Chapter 8: Ears, Fears, and Happy endings –or- Mendanbar solves a riddle
Mendanbar's sword swung down hard, singing with deadly force…
And it impacted squarely on Humpbert's ornate helm, sending it flying into the nearby brush.
Everyone stopped and stared. Humpbert shhok with shock, a nervous hand grabbing for the missing helm.
Mendanbar looked sternly down his sword at the pompous intruder. Then, slowly, his expression wavered. He chuckled, and then, shook with hidden laughter. Finally he let loose a full-throated laugh. Soon, every one, even Humpbert's own guards, joined in, some even rolling on the ground. Kazul crisped a large beech nearby. Cimorene leaned on Morwen, who was in turn supported by Telemain. All could not stop laughing at the sight of the King of Eldanberg.
For on the top of his head were two, long, floppy donkey ears.
King Humpbert screeched at the top of his lungs, his face turning a rather interesting shade of purple as his expression switched intermittently from anger to embarrassment.
After laughing of all the stress of the past week from the whole ordeal, Mendanbar schooled his expression to one of wise bemusement. "I take this is the real reason you decided to attack me and my country?"
Humpbert scowled up at the King of the Enchanted Forest and lunged to grabbed his sword. "Yes, you stup-" But Mendanbar moved the tip of the sword to the rotund throat, and the scowl was replaced with barely masked fear. "Yes, damn you. It's because of this abomination of a land that we normal people get cursed with such ailments! You're harboring villains and witches, when this entire forest should be burned to the ground! The wizards were right to try and destroy it! I-" He stuttered to a stop as Mendanbar pushed the sharpened edge, allowing a droplet of blood to bead at the tip.
Mendanbar held back the urge to hack the poor excuse for a man in front of him to pieces. Breathe, he reminded himself. "King Humpbert, you prove yourself to be a truly petty and ignorant man. While the Enchanted Forest is magical in nature, it is not the source of most of the magical things in the world, nor is it the only place practitioners of magic live. Every country has its criminals, but the Enchanted Forest prides itself in making sure that any fugitives are rooted out and dealt with. As for your ailment, donkey lettuce happens to grow everywhere around the world, not just the enchanted forest, and any herbalist or healer could tell you it's cure. But having now dealt with you, I now understand why no one would want to give you help. Your country is starving, and your people grow restless as you frolic in expensive clothes! You, rat, give kingship a bad name."
Mendanbar let a small scowl seep through and he grabbed the shaken foreign king by his collar and hauled him up. Several of the guards who weren't completely stunned moved to defend their king, but Kazul stepped between them and the two kings. They quickly set off at running away. "Now," Mendanbar growled, "you have a choice. Either I kill you now, and let everyone see your wonderful ass ears, or I let you go and give you the cure, on the condition that you fix up your act and start listening to your citizens. It's your decision."
"Alright! Alright! I'll do it! I'm too young to die! I'll do whatever you say!" King Humpbert slumped back to the ground, pulling on his large ears.
Behind the trees, Cimorene, Morwen, Telemain and several hundred Eldanbarg citizens (watching thanks to a magic mirror set up by Telemain and a fellow magician) cheered.
Two weeks later, things were back to normal in the Enchanted Forest, and the castle was bustling as usual. Mendanbar sat in his study quietly going over the latest treaty of the various clans of elves when a quiet rap at the door made him look up. "Come in."
Cimorene stepped in the room and closed the door behind her. "Well, I think everything is working smoothly as it can. I must say, this is a crazy little kingdom, but," She kissed Mendanbar on the cheek, "I'm glad I'm a part of it. Particularly if it means being married to you." She giggled as Mendanbar pulled her into his lap.
"Well, as long as I don't have to deal with any more crazy former suitors of yours, I'll be quite happy being married to you." He rested his chin on the top of her head, and rocked slightly before sighing. "You know, I was so close to killing him. He made me mad, even worse than those stupid wizards-"
"But you didn't. And that makes you so much more of a man and a king than he could ever be." She kissed him on the tip of his nose. "That's the reason why I love you. You're so special. And sensible." She grinned, and Mendanbar couldn't help but smile back.
"You know, now that they don't need to run to me every time something come up, we could take that honeymoon we talked about…" Mendanbar's smile grew into a devious grin. Without further ado, he hoisted his wife unto his shoulder and strode out of the study.
"Mendanbar!" Cimorene shrieked, playfully pounding on his back.
The royal bedroom's door slammed with a resounding thud.
-The End-
Wheee! It's finished! After 8 chapters and surprising even myself on how it would turn out, I'm glad it's over. If you enjoyed this story, or think it could be improved upon, write a review and tell me! Should I continue with the misadventures of Mendanbar and Cimorene? (I got about a dozen other situations I want to throw them into) Thanks to everyone who reviewed it and make it possible to reach 50 reviews(!), and special thanks to Penmage, Morwen and Lady Alanna who encouraged me and made specific contributions to this utterly silly story. Also thanks to all the folks who took up our challenges and added over 20 new stories to this section! I hope I didn't disappoint in this ending. Maybe with enough encouragement, I'll write what goes on behind that bedroom door (Trust me, it's not all what you think, honest!).
So long! Jess Idres :)
Mendanbar's sword swung down hard, singing with deadly force…
And it impacted squarely on Humpbert's ornate helm, sending it flying into the nearby brush.
Everyone stopped and stared. Humpbert shhok with shock, a nervous hand grabbing for the missing helm.
Mendanbar looked sternly down his sword at the pompous intruder. Then, slowly, his expression wavered. He chuckled, and then, shook with hidden laughter. Finally he let loose a full-throated laugh. Soon, every one, even Humpbert's own guards, joined in, some even rolling on the ground. Kazul crisped a large beech nearby. Cimorene leaned on Morwen, who was in turn supported by Telemain. All could not stop laughing at the sight of the King of Eldanberg.
For on the top of his head were two, long, floppy donkey ears.
King Humpbert screeched at the top of his lungs, his face turning a rather interesting shade of purple as his expression switched intermittently from anger to embarrassment.
After laughing of all the stress of the past week from the whole ordeal, Mendanbar schooled his expression to one of wise bemusement. "I take this is the real reason you decided to attack me and my country?"
Humpbert scowled up at the King of the Enchanted Forest and lunged to grabbed his sword. "Yes, you stup-" But Mendanbar moved the tip of the sword to the rotund throat, and the scowl was replaced with barely masked fear. "Yes, damn you. It's because of this abomination of a land that we normal people get cursed with such ailments! You're harboring villains and witches, when this entire forest should be burned to the ground! The wizards were right to try and destroy it! I-" He stuttered to a stop as Mendanbar pushed the sharpened edge, allowing a droplet of blood to bead at the tip.
Mendanbar held back the urge to hack the poor excuse for a man in front of him to pieces. Breathe, he reminded himself. "King Humpbert, you prove yourself to be a truly petty and ignorant man. While the Enchanted Forest is magical in nature, it is not the source of most of the magical things in the world, nor is it the only place practitioners of magic live. Every country has its criminals, but the Enchanted Forest prides itself in making sure that any fugitives are rooted out and dealt with. As for your ailment, donkey lettuce happens to grow everywhere around the world, not just the enchanted forest, and any herbalist or healer could tell you it's cure. But having now dealt with you, I now understand why no one would want to give you help. Your country is starving, and your people grow restless as you frolic in expensive clothes! You, rat, give kingship a bad name."
Mendanbar let a small scowl seep through and he grabbed the shaken foreign king by his collar and hauled him up. Several of the guards who weren't completely stunned moved to defend their king, but Kazul stepped between them and the two kings. They quickly set off at running away. "Now," Mendanbar growled, "you have a choice. Either I kill you now, and let everyone see your wonderful ass ears, or I let you go and give you the cure, on the condition that you fix up your act and start listening to your citizens. It's your decision."
"Alright! Alright! I'll do it! I'm too young to die! I'll do whatever you say!" King Humpbert slumped back to the ground, pulling on his large ears.
Behind the trees, Cimorene, Morwen, Telemain and several hundred Eldanbarg citizens (watching thanks to a magic mirror set up by Telemain and a fellow magician) cheered.
Two weeks later, things were back to normal in the Enchanted Forest, and the castle was bustling as usual. Mendanbar sat in his study quietly going over the latest treaty of the various clans of elves when a quiet rap at the door made him look up. "Come in."
Cimorene stepped in the room and closed the door behind her. "Well, I think everything is working smoothly as it can. I must say, this is a crazy little kingdom, but," She kissed Mendanbar on the cheek, "I'm glad I'm a part of it. Particularly if it means being married to you." She giggled as Mendanbar pulled her into his lap.
"Well, as long as I don't have to deal with any more crazy former suitors of yours, I'll be quite happy being married to you." He rested his chin on the top of her head, and rocked slightly before sighing. "You know, I was so close to killing him. He made me mad, even worse than those stupid wizards-"
"But you didn't. And that makes you so much more of a man and a king than he could ever be." She kissed him on the tip of his nose. "That's the reason why I love you. You're so special. And sensible." She grinned, and Mendanbar couldn't help but smile back.
"You know, now that they don't need to run to me every time something come up, we could take that honeymoon we talked about…" Mendanbar's smile grew into a devious grin. Without further ado, he hoisted his wife unto his shoulder and strode out of the study.
"Mendanbar!" Cimorene shrieked, playfully pounding on his back.
The royal bedroom's door slammed with a resounding thud.
-The End-
Wheee! It's finished! After 8 chapters and surprising even myself on how it would turn out, I'm glad it's over. If you enjoyed this story, or think it could be improved upon, write a review and tell me! Should I continue with the misadventures of Mendanbar and Cimorene? (I got about a dozen other situations I want to throw them into) Thanks to everyone who reviewed it and make it possible to reach 50 reviews(!), and special thanks to Penmage, Morwen and Lady Alanna who encouraged me and made specific contributions to this utterly silly story. Also thanks to all the folks who took up our challenges and added over 20 new stories to this section! I hope I didn't disappoint in this ending. Maybe with enough encouragement, I'll write what goes on behind that bedroom door (Trust me, it's not all what you think, honest!).
So long! Jess Idres :)