1 Chapter 1: Nag

Darkness.

Nothing but darkness all around me.

My legs ache, my lungs burn and my vision is blurry.

Voices.

So many voices chasing me.

There – above me. I see the light of the moon, of the stars peeking through, and I long for it – for home where I know this is not where I belong.

Fire wisps surround me, and they speak a language I do not understand.

But one of them draws something made of wood, creaking and groaning within its grasp.

I hear it split the air and turn to run only to feel a searing pain on my back – and the dirt rushing toward my face.

Home.

I need to go home.

***

I amble after Lady Syn, watching as she dashes across the field in a hurry, her glistening purple hair bouncing behind her.

"Hurry! We're going to be late!" She calls after me, but I groan in protest, not like she could hear me, but I do it anyway. She had been annoyingly excited about this day for as long as I can remember.

Even when we were younger and I'd be swinging away with my sword in the training hall, she had been going on and on about Romance and dancing and blah, blah, blah.

The Royal Kingdom may be where she belongs, with her flawless skin and bright purple eyes glistening like the sunsetting sky – but it wasn't for me. It's not a place where someone with hair matching that of mud and eye's like grass could belong. Not to mention the scars on me that would even cause men to gape.

Though I was thankful for her being my friend, I was also an orphan that she raised like a puppy – or so what the other orphans teased me about all my life anyway. But I didn't let it get to me. She was the only one that cared about me – aside from Aeron anyway. But she saved me from a fate I can't even remember.

I owe her my life.

She was quite sickly when we were younger and I made a promise to take care of her – a promise I intend to keep.

She stopped in her tracks and whipped around, hands on her hips. "Come on Char! We still need to get you dressed!"

"My lady, I said I will accompany you, but I will NOT wear a dress!" I match her stance in challenge – as if it's done me any good before.

"Charlix Harlow!" She pointed a finger to the ground beside her like a master ordering a dog that refused to obey. "You get your butt over here right now! How are you going to protect me, if you're not allowed to go to the ball wearing–" she gestured with her open hand toward me – toward all of me "that!"

"What?" I glance at my gray tunic, brown trousers and polished boots. "I think I look impeccable. I don't even have a single dirt stain on me."

"No! You need to wear a dress! Now hurry up, or I will go without you!"

"Good! Go without me then!" I folded my arms across my chest, determined not to go.

I didn't want to go to some stupid ball anyway. And going wearing a stupid dress? Ha! She's lost her mind.

She said nothing, but shot me a death glare possible of rendering even the knights to draw a chill down their spines.

"Ugh." I roll my eyes, and trudge to her in defeat. "Fine, but NO makeup!"

***

"Aaand, you put makeup on me." I look into the mirror and pout, disappointed in myself that I couldn't stop her. I can't even recognize myself. My hair is loose and wavy, my lips red and my eyebrows are much darker.

I let out a groan, feeling like an odious beast.

My small breasts were perked up in this long navy blue dress that dragged behind me, glistening with jewelry. The sleeves were long enough to cover the scars on my arms, but made my broad shoulders pop out. "This is too much." I tried to pull up the dress to cover my breasts, feeling like my nipples might just pop right out should I breathe too deeply.

"Stop." She said, smacking my hand away. "You look beautiful." She smiled and pulled half my hair in front of me.

"Kill me." I slump my shoulders that are heavy with dread."Kill me now."

She steps back, frowning before giving me a good slap on my arm. "Will you knock it off? Come on, we have to go."

"Ugh!" I stomp my feet after her like a two year old child.

"Oh. And no, you cannot wear your boots."

"What?!"

"Take them off right now!" Like a mother scolding her daughter.

"No one will see them anyway. Besides, how can I protect you, if I can't run?"

"Stop being such a big baby and put these on." She handed a pair of dazzling flat soled shoes to me.

"AH!" I scream and rip my eyes away, dramatically. "My eyes! I'm blind!" She tries to punch me with her fists and I roar in laughter, amused that she thought her taps could do a single thing to me.

"Come on, you should be able to run just fine in these."

I groan, grumbling under my breath, and replace my boots with the sparkling shoes.

We leave her chambers and walk down the castle corridor, making our way to the awaiting carriage, guarded by fifteen knights.

"Lady Syn." The knight bows and opens the carriage door, assisting her as she steps in.

As I approach, I hear a snicker from him, or a snort more like since he was a pig, a big annoying pompous fool of a pig.

"Sir Nigelle. You. Shut. Your. Mouth." I hiss through gritted teeth, upset that they have now witnessed me in a dress. I already know I will never hear the end of it from the knights.

"Yes, of course – my lady."

"Ow! Ow-ow-ow!" I hiss, hopping like some maniacal bunny with my foot in my hands. "Stupid armor. Stupid shoes. Stupid dress." I mutter through the pain.

How I had forgotten he wore armor while I adorned none – I have no idea. I blame this dress for cutting off the circulation to the brain that I needed.

Yes, that was it – it was this damned dress.

He just continued to laugh some more as I shove him and climb into the carriage.

"Have mother and father already left?" Lady Syn asked him.

"Yes, my lady."

"Let's go then." She leans back in her seat and the carriage rolls to a start.

I shift uncomfortably in the dress and pout as I stare out the carriage window. As upset as I am to be dragged into a place full of egotistical, narcissistic, I am better than you because I am rich assholes, I do enjoy the sight of the trees passing by with the breeze that wafted in. Even the solemn sunset on the horizon, sent beautiful purple and pink hues into the darkening sky. And the stars are beginning to come out of hiding as dark draws near. I inhale deeply, somehow some kind of longing draws me up to where those stars lie, and I can't understand why.

"You will never find a husband if you keep acting like that."

Without even moving my head from where it lay perched in my hand, I shift my eyes to where Lady Syn has her eyes locked out the window like she can tell I was pouting without even taking a single glance at me.

"Nope, don't want one." My eyes shift back out to the passing trees. "I wouldn't want to make him feel less manly."

"Well, seeing as how you like to dress, maybe a wife then?"

"Nope, too naggy." I reply without missing a beat.

She gasps at my comment, "I see how it is."

"What? It's true! Look!" I gesture at my outrageous outfit.

"You look amazing, you need to stop doubting yourself."

"Oh, I know I look amazing. I always look amazing in anything I wear." Lies. I'm sure I couldn't have felt more unsightly in my life.

"We are going to a Royal ball, which only happens once a year, and only men and women of age are allowed to attend. We have finally turned eighteen, and you need to stop making faces at me!" Her face turned red with fury as she tapped her feet impatiently, bunching her dress in her white knuckled fists.

I can't help but throw my head back and laugh, uncrossing my eyes, as I fix my contorted face.

She sighs and rubs her forehead. "Your brain apparently has not come of age yet."

"Hey, a young mind is a good mind."

"Please, just behave." She clasps her hands together, pleading with me.

"Yes, my lady! I am always on my best behavior!" I pound my fist to my chest. "Ow." I hiss, rubbing my breasts. "It would hurt a lot less if they weren't forced to be bound like prisoners." I adjust the dress to cover them.

"Stop messing with your dress."

"But–"

"Leave it!" She barks, her eyes basically bulging out of her head.

"Yes, my lady." I sigh, slouching in disappointment. I honestly don't know why I keep trying, I would never defeat her in a fight of stubbornness.

"And sit up straight." She scolds.

"Yes, my lady." I stare out the window and mumble under my breath, "nag."

"What?"

"Hmm? Nothing. I didn't say anything." I smirk, shifting my gaze back out the window once more. "What's so great about going to some foolish ball anyway?"

"You get to meet people from all over the kingdom. Men and women often find their true love there."

"Ha!" I scoff loudly and roll my eyes, annoyed by stupid fairy tales. "More like brainless love."

"Exactly."

I turn toward her, about to say a snide remark, until I realize she was actually being serious.

"People fall in love with their hearts not their brains, Charli."

"Why? That sounds stupid. The brain is the one that does all the thinking and it controls the body, therefore it controls the beating heart."

"Can you not get so literal?"

"I can't help it when you don't make any sense." I shrug, not understanding people's logic of how the heart had any say in anything, except to pump blood and provide oxygen to the body.

"GOBLINS!" A knight shouted from the front. "Protect the lady!" The sound of drawn swords whines through the air.

"YES!" I stand and reach for the door, but find myself stopping when Lady Syn grabs a hold of my arm.

"And where are you going?"

"To – protect you?" I arch a brow, confused why she would even question me about my job in the first place.

"With what? Your shoes?"

"No." I pull up my dress and reach up to my thigh, drawing out the dagger I hid. "With this! But hmm, you know – I could do that too. What a great idea." I grin wickedly at the idea of getting rid of an annoying object.

"Wha – when did you hide that?" Her eyes widened, gasping in shock, though I don't know why. Surely after all our years together she should know me by now.

"When I was putting on the shoes."

"Charli!"

"What?" I open the door but she hangs onto my arm like a monkey. "Let. Me. Go!"

"NO!" She yells and pulls even harder. I manage to step out, but she props her feet onto the door frame and pulls as hard as she can. "You. Will not. Ruin. Your. Dress!"

"How'd. You get. So strong. All of the sudden! I just want a little bit of action. Just to relieve my frustration!" I beg, gazing toward the fight with a longing to stab a goblin in the eye.

"No!" She shrieks, pulling on me even harder.

How in the world is this little lady so strong when she has so much trouble lifting a damn sword?!

Before I knew it, the battle cries had ended and the knights had already begun disposing of the goblin's bodies.

I drop to my knees, whining and pouting that I didn't get to join in on the fun.

"Get off the ground! You will ruin your dress!" She screams, her vein popping out of her neck, but I only stare up at her in the carriage, my eyes teary, and my lips quivering like a two year old. "Don't give me that look." She sighs in frustration rubbing her forehead, trying to make her migraine go away. "Fine! If you behave during the ball – after we get back – you can put me in pants and teach me how to sword fight." She clenches her eyes at the thought.

"OKAY!" I gladly hop to my feet, dust off the dress, and walk ever so elegantly back into the carriage.

"Wait – I mean-"

"Nope you already said iiiit!" I singsong.

"But–"

"Nope, a deal is a deal."

"But you tricked me!" She plops into her seat and pouts, crossing her arms.

"No I didn't!" I take my seat and the carriage begins moving again. "I really did want to fight the goblins."

"Ugh, you're such a spoiled brat."

"Hey, if I am, it's because you made me this way." I smile, showing off my beautiful, pearl white teeth.

"What did I just get myself into." She rubs her forehead and muddles her face in frustration.

"You keep doing that and you're going to peel the skin right off your face before we even arrive." I grin. "It's okay. Don't worry about it. We will go to the ball, you will meet your true love – or whatever – then we will go home and I will train you so you can learn to fend for yourself and you will be happily married and live happily ever after." I inhale deeply, gasping for air. "Phew, that was a lot to say in one breath."

She just rolled her eyes at me, shaking her head in disbelief.