Origins

Disclaimer- Jon and Thayet, Jasson, the Copper Isles, Tortall, and anything else you recognize is Tamora Pierce's. Everything you don't recognize is mine, and I'm very proud of it.

A/N- Hihi! It's me again, and I'm having upload problems, so keep an eye out for anything wrong, please. This is just the first chapter, and I've never done chapter uploading before, so bear with me, please. Oh yeah- anything and everything I write is for Miriam- whether I say so or not. A saati- why I have no idea. J All the best, Miriam! Hope u like!

~*Windwhisper*~

The girl entered the ballroom. This was a Ball of State, so everyone from the merchants to the King and Queen, Jonathan and Thayet, were in attendance. As she passed, heads turned. Whispers followed her. She was stunning in a gown of violet silk with white flowers, tassels at the hem, and a white satin under layer. Her lusciously thick red golden hair was caught in two braids, laced at the ends with leather, just brushing thigh length. The ends were naturally wavy, and she held her head high as she took her place with the rest of her company, next to the great doors, waiting to be announced.

"Katelyn. Tu regarde tres jolie!" (Katelyn. You look very pretty!) It was the captain of her guard, Ducat.

"Ducat, this is TORTALL! We are supposed to speak Common, remember?" she informed him. "Not Copain!"

He sighed. "It's just so hard! All these blasted "irregular verbs" and passe compose! I mean, past participle." He added, quailing under Katelyn's look.

She smiled at him patiently. "Ducat, I am 13. I speak 6 languages."

He grinned at her. "Forgive me, Princess. But come, I think the King is summoning us."

Sure enough, just them the herald announced "Princess Katelyn of the Royal House of Langsi of the Copper Isles, Duchess of Hazzam, Countess of Tuniaca, and Lady of the Sacred Isle of Raquea, and company.

"

Katelyn sighed. Another ball, another presentation. She was being considered as bride of Prince Liam, now 16. Her grandfather the Pharon had said to go along with this for the most part. She was still a secondary princess, as her grandfather was still healthy and her young father, only 30, was next in line for the throne and had a strong young bride.

The girl sighed. All she really wanted to do was to serve the Goddess, as she believed was her destiny. But when you were a princess, that was hard. But who was to say she couldn't have the best of both worlds?

With these thoughts and others she approached the dais where the monarchs sat.

"Sire, Majesty. I am honored that you so privilege my people," she murmured.

The queen, truly majestic in a flowing gown of palest rose petal pink, leaned forward to smile at her.

"As we are honored that you grace our halls, Princess Katelyn," she replied.

The king gestured to the seat on the queen's left, and she took the hint and sat, spreading skirts under a surcoat of deepest silver, trimmed with feathers at neckline and beaded at the hem. Fixing eyes of deepest sapphire blue shot through with silver and light blue, she acknowledged the crowed with a regal nod and they sent up a great cheer. For her.