KING LOCKEDHEART
Now,below King Lockedheart’s balcony was a stone terrace with a
door that led into the castle.In the room inside,there was a very small
and very insignificant maid kneeling at the hearth.Her name was Meg,and
it was her duty to clean the castle grates.
It was a dirty job,but Meg did it cheerfully,for she was glad of the work.But because Meg was so very insignificant,the other inhabitants of the castle never noticed her at her work.
Thus she’d overheard more than a few conversations.So when the King from his balcony above proclaimed how beloved he was,Meg couldn’t help but giggle.She immediately clapped a hand over her mouth,but by then it was far too late …
King Lockedheart bellowed for his guards to bring him the miscreant who had the temerity to laugh at him.Within seconds,Meg was dragged before him,bedraggled and sooty.
‘What is your name?’ roared King Lockedheart.
‘Meg,if it please your majesty.’
He glowered at her.’And what did you find so amusing in my speech?’
The guards and the courtiers,drawn by the commotion,all expected the small maid to throw herself at his feet and plead for her life.
But Meg rubbed the end of her sooty nose and decided since she was already damned,she might as well speak the truth.’Only that you think you are beloved by your people,your majesty.’
At Meg’s words,all within the room gasped.’Nonsense!’ the king roared.’I am beloved by my people.Everyone tells me this is so.’
Meg shrugged.’I’m sorry,your majesty,but they have lied to you.You may be feared but you are not loved.’
The king’s eyes narrowed.’I will prove to you that I am loved by my people,and when I have done so,I will have your head to decorate my palace gates.Until then,you may reside in my dungeons.’And with a wave of his hand,Meg was dragged away …
Well!This was a very unfortunate turn of events for poor Meg,for the dungeons of King Lockedheart were not very pleasant.The walls dripped with fetid water,and rats and other vermin skittered across the corridors.There was no light and no heat,and in the distance could be heard the cries of other sad inhabitants of that place.
Things looked very desperate,but as Meg had never had it very easy in her life,she resolved to face this crisis with as much bravery as she could summon.And she vowed as well that whatever happened,she would tell nothing but the truth …
Very early the next morning,Meg was roused from her sleep by the four burly guards.They hustled her up a winding staircase until she was once again in the king’s room.
He sat sprawled on a golden throne,his black beard and hair shining in the morning sunlight.Before him were several dozen guards standinf at attention in strict rows.
‘There you are!’the king snapped.’Now,then,I shall prove to you my people’s love.’He turned to the assembled guards.’My guards,do you love me?’
‘Aye,Sire!’cried the guards with one strong voice.
King Lockedheart smirked at Meg.’You see?Admit now your folly and I might grant you your life’ …
Meg shook her head. ‘That,your majesty,is not love.’
‘What,’The king looked ominous.’If not love,then what is it?’
‘Obedience,’Meg said.’Your guards tell you what you wish to hear out of obedience,your majesty.’
Well!You could have heard the drop of a pin within the throne room.The little blue bird chirped,and the king let out a sigh.
‘Return her to the dungeons,’he ordered the guards.He added to Meg,’And when next you are in my presence,see to it you are properly washed.’
Meg curtsied.’To wash,I’ll need water,soap,and cloth,if it please your majesty.’
The king waved a hand.’See that it is done.’And the guards led her away …
It was a dirty job,but Meg did it cheerfully,for she was glad of the work.But because Meg was so very insignificant,the other inhabitants of the castle never noticed her at her work.
Thus she’d overheard more than a few conversations.So when the King from his balcony above proclaimed how beloved he was,Meg couldn’t help but giggle.She immediately clapped a hand over her mouth,but by then it was far too late …
King Lockedheart bellowed for his guards to bring him the miscreant who had the temerity to laugh at him.Within seconds,Meg was dragged before him,bedraggled and sooty.
‘What is your name?’ roared King Lockedheart.
‘Meg,if it please your majesty.’
He glowered at her.’And what did you find so amusing in my speech?’
The guards and the courtiers,drawn by the commotion,all expected the small maid to throw herself at his feet and plead for her life.
But Meg rubbed the end of her sooty nose and decided since she was already damned,she might as well speak the truth.’Only that you think you are beloved by your people,your majesty.’
At Meg’s words,all within the room gasped.’Nonsense!’ the king roared.’I am beloved by my people.Everyone tells me this is so.’
Meg shrugged.’I’m sorry,your majesty,but they have lied to you.You may be feared but you are not loved.’
The king’s eyes narrowed.’I will prove to you that I am loved by my people,and when I have done so,I will have your head to decorate my palace gates.Until then,you may reside in my dungeons.’And with a wave of his hand,Meg was dragged away …
Well!This was a very unfortunate turn of events for poor Meg,for the dungeons of King Lockedheart were not very pleasant.The walls dripped with fetid water,and rats and other vermin skittered across the corridors.There was no light and no heat,and in the distance could be heard the cries of other sad inhabitants of that place.
Things looked very desperate,but as Meg had never had it very easy in her life,she resolved to face this crisis with as much bravery as she could summon.And she vowed as well that whatever happened,she would tell nothing but the truth …
Very early the next morning,Meg was roused from her sleep by the four burly guards.They hustled her up a winding staircase until she was once again in the king’s room.
He sat sprawled on a golden throne,his black beard and hair shining in the morning sunlight.Before him were several dozen guards standinf at attention in strict rows.
‘There you are!’the king snapped.’Now,then,I shall prove to you my people’s love.’He turned to the assembled guards.’My guards,do you love me?’
‘Aye,Sire!’cried the guards with one strong voice.
King Lockedheart smirked at Meg.’You see?Admit now your folly and I might grant you your life’ …
Meg shook her head. ‘That,your majesty,is not love.’
‘What,’The king looked ominous.’If not love,then what is it?’
‘Obedience,’Meg said.’Your guards tell you what you wish to hear out of obedience,your majesty.’
Well!You could have heard the drop of a pin within the throne room.The little blue bird chirped,and the king let out a sigh.
‘Return her to the dungeons,’he ordered the guards.He added to Meg,’And when next you are in my presence,see to it you are properly washed.’
Meg curtsied.’To wash,I’ll need water,soap,and cloth,if it please your majesty.’
The king waved a hand.’See that it is done.’And the guards led her away …
