Plot Summary
Story Line
A long, long time ago, when unicorns still roamed the forests and the merfolk still dwelt in the shallow wares frequented by men, there ruled in the kingdom of Daventry King Edward and his lovely Queen. The people of Daventry were prosperous and happy, and everywhere peace reigned. But the King and Queen were sad because they were childless. They had no son to inherit the throne, nor a daughter to gladden their hearts. One bright, sunny day King Edward the Benevolent (for so he was called) and his Queen were walking in the castle garden when suddenly before then appeared a powerful sorceror. "I know your problem and I can cast a spell that will bring you a child," he said.
"Oh, great sorceror, if you can help us, we will be everlastingly grateful," said the Queen.
"We will bestow upon you many honors, and great riches," said the King.
"I have no use for honors or riches. My payment will not be so great. All I ask in return is the mahogany- framed Mirror that hangs in your private chamber.
The sorecor's words game them pause, for that Mirror was priceless. It had the power to read the future, and helped to keep Daventry prosperous. The royal couple used it to foretell the weather for planting and harvest, as had the kings and queens before them. It had been hundreds of years since a crop had been planted before the last frost, or had been ruined by autumn rain. what the sorceror desired was indeed valuable. The King and Queen retired to their chamber to consult the magic Mirror.
King Edward and his wife gazed int othe Mirror's depths and saw a young princely figure with a gold crown upon his head. Imagining the youth to be the son they yearned for, the royal couple gladly bestowed the Mirrow upon the sorceror. He took it to his dwelling where he set one of his beasts to guard over it.
The months passed and the Queen did not conceive a child. For the first time in four hundred years, Daventry lost the harvest to an early autumn rainstorm. The King and Queen wept, and everyone tightened their belts. Instead of having excess produce to sell to neighboring kingdoms, the people of Daventry had to supplement their stores with food bought elsewhere.
With famine came the dreaded Plague, and the Queen was stricken. For three days she lay in the grip of a great fever, and Edward maintaining a constant vigil by her side.
On the fourth day of the Queen's illness, a diminutive figure pushed his way between the legs of the castle guards. "I have a cure for the Queen," he claimed. Quickly the courtiers ushered him into the Queen's chamber, where the King despaired.
"I have traveled a great distance to bring relief to your dear wife. This powerful root known only to dwarves will cure any plague."
The dwarf leaned over the Queen and touched the root to her lips. Her eyes fluttered open and she smiled at Edward.
The Queen's attendants looked at each other in wonderment. "Only a touch revived her," the wispered. "Imagine how fast she will recover when given the whole root!"
"Ask any reward for this miraculous gift, oh small one," exclaimed King Edward.
"I ask in repayment the Shield left you by your father when he died," said the dwarf softly.
The King paled at the thought, The Shield, made of titanium and set with emeralds, was traditionally carried in battle by the ruler of Daventry. Legend held that he who bore the Sheild was invincible, and his army always victorious. Thus there had been no successful attacks on the kingdom of Daventry for over five hundred years.
"Ask again little man. I will give you your weight in gold, but please do not ask for the Shield," said the King.
"You do not appear to value your wife's life, your highness," said the dwarf. "I will take no other reward than that which I have requested." Haughtily he turned to go.
"Come back," Edward called. "I'll give you the Shield." The Dwarf too the shield, and secreted it away in a hole in the ground, in the way of Dwarves.
The Queen partook of the root, but to no avail. She worsened and died. Daventry's church bells tolled in mourning, and the King vowed vengence against the false dwarf. Years passed, and the news of the loss of he Shield spread. Armies attacked the weackened Daventry, and the King went out to lead his armies without the Shield. Never before did they have need of the Mirror to foretell enemy moves. Now, that too was gone.
Many years passed, and the King was very lonely. One day, while out riding with his courtiers, Edward came upon a pack of wolves tearing at the lower limbs of a big tree. When the group approached, the wolves scattered to reveal a beautiful young woman perched in the tree.
She descended regally. "I thank you for the rescue, kind sirs. I am the Princess Dahlia, of Cumberland. I was traveling through this land when that pack of wolves fell upon my group. My bodygaurd fled in terror from their fangs, leaving me quite alont. I owe you my life, and my heartfelt gratitude."
The King was charmed with the Princess Dahlia, and brought her back to his castle to visit. He felt new life coursing through his veins, and knew it was because he had met someone who might fill the loneliness left my his late Queen.
In due time Edward asked Dahlia to marry him, and she accepted. The people of Daventry were wildly excited at the prospect of a new Queen (and hopeful again of an heir), and made preparations for a glorious wedding celebration.
One the night before the wedding, when the air was thick with toasts and merriment, Princess Dahlia bid Edward good night. He never noticed her hand stealing up to his belt and extracting the ring of keys hanging there. Much later, the Royal treasurer approached the King with alarming news.
He had discovered the treasury door standing open, withte King's own key in the lock. The Princess Dahlia had been inside, holding a small Chest of gold.
The treasurer stood frozen to the spot. The Princess' bright laughter changed to a witch's cackle as her form grew old and withered. She grasped the Chest and mounted her broom to fly out the open window. The treasurer watched in dismay as she swooped up through the clouds and disappeared.
When the King heard the news, he wept in despair. That Chest was magic, and the last great tresure remaining in Daventry. No matter how much was taken from it, the Chest always remained brimful of golden coins. Without the Chest he could buy no more food, pay no more soldiers.
Many more years passed, and Daventry grew poor and weak. King Edward was old and feeble, and say that his end was near. Fearing that the country would fall into even greater disorder when he died, he send for his favorite knight, Sir Graham.
"Your are the bravest and truest knight in my kingdom, Sir Graham. Long ago I envisioned your form in my magic Mirror, and thought I was seeing my son and heir. The years have proven me at least half wrong. But the prophecy may yet be fullfilled. To prove yourself worthy of my crown, I command you to journey out into the world and retrieve te three great treasures taken from Daventry by treachery and stealth. Succeed in this great quest, and you shall become King upon my death. Fail, and our beautiful Daventry will grow over weaker until it is invaded and conquered by unfriendly nations. This I promise by all that is honorable and right."
"May you return victorious, Sir Graham!"