Macy Lights and the Battle for Ashton's Gate
an excerpt

(Note: the whole novel can be read here: http://kapiti.geek.nz/writing/macy-lights.html)

Macy didn't want to be Queen. She just didn't, didn't, didn't. It's not her choice however and no matter how much she argues with her Dad, the King, it's just not going to change his mind.

"It's in your blood," said King Jamie. He looked down on his daughter and reached out to place a hand on her head.

"Well, I don't want it," she shouted. She knocked his hand away, turned and harrummpphed as she ran towards to back door of the palace. She had had this conversation with her Father a thousand times and this time it was just too much. She had decided right there and then to run away, to get as far from Lucinda as possible, maybe even away from Ashton's Gate too.

"Doors!" shouted the king.

In front of Macy, a guard appeared from outside the room and closed the double doors. Macy turned and started marching back to her Father.

"That's always the way with you, huh! Just lock people in, against their wishes."

"I'm afraid it's not my wishes my dear. In fact, it's nobody's wishes, it's just the way it happens to be. My dear, we really need to talk, please,..."

"No!"

"Please, come and sit down. We can have a nice salad together and talk this thing through. Honestly Macy, please, you've just got to hear me out."

Macy said nothing. Her eyes stared down at the King's feet and her folded arms was her way of saying that she wasn't interested.

King Jamie was, by now, the longest serving King in this garden and had been on the thrown since boyhood.

"Daughter, I know what it is like to have to face up to the realities of
life. I had to do it when still young, younger than you even, when your Grandmother died. You know, she would have loved to have seen you now. It's amazing how much you two look alike."

He could tell that Macy was listening even though she pretended to be paying no attention whatsoever. She certainly had a look about her, slight tender eyes with a hint of green in the iris. Most pixies had very green eyes but it was a sign of maturity and intelligence to have that slightly marbled but paler colour. Not that she was acting like that at the moment.

"Father, why do I have to do it?" she asked. She knew the answer but just wanted to hear it again.

"Because of who you are. You don't \i{become} a Queen, you've always been a Queen. From the moment you were born until the moment you die, you are what you are and it's only the passage of time which decides when other people call you so."

To Macy, this sounded like her Father's way of saying she had no choice.

"But I never asked for it!" She knew this statement wasn't very productive though it sounded good in her head.

"Yes, I know. But there are a lot of things in life that we don't ask for. I never asked to have a hairy back. Nor did I want knees which turned outwards in stead of forwards. Do you think I wouldn't give my right arm to have your Mother back for just three seconds? None of these things we are in control of so you must just accept them as you accept the air you breath, the water you drink and the blood you have in your veins."

Macy was starting to understand that this was something she was just going to have to get used to. She relaxed her stance, dropped her arms to her sides and look up at her Father. He took her right hand and held onto it, gently rubbing her palm with his thumb.

"I know Dad, I know."

King Jamie motioned to the waiters to place the food on the chamber's table and leave the two of them alone.

"Come on, let's eat something. You must be hungry."

"I am Dad, I am."