PRINCES OF MAGONIA!
YOU ARE SUMMONED TO VIE FOR THE HAND OF PRINCESS AMIRA!
Fifty answered the royal command. Upon seeing Amira, everyone gasped; she was stunning. The double of her late grandmother, she grew more beautiful every year .. skin as white as porcelain, eyes as blue as crystal waters and hair the color of the stars. Her loveliness was surpassed only by her cleverness. She longed to be married but found men boring and inane.
Amira motioned for everyone to sit and in a confident voice addressed them:
“One among you will be my husband! Marriage is not based solely on appearances. To win my hand, you must be clever and smart. These fifty parchments, one for each of you, contain three riddles. You have two days to solve them. Record your answers on the parchment, returning them to my secretary. Use your brain; only a clear head and clever mind will win my hand.”
Forty succumbed on day one. On day two, the remaining ten reported to Amira’s secretary. Nine answered incorrectly and were dismissed. Only one had all correct answers. Placing the parchment in her desk, the secretary presented 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 could not answer your riddles.”
“And YOU can? Let us begin!”
“I can only live where there is light but will die if light shines on me. What I?”
Khalil answered “A shadow.”
“The more there is, the less you see. What am I?”
He replied “Darkness.”
“What disappears the moment you say its name?”
Khalil said “Silence.”
“Excellent, Khalil! All correct! But you tried to fool me.”
“Wahid is a dolt, besotted only by your beauty. He is not worthy of you. Please afford me one opportunity. I have a riddle for YOU. If you answer correctly, we shall marry. If not, I will leave immediately.”
Intrigued, Amira agreed.
“He loves a princess though his blood is not royal.
He has nothing to give, just a heart that is loyal.
He has no earthly treasure but is clever and smart.
And can promise his bride all the love in his heart.”
“Who am I, Amira?”
Reaching for Khalil’s hands and drawing him closer, Amira whispered:
“The answer is YOU.
You are honorable, clever, fair of face
AND
my future husband.”
NAR © 2018
The Elephant's Trunk 