Riddles Of Love

I wrote this fairytale 14 years ago
for my eldest granddaughter, Mckenna.
I have revised it for my youngest, Colette.

~ THE KING’S DECREE WAS SENT OUT ACROSS THE LAND ~

PRINCES OF MAGONIA!
YOU ARE SUMMONED TO TAKE UP THE CHALLENGE
FOR THE HAND OF HER ROYAL HIGHNESS, PRINCESS AMIRA!

Fifty answered the royal command. Upon seeing Princess Amira, they all gasped; she was a stunning beauty. Her unblemished skin as pure as snow, her eyes sparkling ice blue like crystal waters and her hair the color of the stars. Her loveliness was matched only by her brilliant mind and pure heart. She longed to be married but found most men boring, ignorant and foolish. 

Amira motioned for the princes to sit and in a confident voice she addressed them: 

“One among you will be my husband! Marriage is not based solely on appearances. To win my hand, you must be smart, interesting, humorous and brave. These fifty parchments, one for each of you, contain three riddles. You have two days to solve them. Record your answers on the parchment and return them to Zora, my lady-in-waiting. Use your brain; only a clear head, clever mind and true heart will win my hand.”

Forty gave up on the first day. On day two, the remaining ten reported to Princess Amira’s lady. Nine answered the riddles incorrectly and were dismissed. Only one answered all the riddles correctly. Now it was time for Zora to present the victor to Amira. 

“Greetings, clever prince! What is your name?” 

“I am Khalil but I am no prince. I am squire to Prince Wahid. He was unable to answer your riddles. He fled in embarrassment and I secretly took his place.”

“And you can answer them? Let us see! Zora will read the riddles.”

The first question was offered: “What is born each night and dies each dawn?” 

Khalil answered correctly: “Hope”. Amira was impressed but showed no reaction.

Zora posed the second riddle: “What flares warm like a flame but is not a flame?

Again Khalil answered correctly: “Blood”. Princess Amira was amazed.

Finally, the third question was asked: “What disappears the moment you say its name?

Khalil responded confidently: “Silence”.

“Excellent, Khalil!” said Amira, stunned by Khalil’s clever wit. “All your answers are correct! But I cannot forget that you tried to fool me by pretending to be a prince.”

“Pardon me, your highness; I knew this was my only chance to vie for your hand. Prince Wahid is a dolt, desirous of your wealth and bewitched by your beauty. He is not worthy of you. Please afford me an opportunity to convince you we are truly meant to be together. If I may, I have three riddles to ask you, Princess Amira. If you answer correctly, we will be wed. If not, I am at your mercy.” 

“I am intrigued by your daring nature, Khalil. I will allow your three riddles. Proceed.”

Khalil posed his first riddle to Princess Amira:

“I can only live where there is light but will die if light shines on me. What am I?”

Amira thought for a moment, then answered: “I know! You are a shadow.”

Khalil took a few steps closer to the princess.

“That is correct, your highness” Khalil replied. “Here is your second riddle”:

“The more there is, the less you see. What am I?”

Amira quickly responded with “Darkness.”

Moving closer still, Khalil smiled warmly and whispered “Correct again. And now for your final question, Amira.”

Curious and quite taken by this handsome, clever squire, Amira returned the smile. Khalil began his riddle:

“He is incognito, no birthright of blood royal.
He is patient, caring, determined and loyal.
He has no great wealth but is clever and smart.
He can promise to love you with all his heart.”

Khalil looked deeply into the princess’ eyes. “Who am I, Amira?”

Reaching for Khalil’s hands, Amira drew him closer and whispered:

“The answer is you, Khalil! You are my prince and future husband.”

Amira and Khalil found true love at last. They were married and lived a long and happy life.

The End.

NAR©2024

NB: My inspiration for writing this fairytale came after attending a performance of the opera, Turandot. The aria “Nessun dorma” (“Nobody shall sleep) is first heard in Act III of Puccini’s opera and is performed by the protagonist, Calaf, who falls in love with Princess Turandot at first sight. Before the aria, Calaf has successfully answered all of the Princess’ riddles but she is still rebuking his advances. Calaf is sure of his plan to marry the princess as he has challenged her to find out his name by the morning; if she cannot learn his name by the time the sun rises, she has to marry him. In the last line of the aria, the prince expresses his triumphant assurance that he will win the hand of the princess: All’alba vincerò! Vincerò, vincerò, vincerò (At dawn, I will win! Win, win, win!).

From the 1924 opera Turandot by Giacomo Puccini, this is “Nessun dorma”, sung by the maestro, Luciano Pavarotti.

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