Dexter: King of Middle Earth

By Sharon Young

A young, fun-seeking prince finds himself saddled with kingdom responsibilities after his father's unexpected death. Court intrigues, wars and falling in love push him into maturity.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Mar 31, 2017
• ISBN: 9781365863349

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Dexter: King of Middle Earth

Dexter:

King of Middle Earth

Sharon Young

Copyright c 2017 by Sharon Young

All rights reserved

This book or parts thereof may not reproduced in any form by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise—without prior written permission of the publisher, except as provided by United States of America copyright law.

ISBN 978-1-365-86334-9

Cover design by Jeff Young

Disclaimer

This book is not meant to be understood as a novel following actual history.

The story is set in the sixteenth century, but I have taken liberties to create a different set of cultural mores to enliven the narrative.  My goal was to experience the taste of this deliberate permutation of life in that time.

The breath of my inspiration comes from the art of William Shakespeare.  These words of mine are an attempt to extract the sense of conflict in a Macbeth or the passion of a Romeo and Juliet.

I desired to know at least how it would feel to be able to write the words.  They are not written to pay homage to Shakespeare but to play a song for me.

Dexter's adventures led him to find his true goal in life.  My adventure led me to find Dexter.

Sharon

This is a story of imagination.

1  Mourning and Installation

The King is dead. Long live the King.

The King died last night.

Dexter, the king’s son, discovered his father when he went into his chambers to say good morning.

The king wasn’t awake.

Dexter noticed that his father wasn’t moving.

Dad, you need to get up.  We have crème brulée and chocolate milk this morning.

His son called for all of the Monarchs.  One of them came to the bedroom.

Dexter said, Dad won’t answer me.

Son, the Monarch said, The King has fallen into the hypnotic world that lasts in the Kingdom forever.

Dexter would not eat or leave the castle for days.

Bernard called Dexter to get ready for a wake.

Bernard always takes Dexter pain.  Bernard is Dexter’s chief teacher.

The Monarchs planned a few days in the small church of the chapel.  Trappings hung on the outside of the tower that announced that the King had died.

The Blue Monarch spoke in the chapel.

We didn’t expect our King to die so soon.  We are all broken hearted.  Our King is known all over the villages and loved by countries far away, Blue said.

We must stand strong to help the new king as soon as possible, Bernard said.

Dexter went back to his father’s room and discovered that everything had been removed except a picture of his father that hung on the wall.

Dexter sat on the bare floor and cried.

Then he went Dexter went to his bedroom soon after. His belongings had disappeared except for the picture of his father that hung on Dexter’s wall too.

Dexter sat there until Bernard touched his shoulder.

Son, we have to say goodbye to our King.  You will now be the king.

Bernard brought Dexter’s clothes to dress for the funeral clothes.

Dexter wore his jacket inside out.  He wore two different shoes.  He waited for the Monarchs to get this over.

Most of the King’s Monarchs left the chapel with tears.

Dexter walked away from the chapel.

He climbed up the mountain to get away from the sorrow, the grief and those that pretend false remarks of missing the King.

On the mountain, Dexter pulled out ugly flowers out of the ground.  He spit on them.  They smelled like Prince-of-Devils.

When Bernard found Dexter he said that Dexter had to present himself.  There are people waiting.

You are the new King.  You need to try to help the others to find a way to miss the King.  You are the King now, Bernard said.

Orange said, When will we get paid?

Pink said, I’m giving a big party this week in North.  It’s our holiday.  It’s the only time we get together in the year and eat and drink together.

Blue whispered to Dexter.  You need to put Orange in the brig.  He needs to stay there until he apologizes.

Dexter looked at Orange. "You defiled my Father.  You need to show your love for him even though he is dead.

You should be like the Yellow Monarch.

He is the greatest Monarch my father had.

Yellow fell to the floor and sobbed like a little boy.

The Blue Monarch is the one that keeps things in order.  The Silver Monarch is always ready to do what he is asked and even more for the king, Dexter said.

"Green is a great helper.  He has always been my friend, too.

"Purple came from a country that was devastated by a huge fire.  His father sent him away when his wife left him.

"Purple paid extreme love for my Father.

Pink speaks for himself.

The Black Monarch is the one that gets into trouble.  Black does not really belong in the castle, but he stays there because he had no other place to go.  My Father kept him.

The Monarchs collected food for the funeral.  Bernard brought all kinds of cake, and placed them on the grand table.  The farewell dinner finished all the meat.

Yellow thanked those that sent flowers and sent hand written cards.  The flowers had been sent from all over the world.

For the next few days, Dexter stayed in his room.  He wanted to be alone to shed tears.

Silver called all the monarchs together again.  The the King has gone.  We must give the King’s son the space to weep for his father’s death.

A group from the leaders dressed royal garments and prepared the King’s casket and burial clothing.  When Dexter had spent the proper time to mourn, he went to the casket and folded his father’s arms across his chest.

On the day of the funeral, a large multitude gathered in front of the procession. The crowd yelled and sobbed. Some fainted.  Some chanted, Our king has gone.  Who will be our king?

Bernard said, You are our king now, Dexter.

I’m too young.

Dexter, this is our sacred custom.  They are waiting for you, the Queen said.

Mother, leave me by myself.

The Green Monarch said to the others, The King loved it when Dexter played his music.  He played the harp for his father, who often shed warm tears.

Dexter went out on a platform in front of the crowd and played from a selection of a piece he had written himself.

Memories filled the service.

The Yellow Monarch’s wife sang a song that she had written for the King.  She usually sang on important events, but this was her special farewell to the King.

The moon came up that night and everyone stayed for prayers until the end of the Rosary.

During the next days, those who had fond memories met in the church with their hands folded and tears on their faces.

Dexter went into a hideout that the King had in the castle.  He remembered that his father always went there when he needed to be alone.

After some time Dexter began to feel a little better, but he knew he would hold his father in his heart forever.

He decided that it was time to help others to get on with their lives.

Dexter left the King’s room and slid on something on the stairway.  He grabbed one of the banisters, but it was slippery.  Then he landed on one of the children’s toys and went flying.

Dexter wondered if one of the Monarchs had put some kind of swill on the stairway.

There was no one there who could have helped him or even see him stumble.

He decided to keep notes on who does and who doesn’t practice care.  He watched the Monarchs and look for the ones that seemed to be the most attentive.  So far it seemed to be Silver.

Dexter got the Monarchs together and said, Monarchs have to be near at all times.

Bernard came to Dexter’s breakfast, and he said, You must be on your toes at all times.  Our castle governance is fragile until our new king is in place.

I’m not ready to be king, Dexter said.

You must get ready.  I’ll help you, Bernard said.

Dexter went to the writing table where his father kept his private notes.  He looked at his father’s feather plume quill.

For a minute or two he held it like his father had done.  The King had used his feather plume like a conductor.

His father often joined an orchestra.  Most of the time he would move his strings and use the bow, but he only pretended.

Dexter’s father pretended that he was playing a piece of orchestra music. He did this to make people laugh.

Dexter examined the drawers at the writing table where his father kept his work.  The first one was filled with chocolate candy.  They were stale, but he was in mourning.  He took several pieces of candy and put them in his deep pockets.

He opened the next drawer.  There was a letter from the King to Dexter.

He pulled out the last drawer.  There it was: His father’s Testament.  It stated where all the fortune was stored.

It said, Dexter you know where it is.  Don’t tell anyone else.  Just remember what I told you to do when I pass away.  That is a bond between you and me.  Be careful how you rule as the next king, and follow what I told you as much as you can.

Dexter tried to follow his father, but he wasn’t prepared.  He and Lawrence, Dexter’s best friend, had planned to go abroad and visit the surrounding countries with Dexter’s inheritance as soon as he came of age.

Dexter was angry that his father had died so soon, but right away, he fell on his knees beside the writing table and prayed.  He asked forgiveness that he had said that about his father.

He walked across the floor and touched some of the decorative walls that Father had designed.  His father was the one who taught Dexter to enjoy the beauty of the mountains and to fish in a pool that the King had dug so that Dexter could learn to swim.

Dexter’s father died too soon.  It wasn’t really a surprise because he knew that Daddy had a problem with his heart.  But that hadn’t stopped him from loving Dexter and teaching him about nature.

Dexter understood that his father didn’t have enough time to have fun, and when his son became the new king, he wanted him to do it better than his father.

He went to his room and didn’t leave for days.  The workers were doing all the cleaning in the castle.  They pounded on the door of his room, but Dexter wouldn’t open it.

He had to find a way to be a king when he is so young and unprepared.

The Yellow Monarch came to his room.  Dexter opened the door.

He said, There are so many decisions you need to make.

Please try to sit with the Monarchs and dress properly.

He chose Dexter’s clothes.

Yellow, tell Bernard that I will be there in a little while.

Dexter said, I said a final prayer. I dressed in a vest, and I stand tall with shoulders high and straight.

2  Facing the Monarchs

Dexter made an announcement to the Monarchs.  He told them to sit down around the table.

Dexter decided that this would be his first order.

"From now on, I will make the rules.  My father has gone to heaven.  It was his wish to bequeath all his treasures to me.  He ordered the Yellow Monarch to assist him.

"He gave me his wealth, and I have it all.  None of you will take a penny without my consent.

"I am your leader now.  I have secret places that only I know about.  If I find out that you are doing something that I have not assigned you to do, you will end up in the black hole.

My father had a few unfinished projects that needed to be completed, so I will take his place.

The Yellow Monarch said, "We should bury your father before we complain about what he did and didn’t do.

He should have his body placed in his casket for some time so that friends and mourners can express the loss of their sorrow for your father, Dexter.  Mendez will surely want to come as soon as he can.  They were close friends, Yellow said.

Other friends live miles away, but they insist they will come to say farewell to their outstanding King.

Blue agreed.

Dexter said, Those of you that are in the upper part of our government will continue to receive their stipend, but they will have to come to my office to get it at the end of each month.

The Black Monarch turned around and looked at Blue.

Dexter continued.  I am moving permanently into the King’s quarters by tomorrow at noonday.  I will take over his office and his room.

Later Dexter invited the Yellow Monarch to come to the first floor of the castle at five in the afternoon.  He wanted to look over some of the documents.

Later Dexter called all of the Monarchs to come to the first floor again.  They looked worried.

I have been reviewing everything the king left behind, Dexter said.

Lawrence will be my second in command.

Everyone turned to look at Lawrence.  Lawrence had a funny look on his face.  He had been drinking all night.  He almost always looked drunk.

(The murmurs spoke at once.)

"I am changing some of the rules that were made by my father. I want to expand our involvement in worship.  You can decide which religion you will use.  Your choices are: General, Universal, Ecumenical, Widespread, Global, or Roman.  You get to choose.  You will find information about these religions in the memory books in the back of the assembly hall if you need help in your decision.

These are the religions I have accepted.  I am Roman, and if you want to be part of that, you will join my decision.  If you don’t want to be Catholic, you need to inform me.

Lawrence turned to Dexter, and said, Are we Catholics?

When the sun came up the next day, the Monarchs and the chosen cabinet rode in on their horses.  This was to be a royal salute to announce that the King had died and the new one is in place.

Dexter was required to promenade through the gardens in and out of the vast terraces over the grounds.  This was to show the entire kingdom that there was a new government.

Unfortunately, two horses had dumped their breakfast on some of the terraces.

Dexter sat on a horse that was covered with fine patchwork.  He wore his cape and a three corner hat.  He insisted that all of the Monarchs perform some trick in front of the castle to impress the crowd.

One of them had its horse kneel down on its knees.  Another horse shook his head back and forth.  The Blue Monarch pulled on his horse’s straps, and it neighed like music.

Another let go of its bowels.

The crowd laughed, but shut up when Dexter glared at them.

Dexter said, "The usual rituals, except for the manure, have been concluded, and the Majesty’s on his throne.

This, as always, has been done the same way except for the changes I have made.

Monarchs, Dexter said, We don’t like horses having dirty hooves.

The Monarchs cleaned their horses’ feet.  The Monarchs joined the others that were marching.

The parade and dancing and games and special food are always exciting when there is a new king.

The horses walked through paths that were used for that reason.  The people saw the parade, and they knew the King had been installed.

Dexter decided to ride further than the terraces.

Lawrence and Dexter rode on and went to a quiet hut that only the King had used.  When they got to the gazebo, Dexter and Lawrence had a beer.

Dexter said, "They are still cold, but we can put them in