Young King Arthur was ambushed and imprisoned by the monarch of a neighboring kingdom. The monarch could have killed him but was moved by Arthur's youth and ideals. So, the monarch offered his freedom, as long as he could answer a very difficult question. Arthur would have a year to figure out the answer and if after a year, he still had no answer, he would be put to death. The question was: What do women really want?
Such a question would perplex even the most knowledgeable man, and to young Arthur, it seemed and impossible query. But since it was better than death, he accepted the monarch's proposition to have an answer by year's end.
He returned to his kingdom and began to poll everyone. The princess, the priests, the wise men, and even the court jester. He spoke with everyone, but no one could give him a satisfactory answer. When the last day had arrived, Arthur was at his wits end. Eventually, one of his ministers asked him to consult a very wise old woman who lived beyond the highest hills and the deepest oceans, for she would definitely have an answer.
He went beyond the highest hills and the deepest oceans to meet the old woman. His question thus: "What does a woman really want?"
She said, "To be in charge of her own life."
He instantly knew that the woman had uttered a great truth. And that Arthur's life would be spared.
And so it was.
The neighboring monarch granted Arthur his freedom.
:)