Princess on the Glass Hill
E. D. Telford
Smashwords Edition
Copyright 2010 E. D. Telford
Discover other titles in The Princess Collection by E. D. Telford at Smashwords.com:
Ella and the Prince
The Fickle Princess Isabel
Trudl and Trudeliese
Rumpelstiltskin and the Miller's Daughter
The Doll Princess
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* * * * *
Once upon a time in a kingdom far away, there lived a proud and noble king named Damian, and his beautiful queen, Gabriella. The lovely queen gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. Because the princess's hair glistened like shining gold, the king and queen named her Aurelia, which means golden. As the child grew, she proved worthy of her name for she truly was as good as gold.
The court adored Aurelia, as did her aunts, uncles and cousins. They sent her presents almost daily -- dresses of every make and design with lace, pearls and satin sashes, and toys galore such as, rocking horses, wagons with great wheels, dolls from all over the world, a puppet stage, balls, hanging crystals which made the loveliest rainbows, and every other little trinket a child might find delightful.
In Aurelia's room hung pink satin curtains in her windows and around her canopy bed. A thick, white bear rug from the North countries lay on the floor of her room. Her massive feather bed filled a large portion of the room and would have provided comfortable sleeping room for Aurelia and all of her cousins should they ever come for a sleepover. Of course they didn't because the king and queen would never allow it. But sometimes she sneaked her little puppy, Rufus, into bed with her. Although her parents never would have approved, her nursemaid, Glanna, did. She adored the little girl and treated her as though she were her very own child.
Now one might imagine that such a rich little girl would be very spoiled and have a mean, selfish temperament, but Aurelia did not. Her heart was of pure gold and she had love in her heart for everyone. She was the darling of the court.
When dear Aurelia was as young as age seven, kings from other lands approached her father about betrothing her to their sons, some who were already twenty and others who had just been born. Aurelia’s father was not interested. Each night as Aurelia bid her father goodnight, he reminded her that there was someone very special for her to marry, and when she was older, that young man would come and prove his worthiness of her.
During her tenth year Aurelia’s father commanded his artisans to begin construction on a curious structure to the east of the castle, in a clearing not far from a wooded area. The structure was made of molten glass and each year the structure grew bigger and bigger.
Aurelia was curious as to what was being made and her father told it was a hill, made of glass. Of course she wondered whatever in the world her father would do with a glass hill, but he would not give her his reasons or logic behind it. All he would say was, “In due time, you shall know.”
And so the years went by and Aurelia grew more and more beautiful, and more and more kind and generous. Many men sought her hand in marriage, from princes to knights, and from barons to earls. Even the commoners dared to come to the castle in pursuit of her hand. Always her father said no, and he continued making the glass hill bigger and higher and shinier and slicker.
* * * * *
In Aurelia’s kingdom, on the border by the north lived a family with three boys. The two older boys, Peter and Luke, were strong and handsome. They boasted of their strength and bravery and that one day, they would go to the king and request the hand of Princess Aurelia in marriage. They bantered together playfully to see which of them was the strongest and bravest to determine who would win the hand of the princess. Nicholas, the youngest son, who was just the age of Aurelia, had no interest in the princess, but a great interest in horses. He spent long hours brushing and grooming their fine steeds. He learned to ride very well, both in a saddle and bareback. Peter and Luke teased him that he would either end up marrying a horse, or a woman who looked like one.
Each year in the fall, the night before harvest, the father sent the two oldest boys to watch over the crops. Strange things had happened in the past, and the boys did not like to go spend the night out in their fields. It so happened that every four years, a monster came down from the northland with horrible shrieking sounds and great power; it trampled the fields and left everything wasted. So terrifying was the experience that the boys fled in terror to save their lives. The year that Nicholas turned ten was one of the fourth years. Peter and Luke refused to go to watch the fields.
“I’ll go,” Nicholas offered.
“And what is a baby supposed to do out there when the monster comes?” Peter asked scornfully.
“If we cannot bear to stay, why would you be able to?” Luke taunted.
“I just want to try,” Nicholas replied.
Because their father was a stern man, he demanded that the two older boys go to the fields to protect them from the monster. They were more afraid of their father’s wrath than the monster, and so they bundled up their sleeping rolls and left for the fields.
Later that night, Nicholas listened for sounds of his father snoring. Satisfied that he lay in deep slumber, Nicholas climbed out of his window with his bedroll on his back and ran swiftly to the place where his brothers sat watching over the fields. Hiding behind a large tree, Nicholas rolled out his bedroll. From his position, he watched his brothers, but they could not see him. Nicholas kept a silent vigil for if his brothers spied him, they’d swiftly kick him in the backside and send him wailing home.
Nicholas wanted to see the monster with his own eyes. The descriptions offered by Peter and Luke both amazed and surprised him. Peter told him that fire blazed from the monster’s flared nostrils. Luke added that horrible claws on his hands and feet made it easy for the monster to destroy the fields of crops. When Nicholas pressed for more details, Peter and Luke brushed his questions aside, saying, “If we'd stayed around long enough to see more, we'd be burned to a crisp or shredded to pieces!”
The older boys in town offered wildly different stories about the monster. One said the monster belched fire from his mouth; another said he had wings as wide as the sky. Still another said that he leaped like a giant, and another that he crawled on the ground like a monstrous lizard. Nicholas desperately wanted to see the beast for himself.
He used to wonder why his brave father did not go to the fields every fourth year to stand guard instead of sending his older brothers. But his question was answered when he overheard his father talking to a neighbor about the trampled fields, for everyone’s crops were destroyed, not just theirs.
The neighbor asked his father if he had ever dared stay the night in the fields when he was a boy. His father shook his head and admitted that once the ground began to shake and the shrieking began, he beat a quick trail home, along with his brothers and every other boy in their village. The only way the village survived was by storing up crops against the fourth year. They were grateful that the monster left them alone three years out of the four.
Lying alone in the dark, Nicholas waited for midnight – which was the time the beast allegedly broke forth from his devilish pit. His eyes grew heavy and he started to nod off when he felt the earth tremble and shake beneath him. Suddenly, a horrible shriek rent the air and the earth quaked so fiercely that Nicholas could not stand. Peter and Luke cried out in fear, but their voices sounded like mewing kittens in comparison to the shrieking, thundering sounds from the monster. Scrambling to their feet, Peter and Luke streaked past him like two bolts of lightning.
Grabbing onto the tree trunk for balance, Nicholas managed to stand. Fired by a desire within, he held onto the tree and refused to move from it, even though terror made his heart stand still. Peering out past the tree, he saw a huge monster beating on the fields of grain.
“Stop that!” Nicholas yelled angrily at the beast. “You have no right to destroy our crops!” Anger coursed through his veins and gave him strength and courage he never knew he possessed. He jumped from behind the tree and ran towards the monster, waving his arms wildly. The monster stood up on his hind legs and beat at the air. Although it was a moonless night, Nicholas saw the shape and form of the great beast. He fell back in surprise as his eyes beheld an enormous black stallion, beautiful, yet terrible in its majesty. His long jet black mane flowed in the wind and the powerful muscles rippled in his legs. On its back lay a saddle of polished black leather, and in its mouth, a bridle of copper.
“Whoa, what a beauty!” Nicholas shouted excitedly. Quickly scrambling to his feet, he struggled to get his fear and emotions under control. He knew that if he could not control his fear, he could never tame the beast. Using his best horsemanship skills, he forced himself to speak in a steady, even voice. He, Nicholas, would be the master, and this great stallion, his slave.
After numerous attempts to calm the stallion, the great beast finally stood still in the field. Calmly, Nicholas walked towards the stallion, speaking with a firm, yet kindly voice. At last he grasped the reins of the wild stallion and led him calmly away from the fields of grain. He noticed that most of the grain stood unharmed in the vast fields – not only their fields, but those of the neighbors as well.
Calmly speaking to the horse and patting its neck, Nicholas at last felt safe to mount the great steed. Working his boot into the stirrup, he pulled himself into the saddle, which was no small feat for a ten-year-old to do.
“I’d love to take you home,” Nicholas said softly as they trotted along, “but if I do, Peter and Luke will take you away from me. I found you. You belong to me.” He rode on the horse to a valley, hidden by huge cliffs and rocks. He often came there to ride his own horses when he was able to get away from his chores. Once in the valley, he dismounted and looked into the lumpy bag tied onto the horse’s saddle. Opening it up he discovered a coat of arms, made of shiny copper. He held it up to his small body and laughed out loud. “I think I’ll save this for later,” he said. He returned the armor to the bag and then carried the treasure deep into a cave which was hidden in the cliffs. He also hid the saddle and bridle with the armor.
Nicholas came out of the cave and walked confidently over to his new friend. Gently, he patted his neck and said, “I’d love to ride you, but I’ve already hidden the saddle in the cave.”
The great horse bent down on his knees and hind legs then whinnied softly for Nicholas to get on.
“How can you understand me?” he asked.
The stallion gazed into his eyes with such an intelligent look, that Nicholas started with surprise.
“You want me to ride you bareback?” Nicholas asked.
The great stallion nodded his great head, so Nicholas climbed on his massive back.
The stallion then leaped up on all fours and raced through the valley while Nicholas held tightly onto his mane, laughing heartily.
“What shall I call you?” Nicholas asked his new friend. “Midnight seems like a good choice, but perhaps you have a different name.” He bent his ear down by the stallion’s great face and listened intently.
“Thunder?” Nicholas asked the horse. “Is that your name?”
The horse nodded vigorously, almost sending poor Nicholas flying through the air. But the boy had a firm grasp on the horse’s mane and so he managed to hold on.
“Then Thunder it is,” Nicholas answered authoritatively. “I must be home before dawn, but that is a few hours away. Let’s ride like the wind, my friend!” he shouted.
Away the two flew, out of the valley and through the rocky entrance. They rode furiously past the fields, keeping to the dirt roads and away from the grain. Nicholas was having so much fun, he didn’t even notice the first rosy fingers of dawn approaching.
As he stood looking down over the village from the top of a mountain, he marveled at the different hues the rising sun made. Suddenly, he realized he'd been out all night.
“Thunder, it’s morning!” Nicholas cried. “I have to get back home before my father and brothers awaken and find I'm not there.”
Thunder nodded his great head and all but flew down the mountainside. It was if he knew where to go because in minutes they arrived at the side of Nicholas' house by his bedroom window.
“I don’t want to lose you, Thunder,” Nicholas whispered, “but I can’t keep you here.”
Thunder nodded his great head again, and then whinnied softly towards the fields and the valley.
Nicholas smiled. “You are such a smart horse! Yes! Go to the valley, my friend. I’ll meet you there tonight – and I’ll bring you some carrots.”
Thunder held still as Nicholas climbed off his back and into his window. Peter and Luke lay snoring in their beds at the far side of the room.
“I’ll see you soon,” Nicholas whispered as he rubbed the great face of the stallion through the window. He watched as Thunder galloped out of his yard towards the fields and the hidden valley, and then he leaped into bed and under the covers just as his father knocked on his door.
“Get up, boys!” his father called. “We’ve got to go out to the fields and salvage what grain we can.”
Nicholas stuffed the pillow over his mouth to keep from laughing out loud. Wouldn’t his father and brothers be surprised to find that very little grain had been destroyed?
“What happened?” Peter and Luke cried out when they reached the fields. “We have grain! Our fields have been spared!”
Their neighbors ran over to them. “Our fields, too, have been spared! The monster came as before; we heard it before we ran in terror. Why didn’t it destroy our crops as in years before?”
It was a great mystery to all the town folk. Only Nicholas understood the reason why. After the supper that night, and after his father and brothers had gone to sleep, Nicholas crept out of the house and ran to the valley where Thunder waited patiently for him. Again, the great steed knelt before him to allow him to climb upon its broad back. Off they flew through the meadows and countryside, enjoying one another’s company and laughing in the wind.
As Nicholas lead the horse back towards the valley, Thunder neighed and turned another way.
“We must get you back to the valley, Thunder,” Nicholas said. “I need to get sleep before my chores in the morning.”
The wondrous horse would not turn towards the valley, but galloped towards the castle instead. As they neared the castle, Nicholas cried out in surprise, “What is that, Thunder? It looks like a glass hill!”
Thunder trotted towards it and bent to the ground; Nicholas slid off his back and walked over to the hill. He felt it with his hands. “It is glass, Thunder. See how smooth and shiny it is?” He leaned against it and slid to the ground. “And very slick, too! Why is the king making it, I wonder?”
Thunder neighed and bent to the ground again. Nicholas climbed at once upon his back. Thunder then rode upon the hill, which was the height of a man, and stood upon it.
“What a marvelous horse you are!” Nicholas remarked. “You can climb glass hills! What else can you do?”
Thunder neighed as if to say, Hold on and I’ll show you! He thundered off, faster than the wind and brought Nicholas back to his window sill.
Nicholas nuzzled his face against Thunder’s great head. “Be safe, dear friend, and stay in the valley when I’m not with you. I’ll come to you every night. I promise.”
Once Nicholas was safe inside his window, Thunder nodded and galloped away again, towards the hidden valley.
Every night Nicholas rode Thunder, and every night they went to the glass hill. Though the hill grew taller with each passing week, and although Nicholas urged Thunder to go to the top, Thunder only rode up to the height of a man.
“I know you can make it to the top,” Nicholas urged, “so why don’t you?”
Thunder shook his great head, as if to say, I know what is best, my young friend, and this is as far as I will go.
* * * * *
Aurelia blew out the fourteen candles on her birthday cake. Everyone in the court fussed over how beautiful she looked in her new pink satin gown with ribbons and lace. She also received a beautiful diamond tiara which she wore with her hair piled high on her head with ringlets to the side.
“You look very grown up today,” her father said proudly. “Soon we will be looking for a suitor for you.
“Oh, no, father!” Aurelia cried. “I am only fourteen! I don’t even want to think about marriage for at least four years.”
“That’s fine, my darling. I don’t want to have you marry too soon either, but it might be appropriate for you to find a suitable husband now – and marry later.”
Aurelia sighed. “I suppose you are right, Father, but do I have to think about it today? I just want to enjoy my birthday.”
Her father rose from his great chair and walked over to her. He held out his hand to her and said, “How would you like to go see the glass hill today, my dear? It is almost ready.”
“Almost ready for what?” she asked.
“For your suitors to be tested,” the king replied.
Aurelia looked at him curiously. “Whatever do you mean, Father?” she asked.
“What I mean,” her father patiently explained, “is whoever desires to marry you must be able to climb the glass hill to get you.”
“But that is impossible!” Aurelia objected.
“Difficult, yes; impossible, no,” her father replied. “I have told you for years that whoever marries you must be very special indeed. This is my way of weeding out the weak, and finding only the strongest and finest man for you, my dear.”
Aurelia sighed and said, “Well, this is one way of making sure I never marry and leave home, isn’t it, Father?”
“Not at all, my child. It is a test; that is all. There is a man out there who is worthy of the task and worthy of you. That is the only man I will allow my daughter to marry.” He paused, and then added, “Come, let’s go see the glass hill and your special throne.”
They walked out of the castle and over the fine courtyards. They walked further to the east of the castle and Aurelia stared at the glass hill with amazement. She had seen it at a distance, but standing at the base of it and looking up at its great height thoroughly astonished her.
“How could anyone climb that hill?” she asked incredulously.
“Very carefully and cleverly,” her father replied with deep satisfaction.
“May I ask how I am to get up the hill?” Aurelia asked.
“See that small throne, with the ropes and pulleys attached? You will sit upon it and our servants will pull you to the top. There you will wait on the small platform until your brave, clever and amazingly strong suitor comes to you.”
“That could take a very long time, father,” Aurelia said as she shook her head.
“Admittedly, that is true, my child. And that is why we will have you sit atop the glass hill starting tomorrow,” the king replied.
“Tomorrow?! Father, this is absurd!” Aurelia cried. “Whatever will I do all day long, sitting atop that great glass hill?”
“Whatever you choose. You can knit, crochet, paint, play with your beloved Rufus – it matters not.”
“What happens if Rufus slips out of my arms?”
“He can’t get hurt. He’ll merely slide to the bottom and we’ll fetch him and bring him back to you,” her father replied matter-of-factly.
“But I’ll be so bored!” she complained.
“Bored? Ha!” the king replied with a laugh. “How could you be anything but entertained as you watch all of those princes, barons and earls making bumbling fools of themselves? It shall be great fun watching them. How I envy you, child. I wish I could be out here watching them with you!”
“You could take my place, Father,” Aurelia offered.
The king laughed heartily. “Don't be silly, Aurelia. This is your test, not mine.”
“But, Father, it’s not kind. I don’t want to be the cause of humiliation for these poor men. Please, Father, simply choose a husband for me and I won’t complain if he’s fat, or old and bald – or even if he’s very young and still teething.”
The king smiled at her and said, “That’s what I love about you, Aurelia. You are so good, kind and loving. I want only the very best husband for you, but I don’t know who that is. All I know is that if a man is smart, clever, and brave enough to reach you at the top of this glass hill, he will be good enough for you.”
“Father, must I really sit upon this hill tomorrow? I’m only fourteen,” Aurelia pleaded.
Her father laughed. “No, Aurelia, I was only teasing. On your eighteenth birthday I will hold a great contest. The horse and rider who can make it to the top of the glass hill will be your husband. Until then, you will remain in my court just as you are – beautiful and lovely to gaze upon.” He paused, and then added, “Come, let’s walk around the glass hill before we go back to the castle.”
As they walked, Aurelia looked curiously at the back of the hill, the part which faced away from the castle. “Father, look at these curious marks in the glass. It is as though someone or something has been climbing upon it.”
Her father adjusted the spectacles on his face and examined the marks. “Humph,” he replied. “Some of the workman must have carelessly thrown something against the back side of the hill and thought that I would not notice it. Don’t worry, my dear, it will be repaired on the morrow.”
With that, the king and Aurelia walked back to the castle. However, Aurelia could not help but glance back at the glass hill and wonder if someone or something had actually climbed upon it.
That night, as Aurelia sat in her bedroom brushing her long, silken hair, she mused about the glass hill. “Is it possible for someone or something to actually climb it?” she wondered aloud. “What manner of man or beast could have done it?”
Quite suddenly, Aurelia wanted to examine the marks on the glass hill more than anything else in the world.
She knelt down by Rufus who lounged lazily on the bear rug and whispered, “Tonight after Mother and Father go to sleep, I'm going to take a good look at those marks on the glass hill. Who knows? Maybe my Prince Charming is already practicing to come for me!”
She scratched Rufus behind the ears and walked to her dressing room. She dressed in her nightgown and robe, and then braided her long hair in preparation for bed. Soon afterwards, her mother and father came in to tell her goodnight. Aurelia stood up to hug them, but her father resisted. “You are too old to hug, Aurelia. A handshake will do from now on.”
“When is a daughter too old to hug?” she implored, looking deeply into their eyes.
“When she is old enough to think of choosing her future husband,” her father stiffly replied.
“Mother, am I too old for you to hug?” Aurelia asked.
Queen Gabriella looked at her daughter and then at her husband, the king.
“Your father knows what is best for you, Aurelia,” she replied and quickly turned away.
“Well, good night, to both of you,” Aurelia answered. She smiled weakly at her father, but he turned abruptly from her and left the room.
As the king and queen walked out, Glanna, her nursemaid, now known as her lady-in-waiting, bustled in.
“Glanna,” Aurelia asked pitifully, “am I really to old to hug?”
“Gracious me, no!” Glanna cried and reached out and hugged the poor child. “Princess, are you trembling?” she asked.
“No,” Aurelia mumbled, and then admitted, “Well, maybe a little. Father and Mother told me that I am too old to hug – and that I must only shake hands with them from now on.”
“Tsk, tsk, tsk,” Glanna clucked. “I've never heard such nonsense in my whole life! If a child isn't hugged enough, Princess, why she might blow away, she might! She has to have plenty of hugs in order to keep her feet on the ground, yet her heart in the clouds.”
“Glanna, I wish you were my mother,” Aurelia said softly.
Glanna looked at her and smiled, but Aurelia saw tears in her eyes.
“Why are you crying, Glanna?” she asked.
“Maybe because I've wished the same thing over and over since you were born, little princess – but that must be our secret. Promise you will never speak to this of anyone – especially not the king and queen – or it could be my head!”
“I promise,” Aurelia quickly replied.
“That's a good girl now,” Glanna remarked as she tucked the princess into bed and lifted the downy quilts up to her chin. She gazed lovingly into her sweet face and kissed her on the forehead. “One last hug, now princess and then you must go to sleep.”
Aurelia hugged her tightly and Glanna hugged her even tighter back.
“I'm glad I'm not too old for your hugs, Glanna. I really don't want to blow away.”
Glanna smiled at her and stood up. Turning down the oil lamp, she blew her a kiss.
“Good night, my dearest,” she said and she walked out and closed the door softly behind her.
As Aurelia lay in the dark room upon her feathery bed, she absently fingered the delicate golden necklace she always wore. She especially loved the rare black pearl fastened to it. It made her think of faraway countries with brave, daring men who dove beneath crashing waves in search of treasures deep in the ocean's mysterious waters. Maybe one of those men – with dark skin and thick black hair – dared to climb her glistening glass hill. Aurelia tingled with excitement just thinking about it.
Her heart raced for she'd never had such thoughts before. Always she had been protected and fawned over by Glanna and the servants of the court. Never had she walked outside the castle alone without servants or her father with her. But tonight she decided to walk alone outside the castle, half-fearing and half-hoping that the man who had climbed her glass hill would be there.
“Oh, everybody, hurry, hurry and go to sleep!” she whispered beneath the covers. She closed her eyes while she waited for her parents and the servants to go to their quarters and then to sleep. Several hours later she awakened. Walking to the door of her room, she opened it and listened. Everyone in the silent castle seemed to be asleep.
Aurelia closed the door to her room and quickly dressed. Silently, she opened the door and walked stealthily out into the hall. Taking a candle from its holder in the hallway, she walked down the broad staircase, through the dining room, through the scullery and out the door the servants used.
She shivered, more from excitement than from the cool night breeze. Holding her hand close by the flame to keep the candle lit, she walked quietly into the dark courtyards. As she walked out towards the glass hill, she heard a distant rumble almost like thunder. Glancing up, she saw the nearly full moon in the clear night sky.
“Where could the thunder be coming from?” she mused. “There's not a cloud in the sky.”
The rumbling grew louder and Aurelia shivered. “I should have brought Rufus with me!” she whimpered. She stood halfway between the glass hill and the castle. “Where can I hide?” she cried. The thunder grew louder and the ground shook. Aurelia blew out the candle and fell to the ground. She covered her head with her hands in an effort to hide.
The thundering sounds drew closer and she peeked through her laced fingers. She trembled when she saw a huge black stallion with a rider upon it race towards the glass hill. She watched, amazed and speechless, as the horse and rider climbed the glass hill as easily as if it had been made of grass and dirt. They stopped a third the way up the hill and then turned suddenly and rode down again.
Excitement overcame her fear and Aurelia leaped to her feet.
“Wait!” she cried as she ran towards them. “Who are you?”
The horse looked up at his master, and the rider called, “Whoa!” They stopped and turned to face the princess.
Aurelia stared at them, surprised to discover that the rider was a boy, not much older than herself.
“Who are you?” she asked again.
The boy looked down at her from his magnificent steed and replied, “One who means you no harm.” He paused and then asked, “And who are you?”
Aurelia started with surprise. “You don't know me?” she asked.
The rider shook his head. “No, but whoever you are, you should be home in your bed and not outside wandering around. Are you lost? Do you need help finding your way home?”
Aurelia laughed. “You honestly don't know who I am?”
The young again shook his head. “No, but if you tell me who you are, and I tell you who I am, then the mystery between us will be solved.”
Aurelia laughed again. “I cannot believe that you don't know who I am.” She stopped short and then asked, “Are you a mysterious diver from a land far beyond the sea? Do you swim for black pearls and sunken treasure?”
The rider smiled, amused. “No. I prefer riding my horse over swimming through waves,” he replied.
“Then do you come from the cold and barren north lands, where fierce Vikings battle amongst themselves to see who shall win my heart and my hand?”
The boy shook his head again. “No. I've never heard of Vikings, m'lady, but I don't doubt that they, and many others, fight bravely to win your heart. You are rather pretty.”
Aurelia laughed again. “Thank you, lad,” she replied. “I take that as a sincere compliment, especially since you don't know who I am.”
The boy smiled. “Are you going to tell me your name?”
Aurelia paused in thought. “No. Not unless you tell me your name first.”
The rider jumped off his steed, and Aurelia stepped back.
“Stay where you are!” she demanded.
“I'm sorry,” he quickly replied. “I didn't mean to frighten you. I just wanted to get down on your level, so we could talk, eye to eye.”
“Then you mean me no harm?” she asked.
“Of course not!” he said. “I told you that at the start. I only came here to climb the glass hill again. I didn't expect to see anyone here – not at this time of night.”
Aurelia gasped in amazement. “Then you ride upon my glass hill often? Are you the one who left chinks on it?”
“Your glass hill?” the boy asked. “Are you Princess Aurelia?”
She smiled, and said, “You didn't recognize me?”
The boy shook his head. “I am a peasant boy. I've never been to any events at the castle. I only came here because my horse likes to ride on the glass hill.”
“Who are you?” Aurelia asked again.
The boy bowed, remembering his manners at last. “I am called Nicholas. I am a farm boy.”
“A remarkable farm boy,” Aurelia replied with respect in her voice. “My father said that only the cleverest, bravest, and smartest man in the whole world could climb the glass hill – and you have done it! Oh, do it again, Nicholas, and take me up with you!”
Nicholas felt his heart racing. He had never been close to a girl before, and the thought of holding her with him on his horse made his heart leap into his throat.
“I - I don't know if I can,” he stammered. His horse whinnied and stamped on the ground with his great hoof.
“I think your horse wants you to take me,” Aurelia said coyly.
Thunder nodded his great head.
“Thunder, stop it!” Nicholas whispered to the horse. “She's a princess and I'm a farm boy! I shouldn't even be here talking to her!”
Aurelia smiled and walked closer to him. “Help me onto your horse, Nicholas,” she commanded him.
Nicholas shook his head. “Your wish is my command, Princess,” he mumbled, as he knelt down and allowed her to use his bent leg as a step stool. He then pulled himself up behind her.
“Don't fall off,” Nicholas advised her.
“Then you'd better hold onto me tightly,” she said with a smile and pulled his arms round her waist.
Nicholas gulped. “If only Peter and Luke could see me now,” he whispered.
“Who?” Aurelia asked.
“My older brothers.”
“Are they as handsome as you?” she asked.
“Not even close,” Nicholas replied, and then he blushed.
Aurelia laughed delightedly. “I like your honesty,” she replied.
Nicholas shook his head, embarrassed. “Gee-up!” he called to Thunder. The great horse galloped around the courtyard and then he bounded up the great glass hill. He stopped a third the way up and then turned and rode down again.
“Make him go to the top!” Aurelia cried.
Nicholas shook his head. “He won't do it,” he answered. “I know he can. He just won't.”
“How curious,” Aurelia remarked, and then she said, “Tell him to ride up the hill again – as far as he will.”
“You heard the lady, Thunder,” Nicholas called out.
The horse nodded his great head, galloped around the courtyard and then a third the way up the glass hill again.
“What glorious fun!” Aurelia cried.
“Would you like to ride around, Princess, for just a little while?” Nicholas asked.
“Yes, I'd love to, Nicholas, but please call me Aurelia.”
Nicholas nodded. “Yes, your majesty – yes, Aurelia.”
“That's better,” she said, and pulled his arms tighter around her waist.
Nicholas grinned. “Come on, Thunder,” he said. “Let's take the lady for a ride!”
Thunder whinnied, and took off like a bolt of lightning. Aurelia laughed with delight and excitement.
“Where would you like to go?” Nicholas asked.
“Anywhere and everywhere!” she answered back. She turned and asked, “Do you mind if I undo my braids, Nicholas? I want to feel the wind in my hair. Will it bother you?”
Nicholas grinned. “Whatever makes you happy,” he replied.
Aurelia ran her slender fingers through her long golden braids and loosened them. Her golden locks cascaded behind her and Nicholas felt dizzy with the smell of her sweet-scented hair close by his face.
“I didn't know princesses smelled so good,” he whispered in her ear.
Aurelia laughed and leaned back into his chest.
They rode over the valleys and high into the hills. When the sky began to turn from black to a hazy pink, Nicholas started to realize that dawn neared.
“I must get you back to your castle,” he said.
“Must we go back so soon?” Aurelia asked.
“My dear, we've been out half the night,” Nicholas remarked, and then blushed to realize that he'd called her by such a tender name.
“Am I your dear?” she asked as she turned to look into his eyes.
Nicholas nodded. “You are.”
She smiled. “Good. I'm glad to hear you say that.”
“Why?” he asked.
“Because you are the one who will be my husband,” she replied.
Nicholas gasped. “Aurelia, I am only fourteen years old!” he cried. “I'm not old enough to be anyone's husband – especially not yours! I am only a farm boy!”
“Yes, a farm boy who rides a magnificent black stallion which easily climbs a glass hill.” She paused and then added, “Nicholas, you are fourteen now, but soon you will be fifteen, then sixteen, and, of course, seventeen and eighteen follows next. Will you be ready to marry me at age eighteen?” Her clear, blue eyes searched his.
Nicholas laughed nervously. “I’ve never even thought about marriage, Aurelia.” He paused and then said, “Princess, you can have any prince or king in the world as your husband. Why would you choose me?”
“Because you are good and honest; I can tell that,” she replied. “And because you are brave and clever. It can’t have been an easy feat to have trained and mastered such a marvelous horse like Thunder.”
“No, m’lady, it wasn’t,” Nicholas replied.
“And, I think that you would be good to me. That is important,” she said quietly.
Quite on impulse, Nicholas moved closer and kissed her. “Princess Aurelia, if you will have me as your husband, I will prove to be as brave and good as you think I am.”
Aurelia blushed with excitement. She then reached for her necklace and lifted it over her head. Carefully, she placed it over Nicholas’ head.
“This is my token of love for you, Nicholas, and my pledge that I will be your wife. When you are eighteen, come for me with your marvelous horse and ride up the hill for me. My father will not give you audience as young as you are – and the fact that you are a farm boy, but he has set the terms as to who will marry me. Those terms are riding up the glass hill.” She paused and grasped his hand, “Promise me that you will come, Nicholas, for I want no one else but you!”
Nicholas’ heart beat faster than when he was in the fields the first time he saw Thunder. He pulled Aurelia close to him as they rode towards the castle. “I don't have anything to give you, Aurelia, as a token of my love,” he said sadly.
“Only give me your heart,” she whispered.
“It is yours,” he answered. He paused, and then said, “I will wear your necklace against my heart always to remind me of our pledge.”
“There may be other brave men and steeds which have the courage and strength to ride upon the glass hill,” Aurelia whispered, “but my heart belongs to you as of this moment. When you come back for me, my golden chain and black pearl will be proof of our love and pledge.”
Thunder stopped close to the castle. Nicholas jumped down and helped Aurelia off the horse. They smiled deeply into one another's eyes and then they kissed again.
He then bowed and said, “My dear Aurelia, may I prove to be worthy of you.”
“You already are,” she answered.
Nicholas grinned. “Thank you, my love,” he said. With that, he climbed again upon Thunder’s back and rode away. He turned and waved to her one more time before he and Thunder disappeared beyond the trees.
Aurelia waved eagerly back to Nicholas. When she could no longer see him, she quickly hurried in through the servant’s door. Quietly, she padded through the silent castle, up the broad staircase and into her room. Once her door was closed, she ran and jumped on her bed, smiling with happiness and pure delight. She lay back against her pillows and touched her fingers to her lips, remembering his sweet kiss. “Whee!” she cried, and then quickly covered her face with her pillow to muffle her happy cries. “Nicholas, you are everything I dreamed you would be!” she cried.
“M'lady? Are you all right?” Glanna asked as she hurried through her doors.
“Quite so!” Aurelia smiled back at her. “I just dreamed the most wonderful dream!”
“If you're alright then, I'll go back to sleep, m'lady,” Glanna answered.
“Yes, I am quite alright,” Aurelia assured her. She lay back against her pillows as Glanna silently closed her bedroom door.
“Nicholas, the next four years cannot come quickly enough,” she whispered.
Rufus looked up at her and whimpered.
“Don't worry, my pet,” Aurelia assured him. “You can come to live with Nicholas and me – wherever that is.”
Thunder galloped back to Nicholas’ home and up to his window. “Good night, old friend,” Nicholas whispered so as not to awaken his brothers. “Go quickly to the valley; I will see you tomorrow night.”
Thunder quietly trotted off, and Nicholas moved away from the window and closed it.
“What are you doing awake?” Peter asked as he leaned up on one elbow.
“Just getting some night air,” Nicholas replied with a wide yawn. “Good night, brother.”
Quickly, he hurried to his bed and rolled over to avoid any further questions. Under the safety of his covers, Nicholas fingered the small black pearl and delicate golden chain. I must be dreaming, he said to himself. Who am I to be worthy of a princess, especially a princess like Aurelia? He resolved at that moment to do everything in his power to prove himself worthy of the beautiful princess. He vowed that he would never slack in his duties at home, and that he would be honorable in all of his doings ever more. And, furthermore, he would train Thunder to climb to the top of the glass hill, and not stop midway as he had the habit of doing. He would be the one to reach Aurelia when the time was right. He closed his eyes, but sleep would not come. His every thought was filled with visions of Aurelia.
The next morning Nicholas hurried through his tasks, plotting and scheming as to how he could see Aurelia again that night. When his father and brothers busied themselves elsewhere, Nicholas fingered the small black pearl and golden chain. He sighed as only a young man in love can sigh.
That night Nicholas crawled through the window after Peter and Luke lay in their beds snoring. Running to the valley, he called eagerly for Thunder to come to him.
The great horse whinnied and stamped his massive hooves as Nicholas raced over to him.
“Let's go to the castle, Thunder!” Nicholas called as he climbed on the horse's back.
Thunder nodded his head, and his black mane waved in the wind. Onward they rode through the night to the castle. Nicholas hoped with all of his heart that Aurelia might venture out of the castle again and stand waiting for him by the glass hill.
As they rode towards the castle, Nicholas spied a small form in the shadows by the glass hill, illuminated by the almost full moon. Nearing the glass hill, he peered through the night to see if a prowler or a princess waited for him.
Joy of all joys, Aurelia stepped out, waiting for him.
“She's here!” Nicholas cried as he patted Thunder's great head. “My darling princess awaits us!”
They rode close to the glass hill and then Nicholas jumped off the black horse. Running to her, he then knelt down and took her delicate hand in his.
“You're here,” he whispered.
Aurelia nodded. “And so are you, my prince!”
Nicholas shook his head and grinned. “A prince, am I? Princess Aurelia, how I wish I were! Then there would be no question about me taking you for my bride!”
“But there will be no questions,” Aurelia interrupted. “You and your wonderful steed will ride up to me and claim me as your own!” She gently raised him with a touch of her hand and gazed into his eyes. “Dear Nicholas, you are the one I want. You have my heart.”
“And you mine,” Nicholas replied as he pulled her to him. “Do you want to ride again?” he asked.
“Oh, yes!” she cried.
Thunder knelt down and Nicholas helped her onto his back. He then pulled himself up behind her and gently formed his arms around her slender waist.
“Mm-m-m,” she whispered dreamily. “This is so romantic.”
Nicholas grinned. “Hold on, Princess! I don't know how romantic a blinding race through the countryside will be, but it will be exciting!”
Off they rode, laughing and holding onto each other as Thunder dashed away from the castle.
As they rode off, a figure moved out from the shadows of the scullery door. Glanna stood still, staring at the princess as she rode away with the young man with the flowing blond hair.
“My dear princess, what are you doing? Don't you realize I must tell your father about this?” and she retreated back through the doorway.
Nicholas and Aurelia rode away from the castle and up to the hills overlooking the vast valleys and fields below. The castle seemed like a small glimmering speck against the backdrop of the mountains behind it.
“Isn't it beautiful?” Aurelia asked.
“Yes, you are,” Nicholas answered, and Aurelia blushed.
“No, I mean the castle and the surrounding valleys. I've never seen the castle from so far away before? Will we be able to get back before sunrise?” she asked.
Nicholas nodded. “Thunder runs like the wind. We will make it in time.”
“I wish we could meet like this every night, Nicholas,” Aurelia whispered.
“I will come every night,” Nicholas promised, “although I don't know if we can stay out all night like this. I have my chores to do, and I don't want my brothers or father to get suspicious if they find me gone.”
Aurelia nodded. “But it would please me if you would come each night, to visit – and to kiss me good night – if it pleases you as well.”
Nicholas grinned. “Oh, yes, princess! It pleases me!” and he kissed her tenderly.
As the darkness gave way to light, they rode back to the castle by the glass hill. Nicholas jumped off Thunder’s back and gently lifted Aurelia to the ground.
“You are so strong, Nicholas,” Aurelia smiled.
“And I will grow stronger still,” Nicholas replied.
“I can't wait to tell father all about you – and about your marvelous horse which can climb glass hills!”
Nicholas quickly grasped her hand and shook his head. “No, Aurelia, you must not tell him about me. I am a peasant, not a prince. Even if my noble steed can climb your glass hill, your father will not want me as your husband, not until I can better prove myself.”
“But you do not need to prove yourself – not to me,” Aurelia objected.
Nicholas smiled. “I am only fourteen years old, my dear, and yet I know that I cannot tell my father nor brothers about you and you must not tell your father or mother about me. I beg of you, tell no one of our love nor of our visits – not even your personal maid.”
“Glanna?” Aurelia laughed. “She would never tell anyone – not if I asked her to be silent.”
“Just the same, I ask you not to mention me – or to tell my name to anyone. Please, Aurelia, for the sake of my head, do as I ask.”
The princess fell silent for a few moments and then she brightened. “Of course I will keep our love a secret, and your name as well, if that is what you wish. But I do hope that you will come and visit me every night – after everyone is asleep.”
Nicholas grinned. “Of course I will.”
He kissed her gently and then watched as she walked through the scullery door. He watched a moment longer and then he rode off. Nicholas did not see the king and Glanna step out from the shadows of the scullery. “Good morning, daughter,” the king said sternly, and then he shouted, “Guards! Capture that man and bring him to me!”
“No!” Aurelia cried.
Nicholas turned to see twenty of the king's guard on horseback thundering towards him.
“Gee-up!” he cried to Thunder as they raced away from the guards.
The king's guards were no match for Thunder and Nicholas as they easily escaped into the hills and mountains above the castle.
Once assured that they were no longer being followed them, Nicholas and Thunder rode into the hidden valley.
“I must make my way home on foot,” Nicholas explained to his great steed.
Thunder shook his head.
“They don't know who I am, but you are a massive sight to be seen, my friend. I can't risk losing you.”
Again Thunder shook his head.
“What is your plan then?” Nicholas asked.
Thunder whinnied and galloped through the valley towards a back pass which Nicholas had not known existed. Stealthily, they picked their way over the rocks and down through the back pass. They ended up fairly close to Nicholas' home and away from the spying eyes of the guards.
Thunder brought Nicholas next to his window and the lad climbed inside.
“Thank you, my friend,” he whispered as he patted his head and stroked his dark mane. “I will see you tomorrow night.”
In the morning Nicholas prepared breakfast for his father and brothers. As they started to eat, his father addressed Peter and Luke. He then told them that it was the time of the harvest moon – and they were expected to guard the fields that night.
Nicholas walked over to his father, “May I please go with Peter and Luke tonight?” he asked.
“No,” his father answered firmly.
“Why not? I’m fourteen – and strong. I can hold my own with the chores as well as Peter and Luke.”
“It’s just not safe,” his father argued back. “Four years ago the same terrible monster came and started to demolish our crops – and then something happened to frighten him away. Perhaps it was another monster even more ferocious than the other!”
“But if you’re willing to let Peter and Luke go to the fields, then why can’t I go with them?” Nicholas demanded.
“Because you’re too young and that’s final!” his father said sternly.
“But, father,” Nicholas argued.
“We won’t discuss this matter any further,” his father snapped and stood up from the table. He walked outside without finishing his breakfast. Peter and Luke hastily finished eating and walked into their bedroom. Nicholas cleared the dishes from the table and then washed them, fuming in silence. He walked closer to the bedroom when he heard his brothers talking.
“I don’t know why father won’t let Nicholas go to the fields,” Luke said to Peter. “He’s so cocky and thinks he knows so much. One look at that monster and that boy would be cut down a notch or two.”
Peter laughed. “It sure cuts us down a notch or two!” He then grew serious and said, “I really don’t want to go to the fields, Luke. I hate going out on this night. This makes the third time I’ve had to go!”
“It makes the second time for me,” Luke remarked. “I hate to go, too. It is so terrifying! Here I am, eighteen years old, and yet I'm scared to death of that monster.”
“You're not alone in that, brother,” Peter replied.
Nicholas walked over to his brothers, as he wiped a bowl. “I’ll go in your place,” he said quietly.
Luke’s eyes grew big and Peter cleared his throat uneasily. “Father would never allow it, Nicholas,” Peter whispered hoarsely, “as much as I would wish it could be so.”
“Father doesn’t have to know,” Nicholas whispered. “I have a plan.”
He walked over to the window to make sure their father worked away from the house, far out of hearing range.
“This is what I want you two to do,” he explained. “Tonight, go outside and act as though you’re going to the fields, but wait by the barn. When it’s dark and Father is asleep, I’ll creep out my window and go to the fields for you. You two can sleep in the barn or go in through the window and sleep in your own beds. All I know is that I want to go -- I want to do this.”
“Let him do it, Peter,” Luke whispered excitedly. “Father won’t need to know!”
“Yes, but what happens when baby-face gets scared to death out there? What’s he gonna do? Father will find out, mark my words.”
“He didn’t last time,” Nicholas replied.
“What did you say?” Peter asked as he grabbed him by the arm.
“I mean, last time I wanted to go – and I started to go, but the ground shook so fiercely that I hurried back to the house and climbed through the window and covered my face with the covers. Father didn’t know that I’d started to go with you.”
“Is that so?” Peter asked with a suspicious look.
“I like his plan, Peter,” Luke said eagerly. “Let Nicholas go and we’ll wait in the barn. Father won’t find out.”
“I don’t know, Luke,” Peter said as he scratched his head. “Nicholas is the baby of the family. Mama died when he was born and Father has been real protective of him ever since. If anything happened to him out there when we should have been watching the fields, well, I just don’t know. Father would never forgive us.”
Luke shook his head. “You’re right. I just thought it was a good idea,” he said as he put his hand on Nicholas’ shoulder. “I know we tease you about being little and all, but it’s just because we’re looking out for you, Nicholas. And maybe we’re a little jealous, too, because Father seems to like you best. He really wouldn’t get over it if anything happened to you.”
Nicholas felt tears forming in his eyes, so he quickly walked back into the kitchen. He’d had no idea that his older brothers even liked him, and he really didn’t know that his father was trying to protect him.
But what he did know was that he had to go to the fields that night to protect Thunder. Over the past four years they'd ridden together and Thunder had proven loyal and true, and had never given him a bit of trouble. But this was the harvest moon night – the fourth year night – and he was afraid that Thunder might leave the safety of the hidden valley. He feared that once the lightning pierced the sky in great fiery bolts and the thunder roared like wild demons set free, that Thunder might forget that he was tame and trample all of their crops again.
Nicholas finished the dishes and hurried outside to do his daily chores. His thoughts focused on Thunder and then on Aurelia. How he wanted to see her tonight, but, more importantly, he had to save Thunder from himself.
At dusk Nicholas prepared their evening meal and served his father and brothers as he did every night. After they'd finished eating and the dishes were completed, Nicholas cut two chunks of bread and some cheese and wrapped them in cloth napkins. Handing the food to his brothers, he said, “Good luck, tonight. I’m going to bed.”
Peter and Luke looked at Nicholas curiously. He’d never done anything extra for them, like preparing them food for the fearsome night ahead. He’d always acted like a spoiled child, but tonight he looked almost like a man.
“Thanks, Nicholas,” Peter said with a catch in this throat.
“Maybe in four years you can come with us,” Luke added and tousled his unruly blond hair.
Nicholas smiled, “Yeah, I’d like that,” and then he turned and went into the bedroom.
Nicholas pulled off his shirt as he prepared for bed. Just then Peter walked in. Quickly, Nicholas pulled his shirt back on, hoping Peter hadn’t caught a glimpse of Aurelia’s necklace.
“Did you forget something?” Nicholas asked nervously.
Peter breathed slowly in and out. At last he said, “Nicholas, do you really want to go tonight?”
Nicholas looked up at him as Luke walked to the bedroom and leaned against the door frame.
“More than anything, well, almost more than anything,” Nicholas replied as he smoothed his shirt and felt Aurelia’s necklace next to his heart.
“If you mean that, then maybe you could meet us in the barn tonight, after Father has gone to bed,” Peter said quietly.