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.655Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiEou1M70gX
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.655Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0GuHzCXu6v
"Timna? how many times have I told you: do not meddle in the blacksmith's business!"655Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQulZb3mte
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.655Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE0Egqjii52
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.655Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9lGLnzDg3k
"But my Princess ... ye are the Princess, I--"655Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9H8Fc0111X
"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."655Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIrkWtwhsjm
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?"655Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCJLaBYEuLv
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."655Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB5K1mMXwAj
The man looked down at her. "But the King and Queen - what will they--"655Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYFyyAixIW4
"I will talk to them, if need be. Come to me if they come to you with this."655Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLNOpmklhbI
"But I--"655Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4whxUt5lVo
"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..."655Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9POXiB3PKG
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."655Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBZ3fmal1IZ
Timna heaved an eyebrow with a humored grin. "You make conditions now, even though I'm the Princess?"655Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsA5VD5lqdV
"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.655Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmdlS0Gdhuu
"Of course I will be. After all, it's the name you gave me."655Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjCZtQVfmje
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.655Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ80CPsUP5oS
"You're right, Mother, I did meddle in his business, but--"655Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPW0cIW5pa7
"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."655Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbe9jBVl8zE
Timna looked wide-eyed over her shoulder at his now humble stance. He looked so small. And what was he thinking???655Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj6uxksmlgI
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."655Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhtTj7PyvZN
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.655Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFwocAc7hSl
"Yes, my Queen," he finally concurred.655Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQOBVg6Ozwz
Timna's expression revealed her absolute disagreement. "But he... I was... That is--"655Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEIdNd9nGMr
"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.655Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF4GSZ40SIV
The blacksmith and the Queen were now alone in the courtyard, and the she bade him rise.655Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ24aj4XLV2c
"What am I to do with her, Brick," the Queen asked, watching longingly after her daughter. "She's hardly one to listen well."655Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVZpJKy7T9N
"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."655Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjp0Bh0BNns
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.655Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsDjdkm1UK3
"I was rather dull and terrible as a child, was I not," she reminisced rhetorically, but with a certain weight to her words.655Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsPvqdajTmD
"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."655Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ol4Jpo9h2
"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--"655Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhzWvDWYpyU
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."655Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDo2xiT3HF
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--"655Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGJi5qajF0m
"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."655Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc754yy4jdq
Queen Treha nodded. "She has and is many things, uncle..."655Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Y6YxI8aCf
And with those words she turned and followed in her daughter's footsteps toward the castle.655Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Xy7iSC3gi
