**Disclaimer: I do not own Tamora's characters, but I own Leila, her father, etc. I am not trying to infringe on anyone's rights, I am simply enjoying myself and stretching my imagination by writing stories.**
Leila stared up at the palace. It stood before her like the royalty that lived there, majestic and proud.
"Can I take your horse, miss?" a stablehand asked, with a charming smile.
"Oh...yes, please," Leila stammered, handing over the reins. He was so handsome! And why didn't he speak like a commoner?
His blue eyes twinkled mischievously. "You can go right on in there, miss," he said. "Are you looking to become a knight?"
"Um...yes, I am," Leila said.
"Well, all you have to do is go to the Duke of Naxen. He'll tell you what to do."
"Thank you...uh...sir," Leila said, unsure of what to call him.
"Oh no, just call me by my name--Robert, or more commonly, Rob."
"Right," Leila said with a smile. She entered the palace and found her way to Duke Gareth of Naxen's office. She knocked.
A voice said, "Come in." She opened the door and stepped in. She found herself facing a tall, thin, brown-haired, brown-eyed man.
"Your Grace," Leila said, curtsying. The Duke looked surprised.
"Well, what have we here? Are you here to become a knight? And what is your name?"
"My name is Leila , and yessir," Leila answered.
"How old are you Leila?"
"Sixteen last month, Your Grace."
"That's a bit old to begin training as a knight, Leila...would you consider a spot as a Queen's Rider?"
At that moment, Leila's heart broke into a million pieces. Becoming a knight like her idol, Alanna, had been her lifelong dream.
"Oh, please, please, Your Grace, couldn't you make an exception?"
"I'm sorry, Leila, but I can't do that. We already have an older page, we can't afford another one."
Leila pretended as if nothing was wrong, but inside she was practically in chaos. Emotions were running amok--sadness that she wouldn't get to be famous, relief that she wouldn't, and surprise that she had been turned away.
"I'll try the Queen's Riders spot, I suppose," she told the duke.
"All right then," Duke Gareth said. You can go see Buri. She's the Riders' commander."
"These are the Rider barracks," Buri told Leila, showing her around. "You'll sleep and eat here. Now, we should find you a mount."
"Oh, I already have one," Leila assured Buri. "His name's Stormwind."
"Yes, I saw him as you came in. I'm sorry, Leila, but he's too old to be a Rider horse."
Leila sighed. "All right. But I still get to keep Stormwind for other riding, don't I?"
"Of course you do!" Buri exclaimed.
They walked to the horse meadow and Leila looked them over, finally deciding on a strawberry roan mare named Star. Her name was Star because of the star marking on her forehead. She had a friendly, calm disposition.
"Good choice," Buri commented. "She'll be a good horse."
Leila went to sleep that night happy with how her plan had turned out.
**More Chapters Coming Soon!!**