Pilot

"I wanted my father to see his bloodied crown that he said I'd never wear, on my head." His words made me shiver and his actions scared me even more. Yet, I still remember sitting in his lap. Enjoying every moment with him.

It was up and it was down with him. Terrified as well as overcome with happiness is how I felt with every moment with him. Like beach waves, up and down. Still, all beach waves start somewhere.

My fingers jumped around on the strings of my cello. It's late night. Still my village is light up. People stand all around me. Excited and amazed. The tunes from my cello flow through the air. However, when I came to a stop it all goes silent.

I open my eyes. They stand in awe. Suddenly everyone erupts in cheers. It was a talent show but now it felt more like my very own concert. Especially with scouts everywhere. All around me. Royal scouts at that. This can only mean something good.

Warmth embraces me and a bright light shines down on me. I open my eyes, taking in the quiet sounds before the busy village noises fill my ears. I feel the warm blanket get pulled off and I shiver at the cold surrounding me.

"Wake up love, I made breakfast." I hear my mother's voice echo, her thick accent seeping through. Her accent one that I haven't heard anyone else in the village speak in, I never really questioned it. I take a deep sigh, my busy life never made room to think, to ponder. Opening my eyes, looking at the women who single-handedly raised me.

I roll my eyes at her always happy smile and quickly stand up, rubbing my eyes and say with a sigh. "Alright, I'm up." I quickly close the curtains of my small room's window. It looks out into the streets and I don't want anybody seeing me change into my garments.

Once I have my clothing on, which consisted of a plain beige dress. I open my very small door and walk into our tiny kitchen.

"Sit down, I made pancakes." My mother commands and places some pancakes on my plate. "Thanks, Ma, but may I ask why?" I ask because we are very poor and only get pancakes on special occasions. She jumps up slightly, clearly very excited, more so than usual. She then places a brown folded envelope with a wax seal. The seal has the letters N-C-A pressed in. I pick it up, noticing how rough the paper is.

"Ma?" I ask, uncertain of what is in the envelope. She claps her hands and says, "Come on now, open it.".I could see that it was already opened, clearly by my mother.

I never get letters, no one to receive letters from. So I opened it and read the letter.

Congratulations, Kathleen Mary Fisherman! You have been one of the few carefully selected and accepted into the Northmere Castle Academy. You have been noticed because of your spectacular musical talents involving the Chello and we offer you a full scholarship. Including a full meal plan and living arrangements at the castle, NCA is located in.

We here at N-C-A can't wait to hear more of your skills, that is if you accept of course. Start packing, we will be picking you up one week after your acceptance letter has been sent. Please write back within the next week.

Kind regards

Northmere Castle Academy

I pause for a moment, just to take it all in. I'm going to the most prestigious academy in the land."No way! Is this real ma?" I jump up as the shock hits me and I hug my mother with excitement. "I can't believe it! What about you ma? What will happen to you if I go?" I say, realizing that my mother lives alone. Who will take care of her when she's older?

My mother sighed, pulling me out of the hug. She starts twisting my hair between her finger." I raised you well. I'll be fine, a little alone time will do me no harm. Just remember to write whenever you can." She says I smile at her hugging and then hug her again. "Come on now, you have to start packing." She says, shooing me away.

I would say it was hard to write them back, including things like, "We didn't know where to find linen to write the letter on." Though, I do know how to write and read. My mother taught me. I did ask her how she knew but she wouldn't give me a clear answer. Saying my dad taught her. That didn't help because how did my dad know?

"Kathleen! Love, hurry up! The carriage is here!" My mother yells from the front door. I sigh, frustrated with all these feelings and questions. Question's like, who is my dad? Why did he leave? Did he not love me? Why won't my dad tell me anything about him? "Kathleen Mary Fisherman! Get here right now, you're gonna be late!"

I sigh and pick up my large Chello, knowing that if she used my full name I better hurry up. We might be dirt poor but I worked all the jobs I could to buy it. This cello is my pride and joy, clearly, it's getting me far.

I had already moved my clothing bag outside. The large instrument barely cramming through the small front door. Once I'm outside I see two horses strapped to an elegant carriage. I set my instrument down right in front of it, the coachman ascends down his little seat and picks up the instrument, placing it with my suitcase. He then clambers back up to his little seat.

I turn around looking at my mother one last time before I ran back to hug her, putting my head in the crook of her neck. I breathe in her scent one last time. She may be frustratingly secretive but she's my mother and I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for her. "Bye mother, I'm gonna miss you. I love you." I said to her and she replies with the same words.

I climb inside the large and gorgeous carriage. The coachman waits till I'm settled, he then whips the horses and we start our long travel to the castle, butterflies flourishing in my stomach. I'm nervous beyond belief but I'm doing this for us. So I can support my mother, so she doesn't have to work a day in her life ever again. Heck, maybe if I do that she'll uncover all her secrets about my heritage.

I look back at our little house, waving goodbye to my mother one last time. Praying to whatever gods there are that she'll be all right. With that, I turn back around. This new chapter of my life will be spectacularly nerve-racking.