The King Who Would Be Stronger Than Fate facts for kids

The King Who Would Be Stronger Than Fate is an Indian fairy tale. It was collected by Andrew Lang and included in his book, The Brown Fairy Book. This story is about a king who tries to change what fate has planned, but learns that some things are meant to be.

The King's Prediction

Once, a king with a daughter got lost while hunting in a forest. He met a wise old hermit who told him something surprising. The hermit predicted that the king's daughter would marry a boy who was the son of a servant from the northern kingdom.

The king was very worried by this prediction. As soon as he left the forest, he sent a message to the king of the north. He asked for the servant woman and her son. The northern king agreed and sent them to him.

The king then took the woman and her young son deep into the forest. He made sure the woman could not return, and he left the small child alone, hoping to stop the prediction from coming true.

A New Home for the Boy

Not long after, a kind widow who raised goats noticed something strange. Her best nanny-goat kept coming back without any milk. Curious, she followed the goat one day. The goat led her to the abandoned child.

The widow was overjoyed. She had always wanted a son to help her when she grew old. She took the boy home and raised him as her own, giving him a loving family.

The Boy Meets the King

Years passed, and the boy grew into a strong young man. One day, a traveling merchant's donkey started eating the cabbages in the widow's garden. The boy chased the donkey away.

The merchant heard about this, and the story got a bit exaggerated. The merchant complained to the king, saying the boy had threatened him. The king sent his guards to arrest the boy.

The old widow begged the king to spare her son. She explained that she needed him to take care of her. The king was surprised that such an old woman could have such a young son. He asked her where she had found him. When she told him the story of finding the boy in the forest, the king realized who the young man was. He knew this was the very boy he had tried to get rid of years ago.

A Soldier's Life

The king decided to let the boy go, but only if he joined the army. The king hoped that the dangers of army life would get rid of the boy for good. He sent the young man on the most dangerous missions.

However, the boy was a brave and skilled soldier. He survived every challenge and proved himself to be very good at fighting. Because of his courage, he was chosen to join the king's special bodyguard. One day, he even saved the king from someone who tried to harm him.

The king had no choice but to make the boy one of his personal assistants. Even in this new role, the king continued to send him on risky tasks. The boy faced many dangers but always managed to escape unharmed.

Fate's Plan Unfolds

Finally, the king sent the boy with an important message to a governor who lived far away. This governor was in charge of the king's daughter, the princess.

The princess was a clever and curious girl. One hot afternoon, while everyone else in the castle was resting, she was awake and exploring. She found the message the boy was carrying. To her surprise, the message was a secret order to kill the person who delivered it!

The mischievous princess quickly swapped the king's message with a new one. Her new letter ordered the governor to arrange for the boy to marry the princess.

When the king received the news that his daughter had married the young man, he finally gave up. He realized that no matter how hard he tried, he could not change what fate had planned. The prediction had come true.