The Feral Princess And The Boots

- Chapter 9
~ The Feral Princess And The Boots

"Hello, Your Majesty, Your Highness. Shall we try on some boots and see which ones you might like." Said Hans Cobbler, the royal shoemaker.

Hans had made the princess some slippers and shoes but she didn't wear them at all. The queen said the princess just preferred to go without shoes. It was hard to think he couldn't please the princess.

He started with a fairly ordinary leather snow boot. Good sturdy boots suitable for spending time in the snow in. The princess watched him in wonder as he put the socks on her feet and then the boots. He had taken the measure of her feet not long after she arrived home, and had made a model to work from.

"There now. How does that fit?" Asked the shoemaker.

The princess looked all puzzled, she was trying to move her feet, but it wasn't working right with the boot on.

"Stand up, dear and walk around," encouraged the queen.

Princess Solara stood up. She almost tripped as she dragged her foot forward, the boot was heavy and she didn't compensate for the new weight. Then she lifted her foot up much higher and clomped it down.

She looked sadly at her mama, who made encouraging gestures. The princess picked up her skirts and clomped around the room and back to the sofa.

"Why are you looking so sad, dear?" asked the queen.

"No floor," said the princess.

"A complete sentence please, so we can understand," corrected the queen, gently.

After a moment's thought the princess said, "I cannot feel the floor."

The queen and the shoemaker shared a look.

"Well, that's the general idea. The boot is there to protect your feet from the cold and snow," explained the shoemaker. "How about something softer?"

The princess nodded and he removed the leather boots and the socks, and came back with some soft fur lined boots. The sole wasn't as thick, but they were lined with fur as soft as a lamb's belly. It would keep the princess warm and without socks should provide more feeling.

He slipped them on, "Now, wiggle your toes to see if they feel comfortable."

She nodded.

The princess fell over, laughing hysterically. Hans was trying not to be offended, but this reaction was beyond odd.

"Dear, are you alright?" asked Mama, her concern building, as her baby didn't stop. The now laughing-so-hard-she-was-crying princess shook her head and pointed at the boots.

"Off! Take the boots off, quickly," ordered the queen as she got down on the floor with her daughter and held her.

Hans had to fight the princess' struggles; she wanted to help but she couldn't control herself. Once he got them off, the princess calmed down while hugging her mama. Soon, she could breathe normally again. "Sorry.... I am sorry. It made my feet feel all funny. I could not stop laughing."

The queen got a wry smile on her face. "The boots were tickling you."

"What is tickling, Mama?" asked the princess, looking up from her mama's bosom.

The queen struggled with that question. So many things her baby didn't know. "Ah, tickling is when, um... it is when you have to laugh because something is touching you."

Princess Solara still had a confused look on her face.

The queen got a wicked look on her face and said, "Like this."
The queen ran her fingers along her side of her daughter, who shrieked in laughter.

"That's tickling, dear. Don't do that to anyone else yet. I'll tell you how to do it properly after we find you some boots." The queen was thinking that she really missed the tickle fights she had with her mother, even though she often hated them at the time. This was something she could share with her daughter, but there were certain proprieties that needed to be observed. She also realized that she needed to think that though.

The shoemaker was very studiously not looking at the queen and princess while digging around for another pair of boots. What was happening felt way more intimate then he was prepared for. He and his apprentice made shoes and boots for the royal family and the staff, and helped out with the military on occasion when there was someone with foot issues. Shoemaking was a nice quiet kind of work, he didn't like loud noises.

He came upon some boots that his apprentice had made not long ago. He had been trying to impress a girl, but they hadn't impressed her. The poor boy, he was still moping about it. Well, he'd get over it.

They were light, made of supple goatskin dyed a nice green with a leaf motif, with a flexible leather sole. The boot and laces wrapped around the leg. An unconventional design, something he might imagine fairy might wear. They were well-suited for dancing, not so much for outside work, but...they looked about the right size for the princess.

"How about these, Your Highness?"

The princess nodded, trying to please the shoemaker and her Mama.

He put the princess' foot on the sole, brought the leaves of the boot around the foot and leg, wrapped the laces up and around and tied them off just under the knee.

"There now, how does that feel?"

The princess wiggled her feet and then stood; she took a few steps, and then danced around, skirts twirling. She stopped and smiled, "Good." The queen gave her a look, "Um... The boots fit good. Thank you."

"You're welcome, my apprentice is most skilled." Said Hans bowing to the princess.

"We'll have to congratulate him. Thank you, Hans." Said the queen standing.

"You're welcome. Merry Christmas, Your Majesty. Your Highness."