Fairy tales...

Okies, I've started this one in response to the latest Michelle challenge, but a pounding headache, late hour and knowledge of impending hospital appointment, mean i'm just gonna leave it as is for now - maybe i'll get back to it tomorrow when I get back, you never know...

Once upon a time there lived a handsome prince.
At least, that’s what all the story books say. I feel that it does a person well to remember that story books are merely out of date newspapers with not a decent photograph between them.

Anyway, back to our ‘Once upon a time…’
There was once a (moderately attractive) young man going by the title of ‘Prince Albert Von Shittenhousen’.
Nobody knows why he wanted this particular title since his name was actually Richard Lewis Hopper, but the fact remains, anyone overheard disregarding his chosen title received 10 lashes from the whip of the week.
(His father tried to dissuade the practice but… Well, what can you do? Kids these days eh?)
Prince Albert was, on the whole, a quiet chap. He had a tendency to wander around the palace in a melancholy fashion, but as long as you remembered to never call him Richard, he was a fairly lovable sort.
The problem with our hero was that age old failing, he was misunderstood, alone amongst a throng of others – he was lonely.
He had been betrothed at one time, a lady of inestimable beauty and elegance had been ‘procured’ for him.
Sadly, upon their betrothal the lady in question asked him why he refused to be called Richard and teasingly tried to pry the answer from her new husband-to-be despite several warnings.
Nobody ever found the body.
Nobody questioned the need for one.
Our Prince Albert was a most thorough chap.

One day his mother called him to her quarters, an unusual event as she seldom spoke to her son believing him to be unhinged.< "Ri… Albert" She said, "I have a task for you - a quest if you will, something to exercise that marvellous mind of yours." "Certainly mother" he replied, Of course he was hardly listening to her, his attention being too acutely focused on the whispering servants behind the curtain. (His mothers servants were the only people spared the whip, his mother disapproved...)

"Look at me Ri… Albert! I demand your full attention; you will need to listen very closely to what I have planned for you if you are to succeed in this task!"

He snapped his attention back to her face, noting in passing how much older she looked since the last time they had conversed; the night of his failed betrothal.

"Yes, I’m sorry mother, it must be important if you have called me here, I apologise for my inattentiveness. Please, continue."