The Arabian Princess

Chapter 1

From the second I was born, I was a disappointment to my father. It shows great power if the first born of a king is a boy. I was a girl. My mother cried, she heard the horror stories about England's King killing his wives if they failed to give him a son. My father had to spend the rest of the week assuring her that he loved her and would never hurt her. Ever since then I could never please my father. He finally got his wish when my little brother was born. The second he took a breath in this world, I hated him. I was tossed aside and my brother got everything. He got the thing I longed for the most; my father's affection. My mother loved me so I guess that had to be enough. She would comb my long black hair everyday and tell me all the things I wished my father would say. She would even secretly read stories to me. In Arabia, women were not allowed to read or write. We were suppose to nod our head and do as we were told. I can't remember when I first began to obsess about knowledge but, all I know is I can't get enough of it.

I wake up every morning very early and sneak up to the tallest tower. I remember when I was young I used to pretend to be Repunzal always locked in her tower until I realized I am locked in this castle. The only sunshine I see is what little pours in through the Windows.

I creep up the winding stone stair case which is dimly lit by torches. Until I reach a locked wooden door I take out a brass key from around my neck and unlock it. I step into the damp room and fumble around until I find a torch. I bring it outside and light it using another torch. When I return back inside I see my walls of books I've collected over the years. I pick up one dusty book and open it. I read it aloud quietly, I heard footsteps and quickly blew the torch out and stepped into the hallway locking the door.

A tall thin man wearing a dark green robe came toward me. He had gray hair nearly in a ponytail and clean cut gray beard. His eyes were almond shaped and had a sparkle in them.

"Ah Princess Karimah still sneaking off the read I see?" The head butler asked

"Yes, Zaki I was" Zaki was one of only two people who knew about my book stash and my ability to read, my mother being the other.

"Hurry up or you'll miss Breakfast." I hurried past him, I couldn't get over this feeling that something bad was about to happen.