour, sought Iskender, and he said:
“Here’s the sword Iskender, take it, for you will also lead the entire army of darkness against the armies of hell!”
Then he acquired the sword and spoke to Naning:
“Thanks for joining with me. Perhaps, it is true that all gnomes are willing to help people with kind heart!”
“I will always help you Iskender.” Naning replied. “For I know that you are a victim of being heartbroken, let your anger be released in killing the demons as you enter the gates of Dzehennem!”
“I will Naning…” Iskender said. “I will...”
Then he rode on horseback along with Tvrtko and Naning to the place where his men await him. Another battle in Dzennem hath been set-a battle to end the reign of hate by hate!

And thus,
Iskender, along with Tvrtko and Naning, went to Džehennem with an army of five hundred warriors, whom they called as the Army of Darkness, and even the people where they wanted to destroy the devils, were setting another war against the inhabitants of Dzehennem! There the demons unexpectedly being attacked as the entire forces crushed as they enter their abode, Shimeyal, upon hearing the unexpected attack of the enemy, enraged and immediately brandished his sword, there he called forth his forces to defend his realm at all costs!

VII

Upon entering Dzehennem, Iskender, along with Tvrtko and the army of darkness resisted the demons that attacked the entire group. With his Baiwan sword, he simply slashed or stabbed them despite the injuries given. Meanwhile, Rizza, in her room, simply sat in her desk, awaiting the judgement given to by her father. There she continuously wept as she felt being humiliated on all sides, by his father and his blood, and by Iskender and the people. She even attempted to do suicide as a solution.

Before attempting to do it, she wrote a suicide poem:

"Darkness binds me since I was young
Fuelled by the flames of hell
But then there is some light inside my heart
But then it can’t tell

I tried to seek for peace and friendship
But then all end up lost
For the blood that I have carried
Is what the cause that I carried most

I tried to be renewed, but fate deserves me here
Being a daughter of a devil, and a daughter of man
I tried to set free, but fate deserves me closed
Being disenfranchised for months, hated for years

And thus as the waxing moon rises
I bid myself to sacrifice
I need to gave up my life
In exchange for total freedom that awaits me."

And after writing it, she prepared a dagger to slash her wrist. Upon setting it, the noise outside her room disrupted her, as the army of darkness, under Iskender, continuously fought against the denizens of hell, upon fighting, he said to his men:
“All demons must die at all cost, let fire bust through amongst them, let Dzehennem be their eternal graveyard!”
And the army of darkness enjoyed as they fought the demons out. Shimeyal, as he fought back against the enemy led by Tvrtko and a new leader named Iskender, tried to resist as the enemy continuously advance through the entire place. Flames also bursting as the people also joined the fray, carrying torches to set fire in its foundations. Rizza, as she sought the event through the window, gave up the attempt by throwing off the dagger from her hand, and kicked the door many times to escape
from her cell. There she sought Iskender and his army of darkness fighting against the demons in the hallway, while Shimeyal tried to resist as he killed some of the enemies attacking him. But the people again sought her, and one of them said:
“You again? Newly risen from the grave ah? Kill her!”
Then the people attacked, cornered and beat her many times trying to make her a pile of flesh. However, Rizza, despite the fatal wounds she acquired from another lynching, tried to recover as the people, trying to lynch her out, were marred by the attacking demons and the people turned instead to them, thinking that the devil’s daughter is dead.

As the war goes on, Iskender killed many demons in the field, along with his men. However, Tvrtko, as he fought with Shimeyal, end up mortally wounded as the enemy thrust him in his right shoulder, Tvrtko, despite the wounds he acquired, tried to beat him by slashing the evil Shimeyal in his chest. There the evil also acquired a fatal pain, but then, a demon, as he sought the fighting scene between his master and the enemy, threw his spear, and plunged at the back of the enemy.

There Tvrko again suffered, this time it is seriously fatal, and Shimeyal finally behead him by the swish of his sword. Iskender, as he fought the demons continuously, sought his ally behead, there he ran towards the dreaded Shimeyal and said:
“You killed him right? Then kill me now!”
And Shimeyal, with his anger bursting, attacked him. Iskender resist the beat of the devil using his Baiwan sword. As well as slashing the enemy on the shoulder and in the arms. Fire burst through in the battlefield as the army of darkness, as well as
the people still kept on burning the entire place with their torches as well as killing demons on its way. Rizza, as she tried to leave the scene despite her wounds, sought her father and Iskender fighting. There she stopped, lying in the ground and instead of shouting, became quiet as a sort of her temporary rest.

The fighting between Iskender and Shimeyal became fatal as Iskender, badly wounded, tried to resist the devil Shimeyal in the grounds of Džehennem, as he tried to beat the devil using the Baiwan sword, he was knocked by Shimeyal by his right fist, leaving him in temporary unconsciousness, Rizza, at the same time, was lying in the ground as she felt the pain coming from the enemy’s blow with blood flowing after she’s been beaten by the people. But upon Iskender, totally suffered, she tried to help him by invoking a spell to dispel from the slash coming from her father. There Iskender, with his eyes barely opened, witnessed as he sought the girl invoking prayers, while the devil Shimeyal raised his sword trying to wish to decapitate him.
There Iskender gained strength and shouted before the devil hath set:
“Die monster!”
Then he thrust his sword to the demon’s chest, fatally as it reached the heart. There Shimeyal felt the fatal wound, a real fatal wound given to him, the army of darkness, as they kept on fighting demons, sought the event, and some of them immediately threw their spears to the suffering demon. Thus, Shimeyal, lord of the demons in Dzehennem, died. Many people rejoiced as the devil end up dead, however, Iskender, as he looked at the corpse, tried to stood up, despite the wounds he acquired from the battle. And as he sought Rizza, he tried to approach her, only to fell down upon reaching the maiden. Rizza, as she sought Iskender, approached her and cradled him in her knees. There she wept as she looked at the fallen Iskender, lying in her knees, and said:
“I am sorry for the things I have done for you, I felt the punishment what fate gave to me.”
At the same time, the people, carrying lit torches, axes, hatchets, and scythes, looked at the suffering maiden, known by themselves as the devil’s daughter and the man in which lying. And instead of lynching her back, they simply left away, at the same time, a shaft of light appeared, and angels, clad in black came fourth to fetch Iskender, leaving Rizza in Dzehennem As well as the devil Shimeyal, with spears thrusted around his body lying in the ground with his blood flowing. And the Army of darkness, whom commanded by Iskender then recovered corpses of their fallen men including the beheaded Tvrtko.

Džehennem became a howling wilderness, as Rizza, witnessing the event, became alone after the man she loved being fetched by the angels and totally repenting out of her deed; or rather out of her self as a devil’s daughter, while Iskender upon entering an unknown place by the angels, hath his wound tend and given rest.

While resting, Iskender sought nothing in his place, at the same time; an abbot, clad in black, came forth and performs a sacrament on to him. There Iskender simply accepted it as he closed his eyes and hearing the sermon given. Rizza, at the same time, after had his father’s corpse cremated in the flames, left Džehennem in also in flames as she tried to forget the past since she was branded as a devil’s daughter. There she became a restless wanderer, like a monk, continuously repenting for her sins.

VIII

A week after the event,
Iskender, in his shack, sought Rizza standing outside, carrying a bouquet of black roses, and said:
“Iskender, I am here to say goodbye.”
“Why Rizza?” Iskender said.
And Rizza replied:
“I need to leave this place away.”
“No!” Iskender said. “I need you here!”
“Why?” Rizza said,
And Iskender replied:
“The truth is that…I want to be with you, I am sorry for the past things I had done against you, for despite these problems I or rather say we experienced, I felt the love growing from hate and thus…”
“What?” Rizza said.
And Iskender spoke the three words directly to her:
“I love you.”

Then Rizza came towards Iskender and embraced him again. But this time, the embrace is not devilish, but perhaps as human. Iskender then kissed Rizza in her precious lips as he felt again the flaming embrace of the devil’s daughter, at the same time; they went to the cemetery where the grave of Iskender’s wife, Fe, lies. As they enter the grave, Iskender placed the bouquet of Black, red, and white roses to the tomb, while Rizza also placed stones in it. After the offering, Iskender and Rizza,
holding hands, reflect at the tomb, but surprisingly, the spirit of Iskender’s wife appeared to the two, and spoke at the two:
“Both of you had challenges that leads to an undying relationship. Both of you also used to argue and trying to break off, but then it binds you instead. Iskender, keep her the same as you keep me; Rizza, keep her the same as I keep him. I know that despite that you are a devil’s daughter, but then, you have a human heart for you have a human mother, and that heart may change you as a new person, a new being that my husband will love you most. And I hope that you two will keep it, for fate leads you to an unending relationship. May the heavens bless you, for I will enter eternity.”
And she disappeared, leaving Iskender and Rizza in the tomb. There Iskender and Rizza, holding hands, have spoken their promise in the tomb of Iskender’s wife, an affirmation as a newly found relationship:

“I offer my life to you always
And I will always remember
My love and loyalty to you
Forever and ever.

And I will also offer to god, to country and to my people
Our deepest love, unity, and sympathy,
In spite of sacrifices and hardships we used to be
And thus we promise
Our ambition as couples
Together as one
To the fullest extent of our lives
Forever and ever.”

After swearing, the two again embraced and kissed each other. Followed by a marriage in the beginning of the third week in which the two solemnly accepted themselves as a couple. There many people, the same people whom thinking the girl as the devil’s daughter now accepted her, as they witnessed the two solemnly accepted the vows of sacred matrimony in midst of the night. On that same wedding rite, the couple, after exchanging of rings, had their hands where their rings wore in their fingers then tied together while the other, have their fist raised and swore the same oath they spoke in the grave, now with the priest who officiated the rites. After the ceremony, Iskender and Rizza, now a newly wedded couple was given blessings
and keepsakes by the people around him, Naning the gnome, along with wife and his pet pigs, then spoke to the two:
“Keep your relationship well Iskender and Rizza.”
“You too.” Iskender said. “Keep your wife as well as your cute big pigs!”
And Naning laughed at him, and he said:
“Well…I like them as my pets.”

And in the end, the two lived in peace, as Iskender and Rizza became a loving husband and wife, living in midst of the night, happily ever after.