Vivalex's Short Stories

A King's Feast

The King was  a very powerful man that everyone would bow too his every beckons and needs. The King had a daughter, one that everyone in the kingdom loved, and her name was, Emily. She was such a kind princess that could make any man swoon and every woman jealous. The King was very protective of his daughter and watched out for her very being, only letting a select few people near her, mist of which were very trusted servants.

The supply on food was running very low in the kingdom, and the King wanted to have a huge feast this year. The King gathered every hunter he could find to send them on the important mission of bringing him the biggest plump turkey they could find. One of the hunters the King had gathered was a peasant by the name of Ren. Ren would do anything the King would ask, as long as it meant doing something good for the woman he loved, Emily.

Ren and Emily always had to meet in secret for King would through a fit, maybe even execute Ren if he ever found out about Ren's relationship with his daughter, so the night before the big hunt Ren met Emily at her bedroom window, to assure her that he would keep safe on this hunt. Emily was against him going, but knew that no one could betray the King's wishes, so she gave Ren a kiss on the cheek and wished him well on the hunt, before they departed.

The hunt was miserable and long. There was not a turkey, let alone any animal at all while they were on the hunt. The King had given the hunters until midnight to catch him his turkey, for Thanksgiving was tomorrow. It seemed to be impossible, but just the thought of Emily and how overjoyed she would be to have a grand feast, kept Ren going. He would not give up until he found the perfect turkey. Maybe the King would be so grateful of the feast Ren would present him, that he would allow Ren and Emily be together. It was a far fetched dream, but who knows, maybe the King would think he was the most suitable and most reliable man for Emily.

After hours of hunting Ren heard rustling in the distance. Getting his bow ready, Ren stalked his way towards the sound. There, in a great big clearing just outside the woods, Ren saw it. The biggest plumped turkey one has ever seen. This, was Ren's chance. His chance to catch a turkey, to win over the King, to marry Emily, he could not waste this moment. He must make this shot. Ren lifted his bow into position and aimed dead on to the turkey. There was no missing it. Just as Ren let go of the bow releasing the arrow, a loud sound echoed through the woods sending the turkey running, letting the arrow stab right into the ground where the turkey had been seconds before.

Ren fell to his knees trying so hard to not let out a frustrated cry. That was his big moment and he failed. The night was coming so quick that it was dark before he even knew it. The hunters had gathered around in a quick meeting, only to learn none of they had succeeded in a catch. It was time to head back to the kingdom and the hunters had absolutely nothing to show from their important mission. They all failed.

Arriving at the Kings palace all the hunters stood before the King. "So, gentlemen," he began, "what have you brought me for my fine feast, hmm?" The King questioned.

All the hunters stood in fear, dead of the King and fear of exposing their own failure, but Ren was the one to speak up. He figured facing the problem head on would win over the King.

"Your majesty, I'm sorry to inform you that none of us has caught a single thing. There were no animals to be seen for miles. I did however, find the biggest plumpest turkey no human has ever seen, but I'm afraid to say that it got away." Ren said bowing his head to the King.

"Oh really now? Well, we will just have to make due with what we have. Thank you men for all your hard work, and you." He said looking at Ren. "I greatly appreciate your honesty, to be the one to speak up and admit your failure. For you I have a special idea just for you." The King said making Ren's face light up in pure hope.

That evening the King and Emily sat down to their feast, digging into the fresh meat that was long awaited.

"Did you know that those men could not even find one turkey while out hunting?" Said the King.

"Then what are we eating?" Asked Emily.

The King smiled and only said, "So, about that peasant you've been seeing, how long have you two been seeing each other? I knew all you wanted was to be together with him and I could never allow such a thing, so we both win. The peasant is gone and you both get to be closer together. That peasant would do anything if it meant being closer to you, even if it meant offering himself as our feast."

Emily looked at her father in pure horror as he said, "Happy Worst Thanksgiving, Emily."