AN: Thanks to my reviewers: DamphiricAngel2014, Dina Orban and VioletQueenMarie. This chapter is for them! Hope you enjoy!
Faithful John – (Or in my adaptation 'Faithful Abe')
King Nathan of the kingdom of Ivashkov was on his deathbed. He summoned his most faithful servant Abe to his side to give him his last requests:
"Most faithful of my servants, Abe; death is approaching like a wave that will soon consume me. I request for you to watch out for my son who is still at a tender young age; once I am dead show him all the rooms in the palace but the room containing the portrait of the Princess of the Golden Dwelling. Swear to me that you will not show him that room."
Abe nodded gravely; "I swear most faithfully to you honourable king that I will serve your son with fidelity even if it comes at the cost of my own life."
The King gave a small smile and died peacefully, now at rest that he knew his son would be taken care of. After King Nathan's funeral the young Prince Adrian became the new King. Abe then took the newly crowned King Adrian on a tour of the kingdom in each of the rooms but the one of the portrait of the princess. Adrian soon realised Abe's avoidance of that particular room.
"Faithful Abe, why do you avoid that room so? Is it not another room of my palace?" Adrian then demanded for Abe to open the door to the room which he did so reluctantly.
Abe attempted to cover the doorframe and the portrait directly in front of it on the wall but Adrian just leaned up and looked over his shoulder to look directly at the portrait of Princess Sydney of the Golden Dwelling. King Adrian felt immediate love for her; he fell in love with her great beauty the instant he saw her and summoned several goldsmiths to craft the finest pieces possible. He then talked to Faithful Abe and said: "I have fallen deeply in love with her and would give my life to her. You are my most faithful servant Abe so you must help me in this endeavour."
Early next morning, King Adrian had the golden pieces placed onto a ship where he and Abe disguised themselves as merchants. They set sail for the Golden Dwelling. During the trip Adrian asked Abe to describe all he knew about the Golden Dwelling: "Your Majesty, Princess Sydney's fondness of gold has meant that everything is made of gold; from the plates and table wear to the buckets and wears."
Once they got to the Golden Dwelling Abe left the boat before the King in order to persuade the princess to come to the ship where the King would wait. He walked for a while until he came across a maiden with two golden buckets drawing water from a golden well; she smiled delightedly at the trinkets Abe had bought from the ship.
"Oh, my lady mistress would be delighted to see your goods honourable sir." She said and then led Abe to see the princess who was in awe at the trinkets brought for her viewing; she excitably wanted to buy them all until Abe said: "If you like these my lady, there are far more grander pieces on board the ship of my master who is a rich merchant."
The princess hesitated for a moment before agreeing to go to the boat to view the golden trinkets. When she entered the ship to see all the golden trinkets, she was delighted; King Adrian seized his opportunity and led her on a tour around the ship to see the golden trinkets.
Meanwhile Abe went to see the captain in order to set sail. Unfortunately the princess did not notice the ship was long gone from her home land until hours later when she exclaimed: "I have been betrayed, kidnapped by a merchant; I would rather have-" but Adrian interrupted her; "I am not a merchant but the king of Ivashkov. I have carried you away with subtlety in order to marry you and make you my queen because I have fallen in love with you."
Princess Sydney felt comfortable at his words and consented to be his wife. They sailed for many nights; Abe entertained all with his merry music from his lute and from his voice. One day whilst he was sitting at the mast he heard the squawk of three ravens that fluttered onto side of the boat.
"T'is a shame the young king will not marry his new bride." The first raven said.
The second Raven agreed and explained further: "After all when the ship lands there will be a horse which the king will immediately wish to ride. If he does then he will be carried off; never to return."
"The only way to prevent it is if a man gets on the horse and shoots it through the neck with a pistol." The third raven gave the solution.
"But, even if the man knew what to do he would not be able to prevent him from the fate of the King's wedding attire. Although it looks to be made from gold and silver with shiny diamonds; instead it is made of sulphur and other acids to melt the skin." The second raven argued.
"Is there no way of preventing that fate?" the third raven asked.
"Aye, if only a person with gloves seizes the garment and throws it into the fire." Said the first raven.
"Even if someone managed to achieve all these things they would not be able to change the fate of the new bride and her bridegroom." Stated the third raven in a matter-of-fact tone.
"Yes, after the wedding the bride will succumb to a death-like sleep state and will be unable to awaken; if someone does not draw 3 drops of blood from her right breast then she will die." Stated the first raven.
"Even so, what man would do all of that to prevent their tragic fate? He could never tell anyone or he would be turned to stone," wondered the second raven.
The ravens flew away; ignorant that Abe was listening in. He looked on at the sunrise as they approached the kingdom of Ivashkov and made a vow: "I will be ever faithful to my master, the young King Adrian Ivashkov; even if it means my death."
They soon landed when the king saw the horse which he was delighted to see as a means to travel home. But before he could saddle the horse, Abe jumped on the horse and used a pistol to shoot it through its neck. Whispers started among the other servants who were jealous of the favour Abe received from the royal family; they were hushed when King Adrian addressed them and said: "Leave him in peace, he is Faithful Abe!"
They soon arrived at the palace where Adrian decided to put on his bridal wear, when Abe pushed past him with gloves on his hands and threw the bridal wear into the fire. Mutterings once again occurred among the servants when the King said: "Leave him be, who knows what evil he may have prevented? After all he is my Faithful Abe."
After the wedding ceremony, the new Queen Sydney was dancing with the King when she suddenly collapsed into a death-like state. Abe quickly picked her up and took her to a private room where he used a blade to make a cut on her breast to draw three drops. When the king saw this he grew enraged and ordered his men to throw Abe into the dungeons.
Due to the loyalty Abe had displayed to the crown previously; he was granted a trial to justify his actions. When the time for the trial came, Abe remained calm and composed as he explained what the ravens had said would happen and how he acted upon their solutions to protect Adrian. Once his explanation was finished he started to become stone from his legs and fingers right up to his heart. King Adrian mourned for Abe daily; he was grief-stricken at the knowledge that he had caused Abe's fate of being turned to stone.
By the first year of their marriage Queen Sydney had birthed twin princes. But in a dream on the night of their anniversary the King received a vision of three ravens who told him to cost of breaking the curse on Abe and allowing him to live was to murder his twin sons with his own hands.
Grief-stricken at the thought of murdering his heirs but feeling owed to Abe he murdered his sons. When Queen Sydney was about to enter the room; Adrian hid the bodies in order to explain to Sydney his vision.
When he told her of his vision, tears streamed down her eyes which quickly turned to full on hysterical sobs at the sight of her dead children.
"I am sorry dearest heart but my faithful Abe was always loyal to me; his fidelity was great and his sacrifice greater. For that I owe him this." Adrian explained.
He then laid the children at the stone statue that was Abe who was restored to his human state. In a further show of loyalty Abe rubbed the children's wounds which healed instantly; the children were brought back to life and placed in Adrian's arms.
Abe the Faithful served the royal family for the remainder of his life and set an example of the fidelity that was expected evermore.
THE END