Roxanne(1)

-PRINCESS!!!, shouted a maid.
-PRINCESS, PLEASE!!!, shouted a second maid.
-Oh god help me with this wild girl, whispered a third one.
All that ruckus for a teenage girl dressed in the finest clothes, riding a black horse ,in an inappropriate way for a girl, across a large green field under a bright sun.

The girl didn't seem to have heard the maids shouting at her.
Why did she have to?
She was young, almost sixteen.
She was beautiful, more beautiful than most of the girls her age.
Not the heavenly beauty that many other girls had, but a wild beauty.
Like a wild creature that challenges you to tame it.
She was pale even under the bright sunlight as if the sun himself was afraid to ruin her beauty.
Her long black hair fell on her shoulders and her face like a dark waterfall but even they could not hide her face, her pale red-almost pink-lips and her black eyes which burned with passion.
You could easily lose yourself inside those eyes. Many of her father's friends had admitted that it was impossible to continue talking if they stared in those eyes.
Yes that girl was beautiful and fortunate would be the man who would marry her.
And that was why the maids were shouting. To protect her from being embarrassed, which would ruin her marriage possibilities.
Her father was the king of Castille and he had great plans for his kingdom, many of which involved his daughter's marriage.
He would "sell" her only to the highest bidder.

-PRINCESS PLEASE STOP YOUR HORSE AND START ACTING LIKE A FUTURE QUEEN!!!
Finally the girl seemed to have noticed them and started riding towards them.
-Why Maria? Aren't queens supposed to ride?
-Not in this way princess. This is not an appropriate way for a woman to ride.
-What would a man think of you if he saw you ride like a warrior charging in the battlefield?
-I AM a warrior Maria! I will be one some day. I will fight for our kingdom, like my father did and I will make it grow, larger than my father could ever imagine.
-For Christ sake these are not words for a young woman, wars are fought by men!!!
-That is not true...there were great women throughout history.
-Yes there were but us women are sinners and it's a great sin to try to compare ourselves to a man or even consider ourselves better than them. Our Lord Christ said...
-NOT OUR LORD!!! Our PRIESTS said...yes they said such things only to ensure their position. Why does religion have no place for women? Even barbarian paganists had women as their priestesses...
-That's blasphemy!!!, whispered a fourth maid, shocked.
-Well burn me in a pyre then. Better I die as a free woman rather than a slave!
-Who called you a slave my little rebel?
-Your majesty!!! said the maids dropping to their knees.
-Father, I am sorry. I didn't see you coming.
-Yes i am sure you didn't, you were scheming your rebellion!!! Oh my sweet trouble, will you never forgive God for making you a woman?
-Oh father, I don't hate being a woman, I rather like it a lot but I will never forgive God for letting all those snakes rule HIS church.
-Those, my sweetheart you can hate as much as you want but never in public. Every kingdom needs their blessings and support. If you are to rule one day you'll need to follow that rule. A ruler keeps his opinions to himself and only speaks for the good of his people and his kingdom.
-Yes father, said the girl with a hint of shame on her face.
-Now enough with the riding. Get your horse to the stables, get a bath and get dressed. Tonight our table will be honored by the Prince of Aragonia and i want you to meet him.
-Another prospective husband?
-He is a king in the making, so please try to impress him.
-I will do my best father.
-Oh and Yvet?
-Yes father?
-If you are going to be a queen, start acting like one. I am getting old and I won't be around for long. I wouldn't want to leave you alone with enemies all around you.