THE LEGEND

Can any good come out of deceit?

Lily, a village maiden known for her pure heart and gentle spirit, was summoned to the royal court. The king had been poisoned, and the physicians declared only the touch of a unicorn could save him. Believing every word, Lily accepted the impossible mission without hesitation.
Deep within the ancient forest she found the silver creature drinking beside a crystal stream. Instead of fleeing, the unicorn studied her with kind, sorrowful eyes.
“You carry no deceit,” he said softly. “But those who sent you do. The king has not been poisoned. It's a lie!”
Lily’s heart pounded.
“The king’s soldiers are hidden among the trees,” the unicorn continued. “They plan to capture me. They believe my blood grants eternal power. And this is what the king truly seeks. Power! I do not blame you, for your heart is innocent. What happens next is the king's doing.
Before she could shield him from harm, bows snapped upward. Arrows hissed through the air.
The unicorn leaped like moonlight across the valley. Every shaft missed its mark. He vanished beyond the hills, swifter than the swiftest arrow. Nobody ever saw it again.
Ashamed, Lily returned home realizing that her failure meant the king would not pay her. Her only concern was for her family.
At sunrise, a cheerful young lad knocked upon her cottage door and handed her a sealed envelope. Inside lay tiny horn shavings wrapped in silk with a note.
“Rub these upon your hands. Your harvest shall increase one hundredfold. Feed those who hunger.”
Lily obeyed. That autumn, barren fields overflowed with grain, fruit, and vegetables beyond imagination. No family went hungry.
Lily smiled toward the distant forest, finally understanding.
That the unicorn lived up to the legend. To help those in need, not those with greed in their hearts.