This story begins as all stories begin – with a once upon a time.

Once upon a time, in the long ago and far away, there lived a princess.

She lived in the land that loved the sun, a fair land of flowing waters and green fields. And she loved her land - for after all, was she not its princess? And the land was hers, just as she belonged to it.

Her father was King of the land that loved the sun. He might not have been the best ruler of his kingdom, but he was not the worst. He cared for the land, and worried over it. He grieved for the wounds he could not heal, and mourned for those he could not save - for unlike the kings of the past, he was a healer above all. And his care was both his best feature and his worst flaw - for he was unable to let go of that he cared for. He could not comprehend that all things must pass - and he could not save the world. His worry would sometimes consume him until he sank into the seas of grief - but his wife, a wise woman, did not let the harms of the world wound him too grievously.

Indeed, the Queen was as fair as the King was dark, and her wisdom was wondrous to behold. She was a wise woman, a wild woman, who bowed to no master save the god known as Love - and even then, she was fierce in her loving. She too was a healer - but her healing could be harsh as well. And yet it could be gentle - so too could she be gentle - for she was a mother as well as a warrior, who fought her greatest battles against the tyrant known as life.

And together they had two children - two princesses, who called the same land their home and danced on the same earth. But they music that they moved to was different - even as were their souls.

For the youngest was as fierce as her sister was mild, fierce as her mother before her, but without the experience of the years which had mellowed into wisdom. Her greatest virtue her pride, her greatest flaw her arrogance, she would not kneel to anything, and every challenge faced was a challenge to her pride. And yet she could be lonely as well - for her friends were many, and her smiles came often. And if they were touched by a tint of smugness, who would blame her? For her family loved her, and love overcomes all.

But the elder princess - it is on she that this story is focused.

OOOOOOO

How to describe her?

She was not particularly beautiful - though some might call her so. But neither was she ugly. Indeed, she was as fair as her mother, and mother’s mother before her, and pale as the moon at sunset.

She was a sweet maid - mild and gentle in her opinions, and cared for all that she treasured with the same fierce devotion her father shared. Quiet and yielding, she yet possessed a core of iron, and could, in turn, be as stubborn and unyielding as either of her parents - for she was their child, and her heritage shown clear. She could be hurt, for she was only human - she could be lonely, and she could weep. But the time for her tears had not yet come.

But most of all she was happy. Happy with the world, happy with her her place in it - proud indeed to be who she was. And she reveled in life, for truly, life was her love, and she loved all freely - and all loved her in return. For she had yet to learn the lessons all children must someday be taught - the lessons that mark their leave-taking from childhood.

But that time was not yet come, so she danced, and was happy.

OOOOOOOO

And the rains came and the summers passed, and the eldest princess grew with them. Until there came the day that looked out upon the world, and the wonder that had seized her grew beyond what she had ever known. For she longed to see that which had not yet been seen - to discover, and to do. For her passion was that of wisdom, but not the fierce wisdom of her mother - neither the slow, steady knowledge of her father. No, hers was the wisdom that learned from both - young and eager, yet untried. And it throbbed in her breast like a fledgling bird, longing and longing to be free. For she knew - in the vague ways of the young, who do not truly comprehend - that one day she must leave the castle of her childhood and make her own way in the world.

That time had not yet come, yet she still longed to explore, to go forth and do. To make her own palace, and discover her own land. And so she turned to the King and Queen, and she asked of them for advice.

And her parents loved their child - loved her enough to grant her request and let her go, for a time, to discover the life beyond the boundaries of their land. So the older princess, a little afraid, packed a bag full of all she might need and set forth to see what could be seen.

And the sun watched, and was silent.