The kingdom lay silent. Neither birds nor beasts had risen for their usually early cacophony. Most houses lay dark, as only the staff most essential for the way of life in the surrounding land would traverse the murky streets.609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuEpaq037Wr
The mountaintops started showing signs of daybreak as their brims slowly faded into the orange morning rays. Here and there a bird chirped inconsistently, soon to be followed, then joined by a growing natural orchestra. People started poking out of their houses and meet on the streets, most rested and eager to have been granted another day. Hurrying east and west and north and south, each to their own, many also passed by the gates to the castle grounds, where, among else noise, the clunking of metal against metal could be heard, and another, more seeking sound of a woman, calling.609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvL44bYPZMT
"Timna? how many times have I told you: do not meddle in the blacksmith's business!"609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3E02jBB81k
Timna turned from the smith's workplace and scouted for the voice from across the yard. A tall and straight woman strode towards her. The loose, blue brim on the long casual dress flapped lightly in the early summer morning breeze. Her crystal white blouse top forced Timna to squint and shade her eyes with one hand. A long, golden sash tied around her neck fluttered in the wind.609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9K4lvBmDgU
The blacksmith, a broad and gruff beast of a man, dropped to one knee when the Queen of Meriva approached him. He had done so with Timna as well, but she had quickly forbidden him of repeating the gesture to her ever again.609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Y81La0mWe
"But my Princess ... ye are the Princess, I--"609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvKYx8tZ4Yi
"Precisely," Timna had cut him off blatantly in a matter-of-factly way. "Therefore I order you never to treat me like I'm not one of you. When I become Queen, you will all be my people, and I wish to be one of you, even if I live in a castle."609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwM73WiXnhI
The poor man had seemed lost for a spell as he studied the moldy ground, but then he somewhat lit up. "But how may I show ye my deepest respect and gratitude for being my gracious Little Highness?"609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4xqFzEgrPN
Timna had smiled and helped him onto his feet, although she had no possible way to haul him up, despite her lanky muscles from assisting the smithy for years. She brushed his grimy apron off as best she could and looked him in the murky, weary eyes overshadowed by big, bushy brows. "Show me the respect I need and claim because of my mortal state, not the one that entitles me solely due to my heritage."609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtFNFwcpAjM
The man looked down at her. "But the King and Queen - what will they--"609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgD794yqcBG
"I will talk to them, if need be. Come to me if they come to you with this."609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbxvUeXIFZL
"But I--"609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTOBUt4t7XV
"Brick. Please." She took his hand like a daughter would take her father's. "Do it as a life-long birthday present for me, would you not? It shall be our secret if you feel not comfortable with it when speaking with Mother and Father, even if I'm there, just please ... give me what I need..."609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9QyWpik0bS
The smith known as Brick now scratched his balding head. "Very well, as ye ... you ... command, however, I would need my materials in order to make even the scrawniest of tools."609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgU68flvAWR
Timna heaved an eyebrow with a humored grin. "You make conditions now, even though I'm the Princess?"609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyiiqOYp5GF
"Just this once, if I may: that you will always be my Little Highness..." Timna sighed, touched, and stroked the thick sleeve of the blacksmith's leather coat.609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsV5z7v2qxW
"Of course I will be. After all, it's the name you gave me."609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpENPB2MK0K
This conversation had taken place mere moments before the Queen had engaged in their meeting, and now she stood waiting for her daughter's submission.609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFWFRRRD5WL
"You're right, Mother, I did meddle in his business, but--"609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwKE9GrEx35
"Your Majesty, if I may..." Brick hesitated, hoping he hadn't upset them by showing such disrespect, but by a confirming nod from the woman, he laid out his case, "My Little Princess and I were only having a lesson in smithing. It was my own idea. Please, do not punish the child because of my wrong-doing."609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡit6vE5dOs3
Timna looked wide-eyed over her shoulder at his now humble stance. He looked so small. And what was he thinking???609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJrMRZnLOZF
Timna didn't notice her mother eyeing her, too, before she directed her gaze to the smith again. "You have my pardon, noble smith. I thank you for wishing for my daughter and your future Queen to be enlightened in the arts that make our land come alive, but she will not participate in lessons any longer. Please, pray not encourage her in so doing."609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSpD8pZKPzH
Brick sighed silently, almost looking up to see if his Majesty was playing tricks, but he quickly receded the thought as a heavy emotional burden was weighing on his heart - for Timna, too, he felt.609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ13pFMkXAJF
"Yes, my Queen," he finally concurred.609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0bnWiF8lBq
Timna's expression revealed her absolute disagreement. "But he... I was... That is--"609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWRw0VApkVG
"My final word. Smthing is unbecoming a princess and the future Queen of Meriva," her mother explained, as still as the white mountains encircling the land, to which Timna stubbornly stomped once onto the grass. She turned, squatted next to the smith and gently kissed him on the side of the head. Then she rose again, scoffed at her mother and marched into the castle.609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdFbbbiW2Yo
The blacksmith and the Queen were now alone in the courtyard, and the she bade him rise.609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ36dUyyFAST
"What am I to do with her, Brick," the Queen asked, watching longingly after her daughter. "She's hardly one to listen well."609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU6br2OQZeA
"I may not be a man of family, Queen Treha, but I think talking with Princess Timna may provide a good start. Pray not be too tough on the lass. At her age, I hear they need to discover things for themselves. Give her time and space, as my father did you, during his attempt at the art of parenting."609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkdjYyvg4az
The Queen still looked in the direction of the castle, turned away from the smith, but a smile cruised her lips and she let out a little laugh.609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdyonXygRSe
"I was rather dull and terrible as a child, was I not," she reminisced rhetorically, but with a certain weight to her words.609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8yRIbnPff6
"My Queen, pray not say such things," Brick shook his head. "Some people just are made for other errands, like ruling a kingdom alongside their chosen. That task comes regardless of one's choice to lead a family, which I for one am grateful he did. It's clear to me, though, that the Princess has other capabilities, perhaps in addition to your own."609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS02X6xU7Kj
"She has come quite far..." Finally the woman turned to him, rather hastily. "But what of all these fights with the stable boys? If they escalate--"609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡflVifC24WL
Brick made a lulling gesture. "Be calm, Your Highness. These may not be as bad as you make them sound. Princess Timna is growing up now. Young people are likely to rebel and find their place in the world. Love and show understanding of your daughter - that is the best thing you can do for her now, you wll see."609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlgaaHjTQo5
Queen Treha looked at the man, and the smile that had vanished when turning to him, returned. "You may be right. Thank you. I'm sorry about the lessons, just that--"609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0U98TwGvJa
"I know," Brick confirmed with a calm gesture. "You want her to focus on matters that make and ruler, not a blacksmith. Leave the smithing to me, Majesty! But I must repeat: your daughter has talent for the craft."609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFH5hfB2QAq
Queen Treha nodded. "She has and is many things, uncle..."609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv3Zu5xqmZM
And with those words she turned and followed in her daughter's footsteps toward the castle.609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEBSBgmnjlC
