PRINCESS BROKE THE RULES

There once lived a princess in a fair land.  She was strong and brilliant. And she was restless. Though she loved her traditional princess clothes, she felt unduly limited wearing them all the time.
This princess found it was great fun to swagger about, jousting and joshing with the other knights and king’s men. Riding sidesaddle as a proper princess had been fine on a long summer stroll.  But, as Autumn came on, galloping over hill and dale was more to her liking.  So it was over hill and dale she bounded, taking in the colorful foliage and feeling powerful and free with the wind whistling through her chain mail.

Fall turned to winter. As was the custom in those parts in those days, everybody living in the old castle became more inclined to stay indoors. You can imagine how chilly those wispy princess dresses could be on the drafty days of the dead of winter. This season Princess found she rather liked taking a cognac with her pointy, forged metal armored feet propped up on a sturdy wooden stool by a roaring fire in the great hall of her family’s castle. Her suit of armor became a sort of toaster oven, which she found exceedingly cozy. And besides, nobody could track her down and pester her about all the embroidery to which she had not been attending.

Although it was not (at first) her intention to hide from anybody, she found it endlessly amusing to allow the castle folk to mistake her identity.  Inadvertently her costume change had become a ruse and a pastime. Then Princess discovered herself living two lives simultaneously.

Though at first, few took much notice of her as a fellow by the fire, after a while the castle staff inquired as to the mission and position of his honored Sir? Well, what was she to do? Princess was simply too satisfied with this side of her life to give it up altogether. She let it be known “he” was here to woo the fair princess, whose name and beauty were told of all across the kingdom, and even well beyond the river. “He” sat patiently waiting for her, hoping beyond hope for a casual encounter during which he might win her heart.

One evening there was a blustery chill rain assaulting the stain glass windowpanes. The cozy knight got a little carried away in confiding to the fire tender that he was not at all certain whether the princess was avoiding him, or if she was truly unaware of his longing presence.

Of course this heart-rending tale made its way like wild fire through the ranks of the castle staff. The very next morning the lady-in-waiting confessed the gossip to the princess as she drew back the shimmering, sheer curtains of her fine canopy bed. In fact it was their habit to exchange pleasantries in congenial and sincere fashion. This princess was not a stuffed shirt.

With modesty and restraint the servant informed Her Prettiness that a most honorable fellow had come a-courting, that he had pined a fortnight or more by the fire in the great hall attending her slightest consideration, and was she aware of this? “Oh?” replied the princess. She dared not utter another word. She blushed, nodded, and turned to don her richest satin robes for the morning.

As spring crept over the hills, the story of the new romance took on a life of its own. By summer the Queen got wind of it.  Yet, her fair daughter was deft at avoiding the subject. Appropriate marriage plans were a basis in the life of any princess – this was a given. Therefore the Queen was more than puzzled by her daughter’s reticence to discuss the current rumored affair.

                Finally someone claimed to have seen the princess and her mysterious, melancholy knight walking hand-in-hand by the royal rose garden. On a humid twilit evening when warm breezes wafted lavender scents all about, the Queen cornered the princess in the Labyrinth Hedge and spoke to the matter directly. "Daughter, what will you do to preserve your honor and ensure a stable and prosperous future for yourself?" said the Queen soberly, full of love for the girl. That she allowed even a possibility of a choice for her daughter was as generous a stance as could be expected, and it was all the Queen could offer at this critical juncture in life.
     "Oh, Mother" sighed the princess. I knew it would come to this. And you have been so patient with me. I will marry him." She declared with a steady gaze toward the horizon. "We shall make our life together and you shall have no fear of my destiny."
     A date was chosen for the wedding. The festivities were planned. The dowry was set and prepared for delivery. Then, much to the dismay of the King and Queen, the bride disappeared. On ivory parchment in gold ink, glistening in the dawn light, they found a note pinned to her pillow the very morning she was to be dressed in finery and given away.
     The note began, "Dear Mother and Father, Nanny and all of you who have loved me and cared for me all these years," It continued, "I have, at last found my true heart's love. Though the intimacy of it I can not bear to share with the entire Kingdom. Please forgive me and allow that I will, indeed share my children with you in good time – though to be sure, that will be no time soon. There is a world to see. I have heard tell of an ocean larger than anyone can imagine. I promise to be brave and strong. I promise to be honorable. I promise you will hear from me once I have settled down with my mate. I promise to be true in love and to express all that I am and can be, to honor my place on Earth.
 
Yours forever,  in good faith,
Lillith
Fair Princess"

     They blinked away their tears. They donated the sumptuous feast to the needy in the village. They lit candles and sent her prayers of health and peace. The night before, Lillith located her dowry packed in sturdy leather saddlebags. She loaded up her horse. She had become quite strong striding around all year in full armor half the time. She mounted her stead. With bread and cheese and beer, dried meat and fruits packed she rode off to the West, certain any search party would start to the East.
     The soft folds of her royal princess dress shifted rhythmically with the steady pace of her mount. She rather liked the feel of her gowns pressed up tight to her body, all tucked in the armor. There was only one silken tendril of ribbon escaped and dancing in the wind behind her.

 

 

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