Over seven mountains and seven rivers, there was, or there was not, a princess, with beautiful brown hair and dark blue eyes.

The princess' name was Eliona, and she was known as the Silent Princess, for none had ever heard her laugh. Many had tried, let there be no doubt, but no matter what, the princess never laughed.

That's not to say she didn't enjoy things.

Quite the opposite in fact.

For princess Eliona loved flowers.

She loved them so much that the King had an entire garden created just for her. She'd wander through it every day, the only place where she felt completely at peace.

Yet still, she never laughed.

As Eliona grew older, and the King had to start looking for suitors, he decided to make it a challenge.

Whoever could cause Eliona to laugh could marry her.

And so, it began.

From all over the land people came to fight for the princess' hand, nobles and commoners, princes and farmers alike.

Jokers and clowns, dancers and jugglers, they all tried, one after the other, yet Eliona stayed silent through it all.

And so, the years passed, with Eliona growing more beautiful as they passed, and more miserable.

She started to believe the rumors, that she was incapable of laughter.

Joyless.

Heartless.

Bleak.

Whenever it all became too much, she would retreat to her garden, finding stability among the flowers.

Here, she could be herself.

One day, as she's smelling a dark red tulip, she hears whistling.

Turning her head, she listens quietly to the tune, and after a few moments decided to follow it.

Following the sound, she eventually reached its maker.

It was a boy, with short brown hair and in typical farmers' garb, although there was a strange green sash around his middle.

The tune was clearer now, yet Eliona still could place it. It was beautiful though.

She was so busy listening to the whistling, that it took her a while to notice that the boy was holding a pair of large scissors, and was cutting off all the flowers.

"Halt!" She yells, making him jump and turn around. "What arth thou doing?"