The Royal Poisoning

Once in the kingdom of Lamhant there was a great war among the people. Many wanted the king to be dethroned and started a great rebellion against him. The war lasted many years, but at last the rebellious people of Lamhant broke into the castle and killed the king.

Now, this king was a cruel man. He was full of pride and was never quite satisfied. He got a new wife every month or so, and executed his slaves if his wine was not strong enough. The people had to go to war every year because King Proudpants, (that's what they called him) was bored. You can see where the anger came from.

They crowned a new king named Archibald Henry III. He was decent, but he still had some flaws. The worst one was that he had 700 wives. That means that he had ten percent of Lamhant's women in his royal castle. The people thought him better than Proudpants, because instead of keeping all the power to himself, he had royal advisers that helped rule. And that is where our story begins.

You see, one of the royal advisers had a daughter named Helesha. She was the dream of all the young boys of Lamhant. She was beautiful, clever and very kind. The royal advisers even allowed her into the royal chambers when a meeting was called.

One day, the king got extremely ill. The following day, it was found that the king had been poisoned. The king called everyone of the royal house for a talk.

“My people, we have discovered that a poisoner has been let lose in the castle. The lives of many people are at risk and we must find the culprit. Has anyone seen anything suspicious?”

“I know who it is!” the king's nurse cried.“It's Helesha. Why else would she be here, unless to poison the king!”

“Why me!” Helesha cried. “Everyone knows that I have been loyal to the Royal Family ever since the down fall of King Proudpants! Why would I wait until now to do such a terrible act!”

“Helesha is innocent!” her father yelled. “Why should you be accusing her when you have known her for 7 years!”

“SILENCE!” The King shouted. “ We shall have to condemn her tomorrow. THIS MEETING IS OVER!”

Everyone watched as the King stomped out of the room. He did have a big temper, but this is absurd!

The next day the Court case was held. The King came in in his flowing cape like he was expecting a peaceful case.

“Now,” The judge said. “ Who has been accused of what?”

The following words said are long a complicated story followed by screaming and cursing, so I will brief you. The judge heard the nurse's story and after long consideration he condemned Helesha as guilty, and she was to stay in the dungeons for the rest of her life.

Before we can move on, I need to tell you about Gelash. He was a poor farmer boy in the nearby village of Deninshire. He had long had a secret relationship with Helesha for they had exchanged many letters of love with each other. He was nearing the age of 13, which then he can marry.

That morning he got the news. He knew he had to act fast to save his loved one. That evening he talked to his parents over potato soup and pork.

“Mom, Dad, I need to leave.”

“Why must you leave my dear son?” his mother asked.

“I have a secret relationship with Helesha and I know she is not the poisoner. I want to help.”

“Son, the only way you can help is if you find proof,” his father said. “You have no proof whatsoever of the poisoner, and the king won't let you just waltz in and take her. How are you going to help her?”

“I'll go to the Purple Dragon.”

His parents gasped. The Purple Dragon never lied, and everyone knew it, but his trial to get to him was almost impossible.

“It will be one less mouth to feed,” Gelash added.

“Son....” His father said slowly. “ If that is your desire than you may go.”

“But he will die!” His mother cried.

“It is his decision.”

“Thank you father. I will leave tomorrow.” Gelash was sad to leave home, but he knew it would be the only way to save his loved one.

The next morning he packed up and left. The Purple Dragon's lair was a day's journey, and the trial is who knows long. So he wanted to get a head start.

He finally reached the dragon's lair. There was treasure everywhere, and for a moment he thought that he would just steal the treasure and bribe the king into setting her free, but then he remembered the poisoner would only poison again, so he left the treasure. As he came into the lair, a purple eerie mist surrounded him. As he turned around the corner, he was surprised to see an old library. As he gaped in awe, a clawed finger tapped his shoulder. Gelash turned around and gasped. A huge purple dragon was looming above him.

“What is your business sir? Wanting to know how to get rich? Or . . . getting to know your future? Tell me, please,” rumbled the Dragon. His voice wasn't terrifying or hard, but kind of soft and kind.

Gelash gathered up his courage. “I am Gelash, son of Jortin of Deninshire. I have come for an answer. An answer to . . . ”

“An answer?” The dragon interrupted. “ Let me guess. Who will I marry?”

“No. I wasn't going to ask that.”

“Oh? Then what answer do you want?”

“I want to know who poisoned the King, and how I will prove that Helesha is innocent,” Gelash answered.

“Which King is currently reining?” The Dragon asked.

“You mean you don't know?” Gelash was surprised.

“I have never left this lair. I do not live in time unless someone is in my lair. Now lad, please. Which king is currently reining?”

“I think it's King Archibald Henry III.” Gelash recalled.

“Ah! Him. Follow me and I will give you your test.”

The Dragon lead Gelash into a dark room in the back of the lair. In that room there were what seemed to be portals of some kind. The Dragon led him down a long hallway. At the end of the hallway there seemed to be a green portal.

“You must find two rare herbs: Snakeleg and Lovers Flower. Once you have found them you can call on the portal and it will come. Good Luck.”

The Dragon disappeared down the hallway. Gelash took a deep breath, closed his eyes and stepped through the portal.

Now Helesha was desperately trying to get out. She tried to charm the knights that were guarding her, she tried to pickpocket the keys, she tried everything. She even tried to fight her way out. It didn't work, she ended up with a bloody nose and a bruised arm.

She was devastated. She had been imprisoned for something she didn't do. Her father visited her often. He brought pillows with fine embroidery, lovely meals, even her sewing needle and thread. He tried everything to take his daughter's mind off being imprisoned, but nothing would do it. She hoped someone would get her out.

Lush leaves hit Gelash's face as he stepped onto the new land has was to explore. He quickly brushed the leaves away and set out. He knew that Snakeleg grew in the mountains so he set north where the snow-caped mountains were seen. While he was walking he wondered, “How on earth will I get Snakeleg without getting poisoned? Its so deadly that I will die if I come close to it!”

“I can help,” a voice said from behind.

Gelash was so startled that he fell over. When he looked up, he came face to face with a rabbit.

“Sorry. I didn't mean to frighten you.”

“No you're fine. I didn't expect to see a rabbit with antlers that could talk.”

The rabbit giggled. “I can talk a lot. I'm a Jackalope. My name is Rana.”

Gelash laughed. “I'm Gelash. Now you said you could help?”

“Yes yes! I love getting Snakeleg.”

“Well I can't get close to it or I will die. Do you know how to get it for humans?” Gelash was uncertain.

“Well that's kinda my job. I can't touch it either, and we Jackalopes need it to survive.”

“Oh.”

“Anyway if I get it for you, what will I get?”

Gelash was surprised. He thought of his pork. Would she like that?

“Do you like pork?” He asked Rana

“Like it?! Its the best thing I have tasted!” She cried.

“If you get me Snakeleg and a pouch to put it in, I will give you some pork.” Gelash answered.

“OOOOOHHHH!” Rana cried as she ran off to fetch some.

Gelash laughed. He went over to a nearby tree and sat down. Only a minute later Rana came running back with a big sack on her back.

“Thank you” Gelash said as he gave her some of his pork.

“OOHH! Thank you Thank you Thank you!” Rana cried.

“Rana?”

“Yesh?” Rana said in a mouthful of pork.

“Do you know about Lovers flower?”

Rana sighed. “Yes I know about it. It is very rare because a storm came and ripped the flower out of the ground not too long ago. The legend says that, if it is raining and a lover thinks about his loved one, the flower will grow.”

“Well . . .” Gelash thought. “Does it rain often?”

Rana sighed again. “No, but there is one place I know that we can get rain.”

“Where is that?”

“At the dark swamps. It rains there every day.”

“Can you lead me there?” Gelash was doubtful.

“Can I have the rest of your pork?”

“Yes.”

As Rana sped ahead, he wondered if the legend was true. The Dark swamps doesn't sound very nice and he hoped he wouldn't be sitting there thinking about Helesha for nothing.

“ We are here. I can't go any further.” Rana said.

Gelash gave Rana the rest of his pork. “Alright. I wish you good luck on your journey back to your home Rana.”

“I hope you live Gelash.”

Gelash entered the swamp uncertain. He pulled out his knife and made a makeshift hut out of logs and waited. As the sun went down, he heard a plit. “The rain must be coming.” he thought. Then a big fury paw came down on the ground right next to him. He was terrified. The fury thing past him. A drop of water went down Gelash's back. He held his mouth as not to squeal, but a tiny squeak came out. The paws came back. Gelash held his breath. More drops seeped though the hut. Finally, the paws went on. He could think now. He thought of Helesha and her brown hair, her love, her eyes. Memories came flooding back. He was so focused on thinking that he didn't notice the flowers that were growing around him.

When he looked up, he called the portal. He gathered the heart shaped flowers and went though the portal.

“Welcome back,” The Dragon said as Gelash stepped through the portal.

“I have Snakeleg and Lovers Flower in my pack.”

“Wonderful. I have the answer you seek. Come.”

The Dragon lead Gelash out of the lair.

“You will ride my back and we will fly together.”

“Y-you want to leave your lair? You do not have to to this for me,” Gelash said, shocked.

“It will be fun to spread my wings.”

Gelash stepped onto the Purple Dragon's scaly back. The huge Dragon lifted off into the sky. Gelash had never had so much fun riding anything. Then he spotted the castle.

“ Lad, is that your castle.” the Dragon rumbled.

“Yes!” Gelash shouted.

The dragon gracefully landed in the kings courtyard.

“Go, my Lad!”

Gelash knew what he had to do. He rushed into the throne room.

“Sire! I have proof that Helesha is innocent! Please come!”

The King looked flustered.

“I will come if it relieves me of my pain.”

The king rushed out with Gelash. He gasped at the sight of the Purple Dragon.

“Bring your nurse out here.” the dragon commanded. A moment later the nurse was dragged out.

“And get Helesha and the royal advisers.”

They were brought out very confused, but when Helesha saw Gelash she ran past the guards and into Gelash's arms.

“Now,” The Dragon rumbled. “Look in the nurse's slipper.”

The guards took the nurse's shoe and dumped it out. Inside there contained a small pouch of Sejins poison.

“NNNOOO!” The nurse cried as she was dragged away. “I wanted you to suffer!”

“I must return to my lair. I will be back soon.” The dragon said, and he flew off.

The King and his men rejoiced. Gelash's parents were given so many riches that they were the richest nobles in the land. A big ball was held in the honor of Gelash and Helesha. Everyone was invited to it. In the middle of the ball something very special happened.

“May I have your attention please.” The voice was Gelash's. “It is my honor to present my many thanks to the Purple Dragon. And I want you to witness something very special.”

He turned to Helesha, got down on one knee pulled out a diamond ring, and said, “ Helesha, will make me the happiest person alive and be my wife?”

The crowd held their breath

“Yes!” She cried.

The rest of the night was amazing. The skirts swished and the shoes tapped, But nothing outshone the smiles of Gelash and Helesha.

The End