The two kings, overcome with grief and despair, wandered the land in search of solace. They traveled through forests and meadows, over mountains and rivers, hoping to find someone who could understand their pain.
They spoke of their unfaithful wives, and of the betrayal they had suffered at the hands of those they had loved most deeply.
As they walked, they encountered many people - peasants, merchants, knights, and kings - but none could offer them the comfort they so desperately sought. They were alone in their misery, two hearts broken by the cruelty of fate.
At last, after many days of wandering, they came upon a clearing in the forest. There, under the shade of a great oak tree, they saw a woman of extraordinary beauty.
She was clad in a simple dress of white linen, and her golden hair cascaded over her shoulders like a river of sunshine.
The kings approached her, and begged her to listen to their tale of woe. And so, with tears in her eyes, the woman listened as the kings spoke of their misfortunes. And when they had finished, she spoke to them in a voice both gentle and wise.
"My poor friends," she said, "I understand your pain, for I too have suffered at the hands of those I loved. But do not despair, for there is always hope.
The road to healing is long and difficult, but if you are strong and brave, you will find your way through the darkness. Trust in the goodness of your own hearts, and know that you are not alone."
And with those words, the kings found a measure of comfort. They thanked the woman for her kindness, and bade her farewell.
And as they continued on their journey, they carried with them the memory of her words, and the hope that one day they would find the strength to heal their broken hearts.
The column, as it drew closer to the shore, began to take the shape of a giant dragon, its scales glinting in the morning sun.
The kings could feel the ground shaking beneath them as the beast approached, and they clung to the branches of the tree, too terrified to move.
But as the dragon drew closer, they realized that it was not alone. Astride its back sat a figure in shining armor, brandishing a sword that glowed with a fierce inner light.
The figure cried out a battle cry and charged at the dragon, striking it with the glowing sword.
The kings watched in amazement as the two titans clashed, the dragon unleashing blasts of flame and the figure dodging and weaving expertly. Finally, with a mighty roar, the dragon fell to the ground, defeated.
The figure approached the kings, who remained frozen in fear, and held out a hand to help them down from the tree. "Fear not, noble kings," the figure said in a deep, rumbling voice. "I am here to protect and serve you."
The kings, still in shock, took the offered hand and descended from the tree, bowing low before the figure. "Who are you, mighty warrior?" asked the Sultan.
The figure chuckled and removed their helmet, revealing a face of rugged handsomeness. "I am known as Sir Gallant, Dragon-Slayer and Knight of the Realm. And I am at your service."
The genie looked around, his beady eyes scanning the meadow for any sign of life. The two princes held their breath, hoping to go unnoticed by the malevolent creature. As the genie approached the tree, they could see the shimmering glass case on its back, its steel locks glinting in the morning light.
They knew they were in grave danger, for genies were known to be the mortal enemies of men, and this one looked particularly malevolent and evil.
But the genie seemed to have other plans. With a grunt, it placed the glass case at the foot of the tree and turned to leave. The princes watched in stunned silence as it retreated back to the sea, the waves parting before it as if in deference.
As soon as the genie was out of sight, the two princes climbed down from the tree and approached the glass case with caution. It was secured with four fine steel locks, but they were determined to find out what was inside. With a bit of effort, they were able to open the locks and lift the lid.
Inside, they found a beautiful young woman, her long hair flowing around her like a golden halo. She was unconscious, but seemed otherwise unharmed.
The princes knew they had to get her to safety, and so they carefully lifted her out of the case and set off towards the nearest town.
As they walked, the woman began to stir. She looked up at the two men with confusion in her eyes, and they quickly introduced themselves and explained what had happened.
The woman thanked them for their help and introduced herself as princess Amara, the daughter of a powerful sultan.
The princes were overjoyed to have found such a brave and beautiful companion, and they vowed to protect her and help her return home.
Together, they set off on a journey that would take them across treacherous lands and through countless dangers, their bond growing stronger with each step. And so, their epic adventure began.
The lady, who seemed to be in great distress, took the opportunity to turn her head towards the tree where the two princes were hiding and beckoned them to come down.
They hesitated at first, not knowing if they could trust her, but the lady pleaded with them and assured them that she meant them no harm.
Finally, the two princes mustered up the courage to descend from the tree and approach the lady. As they drew closer, they were struck by her beauty and could not help but feel a sense of familiarity.
"Do you not recognize me, my lord?" the lady said, addressing the Sultan. "I am your wife, the Sultana of India. This monster, this evil genius, abducted me on my wedding day and has kept me prisoner ever since.
Please, help me escape from his clutches and return me to my rightful place by your side."
The Sultan was overjoyed to find his wife alive and well, and promised to do all he could to rescue her from the clutches of the sleeping genie. He and the King of Great Tartary quickly set to work, searching for a way to break the locks on the glass case.
As they worked, the genie began to stir, and the two princes knew they had to work quickly. Finally, after much trial and error, they were able to break the locks and free the Sultana from her prison.
The three of them fled as fast as they could, not stopping until they were safely back in the Sultan's palace. The Sultan was overjoyed to have his wife back by his side, and vowed to never take her for granted again.
And so, the two of them lived happily ever after, with the King of Great Tartary by their side as a trusted ally and friend.
The two princes, terrified at the thought of being discovered by the evil genie, knew that they had no choice but to obey the beautiful lady's command. They carefully descended from the tree and approached her, trying to make as little noise as possible.
"Do not be afraid," the lady whispered to them, "I will not let any harm come to you. I am under the protection of this genie, but I am also his prisoner.
He has loved me since he stole me away on my wedding day, but I do not return his affection. I have been waiting for an opportunity to escape, and perhaps you can help me."
The princes, intrigued by the lady's plea, agreed to help her in any way they could. Together, they hatched a plan to defeat the genie and set the lady free. When the monster was deep in his slumber, they snuck up to him and used their swords to cut off his head.
The lady, overjoyed at her newfound freedom, thanked the princes profusely and begged to join them on their journey. They agreed, and the three of them set off together, determined to find a way to return the lady to her rightful home.
As they traveled, they encountered many dangers and adventures, but with the help of their new companion, they emerged victorious every time.
And thus, the epic tale of the two princes and the beautiful lady continued on, as they journeyed through the mystical land of their fantasies.
The lady then explained that these rings were all from the fingers of the husbands she had tricked, just like the two of them.
She told them that she was a powerful sorceress, who used her beauty and charms to deceive men and steal their rings. The two princes were horrified by her confession, and begged her to return their rings and let them go.
The sorceress, however, refused, telling them that they were now her prisoners and would have to do as she commanded. As the sun began to rise, the genie stirred and woke up, and the sorceress quickly returned the rings to the princes and sent them back up the tree.
As they watched the genie and sorceress disappear into the sea, the two princes knew they had narrowly escaped a terrible fate.
The two princes, grateful for the advice and safe escape given to them by the mysterious lady, quickly made their way back to their tree and climbed to the top, not daring to make a sound.
From their perch, they watched as the genie continued to sleep, snoring loudly. The lady sat patiently, seemingly unafraid of the beast beside her.