This is my contribution to Friday Fictioneers. Claire the picture is lovely and very thought provoking. Sorry I missed reading everyone’s work last week, I was camping in the Canadian Rockies. A truly lovely place.
The first born son in each generation of McFerssons is destined to be king. But Ragnar only wants to marry red-headed Britt, raise children and dirty his hands planting corn.
As a child he asked the village shaman, “How may I avoid my destiny?”
The old hag had shrugged. “The fates decree – you cannot.”
Now the only soil on Rangnar’s hands is the blood of neighboring tribesmen.
“The hell with the fates!” He grabs Britt’s hand and flees toward the green farmlands below the castle.
Before reaching the second row of ankle high corn, he slowly thickens to stone.
Up From the Ashes 
Should have listened to the shaman… He’s not going to be much use to Britt now.
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HA! I didn’t even think about that! Thanks, Sandra.
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Not a good idea to throw away advice from a shaman. Hopefully his lovely wife holds his favor. 😉
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Indeed not! The Fates always win!
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Cool story. Destiny is something that should be understood and embraced. We can’t flee from what we are.
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Thanks! He did try, though….
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I wasn’t expecting that ending, despite the picture. A great idea.
Claire
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That’s very clever. It could be an ancient saga. Well done.
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Thank you, Patrick, it was meant to be an ancient saga. Glad you caught that. Alicia
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Destiny can’t be avoided it seems!
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No, I don’t think it can. Thanks for reading.
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Alicia, Good story and well written. I guess that would scare the daylights out of any kids who didn’t do their civic duty. Creative use of the prompt. 🙂 —Susan
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Susan – thanks so much. Your comment made me laugh. The threat of turning to stone certainly would make you want to walk the straight and narrow.
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Dear Alicia,
Some things are just set in stone. Perhaps Britt can use him for a yard ornament. 😉 Clever story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Har Har, Rochelle “set in stone,” He would make a very attractive yard ornament. Thanks!
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What did he expect after saying”, The hell with the fates!” You can not run from them.
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You and I know that …. Thanks for the comment.
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Very good story – a harsh price to pay for trying to escape his destiny. Even if fate one day relents and releases him, Britt will be long dead.
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One should listen to the Fates. Thanks so much for commenting!
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Now that isn’t fair. The Old Testament God has nothing on the Fates! Cool story.
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Thanks, Perry! I was thinking of that old bible story about Lot’s wife. Don’t look back. Cheers!
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Nicely done. That’ll teach him to try to run away from his duties, poor man 😦
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Thanks – a hard learned lesson!
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Oh dear… I guess the shaman was right. What a shame!
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I hate it when that happens. Happy 4th of July, Alicia.
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Who knew that “fated to be king” would be such a bad thing?
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Indeed! Thanks for reading! Happy 4th of July.
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a tragic love story… but i enjoyed it anyway 🙂 he seemed like a good man. happy 4th of july 🙂
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K.Z. Thanks! He just wanted to be a simple man. Loving Britt and providing a good life for his family. No more killing.
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What a sad story! The poor guy couldn’t avoid his fate, and all he wanted was to be an ordinary person! Is it too much to ask?
And the rest of the world does its best to be extraordinary, and fails. Ah, the tragedy!
(Loved your story, Alicia!)
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Dear Dreamer, thanks for the thoughtful reply! I appreciate your time. Alicia
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Cool fable!
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Thanks, Dawn. This one seemed to be a no-brainer, but isn’t all that original. Hard to think of things to right about stone kings. Cheers, Alicia
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I love this and your way of thinking. Great story! They don’t always have to have a happy ending unless of course you take it further. Thanks for stopping and reading mine!
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Thanks, Deb. Glad you like the way I think because sometimes thinking is hard to do. Cheers!
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Wow! Truly, one can never defy fate. Nice twist!
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Thank you! The Fates always seem to win.
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Well, now that he’s out in the corn field Britt can use him for a scarecrow. That is, if the pigeons don’t use him for a roost.
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Lots of pigeon roosting this go around, wasn’t there? Poor Britt kinda’ got left in the lurch…. Thanks for reading and commenting.
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The fates will not be cheated!
I loved the image of the ankle-high corn — a vision of potential, of dreams that will never be achieved.
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Thanks! It’s cool how other people see what you didn’t know you’d written. I like the idea of that small potential. I’m glad you stopped by. Alicia
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🙂
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Dear Alicia, Great story – too bad he couldn’t get away. I always thought there was an escape clause in every monarchy. Oh wait, that means “off with their head” something like that, I think. Well, he did try to live his own life. Nan 🙂
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Thanks, Nan! “Off with their head” or turned to stone. MMmmmm.
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here he wanted just a simple life and finds misfortune instead. enjoyed your story, Alicia. 🙂
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Simplicity is not always easy to come by. Thanks for reading, Alicia
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Sometimes fate is the one making the rules. Really enjoyed your take.
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Indeed, I often feel “pulled along” by fate. Thanks for reading.
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