The Princess

  Once upon a time there was a King. He was a good King, very wealthy and very kind. This King had many daughters whom He loved very much... One of these was very young and a little foolish. The King watched over her carefully but He allowed her freedom to grow and become strong.
  One day when she was walking about the village she met a handsome prince. The princess had heard of this prince, she had even seen him before and heard rumors of how he had once captured her, and how her good Father had rescued her. But as we said, the princess was very young and a little foolish; and she didn't notice when the prince started talking to her. She didn't even really notice when she started going to his castle to visit him. She might go on a walk and find her feet leading her to his front door. She would sit by his doorstep and listen as he told her long stories. As time went on she found it harder to leave his castle. The prince would invite her inside and command her to stay when she wanted to leave. The princess didn't like this but she was too scared and confused to tell anyone. Until one day, she could no longer leave.
  The prince put a heavy chain on her feet and locked her into a dark room. The princess was so scared. She had to stay there for many weeks and she felt all alone. Occasionally there would be a knock on the door but the princess always ignored it. It made her tremble in fear just to hear it. She didn't know what or who lay on the other side, and thus she was afraid to find out. Soon the princess was so confused and scared that she sat silently for many days. She had not seen the prince since he locked her away but she knew he was near. That made her even more afraid.
  Occasionally the princess thought about her Father. She wondered if He ever thought about her and if He knew where she was. And thus sat the princess, sinking deeper into gloom and despair. One day the pain was so great that she cried aloud just once. She wondered if anyone had heard her. A day or two more passed when there was another knock on the door. The princess started, this knock sounded different. Instinct told her to open the door. She felt that if she did not she would die.
 She was trembling as she opened the door a few inches. Outside were two messengers; Messengers, from her Father. They asked if she wished to be rescued and she begged them to tell her Father of her plight. The messengers promised her that the good King was near. He would save her if she desired. The princess wept for joy. She did want to be rescued. Only, she was afraid that the King no longer cared. The messengers left her with the assurance that He did care. And that He would come if she only called for Him.
  The princess let out a trembling call after the messengers left. Before the echoes died away the princess heard a new sound. The sounds of battle! She could hear the King's voice and slowly, a glimmer of hope crept into her. He was coming! She called out again and heard His answering call. The princess listened carefully and heard His footsteps running down the stairs toward her cell. She waited by the door, trembling in hope and fear. She could hear the King at the door now. One push of His strong arms against the barrier and it was gone. With one long stride He crossed into the cell and was at her side. The King dropped to one knee and gave the princess a hug. He assured her that she was safe. He would always protect her from the bad prince if she only called for Him.
  The King took His daughter by the hand and led her away from the cell. He took her up the steps and into the light of day where His horse was waiting. The princess shivered and looked around. But the bad prince was no where to be seen.
  As they rode away the princess stayed close to her King. She asked Him to protect her and chase the prince away when he came back to her. The good King was very just and He promised to help her alway. Thus the princess was restored to her Father after many weeks of capture. And when the princess saw the bad prince in the local shops and towns, she only cried out for her King, and He would chase the prince away again.
  After the princess had gotten a little older, and maybe a little wiser, she wanted to tell others of her strong King. And thus the allegory evolved. And the princess named her captor, 'Satan'. And her prison cell, 'Fear'. The princess never named herself. She was only a minority. It was the good King to whom the story belonged. ~M.J.W.