Charlemagne the Great ~ by Tenzing

Charlemagne the Great

Late at night the darkness overtook the sky. Charlemagne lay in bed asleep, letting his dreams take over. That night a bright but small figure approached his bed.The angel shook Charlemagne very lightly, just enough to startle him awake. He woke, frightened of what he saw until he saw the full figure. The small angel amazed him. In a light but powerful voice shesaid, ''I'm Elizabeth."
A deep voice from a 6'4" man who was Charlemagne said, "Why have you come to me, Elizabeth?"
Elizabeth motioned him closer; Charlemagne leaned forward. She couldn't take any chances of someone overhearing. She whispered, "You must steal something from someone."
"What?"
"I can't tell you anything. Use your instincts, and it will lead you to what you are looking for." Charlemagne stared at the angel until she had totally vanished into the night sky.


Charlemagne tiptoed down the castle stairs holding the sword that he inherited from his father, Pepin The Short. If you think this might be difficult for a man of his size, you're right. He saw his guards with their large brass shields, steel swords, and arrows. You would have thought since he was the ruler, they would let him out just like that. But no, the castle guards spared no effort in protecting their powerful king.

How can I get past them? he thought to himself. He only had one choice; it was to disguise himself. He always had spare rope with him, so he tackled the guard. Then he tied up the guard and stole his armor. He put on the heavy armor, and walked out the castle into the town still thinking, What must I steal? Very frustrated he took a walk into the night trying to remember every word Elizabeth said.
Still walking in the dark, Charlemagne saw a tall broad man with a sword and a black cloak rapped around him. Charlemagne couldn't see his face in the darkness of the night. Charlemagne drew his sword, ready for anything.
Who is this man? he said to himself, moving bit by bit closer. The cloaked man drew his sword; it made a long ringing sound as if to say, "I'm ready for war". Charlemagne thought, "What will happen?" He felt a long cold shiver drizzle down his back. The only question running through his mind was, Will I survive?
The two men walked closer, and closer still. Fear grew in both of them, and then "ding!!!!!!!!." The swords finally met making a loud clashing noise that rung Charlemagne's ears. Out of the corner of Charlemagne's eye he saw a glinting shape above him. He ducked, just barley dodging the sword. Then with all his momentum and power, Charlemagne swung his sword with all his might.
"AWWWWWWW !!!!!" The cloaked man screamed with pain. The blade of Charlemagne's sword was in the man's arm. Charlemagne pulled the blade quickly out releasing a large stream of blood. The man collapsed immediately, and lay on the ground with his hands cupped over his wounded arm. He ripped off his part of his cloak to cover the wound so he wouldn't bleed to death. Charlemagne lifted up his sword with blood spilling down from the blade on to his finger. He could feel the warmth of the man's blood on his hand. Charlemagne grabs a cloth from his pocket and wiped the blade taking off the blood, and once again the metal shows.
The man threw off his cloak uncovering himself, but being careful not move his arm. Charlemagne was surprised to find Elbegast, a very famous thief and killer. Charlemagne was amazed to see him. In a cold voice that brought chills to Charlemagne he said, "Please let me go. I will leave this town and you will never see me again."
Charlemagne thought, Wait I could use his help to find the thing I'm searching for. He could be my teacher for he is a very famous thief." Mulling this thought over and over, finally he replied, "Only on one condition."
"What's that, sir?"
"You have to help me find something very important."
"YES!! Anything...any way I can help."
Charlemagne was very curious to see if this man would keep his word.
"Where is the thing you desire?"
"That's the problem; I don't know. What I must find is to show up later...,and it must be stolen," said Charlemagne in a cold voice.
"I don't understand,"said Elbegast. Charlemgane finally told him all of what Elizabeth had instructed him to do. Elbegast was amazed by this news.
Surprised, he said, "I finally understand." The came up with a plan as Charlemagne helped him with his wound.

Elbegast and Charlemagne were walking on the streets disguising themselves as farmers. "WAM!!!!" All of the sudden they heard a loud ear racketing sound. Then Charlemagne heard, "SSSHHHHHH, we don't want anyone to hear." Charlemagne snuck up with Elbegast to the room where they heard the sound. Then again they heard talking. "We must." Charlemagne's eyes widened when he recognized the voice. It was his adviser who helped him keep in safety, and there was someone else he didn't yet recongize. They snuck up closer to the window to hear, being careful not making a sound.
"Tomorrow we must murder Charlemagne when he is asleep."
Charlemagne thought, What did I do? How did I deserve this? He was scared out his mind, even for a massive man with power. He could believe a lot of events could transpire, but not this. The betrayal he felt was mountainous.

They inched away from the window to plan. Elbegast whispered, "We must murder them and end their despicable lives now!!".
"NO!!"Charlemagne yelled, looking around to insure no one heard him.
"What? they are planning to kill you," said Elbegast, confused.
"I know, we must capture them, but we will not kill them. They don't deserve to die - no one does...not even you.."

When they stormed into the house, Charlemagne's adviser tried to get his sword, but before he was a inch away, Elbegast's sword was millimeters away from the man's neck. The adviser didn't move at all. He was frightened out of his mind. Obviously Charlemagne had heard their plan. He begged for his life.

That night back in bed, with sun rising he knew the adviser and his wife would be killed the next morning, under the charge of attempted murder. He kept thinking and thinking about the angel and her words. What had she wanted him to do? Had he done it? He finally thought of what it could have been had she not come and sent him on his mission. Suddenly, he sat up in his bed. "That's why!!!" he screamed to himself. The angel had sent him to steal so he wouldn't get murdered.


That morning Charlemagne walked to where his adviser would be decapitated. Everyone was there including guards, adults, children. Everyone had circled the adviser. A huge man with a long sword, who could probably could kill anything, raised the long thick blade over the head of the advisor. He was about to bring down the sword with all his might, when Charlemagne's sword met the executioner's - stopping the blade."WAIT!!!!!!!,"yelled Charlemagne, "Stop!" The blade stilled inches from the adviser's neck. Charlemagne walked up in front of everyone and screamed, "I will let him live.

"What? This man is a disgrace," yelled a man in the crowd.

"Possible, but killing this man is not the right path! Even though he tried to murder me, and there should be a deathly consequence, I will let him go!! This world today has too much killing and suffering, We must help to end that streak. Everyone has the heart to do this. I will let him go if he promises loyalty to us and our great city."

Elbegast thought, This is going to be the greatest ruler of all time. After the long silent moment, the adviser was released. Confusion and relief covered his face. He had to give his word to be loyal, knowing that if he wasn't, there would be major consequences.

Elbagast decided to give up his horrible life of a thief and a murderer and serve Charlemagne.

There is a reason for everything in world. Especially today, and even back in the medieval ages. Revenge is one thing, and compassion is the other. Choose one and it will lead you into your future. The smallest difference can lead to something unimaginable. Charlemagne's story shows anyone can choose the right path. This is the story about the great compassion of Charlemagne the Great.

By ~ Tenzing