Princess Mriata

Once upon a time...

There was a princess, and her name was Mriata. Her father was the great King, powerful and wise, and he ruled all the nations from his grand Castle at the Point of Dantata at the edge of the sea over the cliffs and plains. So beautiful was Mriata that she could not be mistaken by any in her world of Noshtia as any but the daughter of the great King, though few outside the castle at Dantata had never before glimpsed her. Her mother was very proud of her, for she did not squander time away in frivolous pursuits. Instead, she studied wisdom and knowledge under her father's tutelage, took every opportunity to gain practical experience in all that a proper young lady should know from everyone who would teach her, and desired most to become a wise and worthy young woman.

One day, a prince called Kalhied from a far away land called Marntan knocked on the door of the great castle. When he was admitted, he asked to be granted an audience with the King on a most important matter. When he was granted audience, he proceeded to inform the King that he had come to wed his daughter, if he would approve the marriage. The King looked at him for a moment, as if piercing his very mind and heart with his stare, and then asked a question of the man. Understanding that the man had come to love his daughter only for her fame and alleged beauty, the King asked him if he knew her beauty, and could he describe it. Confused, the prince answered, "Why no, my King, I have never before witnessed it. But it is known well through the nations that she is the most beautiful maiden, and that none can compare. It is for this reason I am here!" The King smiled, nodded, and proposed that the prince stay and enjoy some time at the castle in hopes of witnessing Mriata's beauty for himself. The prince, sure that his wish had been granted, agreed and was given Estla Tower, overlooking the Sea of Aris in which to reside.

Days passed and, to his great disappointment, the prince never was able to get a good view of the princesses' face. At mealtimes Mriata made the King and the prince bountiful feasts, in the evenings the prince always returned to clean fresh sheets on his bed; in the afternoon he browsed through the beautiful gardens which he knew were kept up by Mriata, but he would have traded the excellent food and the cleanliness and beauty of the grounds for just a look at her face, for this, he mused, was what he sought and what he would need to return to the King and answer his question.

Then, one day, when the sun was high and hot, the prince spotted Mriata sitting in a garden at the feet of her great grandmother, who was speaking of her past life in what the prince considered to be a very boring manner indeed. But Mriata was very intent and focused, drinking in every word. The location where the two were spending time together was such that if the prince had wanted to approach close enough to gaze upon Mriata's fair face, he would have appeared very obvious and awkward, so he did not come nearer. Later, he witnessed her assisting the old woman in a stroll, and then back up to her chamber in Auchen Tower. Again, he complained to himself, he wished he could just see her face.

For many weeks, the prince stayed looking on, and for many weeks Mriata went about her usual business attending to things around the castle, singing and enjoying her time as she went along, always happy to serve and take time away from her duties to jump at requests made by anyone. But always the prince witnessed this from a distance, and he became upset. He wondered why he was here and what he was supposed to be doing, so he sought out the King once more to beg his question.

When they had sat again around the table, the King asked politely of what topic the prince would speak. The prince burst into a confused wonderment, asking what his purpose here was and why he was being kept from seeing and marrying the beautiful young girl. The King then asked the man, "have you not witnessed her beauty while you have been here? What have you learned?" Stunned, the prince wondered what the old man could be thinking - he had not even come close enough to see her face, how could he have witnessed her beauty? He became discouraged and requested to leave, so his horse was brought to him and he rode away into the sunset, alone.

The prince was only the first of many young men who came to seek the princesses' hand in marriage, and the first of many to leave the castle perplexed and not understanding. Having failed to produce the answer the King desired to hear after their observations, still having sought only a view of her face, many of them took a stab at guessing what the King wanted to hear - some guessed that the beauty of the princess must be the work she did willingly, or the happiness she showed at helping whoever needed her; some wondered if perhaps it was her modest dress or quiet understanding manner, but none could guess correctly, and the King would send them on their way.

Then one day another prince called Jallin, rode from the neighboring country of Arkuntisch, requesting audience with the King. Making the familiar request for the princesses' hand in marriage, he too was asked if he could describe the beauty of the princess, and if not, to stay and observe her beauty. And as with Kalhied, while at the castle he was to reside in the Estla Tower. So he took up his post, and began his observations.

It occurred to Jallin immediately that there were only 4 people living at the castle, and wondered how the beautiful grounds were kept up. He had only to step outside, however, to realize the answer. From his vantage point on Estla Tower, he could clearly see the outline of the great King himself lovingly tending the gardens, mowing the lawns, cleaning the patios, and watering the large flower and vegetable gardens surrounding the castle. He could also see princess Mriata assisting him, as well as making sure her great grandmother always had a stroll through the grounds each day, for she could not walk it alone. Jallin observed Mriata performing the same duties Kalhied had observed, inside the castle and out, and enjoyed her song as she worked. Mriata's mother could also be seen often in the castle and out, making sure the pantries were stocked, the vegetable gardens harvested, the halls and rooms and living spaces clean and tidy, and prince Jallin began to have a great respect for this family.

Jallin noted, too, that, while they worked hard, this family also had their rest and celebration times. They were private, and held as a family, so Jallin was to observe only from a distance. But he knew that their enjoyment was simple, and the center of the memories they made together was spending time together, not caring what they did as long as they were together. Prince Jallin was touched and decided in his heart that his family, one day, would take many examples from what he now witnessed.

On the morning of April the 17th, two fortnights after his arrival, Jallin requested another audience with the King. When they were seated at the table, the King asked what Jallin would say to him. Jallin replied, "Great King, while I have still not gazed directly onto the face of princess Mriata, I have enjoyed a keen observation of her character. I do not have an answer for you, for I still do not understand what you seek, but I have decided that what I have observed is unique and unusual, and not to be disregarded. For while her face is hidden, it is clear to see that she plays out her day as if it was not hers, performing tasks as if they were not work, seeing every moment as an opportunity to learn and enjoy whatever is set before her to do. In this, she has become utterly selfless and desiring nothing but to serve others, while from these things taking such pleasures as make her appear as the happiest person one may ever meet. While unrelated to beauty, this, sir, I believe is to be more greatly valued than any fair face or shapely body - for what she demonstrates transcends such petty observances making them irrelevant in the scheme of things. I thank you for the opportunity to have learned a great deal, and I am sorry I do not understand how to address your request. I will take leave of you the morning of the morrow."

To this, the King bid him wait a moment as he stepped out of the room, and returned to with Mriata at his side. "Prince Jallin," said the King. "I would like to introduce you to my daughter, princess Mriata. With her character and beauty, you are already familiar. You have answered well, and now you may have her hand with my blessing if you both so desire." Jallin was now able to see the face of the famed princess of Dantata Castle, and saw that indeed she was very beautiful, but he was struck that his appreciation for her was not for her beauty, though indeed he found her very desirable, as much as it was for her character.

King Jallin and Queen Mriata still rule the land of Arkuntisch, and bestow the wisdom passed on from the Great King to their country folk. The days pass like golden dreams and sunsets are like wildfire lighting up the sky of Noshtia as with fireworks and light shows. And while still the beauty of the princess Mriata is famous and world renowned, all who have met her understand that the true beauty of the Queen of Arkuntisch lies in her character and desire to love all others before herself.