The next day brought high hopes for the kingdom. The people, upon hearing the news, rejoiced in the streets and sang songs of merriment and allegiance to their crown and future abode, after all, their pathetic dwelling would merge with a larger one, leaving them with the promise of sure wealth. The king spent all these days finding Alexander a bride. Many were betrothed from birth and others were much too young. He searched day and night, high and low for the perfect match until a bride was chosen. She, being around the ripe age of 28 was homely and a bit daft, but she was rich and her parents, tired of her carping, were eager to marry her off, to anyone, at any cost. Arrangements were set a month in advance and Alexander, though never saying much, wasn't quite ready to take his place as the prince savior of this future empire. On a lonely night near the month of October, Alexander, needing a retreat from his father's ever increasing demands, retreated outdoors for a walk among the stars. This night, a new moon was overhead and the path was hidden from its traveler's view. Alexander, not knowing his way, began to wander into the enchanted forest and into a realm of pure vile only know to those who seek it, which seldom live to retell any tales. Tales have been told of a lady who haunts the woods with a voice so smooth and rich, that it had been known allure and drive men and women alike into insanity. Her beautiful melodies echo through the leaves and the limbs sway her harmony to the distant listening ears. She is the siren of the wood, and all that hear her mysterious song, become ensnared like a fly for the widow's feast.
Alexander felt the air around him become thick and dense, and he found it getting harder to breathe, so he stopped to rest against one of the forest's many trees. While leaning there, he heard a faint sound breaking its way from the depth of the branches. Curious as to the sudden noise, Alexander trampled among the ground of foliage towards the eerie melody. With the increasing of the voice, his pace and pulse quickened. This beautiful voice was driving him wild, and the woman making it played with his senses....his being! He came to a clearing and found her, back facing him, clothed in the purest white satin gown that trailed three feet from behind her frame and emitted a fair glow that shamed the softest gold once known in the old castle halls now lost. Her flush allowed her to be seen even in the darkest of settings and her long fiery red hair cascaded down her long, curved back, and sent Alexander a warm shiver through his spine. She turned toward him, singing her harmonious song in a tongue unfamiliar to these dwellings and his eyes were steadily fixed upon her mesmerizing splendor. She smiled at him while singing her haunting melody and with one long stride she disappeared behind a tall sinewy oak and her stunning voice swiftly, but faintly, died away.
Alexander, frenzied that he let this red-haired beauty slip away, searched frantically for her, but it ended in vain. She had simply vanished into thin air.
"Impossible! She has to be here!!" Alexander yelled hysterically as he scoured the trees, tearing his clothes in the process. After an hour of looking, he finally tired himself and fell asleep on the cool, damp forest floor.