First of three parts. 

There was, when the earth was young, a faraway kingdom, where magic filled the land and great deeds kept the oceans full, the mountains high, and the forests rich and verdant.

It was a time of plenty. Many creatures lived in peace, side by side, without fear of molestation.

But the Appetites of the creatures grew, and Evil entered the world. The Egos of the creatures were formed and became stronger, and the species learned competition, and came to crave domination.

And so the skies darkened and the forests grew dangerous.  Orcs and Goblins, Trolls and Wargs, even Giant Spiders, grew in the forests.

At times they even threatened the king’s palace and his city.

The king saw the Evil and its dangers. He formed a great army to destroy it.  The war was long and savage, and many died.

The forest floors were soaked in blood; the bones of men were turned to spears by Goblins and to toothpicks by the Trolls; the blood of men was drunk by Giant Spiders.

But the king would not turn from the course that he had set.

With a broad, jewel-encrusted, magical sword in his hand – a sword, when wielded with bravery for Good, that had the power to subdue any enemy – he pursued the Evil to the farthest reaches, burning Goblins and Wargs, dismembering Trolls and Giant Spiders.

The people of the kingdom saw the armies the king had put into the battles, and their power, and called him the Great King.

When the killing fields cleared and the war ended, the Great King had triumphed.

Although there was still Evil in the forest, it did not have the strength to challenge the Great King or his city.  When he died, the kingdom was safe, and much of the forests secure.

The Great King had a beautiful son, so loved by the people for his good heart that they called him the Kind Prince while the Great King lived, and the Kind King after the Great King died.

His heart was as beautiful as his visage; his goodness obvious in all that he did.

He hated Evil, and he hated killing, and he hated war, whose terrible destruction to the Goblins and Wargs, Trolls and Giant Spiders, was equaled by the terrible suffering that the kingdom had endured.

(To be continued)

Mr. Smith, an attorney, may be contacted at gsmith@irell.com