The Crown Is Heavy

The King had been King for 40 years and greatly grew the anger towards him. One of his hecklers grew weary of complaining and challenged the King:

“Even I, a simple man, could better the King a hundredfold!”. 

The King, willing to take any challenge, approached the man. 

“At your will” he said leant into his face “I warn you deeply, the crown is heavy”. With him handing over the crown to the man, he walked away and vanished.

The man held the crown in his hand and weighed it. 

“This is as light as a feather, the crown is no heavier than a feather!” he exclaims toward the cheering crowd. Wasting no time he decreed his first act. “There is to be a new castle built, on the hill next to the forrest. There, I will live”

The plans were set and work began the very next day, when a ragged looking farmer came to the King’s throne.

“Your grace, your castle is being built in my field” he said “Where will my livestock graze?”

“No matter!” the King replied “I will move your livestock into the next field, where they can graze and they will have more space to do so.”

“Thank you very much!” praised the farmer “Thank you!”. The farmer left, leaving the King with a grin of self satisfaction.

“No problem at all” the King mumbled to himself.

So, the King organised the farmer a new field and the castle was to commence building once again. But the very next day, another man came in to the King’s throne:

“Your grace, there are livestock in my field!” he said distressingly “Eating all my crops!”.

The king pondered:

“No matter” said the King, “I will have my men re-plant your crops into the nearby field. Any crops still left your filed will be harvested and delivered to you”.

“Thank you, your grace!” said the man, as he strode out of the building.

The King’s smile increased.

“I believe I am becoming good at this” he said smugly “I make them happy and myself happy too!”.

The crops were planted in a new field and the castle building was to begin again, when a third time an elderly woman approached the throne.

“Your grace!” she shrieked, “There is a man in our field planting crops! That is where we have the weekly dance!”.

Now the King had to think longer, in fact he took some time.

“No matter!” eventually replied the king “The dance will move to a new location, there’s a patch of woodland that is perfect. It is well lit and just on the border of the wood itself”

“Thank you, your grace!” she shrilled “The old king never took notice of the dance before!”. With that she walked away from the throne.

The King was now in a boastful rage.

“The old king!” exclaimed the King “I am better than the old king!”

The King danced around the throne exclaiming these exact words, never lacking in joy. 

Days went by, as did the nights and a castle was emerging upon the hill. No one had come in again to complain of the castle and it seemed all was at rest. But, when the last brick was laid, the King had an unwelcomed visit. 

The farmer, the man and the elderly lady all lead the entire village to the step of The King’s throne.

“The Castle has blocked the pathway for my livestock!” heckled the farmer “I took the cliff route around the castle and they all fell to their death”!

The King in stunned daze tried to apologise. 

“I’m sor-”

“The Castle blocks the sun!” interrupted the man, “Preventing my crops from growing!”.

“I should ha-”

“The Castle has destroyed the roots of the trees!” cried the old woman “They caved in on us folk and crushed nine people to their death!”

The Village backed the King to his throne, surrounding him in a sea of anger. Then, without a moment, the old king appeared.

“I am ever so glad you are here!” cried the King, “I don’t know what to do now!”

The old king stood at his side and took the crown from his head.

“Sir, the crown is heavy” said the old King, “heavier than you thought. To wear the crown, you must carry the weight and not lighten the load”.

The ‘King’ leapt from the throne and out of the door, never to be seen again.