The White Princess

Alas is a wandering mercenary swordsman who ends up in a magical kingdom in Britain where he meets a gorgeous female monarch named the White Princess who teaches him how to read.

Alas had done much as a skilled swordsman and mercenary while wandering around the various lands and realms of Europe. He visited various fabled kingdoms and witnessed various wars between kingdoms and dominions and gained the reputation of being a valiant and skilled warrior and a valuable asset in times of battle. Alas was a very confident swordsman and excellent chef and could cook up an inventive dish using various ingredients randomly available at his disposal. He was also very handsome which made him rather appealing to women he'd meet during his travels and adventures. In fact, it was rumored Alas may have had over 100 female lovers. Yes, Alas had pretty much done it all at the relatively young age of 33, but there was one glaring weakness in his life --- he was illiterate.

Alas neglected his education to seek out a life of swordsmanship and traveling adventure as a mercenary. He started training with a sword his uncle gave him while he was a young boy growing up in Bavaria. Alas became obsessed with his incredible sword which he named Excalibur. Alas practiced various maneuvers and motions with Excalibur, some of which his uncle taught him when he was a young boy in Bavaria. Alas' adventures and swordsplay activities took up too much of his time for him to focus on his education, which is why he never really developed his skills at reading. Hence, Alas, despite being a traveled and seasoned and battle-hardened adventurous swordsman...was illiterate. He simply couldn't read at the level expected of a 33 year-old capable man.

Alas wandered around Europe in the summertime in his 33th year of life and ended up in a special place in Britain called Ramedol. There, Alas employed himself as a swordsman-warrior for an upcoming kingdom confrontation between Ramedol and a rival castled kingdom called Theradin, which was ruled by a mighty but relentlessly ambitious warlord named Mordin. Alas helped the forces of Ramedol overcome the forces of Mordin's Theradin and brought home the joyous victory for the kingdom of Ramedol. Alas was welcomed into the castle celebration at Ramedol by trumpeters and bishops and declared a cool hero. Alas was carried into the inner-chamber of the female monarch of Ramedol, a stunningly gorgeous white-haired 28 year-old woman named Endira (who was simply called the 'White Princess').

ALAS: You're a very beautiful princess!

ENDIRA: Thank you, Alas.
ALAS: It was my great honor to help the army of Ramedol.
ENDIRA: You did a fine job disposing of Mordin's force.

ALAS: Your kingdom is now secure, my princess.

ENDIRA: You may call me Endira, Alas!
ALAS: How may I continue to serve Ramedol while I'm here?
ENDIRA: Well, actually, I wanted to know what we might provide you!
ALAS: I don't have many needs; just warm food and board while I'm here.
ENDIRA: You'll get that for sure, but isn't there something more rich you seek?
ALAS: I don't have much need for long-term treasures; just sufficient travel-money!
ENDIRA: We'll surely provide you with some gems and gold for your travel-chest.

ALAS: That's excellent, Princess Endira; thank you.
ENDIRA: However, I was wondering if there was something I could personally offer you.

ALAS: You?
ENDIRA: Yes, I'm an excellent teacher and seamstress and can tailor you something or instruct you.

ALAS: I'm humbled by your gracious offer, princess; I humbly admit, I'm illiterate (I don't know reading!).

ENDIRA: That shall be remedies, good knight; I will be your reading-teacher.

Alas spent the rest of the summer almost entirely in Endira's chambers, while she taught him carefully how to read and write the English word. Endira showed Alas various great works in English literature and also helped Alas read and evaluate passages in the Christian Bible in English. Alas started gaining speed in his acquisition of English reading and writing, and he started falling in love with his gracious and intelligent teacher-monarch, the White Princess (Endira). At the end of the summer, Endira presented Alas with a special laurel signifying his excellent progress in the learning of English reading and writing and entreated the handsome prince to stay with her at Ramedol for a while longer. You see, Endira had fallen in love with Alas, just as he had fallen in love with her. The future was uncertain for these two angels...but certainly (or perhaps) dream-catching!

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