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Once upon a time, there were two kingdoms whose borders touched the foot of the Black Mountain. Although the neighbouring kingdoms of Trasimene and Ossaia were prosperous and powerful and ruled by humans, they were very different in many respects.
Theobald III inherited the kingdom of Trasimene as a young man. Despite his tender age at the time of his ascension to the throne, he was skilled as a scholar and warrior and grew to become a kind, just and wise ruler, well-loved and admired by his subjects and respected far and wide in lands beyond his kingdom’s borders. King Theobald strove to carry on the legacy of his forbears, ensuring that his kingdom grew in peace and prosperity as the years passed.
Arnulf of Ossaia was a vain and greedy man. Like his father and grandfather before him, he had come into his kingdom by conquest and war. His kingdom’s riches came from the coffers of his vanquished enemies. It was rumoured that he had earned his crown by poisoning his father and brother. When the king of Ossaia saw the happiness and prosperity enjoyed by his neighbour, the sun darkened in his eyes. He declared that Trasimene would be his by fair means or foul. But his campaigns to conquer Trasimene met with firm resistance and his troops were turned back to Ossaia each time in defeat. King Arnulf fumed and raged and swore that a day would come when he would triumph over Trasimene.
King Theobald had three daughters. It was sometimes said that if his wife, Queen Ermengard, had not died in childbirth, the princesses might have been brought up differently. Although the princesses were educated in a manner befitting royal offspring, they had many tutors and were as well schooled in art and astronomy and mathematics and music and dancing as they were accomplished in hunting and riding and the various forms of battle.
Flame-haired Princess Alexandra, the eldest, was gentle, trusting and beautiful. She was famed for her generosity and scholarship, her skill in chess and military strategy, and her love of gardens.
Princess Cristabel, the king’s second child, was bold in thought, spirit and deed. Her mastery of musical instruments and painting matched her mastery of weaponry. She had a tender heart behind her strength and hid her benevolent deeds.
With everything that her sisters were, what was left to the youngest princess, Beatrice?
From a young age, when her nurse first scolded her for being recalcitrant, Princess Beatrice became known as the naughty child. Unlike her model royal sisters, Princess Beatrice was deemed to be inattentive, reckless, rarely dutiful to her proper position and birth, and chaos-ridden, regularly causing upsets to the royal household over one matter or another.
‘The great hall requires another tapestry for the ambassador’s arrival, your Majesty, since the recently hung new tapestry is beyond repair,’ said Lord Marlowe. ‘Princess Beatrice drew over the hunt scene so that the tapestry could depict the unicorn escaping.’
‘Her Highness Princess Beatrice is late to her lessons, sire,’ said Sir Samuel. ‘She has not been found within the castle grounds. It is believed that she has gone to climb trees in the forest near the abbey of Ermengard.’
‘Oh, not again, Princess Beatrice!’ cried Lady Sarah. ‘The woeful state of you! This is the ninth gown in a week spoiled or lost! And the king asking to see you!’
‘I wish you would not aggravate the household staff so much, Beatrice,’ said her royal sisters. ‘They have to report to Lady Sarah and she does carry on so and makes everyone nervous and unhappy.’
‘I do try not to,’ said Princess Beatrice. ‘But it only seems to make it worse.’
‘Your nurse, your tutors, and the ladies-in-waiting have given me disappointing reports, Beatrice,’ said the king.
‘I am sorry, father,’ said Princess Beatrice. ‘I will try to do better.’
‘How is it that you keep losing swords and lances and bows and arrows? The Mistress of the Robes says you spoil or lose almost as many gowns. Your tutors tell me you are inattentive during lessons or miss lessons entirely. I understand that your books have been lost and that your sisters’ books have also started going missing,’ said the king. ‘Tell me what is the matter, Beatrice. Something is not right.’
‘I am sorry, father,’ said Princess Beatrice. ‘I will do better.
The king sent a page, Clotaire, to secretly follow the princess. After three days, the page returned to report to the king.
‘Princess Beatrice is not losing the weapons given to her from the royal armoury for her lessons and practise, your Majesty,’ said the page. ‘She is taking them to the royal blacksmith’s apprentice.’
‘I see,’ said the king.
‘Some of Princess Beatrice’s gowns get dirty and torn when she goes to fish and catch tadpoles or climb trees or play games with the local village children near the castle. Her Highness Princess Beatrice gives her other gowns to the village seamstress, your Majesty,’ said the page.
‘I see,’ said the king.
‘Her Highness Princess Beatrice frequently goes to the village school to listen to their lessons instead of attending her own. Her Highness has given her books and the books of her royal sisters to the school master, your Majesty,’ said the page.
‘I see,’ said the king.
Princess Beatrice was brought before the king.
‘Well, Beatrice?’ said the king.
‘Sir Gustav and the other knights and all their men defend our kingdom,’ said Princess Beatrice. ‘But their swords and arrows and weapons do not seem to be made as strong as mine are, father.’
‘How do you know, Beatrice?’ asked the king.
‘My friend Peter, the royal blacksmith’s apprentice, showed me their weapons. Mine are much better, father. I did not think anyone would mind if I gave away or exchanged mine for theirs. Peter had to melt down and refashion them into the right shape and size, and the gemstone decorations fetched money to buy more materials, of course,’ said Princess Beatrice.
‘I see,’ said the king. ‘Continue.’
‘I have too many gowns, father. Lady Sarah and Lady Gersilde are always speaking of getting more in the newest fabrics and fashions. I thought the children in the villages and orphanage would have better use for them. Mistress Fanthorpe turns them into very handsome smocks and jackets and hose,’ said Princess Beatrice.
‘I see,’ said the king. ‘Go on.’
‘I am sorry for missing my lessons, father. Only, Sir Guy’s and Sir Samuel’s are so monotonous and dull. We do nothing but recite and copy out lessons. Master Greengrass’ classes are much more lively and interesting. He is a refugee from the kingdom of Ossaia. He tells stories, father, that seem to make the words come alive. The school is poor and the children have to share the books because there are not enough to go around. My sisters and I were happy to share ours,’ said Princess Beatrice.
‘I am glad you have told me the truth, Beatrice,’ said the king. ‘You may go now. Norbert, send me the Lord Steward and Lord Chamberlain, the Master of the Household, the Mistress of the Robes, the princesses’ tutors, the local village school master Master Greengrass, the Marshal, the High Constable, and all the army generals. Then I wish to see the Exchequer.’
On another occasion, Princess Beatrice was again summoned before the king.
‘Why do you steal pies from the royal kitchen, Beatrice? You have only to tell the Master of the Kitchen if you wish for something, instead of enlisting your sisters as lookouts,’ said the king.
‘She would not need to steal the pies if the orphanage children have enough to eat,’ said Princess Alexandra. ‘Beatrice does not even like the royal chef’s venison pies.’
‘Is this true, Beatrice?’ asked the king.
‘Please do not be angry with Beatrice, father,’ said Princess Cristabel.
‘I am not angry with her,’ said the king. ‘How did you know that the wards of the orphanage were starving, Beatrice?’
Princess Beatrice was silent.
‘Speak, Beatrice,’ said the king. ‘You will not get into trouble.’
Princess Beatrice remained silent.
‘No one else will get into trouble. I will not punish the persons who told you, Beatrice. I only seek to understand so that I may rectify the wrong,’ said the king.
‘Thomas, the stable boy, told me, father,’ said Princess Beatrice. ‘Thomas’ mother works in the orphanage kitchen. She takes food from home to give to the hungry children whenever she can spare it. But there are many children in the orphanage, father, and not enough food.’
‘I see,’ said the king. ‘Norbert, I want to see Lord Locriniste in here immediately.’
On yet another occasion, Princess Beatrice was summoned before the king.
‘I have heard reports of you brawling with Lord Peregrine and Lord Mowbray’s sons, Beatrice. Is this true?’ asked the king.
‘No, father,’ said Princess Beatrice.
‘And you would not know anything about the thief who is stealing crabapples from the royal orchards?’ said the king. ‘The royal gardener is very determined to catch the thief.’
‘No, father,’ said Princess Beatrice.
‘I see,’ said the king.
The king sent his page to secretly follow the princess. After three days, Clotaire returned to report to the king.
Princess Beatrice was brought before the king.
‘I have investigated the matter and apprehended the culprits,’ said the king.
‘Father?’ said Princess Beatrice.
‘It was the local farmer’s daughter, Sophia, who was fighting with Lord Peregrine and Lord Mowbray’s sons by the cornfield,’ said the king. ‘And the royal household’s seamstress’ granddaughter, Megan, and the innkeeper’s grandson, Liam, who were fighting with Lord Peregrine and Lord Mowbray’s sons near the river. And Sir Hugo’s niece, Lucy, and the cobbler’s boy, David, stealing crabapples from the royal orchard.’
‘No, father!’ cried Princess Beatrice. ‘I was the one fighting with Lord Peregrine and Lord Mowbray’s sons. I was the one stealing crabapples from the orchard. I was the only one. I am sorry, father.’
‘The truth please, Beatrice,’ said the king.
‘I was riding past the cornfield when I saw Lord Peregrine and Lord Mowbray’s sons pelting stones at a girl and a dog by the road,’ said Princess Beatrice. ‘I know nurse says that ladies are not supposed to fight but they were laughing, father. After they ran away, Sophia said she had found the stray dog by the road. It had a hurt hind leg. The farmer’s wife and Sophia helped nurse the dog back to health.’
‘I see,’ said the king.
‘I was walking back from swimming and fishing in the river,’ said Princess Beatrice.
‘You skipped your dancing lessons,’ said the king.
‘Yes, father,’ said Princess Beatrice.
‘Continue,’ said the king.
‘I heard a kitten mewling up in a tree at the water’s edge and saw Megan climbing up the branches, trying to rescue it. They were far out on the branch hanging over the water and struggling because the kitten was frightened. The branch was very high. Megan got stuck. I tried to climb up. Liam often goes to the river to catch insects and forage for wild berries. He was passing by and stopped to help. We had almost calmed the kitten so that Megan could carry it and climb back down when Lord Peregrine and Lord Mowbray’s sons appeared. They taunted and pinched Liam but Liam would not let them get near the tree to scare the kitten or Megan even more. They always pick on him for no reason, father. And there were two of them and only one of him. It was not a fair fight. I jumped down from the tree and punched them. I am sorry, father,’ said Princess Beatrice. ‘They were so mean to Liam and he was just trying to protect Megan and the kitten. After they ran away, Liam and I went back to the tree. We started to climb up the tree again but the branch Megan and the kitten were on was shaking so much that it snapped before we could reach them. I heard screaming and the tree branch falling into the river. When we climbed back to the ground though, Megan was standing near the tree trunk holding the kitten, unharmed and as dry as a haystack. She said something caught hold of her and landed her safely down to the ground with the kitten. Liam said he could not see clearly through the leaves but thought he heard wings. Do you suppose a gargoyle saved them, father?’
‘A gargoyle, Beatrice?’ said the king. ‘Did you see a gargoyle bring the girl and kitten down from the tree?’
‘No, father,’ said Princess Beatrice. ‘But how else did they get down from the tree? Gargoyles—’
‘You get too carried away with myths and stories, Beatrice,’ said the king. ‘In any case, gargoyles only come to life after night falls.’
‘Sir Hugo says that the gargoyle king of the Black Mountain has the ability to transform from stone during the daytime,’ said Princess Beatrice.
‘Yes,’ said the king. ‘But that was a very long time ago when relations between the gargoyles and humans were friendly and open, before the kings of Ossaia declared war and made enemies with all their neighbours. Nobody has seen a gargoyle for over a century. Nobody would remember what they looked like but for the stone statues on the rooftops of the castle and the abbey of Ermengard. There are few now who would dare to venture to the kingdom of the Black Mountain and return to tell the tale.’
‘Oh,’ said Princess Beatrice.
‘But the crabapples now, Beatrice,’ said the king.
‘I stole the crabapples, father,’ said Princess Beatrice.
‘Why?’ asked the king.
‘To feed Thunderbolt as treats. He likes crabapples,’ said Princess Beatrice.
‘Who is Thunderbolt?’ asked the king.
‘The workhorse that Lucy and I found abandoned near the stone quarry,’ said Princess Beatrice. ‘He had been left to die. His hooves were injured and bleeding. The royal apothecary, Prospero, who had been lovely with Gryff and Lemondrop, gave us a salve, and Thomas helped to bandage his legs and nurse him when he was off duty from the royal stables, and David helped mend his horse shoes so they would not hurt him anymore.’
‘I am not going to ask why you and Lucy were wandering near the stone quarry,’ said the king.
‘We were going to try to move the trees, which were going to be cut down, and take them down to the riverbank to replant,’ said Princess Beatrice. ‘The butterflies and birds do seem to love them.’
‘All on your own?’ said the king.
‘Only the saplings, father,’ said Princess Beatrice. ‘The farmer and the carpenter and the shepherd and the beekeeper and the court jester and Master Greengrass were going to help us with the larger ones.’
‘I see,’ said the king. ‘But where have you stowed all the rescued animals?’
‘The Reverend Mother has been very kind,’ said Princess Beatrice. ‘And Sisters Victoria, Susannah and Josephine have been looking after the animals so well they are quite healthy and happy now.’
‘Of course. The abbey,’ said the king. ‘You had better bring these animals to the royal household. We do not want to trespass on the abbess for too long. She has others in need of help.’
‘All of them, father?’ asked Princess Beatrice.
‘Yes,’ said the king. ‘How many animals are there besides the dog, kitten and horse?’
‘Well,’ said Princess Beatrice.
‘Beatrice,’ sighed the king. ‘No more stealing or fighting. You must try to set a good example. And the next time you set about reforming the kingdom, will you come to consult me first?’
‘I will try to remember, father,’ said Princess Beatrice.
‘Very well, Beatrice,’ said the king. ‘Norbert, send for the abbess of Ermengard Abbey and the Lord Chamberlain. And bring me the Lords Peregrine and Mowbray and their sons at once.’
As Princess Beatrice grew into a young woman, growing in stature and grace and accomplishments as the Princesses Alexandra and Cristabel had done, she continued in her ways, upsetting the regular order of the royal household, often slipping out of the castle to the dense forest near the abbey, rambling through the kingdom, exploring, rescuing strays and ladybirds, charging where others feared to tread, trying but never quite managing to match the example of her royal sisters. She learned to sing and play and dance and draw and entertain dignitaries without mishaps or disgrace. She could fence and joust and ride ventre à terre with the kingdom’s best knights. She was the finest archer in Trasimene. Many months would pass in a show of exemplary behaviour by the princess, giving the Ladies Sarah and Gersilde hope, until one fine day...
She continued to be bemoaned from time to time as the Recalcitrant One.
But Princess Beatrice’s mischief-making always seemed to arise from her desire to help, or care for, or protect, someone or something vulnerable or wounded. For the sweetness of her nature and the kind heart which had drawn her into her scrapes, neither the king nor her royal sisters nor the kingdom’s subjects could ever bring themselves to deny her or scold her too harshly. She had many friends.
The three princesses loved their father and each other and the people of Trasimene. They stepped into the role of their late mother and helped the king and his subjects run the royal household and rule and defend the kingdom. The logical, carefully considered, reasoned views of the two eldest princesses on strategy were sought by the privy counsellors and generals in the councils of war. (Princess Beatrice was still too young to participate but she listened to the discussions with rapt attention.) The three princesses rode beside the king and his knights in expeditions against Ossaian invasions of Trasimene territories. When Ossaia’s military aggressions grew too widespread across the border, the king trusted the two eldest princesses to lead the army in expeditions to separate locations to meet the invaders. The princesses led their troops back safely in victory each time.
Their reputations, like King Theobald’s, spread. Ambassadors were sent from foreign lands to seek their hand.
‘Our father needs us,’ said Princess Alexandra after the visit of another foreign emissary. ‘I shall never marry.’
‘Nor shall I,’ said Princess Cristabel. ‘What kingdom or sovereign king or prince could give us the purpose, kind love, freedom or happiness we have in Trasimene?’
‘Would it not be fascinating to visit strange new lands and see and discover new things?’ said Princess Beatrice.
‘You do not have to marry to do that,’ said Princess Cristabel.
‘Oh,’ said Princess Beatrice. ‘I suppose not.’
‘But one’s duty to one’s kingdom comes first,’ said Princess Alexandra.
‘Beatrice and I do not have to concern ourselves with that,’ said Princess Cristabel. ‘We have you.’
‘Hush!’ said Princess Alexandra. ‘Do not let Lady Sarah hear you or we will all be scolded for setting a dreadful example for Beatrice.’