Wren

Chapter One

I open my eyes. The lavender canopy of my four-poster bed encases me as I lie there for a minute or two. I'm slightly dreading what will happen today, but I know that it has to occur. I get out of bed and put on my wide framed glasses, looking through a window that looks down on an impressive flower garden. My father gave it to me to try and excite me out of bed in the mornings. It works sometimes. The lilies are my favorite. I despise the roses.

Sighing, I slide out of my robe and into the daytime dress. It's long and purple with sleeves that stretch past my elbows. I'm not allowed to show too much skin, by social standards of the Flos Avem kingdom. If I do, people unworthy of a princess might try and become potential candidates for my hand.

My mother– the queen– comes in without knocking. Why would she knock? She knows what I look like, and I never have anyone but her in my bedroom.

"Wren," she coos, "It's time."

I take a deep breath. Mother walks up to me to comb the tiara through my dark curly hair. I shut my eyes.

One more slow breath of innocence. My last piece of childhood to grasp at.

She takes my hand and we walk slowly past the stone walls to the double doors. People are waiting, waiting for us to show so they can cheer. Cheer for the queen and her daughter. On the day when her daughter turns twenty. When she becomes an adult.

My mother opens the enormous wooden doors and smiles at me with tears in her eyes. I manage a smile back, even though I am literally saying goodbye to everything I know. When the prince or princess turns twenty, they are to go on a three-month journey into the world. When they come back, they share their findings with all of Flos Avem. After they return, they choose a person to marry. In my case, a man.

I've never had a crush. Most people make the same face when they see me. A face that says "Wow! I wish I could be royal!" It's hard to look past and actually determine whether someone is even attractive. But tomorrow when I set off, I will have three months to consider my options of all the men in Flos Avem.

Everyone is cheering. People throw roses on the deep purple carpet that makes my heels wobble. My mother holds me steady and giggles with her eyes. She knows about my hatred for roses. I smile back at her. She kisses my cheek and lets go.