• I awoke to the familiar sound of the teenage princess's horrible shrieking at finding a rat by her window. She screamed loud enough for the whole palace to hear her, and having exceptional hearing even for a half elf didn't help much either. I threw my pillow over my head to block out Princess Arabella's shrieking. Then I heard some glass breaking.
    "Odds are she threw a glass at it. Poor rat." I whispered to myself, wondering if the poor little thing was bleeding. I tiredly got up and prepared for a day of magic making. I washed my long blond hair and placed it in a lengthy braid that went all the way down to my waist. I changed into my plain blue dress that I wore whenever it was clean. I noticed a rip at the bottom and decided I would fix that later. Sliding my feet into my worn brown sandals, I cursed as I found my spellcaster's robe in a crumbled heap on the floor. I grabbed it and shook it free of dust, then put it on. I looked at myself in the mirror, grimacing at my appearance.
    Most girls where I live enjoy seeing what they think looks best about them. I however, find none. My clothes were plain and worn. My hair was blonde and always unmanagable if it wasn't in a braid or something such as that, and the bangs always got in front of my eyes if I allowed them to grow for too long. Judging by my reflection, I would have to get them cut again soon. My skin was pale as moonlight on a lake, much to my annoyance. And my elf ears poked out from behind my hair. I cursed at my father's elvish origin. Then finally there was the image of my stupid blue eyes. They were big and blue like the sky, but anyone who looked me in the eyes long enough soon found themselves looking at something deeper than the ocean, or so I was told. Which was quite annoying due to the fact I hated to be stared at like a fine war horse. I sighed and took my circlet of silver and amethyst off my nightstand. I put it upon my head and again sighed. This circlet meant that I was a royal spellcaster, and was the only beautiful garment I had.
    Then I heard the princess's stomping and turned to see her bolt into the room, her red mane of hair flyng about her in a rage. I could tell by her beautiful hazel eyes that she was pissed. Her pink dress billowed out behind her as she ran up to me and glared at me. I could tell what was coming to me.
    "May I help you, Princess Arabella?" I asked as politely as I could, though I truly didn't feel in a polite mood this morning.
    She glowered at me, and I saw her hand twitch as if she were about to strike me in the face. I nearly flinched, but I restrained myself.
    "YOU CAN HELP ME BY GETTING RID OF THE RATS IN THIS CASTLE! EVERY DAY I WAKE UP TO THESE DISGUSTING CREATURES AND THEY ALWAYS LEAVE THEIR RANCID DROPPINGS ALL OVER MY FLOOR! MAKE A SPELL THAT WILL KILL THEM!" she shrieked in my face.
    Of all the things that made my job a nuisance, it was the princess. Her temper was short, all she cared for was expensive dresses and men, and she was a screaming brat. To sum her up in a few words, she was a living punishment from hell. And she was even worse to serve when she was in a fit like this.
    In fact, her tantrums had become much more frequent since the disappearance of the prince she had wanted to marry. As usual, her father had gotten her what she wanted, and she was as happy as a child eating chocolate about that. The prince was rumoured to be extremely handsome and an eye-catcher. I had never seen him, I just heard rumours here and there. His name had been Erin, and he had disappeared about three weeks before coming here to meet his wife to be. I was taking a pretty good guess that his mysterious disappearance was on purpose. After all, I know I would never want to marry Arabella, prince or not.
    "Arabella, I'm not going to kill innocent rats just because they dislike you. And I doubt that they're that bad. They don't leave droppings in my room, or anyone else's." I told her bluntly, leading her to the door and shutting it.
    "WHY YOU! I'LL HAVE MY DADDY FIRE YOU FOR THIS!" she yelled, beating the door with her fists. I shrugged carelessly. The king would never fire me. I was his best spellcaster, actually I was the only spellcaster within the entire kingdom. I wasn't worried, I just returned to the potion I had been working on last night.