Angela By the Collector Strength of a Princess Copyright 2000 The Collector This story is adult in nature and should not be read by anyone under 21. Send comments to ChuckSt35@aol.com Visit me at http://www.geocities.com/chuckstj/index.html The King’s daughter sat in her bedroom glancing at herself in the mirror. As she stroked a brush through her golden hair, she admired the beauty that stared back at her from the mirror as belonging only to her. She had seen the other women of the kingdom and knew she was the fairest, the most beautiful. She smiled and saw her red lips, full and sweet, to be given soon to the luckiest of the men in the kingdom. She stared into her blue eyes…eyes that she would use to mesmerize her betrothed to giving in to her every desire. For a king’s daughter, no challenge was too large. As she stroked her hair again, she smiled at the large rise in her sleeve as her muscle rose and fell as the brush moved it’s way through her hair. She knew she was also the strongest maiden in the kingdom. Not only the strongest maiden, but stronger than all her suitors, even the bravest of the knights that served her father…strength that had been spoken of only in whispers…strength that no man or woman dared to believe, yet wondered if such strength was indeed possible. Then she spoke to herself in the mirror. “For what man is worthy of the beauty of a king’s daughter? And what man, if there be any, is man enough to satisfy the wishes of a girl of my strength…a beauty with my power? If I find such a man, I’ll teach him the mystery of my beauty. And he’ll feel my strength embrace him as no woman’s embraced him before and he’ll beg for the beauty of my body and the wonder of my strength till our last days.” * * * “They say she’s the most beautiful woman in the kingdom,” Jonathon said. “So I’ve heard…small chance I have of being chosen” I said. It was sad, but true. Any woman as beautiful as Princess Angela was said to be could have her choice of the bravest of the king’s knights. “Quit whining…you’re fortunate just to see her” he said as we trod towards the castle. The drawbridge was down and we approached and crossed it slowly amidst others from surrounding villages. The unveiling of the Princess was an event not to be taken lightly. Few had ever seen her, and those that had raved of her beauty and some, in subtle whispers less they be considered drunk, spoke of her immense strength. I found the thought more intoxicating than a keg of ale. And when I first heard of this combination that made my heart weak, I longed for nothing more than to see her, and perhaps be able to grace her hand with a kiss. We assembled in the courtyard and waited for what seemed like hours, our anticipation rising as the king’s court appeared nonchalantly and took their seats. A set of steps led from the courtyard to a balcony that surrounded it. At the top of the steps were chairs for the king and queen, with one for the princess between them, and chairs on either side for the king’s counsel. The courtyard was crowded and some were permitted to enter the balcony, part of which had been set aside for the days’ visitors. Then a silence came over the crowd as two of the king’s trumpeters appeared at the top of the steps. They raised their trumpets slowly, then regaled us with the announcement of the king’s arrival. He was preceded by the rest of his counsel, then slowly entered the balcony with the queen at his side. He smiled and waved as he approached his chair. The queen sat down gracefully, and then he raised his hands high in the air asking for silence. “Greetings to you all. Today we have assembled to honor my daughter…and the suitor amongst you who will be chosen by her…and whom will be heir to the throne. Only Angela will decide…all of you share equal chances with my knights.” He was a man of few words, as always. “My daughter…Angela” he said. He stood and watched an opening to his right. Two maidens appeared dressed in blue gowns…the princess was behind them covered in white…and two more maidens in blue followed. Her face could not be seen…but her beauty was unmistakable. The outline of her body pressed against the near sheer white full-length garment she wore. Her breasts were much larger than expected for a woman her size, yet they looked almost too perfect...too beautiful. The curves of her petite body were unlike any I’d seen before and my insides began to churn uncontrollably. I only hoped no one else saw me. She approached the chair between the king and queen and sat down as the four other girls moved to either side of the king and queen. She placed herself in front of her chair, and lifted the veil covering her face. A hush came over the crowd as gasps of wonder were heard. “Her beauty!” one girl cried. And she fainted and fell into her companion’s arms. “She’s as beautiful as they say…and even more” Jonathon said. It was an understatement. As soon as the veil lifted from her face…her blue eyes, and her soft lips took each emotion from me and lifted them to heights I’d yet to know…emotions no woman before had been able to take from me with so little effort. She had humbled me as I thought no woman ever could, or would. I looked into her eyes, hoping hers would pass mine and stop…but she looked out upon the crowd, no doubt looking for her suitor, the one she would choose. She sat down slowly and placed her arms on the chair as the king spoke again. “Let the suitors approach” he said. The front of the steps was filled with men of all ages, stations, and hopes. One by one, they approached the steps and walked up to Angela, knelt and spoke to her. For each had but a minute with her, his words to be heard by both the king and queen. And each was quickly dispelled by the princess. One after one, disappointed, they descended the steps, and quickly found themselves consoling each other by the nearest ale vendor. One of the king’s knights ascended the steps. It was Sir George, the loudest of the king’s protectors. He spoke so as to be heard by all. “Princess Angela…today you are honored by all in your father’s kingdom. And I shall honor you by taking you as my wife” he said to the crowd. Angela looked at up at him and slowly rose from her chair. “Your sword Sir George?” she asked. George drew his sword and held it in front of him. “Sir George…prove your love to me by bending your sword” she said. “But Princess…” he started. “Do it Sir George…or give away my hand forever” she said. Sir George looked to the king. “It is her choice Sir George. Do you wish her hand or not?” he asked. “As you wish, your highness” he said. Sir George placed his hands at either end of the sword, then placed the middle of the blade across his knee. He pushed down on either end, hoping against hope the hardened steel would bend. He looked up to Angela, asking for perhaps a lesser challenge, but she only smiled at him, awaiting the outcome of his efforts. For over a minute, he struggled, the crowd silently watching. As sweat rolled from his brow, the sword remained straight. Then he stood up. “I cannot bend it Princess…it is not possible” he said. Then she took it from him. “Perhaps Sir George…when your strength is equal to that of the king’s daughter…I should look favorably upon your offer” she said. Then she looked back at the king, who slowly nodded his head and smiled. “Sir George…I shall honor you…with a show of my strength,” she said. And with that, Angela put a hand at either end of the sword and held it up for the crowd to see. Her legs were spread slightly, and then the crowd watched as the ends of the sword began moving downward. “Gads…she’s but a girl…but stronger than even Sir George!” a man cried behind me. “It’s not possible…no girl…not even the princess…can be so strong” another cried. And I watched as the ends of the sword came together. I was humbled even further; knowing my chances had further diminished. Though I’d have given anything to be Sir George at that moment. To think of Angela’s beauty was more temptation than I could resist. But to think of a girl…soon to be a woman…with such strength, became unbearable. She handed the sword back to Sir George. He took it, and without a word, descended the steps. Then the king rose. “Many of you have heard of my daughter’s strength. Every word you’ve heard is true…and even more. While she is but a young woman, and the most beautiful of you, she is the strongest amongst you. You will find my daughter’s power to be all you’ve heard…and more,” he said. He took his seat again as the princess took his place. “Those of you who wish to court me…if there still be any amongst you…to win me you must win my heart, and all that I am. You need not fear my strength, only that which you feel inside you” she said though I didn’t fully understand her. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized what she was saying. The princess descended the steps, followed by two of the king’s counsel with her chair. She reached the bottom of the steps and looked out to the crowd and the line of suitors awaiting her. “Those of you who fear the strength of a beautiful woman, leave the line now.” she said. More than a few suitors left the line as it dwindled to less than half of itself. “Perhaps any man who wishes me to be his would know all the beauty of his princess” she said. With those few words, two of her maidens appeared at her side. They removed the top garment. She stood looking at us in a garment that revealed the tops of her wonderful breasts, a sight never seen before. I gasped, but no louder than any others beside me as the princess looked upon us and smiled. Her arms were now bare as well, and the garment revealed the bottom half of her legs, something that was not done in public. A woman rushed from the crowd, a handful of flowers in her hand. “For you princess…only your beauty is greater than these” she said as she handed them to her. Then another girl, who I knew as Angelica, rushed from the crowd, again bearing flowers. “And for your strength princess. The girls have heard of your strength…you’re the inspiration for us all…to be as strong as you” she said. “And what of you? You’re strong as well?” “Yes your highness…very strong. Stronger than most of the men…as all the girls in the kingdom are” “Then…perhaps you should show me,” she said. “Of course your highness…what do you wish?” she asked. “You two…. Bring that to me” she ordered looking at two men off to her left. They were carrying a keg of ale. The two men rolled the keg in front of the princess, who then looked at the girl. “Surely this isn’t too heavy for a girl?” the princess asked. “No your highness” she said smiling with a calmness I found unnerving. She reached down and grabbed the keg at the sides in either hand, and easily lifted it up and held it out in front of her. She looked at the princess, then raised the keg above her head and held it. “The men have had too much to drink already,” the princess said. “Don’t you agree?” The girl then reared her arms back, and threw the keg near the two men who brought it. The keg hit the ground and shattered, as ale from the full keg poured onto the ground. The crowd grew noisy as the females amongst them could be heard above the men. Then the princess raised her arms, asking for silence. “And tell me…do the men know of your strength?” she asked. “No your highness. My friends and I…we didn’t wish to scare them,” she said. Laughter could be heard from the crowd, mostly from the girls and women. “And tell me…you have muscles as well? he asked. “Yes your highness…also never seen by men. They’re quite large” she replied. “You’ll show me…won’t you?” she asked. “Of course princess…an honor” she said. She took off the light coat covering her dress and set it on the ground. I immediately pushed my way to the front of the crowd. I had always dreamt of seeing a girls’ muscles…I could think of nothing more beautiful…as though strength were the perfect accompaniment to beauty. Then she moved the sleeves of her dress up to above her shoulders. Her arms didn’t look any different than any other woman’s “Now…princess?” she asked. The princess nodded. “Yes…but slowly” she said. The girl made fists with her hands and I watched as her arms tightened and slight bulges appeared. Then she raised her arms from her sides and curled her arms as the passed parallel to the ground. Her arm swelled and filled to as much as I’d seen of any man. And her muscles grew before my eyes like two large apples from the King’s orchard filling her arm…and my insides…with something I’d never felt before. I knew immediately her strength was greater than mine…greater than mine could ever be. And at that moment, I adored this girl of strength perhaps more than I should have. The females in the crowd regaled her, while the men seemed noticeably quiet. Then the girl turned around to face the crowd. Her face was innocent, pretty, younger than I was, which seemed to add yet another dimension to her unpretentious power. The princess reached from behind and placed her hand on the girl’s right arm. “Your strength is worthy of being in my court,” she said. “You shall be my hand maiden” The girl turned around dropped before Angela, and took her hand and kissed it. “I shall strive to be even stronger and more powerful…and worthy of you your highness,” she said. “As all girls in the kingdom should,” she said. Angela let her rise, then motioned her to her side. “Be there any of you left who wish to take my hand?” she asked. The line had dwindled to but a few. “I do,” I said involuntarily, and too anxiously. She smiled at me, as though she had set me up to be mocked by the crowd.. “Come…come forward,” she said. I left the comfort of the crowd, surprised, no…shocked…that I was the only man who was taken by the girl’s muscles. Surely I wasn’t the only man who found a woman’s strength ravenously attractive. I went to the princess and knelt in front of her. I looked up at her and her beauty came to me as a revelation. I had seen no other woman comparable. Her blue eyes hypnotized me as no other woman’s could...her lips invited my attention…her full breasts drew my eyes to them…and the curves of her body were surely those no other woman possessed, though all desired. “And what can you say to court me?” she asked. “Your beauty princess…is like that of no other woman,” I said taking her hand in mine. I kissed it softly and saw a glimmer in her eye. “And your strength is greater than that of a legion of the king’s knights” I said embarrassingly. “You’re not afraid of my strength?” she asked. “I adore your strength your highness…as I would each and every day” I said. She looked at me approvingly. “And what of my muscles?” she asked. “Surely a girl’s muscles you find unfeminine? Or threatening?” “No princess…but I’ve never seen your muscles” “Then perhaps you should,” she said. “Rise and stand behind me” she said. “If you disapprove, return to the crowd. If you approve…you’ll find a way to show me” she said. I did as I was told and went behind her. I stood nearly 8 inches taller, but I felt as though I was shadowing a goddess who had total, complete control over my emotions. She moved her arms up to her sides, then parallel to the ground, then she curled her arms. Her muscles flared from her arms quickly and rose easily. Her immense strength poured into her pretty arms as her biceps rose even faster…and higher…than the girl before her. They kept rising to a height befitting the woman stronger than anyone else in the kingdom. As she finished, her arms glistened in the sunlight…two beautiful muscles only a woman was permitted to have…and muscles who’s beauty was exceeded by only the princess herself. She looked back at me, as though awaiting an answer. I looked into her eyes, then slowly brought my lips to her right bicep. I kissed it gently and saw the look of approval cross her face as I smiled at her. “You’ll worship my strength each day?” she asked. “As I will your beauty…and your muscles, your highness” “And you shall be rewarded each night…as I’ll be your queen” she said. She lowered her arms and turned around. She placed a single kiss on my cheek…and the crowd erupted. It was the single kiss that the crowd knew was the princess’ approval. She took my hand and led me up the steps. As we reached the top, the queen rose and took her daughter’s hand and led her away. As she entered a doorway, she looked back and blew me a kiss. The king led me away through another doorway, but my thoughts were only of her. The week’s wait for the wedding…and the night I knew was even greater than I could imagine…would pass slowly. But I knew it was a night that only I, amongst all other men, would ever know as Angela’s beauty, her luscious body, her strength, and her feminine muscles would be mine forever. And the beautiful woman with strength no other in the kingdom can compare would hold me in her powerful arms as she would hold no other…forever.