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I don’t know why I thought Prince Farthel would be a good name for a prince but… Here is the short story I worte about him.

Once upon a time there was a handsome prince named Farthel. He had three older brothers and three younger ones so you could very truthfully say that he was normally in the middle of things. One day his father called all of his sons together and told them, “My sons, As you know I am approaching old age as unlike your mother I am not staying the same age every birthday. Now it is a custom in this land to give the throne, not to the oldest prince, but to the most worthy and deserving. Therefore…” The king paused for a moment to catch his breath and all seven princes, including Farthel, quickly made mention of their worthiness and deservingness and the faults of their brothers. This was all the more fervent because it was known the the fair and beautiful princess Elainia was to be the bride of new king. Finally the king felt as though it was time for his speech to resume so without waiting for his sons to cease their babble he continued, “Therefore I have decided upon a test which, despite it’s lacking in originality, may prove which of you ought to be king. I want you to bring to me, at the end of one months time, one thing that you think will aid you more than anything else to rule the kingdom. Then I shall judge the things you bring and shall decide which of you shall be the new king.”
The month passed and on that particular day at that particular time five brothers stood before the king. The other two, including Farthel and his youngest brother, were late. The eldest brother had a mighty sword of great renown. The second eldest had a book of wisdom and lore. The third eldest had a parrot that squawked things, is was common knowledge that the third eldest had not the brains of the rest of his brothers. The fifth eldest had gold with him. The sixth eldest also had a sword, and was rather upset when he saw that his oldest brother had one too. And just as the king was looking over the items the youngest brother came rushing in and in his hand was a clock. As this brother was normally at least a half hour late for any appointment the choice of a clock was appropriate. Now none of these items really surprised the king as he had already guessed most of them. However the king was surprised at Farthel’s lateness as usually he was early. But he knew that the day after he had made the announcement Farthel had ridden from the kingdom and had not since then been seen but still, he usually was early.
But before any serious worrying could go on Farthel came in. And all six of his brothers, and his father, couldn’t help staring at the thing he had brought with him. Indeed it was immediately decided by the king and all six of his brother that Farthel had chosen to bring the thing that would indeed aid him more than anything else in ruling the kingdom. For Farthel had brought with him the lovely and beautiful Princess Elainia. So Farthel was made king and he and Elainia ruled happily together until the end of their days. THE END