Beyond a day or so later, Prince Andrew happened upon a kingdom so desolate that not one building stood as though they had ever once been whole. The people of this kingdom watched him as he strove past, their eyes begging for help.

“Sir,” said an older fellow who had been watching the knight “Be you so kindly as to offer an ear to our tale? It is all we ask.”

Andrew hesitated, His quest was important and time was not known for favoring those who become distracted by side quest, Yet his quest had been fruitless for many days and his soul yearned for some small grasp of hope.

“Yes, Fellow tell you tale” Andrew said “since it is all you ask of me”

The old fellow nodded and bowed to the Knight.

“ Our Kingdom was once a small but beautiful place, the royal family knew nothing but fairness both in ruling and in complexion, but alas that was many a year ago. And but a night goes by that we dream of that existence again, Long before the wicked Queens reign.

“Ah, Sir But one queen did all this?” Andrew asked

“A bitter and evil woman she is, she is granted with some dark force that plagues our sweet maidens and ravishes our fair ladies, Her arrival here was no accident, she came knowing what evil she possessed and thus the first day an illness of shadow overcame the Queen and princess, not one week and they where taken from us.”

“What morning there must have been!”

“There was none sir, the Wicked woman had quickly fooled the king into marriage so soon after their passing, and had not given time for us to morn.”

 “Vile actions! None should bypass the remembrance  of another!”

“Good knight, the worst is not yet told, The King soon regretted his rashness, and was to have the marriage annulled but the queen would not have it, before the official papers could be produced the King mysteriously died. Leaving but the Queen and his young prince left to our kingdom.”

“The prince had nothing to say of this?”

“He was but a babe, not yet walking at the time, the only gleam of  possible restoration was that when he became of age and Married he would then be king.”

“Is he gone to the other world as well?”

“No, But he may not become King until he has married, and not one Maiden or lady has ever lived long enough for him to ask of their hand. The Vile queen somehow curses them so that he shall never be able to become king.”

Andrew looked around, and behold their were few women in the kingdom, what few were already mothers or too young to be brought to the prince.

“How long has this been?” He asked

“Many a year, so many that no young women are left in our kingdom, and men must travel away to find a bride. Many never return.”

“Has the prince not done this?”

“He is forbidden to leave, by order of the laws, if only their be one of royal blood left, they may not leave for fear of death.”

“Has he given up to his search for a bride then? With no suitable match to be found?”

“Nay, Thy worst is now, He has invited many a fair princesses from afar to join him in a  ball just marrow, so that he may finally find his queen. But Oh what great misfortune! She is sure to try some plot against them.”