The Princess, The Terki and The Reluctant Knight

Chapter 1

A Glimpse from the Princess

It was a Saturday. It was not even in the remotest part of his mind that tomorrow, a Sunday, is the day he would receive his death sentence.

Like any Saturday mornings for the past thirteen years, or any other mornings of the week, he knew with certainty that the girl from the palace would pass by. He had seen her grow from clumsy to the most beautiful girl in the world. He was 19 now. Unsure of his arithmetic, he counted the fingers of both his hands and that of his toes. Right! The girl could be just his age, giving a year or so difference.

Ashamed of the dirt in his fingers, he hid them in his leather bag after he arranged the sandals’ toe cover to conceal his also dirt-encrusted cuticles. He stood there, stiff and frozen, embarrassed to no one. Realizing this, he pulled his hands out of the bag; a leaf of coarse paper – the lad did not see – flew out from the sack when his hands retracted.

The sun was peeking from the mountain and its rays filtering through canopies, giving the remaining dews on leaves and grasses the glitter of diamonds and pearls.

His mind was singing a tune and his memories rushing back to many years like she, he, too, was a klutzy. Now he was no longer that fumbling child, but an indomitable admirer.

More precious than gold

More lasting than forever

Bright as the mid-day sun

That’s what I would remember

You may not notice me

But I was always there

Down by the winding road

Hoping to catch your stare

A glimpse from you

That’s all I ask

A flash of smile

Would be too much

I’m begging you

Not for cents and dimes

Make me a prince

Cast me a glance…

I asked for your name

But you shied away

I’ll wait for another day

Perhaps then, you would stay

His and reminiscing was suddenly halted by the sound that could only be more than the thumping of his heart in hopeless romantic anticipation. The earth drummed with the rhythmic cadence of marching hooves. The girl would be passing by now, he was sure. She would be in the gilded carriage, accompanied by a cordon of heavily armed soldiers. The lad hid his ax behind a birch, just at the edge of a forest where he would chop timbers later.

With his ax hidden away from sight, he too, took shield. A beautiful girl like her should not be subjected to a sight like him – scruffy, with very fine stubbles of whiskers sprouting around his mouth area. And oh, boy! He stunk like the humus of soft loam and the potpourri of different flora from the forest, and of mustard in a jar… while the girl will be dispersing the scent of gardenia in her hair, transforming the pebble-strewn stretch of that winding road into the lost paradise.

The clatters of the hooves were getting closer…

The girl swiped the curtains to browse outside.

My dear Princess Annica Marie, that lad will catch a glimpse of you, her girl Friday warned.

What’s wrong with that? He has been trying to do that for as much as I could remember. Let him get his reward occasionally, Princess Annica Marie smiled.

Princess Annica Marie remembered a time when she was still in ponytails tied with turquoise ribbons, and a turquoise comb with diamond tidbits was on her head. She was also wearing turquoise accessories that included the sash on her waist. She was about five then. She drew wide the drapes, which she had not done before. She used to peek out with no more than half of her face when none of the nannies were watching or were asleep. Outside, just before the forest, were explosions of dazzling flowers in their resplendent array, butterflies were swarming, hopping from a flower to another – resembling drifting confetti that waft where the breeze may take them. It was the first time she saw the bunk of the narrow road in a wider view.

Wow! I haven’t seen so many beautiful flowers before! She buzzed. Then her spirit dampened tantamount to the realization of being kept out of a secret. Why do you have to hide these things from me?

No one outside the palace is supposed to see you until you’re eighteen, The first nanny reasoned.

She had frowned, which was very uncommon of her.That tradition…

The second nanny upheld the first. We didn’t make it…

Slowly, the radiance returned to her face. The child princess, urged by her fancy, requested her nannies for a stopover so she could pick wild flowers. Can I go out and pick some flowers, please…

But…The first nanny was quick to disagree with the child princess, only to soften when Princess Annica Marie hugged her.

No one is there to see me… she persuaded them with pleading smile.

The nannies conferred with their brows, and acquiesced.

She was very happy then, wishing she could harvest all the flowers and add them to the palace garden.

The butterflies found a scent more pleasant than the flowers. They floated around her head, sniffing at her hair; the blossoms were jealous. Princess Annica Marie was giggling when out from the mounds of thistles and hedgerow, a shabby boy appeared, a bunch of the most beautiful flowers in his arms, his face pocked with red bumps. His lips trembled before they open to ask:

What is your name?

She was scared and she hurried back to her gilded citadel; the nounous sniggered in suppressed laughter. As the carriage was proceeding, she looked back. The poor boy was staring, still holding the flowers in his arms, the reddish effect of thistle poisoning on his face was spreading – or was it from embarrassment? – And he was almost crying…

The carriage was drawing near the very same spot where the incident took place, the princess giggled with the remembrance; she was sure that he was there hiding, stealing a moment of a glimpse. The princess could not contain her inner excitement. She had been finding thrill in this little game the two of them had been playing. Hide and Seek… Stealing glances… One would challenge the known forces in the universe for a longer glance; the other would easily give it were she asked to.

She saw him! His bright blue eyes were unblinking, despite the harsh ray of the sun striking them directly. They were orbs of sapphires sandwiched between the backdrop and tapestry of green and brown, defying the much bigger, brighter, furious heavenly ball of fire. All this for a glimpse! The princess wished to take a full view of her fanatic admirer. All she needed was a reason.

And there it was! A coarse leaf of paper lay on the grass where the pebbles thinned!

Stop! She cried.

The lazy bounce of the carriage halted; horses protested for breaking their tempo.

Why? The girl Friday asked.

Princess Annica Marie did not reply, instead she commanded a foot soldier, Open the door!

The carriage door was opened, and with the brocade of her turquoise gown lifted up, the tail trailing by, she half-ran to pick up the paper.

The lumberjack’s eyes bulged out in delight, seeing the girl came out of her gold-crested coach approaching and looking like something had caught her fancy. He was sure it was not him, because he hid himself absolutely away from anybody’s sight. He was good at this. Wild turkeys could pick out stalkers when they were not well concealed… and there were a few flowers around at this time of the year not worthy of picking…

Then the leaf of paper was blown by the wind.

The lumberjack was suddenly nervous… The girl was going to pick up the paper! That was a part of his secret! After this he would not be able to be here again, for he was already compromised! This was the end of this pleasure, the end of his dreams! This was the end of life, the end of everything…

He could see his epitaph now: Betrayed by a piece of paper

The world slowed down its rotation, the time was being elongated… everything in a slow motion… the girl walking fast toward the paper… behind her was the girl Friday and a clump of armed soldiers -- their spears and swords at the ready.

Then his vision focused to the girl, all others faded to obscurity. Slowly, she bent her lithe knees and her long slender fingers picked up his filthy paper.

This was the closest he had been to her since that most awkward summer day; he could smell the garden in her shiny, auburn tress, but behind her was the abominable sulfur of hell personified by the battle-ready palace guards. The lumberjack closed his eyes, though it was the hardest thing to do. He could keep them unblinking for as long as it would take when he was espying on her, not to miss a moment of her sight. Now, she was very close and he had both the agony and luxury of shutting his eyes, the foolishness of not staring on a beautiful dream in front of him. Then he perspired, shook in fright, and chilled… a fever.

Slowly, with much courage and anticipation, he opened his gazers again. The girl had picked up the paper, read it…

… And smiled! She was actually smiling!

She turned her head to the soldiers, Get him here. Now. Carefully!

The soldiers obeyed. The lumberjack tried to run, but his legs were frozen stiff and he could not command them to follow his will. He stood there in shock; the metallic clinks of the soldiers’ armor a doomsday reminder. He was a melted candle when his legs gave and the exhaustion was unbearable, the sharp points of spears in front of his face.

The princess wants you! gnarled a sentry.

Princess? She was a princess? His thought spelled out the end of this insanity. How can she like me? She’s a princess and… look at me! I’m just a bit better than the sod under my feet.

Weak with surrender, he let the guards drag him.

The lumberjack just groveled there at the foot of the princess, hopelessly defeated by destiny.

The princess began to read the paper.

"Are dews fairies’ tears left on the grass?

Or are they just to quench the thirst of mules, hares and wasps?

Or are they to soften the steps of a pretty lass?

These questions bother me, but I’ve no one to ask…"

Her voice was soft, sweet and kind; the softest, sweetest, kindest voice he had ever heard and all he could think of was to steal a last glimpse on her before she could command the soldiers to take him out of her sight and chain him for stalking the princess.

What is your name, lad? she queried in the voice that could only be owned by an angel. But angels are terrible creatures that kill hordes when they want to.

Ioreh, he heard himself replied, though he was unsure if he was who spoke, Ioreh, my beloved… Princess…

Is Ioreh a poet? What do you do, Ioreh?

I’m… I’m a lumberjack and… and t-turkey hunter, my Princess…." His reply was to punctuate more the distance of their beings – a blue blood and …

…a creature slightly above a mongrel.

Ahhh! A turkey hunter! A lumberjack –

Ioreh could feel the insult coming next. You got the nerve, a mere turkey hunter, to steal a glimpse of a princess like me! Who gave you the right?

Tomorrow is my eighteenth birthday, Ioreh. I want you to catch me a fine wild turkey. Would you do that for me, Ioreh? Princess Annica Marie requested in the kindest of way unheard of royalties. And will you please stand up and face your princess?

Ioreh rose to his height, which was almost two donkeys tall. His marrows filled magically with energy, strength coming back ten times, twenty times than before. He was no longer aware of his looks, his smell and the dirt in his fingers. Still his head remained bowed, hiding his sight behind disheveled hair.

Look at me, Ioreh.

Ioreh did, directly to her violet-green doe eyes; engulfing the features of her face that could have been painted by the most gifted artist in the whole of the universe after seeing the most beautiful fairy there was.

I want that turkey tomorrow.

Ioreh nodded.

Tell the gatekeeper you’re my visitor. My name is Princess Annica Marie. She thrust her hand in offer.

Ioreh slowly reached for it, trembling, all strength depleted again. He held her hand, and his head cushioned forward to plant it a kiss. He was expecting that she would withdraw and cringe in disgust. Ioreh’s eyes rolled up for Princess Annica Marie’s reaction. She was smiling, and he felt the heaven floated down. It was like dying and he didn’t know that dying felt this good… How can the entrance to Heaven give agony? Dying is the ending of pain, the ending of everything earthly. Dying is bliss.

Shivering, their hands touching and Ioreh was dead. It was silkier than silk – her hand was – and he was able to kiss it! Moreover, it left the scent of perfume on his callous palm – his lips would never kiss another girl again! – That was a vow he made to himself after he planted the kiss.

Is this poem for me?

Y-yes, my beloved Princess Annica Marie…

And one more thing… Princess Annica Marie gave the paper back to Ioreh, I want you to finish it.

Yes, my dear Princess Annica Marie, I will… he bent a knee and bowed his head, but his eyes were on her.

With that, Princess Annica Marie walked away, leaving Ioreh petrified, unmindful of the world around him. He was dead and he was in heaven. Then there were flowers around him where there used to be none, and his mind was singing to the tune of the most beautiful day the world had ever come up with.

The day finally came

You rewarded me a glance

It made me more than a prince

I guess it was my chance

I dreamt of you

Every night I sleep

And when I woke

I’ll be on my feet

Down the winding road

Waiting for a glimpse

Of the girl that I love

The princess of my dreams

And in that narrow road

I’ve waited for this magic spark of one moment

That I’ll hold your hand…

Chapter 2

The Enchanted Acres

Ioreh listened as the hooves taps diminish, enthralled, his whole future, bright and idyllic, happening before him.

Even those annoying rhythm sounded like the sweetest music in his ears because he knew that in the middle of those tiff-tacks was the princess… his very own princess! He knew her name! Her name is Annica Marie! He had kissed her hand! She had liked the poem and he had stared in those deep violet-green pools that were her beautiful eyes! He had heard her speak! She spoke with the calm of a serene pond! And… this day is too much for a single day to be filled with such great happiness, and it had just started. For as long as he stood there, mesmerized, envisioning a future of bliss of this intensity that would make up his life with hers, he had forgotten everything about his reality. For now, he was not that poor, lumberjack-con-turkey hunter, but an agent for the princess, assigned for a task that would be the centerpiece of a milestone in her life – her eighteenth birthday! It is the most important event for a girl…

Only her wedding day would eclipse it!

He woke up as poor as he had slept last night, but now he was more than a royalty himself. His feet had wings and his head was high up the clouds! It was happiness of the purest kind.

The ax was snatched as soon as the hooves were no longer heard and Ioreh decided to make that dream come true. There was only a place where he could catch a fine turkey – in the Forbidden Forest.

All warning signs indicated that he had committed a transgression. They were all carved in the barks of the most easily noticed trees – the warning from the abbot that trespassing is a law against the abbey. Though the transgressor might