The Princess paused, thinking.  Hmm…

There were few places Father could be hiding.  He wasn’t in the tree.  Maybe around the thistle bush.

No!  Ha!  Her eyes caught a subtle movement across the meadow.  Behind that rock!!  Giggling, the princess raced through the tall grass.  

Her streaming hair was tied in a ribbon of the deepest Tyrian purple the King could find.  Her long legs found sure footing.  She was across the field in no time.  Nearing the rock she slowed, fell to her knees and quietly crawled around it.  She meant to sneak up on Father.

But he wasn’t there! 

He had seen the Princess coming and circled around behind her.  She shrieked with delight to see the ground fall away as the King lifted her to his shoulders.  

The two started the long walk back to camp.  They had left lunch in the hands of a few trusted companions.  Adventurers at heart, they had been playing since breakfast.  Unexpectedly, he heard the gentle nicker of his horse behind him.  Patting the magnificent steed’s jet-black shoulder, he said gently, “Always there when I need you. Aren’t you, Thor?”  Yes, Your Majesty, Thor thought to himself, and I always will be.

    Perched atop Thor in front of her father, the princess smiled to herself.  Father had been gone for months.  She’d missed him terribly.  Safely nestled back into his arms, she thought, he feels as big as a mountain.  

Approaching the top of the hill they saw Frank the Kings best hunting dog stand up, stretching his legs, to greet the group.  The pointer had short, reddish-brown hair and long, gangly legs.  His legendary sense of smell assured him a position in the King’s hunting parties, but the King had been gone so long; there hadn’t been a hunt in months.  This summer Frank had become the princess’ constant companion.  Today, he stayed behind to guard the supplies for lunch.

    The King dismounted, then lifted the princess and set her down at his feet.  Wiping the sweat from his brow, the King poured water into bowls for Thor and Frank, then handed the jar to his daughter.  It wasn’t yet noon, but the sun shone hot already.  The girl hadn’t realized how thirsty she was.  She drank greedily.  The King laughed to see water slopping down the front of her pretty, pink dress.  She finished almost half the jar before she’d had enough.

Hungry, they turned to see a glorious picnic.  A meal that befitted the pair was laid before them.  Grapes, olives and pears filled bowls arranged on a gigantic blanket spread in the center of the hilltop.  A basket held cheeses from far away lands, sausages made by villagers, and bread baked in the King’s own ovens.

    Even more spectacular than the meal, though, was the view.  From here, they could see the castle to one side and one of the King’s villages to the other.  The King looked out over this vast expanse and thought to himself, Everything I see is mine.  But no sight in all the kingdom pleased him more than the look in his daughter’s bright, young eyes.  

    Reaching the picnic blanket, they both lost all decorum.  They were so hungry from playing games neither said a word for five full minutes.  They were too busy stuffing themselves.  The king gobbled a sausage bite, grabbing bread and cheese before he’d even finished chewing.  The princess showed no better manners than the King, stuffing bite after bite of the delicious food into her mouth.           

Finally sated, the princess leaned back, nibbling a grape, and said, “Tell me again about Mother.”

The King concealed his sadness at the memories and replied, “She was the most beautiful woman in the land, kind and generous.  And she loved you very much.”  With that he turned back to the basket and pulled out a small box, wrapped in gold foil and tied with an ornate bow.  His daughter squealed with joy at the present, clapping her hands.  “Before you were born, your mother and I would dream what you’d be like.  She had hoped you would be a girl.  She wanted someone to share treasures like this with.  Her mother had given this to her and she looked forward to the day she’d give it to you.”

    The princess tore the bow and paper away.  She opened the box to reveal a comb made of the finest silver she had ever seen.  It was adorned with a single rose, framed in filigree.  “Wear this, Child, and remember your mother loved you very much,” the King said as he removed the purple ribbon and secured her hair with the comb.

    The princess stood up to show her father.  Prancing and twirling, she asked, “Do I look anything like her, Father?”

    “Almost identical,” the King answered quietly as the princess ran to climb the only tree on the hill.  

A few minutes later, the princess was about halfway up the tree when Father reached the base and said it was time to go.  

“I got you this,” the princess said as she reached into her pocket and pulled an apple from her skirt.  

Grinning broadly, the King took a bite.  It was a little too green… and much too sour, but the King said honestly, “It’s the best I’ve ever tasted.”

As the princess jumped from the bottom limbs of the apple tree into her father’s arms a few feet below…