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I woke to the smell of breakfast and the sound of light chatter. I stood up, slipped a pair of slippers on, and wrapped a wrap around me. I took a quick look in the mirror, satisfied that my hair didn’t look like a crow’s nest; I walked out of my small bedroom and through the halls, following the voices. The voices turned out to be my mother, father, and two unknown people. From the look of their clothes, they seemed to be royal.

At the sound of my entrance, they looked in my direction. “Ah. There she is!” My mother said, stretching out her arms to me. I carefully walked towards her. I’m sure that my face clearly told of the distrust I felt towards her. When I reached her my mother stood and put her arm around me. I wanted to take a step away from her. To yell, that she wasn’t my mother. That a true mother wouldn’t lie to me for twelve years; then act as if it was ok. A true mother wouldn’t try to make me into someone I wasn’t. I felt as if I was in somebody else’s shoes. “Amanda,” My mother said, indicating our guests, “This is Queen Victoria and King Matthias.” I curtsied, wondering why in the forest would they be here.

Queen Victoria stood up and said, “You will be marrying my son in two years. Exactly.” I stared at her.

“The day after my birthday?” I asked.

“That’s the only day we can do it. You’ll be seventeen then and Prince Steffen will be nineteen. We can’t wait any longer.”

“Why?” I asked, close to hysteria upon hearing how much time I had before my freedom would be gone.

“We’re declaring war on Bymeria, next year.” I was silent. There had been peace between Bymeria and us for more then a hundred years. Why start a war now? “We need to make sure that if we die,” The queen said this with a motion towards the king and her, “There will be someone to take our place. I hope you’re adequate to take my place.” She eyed me with my slightly messy hair, my nightgown, and wrap. I drew my wrap closer around me. Nervous at what would happen next.

It was my father who jumped to my rescue, “Amanda is more then adequate to take your place. How could you doubt the Seer?”

The queen flashed a glare at my father before sitting down and continuing, “Six weeks after we declare war on Bymeria, you,” Queen Victoria looked at me, “will come to the castle in your best dress to meet Steffen. Six weeks before the wedding, you will move into the castle. There your dress will be made and you will be prepared for the marriage and the responsibilities. I hope you can handle it.”

“Stop doubting my daughter,” my father said forcefully, “you know very well what she can do.”

King Matthias stood up and put his hand on the now shaking queen’s shoulder. “Let’s go Victoria.” With that they swept out of the room and out of the house. I didn’t even grant them a glance as they left.

My mother looked at me, anger in her eyes. “We’ll show them,” she said, “you’ll be a wonderful queen. Now go get dressed!” She dismissed me with a wave of her hand. I walked back to my room and got dressed. I looked around at my room, trying to erase the sense of impending doom that had filled me. I looked at my bookcase; all of the books that I had received starting from my twelfth birthday were there. Each of them read many times. I looked at my small window, facing the forest. There was a window seat, and on it, a doll and a toy bear. I hadn’t touched them since I was eight. I looked at the mirror that was facing the bookcase on the other side of the room. I looked at my reflection; there I saw a fifteen year old. I didn’t know who that girl was, with her dark mahogany hair in a braid that went to her waist, and in fancier clothes then she would have dared look at three years ago. The girl in the mirror didn’t look happy, she looked distant, older. Who am I? I thought before I walked out of my room towards the kitchen so I could grab breakfast.

My mother was there, I think she had been waiting for me. “Eat quickly.” She said, “I have something for you to do.” I nodded, having no idea what she would have me do. I had to do chores behind her back just so I wouldn’t feel helpless. I wasn’t allowed to go outside and run like I used to. I love to run.

I eat quickly and went to see my ma. She was in the library. I wasn’t allowed in the library until I turned twelve. I only visited occasionally though. My mother was the first to speak when I arrived, “You are to read all of the books on Ayrian history. You are only allowed out to use the latrine twice a day. Your meals will be brought to you three times a day. You can sleep on the couch. I will make a queen of you yet.” My so called ‘mother’ swept out of the library, closing the big wooden doors after her. I could hear the scrape of a key in the lock and my mother’s voice talking to a servant, telling them that I was not allowed to leave the library. Then my ma said through the door, “I will check on your progress next week. See you then daughter.” I sunk unto a chair. A week. I would be stuck in the library for at least a week, reading about history. What kind of a mother would do that?