The Faded Heart

There once was a kingdom called Crystal Heart. It was called that because the people had a crystal over their hearts. The king and queen were very proud of their kingdom. The queen was expressly happy; fore soon she was to give birth. The king had prepared for his child. Even down to the welcoming party. The king made a small mistake. He failed to invite a local witch. As punishment, the witch cursed the baby. "This child will know no joy! Her crystal will be as black as night!" The king laughed at her curse. While the queen rubbed her stomach. 

The next day a little princess was born. The king was overjoyed to see his daughter. So much so, he didn't even notice his wife crying. The moment he saw her, his heart sank. She wasn't crying but she wasn't laughing either. The crystal on her chest was black. That day the kingdom wept, fore the princess will never know joy. The king, for years, begged the witch to release the princess. After five years, the witch said,  "No one can save her! At least, not now. On the princess's fifteenth birthday, right your wrong!" 

The king promised to do as she said. And on the princess's fifteenth birthday, the witch was invited. The king begged her, "Please, release our daughter from this curse!" The witch walked up to the princess, "My princess, your tears have been heard. You will smile soon." The witch touched the princess's cheek. "King! Men from far and wide, will come to marry the princess! The princess has three tasks for them! The one to complete all three tasks, will be her husband! And will brake this curse." 

The princess wept after hearing this. The king made it known that any man can try for the princess's hand. No matter what status he has. Many prince's, dukes, and knights tried and failed. Fore the princess's tasks were too hard. After five years, the king was ready to give up. Until, a knight came running in. "My king! My queen! There are the men outside that insist on coming in! They wish to marry the princess!" "Let them in one at a time!" The princess said. The knight let the first one in. 

"Hello, my lady! I will do anything to make you mine!" The princess started, "I provide light but I'm not a candle. I'm hot but I'm not a bonfire. I rise in the morning but I'm not someone getting out of bed. What am I?" The young man smiled, "The sun! Ha you made that too easy!" The princess raised her hand, "Not so fast you have two more before I call you husband." The man lowered his head as he waited. "I am swift and nimble. My nose is pointed and ears are sharp. I am red and live in a small family. What am I?" 

The man thought for a while, "Um, is it a scarlet ibis?" The princess shook her head. The guards dragged him out and brought the second one in. The princess asked the same question again.  "I am swift and nimble. My nose is pointed and ears are sharp. I am red and live in a small family. What am I?" The man thought, "It's a fox." The princess nodded. "I am what most use to commer beauty. I come in many colors like red, white, and yellow. Be careful when you touch me, fore my thorns are sharp. What am I?" The man smiled, "A rose! Now, my wife!" "I am not yours yet. You have one more." 

The man held himself with confidence. "From birth, I lost something. Every day it hunts me. I cry and cry but only one can save me. Can you tell me what I have lost?" The man frowned as he thought. "I got it. It's a family heirloom!" The princess began to cry as the king called the guards. The last man walked in laughing. "Oh my, what a wonder? To see my brothers both failed was enough to put a smile on my face. But now that smile is gone, fore a maiden so fair is in tears." The princess pulled herself toward and asked the first riddle.

 "I am swift and nimble. My nose is pointed and ears are sharp. I am red and live in a small family. What am I?" "A fox! Do you like foxes? I know I do!" The princess nodded. Than asked, "I am what most use to commer beauty. I come in many colors like red, white, and yellow. Be careful when you touch me, fore my thorns are sharp. What am I?" "A rose! Aren't they pretty? I'll go pick you some! Would you like that?" The princess blushed and nodded. Before she could say another word, he was gone. A few moments later he returned with a bouquet of roses and a fox. "This little guy was following me! I am really for the third riddle now!" 

The princess took a deep breath, than asked, "From birth, I lost something. Every day it hunts me. I cry and cry but only one can save me. Can you tell me what I have lost?" The man looked at her and said, "Your smile." I shook the princess said "Yes, that's right. I lost the ability to feel joy. You are the first man to answer all of my riddles right. So, you will be my husband." The man stepped forward, "I am the sun and the moon. Everything pure and good. Without You, I am nothing. What am I?" The princess didn't know. "What?" The man gave a big smile. He handed her the roses and began standing on his head.

 "Come on my dear! You know it! What am I?" As he continued, she began to smile. "A joker?" "Nope! Try again!" "How about a fool?" "Not quite!" With each answer, he acted weirder. Which after a while, made the princess laugh. The king was overjoyed to finally hear such a noise from her. After hours of laughing and guessing, the princess sat down to rest. "I give, dear! What is it?" The man smiled, kissed her forehead and said, "Love! The answer was love!" She kissed him. "Thanks to you, I'll get to experience more emotions." "I just wanted you to be happy." "I am! I don't think I'll be sad for a long time! I love you!" "I love you too!"

The End