Desperate for Marriage

The king didn’t believe in this sort of thing. But he has a little problem. His son was almost twenty and still not married. He never showed any interest in anyone. The king himself was getting older. Their bloodline needed to go on. But the prince just wasn’t interested.

“I don’t want to marry,” he said. This was a problem. The birth rate in the land kept dropping. Pretty soon, the kingdom would be in serious trouble. The prince was very popular. Maybe he could push the youth in the land to have babies.

Nothing he tried to sway worked. The prince just wasn’t interested. Then a suggestion was floated towards him. At first, the king wrinkled his nose.

“You can’t be serious,” he said.

“We don’t have much of a choice my lord,” the advisor said. “Do you have any other ideas?” The king frowned.

“How are you sure that it will even work?” he asked.

“It wouldn’t hurt to try,” the younger man said. The king rubbed his forehead and sighed.

“Fine,” he muttered. “I am desperate for anything!” The advisor bowed his head.

“I will summon her as soon as possible,” he said. The king sighed and rolled his eyes.

“Whatever,” he muttered to himself.

The oracle came during nightfall. The whole time, the king sighed. Did she have to be so far away? He looked up when he heard the door opening. The advisor came into the room first.

“Here she is, my lord,” he said with a bow. He moved aside from the door. The king looked up when an old lady walked into the room. She didn’t say a word. Neither spoke at first. The king tried to think of something to say.

“Will my son ever marry?” he asked at last. The old lady put her hand up in the air. The king drew his mouth closed. She closed her eyes and lowered her hand. The king sat with an intent look on his face. What was she doing?

The old lady lifted her head. The king started to speak but she held up her hand again. This time, he knew to be quiet.

“Thank you,” the oracle said. “Your son will indeed marry.” The king looked ready to jump out of his throne.

“When?” he asked.

“You will not see it,” she said. “But she will be from a foreign land. She and he will turn this kingdom better than it has been in years.”

“Okay… so what do I have to do?” the king asked.

“Nothing,” she said. He looked confused.

“Nothing?” he asked.

“Yes,” she said. The king frowned. He was about to speak but she had more to say.

“However,” the oracle said. “If you plant an olive tree in the back, you will have a better chance of securing your future.” The king blinked.

“And that’s it?” he asked.

“Yes,” she said. The old lady stood up.

“I will see myself out,” she said. The oracle turned to the large doors. The king sat up and reached out to her.

“Wait!” he shouted. But she was already gone. The king’s arm dropped to his side. What did that mean? What did an olive tree have to do with that? The king rubbed his forehead. This felt like a waste, but he was still desperate.

“For the future of the kingdom,” he said to himself. “Yeah, yeah…”