The Prince and the Key

Once, in the kingdom of Réimse there was a king who had two sons. They were twins and their names were Chéad and Dara, which means ‘first’ and ‘second’ in our tongue, and their mother had died when they were only children. They looked exactly alike, and only those who knew them very well could at first tell them apart. However, it soon became clear that they were otherwise very different. Where Dara was patient and thoughtful, slow to anger and quick to make friends, Chéad was impatient and heedless and swift to take offence. Still, one of the two would rule one day when their father, King Rialóir died.

And so, time passed and the two boys grew up to be men, while their father ruled the kingdom wisely and fairly, as good kings do. But all knew he would not live forever and so the people of Réimse began speaking about his successor. Most preferred Dara to become king, as he appeared to be the better man.

“He is good and he is peaceful,” they would say. “Who better to rule than one who thinks before he acts and gathers good advisors around himself?”

Others, on the other hand, wanted Chéad to rule.

“Indeed, he is sometimes quick to anger,” they would say. “We need a king who does not simply speak and listen, ruminating endlessly, but who is willing to act should the need arise!”

And so, as King Rialóir gradually grew old and weary, it became clear there was no successor whom all would be content with. Dara would have gladly conceded the throne to Chéad, but his friends and advisors insisted he became king, pointing out his brother’s flaws. And so, he often perused the library of the castle in search of a solution for the problem. One day, he found and ancient manuscript entitled ‘The Princess and the Key’.

It contained a tale about a brave prince who climbed a mountain top where there lived a princess who held the key to happiness. They married and had children, and their offspring and the offspring of their offspring settled in all parts of the Green Country, founding their own kingdoms. And one of these had taken the key with him and deposited it under the keystone of their own castle! According to the manuscript, at the foundation of the castle there was a room, the door of which could only be opened by this mysterious key. And the room was called ‘the Chamber of Desire’, in which all wishes became real.

Dara nodded to himself: This was what he wished, this was what the kingdom needed. His greatest desire was for the realm of his father not to be split asunder by a contention of the brothers and their supporters for the crown. And so, he approached his brother and told him about his findings.

“And all we desire will come true?” Chéad asked, “For thou knowest I desire for the better man to become kin