A Prince's Dilemma

The day started normally for the prince. He had his daily list of things to do, written neatly on parchment by his bed. There was a damsel in distress three towns over who was stuck up a mountain by a witch. An ogre was terrorizing a village and eating all of their cattle. And there was the usual dragon that needed to be dealt with, but it was at least two days away by horse.

But the horse wasn't ready. He went to the stables and it was no where to be seen. The stable boy said it was being horseshoed and evidently was not feeling well either. He suggested that the prince take another horse, but he would have none of it. He had a horse; it was lucky and that was all there was to it.

But then, he thought, he could make do. Certainly, nothing bad would happen just because he rode a different horse. That is, as long as he had his trusty sword. He went in search of it and it too was also missing.

He stopped the blacksmith's apprentice and asked him about it. The apprentice said that the blacksmith had taken it to hone it, as someone had dropped it and chipped its edge. The apprentice suggested that the prince take another sword. He told the prince that they were all made of the highest quality by the blacksmith himself. Of course the prince was hesitant about this. He had fought all his battles with this sword. It was familiar, like an extension of his arm.

But then, he thought, he could make do. He could ride another horse, use another sword. There was so much to do that day. Damsels, ogres, and dragons and so forth--as long as he had his smart looking hat. So, he went to look for his hat, but again it was no where to be found. He stopped a maid and asked her for it. She told him that someone dropped it in some mud and they were washing it. She suggested that he pick out another one.

This was the last straw. He could do without his horse or his sword. But now his hat as well! He would have none of this. He marched back to his room and went back to bed. The damsel, ogres, and dragons will wait until tomorrow.