Hey guys, thanks for reading this . . . um, this is my first story, so I don't really know what to say. Hope you enjoy it; review!!!

Chapter 1: And I Was Born

My story is a very complicated one. So I'll just have to start from the beginning.

It was Midwinter and cold. A man was strolling through the woods, his woollen coat lined with expensive fleece. He was whistling a soft tune as he made his way to his fiefdom from the stables, looking forward to a nice cup of hot cider. A shiver passed through him as winds from Tortall's neighbour, Galla, blew fiercely, tugging at his worn breaches and fur lined hat. He folded his arms and quickened his pace until he was a few scant yards from the gate. There he stopped abruptly, lifting his head up to the black sky. A quiet whistling of air had made him look up and couldn't believe what he saw.

A shooting star was heading straight for him at blinding speed, getting closer every moment. It was a magnificent site; white light shooting from some unknown source in different directions.

For a quick second, the man was paralyzed in it's presence before realizing he should move. He turned on his heel and sprinted down the forest path, not daring to look back in case he tripped. The air around him grew to a stifling heat as the roar grew louder. In a matter of seconds, the man felt his feet lift out from under him and flying through the air only to land in a pile of snow and twigs. Sharp branches cut into his face as he landed with a back aching thump, knocking the wind from him. Before his eyes could see he heard a crash, big enough to shake the ground. Trees uprooted themselves against the fierce power of the fallen star.

The man lay stunned, half drowned in the snow. His arm screamed in pain where he had landed on it. Slowly, very slowly, he sat up and checked if anything was broken. Relief washed through him when he confirmed he was not injured. He turned his head towards the crash site. He expected to see a huge rock, sizzling with heat. The man did not expect to see a bundle of cotton white blanket. He frowned and swivelled his head back and forth, looking for the fallen star. He gave up his search and approached the curious bundle of cloth that lay so innocently in the snow. He peered over and gasped.

A small baby, not yet a month old, stared into they eyes of Sir Knight Merric of Hollyrose.

"Well, what do we have here?"

And I was born.

o-o-o

"Dinner's ready, milady," murmured a servant. She scuttled away before Evelyn could respond. Why did all the servants here call her those ridiculous names? She's no lady. The girl sighed, I'm going to have to tell them tonight, she thought. She was ten years old, she could take care of herself.

She left Buttons curled up on the bed sleeping, he looked too comfortable to wake up. He was a pigmy marmoset who was given to her by Diane the wildmage on her tenth birthday. Diane became a friend of Sir Merric's when they had to work together in the Scanran war a year before she was born, almost ten years ago now. She had unbelievable powers dealing with animals including shape shifting, talking to them, and entering their minds.

Evelyn sighed again, this time with envy. She would love to have that bond with animals that Diane had; she would be able to talk with Buttons all she wanted, and tell him to stay away from the honey jar.. He was only six months old, still young for a marmoset. He was her best friend. They understood each other slightly, but their bond was growing stronger.

She slipped out the door to her room and descended the stairs to the main dining room. She could smell cinnamon wafting from the kitchen. Her family were already seated, talking to one another about the dealings of the fief with their guest. Evelyn slid into her chair unnoticed, until her father turned to look at her.

"Ah, there you are. What have you been doing all day? You've been stuck in your rooms with the door closed all afternoon," Sir Merric was not scolding her, instead he gave her a warm smile. He understood her best. "Oh, just sketching; I like to do it undisturbed." She would have gotten away with her lie, but her father knew her too well. "Alright." He frowned and gave her a meaningful look, silently telling her she'd have to explain later.

Her father was right, she had not been drawing; instead, she was planning the big revealing of her life long dream: to win her shield and become a lady knight of the realm. She began to sweat, wiping her hands on her dress. Evelyn cleared her throat. No one seemed to have heard her. She cleared her throat loudly and three pairs of eyes turned to stare at her.

"Yes?" said her mother. Her brown-caramel eyes were warm as she heard what her daughter had to say.

"I . . . I want to try for my shield," There was silence around the table, she coughed, " . . . as a lady knight."