It was a long winter night when I came into the world. There was wind whipping frantically about the castle which I lived in, and servants were constantly bustling in and out of the room, trying to keep the fire from going out. Snow was constantly blowing into the window. It was broken, and kept flying open, despite the fact that my father was standing by it, pushing it shut each time it opened, but the window was stubborn, and kept trying to open.

I screamed loudly in my first hour. No matter what happened, or how much my lady mother held me, I couldn't seem to calm down. It took hours, and many feedings, before I stopped crying and actually took in my surroundings. By then, all of the servants (save the midwife) and my father had left the room. My two older siblings were of far more importance than one writhing little baby.

The room I was in was quite large, and, except for the broken window, very comfortable. I was in the highest room of the highest tower, since that is where my mother wished her child to be born. My mother was a very noble lady of high birth. She wanted only the best for her children, and she was raising my older brother and sister well. She had short brown hair and calm blue eyes. She was the picture of serenity and primness. Her white birthing gown hung down to her knees as she lay there next to me, exhausted after a long night.

Suddenly, I was very hungry once more. I started sobbing, and my lady mother muttered to herself about how my sister had never cried this much, and that I was already acting up. This made me sad. All I wanted was more milk, and pleasing my mother seemed like the most important thing in the world. Sensing her disproval, I started to cry even harder. Just then, my brother walked into the room.

"Oh, my sweetest!" my mother exclaimed jovially "Come see your little sister". My brother marched over and took one look at me. His face contorted into a grimace.

"She's so ugly. I was never this ugly!" My mother agreed with him.

"Yes, she is a wretched little thing, isn't she?" At that, she swooped me up off the bed and into the waiting midwifes hands, and, taking my brother by the hand, walked out of the room.

"Come, I could use someone a bit more educated to keep me company."