A rose, wilted in a glass vase in the sunlight. Its once red petals, where now a dusty brown, each of them fell one by one. The stem leaves dry and crinkly, signaled that life left the rose. The flower was no longer pleasing to the eye. Most would throw it out and replace it with a new one. But that wasn't the case for Elethea. With a gentle touch of her hand, the dead rose began to rise from its droopy position. The brown petals turned back to its ruby red color. The leaves regained their health and began to unwither. That put a smile on Elethea's face.

She placed the rose back in its vase. She then rested her chin on her hands that were on the hand-carved table. She admired the healthy rose and breathed in its scent. How she loved the ability to put life back into plants. Whenever she saw a plant all sad and shriveled up as its withers away to become part of the dust of the earth, she couldn't help but to bring back the plant to its original beauty. She was grateful to have that talent. But unfortunately this amazing ability was to be kept concealed only within the walls of her own home. It was not to be unveiled to others. Not because the ability was bad of itself, but how one gained that ability—by being a faery. A being that humans detest.

But for Elethea, she only had half of the faery blood in her, the rest of her was human. To her, it was probably worse than being a full faery, since breeding was forbidden. A crime punishable by exile or even worse. Fortunately for Elethea, she had more human characteristics, making her fit in with the others in her village.

Elethea had wondered why her parents were so willing to break the breeding law. Were they really that in love with one another to commit the crime? Did they ever think about what would happen if they had children? Sadly, she could never ask them such questions since both were dead, ever since she was a baby. She had thought she would get all her answers through her cousin. But no matter how much she asked, he would just give short and vague replies, never going into further details. The only thing she got was, her mother was a human and her father was a faery and that they were both dead.

Maybe she should appreciate the little knowledge she had about her heritage. Because the more answers one gains about the unknown, the more likely chaos was soon to follow them. That is what she would say to herself when nagging questions enter her head.

Hearing heavy footsteps coming up to the front door snaps the thoughts out of her head. Her pink lips turned upward when she saw her cousin through the tiny window. She rushed to open the door to greet him. The door, rusty on its hinges, made a squeak when it opened.

"You were gone quite long dear cousin, I hope it was a successful hunting trip," she said cheerfully, eyeing the sack over his shoulders.

His brows furrowed when he gave a grunt as a reply. He threw the brown sack on the table, along with his bow and arrows.

"And just like last week, not a single deer walked my path. Not even a wild turkey," her cousin griped.

"I am sure you will be more successful in the next hunt, Thorne." Elethea gave him an encouraging smile.

"It doesn't matter now. I went to the market and was able to trade our goat's cheese for some three day-old roast beef and two potatoes for supper. Would you mind boiling the potatoes?"

Elethea nodded and reached into the sack to gather the food for their supper.

"Oh, the market had your favorite pastries, apple fritter," Thorne said with a smile. "It's wrapped in a cloth."

Elethea dug further in the sack, she pulled out a purple velvet cloth that contained the pastry. When she carefully unveiled the tasty treat, she gave her cousin a grateful smile, as she looked down at the mouth-watering baked good. She knew that this pastry had cost her cousin a three day pay wage. But her selfless cousin knew how much apple fritters delighted her.

She nibbled the edge of it, she wanted to savor each sweet bite that melted in her mouth. When she was about to sink her teeth in for a second bite, a trumpet blew, startling her. It made a loud but engaging melody. The melody that signaled a royal announcement. Elethea rushed to open the door. Several men were on horseback. In the middle of the group was a short, stout man. He was surrounded by the king's royal guards. Though small in stature, his posture was upright and his head was up in arrogance as he sat there on a chestnut brown horse. He put his hand to his mouth and cleared his throat to begin to read off a scroll.

His voice was high pitched but rough, and was loud enough for half of the village to hear.

"Hear ye, hear ye. His royal highness has announced a ball for Prince Darrian's twenty-first birthday. All unmarried women between the ages of eighteen through twenty are invited for a chance to become his royal queen. If you are among these ladies, I ask you to proceed to the scribe to sign the census confirming their attendance to the royal ball."

Elethea stood in the doorway, her mouth hung open. A ball? A chance to become queen?

The women who were outside squealed with delight. Hoping that she'd be the one that will gain the prince's heart. The women chased after the royal announcer, hoping they would get more information.

Elethea looked to her cousin, who was tapping his finger at the edge of his chin, clearly deep in thought. She opened her mouth to say something but nothing came out. She was amongst these ladies that would be attending the ball for a chance to become the prince's queen. This was a once in a lifetime opportunity. An opportunity that would change her life.

She wouldn't call themselves completely destitute, but they did have to live on her cousin's varlet wages. It was just enough to get them a one roomed home and food on the table. But this could be a chance that she could pay back her cousin all those years raising and providing for her.

Her cousin finally spoke up, "This is a once in a life opportunity, Elethea. But I understand if you are reluctant to go off to meet a man you have never met, even though he is the prince."

"Thorne I...

"I won't decide for you. I want whatever makes you happy. I don't want you to take this opportunity because of me, I want the choice to be for you."

Her cousin was right. She was going to compete for a man's heart that she never met. Was it worth it to go to the palace but ending up being rejected by him? But if she does win his heart, both of their lives would change. And that risk was worth it.

"Thorne," she began, as she was about to exit the house, "I am going to get my census signed."