The smell of paper, both new and old, filled Philip’s nostrils as he slipped his coat off and hung it up. He gave a deep, mournful sigh at the all too familiar aroma.
“What’s wrong?” asked Joseph, who was sorting through a bulging bag of letters.
“Nothing,” said Philip, going to join the old man. He grabbed one of the sea of bags that crowded the giant room. “It’s just when I joined the king’s guards, sifting through mail wasn’t quite what I had in mind.”
Joseph laughed, a rich, warm amused laugh. “I felt the same when I first started. You’ll learn, the same as I did, that being a king’s messenger is the best of all the guard jobs.”
Only respect for the old man kept Philip from scoffing. “I want to do something exciting, something important,” Philip said.
“You are,” Joseph assured him. “And you’ll see it before long.”
The door of the mail room creaked open. The king stepped in. “You’re here, good.”
Both men bolted to their feet and bowed low.
“Your majesty,” said Philip. “Do you need something? We would have come to you.”
“I was passing. Could one of you nip along to Master Dominic and see how he’s getting along with my son’s crown? We don’t need it for six weeks yet so there’s no rush but I’d like a rough estimate on when he’ll be finished.”
Philip nodded. “I’ll go now,” he said.
***
Philip walked into the town and along to Master Dominic’s workshop. He knocked.
A tall, thin man opened the door. “I’ll wager you’re here about the crown,” Dominic said, with a smile.
Philip nodded. “The king would like to know when you expect it to be finished?”
Dominic gave a nervous laugh and then glanced up and down the street. He waved Philip in. “You’d better come in.”
Philip did as he was told. “Is something the matter?” he asked.
“I had a little hitch,” Dominic said, going to get a highly decorated wooden box.
Philip’s shoulders slumped. “What sort of hitch?”
Dominic lifted the lid of the box. Magic flooded the room, filling it with warmth and simmering power. The king’s seal formed on the ceiling above the crown.
“I accidentally made a king’s crown,” said Dominic.
Philip’s lips twitched into a smile which bloomed into a large grin, as he circled the box, examining it and its contents from every angle. Excitement bubbled up inside him. “I never thought I’d see the day…” A king’s crown was the stuff of legends. And he was seeing it up close and in person. “Wow. Maybe this job isn’t so bad after all.”
Dominic closed the lid of the box. “Could you deliver it to the king? He should have it.”
“Me, you want me to take it to the king?” Pride welled up inside him. “Yes! Of course, absolutely.” He carefully picked up the box and safely tucked it away in his messenger’s bag. “I’ll take it straight there. Thank you.” He darted for the door, and rushed out.
***
He knocked on the king’s study.
“Come in,” the king yelled.
Philip sucked in a breath and pushed open the door. “Your majesty. I have good news.” He pulled out the box.
The king leapt up from his seat. “He finished the crown already. Excellent.”
“Not exactly. It’s…see for yourself.” He opened the box. Magic bounced around the room, illuminating it with so much power that Philip could feel it in his lungs as he breathed. “It’s a king’s crown!”
The king slowly approached it. “It can’t be.” His eyes lit up. He reached out his hand and touched it. The magic began to hum and resonate through the room, as the king’s symbol formed on every surface and object around them. “It really is…Where’s my wife?” He ran to the door that adjoined her study. “Love!”
The queen walked in. “What…” she broke off.
“It’s a king’s crown!” he yelled pointing at it.
“I can see that,” she said, staring around her in wonder. “How is it possible?”
“I don’t know but it is. I’m going to try it on.”
Philip reluctantly headed for the door. He had no right staying now that he had delivered his message, no matter how much he longed to see what happened when the king put the crown on.
“Don’t go,” said the king, calling Philip back.
Philip stared at him. “You want me to stay?” he said, shocked.
The king nodded. “I’ll need you to send my thanks along with a note to Master Dominic. I just want to see what happens when I put it on first.”
Philip stood to the side as the king placed the crown on his head. Magic burst from it in a tidal wave, and light began to shine from every gem that decorated it while the most amazing warmth filled the room.
Philip edged forward, smiling so wide it hurt.
More and more power surrounded them, gathering in strength until the windows blew open and it poured out and into the kingdom. The magic flowed down the streets and filled the air, saturating the land.
The king quickly removed the crown. “That’s enough experimenting for one day.” He placed it carefully down. “It’s definitely a king’s crown. How marvellous. I must write and thank Master Dominic.”
He went to his desk and scribbled a note, before handing it to Philip. “Run and give this to him.”
Philip nodded, then rushed off. He ran down the corridor, laughing. “I love this job.”