-In a wooden room, cozy and warm, a mother and her three children sit in front of the fire. Outside winter rages, but inside the huddled family keep eachother warm in front of the hearth. The mother looks warmly and lovingly to her children, all sprawled out on the rug, already half-asleep. She takes a blanket off herself and wraps it around her youngest child; Milo. She lies down next to them and beggins to recount a tale from her childhood, "A long time ago, and I mean veryo old, not even I was born yet," she waits as her children laugh and continues the story,"A very long time ago lived an old king, and he was very afraid. You see earlier that day the oracle had prophocisied that he would soon be poisoned, and when he let his gaurd down-the poison would strike. The king, fearing for his life, and by the advisement of his Queen, had shut out any unknown visitors, truly he became so paranoid that he shut out even his most royal knights. Everyone would be shut out of his royal court, all but one person. That one person being the Queen. After a week had passed she began congratulating him, for he had done it! How could he be poisoned now? She played to his ego and he fell for it. Soon people began flooding back into the court, offering gifts and forgiveness for whatever they had been banished for. But the king, still wary of the visitors refused any food or drink whatsoever for the next two days, until he was sure he wouldn't be poisoned. But soon after the visitors flooded in, the king grew ill. He worried; how did this happen? He was perfectly fine, and didn't accept drink from any new visitors. Soon the king was on deaths doorstep, realising he had but seconds to live he beckoned his Queen, and rassped his final words to his queen, "please, my beautiful wife. Find whoever did this, for I will die soon," then his eyes closed, only a tiny bit of light shone through. But he did see one thing before dying; a cold and subdued smile on the Queens lips. No... But it was too late, the king fell silent, and the Queen ruled prosperously for the rest of the kingdoms lifespan. But-*yawn*- that's enough for todaa-" and then, the woman drifted of to sleeep along with her children.-
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