Chemin D'Amande by Une Nuit Nomade

Before Portugal was Portugal long ago, the Moorish king Ibn-Almundim ruled over Chelb in the Algarve. A warrior driven by conquest, he returned victorious from the North, bringing with him many captives, among them the princess Gilda.

Enchanted by her azure eyes and golden hair, he granted her freedom and, through his kindness, won her heart. Their love flourished, and they were wed. Gilda would sit on her terrace each morning, gazing at the rolling hills and the sea. But as the months passed, a shadow fell over her. Silent, she lost all joy, her eyes drowned in tears.

The king sought healers and wise men, but none could cure her sorrow. One morning, a veiled woman whispered: The queen is fading. She longs for the white snow. Ibn-Almundim considered taking her back to the North, but their love would have doomed her. He was desperate.

Then, a humble farmer came forward with a bold idea: to plant thousands of almond trees around the castle. He promised that when spring arrived, the queen would find her light again. Winter passed. In April, the valley bloomed into a sea of white petals. The king carried Gilda to the terrace. As she beheld this winter landscape bathed in sunlight, she smiled once more.

Since that day, the Algarve has been the kingdom of almond trees in bloom, keeper of the legend of Gilda do Norte.

Jérôme di Marino