"I need you name, age, and origin." the clerk said.

"My name is Diana of Crystal Falls. My age is twenty." I said. I was going to the castle today. I had to check in with the court healer to renew my documents.

"Proceed, Miss Diana." The clerk replied. She waved me through the doors.

I walked down a long torch lit corridor, and into a large, almost cavernous, healing room.

"Good morning Bright Eyes. It is nice to see you again." someone said. I saw a familiar person browsing bookshelves that were to the ceiling, on a ladder.

"Morning Imani! Whatcha lookin' for?" I yelled so she could hear me.

Imani jumped off her ladder and floated down like a feather. Once she was on the ground. Imani was a woman of sheer beauty. She had long, smooth, brown hair, and deep blue almond shaped eyes. She was slender, but not overly so. She was also about average height.

"I had to get this book. I have a research project going, and I knew I had it somewhere, but I just couldn't remember where," She said exhaustedly."but I found it. The little sucker was hiding out on the top shelf."

"Nice. What's the project?" I asked.

"I'm researching the effects of various poisons and I've been having a hard time to find antidotes. You know how I don't like to get venom from animals. It's too risky. You can easily mistake venomous animals from nonvenomous animals. Plants are easy. What are you here for?"

"I have to get re-certified. It's been too long. I'm late this time. How's life going?" I said as I handed my papers to Imani.

"Oh ok. It's great, but my goodness. Some of the patients I'm getting have some crazy diseases. Poor, poor, little Thaddeus is suffering from a bad case of crystal eye. He can't even see out of his right eye anymore. He just needs to hang in for one more week. I'm working on a crystal reversing serum."

"That's crazy. How'd it happen?"

"He fell into the tainted crystal water on the other side of town. He says a horse knocked him into the water. He's only twelve. This is by far the worst case I've seen. Poor thing fell in head first." She said making a clicking noise. "Here ya go. Just go by my desk and sign your name saying that you got your papers done."

"Ok. I'll be seein' you." I said as I started for the door.

"Oh, Amon said he wanted to see you. Apparently he's got some news or something." Imani said as she waved goodbye.

I walked out of the healer's quarters and into the castle courtyard. I sat down on a bench and waited for my brother to come. I heard someone coming from behind me. I looked around, but no one was there.

"Hello brother." I said. I knew at once it was Amon.

"How'd you know?" Amon asked.

"I could hear you. You're not trained in stealth like I am."

"Whatever. I need to talk to you about something really important."

"What is it?" I asked.

"Well, here goes nothing." He said. "Would you be willing to work for the queen?"

"WHAT?" I exclaimed. "W-work for the queen? Why would she ask me to work for her?"

"She says you are highly skilled and she has a very important position for you. She also says, remember when you met the old lady at your house who was really needing to be healed."

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"Dunno. She just wanted me to tell you. If you want to know more, you have to accept the job, and she will explain it all." Amon said "That's all I had to talk to you about. Have a good day sister."

I stood there in shock for a while. The queen needs a lowly commoner like me to help her. He must be joking. I thought.

"I guess I have no choice." I said and headed back up the castle steps to go talk to the queen. Once I entered the castle, I was directed towards the queen's chambers.

When I got to the queen's chambers, I opened the door to enter.

"Welcome." The queen said. If you thought Imani was beautiful, you haven't even seen the queen. She had beautiful golden, wavy hair. She had a petite frame that looked so delicate that it might break. She had small nimble hands and caring blue gray eyes. Her fair skin was glowing. She wore a long emerald satin dress, and topaz jewelry. She had a rose gold crown encrusted with pearls, emeralds, and rubies.

"H-hello your majesty." I said with a curtsy.

"Please save the-" She was cut off by a cough. "formalities."

"Do you need me to heal you? Is that why you need me?"

"No, no my dear. I cannot be healed from this sickness. I was poisoned long ago, and there is no antidote." She said. "I need you for something more important."

That's why Imani was researching poisons. I thought.

"What do you need?" I asked.

"As you know I never had and children."

"You didn't?"

"No. I was in dire need of an heir. Especially since I am so close to death." She coughed again. This time there was blood. A maid quickly ran over and gave her medicine, a glass of water, and a handkerchief.

"So, do you need help finding one or something?"

"No. I have already found one. You, my dear, are going to be my heir. I expect you remember the old woman who visited your house pleading you to give her medical attention?"

"Yeah. She looked really bad, but I tried and couldn't do anything for her."

"That was me. I was in disguise, looking for promising young ladies to assume the throne." She said, pausing to take a drink of water. "I found three that were looking to be brilliant candidates, but you showed the most potential."

"Me? You w-want me to be the p-princess?" I sputtered.

"Well, of course. Even though you were in a gang for most of your life and still technically are, and have no court etiquette, we can train you to be proper."

"I can't do that. There are people in the slums who really need me. Who will take care of them?"

"That is exactly what makes you the perfect queen. You care for the better of people This is why I picked you."

"You didn't answer my question. I said who will take care of them?"

"No one. If they seek medical attention, they can go the doctor or Imani."

"What would happen if I refuse becoming your heir?"

"You can't refuse because you've already accepted. You did so by coming here."

When she said that, I remembered what Amon said.

"We will get started in one week's time. Have a nice week off, because you won't get another like it until you're dead more than likely."

I left the castle fuming. "I can't believe her!" I yelled. I was at my friend, Kapono's house. Kapono was of average charm. He had long silver hair pulled back into a low ponytail. He was old. He was basically like a father figure to me. His pale, almost white eyes, stood out against his dark skin. He was average in muscle, average in height.

"Well, I'm not sure how I should help you." He said handing me a cup of tea. "I mean she says you've got the right stuff, and you can't back out of it now."

"Thanks." I stopped to take a large drink. " I just don't think I'm fit for the job. I'm not royal. Hell, I was in a gang for almost twelve years. I'm a commoner Kapo. Why she would want someone from the slums like me to take over when she dies. I mean what if she dies before I even finish training?"

"Calm down. If she passes while you are still in training, they will train you while you simultaneously rule the Falls area. You're not a commoner either."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"I knew your father years back. He was a scientist. The queen never knew about this, but your father did. Your grandfather was the Queen Neema's consort. The queen today, Queen Eliza was your father's sister.Your father left the castle before Eliza was born. He was several years older than her. Twelve years, I believe."

"What was my father's name? I don't remember." I asked. I was like a child at story time in a schoolhouse.

"Marko. His name was Marko. You are not a commoner. Never call yourself a commoner. You are a princess, you always have been. Being the Prince's child you should have taken the throne, not Eliza. That is unless Amon or Jane didn't want to become king or queen." Kapono finished.

"Well, I wasn't expecting that. So the queen is my aunt?"

"Yes, but you must not tell her until the day before she dies. I'd expect that to be in about a week."

"How do you know when she's going to die?" I asked. I was shocked at his prediction.

"When one looks at the heavens, they learn a few tricks." He said with a chortle.

"I'll be off then. I have to go and pay my dues." I said as I picked up my bag and headed out the door.

"You should stop the gang life Diana!" He yelled after me. "You get into nothing but trouble."

I'll never stop! I thought with a smile.