Chapter 1

"No, I won't, its highly unlikely that I would be chosen, I don't want to do it." I leaned agains the wall that held the door which led into the kitchen listening to America argue with our mom. I had seen them on the table two simple envelopes that held a world of possibilities. The princes Markom and Maxon had come of age and there was to be a never before done double selection, two girls from their province would be chosen. I had read all of this in the letter addressed to me. America had been spitting sparks all day, I knew why, I shared a room with her after all and though I pretended sleep I saw as she climbed out the window each week, and the looks that passed between her and Aspen. I flicked a curling strand of long deep red hair out of my face concentrating on hearing more.

"Your sister isn't hesitating, Aine is happy to sign up." I could hear the rest of the sentence mom was restraining her self from saying 'to support our family', echoed in the kitchen.

"Then let her go, I don't want to!" I heard footsteps and quickly went back to violin practice I was supposed to be doing. As I played I thought about the luck that it would take to get in, I really hadn't thought of boys, but the money that came with the selected girl would feed her family, we had more then most, but still things were stretched like the strings used on a violin. I hoped that America would sign up because then there would be a possibility of the both of us going. I scoffed at myself and started playing a faster piece stepping in time to the music, this was my own little trick, when America and I would perform together both singing and her on the piano, me on the violin, with a fast piece like this I would dance about which people seemed to love, it always earned us big tips when America and I played together, she had a sweet voice and was a genius on the piano.

"I always love it when you play that, and I know you were listening." whispers America her face showing no scowl lines and sat on the worn piano bench. I shrugged with my eye brows and kept up the tune.

"Just think it would be better if you signed up, I mean you with your deep green eyes, that curly hair and the rest of it, well you would win for sure." I stopped playing and set the violin in its case.

"Yes but if I look like you which would make sense since we are siblings and all, then you are pretty too. Besides your better with people, they sometimes confuse me, sure I'm good with music but you touch people's hearts." America huffed in a none agreeing way.

"Yeah and I'm one material come on, your so graceful, and you charm people with your frank and sincere ways, I got dad's side of things and make the simplest statement look like i'm being sassy or rude. You speak so nicely to everyone, and everyone loves you, May is like you more then me, you and her are so sweet, I have a temper."

"Yeah and now your trying to butter me up so I'll tell mom that I'll do it and not to worry about you, I know your ways America Singer." We broke into laughter and I felt some of the underlying tension seep out of her.

"I think I want to do it, I want to try at least, I don't have any romantic attachments." I winked at her. America sat up straight and her face paled.

"How long have you,"

"Since the first night, if I would have told on you it would have been years ago. If you love him, go for it, I know it would make mom sad at first but in the end she wants you to marry for love, and if I win you will be a one, and all, if I even get selected." I saw the bright future dimming in the reality that was ifs and buts were just that. Sighing I looked at America, she looked thoughtful.

"Well there's the draft, and he wants us to have some money put away, and all. I want to, and its nice finally having someone to talk to about it all." I thought for a moment and had a loose plan formed.

"Listen I want to help you either way selection or no selection, the draft isn't that soon so if I get chosen, get married in all the hype with the family mom wont care, if not then I'll figure something out, maybe with tips or something. It will happen, I want you to be happy and if its worked out this long, under this strain, then it is bound to be worth it all." America flung her arms around me. I smiled and patted her on the back.

"This doesn't look like practice to me." Mom stood in the doorway hands on hips but smiling.

"Sorry mom, its my fault." I jumped up.

"So do you think America should sign up." America groaned.

"I think if she doesn't have too she shouldn't I mean, if she did get chosen she would hate it, why put her through so much misery where as, I definitely want to." Mom sighed rubbing at her temple.

"Well, since we will at least have one," She shot America a piercing look.

"I'm sure at least one person we know will get in and who knows maybe I'll get lucky." Mom sighed again and came over to wrap me in a hug.

"No matter what happens I'm just glad you are here, both of you." I tugged Mare into the hug and felt the warmth of family all around me.

"Alright now back to your practice, there was something else I wanted to talk to you girls about, it was meant to be a bribe, but now I think its just good sense since it would have happened soon. I'm giving you girls permission to find your own work, to take a third of what you make," Then she hesitated but a decision formed in her face, "and to take half of your tip." We both gasped America put her hands over her mouth eyes wide with delighted shock.

"Now don't forget your family, we still need you both." I chuckled.

"Of course mom how could we ever forget you." I spoke taking mom's attention incase America was being too excited. Mom laughed, it made her appear years younger. I smiled softly and went back to my violin, America joined me in one of the festival songs we played for dancing. Mom stayed and listed her face still bright with laughter. We played a slow song that was mournful and had my violin singing high and sweet. I lost myself in the music feeling my soul soar with the strains. As the song ended I looked over to mom who had unusually stayed to hear us, I saw tears glittering in her eyes and one trailing down her cheek. I hadn't seen such emotion on her in years, it was rare to see her cry and I felt guilty some how, and dismayed. I turned my head and looked away feeling tears come to my eyes.

"That was wonderful, the best I think we have played in a while." America turned from her seat on the piano. By that point mom had wiped her cheek and the glisten of tears were gone. I sighed as the guilt faded maybe mom was going maudlin in her middling years.

We played for another half hour until it was time for dinner. I helped America cook and set the table. She made tea with lemon and I made a face, I was not a fan of the bitter flavor. During a lull in the dinner making process I started filling out the rest of the form and thought about the next day when we would go to the province office to turn it in. I nibbled on the pen as I went my mind whirring its gears in rapid thought.

"Earth to Aine." America tapped me on my shoulder.

"Sorry I was thinking again." America smiled, she knew if I got too deep in thought I would be away for a while.

"Its okay, can you finish the chicken while I finish the table." I nodded and we continued. Dinner was silent until mom brought out the letter about the selection.

"To the house of Singer, our last consensus shows that two of your daughters are eligible for an exciting opportunity." She went on from there and May started to jump up and down. Mom gave her a look and she quieted a bit.

"So that means Aine or America could marry a prince." May, my younger sister, was in her early teens and lately very boy crazy.

"I for one don't want to marry a prince no matter how nice he is." America said exasperated and I rolled my eyes.

"Well that's okay because Aine will, won't you?" May looked at me pleadingly. I smiled and leaned over to muss her soft red hair.

"Well its not all up to me May, they choose, I can put my name in but they might not pick me." May frowned. I winked at her and smiled, she smiled back and the topic turned to the parties that would be had because of rich twos or threes with daughters eligible for the selection.

"May, please go work on that painting." May sighed but got up. I stood and started cleaning up the table as mom looked hard at America.

"So, mom, when do you want to go to the province office. I think we should turn it in tomorrow." I glanced at America hoping she'd get the point and start cleaning up. She did and mom set her gaze on me.

"Tomorrow sounds good, maybe America can come as well and see what she is missing." I sighed heavily and rolled my eyes.

"Mom," I started to say frustration at her stubbornness evident.

"No its okay Aine, I'll go, if anything just to support you." America wrapped an affectionate arm around me. Mom smiled at this worry leaving her face and making her look years younger. Tension built in me as the want for just one day in the selection built, we needed this. I finished wiping the last plate and put it in the cupboard. I kissed my mom on the head and murmured my goodnights to them all. Trudging wearily to bed I wondered what the next days would have for me in the way of good luck, I needed it badly if I were to get into the selection. Later that night I heard America climb out the window and hoped she'd find some comfort from Aspen. I always worried for her when she went out after curfew because there could be a chance of her getting caught. Hours later America woke me up and I sat up rubbing the sleep out of my eyes wondering what was wrong.

"He says we're done, that I, I need to find someone else who can provide more, that the work and the struggle has made him more bitter, and he, he doesn't love me anymore." I gasped my eyes going round. I wrapped my arms around her as she heaved tiny sobs. I rubbed her back.

"We, fought about the, the selection and I told him I loved him, and he just, just shook his head, and said that it wasn't enough, he doesn't want to bring me down a cast. He says he needs to marry a six and under." She sobbed quietly into my shoulder and I felt the fury build in me. I pulled away from America so that she could see the serious look in my eyes.

"Well, then he is an ass of a fool who cares more about casts then you, then he doesn't deserve you." She stopped her sobs and sat straight.

"Your right, I just can't believe it of him, maybe the work did get to him, I've never known him to be venomous like her was." I nodded letting her work through it. I saw the grief slowly turn to anger in the minutes of silence.

"I do deserve better, that's the one thing he was right about, and you as well. I'm going to do the selection with you. That will make it twice as likely for our family to get picked." Her chin tilted up and her face became set. I knew she would still grieve, no one gets over a relationship that fast but I let it go.

"Sure whatever you want Mare, but now we should go to sleep since tomorrow comes early." I rubbed my eyes again and yawned.

"Thank you for being here for me." America hugged me, then climbed into bed. I lay back in my covers wondering what tomorrow would bring us.