The King’s Rose

Once upon a time in a far, far away kingdom where there was war and sometimes peaceful times throughout the land, The Thorenel Kingdom. Where a king lives and rules over. His name is King Franz Herbert II. He is known for being very cruel and harsh to his people and enemies.

King Franz has two sons named Prince Henry Herbert, who is the oldest and Prince Lewis Herbert, who is the youngest. Both of the Princes love to hunt on the royal hunting grounds, study and read books in the royal library in their freetime. They are both very good with handling hunting bows and arrows. They also love good sparring with swords. The two princes have been very close and very good friends to each other since childhood.

One day on the royal hunting grounds, both Princes were on their horses looking for something to hunt, when Prince Lewis said to Prince Henry,

“Verily, a sweltering day doth grace us, doth it not?”

Henry chuckled, “Verily, brother, the hunting grounds doth swelter with heat.”

“I dost ponder, shall we find any conies this day?”

“Hark, I know not, yet if fortune forsakes us this day, morrow shall ever dawn anew.”

“Thou art in the right, verily.”

They continued their hunting search. A few hours later they finally found a whole Fluffle of wild bunnies.

Lewis smiled, “Hark, good sir, observe them frolicking hither and thither! Verily, they are most winsome.”

Henry laughed, “Verily, most fair are they; let us acquire one, posthaste.”

After hunting a few rabbits.

Henry asked. “Pray tell, Lewis, how many conies didst thou procure?”

“Hark… but two. How many souls standeth afore me?”

“A triad of entities.”

“That is a great abundance, verily.”

“Methinks, 'tis a bounteous plenty.”

They turned their horses around and headed back to the castle.

Meanwhile at the castle in the throne room. King Franz shouted.

“For what reason doth the Duke deny my boon?! Discover what doth detain him… POST-HASTE!”

The King's Advisor replied. “Aye, Your Royal Majesty.”

The Advisor went on his way to the other advisor and said. “Verily, we are aware that fortune smiles not upon our endeavors.”

“Verily, I concur, mine liege.”

“I do hope this doth conclude without any heads being parted from their shoulders, for 'tis a most unseemly spectacle to behold, especially when it doth unfold before one's very eyes, as if it were but yesterday.”

“Verily, agreed, good fellow, agreed! A most unseemly sight it was. Pray, what doth vex the King this time?”

“Hark, 'tis said the Duke doth disregard the King's behest.”

“By my troth, 'tis like a most grievous quarrel betwixt the twain.”

“Verily.”

A few days later, the Duke finally came to the royal castle and entered the throne room, King Franz II asked.

“Wherefore declare unto the Duke mine own denial of audience whenas I bid thee hither?”

The Duke was silent for a while. Then he answered.

“Thy Grace, I was much occupied with thine behest from our prior meeting. Prithee, declare what thou wouldst have me perform this time.”

Franz replied. “Hark! So be it! 'Twas of little import, in any case. Thou mayest depart forthwith.”

“As it pleaseth thy Majesty, so shall it be.”

Then the Duke leaves the throne room with a smirk.

The Duke returns to his office at his manor. He sits in his chair to go over some papers that were on his desk. The Duke's secretary came in and said.

“Hark, Your Grace, a soul doth seek thine audience.”

“Hark, I shall descend thither with utmost haste.” Said the Duke.

Then the Duke enters the secure chambers and looks at the guest saying. “Pray, be seated. Tell me, Marquess, to what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?”

The Marquess answers. “I have dealings of import with thee.”

“And upon what errand doth thy lordship embark, good Lord Gregory?”

“Hark, is that not to be our course with King Franz II? Verily, he must needs be gone.”

“Verily, I concur, my liege. We must needs cast him down, and elevate the Crown Prince to the throne as the new King.”

“Attend ye! We must needs convene a parley with the other Nobles, and the Advisers of the King's Palace.”

Soon after the Marquess left, nightfall came. A thunderstorm came that night and the palace was dead quiet. The Crown Prince Henry, was sleeping in his room when a man, dressed in black from head to toe, came in through the door quietly. The man walks over to Henry and pulls out a dagger and when he tries to stab the Crown Prince, but Henry jolts awake.

Henry kicks the assassin away. The man crashes into a small end table and stumbles. Henry gets up out of bed and starts to attack the assassin. Both of them are fighting, then Henry knocks the dagger out of the man's hand, and pulls his own dagger out. He then killed the assassin.

With the assassin dead and the blood on the bedroom floor. Then the Palace Knights came in to see what had happened, asking.

“Hark, Your Grace! What calamity hath befallen this place? Art thou unharmed?”

Henry answers. “Hark, as thou observest, 'twas a felonious endeavor upon my life; yet, I remain unscathed.”

Then morning came. Prince Lewis had heard about the assassin attack that morning and went to his brother, who was in the Library. Once Lewis finds Henry at a window reading a book.

Lewis shouts. “Hark, Henry! Wherefore didst thou conceal from me the tidings of yestereve? Thou art aware of my concern for thee; prithee, unfold the reason for thy silence.”

Henry replies, “Hark, I did surmise thou wouldst fret thee overmuch. Moreover, I did manage it myself with wondrous skill.”

“Yet, thou couldst have been grievously harmed, or worse, thou couldst have shuffled off this mortal coil!”

“Verily, I knew full well my very life did hang in the balance. What other course might I have pursued, pray tell?”

Right after Henry spoke, a servant came in very quickly to the two Princes, saying.

“His Grace, the Duke, doth summon thee forthwith; he doth desire thine immediate presence.”

Henry replied. “Hark! Tarry no more, brother. Let us make haste to where the Duke doth await our presence.”

Once they see the Duke sitting on a sofa in a room waiting for them, he stands up and says.

“Hark, your Majesties, ye have arrived!”

“Pray tell, what doth summon thee hither?” asked Lewis.

“Hark, Your Highness; I am come to speak of whom shall ascend to the throne as the new King of the Thorenel Kingdom.”

Lewis was confused. “Hark, but do we not already possess a sovereign lord?”

The Duke sighs, then continues. “Hark! 'Tis our desire, we, the Nobility, to cast down the King. Therefore, a new sovereign must rise. Which amongst ye doth aspire to claim the throne?”

Both Henry and Lewis start talking about who should become the new King. Lewis said to Henry,

“Henry, a right noble King thou wouldst make o'er all the Realm. Doth it not strike thee so as well? Forsooth, such arts are not within my meager grasp, yet in thee, they reside.”

“Hark! An it please thee to elevate me to Kingship, then so shall it be.”

Lewis Smiles. “Methinks thee wouldst make a right noble King.”

“Hark, your Majesties, have ye reached a conclusion as to whom shall ascend as the new King?”

The Princes both look at each other. Henry said.

“Verily, good my Lord Daniel”

The Duke smiles. “Verily, 'tis wondrous fair, Your Highness. I shall prepare all with haste and commune with thee anon.”