Mountain Top

Princess Aviva took a deep breath yelling into the canyon void as she stood on the edge of the cliff before smiling. This was her first time outside the palace walls. She had to thank everyone for she truly believed that she would die in her bed after Robert's death. However, she smiled when her mother physical dragged her out of bed and introduced her to her 4 new servants. Each lady was extremely different, but Princess Aviva would come to appreciate it as she started to get a little older.

When she first met these four ladies she had to be honest with herself she felt her life was over. Just lonely tea parties in a giant garden. But as each lady kneeled before her frail body a small spark began to grow inside her. Lilac , the medic, was the first to introduce herself to the princess. Her raven hair and hazel eyes pierced intensely at her frail frame. Lilac shook her head and was sad at had thin princess had become. Almost immediately she wrote a list of all the herbs she would need to make the princess stronger than in the past. She was determined to restore princess Aviva beauty and strength. For she could barely stand, this child was on the brink of death. Over the course of few months the princess had started walking again under the care of Ms. Lilac. The Queen watched intensely as the medic grew with experience. It would take another month before she felt better to go into the garden. Just to get some fresh air.

Once Aviva was able to make it to the garden again. Talika, Bethany and Elizabeth recommend that Princess Aviva start training since she would be 12 in two weeks. Twelve was a big deal in the kingdom. Most girls would be sent to the kingdom's training grounds to become a women. Girls would test out a few weapons and find her calling. If a weapon wasn't selected she would move on to desk work or trade skills. It wasn't domestic work but it was close. Queen Lucia had dreaded this day. She knew Aviva would have talent but it also meant that she would have to be around peers her age for the next three years. Puberty was going to be a cruel mistress as far as Queen Lucia was concerned. she honestly didn't know Aviva could still pass as a girl at 15. What if she got an erection while fighting or grew an uneven beard. She could not have that.

On Princesse Aviva's 12th birthday, Queen Lucia decided to announce that she was finally going to learn the sword. Princess Aviva was so excited she couldn't resist hugging her mother. All she ever wanted was to be a general or commander in her mother's great Army. Princess Catherine was jealous that her mother had finally agree to let Princess Aviva learn to sword. Especially after she had promised her that she would never do such a thing. However, to not outshine her heir, Queen Lucia also announced that Princess Aviva would be going on a trip to learn the weapon of her choice. Simply for the reason that she was just recently kidnapped. It would be for the best for Aviva to finally leave the castle and explore the world. If after three years Princess Aviva could still pass as a girl she was allowed to return . The queen had special orders for the four guards by her side to kill her by her 15th birthday and make it look like an accident if she could not.