She had made up her mind with what she thought to be a relatively safe and thought outplan. She did not know if it was the way it should be for she had not checked before this horror of sorts. As the man turned, the sight of the fear, anger, but yes­ satisfaction that had been clear asday in his lady’s eyes was seared into his brain and he could see nothing else. The people knew not about what he had seen or what door he was to choose. Though he wanted to trust that his princess would protect him, his body shook as he edged closer but not near enough to reach the doors. Those dreaded doors that would reveal his fate.

The people watched with growing fear for they knew they did not want this man to open those doors. But all the same, they crept to the edge of their seats. As he came closer, the tension and suspense hung in the air like the moisture on a humid day. They saw as he did notlook where he was going but crept blindly in the general direction of the doors. Finally, he was near enough to touch those large doors towering over him as if they, just like the king were excitedly awaiting his choice of death. Only the people on the sides of the arena near to himwere able to see now as he slowly pulled out a bony, shaking hand to the door. The door on theright. The door the princess had chosen. The door that was either the best decision he hadmade, or the worst luck he had ever experienced. He had decided to trust the princess.

As the door creaked open, every man, woman, and child held his or her breath and it wasdeathly silent. A baby was heard crying. The man closed his eyes as soon as the door showed acrack and he waited for death to come. He could even hear the snarl and smell the blood. But wait. He stopped. He was listening. The door was just open a crack but he could hear a low snarlcoming from inside. Was he wrong­ did the princess really want him to die rather than marrysomeone else? He slowly pulled the heavy door aside and waited for death to come. It did notcome, however. The tiger was tied. And he was safe. He could do nothing, hear nothing, feal nothing. He was safe and the princess would have to get him now. He heard nothing but all of a sudden, he was grabbed and forced to his nees. The guards went to untie the tiger and let it on him when he heard the sweetest voice he had ever heard. The princess. He listened and heard her exclaim that if the guards were to come near, she would nock them out and the tiger would get her as well. She was lifting him and they were dancing with joy. Her father had excepted.They were to be wedded at once.