The king smiled as he explained, �This is a village who�s lord recently pledged himself and his people to me. They once lived in slavery and fear of marauders, but they cried out to me for help only just two days ago and not a moment too soon. The marauders attacked last night, but my soldiers beat them back. The villagers no longer fear the enemy, and they are celebrating the freedom that has been given them.�
Now Ian was watching the king�s face. It was as if the king himself was happier for this moment than the villagers were. And Ian realized that they were no different than he himself was. But then the king�s gaze shifted, and as Ian followed the king�s gaze, he saw why. He saw a village in shambles, being burnt to the ground. People everywhere were screaming and running in chaos and confusion. He watched as these villagers, who were obviously helpless and unfit to fight for their lives, were being beaten by their enemies or pierced by their arrows, and he stared in horror and disgust as they were devoured by the very same enemies. He looked to the king again, and he saw that, though his serene countenance was still there, there was something different in his eyes; he now seemed to feel the pain and agony of this village. It began to rain gently over the massacre that was happening in the village, and Ian could hear the sounds he heard before when he first entered the throne room change slightly. There was an obviously mournful tone in them now. Ian could not help himself; he began to cry.
�My Lord,� asked Ian, �Can nothing be done to save them?�
�I�ve sent many messengers to this village warning them of this day,� replied the king. �I�ve known for a long while that the enemy wanted this village, but the lord of it was stubborn and did not believe they needed my aid. He refused to believe there could be an enemy of such strength. And the more I sent my servants to warn them, the more severely my servants were treated by the villagers and their lord. I stopped sending my servants to them, and I was certain I would never hear from them again. But I still hoped. Having been rejected by them, I asked one man to stand guard nearby in case they changed their minds. Now it�s too late; by morning this village and it�s people will be a mere memory.�
As they watched, Ian realized he was not watching men perform such cruelties. Because of the darkness he could not make them out completely, but these beasts moved with inhuman strength, not even using a sword but preferring to tear apart their victims with their hands, claws, and teeth. Who could possibly stand against such an enemy? Having made an end of their plunder, they retreated to the darkness of the nearby woods.
Suddenly a flash of light arched through one of the creatures, severing its upper and lower body. A split second later there was another flash and another creature fell headless to the ground. Ian watched in amazed curiosity as another was run through, and he realized that the light was coming from a sword. It was a two edged sword so bright, it seemed to shine in the night. As it was pulled from the creature�s body, Ian could not see any blemish indicating there was ever any blood on this sword, and it shined brightly through the night. Having realized what was happening, the rest of the creatures fled all the more quickly. Ian noticed the king was now beaming with pride as the warrior held his sword high, and Ian could see the warrior�s mournful face. He couldn�t have been much older than Ian himself was; the warrior looked to be about sixteen or seventeen years of age to Ian. �Well done, Cathmor; well done,� said the king, and the rain seemed to taper off as though in response to the gesture by the king. And for a moment Ian thought he noticed someone or something else there with the warrior. And although it was dark, it was obvious to Ian that it wasn�t human either, but while the creatures that attacked the village carried with them a sense of ominous foreboding, he sensed no ill intent in this one. Ian found it strange that he could not make out the shape of it in the light of the sword. The sword�s light wasn�t so great that the it completely banished the darkness, but the creature was standing just beneath it with this warrior. When the marauders left the warrior sheathed his sword and the forest was strangely peaceful again.
Ian finally understood. �You saw me in my servitude,� said Ian.
�Yes, I saw you the day you were born. I have watched you grow into the young man that you are,� replied the king.
�So you knew the prince would bring me back all along?� asked Ian.
�It was the very reason he went out,� said the king.
But this perplexed Ian all the more. If the king knew everything about him, why would the king send out a party to rescue him? And why would he want Ian to become a part of his family? Ian didn�t even have to ask. The king put his hand on Ian�s shoulder once more and touched the waters of the pool. Again the water rushed for a moment and settled again, and the king told Ian to look into the pool. Ian saw his own reflection again, and yet, it was different. This wasn�t the commoner, the slave he saw before. No, in this reflection there was a confidence in his eyes and a strength of heart that was not there before. This time he saw a prince. As Ian pondered this strange occurrence in his mind, the king explained, �You are like a bird who never learned how to fly. The only life you�ve ever known has been lived among slave traders as their merchandise, but you were meant for far better things than that. You see yourself as a slave, but I see a prince and a son.�