lady and the tiger contest entry

Marcus looked up the long dank corridor leading from his cell. He could hear the crowd baying in the distance and as he listened, Marcus remembered happier times when he was involved in campaigns for the king. Then the crowds had been cheering in approval, but not so today. Today they were baying for judgement.

Marcus’s only crime was to love too much. Or perhaps it was the object of his affection; namely, the king's daughter.

As he entered the arena, Marcus looked at the crowd with a steely determination; a look that said I've looked at death many times and will not flinch. Then as his eyes looked over the crowd, Marcus turned to face his king. And in that instant a hush fell over the crowd as if they could sense the unspoken words between the King and one of his subjects. The King grew uncomfortable and motioned to an aid to hurry up and get on with it

As Marcus shifted his gaze, he thought for a moment of that day some months before, when he had been summoned to court to explain how victory had been won. All the while the king spoke of how his enemies had been crushed and his kingdom advanced, Marcus looked in his mind's eye, seeing friends he once knew now laying as torn and bloody corpses,and couldn't help wondering, if indeed, anyone wins in a war.

During this day, Marcus, having heard the sound of laughter went to the royal garden where he saw the loveliest of Princesses and in that garden the seed was sown that bore fruit in a torrid affair between the two of them. An affair that was to lead to him facing a choice. A choice of which door to open, one giving life, the other bringing a swift but painful end.

As Marcus watched, he felt the princess raise her right hand, as if to indicate her preferred choice of doors. He smiled at her slowly, long enough to make her blush all over. As she watched Marcus her heart leapt. Would he chose the right door?

Marcus maneuvered towards the two doors, he placed his hand on the left door. But before he opened it, he seemed to look up for some sort of divine inspiration. Then suddenly Marcus made up his mind and with steely intent his hand clasped the right door knob. Marcus braced himself as he moved the door handle and thought he heard the roar of a tiger. He closed his eyes as he opened the door wide. In that instant the loveliest she tiger on two legs moved all over him

Marcus opened his eyes to see the most terrifyingly beautiful creature he had ever set eyes on. Her long frame was curled all round him.

As the ceremony proceeded, he glanced up at the princess who had a wistful look upon her beautiful features. While glad to see him still alive, the Princess was thinking how,when the she tiger had,had her fill of him, then she would show him what a princess could do. As she said it to herself she knew that Marcus was well worth waiting for