The Persian Princess

[Monday]

Arania was truly a princess, even from birth. They say that when she was born, she came into the world silent and dignified. Apparently, Persian Princesses didn't cry, even when being born. When she was three, they say, that she solved many of her countries political promblems including a civil disspute about hunger in the cities. She simply walked up to a peasant (she had learned to walk when she was only one, for Persian Princesses don't crawl) and offered him a peace of bread. Her father, the king, took this as a sign from God and soon delivered the masses enough bread to last them a lifetime. Needless to say, the people rejoiced and lived happy for many more years to come, all thanks to a three year old child.

[Monday]

Arania's father, Reza, had been born and raised in Persia. Her mother, however, was an english woman who had met Reza when on a trip with her parents. They soon fell madly in love with each other, and she became the first English Queen of Persia. Though her mother would often tell her this story before she fell asleep, Arania hardly ever saw her father. When she was five she was convinced that she, infact, had no father and wouldn't believe otherwise, (Princesses of Persia were very stubborn) until her mother actually showed him to her.

[Monday]

When Arania was only eight, her father ordered her mother and her to go back to england. There was talk of a hord of foreners coming to invade there land, and Reza feared for their safety. Her mother wept, and begged him not to make them, but his mind was made up. (Kings of Persia were very stubborn to) They packed there bags and said farewell to the palace that Arania had known all of her life. She was sad at first, but became happier thinking of the new adventure that layed before her. Her best friend, Singa, (who was also her serving maid) was scared, but Arania wasn't. Princesses of Persia were never scared. They set out for Normandy with a small caravan that included some of their servants and there familys. For their protection they were accompanied by the Kings most trusted men. Though there journey took but a month, Arania sometime wondered if it would go on forever. She passed her days by reading and playing with Singa when her mother allowed it. When they finally reached the city of York, Arania was overjoyed.

[Monday]

Because her mother hailed from England, Arania new how to speak both her native toung and english. Along the way to York, her mother even gave her english lessons, and she quickly learned to speak it fluently. Persian princesses were always very smart. All of her life, Arania truly was a Princess. She was only ever treated with respect from everyone, including her friends, which all happend to be maids anyways. If she wanted to race you across a feild, she would always win. She got what she wanted when she wanted. In a word she was spoiled. And of course she expected the same treatment when they arrived in York. That's probably why she felt very put out when she didn't recieve it.

[Monday]

Because of King Reza's vast amount of power, they were graciously welcomed to an estate were many well known and powerful familys lived. The estate sat upon 50 acres of beautiful land, with a sparkling creek running all around it. When they were inside the gates Singa quickly turned to Arania. "I'll race you there!" Without another word she was off like a rocket. Now Arania didn't really feel like raceing, but because Princesses of Pursia never turned down a challenge, she was soon hot on Singa's heals. It was a thrilling race, Singa always one step ahead of Arania, but of course Arania still won in the end. When they had caught their breath, they looked at the large oken doors, looming over head. They looked like they could go on forever. (Of course, when you're eight everything looks big!) There were intricate designs of roses carved all the way to the top of the door. At the very tip, there was a huge eagle that looked so real, that you had to keep your eyes on it to make sure it didn't swoop down at you. "It's kind of scary, isn't it?" asked Singa, mistified.
Arania just sat there for a second mouth gapping before she snapped out of it, returning to her old selfish self. "Of course it isn't! I never get scared, especially of silly doors!"
They both jumped quite high, however, when the doors began to open.

[Monday]

After landing firmly on the ground, Arania found that she was far to frightened to move, so she just standed there, looking up at the door with a mystified look on her face. If she had looked, she would have seen Singa going through the exacts same reaction, but her eyes were glued to the door. She was sure that some terrible monster was right on the other side of that door, waiting to pounce on her at any second.
She recalled the many stories she heard at the campfires during their journey here. Some of them she loved to hear, especially the ones about unicornes. But others would sometimes keep her up for the rest of the night, specifally the ones about dragons.
She looked at the opened door, and instead of seeing a fire breathing dragon, she saw a kind looking women. She was probably in her late forty's and looked to be wearing a servants uniform (a light blue modest dress, with a white apron around her waste). She had a plump face, brown hair with gray streaks running in it, and eyes that twinkled at you. She was far from being a dragon.
"Oh, well hello there, dearies." she said smiling at them. If Arania had ever been to Ireland, she would have realized from the ladies voice that that was were she came from. "Were do you two come from?"

[Monday]

After taking a second to compose her self Arania answered in her usual strong and prideful voice. "Why I am Arania, daughter of The Great Reza, and Princess of Persia." she gave a little curtsie. "And this is Singa." she siad nodding to her friend.
"Well it's so nice to meet you! Both of you! You can call me Mrs. Withers. I'm the head maid here." she said giving a curtsie of her own. "If you don't mind me asking dear, were is your mother?"
"I'm right here." said a gentle voice from behind Arania. She walked up to Mrs. Withers and gave her a loving home. "It's so good to see you agian, Pamala." ((just so ya'll know, i have a maid named pamala in like everyone of my stories. lol))
"Like wise, dearie. I was afraid I might never see you agian. I'm starting to get on in years you know." Arania saw tears starting to come to the old woman's eyes.
Arania's mother held her at arms length examining her. "Nonesense! You barely look to even be thirty years old!"
Arania had already gone bored of this reunioun and wanted to move on. "Mother. Can we please go inside now?"
"Arania, don't interupt when I am speaking. Why don't you and Singa go and have a look around?"
Arania was very put out at this. She wasn't used to not getting her way.
Mrs. Withers seemed to have sensed this and proposed an idea. "Why don't you go play with some of the other children, Arania? I believe there by the creak."
"But mother-" Arania wined.
"No buts, Arania. I think playing with the other children would be a marvolous idea. The creek is right around that corner over there. Have fun!" she said smiling and pointing in the right direction.
"Fine!" she siad, not at all pleased. "Come, Singa." So the two of them went and stalked of in search of the other children.

[Monday]

When they came around the corner, they saw a few girls sitting on a pic nic blanket underneath a tree, and a group of five or six boys huddled up together near by the creek. They first made their way over to the girls who looked to be about there same age. When they came up to them, each of them had atleast three beautiful procelin dolls, with rosy cheeks and elegant gowns. The girl nearest looked up, and when she saw Arania and Singa smiled. "Would you like to play dollies with us?"
"No, we don't want to play with silly dolls. Dolls are for little babies, not Princesses."
The girl shrugged unafendd. "Suit yourself." She turned back around facing her friends as they continued to play.
Arania looked around, spying the boys. "Come one, Singa. Let's go see what there doing." She started to walk off when she realized that Singa was behind her. She turned around and saw Singa glued to her place. "Singa, what are you doing? Come on!"
She looked to the ground, guiltaly. "Actually, I was hoping I could stay here and play dolls. Can I?" she added looking up with pleading eyes.
Arania stared at her in disbalief. Singa always went werever Arania went. Obviously this place wasn't just changing her mother, but her best friend too.
"Fine, you can stay. But don't come crying to me when you get bored of playing stupid dolls."

[Monday]

Arania walked over to the boys with her head held up hi. They were still hudled around something that she couldn't see. She walked up to the nearest boy, and tapped on his shoulder. "Excuse me." The boy glanced behind him and then turned his attention back to the center. Well, he must not have seen me Arania thought to herself. That's the only reason she could think of that he would not say hello. " I said excuse me!" she said in a louder voice, this time attracting all of the boys attention. They just stood there staring at her. It made her nervous, but she just pushed it pack and pressed forward. "I was wondering if maybe I could play with ya'll?"
They continued to stare a minuete longer, and then the eldest looking boy simply said, "No." The rest of them, including the eldest, turned back around. "What? Why not?" Arania asked confused. She had never been rejected before, and she didn't like it. Not at all.
The same boy looked up agian and said in a mocking voice, " I said no." They all sniggered at this, except of course Arania, who was starting to get mad.
"Do you even know who I am? I'm the Princess of Persia; I can do whatever I want!"
"I don't care if your the Queen of England, you can't play with us unless you're in our club!"
Arania thought for a moment then replied. "Well how do I get into your club?"
The boy went back into the huddle and talked with the rest of the boys. After a bit of argueing (which Arania couldn't hear) the boys came up smiling smugly. The eldest boy (who's name she learned was Gunther) began to speak. "You can be in our club...if..."
"If what?" asked Arania.
"If you complete one simple task for us."
"What's the task?"
"Oh nothing really. Just something all of us had to at some point. You see that log?" He pointed to a log that went across the creek. "All you have to do is cross that log to the other side, and we'll let you in."
"Sounds easy enough." said Arania. Then she looked at the log. It hung over the raging water of the creek that looked more like a river to her. Maybe not so easy...

[Monday]

"What, are you scared or something?" said one of the many boys crowded around Arania. The group of boys had decided that seeing Arania cross the river was far more interesting then a dead lizard, which was what they were crowded around when Arania arived (boys will be boys).
"Persian Princesses are never scared!" she replied, despited her steadily increasing heart rate.
"Well then go already!" the same boy shouted back.
Arania took the first couple of steps with her head held up high, but when she was right in the middle she glanced down, which, she soon discovered, was a big mistake. She saw how deep the water looked now, and how fast that it was going, and the next thing she new the whole world was spinning. She tried her best to clear her head, but all she could think about was how she would give anything to be on the other side of the creek right now. She began to stand up, (somehow she had ended up belly down on the log) and move very slowly. However, every step she took felt very uncertain, and soon she found herself tipping back and forth precariously on the log. She could hear the boys lauphing and tonting her, which caused her to make a fatal mistake. She whirled around to confront them, which is never a good idea when your about to fall, and of course gravity took her into the water.

[Monday]

The first thing Arania noticed as she went plunging into the water, was of how cold it was. The shock of falling in the first place was enough, but add the bone chilling water with that and you have a lethal combination. Her arms went flalling up in the water and she was able to get one quick breath before plunging back in. Arania had never properly learned how to swim (Persian Princesses never swam!) and the water was far to deep for her to touch.
The second thing Arania noticed was that she couldn't push herself to the top again. She could see the surface of the water drift farther and farther away, until she gave up all hope and stopped thrashing about.
The third thing Arania noticed, however, was something so unlike the other two occurances that she hardly thought it was real, and believed she was leaving this world behind for heavan. A warm hand gripped hers and slowly began to pull her to the surface. As it neared closer to her she began to get hope agian and started kicking in order to help there accent. When they finally surfaced, and Arania tasted the sweet air, she was so relieved she almost forgot that she was still in the water. They got to the shore side and Arania plopped down right next to her savior, panting deeply. She looked over to the boy beside her. He must have been about two or three years older then her, and he had brown hair and hazel eyes that where more on the green side. He stuck out his hand to her for her to shake. "Hi," he said still panting. "I'm Aeron. Nice to meet you."

[Monday]

Do you know how people often talk about how they could tell in an instant that they would be friends forever? Well that wasn't the case for Arania and Aeron. It took them a whole minuete to realize that they were already best friends.
That minute past between them from when he introduced himself, until she did. "Hi, I'm Arania." she shook his hand and poof! They were friends. Some say that it was the fact that he had just saved her life, but that wasn't it at all. No, if it had been any other person she would have said thankyou and went on her marry way. But there was something in his eyes, so unlike any other person she had known before, that made her want to know this stranger. And, right then and there, she did start to know him.

[Monday]

Well, she would have right then, if her mother hadn't of seen the whole affair. Within five seconds her mother was bye her side hugging and kissing her and saying things like "My poor baby" and "You could have died". Which, of course, was all very embarrasing for Arania.
"Mom." No resoponse, just more sobbing. "Mom, I'm really alright, you know. Aeron saved me."
"Oh it was really noth-" But that was as far as Aeron got, for the next thing you knew Arania's mother was sobbing on him now. Mrs. Withers had to practicully pry her off of him.
"You really do need to change out of those clothes, darlin'." said Pamala. "You could catch cold." Upon hearing the word "cold" Arania's mother wailed and went into another fit of tears. Pamala sied and then added. "Your mother was never short on the dramatics. Come on, dearie, let's go find some nice warm clothes for you to wear. It's getting close to supper you must be hungry." As they walked around the corner leading to the front entrance, Arania waved at Aeron, and he smiled in return.

[Monday]

Still a bit shaken from her fall, Arania was shown to her room. Her room had all the usual furnishings that a girls room would have (a bed, a wardrobe, a vanity, a rug, and a chest) but unlike regular furnicher, each peice had a very unique design to it.
The head board and railing along the bed had an intricate design of flowers carved into it. Daphodils, lilies, daises, golden rods, lilacs, marigolds, tulips, any flower you could possibly imagine was there. Infact, it looked so real, that if you stared long enough at it, you'd sware you could see the wind blowing through them.
The wardrobe displayed a faries ball (which if you've never been to one, it is highly recomended). Each fairy was beautifly dressed in gowns of silk, and each had such unique faces and figures, you half expected them to walts right of the wood.
The vanity had the same look about it as the front door. Roses climbed all over it and at the very top of the mirror was an eagle with the same fierce looking eyes as the one before.
The rug, which Arania would learn later, told a dazzling story of a young Princess who is taken away from her love, and try as she might cannot find him agian. Just when she is about to give up hope, however, he finds her and (like all princesses, whether you are Persian or not) lived happily ever after.
But the chest, out of all of the others, captured Arania's attention the most. On the front lid there was an amazingly large dragon. But instead of frightning her, like she had expected, it almost soothed her. The dragon was crimson black, with eyes that looked like two shimering crystals. Her wings rested beside her, and she looked on at the the outside world with a calm expresion across her face. The eyes, however, are what drue Arania in. She couldn't seem to look away. They were the most beautiful things she had ever seen in her life, and she wanted to look at nothing else for as long as she lived...

[Monday]

"It's amazing isn't it?" said Miss Withers. Arania jumped and lost eye contact with the dragon. She had forgotten that Miss Withers was even there. Infact she had fogotten where she was and what she was doing; all she could think about were the dragon's eyes. "There's real dragon magic in that chest you know. Dragons are crafty little beasts, and are known for there hypmatizing eyes. That's how they draw you in right before the kill."
Arania looked up at Miss Withers with worried eyes. She now could remember her fear for dragons.
It was apparent that miss withers could tell that she was from just one glance. "Oh don't worry, love. They're havn't been any dragons in these parts for many many years. and I'm quite sure that wee little chest will harm you either." she said smiling down at her.