Of Arrows & Daggers

CHAPTER ONE

Just as she always expected, Charlotte had no connection to the world of magic or royalty.

Charlotte sat cross-legged on her bedroom floor, the draft from the broken window creating an uncomfortable chill in the room.

She'd been sitting there for the past half hour, her dearest friend Katherine beside her. The look of desperation in Katherine's eyes almost would've made her feel bad, if what she was saying wasn't so outlandish and impossible to believe. The idea of magic in a kingdom far, far away was something she'd expect out of a movie, not the mundane world they were supposed to live in.

"Charlotte, I'm being serious," said Katherine. "And you're laughing. I'm sitting here, pouring my heart and soul out to you by telling you my deepest, darkest secret and you're laughing. This has to do with you as well, mind you. Aren't you scared of how you play into all of this?"

Charlotte rolled her eyes, wiping the humor from her eyes. "I'm being serious, too. And to answer your question, no. I'm not scared of how I fit into your fake kingdom. So let's recap: you're the princess of a hidden kingdom, alright. Got it. Where is said Kingdom, anyway? Manhattan?"

Katherine stood up, frustrated. "Stop that!"

Charlotte stood up as well, pacing back-and-forth around the worn down room. She'd never known Katherine Chestere to be a liar, not in the past five years they've been friends at least. Even still, what she was saying was absurd. The entire time they've been sitting together, Katherine was ranting about rival kingdoms and evil sorcerers who were plotting to take the crown, her crown. If she was making it up, she surely has been hiding quite the imagination from her for all these years.

"I'm under the impression that you're tricking me," said Charlotte, tapping her cheek. "Are you trying to trick me, Chestere? I don't like being tricked."

"Of course not! I'm trying to get my best friend to believe me!" Katherine sighed, visibly worn out.

Charlotte sighed, her insides gnawing at her. She was upsetting Katherine, which wasn't her intent at all. She noticed her once perfectly-placed hair was dishevelled, the dark brown strands losing their typical shine. She had dark bags under her eyes, and her dark skin looked dull. Katherine looked like she hadn't slept in days. The thought weighed on her conscience, and she felt herself giving in.

"Okay, fine. I'll bite. You're a princess from Dather--"

"Dacre."

Charlotte pinched the bridge of her nose, sitting on the edge of her bed. "Sure. Dacre. And your mother, the one who would occasionally pick me up in her minivan and drive me to cheer practice, is the Queen who happens to be in life-threatening, kingdom-annihilating danger."

"Exactly." Said Katherine, smiling wide.

Charlotte thought for a moment before throwing her hands up in defeat. "Okay, I just don't know if I believe you."

Katherine's smile fell. "Are you kidding me?" she threw herself on the floor next to the bed. "Charlotte, come on. Why would I lie about something like this? What can I do to prove it to you?"

Charlotte faked a thoughtful pause. "Hmm, I don't know. Maybe take me to your stupid kingdom and let me see for myself what on earth you're talking about, you absolute wack job?"

"I already told you I can't do that!" Katherine huffed, crossing her arms over her chest. "You're human."

"And what are you, then? A pegasus?" Quipped Charlotte, rolling her eyes.

"No! I--"

Before they could indulge in a nice and healthy argument, Charlotte's door flew open with a bang. Standing in her doorway was a tree. Or, a man who looked like a tree in stature. Charlotte wondered if he would even be able to make it through the door frame, because he might be too wide, but also because of the way he was huffing and puffing. She feared he might fall over.