On a warm summer evening in the middle of June, the baby was finally born. The kingdom rejoiced at the news of the little princess entering the world. The King and Queen named her, Alyssa Talia Mariana Rechad. Alyssa, the child's very own name, and one the Queen had always favored. Talia, for the King's late mother; and Mariana, which meant in the old language "for the people".

At the celebration of her birth, the four fairies sworn to protect the five kingdoms and their people conversed in hushed voices.

"After all these millennia, my creativity on this particular subject fails me. Can't we just give her beauty and have done with it?" Meryl asked. She was the youngest of the four.

"Darling you know it doesn't work that way, come now let's put our heads together. Who has an idea for the princess's gifts?" Delia said. She was the oldest of the four, admittedly only by a century, and generally made the big decisions.

"Well let's not count beauty out, there are four of us you know. Beauty and grace how about? Those could be one gift. And music, I always enjoy the gift of music and we haven't given it for decades!" Erica quipped. She was the second oldest of the four, but was more known by her prowess on the piano and any other instrument. She adored playing and singing and was always quick to suggest a musically related present.

"Oh I like that!" said Grace, "and we should also give her something useful. Like cleverness, or logic. Perhaps just intelligence?" Grace, ever the practical one suggested.

"Right so we have: beauty and grace, cleverness, music and…what?" Meryl asked, counting on her fingers. "That still leaves us with one other gift."

"Kindness or compassion?" Erica proposed.

"Yes! That's it!" Said Delia, "Only we'll make it a little different. Understanding, maybe? So she can live up to her name 'Mariana'. What gift can we give to her that will ultimately help the people?" The four remained pensive for another minute and then moved over to the crib before the King and Queen.

"We are ready to bestow our gifts to the princess, if we may?" Delia said.

"Of course," boomed the King, "please, begin!"

"Allow me," said Erica, "My dear princess Alyssa, I give you the love of music that you may sing or play any instrument to the satisfaction of all who hear you. So that it may raise your spirits when you need it most." The King and Queen smiled gratefully at her as she moved away.

"Princess Alyssa, I give you the gift of beauty and grace. That you may stun those around you with your graceful movements in all that you accomplish and amaze them with your good looks." said Meryl. At this the Queen looked absolutely radiant, so pleased was she at the prospect of such a perfect princess. Imagine, thought she, the ease with which my daughter shall forge alliances through marriage, friendships and other diplomatic engagements.

"Princess, I give you intelligence. The skill to navigate among intellectuals and books alike; logic, strategy and cleverness shall come to you with ease." said Grace. The King looked pleased at that, and it squashed some of his regret that the child had not been a boy. The Queen smiled to be polite.

Then Delia stepped forward, "In honor of your name 'Mariana', I give you compassion and understanding so that you may see and comprehend the people that surround you." The King and Queen thanked the four fairies profusely for their gifts and they promised to visit again soon. Soon as in within the next decade, for the fairies were kept busy by the five kingdoms and their various needs. What with Princess's consuming poisonous apples, Prince's turning into frogs left and right, and keeping that pesky little Jack out of the bean stalks; the four women had their work cut out for them.

The little princess grew up safe and sound inside the castle walls, nurtured and adored by all of the palace staff. Her heart was generous and kind, although many were at first thrown by her boldness. She wasn't afraid of anyone's opinions and lived as she saw fit. Her education included all of the normal subjects that a princess had to learn, but she also spent time studying topics that weren't normally permitted for young women. She loved to read, to puzzle out math, strategies and logic problems. The queen saw to it that she was well prepared for all of a princess's duties, but the King made sure his only child was capable in all subjects whether they be meant for a princess or not.

Outside of the classroom the King let Alyssa practice swordplay and archery with his soldiers. She was also taught hand-to-hand combat, although many of the court found it scandalous. Instead of the typical docile mare, she preferred her black stallion Giro. She kept no ladies in waiting, choosing instead to make friends of the maids and other workers around the castle.

Her behavior was the talk of the court and she scandalized many a visiting dignitary with her thoughts on politics. His daughter's antics delighted the King; he admired her tenacity and told the Queen on many occasions that they could not have asked for a better heir to the throne.

The Queen was not so sure; Alyssa's behavior was too boisterous for any young lady. The rumors that spanned all of the neighboring kingdoms about the vivacious Rechadian princess were doing nothing for their reputation. While endowed with beauty and grace Alyssa used those qualities as she saw fit, which is to say she did not use them. The foolish girl, thought the Queen, covers her good looks and merely uses her graceful nature to master sword play.

Alyssa caused her mother much grief because she insisted on dressing to mask her beauty. "I don't want to be appreciated only for my looks," she would insist. "There is more to me than a pretty face."

"Well there shouldn't be!" the Queen would retort, "As a princess it is your duty to marry advantageously. Your cleverness will not win you supporters, darling. You avoid and dismiss your responsibilities as princess on a daily basis. What will become of the court after you alienate all of the nobility? You have caused enough offense by choosing no ladies in waiting. Please, Alyssa, I beg you to stop shirking your duties."

"I didn't ask for this!" Alyssa shouted back. The Queen pulled her into a hug.

"I know dear, I know you didn't and I'm sorry. But you were born to it. You cannot desert your place here. Understand that we have a duty to protect and nurture our nation. Our power comes not only from laws but from our image," the Queen whispered. They separated and Alyssa nodded.

"I understand." She said quietly.

The princess was eleven at the time.

Six years later, the princess Alyssa stood at the top of the grand staircase while they announced her arrival. She made her way down the staircase slowly, her green eyes scanning the crowd. Her deep red dress swirled around her feet, and her long dark hair cascaded in soft curls down her back. Her ladies in waiting met her at the base of the staircase and together they moved through the crowded ballroom. Once the princess had descended the stairs the music began again and the guests returned to their small talk.

No one can deny that she is radiant, thought Prince George. She was truly stunning, as the fairy had decreed she would be. But why does she not smile? The Prince asked himself. She is the only heir, and can want for nothing. He watched her for a few minutes from his seat at the edge of the dance floor. He noted that her ladies never touched her, and she never them. This struck him as odd, since most ladies tended to fall giggling on one another with some frequency. Odd indeed, thought he.

"My dear Prince George," gushed the Queen, "We are honored by your attendance this fine evening. Your journey here was pleasant I hope?"

"A very pleasant trip, my lady," responded George; "My trip was effortless as your country is very beautiful."

"You are too kind!" she smiled. George inwardly groaned; he could do without the meaningless pleasantries. He knew that she was merely waiting for the right moment to beg him to dance with some lady or other. He almost sighed aloud; ever the matchmaker was the Rechadian Queen. Truly a hopeless romantic, which was interesting considering that her own marriage was arranged.

"Now Prince, I am sure that you have already noticed of all the lovely young ladies here tonight. I beg of you that you not deprive them any longer of your charming company." The Queen said encouragingly. And there it was, thought George, the not so subtle hint to act like the Prince and royal guest of honor that he was.

"Right you are, lady Queen. I believe I shall seek out your wonderful Crown Princess." He moved away from the Queen to make good on his words, but not before catching sight of the triumphant twinkle in her eyes.

George scoured the ballroom with his deep brown eyes until they alighted upon the somber Princess. She was trapped in the arms of some Duke or other who was unashamedly gazing at her rapturously. She looked bored, if a bit disgusted and held the man practically at arms length while they danced. As the music came to an end, George politely cut in and requested the next dance. Alyssa smiled coldly at the Duke as he grumbled and moved away. George was beginning to wonder if he ought to flee from what he recognized as 'Ice Princess' behavior. The vicious creatures haunted almost every court, and he had dealt with more than his fair share of vulture-like royalty, drunk off of their power and vanity. But when Princess Alyssa turned to him it was with a shy smile, betraying none of her previous behavior. Their hands met softly and his hand settled on her waist, her own free hand rested lightly on his shoulder. After a moment in which he felt as if he were under examination, her smile grew and she relaxed into the dance.

"You are Prince George of Axia, are you not?" she queried.

"That I am," said George.

"Welcome then! I apologize for not being able to greet you sooner, but I have been very busy today."

"Oh?" asked George, he hoped dearly that she would not launch into an explanation of ball preparations. The waltz allowed for a lot of conversation, and he felt suddenly nervous.

"Yes," said Alyssa simply, apparently choosing not to elaborate. "And what have you been doing, since your arrival, pray tell? I hope that they have given you a proper tour of the grounds?"

"You shall think me lazy, for I have spent the afternoon since my arrival at lunch merely reading in your wonderfully large library." George said with a smile of his own. She laughed then, and he was caught off guard by the pure joyous musicality of it. Could this be the same young woman, who barely half an hour ago had solemnly descended into a silent ballroom?

"A scholar then. But what is this?" she gasped mockingly, "No one has taken it upon them selves to show you around? Well my dear Prince it's a miracle you found the ballroom at all, this must be remedied immediately." She giggled, and George allowed himself to step into her game.

"What can be done? You wouldn't happen to have a map on your person?" he affected a look of one who has failed miserably at the task set before him and is now clutching at straws.

"Hmm," Alyssa hummed quietly, apparently in deep thought. "Well I suppose, yes, yes it's the only plausible solution. I must take you myself. Tomorrow morning I shall show you our castle and grounds, what say you?"

Momentarily surprised by her sudden invitation, George stuttered a bit in his reply, "Wh-why yes, I would find that most agreeable. I thank you Princess for your kindness." Her shy smile returned as the dance ended, and they separated.

The next morning Princess Alyssa dressed simply in a plain blue frock. She glared at her reflection. The dress was still too fine for what she planned on doing, but no matter she would never convince her maid to let her wear men's trousers while she was out with the Prince. Never mind that they were much more suitable for riding. Her Father would always let her wear trousers when they rode together. He found it amusing that his daughter was so pragmatic. As an added bonus it tended to aggravate the Queen; who, while sweet and well meaning, was always dreadfully concerned with the proper protocol. Stupid dress. She sighed and amended her dire thoughts with a cheery one. 'Prince George is different!' she told herself. 'He has not been here long enough to hear the rumors! I shall make him my friend, and then he will disregard all of their talk.'

Alyssa knew she was probably being optimistic. The rumors about her curse doubtless ranged across all the kingdoms. The story went that she had the power to see into a person's soul and understand their deepest wishes. The tale was false, of course; but like most stories it had begun with a grain of truth.

When the Princess Alyssa was given the gift to see and understand the people around her, the four fairies thought it merely an extension of compassion. That she should sympathize with others. However, the wording of the idea and perhaps the enthusiasm of the fairy that gave the gift, had a rather drastic effect. When the princess touched another she was able to sense not their desires, but their natures. She knew instinctively of their motives and personalities.

Thus the Princess was friendless at court, the nobles with their scheming for greater power and the ladies with their jealousy of the Princess did not crave her closer company. Her only friends remained her servants, who for the most part did not fear Alyssa and were kind to her. The court avoided touching her whenever possible, and had she not been the Crown Princess she often wondered if anyone at all would choose to dance with her at the balls. Only her Mother and Father touched her with ease, they did not feel the need to hide from their only daughter.

But Prince George had been different, had felt different. His motives were not consumed by greed and vanity and the Princess Alyssa was holding out hope that he might become a friend. And an ally.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Thanks for reading! For those people who follow this story, don't be alarmed by the myriad of emails you might find in your inbox, I'm merely editing and updating every chapter.