THE ROOT OF BITTERNESS

The following morning after the awful event the palace became very quiet. All servants started to walk languidly, feeling that tension increased in the recent days. At the king’s household people were preparing for the great victory feast in honor of Arthur, but tension was always felt in the air.

The preparations for the feast were clearly successful: this King Frederic, who spends most of the play in his private chambers and is only informed of events by his attendants, does not hear the chorus directly but their victories are reported to him. Indeed, he just looked elsewhere with what seemed to be an absentminded nod. Even when the news of the illness that Arthur claimed to have had and his cure reached the king, it did not bring a change in his status. He could not get out of his mind the party for his son’s recent victory in the military – a victory that sealed his achievements as well as the future of the monarchy.

This, however, was far from the case with Williams who was far from indifferent. He had been so angry and repulsive since the day he found out what had befallen Diana. But the more the day passed by, it remained quite apparent that their father will not formally address or condemn Arthur for the act. In response, the king did not utter a single word on the matter; his silence was as good as consent.

Diana, now thin and very shy, was retreating from everyone; the signs of her trauma were too obvious for those who wanted to see it. However, she was compelled to bear the public festivity through the same man whom she has faced some serious calamities. It was conspicuous how her suffering ceased to matter, how it had been erased from the picture by the mere fact of Arthur’s feast.

At night the grand hall became a demonstration of aristocracy and might. Wallpapers and the tables that were set for dining were the rich and the beautiful and exotic tap meters which comprised of the best of foods and wine. King’s hall of justice was filled with people, royals and the important people were waiting for the dinner in honor of Prince Arthur’s victory.

Arthur who was now dressed royally sat right beside the King Frederic. There was no indication of his inner struggle on his composure face. He stole a look at Williams and the man regarded him, his face neutral. Williams’ appearance was constant of something that was brewing behind the scenes that could spark at anytime.

When the feast started, King Frederic stood up with the purpose to speak to the guests. In the hall, it echoed his approval of Arthur and the skills that he possessed when fighting. He rejoiced the wealth of the kingdom, and the power of the royal family and did not say a word about the tragedy that occurred behind closed doors of the palace.

‘Let us drink to this great day’, declared the King Frederic his goblet towards the sky. It is dedicated ‘To Prince Arthur, for whose bravery, our empire has been made glorious!’

Nobles clinked glasses and shouted a loud joice rising from the hall, The cheer was drunk in by the hall. Arthur stared hard at him and then managed a grin and raised his goblet as well. He looked at Williams and could literally feel him staring at him, something that gave him a creepy feeling. He understood that taciturnity with which his brother reacted did not mean forgiveness, but only anger restrained by a thread.

That night the feast degenerated into lewdness as the night advanced. There was entertainment in the hall and the courtiers sang, danced , and joked with each other without paying attention to the inner conflict. King Frederic who appeared to be full-of-energy went around greeting his guests and seemed to be happy for the attention that was being showered on his son.

Diana continued to sit quietly in the corner again, looking at the table, frowning and barely tolerating the holiday. That consuming anger she found in the injustice of everything, starting from her father, who did not care about her pain, ending with the court and society that were happy with her tormentor, and, most important, her voice that was overshadowed by the glamour of the occasion.

Silent type of performer, emotions were never exposed even in Williams’ case. He did not let his emotions get the better of him; his countenance bore a impassive expression. Within its walls, however, United Airlines’ responded to the hurricane like a boiler ready to blow its cap. This angered Lancelot at his father’s lack of justice, Arthur being there arrogantly, and the court ready and willing to overlook such a horrible crime for a festival. Yet, he kept on telling himself that he had to wait for his chance to come through. Now the confrontation would only bring more suffering to Diana and potentially endanger the stability of the kingdom.

Finally when it was getting a bit dusky, there was a gradual exodus of the hall. People went home delighted with the king and Arthur and they did not see the raging forces of betrayal and hatred, which reigned in the royal family. Seeing that everything was going well in the evening, the King, Frederic got to his bedroom, happy and apparently, ignorant of the brewing commotion.

Williams stayed put in the hall which was emptying by the time, his thoughts still running wild on the possibilities of revenge and the law. He just sat and watched Arthur moving out of the hall, being in high spirits of the feast that has just happened with all the flatterers following him. Diana also unobtrusively left treatment area, her face contorted with pain.

Williams had to do this discreetly and so he moved down the gloomy corridor the sound of his feet hitting the floor reverberating in the room. He was able to get to the balcony that was located above the palace courtyard, through the window of which he noticed Arthur joyfully eulaborating with some of his friends. This infuriate him in an cold blooded manner, and he could see everything in black and white.

At that moment the shadow by his side flickered. It was Alfred! The latter looked at him with his face hidden in the darkness. Williams jumped from the rookie mistake and he proceeded to whisper to him. They watch other people for a while and then Lila asked them: “You know it, do not you? About Arthur and Diana?”

Williams again glanced at the man but did not say anything although his jaw tightened up. Alfred went on, almost sounding amused, there was a faint hint of a smile in his voice. Saying that she wanted me to know that during the last ceremony the next day our dear father is planning to declare Arthur as the future king quite a celebration wasn’t it.

Williams looked at Alfred and handed him a cup of tea with something cold and serious in his gaze. Not if I have anything to do with it he whispered to himself and the words rolled of his tongue with determination.

This seem to draw Alfred’s attention and he could not help but ask, ‘And what do you require from me?’ I shook my head, not liking the way this was going, ‘Oh? And what do you plan to do, Williams? Make a scene? Challenge him publicly?’

Williams didn't answer. He looked right into Arthur and began to contemplate on how it would be like to have such a great man as a friend. Alfred laughed quietly and backed off a little from me. “Oh well no matter the conclusion I recall this whole ordeal ,” I said with a smile.

Thus, while Williams stayed in front of the balcony, wondering what could happen next, Alfred vanished into the night. The last shot is of Williams holding the railing firmly fixed with look that is direct at Arthur as he only has a particular plan in mind which is to alter the destiny of the kingdom