A Fairy Tale

For LL in the UK

Most fairy tales have a happy ending and so does this one.

Once upon a time there was a prince. He had led a varied life serving his country and creating wealth, not only for himself, but for others. Sadly, some years in the past his princess died and he was grief stricken. Then what he thought was impossible happened. Along came another 'princess' and he was bowled over by her and her apparent affection. A few months of happiness was enjoyed by the prince.

He thought it might go on forever, but it was not to be.

His second princess was given to drinking more alcohol than was sensible and, during one of these bouts of drinking, she let slip that she had been seeing another prince. The prince thought on this for a while and gave her one chance. She failed to commit to it and so he decided that there were probably other princesses in the kingdom and beyond, and went out to seek them.

There were many, more than he ever imagined. From then on he did his best to keep her but it seemed she couldn't stay with just one prince so he decided to manipulate matters so that she would leave him of her own accord. She did.

Eventually, he moved to another kingdom, met a really beautiful princess and for many years lived very happily.

She, the original princess, met an ogre albeit a reasonable one and was unable to leave his clutches. Eventually, in time she grew to be like him. Her destiny was now locked into a rut of habitual activities. Often she would dream of how life might have been had she acted differently.

Then reality would force her back into the present and the 'lot's he had brought on herself.

The prince lost his second princess when she passed away, but  now has many princesses that fill his time and his needs. His move to the other kingdom brought with it more riches to add to those he already possessed and he was very happy with all that he had.

The End