The Soapmaker’s New Soap

There once lived a humble soap maker who was absolutely thrilled by making and surrounding himself with the very best fragrances.  Every one of his soaps smelled amazing, and people came from miles around to pick and choose from the very best.  He started with fruit smells, like strawberry and mango and watermelon, and what deliciously fragranced soaps were these! Then, he created soaps that smelled like freshly cut grass, like autumn leaves, and like the way it smells after it rains.  These were magnificent as well, and all the townspeople smelled great because they all used his soap.

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Then one day, the soapmaker made something extraordinary. He worked and he labored and he poured his heart into this creation.  He didn’t know what to call it, couldn’t put his finger on what it smelled like, but when it was complete, it was hailed as his most wonderful fragrance. It was by far the purest, sweetest, most perfect fragrance, and every single person in the town wanted some. 

Word spread far and wide of this new soap, until the Queen herself heard of it.  Well, really, she smelled of it, when one of her servants came to give her a glass of tea.  The servant smelled so heavenly, the Queen just had to know where it came from.

The next day, she arrived at the soapmaker’s humble home.  She came with her fanciest carriage and several guards and dancing ladies.  The soapmaker was so pleased she had come! 

He said, “Your majesty! To what do I owe this magnificent pleasure?” 

The Queen answered, “Soapmaker, I demand a bar of your newest soap, the unnamed one, that all the townspeople are talking about.”

The soapmaker was distressed, “Oh Queen, I would happily fulfill your request, except I have sold every bar of this soap! I didn’t even keep any for myself!”

The Queen became impatient, “I demand you make some more of it! Quickly, for I must have this new soap!”

The soapmaker explained, “Your majesty, I will very gladly make more, however, I am all out of the one most important ingredient.  You see, there is a rare flower that the recipe requires.  The flowers are all gone from here now, except one, and it is on the very top of Mount Tippityteetery.”

The crowd that had gathered all sighed, for Mount Tippityteetery was the very highest mountain in the whole land, and climbing to the top would be long and dangerous.

The Queen demanded, “Who will go and get this flower for me?”

Only one man stepped up to her, a lowly knight, in a suit of shiny black armor.  He said, “I will get this flower for you, my queen.”

The queen said, “Go now, for I wish this all to be done quickly.” 

The brave knight, who secretly loved the Queen very much, was eager to please her, and he ran off to the foot of Mount Tippityteetery.  He took a deep breath and then began climbing.  He climbed and climbed and climbed until he had to take a rest.  As he was resting, he heard a wild cry, and suddenly, he was attacked by a mountain lion! The knight wrestled with the large beast and beat it with his strong fists until the thing ran away. 

“Whew!” said the knight.  Then he started off again.  He climbed more and more and more, until it was starting to get difficult to breathe.  He became afraid he might never reach the top, when finally, he pulled himself up to the very highest ledge. 

There, he saw growing, one lonely flower.  “But,” he thought, “Something’s not right.” Nevertheless, he picked the flower, put it in his pocket, and climbed back down the mountain.  He had to pick his way slowly among rocks and thorns, and once more he saw the mountain lion, though he cleverly hid from it until it left. 

Finally, after many days, he brought the flower back to the Queen and the soapmaker.  He said, “Oh Queen, I’ve done as you asked, but something’s not right.  There was only one flower at the very top of that mountain, but it was this.” 

Here, he pulled out the flower he’d taken.  It was a dandelion!

“A dandelion?” cried the Queen, “Dandelions are not at all rare, you daft Soapmaker! You could’ve picked those anywhere, there’s some here by your very door!”

Oh, the queen was angry, thinking the soapmaker had deceived her, and she prepared to throw him into her dungeon.

But the soapmaker said, “Dear Queen, while dandelions are not rare, this particular one was all the way at the top of a dangerous mountain.  Only one who loves you very much would risk everything to go and retrieve that flower.”

Everyone looked at the knight.

“It is true,” said the knight, “I love thee, my queen, I always have.” He bowed to her, and she to him.

The soapmaker continued, “I know now what to name this new soap of mine, I will name it for the special ingredient.  It is called “love.”

The soapmaker made more soap for the land, including the Queen, who married the brave knight, and they all lived happily ever after.