Chapter One
Gwynna

The soft sunlight broke through the curtains, shining silky beams across Gwynna's bed. The girl awoke with a start, her eyes still heavy with sleep.

The start of another long, restless day, she thought. In heels, nonetheless. She stood up wearily, just enough to start her day. Her bright blue eyes scanned the room.

They were first caught on the dark cherry-stained wood desk, where mounds of letters and notes were piled. They then drifted to the small velvet couch on the floor, in front of a small table. "Roman style," her mother had called it.

And of course, there was Gwynna's pride and joy. An enormous bookshelf, taking up one whole wall. The dark mahogany shelves held hundreds of books, all having been collected by Gwynna in her sixteen years.

In all of her reminiscing, Gwynna forgot what she was doing. Her body moved back into synch just as the maids walked in.

"Hustle, hustle honey!"one of them called. "It's a big day!" said another. Pulling off her mauve nightgown, the maids stuffed her into a corset.

"Oof!" she huffed as the stiff whalebone cut into her breasts. I understand that this is the fashion, she thought. But does beauty have to hurt so much?

A green gown went down over Gwynna's head, the puffed-out sleeves catching on her hands. As the skirt was hemmed, and the excruciating heels were added, she snatched the hairbrush from the bed stand.

"Oh no you're not." Gwynna said, staring down the young maid that had reached for it.

Every day, Gwynna was dressed and done up like a doll, heavy dresses donning her body, and precious jewels dripping down her body. Her hair was the one thing that she would never let them touch.

She smoothly ran the brush through her silky black hair. As it fell over her shoulders, Gwynna glanced at the white flecks in her hair. "Like snow on a raven's wings," her mother had told her.

Gwynna loved it. It made her an individual. But most importantly, her strange appearance kept the suitors at bay.

As the women finished up the touches on Gwynna's outfit, they backed away. "Beautiful," they muttered.

"Yes, yes. Very pretty." Gwynna said. She grabbed a leather-bound book off of the desk and walked out the door.

Making sure that the maids weren't watching her, Gwynna slid a tapestry aside. A doorway revealed itself. She gingerly stepped inside of it. Wooden floorboards creaked beneath her heels. She continued along, picking up her pace.

The hidden passages made Gwynna's day so much easier, cutting down the amount of walking she had to do in those gruesome heels. I swear, she thought. I'm going to drop these things off the balcony!

She reached her destination, and pulled back another tapestry. "Hello, mother."

The young woman jumped. "Gwynna!" she gasped. "Please, darling! I beg of you, don't do that." Gwynna blushed. "Sorry."

The queen smiled. "It's fine." she said. "I see you brought your sketchbook."

Gwynna smiled too. "Yes. I've been working on this lovely drawing of the kitchen. I think that I captured the cook's face just ri-"

Her mother cut her off. "What have I told you about sneaking into the kitchen?"

Gwynna's head dropped. "I'm not supposed to." Her mother nodded. "That's right. Now, sit down and let me do your hair."

The queen was the only other person that Gwynna ever allowed to touch her hair. Her smooth grace made Gwynna feel right at home." That is, until she started talking.

"Now, what is it that you plan to wear to the ball tonight? Oh, I think that blue silk gown would look perfect of you! And it will certainly have the suitors lining up for your ha-"

This time, it was Gwynna who interrupted. "Mother! Must you always go on about suitors?"

The queen sighed. "Darling, I know you hate talking about it, but you are approaching your sixteenth birthday, and-"

"Enough is enough!" Gwynna practically shouted. "Can we please change the subject?"

Her mother sighed. "Oh, fine. What do you want to talk about?" Gwynna smiled. "Actually, I have a question for you."

Her mother slowly stopped working on the braid she had started. "And what would that happen to be?" She sounded suspicious.

"Well, I was wondering if I could take Nevara and Gale to lessons today." Gwynna asked. There was nothing but silence for several seconds. The awkward moment was broken by a knock at the door.

"Come in!" The queen's youthful, singsong appearance was brought back.

"Good morning, my lovely ladies!" Gwynna's father stepped through the door. The women both smiled. "Good morning, Ferdinand." Gwynna's mother said. The king smiled brightly. "Hello, my darling Snow." he said.

Gwynna leaned away as they kissed. "And hello, my sweet little Gwynna!" said the king, not forgetting to include his eldest daughter. Gwynna hugged her father, careful not to mess up her unfinished braid.

"Ferdinand?" the queen called. The king's head turned. "Yes dear?" The queen nodded at Gwynna. "Tell your father what you told me."

Gwynna smiled. "Well, I told her that I wanted to take Nevara and Gale to their lessons, but I never got an answer."

The expected glare from her mother was shot at Gwynna. But the king just smiled. "Of course you can, darling!"

But the queen wasn't so happy about it. "Gwynna, you know how I feel about going into the village."

Gwynna continued to protest. "It would be so much easier this way! And do we really want another big commotion like the last time?"

The queen sighed, and looked to her husband. "Oh, I suppose." she finally answered. "But you'll have to take Rogan with you."