Storytelling Week 2: The Tale of Two Princes

King Dakin slammed the tankard on the table in celebration.  He was the most powerful king in all the kingdoms and he had just heard news of his first boy being born. As King Dakin finished the warm red wine the rest of his council around him sang the kingdoms hymn with celebration for the future king. Once finished, Dakin walked up the stone staircase to his chamber to meet his exhausted wife, Kiya, holding a sweet little boy. With a quick swift of the king’s massive hands, the little prince was in the arms of his father. King Dakin looked down in awe at his new boy, and muttered, “Welcome to the world Khal”.

Source: Castle 

As the years past Khal grew into his large frame and became one of the strongest men in the kingdom, even rivaling his father. He quickly became an expert with the long blade sword, and even better with an eight food spear he could throw clear across the pasture.  All the boys in the kingdom envied his strength and swordsmanship. By the time he was eighteen, he had seven siblings, six sisters and one brother who was a thousand moons younger. His brother’s name was Kaydo. Now the brothers got along most of the time, however, Kaydo was consumed with the greed and envy of becoming the king instead of his brother. Furthermore, Queen Kiya favored the younger son due to his weaknesses compared to Khal. The Queen and Kaydo conspired a plan to kill the king and pin it on the eldest prince. They wrote the plans on a scroll in order to ensure their success. They would implement the plot against the king on his first hunt of the winter months.

Finally, on a cold winter night, the King went on a hunting trip with the two boys for sport. The men crept along the frozen stream, swords and spears in hand. Just about when they gave up, they heard a rumbling noise in the distance. Out of nowhere jumped a huge boar with tusks longer than the spear Khal possessed. As the boar attacked the king, Khal launched his spear with blistering speed into the side of the boar’s head. The boar let out a deafening cry as it took its last breath. The king, breathing heavily, grinned at Khal looking at their hunting feat. Just as Khal and King Dakin embraced in victory, Kaydo slid his sword into the back of the King, mortally wounding him. Khal yelled out in horror, seeing his father fall down and breathe his last breath. Kaydo then turned his attention towards Khal and tried to give him the same fate as the King. In disbelief, Khal picked up his spear out of the boar and in utter anger threw his spear into Kaydo. Kaydo was slowly dying as Khal peered down at him. Kaydo slowly realized the terrible mistake he has done by trying to take over the kingdom. As he laid their dying, he spoke to Khal.

“Khal, these actions I have done engulf the worst decision I have ever made. The crooked Queen Kiya, our mother, persuaded me and threatened me to commit these crimes. There is a scroll in my chamber that has written out the details of our plan. Goodbye my brother, I will miss thee.”

Source: Scroll

Khal, in despair, walked back to the kingdom directly to Kaydo’s room. He located the scroll before talking to anyone. As he entered the eating chamber, he looked right into Queen Kiya’s face he dropped the scroll onto the table. In utter disbelief that Khal had located the scroll, the Queen broke down crying for she knew of her fate. Khal, in his empathy for his mother, spoke the words, “you shall be banished to the forest for every moon until darkness”. As Kayo wept for what happened, he realized he was now the King. He had to be what everyone thought he was, a strong and intelligent King. As he walked out of his chamber to the balcony, he looked out at his new kingdom where his mother and father will no longer reside, ready for a new beginning.  

Author's Note: My inspiration for the Prince Khal is of Rama and his excellent wielding of weapons, along with his strength and knowledge. The King Dakin and Queen Kiya have a first-born son that is destined to be the king. They soon have a son a thousand moons (a little over three years younger) younger who will never be king because of age. The Queen favors the youngest son Kaydo, therefore they plot to kill both the King and Khal. The three men go on a hunting trip, which I received inspiration from Game of Thrones when Robery Baratheon dies. Kaydo kills the King and tries to kill Khal. This fails and he is then mortally stabbed by Khal. Kaydo, in remorse for what he has done, tells of a scroll that has written the plans of Kiya and him. Khal returns from hunting to face his mother, a murderer. Instead of executing his mother for her crimes, he has empathy and only banishes her. This is inspired from Rama himself  because he is a very forgiving and empathetic king. This was great to implement into my story because I feel that empathy is one of the best characteristics of a king. Khal is now the king of all these kingdoms as he watches his mother be exiled. Also, the Queen trying to make her son a king is inspiration from the Ramayana section, "Kaikeyi and Dasharatha".

Bibliography: Mackenzie, Donald, "Kaikeyi and Dasharatha". Indian Myths and Legend. Warwick Globe. (1913). Web Source: Project Gutenberg