Rags to Riches

I think the story could have had a different overall theme by changing the ending in a small way.  The story I am telling starts when Arthur calls in all of the women to try on the mantle.

“Now every single lady shall try on the mantle.”

All the fairest and most beautiful women in the world try on the mantle, but it does not fit well on any of them.  One after another the men are confident that their beloved will be the first to be true and faithful to him, but one after the other, each woman and man is ashamed of the result.

Behind the scenes while everyone was distracted by all the women trying on the mantle, a rather poor and unattractive woman wanders into the King’s court after hearing all the commotion from outside.

After all of the fair maidens, dressed in the queens most elegant clothing, fail to fit the mantle, Arthur realizes that there is still one woman left to try on the mantle.

“Excuse me miss, all the women have tried on the mantle so you will too.”

Many of the men object to this because she is not a fair maiden and think she does not deserve to wear the mantle.  However, Arthur brushes their wishes aside and she puts on the mantle.

The mantle fits perfectly as the woman has always been truly faithful to her lovers.  Suddenly the men no longer worry about her looks and are very attracted that they have finally found a woman who is loyal.  They all wish for her to be their own beloved knowing that they will not have to worry about her being unfaithful.