The Paper Throne

The Paper Throne Yavuz DEMİRKIRAN

In the sunny kingdom of Verdalia, Prince Rowan skipped through the castle halls. His teal tunic was rolled at the sleeves, and his messy chestnut hair stuck up in tufts. He had ink smudges on his hands from writing letters to friends. In his pocket, he kept a few paper cranes he had folded himself. Rowan loved making things, and he loved helping people even more. 1

One morning, Queen Elara called Rowan to the great hall. She wore her plum gown with gold trim, and a silver circlet shone in her black hair. 'The kingdom wants to give you a special throne,' she said, 'covered in jewels and gold.' Rowan's hazel eyes grew wide, but not with joy. 'A throne like that would cost so much,' he said. 'Could we use that money for something better?' 2

Queen Elara smiled and nodded. 'You are wise beyond your years, my son.' Rowan thought for a moment. 'I want a throne that tells a story,' he said. 'A throne made from recycled paper!' He pulled a paper crane from his pocket and set it on the table. 'Paper can be folded into anything, even a throne. And it teaches us to reuse and care for our world.' 3

Rowan ran to Master Fenn's workshop, where the air smelled of glue and fresh paper. Master Fenn was short and round, with bushy white hair and bright blue eyes behind round spectacles. His apron was covered in ink stains. 'A paper throne?' he chuckled. 'What a wonderful idea! We'll need lots of old newspapers and letters. Let's get folding!' 4

They collected stacks of old paper from every corner of the castle. Rowan flattened the sheets and rolled them into tight tubes. Master Fenn showed him how to fold the tubes into strong triangles. 'Each fold makes it sturdier,' he said. Rowan's hands moved quickly, and soon the throne began to take shape. It was not shiny or golden, but it was full of history and heart. 5

Day after day, they worked on the throne. Rowan learned to measure and cut with care. He folded paper cranes and tucked them into the throne's arms as decoration. 'These cranes remind us that even old paper can become something beautiful,' he said. Master Fenn beamed with pride. 'You have the hands of a true craftsman, Rowan.' The throne grew taller and wider, a patchwork of words and pictures. 6

News spread through the kingdom. People whispered about the prince who refused jewels for paper. Some laughed, but others were curious. Queen Elara sent invitations to everyone for a special ceremony. 'Come see the prince's new throne,' the invitation read. 'It is made entirely from recycled paper.' The whole kingdom buzzed with excitement and wonder. 7

On the day of the ceremony, the great hall filled with people. Banners hung from the rafters, and sunlight streamed through the tall windows. Rowan stood beside his paper throne, which looked sturdy and proud. Queen Elara sat in a chair nearby, her paper fan folded in her lap. Master Fenn adjusted his spectacles and gave Rowan a thumbs-up. The crowd hushed as Rowan stepped forward. 8

Rowan climbed onto the paper throne and sat down with a grin. 'Welcome, everyone!' he said. 'This throne is made from old letters and newspapers. It shows that we can turn waste into something useful.' The people clapped politely. But just as Rowan leaned back, the throne wobbled. Then it creaked. Then —crinkle, crackle, crunch!—the paper throne collapsed beneath him. 9

Rowan tumbled onto the floor in a heap of paper. The crowd gasped. Some people covered their mouths. Queen Elara started to rise, but then she heard a sound. It was laughter— Rowan's laughter! He sat up, covered in crumpled sheets, and laughed until his eyes watered. 'Well,' he giggled, 'I guess paper thrones are not meant for sitting!' The crowd began to laugh with him. 10

Rowan stood up and brushed off the paper pieces. 'This is a good lesson,' he said. 'A throne should not be about looking grand. It should be about helping others. And paper is not weak—it can be folded again and again.' He picked up a crumpled sheet and smoothed it out. 'Let's see what we can make from this!' Queen Elara smiled and fanned herself with her paper fan. 11

Master Fenn stepped forward with a roll of tape. 'Shall we rebuild it stronger?' he asked. Rowan nodded. Together with the people, they gathered the scattered paper. Children folded cranes, and adults rolled tubes. They worked as a team, laughing and chatting. The new throne was not perfect, but it was made with love and teamwork. It stood strong, a symbol of what they could do together. 12

When the throne was finished, Rowan did not sit on it. Instead, he stood beside it. 'This throne is not for me,' he said. 'It is for all of us. It reminds us that leadership is not measured by wealth or gold. It is measured by caring and good ideas. And by our willingness to recycle and reuse.' The people cheered and clapped. Queen Elara beamed with pride. 13

From that day on, the paper throne stood in the great hall as a reminder. People came from far away to see it. Rowan often sat beside it, folding paper cranes with Master Fenn. The kingdom started recycling more, and new ideas bloomed. Queen Elara gave Rowan a new paper fan, and he gave her a crane that said 'Thank you.' They both laughed.