5 Chapter 5: ...Prologue...

This is an old story and yet, a new one. You know, every story can be seen from so many different perspectives -- it is told and retold -- and in the end people think it is just a fable... A fantasy. But it is not.

Once upon a time in a great kingdom -- really great -- there lived a king. He was known for his bravery and haughtiness. He was arrogant, it couldn't be denied. However, the people liked him because he was a good ruler. His people were happy. Moreover, they loved him. And they could forgive him his too great pride for they thought it normal for a nobleman of his rank.

No one ever dared contradict him. Many believed that even if he were a normal man, not a king, the situation would have been the same. He just had an aura which made people respect him. Whenever he did something, everyone thought it was fine. This was due to change. His kingdom was ancient Persia. And his name was Shahryar. "Ryar" sounds like a lion's "roar" -- you may conclude impulsively -- and you won't be far from the truth. It will be wise if you remember this, and remember that Shahryar could be as dangerous as a wild lion.

The rumor spread fast among the people of Persia -- Shahryar's first wife had betrayed him and the king found out. He had never been a person you could easily fool. Not many things could be hidden from the king. Full of anger, he ordered his first wife to be beheaded and he swore to himself that every day he would marry a new virgin, and every day he would send yesterday's wife to be beheaded. So he did.

Of course, no one ever dared talk to the king about his personal life. They only guessed. Shahryar's first wife was probably his first love as well. This would explain his anger (even without this, his wrath was explainable). But punishing all women because of her mistake? The king had probably decided that a person cannot have faith in a woman and therefore, there is no point in women's existence and in "love". He had probably stopped believing in love, which is -- and has always been -- the most dangerous illness. If one does not believe in love, it is like not believing in life. And if one doesn't believe in life, it's like not living at all.

No one would excuse the king's cruelty. Soon most of his people started to hate him more than anything else. However, every day, he continued to marry a new virgin and he would send yesterday's wife to be beheaded. In vain his Grand Vizier tried to give him some advice. The Grand Vizier fell into despair. He couldn't understand how a king once so strong and brave like Shahryar could use his power for such a... merciless and unwise act.

The Grand Vizier would say with sorrow,

"I believed that this king had great potential... Now... What should I say to all those crying mothers out there when they come to me? How am I supposed to explain the king's actions to them? Every time I meet them, I wish I didn't exist and I feel so ashamed of being a Grand Vizier."