The Town Herald

The netpaper about Elftowners, by Elftowners, for Elftowners.

Moon Foreheaded Girl

By[Sunny Silverunicorn]

This is actually a persian folklore story, which I'm rewriting, to furthur design the charcaters and turn it into a comic style. But before that it needs a lot of proof reading, and feed back from patient readers such as yourself. I'd be happy if you could leave a comment and tell me what you think.

---

  
   Once upon a time, in a far away country, right into the deepest depths of a vast forest, in a little stone house lived a young girl with her stepmother, and her stepsister. Her name was ‘Toranj’. Like in all fairy tales, where stepdaughters are treated like servants, the girl of our story was no exception. When the very first rays of sun came into the sky, she would wake up in the dusty attic, which was meant to be her room, and she would go into the kitchen to make the usual breakfast for her mother and sister. Then she had to wash the dishes, cleanup the house, tidy the rooms, make the beds, water the flowers and trees in the backyard, bring water from the well outside, or sit at the spinning wheel and whir around, turning cotton into strings. All this hard work was done by her, without any complaint.

  One day her step mother and sister were going to the town nearby, and since they believed Toranj to be nothing more but a servant, and the fact that they detested her for her simple obedience, and kindness, the mother told her:

   - We’re going, and in the meanwhile wash the stone floor of the backyard and feed the cattle, clean the stable, and finally I have left a basketful of cotton for you to turn into strings. Be careful not to make them dirty, or you’ll be punished and given more work. It’s already too bad that you have so much work left that you can’t come carry our stuff back home.

  Toranj listened without complaining, like always, but this time it was too much for her. If she ever had any fun in her life, it was in going to the town with them, and watching the palace and the city life, and enjoying the bustle, even though she had to carry tons of shopping on the way back. Now she was even denied of her only enjoyment in life, and it weighed on her heart a lot. It made her so sad and heart broken, that it brought back all the pressure of her lonely tiring days, and she broke down.

  When they left, she went to the back yard and cried for a long time. Her tears fell on the stones and washed them. She continued for such long time that the whole backyard was washed by her tears, yet still not a bit of the grief had left her shattered heart. She continued sobbing while she fed the cattle, cleaned the stable and went into the house to get the basket of cotton. The huge basket and the amount of cotton in it, made her feel even more miserable. Her hands had turned harsh through so much manual job she did, but still they were always picked by the spindle, and hurt a lot until they healed. So Toranj continued crying as she carried the basket out to the backyard to where the spinning wheel was placed. She placed the cottons on the ground next to her, and sat on the stool and started working the spinning wheel. She whirred round and her tears rolled on her cheeks, and time passed.
The day was coming to an end and the woods surrounding the house became dark. That was when a hard wind started to blow. It blew stronger and before Toranj could take the cottons inside of the house, a big piece of cotton was blown away into the deep forest. Afraid of her stepmothers warning, Toranj moved the rest of the cottons inside and went back to the yard and ran into the forest, in the direction that the wind had taken the cotton with it. She walked for a long time before she saw a light from between the trees. Continuing closer she found this old house, which would have seemed haunted and unlivable if there was not the dim light coming out of its dirty webbed windows. She looked around, still trying to find her lost cotton and saw it hanging from a tree branch, high in the air, near the roof window of the old house. It was impossible for her to reach it from there, but if she could get into the house, she could easily get it from that window high on the roof. So she went closer and knocked on the door politely.

  There was no sound at first but then she heard the noises of slow movement in the house and a second later the door was opened to reveal an aged ugly woman, whose clothes were gray in color, and very dirty. Her hair looked like it was a bird nest or the house of a hundred spiders, but she had a calm smile on her face which made Toranj feel relaxed. The old woman said:

   - What brings you here my dear?
   - Good evening, Sorry to have bothered you, but my piece of cotton was blown away by wind and it’s hanging from that tree branch which I can’t reach easily. I wanted to know if I can move to the window in your attic and get the cotton from up there, please.
   - It’d be alright my dear, but before doing so, could you help me a little.
   - Sure. What can I do for you?
   - Come in and I’ll tell you.
So they stepped inside, which was even dirtier than outside, but the many candles burning made the atmosphere feel warm. The old woman continued:
   - As you see I live alone here, and since I can’t work much because of my age, my house has reached an unlivable state. If you were so kind to clean it up a little for me, I would be very grateful, my child.

  Toranj, who was so kindhearted, accepted to clean the house and since she was used to hard work, the house was soon looking all clean and tidy. The windows now could actually be seen through and the fireplace had no ashes left in it, and a healthy fire burnt inside. She had even swept the ground outside, and gathered the fallen leaves in a corner. She stood in the middle of the room, taking one last look around, and when finally she was sure that everything was in place and cleansed, she turned to the old woman and said:

   - There, your house is clean and tidy. It won’t turn back into it’s previous stage very soon, and I would make sure to come from time to time to help you clean it up again, that’s if I can find my way back here again.
   - Yes, Yes, Thanks a lot my child, you have done a nice job, you’re so kind.
   - I did what I could, no need to thank me. Now, can I go get my piece of cotton?
   - Oh dear! I had totally forgot about that! You could, but before you do, I have one last request to ask you.
Toranj was anxious to get back but still she smiled and said:
   - Anything mother.
   - You see my dear, in this clean house I seem very out of place with this messed up clothes and hair. Could you make my hair, and wash my clothes?
   - Certainly.
So, once again, Toranj started to work, washing her clothes and helping her to get some nice clean clothes on, and then washing her cobwebbed hair, brushing it, and braiding it carefully. This time the old lady who being clean and all didn’t look ugly anymore smiled at her and said:

   - You can go get your piece of cotton now, but before you leave I want to tell you a secret in return of the help you gave me. This secret is only and only for you, and you must not talk of its details with anyone. When you leave this house, take the left road when you reach the fork on your way home, they both lead you to your home, but along the ay on the left road you’ll find three springs. The first spring has black water. Wash your hair with the lack water. The second spring has red water. Wash your lips and cheeks with it. And the last spring has silver water. Wash your body in it. And then you can go home.

  Toranj listened carefully, even though she couldn’t get how doing as the old woman told her could be a return of her favor, but she still kept them all in mind and after taking her piece of cotton, she thanked the old lady and left her house.

  On the road back, she reached a fork, just like the old woman had told her, and she took the left road. A while had passed by when she reached a clearing only a few meters off the road. All around the clearing was somehow fenced by huge stone blocks and tree trunks, and in the middle of the clearing three springs could be seen. The first had black, second red, and the third silver water, just like what she was told. She moved to the red watered spring and washed her lips and cheeks with it, and felt like all her blood had rushed to them. In the black watered one she washed her long hair and saw that her black hair had darker in color, but shinier than before, with slight waves which moved with the slightest touch of wind. Finally she washed her body in the silver water of the silver spring, which gave her skin a shadowy light. Then without further hesitation she grabbed the cotton again and went back home. As she was hurrying towards home, she heard horse’s hoofs closing on her from behind. She wondered who would be coming to these parts of the woods, where no one lived, and was very far from the main road. She felt a bit frightened and quickened her steps.

  She looked back to catch a glimpse of the stranger coming towards her she didn’t see the tree root curved out of the earth right in front of her and tripped over it, hurting her leg. Her visage wrinkled in pain and she sat on the ground holding her ankle, completely forgetting about the follower.

   - Do you need help?

  Toranj looked up to see a young handsome man holding the reins of his white horse in his hand and looking down at her with a helping hand held out for her. He had a rather sun touched skin, dark brown curly hair, a straight nose, and light brown eyes. When he saw her face he stared at her forehead for a second, and was dazzled by her beauty.

  Toranj looked at him a bit embarrassed by his stare. By his looks and dressing style he surely was of the royal family, she got sure of that, and decided that he meant her no harm, and she could trust him:

   - I think I’ve hurt my ankle badly, and I should have been home by now, my stepmother will punish me for being so late.

  The young man, who seemed to have gotten a bit over his amazement and her beauty said:
   
   - I could take you to your house, if you like, because you must not walk and someone should take a look at your ankle.
   - I wouldn’t want to bother you.
   - It’s no bother, be sure of that, now let me help you on the horse.

  And he picked her up in his arms and put her on the back of the white horse.

  On the way back to her house, they talked very little, but tended to look at each other a lot for each was touched by the surprising beauty of the other, and both were experiencing the rare love at first sight.

  When they finally reached their destination, the young man, again, took Toranj in his arms and helped her to the door of their little stone house.
 
  Toranj, who was happy that her stepmother and sister hadn’t came back home yet, turned to the young man and said:
 
   - How can I ever thank you, I couldn’t have gotten home before my mother if I had been left on my own.
   - There’s no need to thank me, it was fate that got me passing from there to be able to help you. Take care of your ankle and make sure you keep it warm. If you’ll allow me I’ll pass by these parts sometimes, I’d be glad to come and give you a visit?
   - That’s again very kind of you, I wouldn’t want to trouble you.
   - It’s no trouble, as I said, it’d be my pleasure. I should be going now, take care of yourself, and pay more attention next time you go into the forest.
He smiled widely and saluting went back to his horse and mounting it up, with one last look at Toranj, he trotted away towards the road ahead.

Toranj went back to work after she had bandaged her ankle, and finished working with the spinning wheel before her stepmother and sister arrived from her shopping at the city. She was just going to bring some water from the well when she heard them come. Her step mother called out for her:

   -Toranj, where are you girl?
   - I’m here mother, in the back yard.

  Her step mom came to the back yard about to set another queue of tasks for her when seeing her, she halted midway, staring at her:
   
   - Who are you?

  Toranj looked around her, thinking maybe she was referring to someone other than her, but finishing herself alone under her gaze she said:

   - Who do you think I am? I’m Toranj.
   - You could not be! Although your voice and clothes tell the same but….you’ve changed. What have you done to yourself?
   - changed? How can I have changed?
   - Take a look at your self, and you’ll see what I mean by changed. What have you been doing while we were away? Where did that bright moon shaped form on your forehead come from?

  Toranj leaned over the well and looked at herself in the steady water. She was surprised, even more than her step mother. She truly had changed, not only now she had a moon on her forehead, but her eyes shone with a deep shining black, and her hair seemed to twinkle, and its waves moved so smoothly, falling around her face, and her lips, the color of roses, matched so beautifully with her slightly rosy cheeks, and her white skin. If til then she was a pretty girl, now she surely could expect to be called beautiful.
 
   - Where did you go when we were gone?
Toranj looked up, and suddenly remembered the blowing wind, the piece of cotton, the old lady, and the springs.
   - I…I only went after the piece of cotton that wind blew into the forest.
   - You lost a piece of cotton?
   - No, no! I brought it back, because it was stock to a tree branch…

  And Toranj recounted everything, she even told her about the three springs, but as she had promised not to reveal the details, she didn’t retell the sequences. Her step mom, listened but since she didn’t care if she was more beautiful or less, and all she was concerned about was that she had brought the piece of cotton back, she told her:

   - Anyways, better not think that moon will make your life any better here. You were only fortunate I got home after you did, or I would have strangled you with work. Now get some water and get the dinner ready, we’re tired and starving, you have to manage the things we’ve bought too.

  Toranj, continued on her work, still thinking about her strange day and how it had changed her appearance, and her life, the young man, whom thinking of, made her heart leap a beat.

-------

  The next day, Toranj started her work, hardly able to walk alright, with her bandaged ankle sour under the slightest pressure.

  Her step mom acted like she didn’t half believe all the story she had told her last night, but seeing the moon on her forehead, she couldn’t deny it completely, so she kept a close eye on her, which ended up in more orders, more work, and tiredness. It was a different day after all, for Toranj’s new thoughts kept her mind busy while working and she wouldn’t grief after a life of less work. On the other hand, never had she been under such close supervision, which made her make mistakes and then be left under the rain of blames of her mother.

  Yet still, hours passed and it came to right after lunch. Toranj was sent to wash the dishes by the well out in the back yard, and her step sister was taking her usual afternoon nap, which left the step mom to sit out on the little porch and continue knitting for her. She was distracted from her knitting when she heard the sound of hoofs approaching. She looked up and seeing the rider, she was immensely surprised.

  Riding on the same white horse as the day before, the young man, rode to the house where he had taken the girl she had found in the woods yesterday evening. He hadn’t slept last night, and didn’t quite remember how he had passed through his daily tasks, until he had been left to himself, and had quickly rode into the woods again, just to see the girl that had stole the sleep from his eyes.

  When he reached the house, he dismounted his horse and was greeted by the step mom:

   - My Prince, what an honor it is to have your steps walking towards our house, I only wish we had the proper greeting readied for you. If only I knew you would pass by…
   - Please Ma’am, if I come to pass here is not to be greeted as a prince, but because I seek only to see someone I have met just so recently, who if I’m right, is your daughter.
   - My daughter!!! What an honor my lord, but how and where have you met my daughter, if I’m allowed to ask?
   - To tell the truth, it was a coincidence, a very good one, for I can call myself lucky to have been put on one side of it. I met your daughter in the woods yesterday, while she had hurt her ankle. I helped her home.

  The step mom was shocked for a moment, and froze while dozens of thoughts passed her mind. So he had met Toranj, and not my own daughter! What luck! But why didn’t the wicked girl tell me! No matter now for it seems like he doesn’t know I have two daughters. He’s so eager to see her that he can barely stand on his feet. This could be the best chance to swap my own daughter. After all she deserves the life and wealth, not that poor dirty girl. So after arranging her thoughts she said:

   - Ah, I’m really sorry your highness, but How can I know you’ve really met her? You know she is a very fragile girl, and because of her special appearance she doesn’t go out much, and I can’t let her out into society easily. That’s why I’m living out here in the woods. If you could describe her, I will become sure that you have really, truly met her, and then I would gladly arrange your meeting with her.

  The prince being young, in love, and eager, didn’t take any offend by this rude allowance that the woman had gave her to question him. So he just thought of what he remembered of that beautiful girl:

   - Long wavy black hair, bright skin shining like the sun, and a moon shaped mark on her forehead, glittering with a silver glow.

  So…He has only seen the things she had gained from washing herself in the three springs. My girl could get those easily too, if only she did what Toranj had done. After all, it was not like it takes any special ability to wash ones self in a little spring and become beautiful. If only I can get that girl to tell me where the springs are, and how she had done the process of washing, My own daughter would become as beautiful, if not more, and would face a great future, A life of elegance.

  These were the thought that again passed through the step mom’s brain as she weighted the possibilities, and made plans. A second later she said:

   - That’s exactly her, your majesty. You have seen her, and I’m sorry I had doubted you, but the thing is, she is not around today, and I have sent her for prayers to a little secret cave we always go to. If I’m not mistaken she’ll be back by a bit before midnight. You could come and see her then.
The prince smiled brightly and said:

   - That would be perfect. Thanks for your kindness, I’ll be back tonight.
And he went back to his horse and climbing up, he rode away.

  Quickly, The step mom rushed to the back yard, and finding Toranj by the well she said calmly:

   - Ah…still washing the dishes, aren’t we? Hurry up, for I’m taking you to the city for some shopping.

  Toranj looked back at her unbelievably, for she never took her for shopping:

   - But you never do take me to the city, especially not for shopping.
   - I know girl! Don’t question my actions. If I tell you we’re going, you must be sure I’m confident of what I’m doing….Ah by the way…about that story of yours you told me last night…I was recounting it to your sister, and I saw that you hadn’t mentioned where the springs were located. Were there too far from here?
   - I…I don’t know…I mean…I can’t…shouldn’t tell you, it’s a secret, and ZI have promised to keep it.
   - Oh nonsense, we shouldn’t keep secrets from each other, you could surely tell me?
   - No I can’t, I’m really sorry mother.

  The step mom was furious at this point, but she gulped down her anger and thought of another plan, for she knew she couldn’t take any word about the wereabouts of the springs from Toranj. So she said:

   - Oh, that’s ok, you can keep your little secret…You said you were working the spinning will when your cotton flew away?
   - yes…after I had washed the backyard, I was whirring around when that wind started blowing and the cotton was taken away and I went after it, and found it at the old woman’s cottage.
   - And then she told you the secret way to the springs and that you shouldn’t tell anyone?
   - Yes, no one she said should hear this secret from me.
   - Okay, that’s enough, get up, and get ready, we’re leaving in a minute.

  With this the step mom went into the house, and to her daughter’s room. She opened the windows and taking the blanket off her head she said:

   - Wake up! WAKE UP! I’ve got a plan that will turn your life upside down.
   - Mom!! What could possibly turn this dull life upside down?
   - Silly girl! Sit up and hear my words. Listen carefully, for you ought to do exactly like I tell you.

  And she told her about the prince, and how she planned to swap her place with Toranj’s. She told her daughter, that she was taking Toranj to the city, and that she should wash the back yard, and start working on the spinning wheel and when the blowing wind take the cotton away she should fallow and take it from the old lady’s cottage. She told her that the old lady would tell her the secret of the three springs in return. So she should go wash herself by her directions, and be back before midnight.

  Having set the evil plan, The step mom, left with Toranj by her side, feeling both very happy, with a twinge of worry at the back of her mind.

  It was long past the time that the sun had gone behind the western mountains.

  Everywhere was dark, when the blowing wind came again, taking a piece of cotton, from the basket beside the spinning wheel with the step sister working behind it.
She did as she was told, fallowing the cotton, while she nagged at the cold weather, the dark forest, and the tree branches that slowed her pace by grabbing her gowns many ribbons.

  After a long way, she finally came to the old hut. She saw the cotton up on the tree branch, right were Toranj had seen it too. She walked up to the hut’s door and being weary and tired with just one knock she opened it and went in.

  The old lady was sitting by the fire, just as dirty and messed up as the first time, like it hadn’t been only a day ago when Toranj had cleaned everything. Even the hut, which smelled badly now, and looked untouched for months.

  The girl looked at the lady and covering her nose with her handkerchief she said:

   - How do you live in such a place!
   - I simple agree my child, but you see, I’m too old to be able to either look after this place or myself anymore. If you were so kind to clean it up a little for me, I would be very grateful, my child.
   - Clean it up??! Of course not, I’m here for my piece of cotton, which I have to get from your window. I can’t and don’t want to stay long.
   - Ah, how sad, but that’s ok, I will give you the piece of cotton, but could you at least comb my hair?
   - And why should I do that? You’re not so old for combing your own hair! After all, I’d die before I touch that mess of webbed hair. Now get me my piece of cotton.
   - Very well. No matter. I’ll go get your cotton for you then.

  A minute later the old lady came back from upstairs with the cotton, still smiling:

   -Here’s your lost cotton, now you can leave child.
   -Leave? But…aren’t you going to tell me something?
   -Tell you something? What should I be telling you?
   - I don’t know…maybe something about the three springs…or something else I’ve heard.
   - Ah…I see…yes I had nearly forgotten, for now that you’ve come here, I shouldn’t let you go empty handed. I shall tell you my secret, as a little gift which will suit a young girl with manners such as yours. Now listen…

  The old lady did tell her about the three springs, their whereabouts and the colors, but, she changed the sequence. Fir the step sister was mean, misbehaving, rude, and arrogant. And in her view she deserved less beauty than she did already have. She told her to wash her body in the red spring, her hair in the silver one, and finally her face in the black watered spring.
Happy of having learned the secret the girl left without a word of gratitude, and went to the springs. She washed her face, hair and body in them, and jumping for joy she returned home.

  Toranj and her step mom returned home right after the sun had sank behind the many trees and range of mountains. She tried to keep up with her step mom as she was walking very fast, insisting they should be back before night comes completely. She dared not ask why.
  When they finally reached home as soon as they settled their purchases in the kitchen the step mom turned to Toranj and said:
   - Now, the cellar is in a mess, I want you to go down there and clean up every inch of it, and arrange all the supplies carefully and also take a list of everything that there exists.
  Toranj was exhausted but she didn’t complain and wearing her apron and taking a candle with her she went down to the cellar.
  Once she was down and couldn’t hear anything that went upstairs, her step mom looked out the window into the darkening atmosphere and saw a shadow of a rider getting close. She smiled widely and looked around her small kitchen to see if everything was in place. She ws getting ready to open up the door and greet the prince when she heard a faint crying sound from the backyard. She was surprised a good deal, as she walked out there but couldn’t see anyone. She recognized the sound as her own daughters and called for her. But there was no answer except that the crying stopped.
   - My dear where are you? Why are you crying? Come out here, the prince is almost at our door.
  The silence continued before her daughter said:
   - Oh, mother, the prince would never want to see me…
   - why, that’s nonsense my dear! Is that why you’re hiding? Where are you?
  But she really didn’t need any answer to her question for she had spotted the sound to be coming from behind the well, so she walked slowly there.
  Sitting behind the well was her daughter, covering her head and face with her shawl.
   - Here you are, and why are you covering yourself, come on, get up, we better go greet the prince nicely.
   - I can’t mother…I won’t!
  Her mother was getting angry now so she said:
   - Stop that and get that shawl off yourself at once.
  The girl moved away the shawl with shaking hands and seeing her changed appearance her mother screamed so loud that all the birds hiding in the tree branches took off with fright.
  The prince who had dismounted his horse and was tying its reins to a pole heard the scream and fastened a knot rapidly and ran to the back of the house.
  The scream was so loud that even Toranj who was down in the cellar heard it and frightened she ran upstairs to find the kitchen empty, she looked out the windows and saw her step mom lying on the stone floor. She gasped and ran out to the backyard, forgetting about her still soar leg.
  Closer she went and saw someone else was there too, right behind the well. She didn’t recognize her:
   - Who are you? What did you do to her?
The girl crouching beside the unconscious body of the step mom was rocking back and forth as she cried. She looked up when she heard Toranj’s voice and then looked right behind her to the prince who had just reached there.
  Toranj fallowed her gaze and turning back was amazed to see the prince there:
   - You? Why are you here?
   - I came to see you…but then I heard the scream…
  Said the prince and looked a bit shocked at the crying stranger.
  Everything seemed out of place, and everyone bewildered. No one was talking. And the only sound was the low whimpering of Toranj’s sister.
  Toranj kept looking from the prince to her sister who was no more than a stranger to her, for she had changed a great deal. She had dirty red hair with death white eyes, and gray colored skin. She finally dared to ask her question for the second time, as she sat down beside her step mother, and put her head on her lap.
  The now so different sister, stopped crying and said:
   - It’s not much of a thing you don’t recognize me anymore.
  Hearing her voice Toranj asked disbelievingly:
   - Is it really you? You’re my real step sister? But what happened to your face, your hair… eyes?
  Her sister shook her head and said:
   - It was all our mothers’ plan, but she never guessed we were too different in manners to have the same outcome when we went through the springs.
  Then she recounted them the entire story. How her mother had found out that the prince had taken a liking in Toranj and how he would be coming back. She told Toranj that she too had sat in the backyard whirring around behind the spinning wheel, and the losing of her piece of cotton and meeting the old woman. She said how her one mistake and flaw in all this process was that she had done much wrong to the old woman in the woods. That she had refused to help her in anyway:
   -And now this is my punishment for being what I am. When I saw my face in the well water, I knew what I had done wrong. And when mother saw me, she screamed and fainted. And I don’t know what to do…but I know I don’t want to stay here anymore, I can’t bare living with someone who looked upon my face and screamed, she was my mother! Even you, or the prince who are no closer to me than my mother didn’t act so when you saw my horrid face. I’m going to leave, and I know where I’m heading, I’m going to live a different life, and help the one person who made me see my wrong life. And You Toranj, you deserve a much better life. We were mean to you to a great extent. I don’t want to end up being like my mother. You better leave her too, she deserves an empty life, where there’s no one for her to annoy. I say you just take her inside and leave. If you stay you have killed your one last hope of ever living happily by your very own hands.
  With this she stood up, and wrapping her shawl around her red hair again she looked at them and her old house one last time and walked into the dark forest.
  Toranj was crying silently, tears rolling down her white shinning skin. The prince sat in front of her and was sad to see her tears. He raised a hand and dried her hears with his hand and taking her hands in his own he said:
   - Don’t cry my dear, world has it’s dark days for everyone, and If you cry when one of your close ones go through these days, you’ll hurt those shinning black eyes of yours…I heard your sister, and I can guess what a hard life you’ve had. I’m going to help you do as your sister advised. I think that was those were the best true words she had ever said in her life… Come…Lets take your step mom inside. 
  When they had taken her inside and placed her on her bed, Toranj covered her with a blanket and turning to prince she said:
   - I can’t leave her… Not even when I remember all she has done to me. I just can’t…
  The prince looked at her, not believing her ears. She had never met anyone with such a pure and kind heart in his life. Someone who accepted all the bad other had done to her, and still wanted to take care of them.
   - But… please… I want to take you with me to the city… I want you to live in a house you had never even in your dreams…My little beautiful lady…I love you, and I want to live the rest of my life with you.
He said and he took her hands and kissed them lightly.
  Toranj was breathless with emotion, and hardly was able to talk but managed to say:
   - But you’re a prince, and I’m just a simple girl. This can’t be…
   - I’m a prince just because my father is the king. But if just looking at me, I’m a simple man, who has grown to learn what one needs to know throughout life, and loves just like an ordinary man. And you my love are no ordinary girl, for you have brought me love and that makes you the most precious human ever living on this earth. And besides, who could be ordinary having your dazzling eyes and a bright shinning moon on their forehead?
  She knew her cheeks were burning red, she shook her head and looked the other way.
  The prince saddened a bit and said:
   - Even if you don’t like me as much I love you, I promise to make the best of lives for you, where you’ll reach all your dreams and hopes. I won’t let you feel regret even one second. I’d try to be the man you, so kind and noble, deserve to have by your side.
   - It’s not that I don’t like you, because I do, very much. But I can’t leave her in such state. I’ll stay until she gets well.
The prince looked into her eyes and said:
   - Then you promise to come with me after that?
   - I promise.
He hesitated for a moment but then he hugged her and kissed her hair:
   - Then until that time, I’ll come everyday, for I think not I could live another day without seeing your face. You do care for me don’t you?
   - I sure do.

  When the prince left Toranj watched his silhouette disappear by the bend of the road and then she went back inside and sat by the bed, nursing her unconscious step mom.
  Days past and the step mom didn’t wake up. Every afternoon the prince would come and join Toranj who sat by the bed all the time, not sleeping, not even eating properly, and becoming a bit pale and thin.
  One day when the prince arrived, he decided he would talk to Toranj, for he was getting much worried for her, and the way she was not taking care of herself, just to nurse after her step mother. When he walked up to the door, even before he knocked the door opened and Toranj came out side with red watery eyes which showed she had been crying for some time. The prince ran to her and holding her in his arms he asked:
   - What’s happened my love?
   - She will never wake again… She’s joined the sleeping dead.
  Answered Toranj who was still crying. The prince put her head on his shoulder and tried to comfort her. It took them very little time to bury the step mom in her own backyard and when they were done, the prince turned to Toranj who had stopped crying by now, but looked very sad:
   - Even though she was not the kindest mother but she was one, and I will never forget her, and I forgive her for what she might have done to sadden me at times.
Prince put a hand around her shoulders and said:
   - I wish everyone had your kind heart my dear, and the world would have been heaven itself…Now, Shall we go?
  Toranj nodded and without even taking her few belongings she mounted in front of the prince on the horse and they rode away in silence, towards a future filled with love, and happiness.

The End





back to the TH Issue 13 Index