Page 1 of Theoden
A CHILD’S INNOCENCE
7thCentury AD
Tears flowed down my tiny cheeks as I lay in a fetal position, crying my heart out. I felt so much pain, the kind of pain that made your insides constrict and your chest ache. I had made my first attempt to befriend the new boys who had arrived at the church a few days ago and was met with ridicule and rejection. They called me names and refused to let me play with them or their toys. I had no toys of my own, and no siblings or friends to keep me company. I had been living in the church since the day I was born, with only the priests to give me comfort, which was limited at best. I was so utterly alone, I hated it there.
The worst part of being laughed at was it came from a boy I really wanted to like me. His name was Samuel. He was taller than I was, which intimidated me a little, but his smile made him seem kind. I had watched him in secret as he played with the other boys, and wanted him to treat me like he did them. After working up the courage to introduce myself, he called me a “monster” and told me to leave him alone. At the insult, I felt a sharp pain in my chest and my eyes began to water. The other boys laughed and pointed, so I ran away. I didn’t stop running until I was back inside my room. I threw myself on the bed and let the tears flow.
I heard my door open and wondered which priest had come to see me. “Why are you crying, child?”
I rolled over slightly, my eyesight blurry from my tears. I saw that Father Lucinius stood in the doorway, watching me. I sniffled and wiped the snot from my nose. “Th—the—the other chil—children—are—are cruel to—to me. Why?” I managed to say between huffs. My tiny voice seemed so fragile, even to my own ears. Everything about me seemed so delicate. Did they not like me because I was so small? Was that the reason? I couldn’t understand why I was the one to be ostracized.
He closed the door and walked over to me, sitting on my bed. “Oh child.” He placed his hand on my shoulder and I wrapped my tiny arms around his waist, holding on for dear life.
“Why do—do they ha—hate me?” I asked, still huffing and sniffing from crying so hard.
“They do not hate you, child,” he said.
“They will not—le—let me play—wi--with them.” I looked up at him, searching for answers. I had never done anything to hurt them. I was only five years old; all I wanted was someone to play with. I just wanted friends.
“They just do not know you,” Father Lucinius said.
“I want… want to be their friend,” I said.
He nodded. “You must give them time, young Theodosius.”
“How… how much time?” I asked as I looked up at him with wide-eyed inquisitiveness.
He wiped the tears from my eyes and face with the cloth of his toga as he looked down at me. “Friendships cannot be hastened to your satisfaction, child. You must go to them, do not be demanding.”
“I was not deman—”
“But you were, child. I watched as you picked up the ball and would not give it back. You cannot force them to play with you,” Father Lucinius said.
“I did that because they would not play when I asked,” I replied. I had stood by at first, quietly watching, but they did not take notice. I only did what I thought would make them play with me.
“Give them time.”
“Father Lucinius, why do I not have my own toys?” I asked.
“Because you are special, Theodosius, and such things are beneath you.”
“But I want them,” I said, not understanding why I could not have toys, but other boys could.
“And that want is what you must fight.” Father Lucinius forced me to sit up and look at him. “I’m going to explain something to you because I think you have reached the age where you may understand just how important you are to the church.”
“I am import—important?” I asked, feeling curious.
“Very important, child. You were delivered to the church, right on our doorstep, one stormy night. God was angry with the people, so we prayed for salvation. That was when he gave us you.”
“God sent me?” I asked, my eyes growing wider with wonderment.
He nodded. “Yes. You have a destiny, Theodosius, one the other boys do not have. You have abilities—God-given—that they do not have. That is why you must train every day and study hard. You are born to be a warrior, to destroy the evil that plagues the world.”
“I am?” Oh, this was exciting. I sat up straighter on my bed, propping myself up on my knees. This was such delightful news. I was a gift from God. “Do I have any powers like God?”
“The older you get, the stronger you will become, child. That is why toys are forbidden. You must stay focused on your destiny.”
“Can I play with the other boys if they let me?”
