The Tale of Illahie Xing

Once upon a time, in a land far away, a girl was born. Her name was Illahie Xing. Illahie's parents were poor and hungry, and soon died, leaving the girl to be raised by her ailing grandmother. Her grandmother lamented the loss of her children, and Illahie grew up with compassion and gentleness.

When her grandmother also died, Illahie took it upon herself to help the people who were in need. Her fame spread, and poor and sick came from all over the country, sure of a safety and care from the woman with the beautiful heart. The king himself heard of her, and came on a black horse to visit the woman who served his people so unselfishly.

He rode from his palace towards her house. The nearer he got, the more crowded the roads became with the sick and needy, all making their way towards Illahie Xing's house. The king got off his horse, and began to walk, leading the great animal behind him. He came upon an old man on hands and knees crawling along the road towards Illahie Xing. The king lifted him up, and gently put him on the horse. He continued on his way. There was a young boy being carried by his weary mother. The king put them on the broad back of his black horse with the old man, and continued on his way. A beggar, barefoot and practically naked, was making his way along the road. The king stopped him, and gave the beggar his royal coat and boots, and continued towards Illahie Xing.

When the king arrived at the small house, barefoot and coatless, his black horse laden with the old man, the young boy and his mother, he was tired. His feet hurt and he was hungry. He sat down, and waited for the woman to appear. The house was snug against the side of the hill. Before the house, people waited, wretched and poor. Behind the house, gardens filled with vegetables and beautiful flowers stretched up the side of the mountain.

When the sun was directly overhead, and the king was so thirsty and hungry, he felt he couldn't bear it anymore, the door opened. A young woman came out, her long black hair hanging below her waist, her feet bare, her dress far simpler than the merest palace maid's, and smiling eyes that seemed to look right at the prince. He felt his heart leap, and he stood up. She was holding an enormous black pot, filled with something that smelled delicious. Behind her, others came out of the house, a young girl carrying a stack of bowls, a blind man feeling his way along, holding a pail of water, and still more poured out of the small house, following Illahie Xing as she went into the crowd, feeding and washing and caring for the people.

The king received a bowl of soup from Illahie Xing, and she washed his bare feet. Then she had the old man carried into her house, and gave the mother medicine for her young boy. She even had the king's horse led away, fed and watered. The king watched in wonder at everything she did.

Night fell, and the crowd wandered away, back to their houses and caves, content with their food and medicines. The king sat still as the rest of the people dwindled away. At last, he was the only one left before the small house, its windows twinkling with yellow candlelight.

Illahie Xing came to the prince, and smiled at him. “Excuse me, sir, do you need a place to stay?”

The king shook his head.

“Do you need help in any way?”

The king shook his head again, “You have already taken care of my needs, thank you.”

“Why are you here?”

The king stood up and bowed. He took Illahie Xing's hand and kissed it, “I came to see you, my lady. Every report I had heard about you is true. You take better care of my people than I, with my entire court behind me.”

Illahie blushed and fell to her knees. “Your highness!” she stammered, “I did not recognize you!”

The king smiled at her, “I am glad you did not. I saw you minister to every person here without priviledge or preference. You served each one, even me, with compassion and gentleness. I have never met someone like you.” The king kneeled down beside her, and looked into her eyes. “My lady, will you marry me, and help my people as my queen?”

Illahie Xing blushed. She remembered that the king had arrived on foot, with out coat or boots, leading behind him a black horse who carried three people.

“If – if I can still help as I always have.” she cautioned, “I will marry you.”

The king nodded, and stood up, drawing Illahie Xing to her feet.

The next day, it was announced throughout the kingdom that the king would marry Illahie Xing. All the people rejoiced, except for one.

In a black and hard cave, smelling of sulphur, filled with stiffling air, and huddled under the black hood of a smoking volcano, the king's half-brother lived. He had been exiled from the country for his wickedness, and his heart burned with resentment and evil. Other black-hearted men had found him in his dark cave, and the half-prince now had an army of men as wicked as himself. He heard of the king's marriage, and he spat with fury. He quickly gathered the largest and cruelest of the men around him, and made an evil plan.

Illahie Xing and the King were to be married on the side of the mountain behind her home. It seemed the entire country had arrived for the wedding. The king waited on the mountain for Illahie Xing. Just as she stepped out of her house, smiling, the evil prince swept in with his men, riding over the guests and crushing them with their huge horses. The prince grabbed Illahie Xing and threw her onto the horse behind him.

“Try and take her, brother!” he shouted at the king, and rode off, his men behind him.

Many miles later, the prince threw Illahie Xing into his cave under the volcano, and laughed at her harshly. “I have stolen my brother's happiness, and gained his kingdom in one blow!” He grabbed Illahie Xing, “You will marry me, and the people love you so much, they will make me king!”

Illahie Xing was trembling, she was so frightened, but she shook her head. “I will not marry you.” she said.

“You will marry me, or you will die!” the prince hissed at her.

She shook her head again, “Then I will die.”

The prince threw her down again, “Maybe you will feel differently after a few days of hunger!” he snapped at her, and left her in the cave.

Meanwhile, the king was looking everywhere for Illahie Xing, but no one knew where his brother's hideout was. He had been searchign for two days, when he fell asleep under a mountain with black smoke rising from the top. He was awakened with a swift kick, and discovered himself surrounded by his brother's wicked men. They quickly tied him up, and took him to their cave under the volcano.

The king was overjoywed to see Illahie Xing alive, but she was very white, and her face was pinched with hunger. He tried to speak to her, but his brother slapped him across the face.

"So, you've come here to save her." His brother laughed. "What will you give me for her, your kingdom?"

"No!" Illahie Xing shouted before the king could speak. The prince and the king turned to look at her. "You would torment and starve the people. I would rather die than have that happen."

"Would you now?" said the prince. "Would you rather see him die?" he said, suddenly hodling a sword to the king's throat.

Illahie Xing's eyes filled with tears. 

The prince laughed at her. He threw the king away from him, and walked toward Illahie Xing slowly. "Here's what I'll do, my dear. I'll give you a choice. You can marry me, and I'll spare my half-brother - for a time - or you can climb this stinking mountain, and throw yourself into its heart of fire!"

Illahie Xing trembled with fear. "The fire." she said quietly.

The prince stared at her in shock. Then he cut the ropes from her hands and shoved her up the mountain. "Then go." He grabbed the king, "You can watch before you follow her."

Illahie Xing climbed the mountain. It was hot, and the sharp rocks cut her hands and feet. The air stank, and she felt dizzy. Carefully, putting one foot in front of the other, she climbed. Her dress had been ripped away in shreds, and her skin was exposed to the burning air. It tingled and stung. She reached the lip of the mountain, and stood, looking down into the glowing heart of the volcano. She turned, and shouted down the mountain to the prince, "I will not allow you to use me for your evil purposes! I choose my death freely." and stepped backwards into the volcano.

The prince laughed with triumph as the king slumped to his knees and wept. 

Illahie Xing fell. She breathed in the mountain's fire and it warmed her. She felt strong - stronger than she had ever felt. As she burned away, she felt her heart surge with courage. It pushed away the chill of death reaching for her, and burned even fiercer than the mountain's fire. 

The prince turned to the king, and kicked him. "You're next brother." he sneered. "So weak - to weep over a woman! Get up and follow her, if you're man enough." A sudden rumble from the mountain interupted the prince. He turned and looked up at the volcano. Smoke was billowing fiercly from the top, and it glowed with red ashes. 

"What's going on?" He shouted.

"The mountain is going to explode, sir!" one of his men yelled.

The prince dropped his brother, and ran for a horse. The king felt the ground rumbling under his feet. He was not afraid; grief over came him. The ground split beneath him, and the king relaxed, expecting to die in flames, when he felt himself lifted into the air. He opened his eyes and shouted in surprise. He was sitting on the back of a dragon. It had flown out of the crack in the earth, and he was seated securley between its wings. The dragon opened its mouth and breathed out fire. Behind them, the mountain flowed with liquid rock running like blood down its sides. 

The sharp scales of the dragon had cut the ropes binding the king, and he held on tightly to it. The dragon flew quickly after the prince's men. Their horses reared and threw their riders in a panic. The mountain's flames quickly made an end to their evil. 

Only the prince was left. "There!" shouted the king, pointing to the prince. He was climbing as quickly as he could up a small hill, trying to get to safety from the flowing molten rock. The dragon banked sharply, and landed in front of him. He screamed, and fell to his knees, begging for mercy. 

"Please, no, my lord of the mountain! I did not mean to wake you, have mercy!"

The dragon snorted, and lowered its wings. The king slid off and strode towards his brother. 

The prince saw him coming. "Eat him! Please! You are wicked, like me! Think of all we could do together!" he pleaded. Again, the dragon snorted. It lowered its head so it was looking directly into the prince's eyes.

"I would not do your will in life, neither will I do it in death." The dragon turned to the king, "My lord, what would you have me do with this wicked man?"

The king stared at the dragon, "Illahie?" he whispered. 

The dragon nodded, and a hot tear dripped down her face. "Yes, and no. What would you have me do with this man?"

The king looked at his brother gibbering and weeping on the ground. "He has lost what little power he had." He reached out and gently touched the dragon's nose. "Leave him, and come marry me."

Illahie Xing's dragon eyes filled with tears. "How can I, such as I now am?"

The king shook his head, "You are as you always were, generous, compassionate and kind. I do not love you any less in a different form. Do you still love me?"

Illahie Xing nodded yes. 

The king smiled, "Then we will live happily ever after."