The Native Princess

The Princess

Almaria woke to the sound of the hummingbird just outside her home. Well, actually it was her fathers home. After the day of her womanhood, she would be living on her own, in a home she will have built.

Almaria stood from her large three person hammock and walked to her father, who was writing her a new song to play. She would have to start earning pay, as she would soon be alone... And as a woman, there were limited ways to do so... A man could hunt, and fish, and build, a woman could only sell her creativity.

Hello father..."

"Hello daughter..."

"Have you prepared more music for me?"

"Yes daughter, I have... I have prepared multiple pieces of music for you... Song bird, skyline tune and a day with the hummingbird..."

She looked over the music engraved on the thin wooden slabs. "They will sound beautiful father..."

"I hope they bring you good pay..."

"I'm sure they will father..." Just then, her fathers woman came in breast feeding the baby... And her twelve year old brother came into the room holding up a dead rabbit.

"Father, look! My first hunt!" Alamarish smiled.

"Very good my son... I hope someone witnessed this so that you can have the manhood ceremony..."

Jashkib came up behind Alamarish, smiling. "I witnessed his hunt chief... He did a wonderful job..."

"My son..." He looked to Alamarish. "Come here..." Alamarish walked to his father, and Alekai, the chief, placed his hand on his sons hand. "I am very proud of you my son... It is a good first hunt..."

"Really? I am glad I've pleased you father..."

"Almaria my child, go earn your pay. Play your lungs out my dear..."

"Yes father..." She took her native American style flute in its snake skin bag along with its music slabs. She put it all in a basket she made. She put her coin pouch around her wrist. She took her basket and headed for the tribes center, near the ceremony fire station.

She walked down the beach shore, picking up the most beautiful shells and stones found and placing them in her cloth shoulder bag.

She reached the tribe center and sat on her knees on the ground. She took out her flute and picked one of her fathers songs and started playing. She played a melodious tune for over an hour. She sounded utterly beautiful.

She entered her fathers home a while later smiling. She walked over to her father and touched her hand to his. This was the typical greeting of her tribe, and their neighboring tribe.

"How much pay did you earn, my daughter?"

She showed him the thirteen coins in tips for today. "I earned good pay father... On top of my pay from the three days from before, this is more than enough to get settled after my womanhood ceremony..."

"Very good my child. You will make a wonderful woman..."

"Thank you father..."

"Now, go to Jashkib's home, he will soon build your home. Give him the details of what you wish to have..."

"Yes father, see you later..."

She walked down the beach a while, again, collecting beautiful things found along the way. They would come in handy when trying to make pay, she could make jewelry and dreamcatchers.

She came around a corner, and saw Jashkib standing there, he had on a small covering cloth for his lower body, and a necklace made of different animal teeth. He turned from the wild boar he had caught and was tying up. "Ah, Almaria. What a beautiful surprise... What may I ask, can I do for you?"

"Father asked me to talk to you about my home. He told me that you had offered to build it for me... I am very thankful."

"Ah, yes, well it is no problem... Now, please join me and my mother in dinner. She has prepared rabbit stew, I believe you will find it most delicious..."

"Certainly, I would love to..."

"Great, then after, we will discuss your home..."

There was a well known silence during dinner. "Mrs. Sarabai, this dinner is wonderful, you do an excellent job."

"Oh thank you dear, I am so glad you have enjoyed the meal. Tell me dear, have you yet to find a match?"

"Mother! That is... Not an appropriate question to ask the princess..."

"No Jashkib, it is quite alright... I do not mind the questions... And to answer your question Mrs. Sarabai, I'm deeply afraid that no man in the tribe will want me, it seems as though no one does..." She looked down at the ground shamefully.

"Well do remember dear, it is custom for a man to ask a woman to be his woman, only first at the womanhood ceremony... You still have until tomorrow night to wait dear..."

"Yes, mother is correct... And please, never fear a man would not want you... He would simply be mad..."

She giggled and looked down, but now, quite coy-ly. "Thank you Jashkib..."

A while had passed, and the two had finished discussing the building of the new home. Almaria laid down in her hammock. She had dreams that night of Jashkib... She very much liked him...