Chapter 2
I t was a long ride to reach the small village of Vassor.
It was on the outskirts of the Kingdom, near one of the few rivers in her land.
There were a few other villages near this river, and they supplied most of the kingdom’s crops and meat for the palace and the other villages throughout the land.
Most of her kingdom consisted of golden sand dunes stretching as far as the eye could see.
It grew quite hot most days, but the nights could get quite cold.
Crops and livestock struggled to survive because there was little fertile soil.
Despite that, the land grew some very unique plants that weren’t found in most parts of the world.
Some plants possessed healing properties found nowhere else, giving the kingdom a strong trading advantage.
However, they still relied heavily on trade for crops, seeds, and livestock for their food supply.
Aza was an avid plant collector who loved tending to her personal garden.
When she visited other kingdoms in search of potential marriage alliances, she collected plants and flowers from those places as well.
Vassor was a quaint village with no more than ten cottages.
Many families lived in the cottages, as did a couple of single men and even a woman, Rania, who proudly owned one of her own.
Aza envied her. Rania was a strong, independent woman who made her own decisions and was in control of her life.
Aza loved talking to her and hearing about her passions and endeavors.
Rania, unlike Aza, had made it clear that she did not want to settle down, get married, and have children.
Aza wanted marriage and children, just with someone of her own choosing. Preferably Jahar. But nonetheless.
When the carriage pulled up to the village, many villagers stopped what they were doing to look.
A few children who had been playing began to run towards the carriage.
She eagerly exited the carriage to greet everyone.
The children beamed, bouncing up and down, unable to contain their excitement.
Her guards stood at attention near her and the carriage.
“Princess! Princess! The Princess is here!” Little voices squealed with excitement.
“Hello there,” Aza said, kneeling down to greet the children.
She gently shook their hands and nodded to them. One little girl holding a flower shyly reached out her hand, nervous about giving a gift to the Princess, but Aza took it with nothing but gratitude and flashed a beautiful smile.
“Thank you so much, darling. That was so kind of you. What is your name?”
“My name… is Clara.” The little girl answered, pink dusting her cheeks.
“It is very nice to meet you, Clara.” Aza smiled as the little girl squealed and ran to whom Aza assumed was her mother.
As Aza stood, she looked over towards Jahar, whose eyes seemed to be lingering on her, near the area where she had slipped the flower in her hair.
He looked down quickly when she gave him a small smile.
When she turned back toward the children, she realized the crowd had grown.
Many of the village farmers, in their hats and dirt-covered clothes still holding farming tools, joined the crowd.
“Princess Amiaza, it is so lovely to see you. To what do we owe this tremendous honor?” a villager asked enthusiastically.
“I’ve been visiting villages in my kingdom to check up on my people and to see how they are faring.
How is everyone here? Are you fed and have water?
Are there any who are sick and require healers?
How are the crops? Don’t spare any details.
I want to know how you all are truly doing.
” Aza said, her voice full of concern and compassion.
An older man answered, “Thank you for checking on us, Your Highness. We have been having a little trouble with our crops recently, but nothing I’m sure we can’t figure out how to fix. A few farmers have gotten injured with broken tools. We’re doing our best with what we have.”
A young-looking woman holding a babe at her side added, “If it is not too much of a bother, we could use a few more supplies for the babes, a few have been born in the last couple of months. We are more than happy to share amongst each other, but there is not exactly enough with the new babes we have.” The woman slowly lowers her head.
“Thank you for bringing this to my attention. I will be sure to send a healer to tend to your injured. I will also send you new farming tools and supplies for your babes. Is there anything else that I can help with?”
“We are all set besides those things,” the villager assured her.
“We would love it if you would give the new additions to our village your blessing,” a woman standing towards the back of the crowd interjects, but slightly begins to cower with the growing attention on her. “My apologies, Your Highness, that was too bold a request.”
“Nonsense, it would be my absolute pleasure,” Aza responds, elated that her blessing would mean so much.
“We will fix you a seat and gather the babes.” Another young man said as he and others went in search of a seat.
It wasn’t long until a wooden chair was placed in the village square with a pearly white sheet draped over it. Aza made her way over and sat in her makeshift throne. Flowers decorated the ground around it, and women and families holding babes began to line up.
“One family at a time to approach Princess Amiaza, please, while she gives her blessing.” Jahar’s strong voice echoed over the square as the people nodded their heads in understanding.
Jahar took his place only a few feet from her in her makeshift throne as the first woman who initially suggested the idea, steps forward.
She carries her child snug in her arms as she bows to the Princess.
Aza welcomely reaches out her arms, and the woman gently hands the child to Aza.
Aza cradles the baby in her arms and stares down at them with a sparkle in her eyes.
The baby wrapped tiny fingers around Aza’s finger, and Aza placed a gentle kiss on the soft skin of the baby’s hand.
Children softened something deep within her. One day, she wanted this for herself.
“I give you my blessing, young one. May your heart always be full.” Aza whispered softly.
When Aza handed the baby back to her mother, she swore she could see tears glinting in her eyes. The woman embraced her baby and bowed to Aza as she walked away.
Aza glanced up at Jahar, watching her. But upon being caught and catching Aza’s teasing smile, he straightened up once more and looked out to the line of families.
Aza had given her blessing to all the new babes, and her heart was overflowing with happiness and gratitude.
The villagers asked her to stay for lunch because they would be honored to cook a meal that all the villagers could share with her.
Aza didn’t hesitate to accept their offer.
Aza even offered her help setting the long wooden table the men had delivered.
Another white cloth was draped over the table, and once the plates and silverware were set, some of the women placed wildflowers in the center.
Aza went to help wash and prepare vegetables and potatoes.
The men started a large fire and began roasting multiple slabs of meat, while the women boiled and cooked the vegetables and potatoes.
After some time, the food was ready, and a few villagers worked to distribute it among the many plates as everyone took a seat. The smell of fresh food made her mouth water.
“Oh, heavens, bless this food, this company, and of course our beautiful and kind princess. Thank you.” An elderly man stood at the end of the long table, holding up his goblet, toasting.
“Here, here!” Erupted from the crowd.
Aza couldn’t help but smile as she dug into the delicious meal made in her honor. She enjoyed every last bit of it. After the meals were finished, Aza offered to help clean up, but the villagers politely refused, saying it was their pleasure to clean up.
Aza was caught by surprise to hear music start playing in the street.
Young men were playing a range of instruments, and the children began joyfully dancing.
She made her way over to the group. The children’s smiles widened further to see their princess joining them.
One little boy with bouncing black ringlets took her hands as an invitation to join the dancing.
Aza happily did so. She twirled the little boy around, and he giggled.
Another child swooped in to take Aza’s free hand, and Aza spun her around, too.
The children took turns dancing with the Princess.
Aza didn’t realize how large the crowd had grown until a young man politely asked her if he could dance with her.
Jahar and the others moved in closer, but she waved them off with a hand and accepted the request. The young man was careful to gently hold her hand and place his other on her back.
She placed her free hand on his shoulder, and they began stepping and spinning.
Aza giggled when he spun her as she had with the children.
Aza was spun off to another man, who bowed as they fell into step. He thanked her for the small dance, and then she found herself dancing with Rania.
“Hello, dear Princess.”
“Hello Rania! Any new stories to tell?” Aza asked excitedly.
“I recently got into making pottery. I have sold some to the villagers here, and I aim to sell some at the market. These men have a tendency to break most things they get their hands on, so I thought I’d step up to fix an inevitable problem.
And I make a little profit, too. A woman's got to be able to provide for herself, too, one way or another.”
“That’s wonderful. You’ve learned a new skill. I admire your independence and initiative.” Aza cheers.