"There is a tower in the heart of the Great Forest. As the Forest is the heart of the Land, so to the tower is the heart of the Forest. And on a summer's day, when the sky is clear and the sun is shining, the tower appears to blaze in the brightness of day as though made of fire. Indeed, there are men who say the tower is a flaming pyre, a sign sent by the gods. And there are those say the tower is carved of purest gold and silver, and holds riches beyond the dreams of men. Many men have sought out the tower seeking such riches. But none of them returned. And there more stories, many, many more about the tower and its mysteries. But they are wrong, child, they are all wrong. Let me tell you now, the tower is carved from ivory. Pure ivory cut from the bones of the last of the great dragons. And in this tower there lives a powerful enchanter…"
"Grandmother?"
"Yes child" the old woman replied patiently. Red light shone from the embers of the fire behind her, casting faint warmth about the cottage. Outside a chill wind whistled as it tried to gain entry. The girl shivered in the draught and drew the sheets tight around herself to stave off the bitter cold.
"I have heard this story before."
"It is an important story, child," the old woman went on. A single candle beside her cast odd shadows, etching deep the wrinkles marking her age. "We remember the old stories, because they have lessons to teach us. Children who are too poor mannered to listen to the stories told by their elders do not grow old enough to have such poor mannered children of their own. You would do well to listen and learn child."
"Yes Grandmother," the girl replied meekly. She lay back and waited quietly for the old lady to continue. The old woman looked down upon the girl who would not hold her gaze, and her expression softened. "But there are many stories. And many lessons to learn. You are still so very young, and there are many tales you must hear." She paused in thought and sighed a gentle sigh before beginning once more.
"A long time ago, in the land bordering the north of the Forest, there was a kingdom, a vast and powerful kingdom ruled by a wise King and his Queen. Since taking the throne they had ruled wisely and ruled well and their subjects were happy. So too the King and Queen were happy. Happy in all ways but one. For though they had waited a great many years, the King and Queen had no heir.
"More years passed until it seemed all hope was lost. But then a great cheer rose throughout the land; It was discovered the Queen was to bear a son, an heir to the throne. Upon the day that child was born the celebrations began, celebrations the likes of which were never seen before and have never been seen since.
"As time passed the child grew, and a handsome child he was. There were those who said the boy had everything any child could possibly wish for. And they were right, for he grew up strong and handsome and few hesitated to tell him this, and anything he wished for he was given. And there were those who said he had too much, and they too were right. For so long had the King and Queen waited for a child that they spoiled him, giving him everything and denying him nothing. And in this they did not see the danger. Blinded by their love they raised a spoiled, selfish and, oh, such a very vain prince.
"As the boy grew older and stronger so to did the King and Queen grew ever more old and frail. Knowing that day the Prince would take the mantle of king was fast approaching they urged him to find a bride so that they might see their grandchild and know that their lineage would continue after their passing.
"So it was that the Prince began his search. Kings from far and wide sent their daughters forth seeking a marriage between their kingdoms as much as between their children. But the Prince would have none of this. His kingdom was a wealthy one, and he had scant need of more money or more lands. Instead he sought only beauty, and decreed, to his parent's dismay, that he would marry only the maiden whose beauty matched his own. So from even further afield lords and ladies sent their children. But none would satisfy him. The eyes are all wrong he would say of one, the nose too big or the teeth too long of another. Hundreds of the most exquisite young women the world had ever seen came before him, but all he rejected. It mattered little to him, how good of heart, or how kind or wise any girl was. All he cared about was beauty.
"Then the day came, whence returning from a hunt, he spied a young girl from a nearby village fetching water. Though her hair was straggled and unkempt, though her skin was covered with dirt, something about the girl struck him. He ordered the girl returned to the palace with him. The girl objected furiously, but her pleas fell on dear ears. His soldiers took her forcibly. Still she struggled and told him that the water was need by her father in his illness. The Prince told her to come with him or he would have her father put to the sword. With these words the girl's will to fight left her. She followed the Prince. Upon reaching the palace he sent for his servants and ordered them to bath the girl and clothe her in a dress suitable for a princess.
"Once they had finished, the servants stood back at gaped at the sight before them. Immediately they sent for the Prince. When he arrived he could not believe how the girl was transformed. He had left a young farm girl in the care of his servants and he returned to find beauty such as he had never witnessed. When finally he stopped his admiration he looked upon her and told her, "You will marry me." And the girl looked back, knowing already the kind of man he was, and knowing that it could mean her death to refuse, she told him "No, sir I will not." At this the halls of the palace echoed with the howls of the Prince's fury, for this girl was the first in all his life ever to refuse him. He raised his hand and struck the girl across the face. Such was the force of the blow that it knocked her to the ground. "You will marry me," The Prince screamed at her, "You will marry me or hang for your impertinence'. Slowly the girl raised herself to her feet, and blood fell from her face where the Prince's hand had landed. She looked at the Prince and, in a voice calm with defiance, she told him, "Though it may mean my death; no sir I will not marry you."
"The Prince seethed with rage, and for a moment the girl thought he would strike her down there and then. But the Prince, though vain and selfish, was not a stupid man and he would not be denied his prize. Once more he looked at her and told her in a voice little more than a whisper, such was his anger, "You will marry me or I burn your village." The girl stared at the ground and for a moment sagged before him. Then she drew herself up and looked up at him, her eyes blazing with hatred. "Sir, I will marry you. I will marry you to spare my village. But I will never love you."
"They were married on the following day and the bride's face was as pale as the dress she wore, save for a vivid red scar where the Prince's blow had struck.
"The time came to pass when the old King and Queen died and the Prince became King and the girl became Queen. The new King cared little for his kingdom. For him it was little more than a place to hunt and it's people little more than a source of amusement. It fortunate indeed then that the new Queen cared, fortunate indeed you see. For the girl the Prince had taken as his bride was as wise and kind and good as the Prince was cruel and selfish and careless. And if the new King failed to take his duties seriously, the new Queen was more than mindful of his responsibilities. "But the King grew jealous of his wife. For the people of the Kingdom grew to love her, far more so than he. The story of how the most beautiful Queen in the world came to bear a scar on her cheek was now known by all, and as the people came to despise him for it, so he came to hate his wife. With his anger and jealousy mounting each day, the Prince plotted to kill his Queen. The day came when he turned to her and demanded of her 'You will join me on my hunt this morning.' The Queen had no desire to hunt, but she had long since learned to humour her husband's foul moods and agreed to follow. The King ordered the few soldiers he considered most faithful to him to accompany them and together they set out. The King, the Queen and the soldier's rode deep into the Forest, a foolish thing to do, even then, but the King cared not. When finally they stopped, the King drew forth his dagger and turned to his wife. As soon as she saw his eyes the Queen knew the danger she faced and spurred her horse to escape. The King ordered his soldiers to catch her. They rode swiftly after her, but the Forest has many paths and it is all too easy for the unwary or the desperate to become truly lost. So the soldiers never found the Queen. And when they returned to tell this to the King, of him they found no trace. Neither the King nor the Queen returned from the forest that day. Nor on any of those following. And there are none who can say what happened that day.
"Of course there were stories. There are always stories. Some have said the Queen escaped the soldiers and found her way to the ivory tower and perhaps befriended the enchanter who lived there. Some have that the King still wanders through the Forest to this very day lost and alone, as a punishment for his evil ways ever seeking a path that will lead him home. But there are always many stories, and it is wise to be mindful of the things people say child..." And with those words old woman looked down upon the young girl, now sleeping softly beside her, and smiled a sad smile. Slowly she drew herself up and stood for a moment silhouetted in the light from the candle. And then there was only darkness.