I asked the Queen one day why there are wars.  I was very young, and did not understand.  She smiled at me in a sad sort of way.  "Kita," she said, "wars are started for many reasons.  Some are necessary to create peace and harmony; others are pure folly."

   "What of the war between the Kents and the Narians?" I asked.

    The Queen was silent for a moment before she spoke.  "That is perhaps the silliest skirmish of our time.  Many years ago, the young Prince of Narosa and a young Duchess of Kent were playing together.  The Prince's hunting hound killed one of the Duchess's prized white cats.  Because of this, bad feelings grew between the two countries.  Those bad feelings grew to dislike, and the dislike became hate.  Now the Duchess and the Prince are long dead, but their descendants continue to fight.  In all likelihood, neither country remembers why they hate each other so."

   I looked dubiously at Birdy, and another of my dogs, Cama, now deceased.  This had shocked me.  That people could kill each other over a minor accident which happened decades ago was beyond my comprehension.  It helped me to realize yet again that my country is fortunate to be led by such a wise and caring leader.  The Queen declares war only for the good of her people, not because of petty arguments or a need for power.