“And so, fair Arwyn, it is now your turn to pick from the hat of love!” Raydir announced, waving his arms around dramatically as we sat on the floor of our clubhouse, a little rundown shack located in the woods.

“Ray, you have to make those cheering sounds!” I protested.

“Fine, fine. Don’t get so bossy on me now.” Raydir huffed, cupping his hands around his mouth. “Chaaaaaaa!! Chaaaaaa!!”

I giggled. “What is that?”

“It’s people cheering, Ar.”

“Well, it sounds stupid.”

“You’re stupid.”

I crossed my arms over my chest and pouted. “Ray, come on! The day of the Fate Ceremony is the bestest day of our lives.”

“Maybe for you. For me it means I have to spend the rest of my life with a girl.” He wrinkled his nose.

I punched his arm. “I’m a girl.”

“First of all: Ow. Second of all, you’re not a girl. You’re my best friend.”

The corners of my mouth twitched into a smile. “And you’re mine. Now can we proceed?”

“Fine. Lady Arwyn, Duchess of Gwyniar, you must choose your future by picking a name out of the hat.” Raydir held the hat out to me. “You have to close your eyes.”

“Now who’s bossy?” I covered my brown eyes with one hand and stuck the other into the hat to pick out a name. I smiled as my eyes landed on the piece of paper in front of me. “Did you plan this?”

“Did you really think I’d put anyone else’s name?” He looked up at me with a mischievous gleam in his green eyes, a sprinkling of freckles across his nose.

“We should make a pact,” I said. “No matter what happens, you will be my soulmate, ok?”

Raydir nodded. “Deal.”

“You know every deal needs to be sealed somehow.”

“Hence the handshake.”

“I was thinking something different.” I glanced up at him.

He wrinkled his nose. “You’ve been reading too many of those fairytale books.”

I crossed my arms over my chest. “You’re an idiot, Raydir. Are you going to kiss me now or not? I don’t have all day.”

Raydir leaned forward and lightly pressed his lips to mine, his nose squishing against my face. “There. Sealed with a kiss.”

I blushed, pushing him away from me, and wiping at my mouth with my fingers. “Glad that’s over. You wanna go play dragons and warriors?”

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

Raydir grinned. “I always want to play dragons and warriors.” He got up and ran out the door. “Catch me if you can, slowpoke!”

I scrambled to my feet and chased after him. “Hey! That’s not fair!” I ran as fast as my little legs could carry me, passing the trees that led back to the road.

Raydir was always much faster than me, but he knew not to leave me behind. Up ahead, he glanced over his shoulder then trudged back to me.

“C’mon, Arwyn.” He gripped my hand. Together, we walked through the woods until we reached the carriage that had brought us out here.

Raydir bounced his legs as the carriage started off down the road to take us to my home. A loud rumbling growl broke the silence between us and Ray wrinkled his nose.

“What was that?” he asked.

I crossed my arms over my chest. “My stomach. Now, are you going to stay for lunch today or what?”

Raydir nodded his blonde head. “Duh.”

I kicked my feet underneath the seat. Sitting still was not my favorite thing. If I’d been able to choose, we would’ve run all the way back to the palace. But there were perks to having people to drive us around when we didn’t want to run anymore.

After what seemed like ages, the carriage slowed to a stop in front of my home. Raydir and I jumped out, thanking our driver before launching into another race. This time, when we reached the steps to the front door, we ran straight to my sister.

Arabella crossed her arms over her chest. She wrinkled her nose at my appearance. “Arwyn, Mother wants you upstairs now. You still have your studies to do today and then you can play with Raydir.”

I pouted and glanced at Raydir who stood awkwardly next to me. “Can’t I do that later? Ray and I are gonna play a game.”

“No. You know Mother’s rules: work first, play later,” Arabella said. At fourteen, she made it her responsibility to make sure I set an example for our family because, she liked to remind me, one day we would be running the dukedom.

I missed the times when we were younger and could just play innocently together..

“Fine,” I huffed. “But can Raydir at least stay for lunch?”

Raydir kicked the toe of his boot on the ground. “If it’s not too much trouble, I’d like that.”

I smiled then tugged at Arabella’s arm. “Please, Bella? I promise I’ll go straight to work after we eat lunch.”

She sighed then threw her hands into the air. “Okay, okay. I’ll tell Mother to set one more for lunch. Come with me.” She turned on her heel and we followed closely behind.

“How do you always manage to convince her?” Raydir asked.

I shrugged. “It’s the perks of being a little sister. C’mon, I bet if we ask really nicely, Ginny will make us her famous grilled cheese sandwiches.” I grabbed Raydir’s hand and took off at a run.

Arabella caught up with us as we entered the palace, nearly colliding with one of the maids who walked through the halls.

“Pardon me, your highness,” our maid, Ginny, said. She dipped her head and curtsied to us.

“My apologies, Ginny.” Arabella gestured to me and Ray where we hid behind a marble pillar. “You know the saying, ‘alis volat propriis.’ She flies with her own wings.”

Ginny laughed. “That certainly describes Lady Arwyn.” She beckoned to me and Ray and we walked forward.

“Sorry, Ginny,” we chorused.

“No worries at all, my darlings. Now, what would you like for lunch?” Her eyes twinkled.

I grinned and I tugged at her arm as we led her away to the kitchen. “Can you make us grilled cheese?”

“Of course! Two of my famous grilled cheese sandwiches, coming up. And what would grilled cheese be without tomato soup?”

Raydir and I cheered, chasing each other around the floor.

Alis volat propriis. I had my own wings and I wasn’t afraid to use them.