The wizened old man turned to the eager group of young children in front of him. He smiled gently. They would not be the first to hear the stories he held, nor would they be the last. Many generations of Simlings had come to him to hear the tales of past and future that he held. Most did not know his true nature, those that did almost inevitably grew up to be true heroes. As he settled down into a seat in front of them he pondered which tales to tell them. There were still some that he had never told, and some he had told only rarely. As he was considering which tale to spin, a young voice spoke out from the back of the crowd.
"M'lord, tell us of the Queen Galena and her eight heroes!" A freckled wild looking girl cried out from her strong fathers shoulders. The watcher smiled; here was one of his future heroes. She would grow up to be a strong smith, and forge a famed staff for the kingdom's greatest mage. But that was far far into her future, for today she was only a young whelp with a thirst for the long ago tales.
"As you wish smithling, but where do I start? Do I start from the beginning as so many tales do, or do I start later in the tale? Do I tell you of loves both accepted and forbidden, or of great battles and tales of glory?" The young lass tilted her head considering his questions seriously for a moment.
"All of it M'lord, please, tell me all of it. There is naught in the past that can't be learn't from my mum always says." She nodded her head agreeing with this bit of wisdom as though it was said from the watches mouth itself. The old man laughed heartily.
"A wise one is she, your mother! Aye child, I'll tell you all I know of it! We'll start with a young queen with an unwanted throne thrust upon her!" The old man stood gesturing with his hands as the tale begun, and the young lass stood out brightly and obviously in the crowd as though she were the only listener...