Once upon a time, there was a princess, (didn't say she was beautiful), and she lived in a castle where things were not as they appeared. She was trying to escape her father's dictatorial rule.

She met someone whom she thought was Prince Charming and they rode off into the sunset together, far away from her homeland.

As the years passed, the princess discovered that the Prince was actually an evil warlord who was only interested in gaining power and control over everything. Several times the Princess tried to escape the warlord, only to find that she had no where to go and no way to fend for herself. So she decided to educate herself in the ways of healing. But before she could complete her apprenticeship, the evil warlord took their children to another kingdom, leaving her to complete it on her own.

Her plans set awry, the Princess rejoined the warlord, who had her precious children with him. She moved to his new home and attempted to find a way for herself there, but again, she was thwarted, the Evil warlord moved yet again, and she had to begin anew.

But this time, a troubadour entered her life, singing her songs of light and beauty. She fell madly in love with him, and finally found the courage to leave the warlord. But it was not to be. The Warlord, discovering her love for the troubadour, sought ways to harm them both, using her children as the means. And so the troubadour left, and with his skill with words, turned hers against her, stabbing her through the heart, leaving her bereft and on her own to fight a battle she was ill prepared for. In seeking to protect the troubadour from the Warlord's wrath, she gave up many things, including her sanity. It was a long climb out of the abyss she had fallen into, but she struggled on her own.

As time went by, the Princess saved enough money to escape the dungeon, finding a tenancy not far away. Though living on her own, she was still under the watchful eye of the Warlord. She struggled daily to make a home for herself and her precious children, grieving each time she had to send them to stay in the Warlord's domain.

Time passed and the Princess grew stronger, building her confidence daily. For a brief time, there was a knight who provided her with comfort, and a shoulder to lean on. But the tournament fields called to him, and she was again left alone.

The princess grew in strength each day, learning to rely on only herself, making small journeys to ease her wounded soul. She never forgot the troubadour and occasionally heard of his travels.

One day, while visiting a distant castle, she heard of the troubadour and the trials he had faced. Tears filled her eyes as she begged the reigning Queen to not speak of her when the troubadour returned to the castle. She then returned to her home, saddened at all he had gone through.

It was with the visit of a minstrel, one who had visited many times before, that the Princess discovered the troubadour still watched and waited. Hiding with the minstrel's party, the troubadour sought information. Tears that she had long since buried, flowed from her soul, longing to tell him yet again, that she could never hurt him. And so she set aside the tapestry she had been struggling to create, a tapestry of past hopes, dreams, and desires that had included the troubadour. Her fear of his contempt and hatred for her greater than any creative spirit she had found.

Days passed into weeks, and no more of the troubadour was heard. The princess, looked longingly at her loom, and from time to time would take a stitch in the emerging work. Her ladies encouraged her to continue with the weaving, for she had already worked so hard on it, but the desire to create had been deadened by sorrow and hurt.

Still she struggled on, using her hard earned healing skills to provide for herself and her children. Still longing for a time when complete independence and freedom would be hers