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There once was a mage. They were of noble blood, rich and powerful in magic. It was said that the mage was more beautiful than the stars in the sky or the new blooms in spring.
People of all kinds came from all over the world seeking to marry the mage. And the mage agreed. If! If the suitors could plant the greatest oak in the world in the mages front yard.
Now, the greatest oak was not far away, but it was so large that a hundred knights, and their horses too, couldn't close a ring around it.
Many gave up, just at the thought of moving it. But others did not. Some tried with magic, but the oak was too great for their power. Others tried with tools, digging down to the roots, sawing and cutting.
But the roots were thick, and there always was more, it seemed.
After a time, a gardener came to see the mage, seeking marriage. But the gardener did not ask right away, for they already knew what the mage would ask.
Instead, the gardener asked for permission to tend the front yard, and asked in payment, only permission to plant a single acorn.
Now, many years passed. Suitors came, and suitors went, hewing and pulling at the greatest oak. Meanwhile, the gardener tended to the yard, and the acorn.
The mage would walk around the front yard, approving of the gardeners' work.
The acorn grew, slowly at first, but steadily. Under the gardeners tender care it grew and grew, and eventually it was a truly great oak, larger than any in the world. Except for the greatest oak.
Now, the gardener went before the mage again, and this time, asked for the mages hand in marriage.
"You have tended my garden well, gardener, but I will not slacken my standards, even for you. Go then, and fetch me the greatest oak in the world, and plant it in my front yard." The mage said.
"I have already done this." The gardener replied. "For the acorn I planted in the yard came from the greatest oak, and that tree, that old oak is now dead. Killed by years of hewing, sawing and incautious magic. Soon enough, it will rot and fall. But its child lives on, now standing greater and larger than any living tree. Thus is your wish fulfilled."
The other suitors were enraged at this trick, but the mage was saddened. For the mage had loved that old oak, the greatest in the world, and had learned magic beneath its boughs. And the mages own wish had killed it.
"My wish was ill made." The mage said. "But you have fulfilled it in letter. And in spirit as well, as far as you could. And you have stayed with me, while others have left in haste, or in defeat. So I will fulfill my promise, and take you, gardener for a spouse. And I will ask, but not demand, that you take as many acorns as you can find of the old oak, and grow them large and well, so that children may learn and be happy beneath their leaves."
And so they married, gardener and mage, and were happy. And the gardener did plant acorns, and grow them well, for they loved trees and gardens better than anything in the world. Except for their spouse.