:Chapter 3: The Decision:

'The soldiers will be leaving today. . .'

The words Mother had spoken before echoed in my head as I sat on the wooden floor of our home, my hand firmly clamped over the silver chain, which was now safely hanging from my neck.

It had been a few hours since we came home from the palace, and Mother was now sound asleep after insisting that I should too, for I would be too tired or depressed to do anything else.

I sat here, awake, thinking.

'Jayden, you know I'll come back for it.' My brother's voice filled my head.

'You might die out there!' I heard my own voice echo through my mind.

Scenes of my brother trying to hold back his tears as he handed me his chain flashed through my head.

And that's when I decided. Regardless of what Shane had told me, I was going. I was going to come with him.

I quickly stood up on my feet. How could I pass off as a boy? I thought to myself, looking down at my body.

The first thing I noticed was my hair, my thick brown hair that trailed down my back. It would have to go. I quietly stepped towards a cupboard, where Mother kept all of her utensils. I reached in and carefully felt around for a cutting knife. The stinging pain in my fingers told me I had found one. I stifled a cry of pain, holding my breath as I listened for the steady breathing of my sleeping mother.

I sucked my fingers to ease the bleeding. I stared at the knife. Before I could stop myself I grabbed a whole bunch of my hair and ran the knife through it, at right about me chin.

I gasped as I watched fifteen years of my hair fall to the floor. I started to breath harder, tears welling up in my eyes. I dropped the knife on the floor and ran my hand through my hair, and started to panic.

What in the world did I just do! I took a few moments to calm down, taking deep, slow breaths. It's the only way to see Shane.

I stared down at my chest. I quickly threw off my tattered dress and searched around for some spare clothes Shane had lying around. I found a shirt, vest, and a pair of trousers in the corner of the room. I picked it up, immediately dropping it. It was filthy and smelled horrible. I reached down and picked it up again anyway. It was all I had. I pulled the clothes on. The shirt and the vest was too large and very loose, but it hid everything that needed to be hid perfectly. I pulled on a pair of trousers for the first time in my life. A bit baggy, but it would do.

I still couldn't believe what I was doing; yet I didn't stop. I quietly stepped out the door. There were few people outside today. Everyone was probably inside, grieving for their loved ones.

I squatted down and scooped up a handful of dirt, which I sprinkled and rubbing into my already filthy hair. I tangled and messed with it, letting it fall into my face. Anything to make me look unrecognizable.

Part of me wanted to go back inside and sleep, like mother suggested, yet the other part of me was pumping with excitement and anticipation with what I was doing.

I knelt down and scooped up even more dirt, rubbing it into my face. I quietly crept back inside, searching for something in which I can see my reflection. Eventually, I found a glass plate that had been passed down in Mother's side of the family for many years. Afraid that I might drop it, I set it on the table and towered above it.

I couldn't help but grin when I saw my reflection. I was barely recognizable, especially without my long hair. Only one thing was wrong.

I carefully tucked the silver chain Shane had given me inside of my shirt.

I crept over to where Mother was resting. "Don't worry about me," I whispered, giving her a kiss on the cheek. I lingered there for a while. Hesitating on whether or not I really wanted to do this. I took a deep breath and one last glance at Mother.

And then I was gone.

"Excuse me, Sir!" I cried to the guard that was guarding the palace gates.

I stopped to catch my breath after my sprint towards the palace. I could feel beads of sweat rubbing down the back of my neck, which was exposed to the sun now that I had cut my hair.

The man, who I recognized as the same man who was guarding the gate this morning, eyed me as if I were a nuisance.

"What do you want, lad?" he asked, wiping his forehead with his sleeve.

"I-" I stopped and coughed. I forgot that I was pretending to be a boy! I cleared my throat and spoke in the deepest voice I could muster, which really wasn't deep at all, much to my disappointment. "I need to get inside. I-I'm a soldier."

The guard raised an eyebrow. "You don't look like much of a soldier to me, kid," he said rudely. "Go back home."

I scowled. "Please," I said in my false voice. "I need to get in. The soldiers are leaving soon. . . the knight that informed us of the war said every man ages thirteen through sixteen could fight. I'm. . . thirteen," I said. Maybe the young age would explain my small frame.

After a few moments of hesitation the guard gave in. "Alright, Kid, get through. They're lining up in the courtyard."

And, sure enough, there were hundreds of men and boys of different ages, who were starting to line up in the courtyard. I took a place beside a couple of men, trying to blend in.

"Alright! Listen up, men!" cried a voice. I looked over to see, judging from his fancy uniform, a royal general. "I am going to put you in squads! The members of your squad will the men you will be sharing a tent with when we stop to rest, and they will be the people you stick with for the remainder of this war! Is that clear!"

"Yes, Sir!" the men replied defiantly.

"Alright!" he barked, as he stepped towards a group of men. He started counting them off.

My palms were starting to sweat. I nervously searched around, in hope of finding Shane. Where was he?

"You! Over there!" cried the general.

I quickly spun around to face him. "Yes. . .?" I spoke nervously in my false voice. But he was already busy assigning the other men.

I gulped, confused. Where was I suppose to go?

"Hey, you! Over here!" cried an unfamiliar voice. I quickly spun around.

The owner of the voice, who was barely visible from where I was standing, was waving his hand over the crowd, motioning for me to come over. "Yes, you! Over here!"

I nervously headed over to where the boy was, hoping that I was not found out.

I stared in shock as I saw who the owner of the voice was. I stared at his brownish reddish hair, the sprinkle of freckles across his nose, his green eyes, his fancy clothes. . . I recognized him from earlier today, on the balcony. It was the Prince!

I gasped and quickly swept into a curtsey. Suddenly my eyes widened and I felt my cheeks turn red and I heard men around me erupt in laughter. I quickly cleared my throat and turned the curtsey into a bow. "Your highness. . ." I greeted in my false voice.

The prince laughed, and ran his hand through his curly brown hair. "You're funny. I like a good laugh once in a while," he said with a chuckle, putting his right hand out. "Derek. Call me Derek."

I slowly reached for his hand and shook it, his large hands enveloping my own. "I'm Jay-" I stopped an cleared my throat. That was a close call! I almost told him my real name, Jayden, which was obviously a female name. I had to get used to this fast! I cleared my throat again, panicking. What was I suppose to tell him?

Well, it's nice to meet you, Jay," Derek said with a smile.

I blushed. He was lovely. "you too, your- I mean. . . Derek." I smiled, thankful for the fast save. I was no longer Jayden, but Jay.

A/N: Please review!