Once long ago,

Away but not that far,

There lie a golden basket,

Where evil could not mar.

Inside was a golden locket,

Upon a baby's breast,

It was a magical locket,

Made to protect.

The child, a crown prince born,

Was forfeited his crown,

The queen who gave birth,

Was no where to be found.

As the legend goes the prince grew,

Inside the forest dell,

The secret the animals knew,

He they could not tell.

The boy in youth,

Showed an unbelievable strength,

Under his hand,

No kingdom would break.

One day,

It came to be known,

The boy's kingdom was in peril,

The secret must be told.

The animals wise,

Gather round him,

To tell him the tale,

Of a god's romantic whim.

His mother wooed,

By the godly being,

Gave unto him,

Her love unceasing.

The king soon learned,

Of his wife's affair,

He grew enraged,

That she ever dared.

The young prince,

Being not the king's son,

Was banished,

From the kingdom.

And so the queen set off,

A golden basket clutched to her chest,

She did not stop,

until she found the dell to rest.

The queen was met,

By a golden light,

She had not noticed,

It followed her flight.

The light took form,

And breathed upon her a kiss.

The god, for he was the light,

Offered her eternal life.

She accepted his gift,

And now the god offered to his son,

A locket of gold,

The godly gift of protection.

Soon the god and queen,

Adjourned to their heavenly abode,

And the locket still shines true,

Of the purest gold.

The noble young man,

Of royal and heavenly brood,

Set off to save his kingdom,

With a brave and solemn mood.

He rode on his horse,

For many days alone,

He came upon many ruins,

He could now see the castle,

And felt a tug at his heart,

Should he help the man who scorned him?

Or put his feelings apart?

He dismounted his horse,

And continued his journey,

Ever onward to the castle.

On his way he met many foe,

Which upon his honor,

He struck down,

For of this place he grew fonder.

Finally he came

To the castle gates,

And slowly he entered,

Wary of what may lie in wait.

But before the prince,

Went even a step longer,

A golden light.

Took form beside him.

"Eric my son," said the god,

"You have journeyed long,

Bravely you have fought,

Soon you will end all that is wrong.

But if danger

Comes your way,

Hold your locket,

And say my name,

With that the light dissipated,

And the prince's father was gone,

Prince Eric felt strengthened,

When his father's speech was done.

He strode into the castle,

And found a whimpering king,

"Save us," said the cowering man.

"Deliverance to us bring."

The noble young man,

Now he his danger saw,

He found an evil man,

With a squarely set jaw.

The big square jaw opened,

And issued forth a voice,

"I am the great Aramus,

Who dare strides in my palace?"

"I am the noble Eric,

The prince of this palace."

And the brave prince,

Walked over to Aramus.

Eric said,

"Free this land,

End this tyranny,

Or will we fight to the end?"

Aramus set his squared jaw

And in a hard way,

"We will fight to the end,"

He did say.

Aramus and Eric,

Fought for the land,

Far too soon Aramus gained,

The upper hand.

Eric grasped his locket,

And called to his father,

The golden light surrounded him,

No evil charms could him bother.

He was protected from his adversary,

His father's promise held true,

Not the strongest magic,

Would break through.

Eric beat Aramus,

And saved his kingdom,

And later he ruled well,

Carol LaFay