|
The Griffin Prince
Long ago, in a time that is almost forgotten, there lived a creature named Griffin. He was a huge, fearsome looking beast; with the head, wings, and talons of an eagle, and with the body of a lion. The mere sight of him struck fear into the hearts of humans. But, despite the ferociousness of his appearance, Griffin had a mild and gentle soul.
Unfortunately, the conjurer named Gwydion, his master and creator, wanted nothing more than for Griffin to become a horrible monster. Gwydion would force Griffin to train for battle all day long; hoping that eventually, his creation would learn to fight. But, no matter how hard Griffin tried, he just couldn't put his heart into his master's lessons. Griffin knew that he would never be the fierce monster that Gwydion wanted him to be.
So, the conjurer was very cruel to Griffin. Every evening, when the lessons were over, Gwydion would say, "You are a cowardly beast and perhaps the most dimwitted creature that I have ever formed!" This saddened Griffin so much that he would fly to the highest tower in the conjurer's fortress and cry to himself as he licked his wounds.
One night, however, as Griffin was about to drift into a deep and lonesome sleep, he heard the sound of laughter flowing through the window of his tower. The sound of such ringing voices was so unfamiliar to the creature that it jolted him from his nest of straw. When he carefully craned his head to peer outside the casement, he found the most wonderful scene he could imagine.
At the head of a traveling party, moving eastward along the nearby road, there was a young boy who was receiving a generous hug from his mother and father. They looked so happy, in their rich, jewel-toned clothes, and their bright, broad smiles, that Griffin wanted nothing more than to fly from his tower to join them.
Just as he began to lift his wings, however, Griffin remembered how most people reacted to his terrible image. He knew that as soon as the lovely family saw his huge figure looming toward them, that they would certainly scream and run for their lives. "No one could ever love someone like me," cried Griffin. So, with tears in his eyes, the creature returned to his nest and fell asleep.
The next day, Griffin could not forget about the delightful family that he had seen the night before. "I want to find a family of my own, somehow," said Griffin. So, that evening, when his lessons were finished for the day, Griffin carefully followed the conjurer, Gwydion, into the magician's laboratory.
To his amazement, Griffin found that the room was filled with vials of potions, bubbling brews, and steaming cauldrons. In a cage, near the roaring fireplace, sat a beady-eyed little rat that Gwydion seemed to be talking to. Griffin strained his ears to overhear their conversation.
"Now listen, once you are inside the castle, make sure you keep a close eye on the prince," insisted the magician. "Be certain that the king and queen trust you," he continued, "and when the time is right, report back to me." And with that, he slipped a drop of crimson potion from the vial in his hand into the rat's water-bowl. The rat leaned forward to drink up the conjurer's brew and, with a whistle and a pop, the rat's cage lay broken on the ground at the conjurer's feet. In it's place, was a human man.
Astonished, Griffin watched as the man got up, dressed himself in the courtier's clothes that Gwydion offered, and went down the stairwell on the opposite side of the room. The conjurer, satisfied with himself, placed the vial on the table nearby. "That's done," smiled Gwydion, "now I shall be able rest easy for a while." With that, he snapped his fingers and disappeared.
"I need that potion!" exclaimed Griffin. So, the creature entered the laboratory carefully as his huge body brushed against the tubes and beakers that lay scattered about. Once he found the conjurer's tonic, he clutched the vial of red liquid with his talons, awkwardly popped the cork, and slipped a drop onto the tip of his tongue. No sooner had he done that, than, with a whistle and a pop, Griffin had changed into a fine-looking human boy.
"I can't believe it!" shouted Griffin, "I'm not a monster anymore!" Griffin was so excited, that he began to skip around the room for joy. Suddenly, however, he remembered that the conjurer still might catch him and force him to change back. So, Griffin pulled on some servant's rags that lay forgotten in the corner, shoved the vial of crimson potion into his pocket, and ran down the stairs and out of the fortress. None of Gwydion's guards stopped him. To them, Griffin seemed like an average servant boy leaving the keep on an errand.
Once outside the castle walls, Griffin turned eastward along the dusty road, hoping to find the cheerful family that he had spied only the night before. All afternoon, he walked and walked and walked, and searched and searched and searched, but never found even one house where he could take shelter from the cool, twilight air. When Griffin was too tired to take another step, he curled up beneath a broad oak on the roadside, and tried his best to fall asleep. But, as the full, pale moon rose up above the horizon, Griffin's human form began to melt away.
In the morning, Griffin woke to the sound of screaming. When he opened his eyes, he saw a lovely milk-maid standing in the road, with her right hand covering her quivering mouth. "There's no need to be afraid!" said Griffin, "I won't hurt you." But as he reached out his hand to comfort the girl, Griffin noticed that his boyish fingers were gone, and in their place were his own, fierce talons. Griffin was a monster once again. "Oh no!" he cried, "I've changed back!"
The creature jumped up and desperately began to search for the conjurer's red vial. Griffin's sudden movement, however, startled the girl from her frozen shock. With a piercing scream, she ran as fast as she could down the road and away from the beast. "Please don't go!" Griffin howled after her. But, it was no use, the milk-maid was long gone.
With tears streaming down his face, Griffin picked up the servant's rags that he had been wearing the day before, and pulled the crystal vial from his shabby pocket. He slipped a single drop onto his tongue, and, with a whistle and a pop, Griffin was a human boy once more. "I will never be a monster again!" he vowed.
Just as Griffin finished dressing himself in the tattered clothes, the thumping rhythm of wheels and hooves came from around the bend. To his surprise, sitting in a beautiful gold-trimmed carriage pulled by four chestnut horses, was the happy little family that he had seen from the conjurer's tower. "Roy," said the woman to her husband, "look at the poor boy on the roadside! His clothes are all soiled and tattered and it looks like he's been crying..."
"Oh my..." Roy replied as he gazed down at Griffin from his carriage. "Driver!" exclaimed the man with a tap on the roof of his coach, "we would like to stop." The gilded wheels groaned against the gravel road as the team of horses stomped to a halt. The beautiful couple descended from their coach and approached Griffin as their son peered suspiciously through the carriage window.
"Oh my!" exclaimed the woman when she had a better look at the pitiful urchin, "You look horrible!" Griffin took a step back, afraid that his disguise might not be as convincing as he had thought. "I'm sorry," she apologized, noticing his retreat, "I didn't mean to insult you. It's just that you appear to have been sleeping on the ground. There are leaves all through your hair!" The woman took a delicately-laced handkerchief from her pocket and began to wipe Griffin's dirty, tear-streaked face.
The man crouched upon his knees so he could speak face to face with the young boy. "Where is your family?" he asked. "We can help them, if you will let us know where they live."
"I don't have a family," Griffin blurted, being careful to keep his eyes fixed on his bare feet.
"I see..." stated the kind-eyed, man with a glance toward his wife. Griffin began to cry hopelessly. He was afraid that such a fine family would never have anything to do with such a dirty, unsightly boy.
The fine lady shook her head in dismay. "What is your name young man?" she asked.
He replied with a nervous stutter, "G..G..Griffin. My name is Griffin."
"What an unusual name! Griffin...," exclaimed the lady with delighted eyes. "Well, Griffin, how would you like to come home with us?" Joy sprang up in Griffin's heart. He tried to reply, but he was so happy that the best he could do was nod his head over and over as a smile splashed across his face.
"It's settled then," said Roy as he helped Griffin ascend into the carriage, "let's go home." Once they were all safely inside the coach, the wheels began to moan, and the horses pushed their heavy bodies into their harnesses as they started on their way.
Griffin took a seat next to the couple's richly-dressed son. The boy was about his own age, with rich, chocolate brown eyes and an aristocratic face. The two of them were a strange pair sitting next to one another. And yet, when Griffin cautiously glanced his way, the boy smiled back at him.
"My name is Kane," said the smiling lad. "You are Griffin, correct?" he asked as he extended his hand toward his comrade. "Well Griffin, I hope we can be friends."
Griffin eagerly took the boy's hand. "Friends," he agreed. So, for hours, as the carriage bumped and jumped and rumbled down the road, the boys talked, and laughed, and soon learned that they liked each other in earnest.
In fact, the boys were having so much fun, that Griffin barely noticed when they entered a large city. When he finally glanced out the carriage window, he was stunned. Griffin had never seen so many people living together. And, to his surprise, not one person screamed or ran away as they caught is eye. Instead, he found that people went out of their way to smile and wave as the coach rumbled past them.
The carriage finally came to a halt at the gates of an immense, tiered palace that shown in the clear sunlight. Griffin was overwhelmed by the sight of it. "This must be the home of someone very important, like a king or a queen," he said in awe.
"Well, a king and a queen, actually," said the kind-eyed man.
"And a prince!" Kane piped in.
The lady covered her mouth with a chuckle. "Griffin, this is our home," she said. "I am Queen Riona, and my husband is King Roy," she pointed out as Griffin's eyes widened in shock. "Our son sitting next to you is Prince Kane," she explained.
Griffin shot his eyes downward toward his feet. He had no idea how to behave around royalty. "Griffin?" said the queen, noticing his reaction, "what's wrong? Don't you want to stay with us anymore?"
Griffin kept his eyes firmly directed at the ground. "Yes, your majesty, but...I'm afraid I'm not fit for a castle."
"Nonsense. You seem to be a fine young man," the queen smiled reassuringly. "And there is no need to call myself or my husband 'majesty'. That is a formal term for formal occasions."
So, the carriage pulled through the castle gates as the sun was beginning its descent into the west. To Griffin, the inside of the palace was just as wonderful as the out. The walls were hung with gorgeous tapestries and paintings. The floors were covered with thick, densely woven carpets and strong, shining stones and woods. The ceilings were decorated with ornate carvings, moldings, and frescos of angels who watched over the people treading below. Everything in the palace was beautiful, except Griffin, who seemed out of place in his grimy rags and wild hair.
"Let's clean you up," the said the king to the dirty youth. Griffin blushed as he examined the dirt underneath fingernails. So, the king ordered his servants to prepare a room for his guest and to draw a bath for him to clean in. It wasn't long before Griffin was soaking in a tub gilt with silver and turquoise stones, and was filled with steaming, perfumed water. When his skin shone bright and clean and after his hair was washed and combed, he climbed into a dressing gown made of the warmest and softest material he had ever known.
Just as the crimson sunset was rolling through the vaulted windows, the king and queen took Griffin to a room of his own and tucked him into lofty, ebony bed with lavender scented sheets. As the last rays of sun shot over the horizon, the queen wrapped her slender arms around Griffin and gave him a tender goodnight hug.
"What was that?" asked Griffin.
"Why, that was a hug," replied Queen Riona.
Griffin smiled as his eyes drooped heavy with slumber. "I've never had a hug before," he said, "I liked it very much."
Tears came to the queen's eyes, and she brushed them away with her velvet sleeve. "Then you shall have them every day," she assured him. Then, the queen lifted herself up, wished him a goodnight, and closed the door to Griffin's room with a soft click. Minutes later, when the face of the moon peered over the horizon, Griffin's human body began to melt away.
When Griffin awoke in the early morning, he stretched out his wings with a contented yawn. Then, realizing what he was doing, Griffin exclaimed, "Wings? Oh no!" He rumbled through his old, discarded rags, "Where is my potion?" Griffin shook his clothes about; desperate to find his vial.
Without notice, the crimson liquid slipped from the tattered shirt-sleeve of his tunic, and would have shattered on the floor, except Griffin reached out and snatched from the air with his talons. "I guess all that training wasn't completely useless," he grinned.
Then, lifting up the vial, he slipped a drop of the liquid onto his tongue. With a whistle and a pop, he was human again. Griffin quickly dressed himself in some clothes he found stacked in a tall wardrobe. Then, he locked the vial and his torn and ruined nightclothes into the chest that lay at the foot of the bed. "No one must ever know who I really am," he decided.
In that instant, there was a heavy knock on his bedroom door. Griffon was afraid that someone had found out his secret. "Who...who is it?" he asked.
"It's me, Kane," a voice answered from the other side of the heavy door. Relieved, Griffin turned the knob with a grin. "Well, come on!" said Kane as he grasped his guest's wrist, "We can't stay in bed all day! We have lessons!"
"L..L..Lessons?" stuttered Griffin, remembering the lessons that Gwydion forced upon him day after day.
"Yes, I know! Who cares about lessons, right?" said Kane. "But, I asked Mother and Father if you could stay for a while. They said it was fine as long as that you went to lessons with me." Kane rolled his eyes and imitated his parents, "Education is very important for a young prince and his comrades."
Then, grasping his hand again, Kane ran with his new friend down the castle halls. They came to a halt in front of a pair of huge doors with an ornate orchard scene complete with baskets of apples carved into the wood. "Here we are!" Kane exclaimed.
"What do you mean?" asked Griffin, "shouldn't we have lessons outside? What if we ruined this lovely castle of yours?"
Kane furrowed his brows in confusion. "What ever are you talking about Griffin? Lessons are always held in the library." With that, Kane pushed open the library doors to reveal a massive, dimly-lit room that was filled from top to bottom with books; green books, red books, big books, small books, old books and new books. There were even few books that were written on long sheets of paper and were rolled up around gilded rods of wood.
Griffin had never seen anything like it. The old conjurer, Gwydion, kept many nefarious books that held malign words, but he never shared their contents with him. "Books!" exclaimed Griffin. "I've always wondered what was written inside them!"
"You mean, you can't read?" asked a shocked Prince Kane.
Griffin blushed. "Well, no. Gwyd...I mean...I never learned."
"Well, I would say it's about time someone taught you," interrupted a wrinkled, thick-cheeked old man. "Kane," he continued, turning toward the young prince, "isn't it about time for an introduction?"
Kane frowned at his tutor. "Yes. Griffin, this is my tutor, Sir Know-it-all." The old man gave the prince a stern glare. "I mean," Kane continued, "Sir Nointhal. Sir Nointhal, this is Griffin."
"Nice to meet you, Griffin," said the tutor with a sideways smile. "Don't you worry, Kane and I will teach you how to read in no time at all, isn't that right?"
Kane's mouth dropped open. "Me? Why should I have to help him? Isn't that what my parents pay YOU for?"
"Actually," replied the old man, "I do it as a favor for your parents, although, at times, I seriously consider retirement." The old man turned and began to pull massive books from nearby shelves. "Anyhow, tutoring Griffin will be a great opportunity for you to enhance your own, rather remedial, reading skills."
"Well, as long as it's for a friend," decided Kane. So, for next few hours the boys studied together in the library. Sir Nointhal and the prince explained rudimentary reading to their guest. They soon discovered that Griffin was a very quick learner. In fact, Griffin enjoyed it so much that, before he realized it, it was early afternoon.
"Time's up Know-it-all!" exclaimed Kane. "Come on, Griffin! I have battle practice with the courtiers' children in the afternoon! It's much more fun that having your nose in a book all day!"
So, once again, the young prince grasped his new friend's wrist, and they ran through the palace hallways. Finally, they arrived in vast courtyard carpeted with thick, fragrant grass. There, Griffin discovered young men of various ages plying blunted weapons in mock battles. Kane stopped to watch a sparring match between two of the oldest boys. Their moves were practiced, elegant, and very fast.
"I'm ten times better than these fellows!" commented Kane. "When I'm older, I'm going to be the best knight in my entire kingdom and do battle with the fiercest monsters."
Griffin had his doubts. The young men they were watching seemed very well practiced. "Well," answered Griffin, "if you are so talented, why don't you challenge the victor of this match?"
A nearby boy overheard their conversation and cut in with a chuckle. "Prince Kane would never do that! He's lying to you. He's lost every match he's ever been in."
Kane's face turned to a beet red. "Come on, Griffin," he spat out. "We have much more important things to do, don't we?"
"Um, of course," answered Griffin. So, they turned around and walked back inside the palace. Kane kept his eyes fixed on his shoes as they left the courtyard. Griffin hated to see his one and only friend so upset. "Kane?" he asked. "Was that boy telling the truth?"
Kane paused mid-step. "Yes, it's true," he admitted with a frown that seemed to droop all the way toward his feet. He snapped his head up and looked at his friend. "But, I know I could be first-rate if I just had a little help. Father says that I'm strong enough, I just need some strategy and technique."
Griffin remembered all the training he had gotten from his old master, Gwydion. Although he hadn't been very good at battle practice, he had learned plenty of tactics. "I could help you, Kane," decided Griffin. "My old master taught me some strategies that might help you."
"Really?" exclaimed Kane excitedly. The young prince threw his arm around Griffin's shoulder in a half-hug. "I'm so glad I met you, Griffin! I think we are going to be friends for a long time!
So, many days past by for Griffin in a similar fashion. The prince tutored Griffin in academics, while Griffin coached Kane in the art of knighthood. Days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months. Before Griffin even realized it, he had been living at the palace for one year.
The King and Queen had grown very fond of their son's friend, so, to mark the special occasion, Queen Riona had arranged for a banquet to be held in Griffin's honor. Every aristocrat and courtier for miles had been invited to come to the palace and celebrate with the royal family.
Countless tables were arrayed with spiced meats, rich cheeses, and fresh fruits. Minstrels played cheerful tunes while everyone ate, laughed, and thoroughly enjoyed themselves.
When the festivities began to die down, King Roy stood up to make an announcement. "Griffin has been our cherished guest for one year now," began the kind-eyed king. "In that time, the Queen and I have grown very fond of him. He has been a beacon of kindness and friendship to us, and to our son, Prince Kane." The king paused and raised his cup to Griffin, who blushed openly. "In fact," he continued, "Griffin has become like a member of our family. So, it is our decision today, to announce that Griffin is officially our adopted son and a prince of this realm."
The room filled with applause. Everyone was overjoyed to see the royal family so happy. Kane leaned toward his friend to whisper. "Isn't this great, Griffin?" he asked. "Now we are brothers!" Griffin was too overwhelmed with emotion to answer his new brother, but he thought it was the greatest thing in the world.
Little did he know, however, that the old conjurer Gwydion had been invited to the festivities as well. The magician stroked his beard in contemplation. "Prince Griffin, eh?" whispered Gwydion, "That is an unusual name." Gwydion's normally terrible face twisted into a horrible smile. "Dougal," the magician said to his beady-eyed companion, "Wouldn't it be a shame if someone ruined their little friendship?"
"Oh, yes" Dougal agreed with a wiggle of his pointed nose, "and I am just the rat...er, man for the job."
The next day, Dougal managed to be appointed as Prince Kane's personal servant. So, before the sun had risen in the east, he entered the prince's chamber and roused him from his sleep. "Time to wake up your majesty!" Dougal shouted into Kane's ear as he lit the candle on a nearby nightstand.
Prince Kane was so startled by the unexpected wake-up call, that he nearly flew out from under his bedclothes and across the room. "What is the meaning of this?" demanded the prince, "the sun hasn't even risen yet! You have awoken me much too soon!"
Dougal began to pull clothes out from the wardrobe. "Oh, I beg to differ, your majesty," he said. "Now that there is another prince of the same age in this castle, you need to get an early start on things to keep ahead."
"What on earth are you talking about?" asked Kane.
"Well, let's face it," said Dougal, "Prince Griffin is better than you at almost everything, especially his academics. It won't be long before he takes your place as the heir to the throne."
"That is not true," Kane pointed out, "I'm the best apprentice knight in the whole kingdom."
Dougal flashed an evil smile. "Yes, but didn't he tutor you? You never would have been any good without his help."
Kane frowned at the annoying servant. "Even so, my parents would never replace me."
Dougal laid the prince's clothes down upon a nearby chair. "Have it your way, young prince," he concluded, "but don't say I didn't warn you." And with that, Dougal left Kane alone in his chambers to ponder what he had said.
After leaving Kane's rooms, Dougal walked down the hall to Griffin's door. Once there, he pulled out a vial of blue potion from his embroidered pocket and slipped a drop on this his tongue. With a whistle and a pop, Dougal was a rat once again.
Then, he squeezed ever so tightly into a cranny that led into Griffin's chambers. Upon entering the room, Dougal was shocked to see a horrible creature sleeping in Prince Griffin's bed. With a squeak, he ran to the nearest corner and tried to hide himself from the rat-eating monster.
Just then, however, the sun's rays burst through the vaulted window of Griffin's room and roused the young prince from his sleep. Still in his hideous form, Griffin walked toward the chest at the foot of his bed and pulled out the vial of crimson liquid. The rat watched as the beast dropped some potion onto his tongue and, with a whistle and a pop, Griffin was a human once again.
After Griffin had dressed himself and left his chamber for his morning lessons, Dougal scurried over to the chest, popped open the red vial, and drank a small amount of potion. With a whistle and a pop, he was human. Then, with a wicked glimmer in this eyes, Dougal slipped the crimson potion into his embroidered pocket. "Looks like you won't be keeping your secret much longer, Griffin," he chuckled to himself.
That night, the two young princes sat down for a delicious dinner with their mother and father. Queen Riona, however, was upset. "Kane, I've had some bad news from Sir Nointhal today," she said. "He told me that you have not been applying yourself to your studies and he's worried that you might fall behind your brother."
Unfortunately, Kane was in a dark mood that evening. He had been pondering Dougal's words all day long. Perhaps he was right, thought Kane, maybe Griffin was a better prince than he could ever be. So, Kane gave his mother a curt reply, "I'm not taking lessons anymore."
The king gave his son a reassuring smile. "Everyone gets frustrated once in a while, son, but that is no reason to quit altogether" said King Roy. "Griffin, you will help Kane to catch up, won't you?"
"Of course," was Griffin's reply, "anything for a friend."
Kane was furious at the thought of needing help from his flawless adopted brother. "I don't need any help from a commoner," he spat. Griffin dropped his spoon onto his plate. He couldn't believe that his friend would talk about him in such a manner.
"Why Kane, I'm ashamed you," rebuked the Queen, "That is no way to speak about your own brother."
"Griffin is not my brother!" screamed Kane as he slammed his hands down upon the table. In a rage, he jumped from his chair and left the room. His angry stomps down the hall pounded with the same faltering beat as Griffin's broken heart.
The Queen sprang from her seat to give Griffin a comforting hug. "He didn't mean that," assured the King, "he's just angry with himself. You'll see."
"No," said Griffin, "you don't understand. He's right. I don't belong here." With that, he pushed himself away from the table and returned to his room. As the moon rose in the sky, Griffin transformed back into his monstrous self. Griffin examined his talons as they gleamed in the moonlight. He would have to tell them the truth, he decided. He just didn't know what they would say. And not knowing was the most frightening thing in the world.
The next morning, after he had all night to think, Kane felt horrible about the way he had treated his brother; his only true friend. Kane had resolved to make an apology. So, after the sun had risen on the new day, Kane walked down the hallway to Griffin's door and knocked heavily. "Griffin, it's me," he said through the thick, stained wood, " I want to apologize."
Griffin woke up with a start. He was still a beast; he couldn't let Kane see his hideous form. He didn't know how he would react. So, Griffin jumped out of his four-poster bed and ran toward the chest where he had hidden his potion. But, when he lifted the lid, he found that the vial was missing! "Oh no!" he exclaimed, "I've got to find it!" Griffin tore trough the room desperately searching for the vial of red liquid.
Kane was worried when his brother didn't answer. He pressed his ear to the doorframe, and was dismayed to hear the sounds of slamming furniture and scuffling feet. "Griffin?" asked the prince, "Is everything alright in there?" There was no answer from inside; only more slams and crashes. So, Kane pulled a skeleton key from his pocket, inserted it into the lock, and opened Griffin's door.
To his horror, he discovered a frightening beast with the head and wings of an eagle and the hind of a lion. "W...What have you done with my brother?" demanded the prince; his voice faltering with fear. Griffin spun around. This was the moment that he had been dreading all along. He didn't know what to say.
"Where is my brother?" Kane demanded a second time; this time with force and anger in his voice. Griffin still could not reply, so he reached out with his talons to comfort his friend. Kane staggered backward; afraid that the beast had attacked his brother and was now coming after him. Reaching behind him, Kane grasped at a book laying on a nearby desk and threw it at the massive creature. "Get out of here!" he screamed, "I'm a trained knight! I'm not afraid of you!"
Griffin was taken aback by the violence of his brother's screams. No one had ever reacted this strongly to him before and it frightened him. So, with a last look back at Kane, Griffin lifted is wings and flew out a nearby window.
He continued to fly aimlessly for a long time. Griffin didn't know where he was going. In fact, he didn't care where he was going, as long as it was far, far away.
Eventually, he landed in a grassy meadow that was dotted here and there with low, broad trees. After he had found a warm rock to rest upon, Griffin noticed that the land was abundant with life. Creatures tall and short, brightly colored and dull, fierce and tame, all seemed to live together in harmony.
An eagle glanced down upon him from a nearby tree, and a lion lay sprawled out upon a nearby rock. Griffin saw these creatures and began to despair. Although he was similar to the lion and he was akin to the eagle, Griffin realized that he could never be one or the other entirely.
Even among the beasts, Griffin felt that he was doomed to be alone. So, with nothing else to do, Griffin closed his eyes and tried to fall asleep. Not long after he had dozed off, however, a bright, scarlet letter "G" appeared on his chest. As it glowed against the afternoon sun, Griffin's body disappeared.
When Griffin awoke, he was lying in a cage near a roaring fireplace. Startled, he snapped his eyes open and had a look around. He was a room filled with vials of potions, bubbling brews, and steaming cauldrons. Suddenly, Griffin recognized his surroundings. He was in Gwydion's laboratory.
The sound of voices came floating from the stairwell across the room. "I'm pleased you came alone, young prince," said the voice of the conjurer, Gwydion, "You have the mark of a truly brave knight."
"Thank you, sorcerer," beamed the voice of Prince Kane. "Now, where is the beast? I must avenge my brother."
Gwydion opened the door to his laboratory. "Of course. He's right in here," said the magician, with a gesture toward Griffin's cage.
Kane ran toward the beast, brandishing a short sword. "Now I shall have revenge!" he exclaimed. The prince swung the sword high over his head, preparing to strike a deadly blow against his foe.
Griffin found his voice. "It's me, Kane!" he cried, "It's your brother, Griffin!"
Kane lowered his sword. That was Griffin's voice, he was sure of it. "This is some form of trickery," stated the prince, "my brother is not a foul beast."
"No, it's me," said Griffin. "This is who I really am. I have been taking a potion that I stole from Gwydion that made me appear human." Griffin pleaded with his brother for mercy. "I'm so sorry I lied to you," he howled, "I just wanted to have a family that loved me, just as yours loves you."
Kane was still suspicious. He didn't think he could trust what this creature told him. Then, taking a closer look, he noticed the monster's bright, kind eyes. They seemed so familiar somehow.
"Quit your sniveling," Gwydion said to the beast. "After all, I'm going to make you a king."
"What?" shouted Griffin and Kane in unison.
Gwydion smiled, and when he did so it only caused his face to appear even more horrible than before. "That's right Kane, this beast is your adopted brother, but he is also my creation." He pointed to the "G" that still glowed upon Griffin's chest. "That letter is my mark. It forces all of my minions to obey me."
Gwydion then picked up a vial of pink liquid. "Griffin will drink this potion and, when he does, he will become fully human for the rest of his days. In return, he will do my bidding. I couldn't have planned it better myself!"
"Never!" cried Griffin. "I will never help you, Gwydion!"
Kane smirked at the old conjurer. "You have forgotten one thing. I am the heir to the throne; not Griffin."
"Oh, I didn't forget, young prince." replied the magician, "but, once Griffin has turned you into a horrible beast, no one will believe that you are really the crown prince." Gwydion crossed his arms in triumph. "No sense in waiting. Griffin, take that vial of green potion and splash it upon your brother; turn him into a monster forever!"
"No!" Griffin exclaimed in defiance. Despite his resistance, however, the scarlet "G" upon his chest glowed brighter, and he felt his limbs moving against his will. He fought every movement, but, to his dismay, he found himself grasping at the green vial, facing his brother, and raising the tonic over his head. "Kane," he whispered to his brother, "I'm sorry."
Kane gave the creature a sorrowful smile. "I forgive you, Griffin," he answered. "After all, you are my brother."
Just then, the "G" emblazoned upon his chest pulsed with a new light, and Griffin felt himself regaining control over his talons. With a meaningful gesture, Griffin nodded at his brother, and then down at the green liquid he was holding. "I just need a diversion," he whispered to Kane. The prince nodded in acknowledgement.
"What is taking you so long, you miserable creature?" Gwydion chided his creation. "I haven't got all day." As quick as lightning, Kane slipped a ring from his finger and hurled it as hard as he could at the evil conjurer. The heavy ring slammed into Gwydion's forehead, stunning him momentarily.
"Now!" exclaimed Prince Kane. With that, Griffin spun around and tossed the entire contents of the green vial upon his former master. With a whistle and a pop, Gwydion had transformed into a loathsome snake. Unfortunately, the transformation left Gwydion unable to grasp the pink potion of eternal humanity that he had been protecting. The precious vial slipped to the floor and shattered upon the ground.
Kane ran to the spot where the pink potion lay ebbing upon the floor. "Oh no! Griffin!" grieved the prince, "The potion has been lost! Now you must remain a beast forever."
"I wouldn't have wanted it anyway," Griffin decided. "I want to be loved for who I am, not for who I appear to be."
Griffin picked up the snake as it attempted to slither away unseen. "And as for you Gwydion; this "G" on my chest, stands for 'Griffin'." With that, Griffin tossed the snake into a cage with a familiar-looking rat. Griffin laughed as the snake and the rat chased each other around their enclosure.
"Looks like you're not the only one who has found their true form today, Griffin." chuckled the prince.
As the two brothers left conjurer's castle, they freed every creature and every servant that had been forced to do Gwydion's bidding. They thanked the brothers a thousand times, and then scattered throuhout the kingdom; telling everyone they met about the two princes and their bravery.
So, the two brother's returned home together, on foot, in the red blaze of the setting sun. As they entered the city gates, Griffin was surprised to find that none of the citizens seemed afraid or angered by his appearance. To the contrary, he found that people went out of their way to smile and wave as the two princes made their way past them
When they arrived at the palace gates, Griffin found the King and Queen waiting there. Without hesitation, they ran toward the pair of heroes and embraced them.
"Your majesties...I mean mother and father," said Griffin, confused, "aren't you afraid of me?"
The King smiled at his adopted son. "Griffin, it doesn't matter what you look like on the outside. You are still the same wonderful person that we invited into our family."
"In fact," added the Queen, "we are more proud of you today than ever." At that moment, the king, the queen, and Prince Kane all linked their arms around Griffin. "We love you Griffin. You are our son," said the queen.
"And my brother," insisted Kane.
"And, truly," added the King, "you are a prince."
So, the royal family reigned in happiness for the rest of their days and, eventually, the story of Prince Griffin reached around the world. And that is why, from generation to generation, griffins have been a symbol of strength, loyalty, and courage.
#
# #
|
