ONCE IN A LAND

Megan Stark

5th Grade • Helen C. Pierce Elementary

Once in a land there was peace and quiet, and upon those lands a kingdom thrived and all was at peace in the land. On a hill not far from the kingdom of Ravayn sat a boy. This boy's name was Luken and he liked to go by Luken of course. The king of the land had communicated to another king whose land did not thrive and the king of that land was named King Brandon III (King Brandon the Third).

Once King Bradon made up his word fighting the Kingdom of Ravaryn, he thought that it was his age that would be able to bring down the kingdom. Though his ancestors fought The kingdom of Ravaryn was still not brought down. Once word had spread throughout the Kingdom of Gandtrick King Brandon’s people were alarmed of the war and they did what they could to get ready. Though the kingdom of Gandtrick did what they could they simply did not do what anyone would. The King was not wise, the gates were not strong, the people did not know where they belonged. The Kingdom of Gandtrick needed some help though when they asked another kingdom they were turned back. They were tricksters and liars and thieves neighbors took money up others sleeves, they never were taught what to do for war, all they had done was fight in the street. Neighbor against neighbor, were not neighbors if you can see. One hurt another and the fight kept on this city of slime was not worth the other's time.

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In the land of Ravaryn thrived and once into battle they all knew their places in battle and all of the times they were needed they helped each other out. This city of old the legends described how they helped their neighbors and their neighbors helped thy. The King, King Nathaniel, for a change was this wise. He saved what number of soldiers he could and openly addressed the problem like one should. He decided on a number of soldiers, archers and spearmen and cavalry too. Once he addressed the number everyone got ready. Among them was Lucken he was the son of a very successful farmer. Once he had written his name for recruiting he had gone and sat on a hill. Then he had thought about if he got in he would be what? He then thought of being a warrior of course he had obviously been trained in swordsmanship but having been granted with strong arms for work in the fields he decided on working on archery. But he also took in mind he would have to carry at the very least a close combat dagger.

The next day everyone was hard at work, and once Luken looked at the list of people who got chosen he found his name at the top of the list. And although he had strong arms, a strong back and strong legs he was not too perfected in archery and had to train real hard. After his training which took place in a training area across the palace he made very good progress throughout his day of training with a bow and arrow. The next day was a no training day, since the King, King Nathaniel had seen the hard work they had progressed in the day before though people were welcome to train whenever needed or wanted. When Lucken walked through the streets and paved roads he saw everyone at work. Backers working their arms sore so that they could provide enough food for the trip to the Kingdom of Gandtrick.

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Cobblers working till their fingers shook by making fitted shoes for the journey,and for the different activities and movements the different roles for battle would require. The blacksmiths making all of the weapons and lumberjacks helping with making bows for the archers. Armor was already made and was inside rooms where soldiers were trying them out.

On the other hand, in the Kingdom of Gandtrick, people were getting into more fights than ever. Their King, King Brandon the third was bragging about how he could take on more than 10 of the warriors of Ravaryn. Although he seemed so prideful he kept on lying, and nobody wanted to join his group of guards/soldiers. Nevertheless he still recruited until he promised a little boy stronger than most of the boys his age. King Brandon knew how to lie and bribed the boy, Maxen, about 500 gold coins to be his bodyguard. Once others heard about this they began to sign up and the lists were overflowing. Once the day of the battle came, King Brandon led them like a stampede of bulls, in the eyes of Maxen a rage cry. Maxen, forced into battle only had a dagger from his friends in the street and a few arm guards to cover his arms. Most of the other people stole and had the same things Maxen had, some just ran in there waving their arms and legs around like crazy making them appear madd in the eyes of honest men across the battlefield.

Across the battlefield men thought the other kingdom had all gone mad. And that was scary. Luken sat with some other men around a campfire discussing their thoughts. Then Luken turned to talk. “I do not like the thought of going to war with mad men. In my opinion,” he said, “it is far worse than going

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to battle against people in their right mind going to war with weapons and armor.” Once he completed his saying the others among him laughed so hard they rolled on the ground till the captain of their guard had to yell at them for it was not a manly thing to do, rolling on the ground like a child. Other snippets he heard around camp was everyone saying, “The cheese has totally slipped off their crackers.” Others said, “They have lost all of their marbles,” and still others said, “Has the world gone mad or just me?”

The roar of laughter was completely silenced when they were called into line with their weapons. Once they had gotten far enough and the Kingdom of Ravaryn was losing members the weapons made with care and armor started to help them the most. The shoes surprisingly helped them move especially quick and make difficult maneuvers. Though the Kingdom of Ravaryn had lost so many members of its army the tide tables were turning, fast. Luken could now see in just a few minutes the men who were rolling on the ground in laughter were now so concentrated. The difference in how they organised themselves had a huge display, also how hard the other villagers worked for them to have victory. Luken saw how the warriors had organized themselves and turned their army unit into a circle. Warriors on the outside of the circle and archers and spearsmen inside the circle.Once they got around and the mad crowd/handful of men was thinning for Gandtrick. The men of Gandtrick who survived the circle attackers ran away back to their Kingdom and brought out the white flag of surrender. Once all the warriors, archers and spearsmen had gotten back to the Kingdom walls they mourned for a few days about the men they had lost then for then next week, celebrated their victory.

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This story is supposed to show the importance of neighbors. The Kingdom of Gandtrick is a kingdom where the people do not work together and have a difficult time getting through hard things, when the Kingdom of Ravaryn show how good things could be if everyone works together and how things turned out better when one person could help another with one thing and the one who had been helped can always return the favor with something different or something the neighbor needs help with.

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