Long long ago, in the age before television, a poor peasant man was excited at the birth of his son. The man wanted what was best for his son and so when it came time for him to choose a godfather instead of choosing someone in the village he left to find someone who would be the perfect godfather for his son. The man hadn’t gone far when the devil appeared in front of him. The man was terrified at the sight and didn’t know what to do.
“What... what do you want?” he stuttered.
“I hear that you are looking for a godfather for your son” the devil replied. “I am willing to fill that role if you so desire. I promise that if you choose me as his godfather your son will want for nothing in this world.”
“Begone!” the man declared “Even if you were to keep your promise, and I don’t think you would, what evil would you have him do to get it and what kind of man he become? I will never let you be my sons godfather.”
“You will regret this” the devil growled as he vanished.
The man continued on his way and soon came across an angel. The man couldn’t believe it, first the devil and now an angel. He was afraid that the angel was there to punish him for talking to the devil.
“Please forgive me” the man cried dropping to his knees. “I know I am a sinner but I have done the best I can and told the devil to leave as soon as I could.”
“Fear not” the angel said “I saw your encounter with the devil and was impressed by your resolve. I have come to offer myself as a godfather for your son. If you choose me I will help him become the most humble, generous, and spiritual man possible.”
The man was amazed at the offer and thought it over for some time.
“Sadly, I must decline” the man finally said. “I want my son to someday be happy with a wife and children of his own and that will never happen if he becomes the saint you describe.”
“Beware of ambition” the angel warned, “but I will respect your decision. Farewell”
The man considered what had happened and decided that having declined both the devil and an angel that there is no such thing as a perfect godfather and he should return to his village and pick someone there. As he began to walk back to the village Death, the Grim Reaper himself, appeared in front of him. He was an imposing figure, looking like a skeleton in a black robe and hood carrying a scythe.
“Is it my time already?” he asked mentally trying to prepare himself to leave this world.
“No” Death replied. “Your time is not yet. I am here to offer myself as a godfather to your son. If you choose me I promise to help your son by teaching him what I know of life and death.”
“I think you would be the perfect choice as my sons godfather,” the man said. “You are perfectly fair, collecting those whose time has come making no distinction if they they are rich or poor, good or evil. He can learn to be a good man by learning to be like you and not judge people by their appearance or station. Also, your knowledge of the world will help him succeed in life by his own effort without being given everything. Yes, I am certain, I want you to be my sons godfather.”
“Very well,” Death said “I will be there for the christening.”
The man returned to his village and all of his friends and family at home were eager to know if he had found to be his sons godfather. He was uncertain on how to explain that Death would be his sons godfather.
"Yes I found a godfather for my son," he told them. "No, I won't tell you now, it will be a surprise."
That Sunday was his sons christening where both his son and his sons godfather would be presented before the priest. The man was a little bit worried, and felt he was probably the only person in the world who was afraid that Death wouldn't show. As it turned out the man needn't have worried. At the exact time the ceremony was to begin the doors opened and the congregation stared in amazement as Death entered the chapel. Many of the older people in the room looked especially anxious that he had come for them. Death ignored everyone in the room and stood in the place where the godfather was to be presented. The man came up with his son and stood before the priest. The priest looked questioningly at the man, then at Death, then at the man again. The man silently nodded that yes, this was the chosen godfather for his son.
After the ceremony Death turned to the man and said "I will return at his 18th birthday to teach him what I know."
Death then turned away and walked out. The mans son grew up to become a strong young man. He rarely saw his godfather, mostly when someone in the village died. He didn't think much of it until his 18th birthday.
On his 18th birthday he was celebrating with the people in his village when the door opened and a chill swept through as Death entered the room. At seeing the Grim Reaper many of the people there backed away hoping he hadn't come for them. Again Death ignored everyone in the room and walked up to his godson.
"You have grown into a fine young man," Death said. "I promised your father to teach you what I know, the time has come for me to fulfill that promise."
The man said goodbye to everyone and then left with Death. They traveled a long ways away until they reached a cave. Near the entrance a small chamber made up as a small home with a bed and other utilities. The chamber was well lit from further back into the cave. Death told him this chamber was for him to live in for the time being but that he should never go farther back into the cave then this chamber. He lived with Death in that chamber for a year learning. He learned the secrets of death from Death himself, about anatomy and of medicines that can heal even the most ill of people. At the end of the year Death declared the young man had learned everything Death could teach him.
As the young man prepared to leave Death asked him "What do you plan to do with your life now?"
"I think I will become a physician," he replied. "The things you have taught me make most suited for that occupation."
"You will do very well with that," Death said. "Especially as I will assist you with this as well. When you go to treat a person if I stand by the head of their bed then use the skills I taught you to heal them. But if I stand by the foot of their bed, then know that their time has come and I must soon claim them. No one else besides you will be able to see me when I do this."
The man left Death and returned back to his village. However he did not remain long, after visiting with his family he left again traveling around the country putting his skills to use. He soon became famous for being able to heal even the sickest person back to health. However it was also known that if he declared someone could not be cured then they would soon die no matter what any other doctor did. As his fame spread he eventually became rich as people would pay him lots of money to come help them. The years passed away and the man enjoyed how he was able to help people, both by healing them and also preparing those whose time had come. He hated it when he saw his godfather at the foot of the bed but never questioned it.
One day the king himself became sick and the young man was rushed to the palace to treat him. On the way there the chancellor told him how important it was that he heal the king for if the king were to die now then the kings cousin, an evil greedy person who had been trying to convince the king to invade a neighboring kingdom, would become king. If that happened then the cousin would almost certain send the country into a war they couldn't win. The young man assured the chancellor that he would do everything he could to heal the king. As the young man entered the kings bedchamber he was horrified to see Death standing at the foot of the bed. Saddened he went up to the king to comfort him and let him know his condition could not be cured.
As he came up to the king he heard him whisper "Please, save me. My cousin will destroy this country if I die without an heir. I will give you whatever you wish."
The young man thought in silence for some time before saying "Turn the king around in his bed."
The servants looked a little confused, "Turn him around?" they asked.
"Yes!" the young man shouted, "and start boiling me some fresh water!"
The servants were confused but followed the young mans instructions and turned the king around, they couldn't see Death and had no clue that by doing so Death was now standing near the kings head. Death just glared at his godson who used the water and some herbs he had to make a potion which he had the king drink. The king fell asleep after drinking the potion but the young man noticed the kings color looked better and his breathing was steadier.
"I should know more in the morning, but I think he will recover," the young man said.
The young man was given a room in the palace where he could stay to keep a close eye on the king. As he entered the room he was not surprised to see the skeletal figure standing there waiting for him.
"Foolish boy!" Death shouted. "You saw me at the foot of his bed, you knew that his time had come."
The young man hung his head in shame.
"I know godfather," the man said. "But if the king were to die now then thousands would suffer when the kings cousin assumed the throne."
"You know better then anyone I do not care that he is a king or who would become king afterwards if he were to die.
"I hoped that since you didn't move and stayed where you were when I had the king moved that it meant maybe you were having second thoughts."
"I do not have second thoughts for those whose time has come, however I suppose I can see how you might think so. Consider yourself warned however, do not ever try anything like that again. If you see me at the foot of the bed their time has come and nothing can change that."
Chastened, the man went to bed. In the morning, the king was clearly much better. The young man continued to treat and administer the king and help speed his recovery. During this time he met the princess, the kings only child. He became enraptured by her and she by him. As the weeks went by with the kings recovery they wished they could marry but knew it couldn't be since he was commoner and she was a princess. Eventually the time came that the young man declared the king fully healed. As he prepared to leave he was summoned to the kings throne room. Puzzled, the young man went to the throne to meet the king.
"I wanted to thank you again for healing me," the king said. "Not just for myself but for the kingdom."
"It was my pleasure," the young man replied.
"You never requested any reward or payment for your efforts."
"I have plenty of money for my needs."
"Then how about my daughters hand in marriage?" the king offered.
"Sire?" The young man asked clearly taken aback.
"I have no heir, whoever my daughter marries would become king after me. You are known throughout the country for being the best physician in the land. You are quick to make hard decisions as to who can be saved and who cannot. That kind of thinking is vital to keeping a country prosperous and safe. I think you are the best choice to be king after me. Also, I have seen you with my daughter and know how you feel for each other."
"Thank you your majesty," the young man said bowing "I am honored."
The young man and the princess were delighted to be engaged to each other. It took time for them to get everything ready but time seemed to fly by for them. However a few weeks before the wedding was to take place the young man was received word that the princess was gravely ill.
The young man rushed back to the palace as quickly as he could. As he opened the door to her room he was terrified as to where he would see his godfather standing. The princess looked relieved at seeing him.
"You're here," she said. "I know you will be able to help me."
To his horror though he saw Death standing at the foot of her bed. He rushed to her in tears wishing with all his heart he could help her. He looked in grief to where Death was standing but Death, as always, was unmoved.
"Get me a cold compress, my bag of herbs, and start boiling some water," he said looking directly at Death.
Death just shook his head and vanished. The young man worked all day using every bit of knowledge he knew to break the princess' fever. At the end of the night he returned to his room exhausted but certain she would survive. Death was waiting there for him.
"You went against my wishes," Death said. "You looked right at me, you knew my decision is final and yet you tried to save her anyways."
"I love her, I can't bear to be separated from her," the young man voice growing in anger. "But what do you know about love? You don't care! You don't care about life, love or anything good like that."
Death tilted his head as if confused by his answer.
"I suppose I have not been as thorough in my training as I had supposed," Death said. "I thought you understood better. Come with me, I have something to show you."
The young man didn't want to leave the palace where his princess was but he was compelled to follow. They traveled together back to the cave where Death had originally taught him. The young man noticed that the bed and other furniture he had used lay apparently untouched since he left.
"Come," Death said beckoning towards the glowing back of the cave where he had been forbidden to go. "It is time for you to see this."
Curious the young man followed Death to the back of the cave. They went together through a small passage that opened up into a massive chamber full of candles. There were so many candles the young man couldn't even begin to count them all. He saw that some looked new and were tall, some of them were burned down to the end. As he watched he could see that countless numbers of candles reached the end and burned out. However there were always more candles to replace those that burned out. Death guided the young man through the chamber, being very careful to not disturb any of the candles.
"These are the candles of life," Death said indicating the candles. "Each one is a single human life. When a candle burns out, that person dies. When a person is born, a new candle is lit. I do not choose how long a persons candle is, it is merely my job to help those whose time has come to pass on."
Death stopped and picked up a candle that was nearly burnt out, the young man could see that the flame was flickering.
"This is the candle of your beloved princess," Death explained "As you can see, it is nearly run out and will soon fail. No matter what you do, she will soon die."
The young man hung his head, weeping. "Is this what you wanted to teach me? That people will die and I can't save everyone?"
"No you already learned that lesson," Death said. "I brought you here to teach you that I do understand both life and love."
Death reached over and took another candle, this one burned partway down but still fairly tall.
"This is your candle," Death continued. "As you can see, you still have plenty of time before I would claim you, but someday I will come even for you as I do everyone."
Deaths godson looked on sullenly at his candle before his attention was drawn back to the princess'. As he watched, the princess' candle flickered, fluttered, and then went out completely.
"She's gone," the young man said.
"Yes," Death said gently. "She is gone."
"Can you bring her back?" the young man asked. "Can we be together again?"
"This is the reason I brought you here. This is the final lesson, the most important lesson I can teach you. One I thought you had already understood. I never keep loved ones apart forever. I may temporarily separate people, but it is always just for a little while. You will be with your princess again, I promise."
Crying, the young man hugged his godfather for the first time ever.
"Thank you," he sobbed. "You really are the perfect godfather for me."
Touched, Death put his arms around his godson. While holding him, Death brought the lit candle to his mouth and blew it out. He then set down the two extinguished candles next to each other and left the cavern.