The Girl With Magic

The Big Day

Day after day flew by as Amber wandered her home and thought of where she would go with her future.

"Amber, honey, come on. stop pacing about the house, you're going to rub away the floor polish!"

"I'm sorry, dad. It's just... I don't know what to do!" she replied, worry in her voice.

"well... what do you like to do?" her father encouraged her to spill her mind and resolve her problem.

"hmm... Oh! I could become a horse stableman! Err um... woman"she replied with hope.

"okay... and what if that fails?" her father asked.

"Then.. Then i could try being a chef! My pies and cakes are to die for!" she said enthusiastically.

"Good, good! now what about i-"

"And if that fails, i could be a traveling merchant! It would be so much fun to venture out and see all the towns and cities!" Amber exclaimed, a determined light in her eyes.

"Good, good! It seems you have your little dilemma solved. Now, I must go to the market and get ingredients for dinner" He said, exiting the house. Amber walked into her room and flopped down on the bed. She stared up at the ceiling for a couple minutes.

"Is that ceiling interesting?" A familiar voice said.

"Tristan!" Amber gasped,"How many times have I told you not to creep up to my window like that?!"

"well.." He said, scratching his head. his brown hair swaying in the summer breeze.

"Why did you come here?" Amber sighed.

"No particular reason." he smiled. However, Amber saw right through his little lie.

"No, there is a reason isn't there?" She questioned.

"Alright, alright! I came here to wish you good luck tomorrow." he blushed.

"Oh, how sweet!" Amber's father burst through the doorway.

"Dad!" Amber said, surprised.

"Hello, Mr. Clove." Tristan said cheerfully.

"Hello Tristan. How have you been?" He asked politely.

"Oh, I'm fine." Tristan replied with a bright smile.

"Well don't just stand there, boy! Come on in!" Mr. Clove said. Tristan jumped in the window and summersaulted to break the impact.

"Show-off." Amber said under her breath. Tristan laughed and patted her on the shoulder.

"All righty then, I'm going to go start dinner. Amber will you help?" Her father said. All three of them walked to the kitchen. Tristan took a seat at the table while Amber and her father began preparing a soup.

The night flew by. They made and ate a delicious soup and gossiped by the fireplace. Amber had a tough time falling asleep, but she eventually drifted off.

"Amber Clover. What is your choice." The Baron's voice carried easily through the room.

"Stable master, sir." she said with respect.

"Mr. Goodall?" The Baron said.

"Hmm... I believe she is not big enough to handle the horses." Mr. Goodall said sadly.

"Your second choice, Miss Clove?" The Baron sighed.

"Chef, sir." Amber said, her hope slowly fading away.

"No." The kitchen master said

"I do not believe you qualify for anything, Amber."

She woke with a start, flinging all her covers off and making her father jump and almost spill the coffee he was holding. She wiped her eyes and blinked a couple times, trying to clear away the dream.

"Bad dream? I was coming to wake you up anyways." Her father said, still a bit startled. She nodded and slid out of bed, heading for the bathroom. She prepared a hot bath for herself and soaked in it for a while.

She dressed up in some nice clothing and put two small braids on each side of her face. The rest of her caramel colored hair was left naturally down her back and some resting on the front of her shoulders.

On way into town, she met up with Tristan. They walked together to the Baron's manor in the center of town. Before they entered, Tristan turned to her and put his hands on her shoulders.

"Don't you worry. I'm sure you will be accepted. Keep your head up and walk right through their criticism and judgemental statements. You are strong, and I know for sure that you can pull it off." Tristan looked into her eyes and squeezed her shoulders to imply that he was serious. She smiled and they opened the door to their future together.

A couple of their friends and some other people in their age group stood in a line in the center of the room. They walked over and joined the line.

"Alright! Now that we are all here, we can begin!" The Baron said, clapping his hands. "First up, Kristen!" His voice carried to the rear corners of the hall even though there was nobody else there.

"Merchant, Baron Leon, sir!" Kristen said cheerfully. Kristen was Amber's best friend. They could tell each other anything.

"Mr. Reel?" Baron Leon boomed.

"I accept gratefully." He said with a smile.

"Next up is... Gregory!" He read off his paper.

"Diplomatic service, sir." Gregory announced with ease.

"I accept" Lady Dianne, the head of the diplomatic service said calmly.

"Next, Tristan!" Baron Leon stated.

"Battleschool, Baron, sir!" Tristan said proudly.

"Judging by your strength and size, I believe you will make an exceptional soldier" Sir Droy, the battle commandant boomed. Amber guessed he was used to bellowing commands on the battlefield, so his voice was naturally loud.

"And next...Amber!" The Baron looked in her direction.

" Stable master, sir." she said quietly.

"Speak up now, Miss Clove." He said, making her flinch.

"S-Stable master, sir!" she said, louder this time. She mentally slapped herself for stuttering.

"Too Small." Mr. Goodall stated. Straight to the point, she thought.

"Your second choice, Amber." The Baron sighed.

"Chef, Baron Leon." She said, her hope slowly drifting away.

"I'm Deeply sorry, sweetie, but you're too scrawny." Master Angeline said sadly.

"Do you have a third choice, Miss Clove?" The Baron said, disappointment evident in his words.

"Y-yes, sir. Um... Travel Merchant, sir" she said. All happiness was gone from her voice and face. She looked over and saw Tristan looking at her with his kind chocolate eyes.

"Nope, sorry" The head merchant said, completely uninterested.