1 The Price for the Princes

The king lived in a palace happy with the queen and the princes in a palace near the forest. There was plenty of food and laughter, and all the villagers loved the king. He ruled with wisdom, might, and courage. One day, a prince was sent by the neighboring village to present a marriage proposal to the village's princes. The proposal was to be done to the king himself, and there were other witnesses. The young Prince from the neighboring village brought several of his guard's men and numerous gifts for the soon to be the father in law. He was safely and happily welcomed on reaching the village and had to dine with the king as they make the wedding arrangement. The union would unite the two kingdoms and ensure peace and tranquility in all villages. Additionally, it would strengthen the treating between the two kingdoms, for they would be one great kingdom. However, the king had one request.

Before marrying the princes, the Prince had to go to the forest and bring the most beautiful flower. Beautiful flowers were known to reside in the middle of the deep forest, and there was plenty of myths surrounding the acquiring of the beautiful flowers. The king reiterated that he had lots of gold in his bunker; thus, he did not want more gold. However, the young man who would marry his daughter must bring the most beautiful flower in the middle of the forest. Indeed, the young man had to go alone without the guards. He was only allowed to carry food and water. Only the king knew what it takes to get the flower. However, he did not have an option but to let the young man go without giving him the secret.

The following day, the young Prince had to leave the kingdom and go deep into the forest searching for the most beautiful flower. However, he was not given a map not was he given anything but food and water. The forest was known to be dark and dangerous. No one ever dared go into the deep forest. And the few that went never came back to tell the story. Thus he braced himself, and he waved goodbye to the villages as he walked straight into the forest. Undoubtedly, he was scared and trembling. However, his love for the princess and the love of the villagers kept him going.

Suddenly, he walked into the woods, and it was dark. He could not see where he came from; neither could he see where he was going. The trees and bushes started closing his tracks that he cannot return. However, as he walked, bushes and thickets opened up the way for him to move forward. It was as if the forest knew he was a prince. Thus they paved the way for him. After a long walk, the trees stopped, paving the way for him. He could not move forward or backward. He tried talking to the trees, but to no avail. He got tired and felt helpless. He gave up the journey as was willing to go back. However, he could not go back because the trees had locked him, and he could not find his way home. Being angry, hungry, exhausted, and tired, he slept on the ground to freshen up.

While sleeping, the trees carried him to the river and left him there to drink when he woke up. After some hours, the Prince woke up nest to a river. He drank as much water as he could and even carries some. He had regained his energy and was now ready t continue with his journey of finding the requested flower. However, the trees did not pave the way for him.

On the contrary, there were bushes and thickets all over that he could not move an inch to the forest. The only place he could move to was to the river. Thus he walked to the river and tried swimming. However, the river was very accommodating to him. While the water was flowing downstream, he was carried upstream by the water. For several hours, the water carried him upstream, and he never got wet. He enjoyed the scenic view of the forest and loved every step of his journey.

However, on reaching upstream, the river threw him over the river bank and streamed down. Undoubtedly, he had entered an unknown land. There was a clear demarcation of the forest and the new land. The new land had no trees nor bushes. Just some roots that were moving on the ground like snakes ready to bite anyone who trespasses their territory. Pushed by his mission, the Prince stepped into what was perceived as no madman's land and started walking. Suddenly, the roots garbed his legs and lifted him high above the ground. He was dropped vigorously, and the trend continued several times. He felt like he had broken all his bones and ribs. However, he was lucky enough to slip his foot through the roots and was thrown very far.

He could not wake up and stare, groaning as he crawled away. However, the roots caught up with him and lifted him high again; they whirled him and threw him as far as possible.

He landed on a mat that made his landing not as injurious as it would have been. The mat was friendly to him and asked him, what do you seek in this dangerous forest? He explained what he wanted in the forest and how he got lost from the beginning. The mat was kind and generous to him. It offered to carry him to where the beautiful flowers were located. Along the way, the mat explained how the evil roots had killed tones of people who visit the forest.

Additionally, he was told how lucky he was to get to that point alive. Probably the gods have been hearing his payer and granted him his wish. He understood that the forest and the river were friendly, but the roots were evil. However, the roots acted as the flower guardians and nothing or allowed to get to the beautiful flower.

On reaching the flowers, he was astonished to see varieties of flowers, all beautiful in their way. There was no specific flower that was more beautiful than the other. They were all beautiful and attractive in their way. They were vibrant ad beautiful. The mat told the Prince that they do not have much time. He had to pick the most beautiful flower ad to leave it at once. However, the place was beautiful and lovely. He wanted to spend more time in the area. Darkness was setting in, and he had to choose between staying in the area of moving out to find shelter. Suddenly, it started raining ad the flowers started disappearing. Darkness was setting in, and the heavy downpour was becoming unbearable. Flowers were quickly disappearing, and the beauty of the area was suddenly fading away. He had to choose whether to pick the flower or find a shade from the rain. However, he braced himself and dashed to pick one of the flowers.

After picking the flower, the rain stopped, and the darkness that was glooming suddenly disappeared. The flowers that were fading away and disappearing suddenly appear brighter and more radiant than before. He was in a dilemma. Does he go back home with the flower he picked, or does he throw it away and get a better one. However, the only meat of getting out was the mat. The mat started moving away from him every send that passed. after several minutes, the mat was very far from him ad still moving. He decided to keep the flower he had picked and run for the mat. he begged the mat to wait for him, but it refused. He runs faster and faster as if a ghost was chasing him. The mat waited for him and carried him over the dangerous roots up to the river. Luckily, the river was friendly and carried him back to the forest.

The forest helped him walk home safely and soundly. The villages were astonished by the young prices' courage to go to eh forest alone ad come back. Additionally, the king was happy and pleased to see the young prince with a flower. The test was not the flower but the ability to stick to one flower even when an opportunity presented better and more beautiful flowers.