Week 13 Story: The Abandoned Kingdom

Photo by Ikiobelung on Unsplash

 Story source: King Arthur: Tales of the Round Table by Andrew Lang and illustrated by H. J. Ford (1902).

A long long time ago there was no king in the Kingdom of Aldarir. Every knight throughout the realms wanted to have their chance at the crown. Many men tried to take the kingdom and so the local wizard decided to do something about it. The wizard Trygve who's name means "trustworthy," used magic to lock the castle. The only person who could unlock the castle would be true ruler over Aldarir. The key was placed in plain sight, almost as a welcoming sign to try the door. The key knew who would be worthy and who would not.

Knights from near and far came and gathered to line up politely and attempt to unlock the door. Some the door would throw them far away, some would just get their wrist twisted and some could not even see the key. None could turn the key in the lock. The guards of the castle were tired, so they told everyone to deliver the message that they would have a tournament. On New Year's Day they would crown whoever could open the castle. Everyone agreed and left until that day. 

A Knight Sir Gudbrand and his sister Hella were traveling for the tournament. Hella was a curious and adventurous girl and Gudbrand was so annoyed that he had to bring her along. Their mother insisted this would be a good way for Hella to meet a husband since there would be so many eligible bachelors trying to become king. Hella didn't care too much for men or duties, but she wanted to see people fight, and that is why she came. 

Sir Gudbrand and all of the other knights were at the pub, waiting for the tournament the next day and drinking stouts. "Hella, would you mind going to find somewhere for us to stay? I don't want you to catch a cold by sleeping outside again."

 Hella agreed to go find lodging, but she was annoyed that she had to miss all of the bar fights. She wandered off the path, and found something sparkling on the ground. "Oh, a key" she said to herself, "maybe this is an abandoned inn! How convenient would it be, if we did not have to pay to stay somewhere." Hella picked the glowing key up and opened the door. Cobwebs were dangling in the doorway. "Wow this place is a bit ancient," she thought skeptically. 

She grabbed a torch and lit it to look around. She realized that it was run down because no one had lived there in a while. She felt she better wait to look around until her brother was with her, so she locked the door, but took the key along. 

"Gudbrand, I have found lodging! I think it'll do nicely!" Her brother agreed and followed along beside her bringing a couple of Knights from the pub along with him. When they reached the place that Hella had been speaking about her brother laughed slightly. "Hella, this is not where we can stay." She looked confused.

"Why not brother? It is abandoned, we do not have money, and we will not have to pay. Here look!" Hella opened the door to prove that the building was in fact abandoned. When she opened the door her brother and his friends immediately fell to their knees. 

"She opened the door-"

"That's impossible! She's not a king-"

"There's no way!"

The Knights all whispered excitedly. They all knew what this meant but did not want to acknowledge that this woman would rule the kingdom. 

"Long Live the Queen" one of the Knights exclaimed, they all joined in chanting. She was the rightful ruler of Aldarir.