The Fox and the King

An original fable

 

Once there was a King who threw a ball to celebrate his daughter’s marriage to a deserving young knight. Just before all in attendance sat to enjoy the banquet feast, the King rose to give a short discourse.

 

“ I am heartily grateful that my little Gaudette is to become the wife of such an upstanding young man…”

 

Just outside the castle, a Fox passed by while hunting for rabbits. The scent of all the food at the banquet was irresistible, and he snuck in under the door to see if he could get a free meal.

 

As the King continued his speech, the Fox sneaked through the crowd, all the way up to the throne. While everyone’s eyes were fixed on the King, the Fox came up from behind, grabbed the crown from the King’s head, and tried to rush away, but the guards stopped him.

 

“How dare you disrespect me that way!” bellowed the King. “You are hereby banished from the kingdom! Anyone caught helping you come back will be thrown into prison. Now, out, you sorry creature!”

 

“Dang it!” said the Fox under his breath. “I’m banished? I was only trying to have a little fun.” With a sigh, he headed home.

 

A few weeks later, a torch fell from a wall in the castle, and before anyone knew what was going on, the whole fortress was aflame. Everyone rushed out of the castle, save for the King, who was in a deep sleep. When all the residents of the castle joined together outside, they saw that the King was missing! “Who will go back in and save the King?” they all asked each other.

 

The Fox, curled up sleeping on the hillside far from the castle, awoke and could see the fire even though it was so far away. “I know how I’ll get back on the King’s good side,” he said to himself, speeding towards the castle.

 

When he arrived, he could see the window to the King’s bedroom filled with smoke. Using his nimble paws, he climbed up a vine on the castle wall, slid into the King’s room, and woke him.

 

“What are you doing here?” demanded the King. “I thought I told you to stay out of my kingdom!”

 

“Your Majesty, look behind you,” said the Fox.

 

The King turned to see his bed engulfed in flames. “Ahh! How will we get out? The fire is blocking the door!” he cried.

 

“There’s a vine we can use to climb down,” the Fox replied. “Come with me.” He lead the King to the window and helped him down the vine before following behind.

 

By the time the two made it to the ground, most of the bricks in the castle were covered in soot. “Go away, Fox! You’re not welcome here!” cried the crowd.

 

“This Fox saved my life tonight. He is to become my second in command,” said the King. The Fox grinned slyly, seeing that his plan had worked.

 

Moral - the person you reject now may someday be the one to help you.

Reviews

[Tony Woods]

I liked it, I think it's pretty concise, has a good message to it, and it's written in a very unoffensive, inobtrusive way.

My only complaint is that, I don't know, it doesn't seem all too original, like I'd heard this story before. I'm not saying I have, but I guess when you base your story around a popular addage you tend to link your story to that same addage.

I enjoyed it, I really did, and I think it would be great in a children's story. Please, please don't take that as sarcasm, it isn't an insult, it's honestly. Children's books are a respectable art form, and actually require a sort of talent that I know I don't have. I really think this would be great as a little illustration type book, for kids, I don't know, I just can see it in that medium.