The Princess Quest

Chapter One: The Accident

Hello people! I'm writing this after I've completed Chapter 9, because this needs to be said. These first few chapters, may not be very interesting, but I promise, IT GETS BETTER. I was new to writing for an actual audience when I published these first chapters, but now I've got a grasp of what I want this book to become. So just bear with me. Thanks!

The blue pixie light shimmered and blinked and beams of color swept around the ballroom. There was music, harps and flutes producing beautiful sounds as their players expertly played them. There was talking and laughing and dancing. Then suddenly, everything was silent.

"I would now like to present the King and Queen of Lyria. Her highness, Naomi and his majesty Nix!"

Thunderous clapping  ensued as the massive oak doors opened, and the King and Queen stepped unto the balcony above the ballroom. The Queen was wearing a silver tiara, encrusted with green vines, and deep blue sapphires. Her dress was green and gold, and covered in flowers. The King had a huge fur cape on. 

"I know present her highness. Princess Roya!"

Even more clapping. Roya shuddered. She hated being on display. She would much rather be out with her bow, shooting targets or collecting glow-berries for potions. Her mom gave her a look that said, "be gracious." Roya nodded. If her manners weren't perfect, she'd bring dishonor to her family. 

The party continued. Roya made her way to the table full of food. She filled her plate full of salmon, raspberries and tomatoes. And of course, cookies! She smelled the delicious, warm smell of the salmon, and tasted the sweet/tart taste of the raspberries as she popped them into her mouth. She paused. She wasn't supposed to be eating until she had sat down. She silently cursed her forgetfulness. Pretending that there wasn't anything in her mouth, Roya speed-walked to the royal table. She hastily sat down, and swallowed the berry. Her mother came and sat beside her.

"I have something for you," her mother softly said. She pulled out a necklace, shaped like a crescent moon with a thorn through it. The Moonthorn family crest. 

"It's beautiful," Roya said. It was beautiful. The moon was made out of silver, and the thorn was made out of oak. A rare metal, and the strongest wood, to show that their family was rare in population and beauty, but they were as strong as the great oak tree. Queen Naomi fastened the chain around Roya's neck. 

Suddenly, a hissing sound caught Roya's attention. Before she even had time to turn around, a loud bang erupted from Roya's side. She looked around wide-eyed. What was happening? It was over as quick as it had come. It was quiet. Too quiet. Roya looked around and saw that everyone was looking at her with fear and panic. 

"Okay everyone-," she started but then paused. She saw splinters of wood around her throne. 

"Rowan bomb," she thought. "Someone tried to assassinate me."

She looked around. "No. Not me." As she looked to her right, she saw her mother filled with splinters of rowan wood, the one wood that fey folk could not not touch. She screamed in horror. This of course made everyone else panic, and shouts of "the Queen is dead!" echoed throughout the room. The lights then went out, and everyone made for the exits.

Roya sat in absolute shock, her heart beating, tears streaming down her face, watching the chaos as best she could through the dark. A rowan bomb? Rowan was illegal. In fact the only place you get rowan was the kingdom of Miraelin. Going there was illegal as well, as it was corrupt, and violent. Then the fateful call was said:

"The princess killed the queen, to steal the throne!"

Roya, shocked, denied it. Because it wasn't true! Why would she ever do that!? But the partygoers, tired and drunk on faerie drinks were ready to believe anything. The looks on their faces were clear as day. They all believed that Roya had killed the queen. 

Then, a voice from the corner spoke up. 

"It is her right to a court hearing. There is very little evidence of her committing this crime. Her hearing will be held at noon tomorrow."

That was the royal advisor, Nenia. She was very old, but very wise and fair. Roya exhaled, and let the relief wash over her. Everything would be okay. There was no possible way she could be proclaimed guilty. And that was that. Nenia escorted the guests out, and sent Roya to her room, saying that her father needed time to grieve. Her father. Roya had completely forgotten. Nenia said that he was knocked unconscious, but her would be fine. 

Roya nodded and headed up to bed. She convinced herself that everything would be fine. But she had no idea what the events of tomorrow would bring.