*EDITED*

I started heading back into the castle. Here, I'll let you on a little secret, and you cannot tell ANYONE!!! I am not from Araluen, I'm from Skandia. My father is Skandian, and my mother is Araluen, so that actually does mean that I am from here. Almost...

My mother was captured by Skandians' but eventually earned her freedom in Skandia. She had a choice to stay in Skandia, or go back to Araluen. She stayed in Skandia with my father; they loved each other so much. My father was actually with Morgarath, fighting against Araluen in the big battle.

But during the battle, my father left with the Skandians' since Morgaraths' army was losing- and they knew it. I left Skandia because I'm not like the others, I'm... different. I would've taken my dog Max, but I knew he should stay with my parents. When I got to Araluen, some village people took me in.

I had left Skandia when I was eight years old. The village people who accepted me into their home abused me so much that I left them too. I eventually came across the Redmont Castle. My luck was only the beginning. The Baron saw me and asked me where my parents were.

I told them that my father died in the battle against Morgarath, which was partly true since my father was in the battle, but since he's still alive and an enemy to Araluen. And that my mom died from bandits. He believed me and placed me in the ward. Did I forget to mention that I was 13 when he took me in? Ah... never mind.

Both of my parents are still alive, but nobody in Araluen knew that. I guess you already know that it was a lie I told you when I said my father died in battle and my mom died from a bandit. But, unfortunately, I needed a cover story in case someone somehow knew I was lying, and so I used that one. They also didn't know that I could fight, drive ships, and was great with animals. No one knew exactly who I was. I was a mystery. And the other wards pick on me because I don't have a last name. Even though I actually do, it's better to keep it hidden, or else someone will know who I am and bring me back to Skandia.

I never really told you that my father was the Oberjarl of Skandia too did I? Well, he is. And I'm guessing that a lot of people here know who is, and would immediately bring me back to him or the king would have me for ransom. But when I left, I left a note for my parents saying that I don't want to live there, that no one liked me.

Hopefully they got the drift. But you may NEVER tell ANYONE! Anyway, on with going upstairs. I seriously don't get castles. There is literally too many stairs! Not that I'm complaining too much, I mean I am very fit. You know, for a fifteen year old girl. When I got into the girls' room, I changed into my favorite pair of clothes.

Which is the best clothes I have, too. Then, I made my way to the dining room. All the other wards looked up, and then continued eating. I took a seat and ate, not feeling so hungry. Which was a surprise, I was always hungry, and I guess that was the Skandian side of me. After all the wards, including me, were done eating, which wasn't long taken that there were only seven of us, made our way to our rooms. When the time came, Martin got us all gathered up, and we made our way to the Barons office.

Nobody was in the office when we got there, though. "Everybody line up tallest to shortest. Tallest on this side," Martin said pointing to the left side of the Barons desk. Horace, the tallest of us all, made his way to where Martin pointed at. Then Alyss, who stood by Horace, George, a few inches shorter, stood by Alyss. Jenny came after George, and my best friend Savanna went after her.

Will looked at me. We were pretty much the same height, so I let Will go in front of me but Martin didn't allow it, saying I was at least a few millimeters taller. The Baron strolled through the oak door. He was pretty tall (I wish I was tall. But I never inherited that from dad). My mother was small like me, that's where I got my height from. Sometimes I wonder what would've happened if mother was never captured by the Skandians, would she have met my father?

"Baron, my lord, the wards are assembled sir!" Martin bellowed.

"I see," the Baron said, "Maybe you should go get the craftmasters?"

"Yes my lord!" Martin bellowed yet again. Baron Arald flinched and Martin turned around sharply and headed for the door.

"Martin," Baron Arald said softly. Martin turned around. "Don't bellow at them. Say it to them." Martin turned around disappointed; he must've loved the authority, and headed out the door. He spoke quietly to the craftmasters outside of the door, but yet, with his voice raised a little bit.

"The Baron is ready," Martin told the craftmasters. The door opened creaked open. Lady Pauline, head of Diplomacy, was first, elegant and beautiful, with Sir Rodney, the battlemaster, Ulf, the horsemaster, Norgel, the scribemaster, and Master Chubb, the head chef, with Martin in tow walking into the room.

"It's about time you were ready," Lady Pauline smoothly spoke to the Baron. The Baron simply nodded his head up in down.

"Good morning Lady Pauline, good morning gentleman," Baron Arald said in greeting and continued, "All right, let's get on with it; who's first?" Horace stepped up. I was relieved; I wouldn't know what to choose. "Name and craft?" Baron Arald asked.

"Horace Altman sir, I mean, my lord," Horace fumbled over the correct pronunciation. "Battleschool, my lord," Horace said. Baron looked at Horace respectfully, not surprised of the young man's choice.

"Battlemaster, what do you think?" the Baron asked. The Battlemaster was already inspecting Horace.

"Looks strong enough. And I always need more apprentices. I'll take him," the Battlemaster said.

"Be at the Battleschool at 8:00 sharp," Baron Arald said to Horace. Horace nodded relieved, and stepped back in the line. Alyss stepped up immediately, and very confidently.

"Alyss Mainwaring, my lord. Diplomatic Services my lord," Alyss spoke confidently. The Baron looked surprised then nodded at Lady Pauline.

"I already spoke with Alyss. I would love to have her, she is a natural," Pauline spoke. Alyss took a step back. George stepped up. Mumble, mumble, mumble. The Baron put a hand to his ear, and said 'huh.'

"G-George m-my lord. Scri-Scribschool. M-my lord," George mumbled quietly. The Baron looked at Norgel. Norgel nodded.

"I accept George into the Scribschool. I've seen his work, and I'm impressed."

"Are you sure? Because he can't even speak without mumbling," the Baron said.

"It's alright. We can get him to stop mumbling. Soon he will talk without a problem," Norgel spoke confidently.

"Ok," Baron Arald whispered quietly. Jenny took a step forward. Then out of the corner of my eye, and I believe Will saw it too, a man, no wait, a ranger, ranger Halt to be exact, took a step out of the shadows. Wills eyes grew a little bit, and I think mine did too, I mean, it's not like Halt shows up at every Choosing Ceremony. I wonder what he's doing here. Then Halt took a step back in the shadows. And I think Will and I are the only ones who saw him.

(A/N: Why must it take so long for the Choosing ceremony? Let's just skip a little bit. Ok. So Jenny gets accepted into Master Chubb's kitchen and finished telling everyone about how she will make a pot pie. And Savanna also gets into Master Chubbs kitchen. And now it's Lily's turn to choose. On with the story!)

Savanna takes a step back. I nervously step forward, ready to say that I have no preference, but Halt steps forward quickly and speaks, "Baron, I have something very important. It's about Lilianna and Will. You might want to see it." I gulp. How could he have known! No one knows anything about my family. I look over to Will and see that he is just as curious as me to know what's in that letter.

Baron Arald takes the letter, eyes quickly scanning. He looks up at Halt. "Are you sure about this?" He asks. Halt nods. "Very well, I shall think about this tonight. Lily, Will, you are to not be able to choose. I will tell you what craft you will be doing tomorrow. The Ceremony is over. Everyone must leave now." Everyone walks out the door, even Will and I who at first, were very hesitant and eyed the letter on the desk.

Will and I share nervous glances and Will takes my arm and leads me out of the castle. "What do you think is in that letter?" He asks me.

"I don't know, but I want to find out," I say.

"Me too," he says nodding. Then we start planning on what we're going to do tonight.

So how's that? And also when I said planning. I mean planning for how they're going to get the letter. So..... Yea. Hope it was good, because I'm not the best writer.