Archie's Cardboard Castle

King Archie had a cardboard castle. It was pretty huge and made from empty packing boxes left over from moving house.
King Archie loved it. It had everything a little king could ask for.
Huge turrets.
A gatehouse.
Spyholes.
A comfy carpet.
There was even enough room for Prince Blue, the dog.
Day after day, King Archie and Prince Blue played in the castle, fighting off scary people like Big Chris and the cat from next door.
Archie was feeling very brave indeed.
One day, King Archie got up and went outside to his beloved castle but it was gone.
He was furious. Who did this? What evil person could have destroyed it?
King Archie sent spies out the length and breadth of the land and discovered, to his horror, that it was an invading army led by the poisonous Baron von Gunner.
King Archie and Prince Blue set out immediately to conquer the Baron and make him say sorry.
It was a long, hot, day and King Archie was glad of the sandwiches, little yoghurts, carrot sticks and fruity drinks his mummy had made.
Night time came and so did the cold. It was a good thing Prince Blue was there to keep King Archie warm.
As the sun rose next day, King Archie could see the distant Baron von Gunner spying on him. He climbed on his horse and rode furiously across to where he was hidden and surprised the Baron.
With the greatest, biggest, scariest ‘Boo,’ he could muster, Archie confronted the cowering Baron.
‘Why did you break down my castle?’ King Archie demanded. He had to admit the Baron looked pretty fierce but he wasn’t going to let on to anyone. He wanted answers.
Baron von Gunner looked sad. ‘I was jealous,’ he replied. ‘I didn’t have anyone to play with.’
‘Well,’ said King Archie, who was nothing if not a very generous sort, ‘as I have only just moved house, I’m a bit short of friends to play with myself yet. If you help me to rebuild my castle, we can play together.’
Baron von Gunner looked grateful because he knew King Archie could pack a mighty punch and happily agreed.
So King Archie and the resplendent Baron von Gunner rode back together. King Archie even shared his fruity drinks and sandwiches with the Baron. The horses shared the carrot sticks and Prince Blue led the way.
Baron von Gunner, it turned out, was a dab hand at building and made King Archie’s bedroom into a castle fit for a king.
They were friends and King Archie and Baron von Gunner had the happiest times together.
When Baron von Gunner finally had to leave for a short time, to fight in a dusty foreign war, King Archie knew he would always have a friend out there.