The Three Princesses

Once upon a time, in the kingdom lived an old king, who had been married for many years, and had never had a son, but had three beautiful daughters.  The king, because of his advanced age, called the kingdom together and that the first daughter to marry and have a son would rule the kingdom after his death.  When the three daughters were told this, a search was made throughout the kingdom for the three best men to claim the daughters as their brides.  The oldest daughter, Sabrina, was twenty-three and thought that because she was the oldest, she deserved to be the heir to the kingdom.  She decided then that she would marry a man called Jason, who was highly regarded by the king.  He was a great warrior.  Sabrina watched him because she knew he would do anything for her. She could gain control of the kingdom even if she didn’t bear the first son.  Sabrina went to her father and told him that she would like to marry Jason if he agreed that Jason would be suitable for her and if Jason agreed. The king thought this was wonderful and agreed that he would speak to Jason.  Now Jason had long admired Sabrina, for her beauty but didn’t think she’d ever have him.  For he was not very hansom.  But when the king spoke to him about marrying Sabrina he was overjoyed.  He said he loved her and would do anything in his power to make her happy. 

            The second daughter, Casandra was nineteen years old.  She had no one in mind to marry but when the king spoke to her about Phillip the King’s closest friend’s son, she didn’t decline.  For he was loyal to the King and very hansom.  The King and his friend had planned their marriage and spoke to Phillip, who also agreed on the marriage. 

            The youngest daughter, Jennifer, was only sixteen years old and wasn’t considered old enough to be married, but she was in love with Stephen, one of her father’s workers in the palace.  They had met accidentally one day while she was walking in the garden.  He had just planted a rose bush when he stepped back to have a look.  Just then, Jennifer was walking past, trying not to be noticed.  She tripped over his foot as he stepped backwards.  Startled, he turned just in time to keep her from falling in the path.  Jenifer was very bashful and her face blushed red when she looked into his eyes as he caught her.  He had the most beautiful brownish green eyes she had ever seen.  From that day on she would often go to walk in the garden and watch him as he kept the grounds.  She would ask him many questions about how the flowers grew so beautiful and seemed to live year round.  Then one day he answered her and said that the flowers stayed so beautiful because her beauty shined on them as she walked in the garden, for she was the most beautiful girl he’d ever seen.  Then blushing she turned to run away, but he took her in his arms and kissed her and said, I know that I can never marry you, but I love you had to kiss you just once.  Then he let go of her and she, too startled to say anything, ran away.  He thought he’d never see her again for surely she’d tell the king what he’d done.  The king would either have him jailed or banish him from the kingdom.  But the next day, she came back to the garden as usual and rested on the bench along the path where he had worked.  After he had finished what he was doing, he washed his hands in the little pond next to the bench, then came and sat on the ground beside her as he ate a piece of bread and drank some water from his flask.  After a few minutes of resting he finally said, “You didn’t tell your father? I thought I’d be jailed or run off by now.” Jennifer answered him questioningly, “Why, No! I wouldn’t do that. I’m sorry I ran away like I did.”