A Fable

(...So I thought I published this ages ago but apparently I didn't hit the button. >.< I added lots more on since, so...I'll publish it as one big thing!)

Is it better to be ruled by logic, or by feeling?




Once upon a time there were two brothers. The first was a very logical man. He prided himself on his coldness and his ability to judge everything objectively and rationally. He was so logical, he said, that he could follow connections between objects that would lead him straight back to the original object. He could invent an explanation for everything that was based on pure logic and the simplest explanations. The second brother was ruled by his emotions. He did things on the spur of the moment depending on how he felt. He would feel sorry for the little birds in the winter and give them his dinner bread, and have none himself and feel sorry later. He felt for everything however they deserved and went through every span of emotion there was, sometimes in the course of just a single day.

One day the two brothers decided to go out into the world and seek their fortunes. They came to a fork in the road. “Which way shall we go?” asked the second brother. “I’ll choose the left-hand way,” said the first brother. “It goes downwards, and everyone knows you must go down before you can come up. Furthermore, downward-running roads often lead to streams, for water always runs at the lowest point, and streams will run out to the plains and the sea.”

The second brother took a look at both of them and frowned. “I’ll take the right-hand side—it is lighter and brighter there. The birds sing more beautifully. I feel sure that the right-hand path will bring me good fortune.”

“Farewell, then, brother,” said the first one, and went on his path.

“Farewell,” said the second brother, not without feeling, for although they were very different, he loved his brother very much. He, too, set out on his path.

We shall follow the second brother first. He walked through the forest with a light heart, for the trees were thin and the sun shone down. “Surely I have picked the better way,” he exclaimed. “It is bright and beautiful here. I think I will lie down and have a small nap.” And he did so.

When he woke up, it was full dark. An eerily bright crescent moon lit the forest up. “Oh no!” he said with more than a touch of fear. “I slept too late, and now I shall never find my way out!” And he began to weep inconsolably. Never a thought occurred of getting out, following the road that was still there, or even of sleeping until morning and going on. Neither did a darker thought of what might be out there occur.

Soon enough he felt a touch on his shoulder. He jumped up immediately. A figure dressed all in glowing white was standing in front of him. “Who…are you?” he asked, now entranced by the mysteriousness.

“Who I am is not important. Would you like me to show you the way out?” replied the figure in an ethereal voice. The second brother nodded vigorously. He followed the figure, who said no more, until it led him out onto a plain facing a castle on the other side, then vanished.

The second brother immediately went straight to the castle town. “Where am I?” he inquired of all the people he could.

“In His Majesty’s town, of course. Would you like to buy a meat pie?” replied a hawker. It smelled delicious, so he bought it, leaving only a few silver pieces left in his pocket.

Having nowhere else to go, and mindful of the figure who had led him there, he went up to the gates of the castle and knocked. Surprisingly, they opened, and a suspicious-looking man stuck his head out. “Whaddayawant?”

The second brother took offense at this. “Why, to marry your princess, of course!” he said rudely, thinking of the most outrageous thing he could. However, the doorman simply blinked. “All right, come along then,” he beckoned.

Completely bewildered, the second brother followed him.

And now let us return to the first brother…he had followed his path, which indeed led downward, but unlike his brother’s, his path was dark and overshadowed and he was soon lost. He bit his lip and kept going. “Surely after this is must get better,” he muttered.

Soon enough he was lost inside the forest. Being very logical, he went to look at the trees, for he knew that moss grew on the north side. “I was traveling east when I entered, and that will be the shortest way out.” He quickly found the way he thought was best and followed it.

It led out to the same open ground his brother had found, and he, too, went straight to the town. He refused the offerings of food and went straight to the center of the town, where he found an announcement.



His Majesty’s Subjects:

The good King’s eldest daughter, fair Rosalind, has come of age and is ready to be married. Whosoever shall come and who can prove themselves worthy shall have her hand.



Now, the first brother thought that it was high time he obtained a wife, and so directed his footsteps to the castle, where he met the same greeting as his brother had and the same question. “I noticed an announcement about the princess’s marriage,” he said courteously. “Might I present myself as a suitor?” The doorman drew his head inside and beckoned.

When the second man saw his brother led into the great chamber, he was overjoyed. “My dear brother! What brings you here?”

The first brother raised his eyebrows. “Did you not see the announcement regarding the King’s daughter?” The second brother shook his head. “Certainly not, but I’m glad you are here with me.”

Before they could say any more, the princess entered the room. Both were stunned. The first brother recovered first. “Fair lady…” he said softly. The second just gazed at her.

“Welcome,” she said. Her voice was musical and added to the enchantment of her appearance. “You seek my hand?” Both brothers nodded. “Then, one will show you to your rooms tonight. There are tasks you must do. The first night you may not sleep or take any rest, no matter how weary you may be. A shape shall appear and entreat you to sleep, but you must not. Come to me tomorrow morning.” And she dismissed them.

The brothers were led to adjacent rooms and ushered to bed. “Good night,” they said to each other, and without further ado, they entered their rooms.

The second brother sat awake on the bed, the only furniture that could accommodate sitting, wondering what would happen that night. It was only to be expected that he felt a thrill of confusion. Who knew what he would see? In the next room, his brother sat calmly, awaiting what would happen, sure he could handle it.

The clock struck 9…10…11…both their eyelids began to droop, though they fought, until…

Dong….dong…dong…the clock struck twelve.

Suddenly soft, eerie music began to play. The first brother stoically refused to listen to it. The second brother was entranced. He rose and looked out of the window, searching for the source of the beautiful, ethereal sound. The moon appeared especially bright, as it had the last night, and a faint silver glow suffused the air.

Suddenly, a bright figure appeared behind the second brother. He realized it to be the one he had met the other night, and instantly turned toward it.

(TBC)