If one was looking at the princess, they would think it was a typical day for her. She was outside in a tunic, pants, and boots with her hair tied up so that it was out of her way. Her gray eyes focused on the target in front of her as fingers pulled back on the string of the bow in her hands. A normal day that would give her mother a heart attack. After all, Astoran princesses were supposed to be beautiful, a figure head, not a soldier. And she was certainly not supposed to be wearing pants. Normally, this would be a problem between the two. Her mother would not hesitate to come down here and tell her exactly what she was doing wrong with her life. Today, though, the two were leaving each other alone. Both of them knew that Kiara needed this more than anything.

[i]"Kiara, you have to do this. Our people need you. Your father and I need you. Please. It will solve everything." But she could not listen to her mother's pleads. Her heart was too busy breaking. Marry a Berinike prince? Berinike? Prince? MARRY? Kiara had never considered marriage, not once. Too many a man expected her to bow to their wishes, to serve their every whim. There was no chance of her ever tying herself to such a person for the rest of her life. And now she was being asked to despite every promise she'd ever made to herself?

Her mother must have seen this because she had something else to say. "If you don't do this, the war may never end. The kingdoms will keep fighting. Your people will keep dying. Your father and I won't be around much longer. What will you do then? If you can not protect them now, how will they ever trust you?" [/i]

She was right of course. Mother was always right. Just thinking about what she'd agreed to do had Kiara running her fingers through her scarlet curls, a habit that showed itself whenever she felt out of control. No, she said to herself. I am Princess Kiara Rydell. I will one day lead this country. I will never be able to do that if I can not do this for my people. It's not a punishment. It's not a loss. I'm protecting them. Just remember that.

With a breath, she let the arrow go and watched it hit the bullseye. Yes, this was just what she needed. Something that took her mind completely off what would be happening, and who was coming to get her.