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.833Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxLYD4WKilh
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.833Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5gBAz7H29V
"Timna? how many times have I told you: do not meddle in the blacksmith's business!"833Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlSzfgTb0e9
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.833Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvlWrclclhh
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.833Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6SU9vSGUHn
"But my Princess ... ye are the Princess, I--"833Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡImbB8AcMg9
"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."833Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr3P80EuEac
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?"833Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmUR2tlXUYd
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."833Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsD9ajglUGk
The man looked down at her. "But the King and Queen - what will they--"833Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡExxkioPPSn
"I will talk to them, if need be. Come to me if they come to you with this."833Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4o0NTKOOun
"But I--"833Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzzPnhRwORg
"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..."833Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDUyUEpNVMH
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."833Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG0wHesWsE8
Timna heaved an eyebrow with a humored grin. "You make conditions now, even though I'm the Princess?"833Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDwti4yJqRW
"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.833Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo59h8gwyY8
"Of course I will be. After all, it's the name you gave me."833Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHf7VmY4Nrb
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.833Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHzoe8tbWXn
"You're right, Mother, I did meddle in his business, but--"833Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkkW51QnL2q
"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."833Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ7TJ4FmNla
Timna looked wide-eyed over her shoulder at his now humble stance. He looked so small. And what was he thinking???833Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZoJz2WFZCq
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."833Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWRQU3jiSPG
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.833Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMhBXqyJoz3
"Yes, my Queen," he finally concurred.833Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡonwwSL0GJ6
Timna's expression revealed her absolute disagreement. "But he... I was... That is--"833Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGYNCnumsE6
"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.833Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEptMRKE8wT
The blacksmith and the Queen were now alone in the courtyard, and the she bade him rise.833Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1SO6qze1FZ
"What am I to do with her, Brick," the Queen asked, watching longingly after her daughter. "She's hardly one to listen well."833Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4NVbexggJq
"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."833Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqyNZiA6MCh
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.833Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfKAqW65PDj
"I was rather dull and terrible as a child, was I not," she reminisced rhetorically, but with a certain weight to her words.833Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa8K4nzozr9
"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."833Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ30yIaUvtAX
"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--"833Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiNYxIevCbF
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."833Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXeNsxWduVi
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--"833Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPNawZ3rgdh
"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."833Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK39cvGBlzn
Queen Treha nodded. "She has and is many things, uncle..."833Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsxAlXdu1R5
And with those words she turned and followed in her daughter's footsteps toward the castle.833Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLbMGXXe3qZ
