...Judging

Hey guys! Yes yes yes, I know what you guys are all thinking. What the heck, Dagger, you already have like five stories going? What are you doing, starting another one? And, normally, you guys would be right to slap me across the face like that. However, this time, this isn't a story. Instead, this is going to be another place where I put kind of random one-shots. However, as you might understand from the description of this story, these aren't going to be quite as random. I already have One-Shot At It for that. No, these one-shots are going to be focusing on an amazing character who you all love (so they are more like clips of her life than anything else).

Jacyln.

Okay, I bet I know what you all are thinking once again. Dagger, who the heck is Jacyln? She has never appeared in any of your stories. Did I miss her? Who is she? Why are you giving us short stories about a character we don't care about? Why the name Jacyln? Why do we love Jaclyn? Once again, who the heck is Jacyln? Why do we care about her?

And, to get the answer to those questions, I suggest you read this first story, because I think you guys will like it. I'm pretty excited for these kind of one-shots, which I will hopefully be doing periodically! I'm not sure how many there will be. Whether or not they will benefit Jacyln or not will just have to remain to be seen though. xD Unless I state otherwise at the beginning of a short story, these will be from Jaclyn's point of view.

Now, on with this first short story! Let's fine out who Jacyln is already!

"Jacyln, you've made a mess of things, like usual!" I cower a little at the snarled comments of my guardian, if you can even call her that. She's actually just runs the orphanage, and honestly, I hate her. I'm almost positive that the only reason she bullies me is because I've been here for so long and no one wants me, but that's not my fault!

Oh, and I seem to always be getting in trouble, but again, that's normally not my fault. In fact, it's generally Peter's fault, but he never gets in trouble for anything. It's not fair at all.

I put on a brave face, scowling right back at the lady standing before me. "It is not, Claire!"

"Excuse me, Jacelyn?" My brave face quickly melts off in fear as she moves to loom over me. "Did you just disrespect me?"

I know it's better to just admit it at this point, so I stare at the ground and mutter, "Yes, I did."

Her voice grows tighter and angrier as the seconds pass. "Go to your room. Now! And don't you dare try to argue with it. Just go up there."

Taking a deep breath, I hurry up to my room before Claire comes up with any other way to torment me. Once inside, I shut the door, and sink to the ground with my back against it. My room is tiny. I've never been somewhere so cramped before this, not that I have much experience. In fact, if this room was any smaller, I don't think I'd be able to breath, let alone move around in it. Whoever made this building made this room just big enough for a chest, a bed, and a desk, although there's not actually any room for a desk chair. Poor planning on their part, really.

There's also the fact that every other room is larger than mine. Even if I had never gone in any of my friends' rooms here - so really even if I had never gone in Peter's room to hide from Claire - I would know because a while ago Claire switched the rooming assignments. I was moved from my decently sized room to here after she first started to hate on me. I doubt that the difference in size from my old room was unintentional. I also doubt that the fact that this bed is more uncomfortable and that this room is under the stairs, resulting in a slanted ceiling and less head room, were unintended.

Now sure that Claire is intending to leave me alone for now, I climb over the chest in my room and onto my bed. Then, I stick my hand under the bed, and grab around under there for a while. Finding what I need, I pull out a newspaper from underneath it. It's a few days old; I actually fished it out of the trash when Claire was done with it. Normally there isn't a newspaper on the plane, so this newspaper is actually very rare and valuable, at least to me. Claire doesn't even know I have it though, which is actually a relief. If she did know, I have no doubt that she would come and take it away from me, because please forbid that I look at a newspaper that I found in the trash.

On the front cover, there's a picture of the royal family. Queen Maeve - the Fate that I can only say seems to resemble the moon - stands straight and prim. She smiles, but it's not really one that makes you want to smile back. If anything, the sight of the darkly dressed queen sends shivers down my spine. King Lucian - who seems to be the polar opposite of Queen Maeve as he seems like the sun - stands beside her. He's dressed in gold and actually seems to glow. His smile, unlike Queen Maeve, does seem extremely friendly, but his smile seems forced. In between them stands their son, dressed in blue, black, and gray. His blue eyes don't seem to look at the camera; actually, he seems to be staring at someone off camera. His smile isn't so much of a smile either; it's actually something more along the lines of the smirk. Out of everyone on the picture, Prince Teague is the one who looks the most genuine in his expression. I have a feeling none of them want to be taking that picture though.

Despite him being way out of my league, I can't help considering the fact that he is really cute. If only his looks matched our encounter in the woods.

To be fair, it was Peter's fault, as usual. He'd wanted to play a game, and I didn't want to lose him as a friend, so I agreed to play despite being on Claire's bad side that day already. Not that I ever really got off Claire's bad side, but I'd already gotten yelled at today by her. However, I agreed to play anyways. The game this time was to see who could go father - and essentially stay longer - in the Royal Forest. A horrible idea, really, because we aren't allowed to go in there. We did it anyways, and after going for a while - and getting rather spooked - I stumbled across a young boy. Now, if I'd remembered the picture on the newspaper, I would've known to hightail it out of there because this was not someone I wanted to meet. However, I didn't, so I guess this is partly my fault.

I'm going to blame Peter anyways.

The boy asked me what I was doing there, and since I didn't realize who he was, I told him I could ask him the same thing. He found that amusing, and said that I really shouldn't talk to him like that, seeing that he was Prince Teague. He also informed me that since he owned the woods, he had a reason to be there, and that he was surprised that I didn't know who he was. I stammered, but by that point I couldn't run away. That would've probably been even worse.

"Uh...Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry...Um...I didn't mean to come in...Well I did...But I'm so sorry...Please don't get me in trouble...She'll kill me if I get in trouble again...I'm so sorry, I'll leave, just please don't get me in trouble..." I shake as I try to stammer apologies and excuses to him, trying to do any mental activity that could get me out of this. Praying, wishing, hoping, and anything in between. "I swear I wasn't trying to do anything bad, just please let me leave without telling anyone...Please Prince Teague, I'm begging you, I'll do anything...I'm so sorry...I can't get in any more trouble or she'll do something even wors-"

Before I can keep up the reasons, excuses, begging, pleading, and promises, the black-haired Prince cuts me off with a frown. "Why would you get in trouble?"

"Because I came into the Royal Forest, and everyone knows only Royals and people who have specific permission can come in here!" I say the words, almost in hysterics with my eyes starting to water. I might lose the little I have if I get in trouble. I can't lose the little I have!

He laughs, causing my tears to stop purely out of shock. Is he laughing at the trouble I'm going to get into? "Is that what they're telling people these days? My mother and father are ridiculous. I won't get you in trouble for sneaking into the forest. You obviously couldn't do much harm anyways."

I suppose I should take offense to the fact that he thinks I couldn't do anything bad, but I'm too relieved by the fact that he's saying he won't tell anyone. However, my big, fat mouth has to try and protest this before I can stop it. "But I've been so disrespectful!"

He shakes his head, grinning. "If anything, you are being disrespectful for not accepting my generosity. Please, just calm down. You won't get in trouble, and you aren't going to be hurt. I don't know what my parents have been telling people these days. This is absolutely ridiculous. No one should ever feel like this." I wipe my eyes with my hand, taking shaky breathes and smiling with relief. "What's your name?"

"Jacelyn." He extends a hand when I state my name, and I shake it. "I'm very sorry for all the hysterics, Your Highness."

"Please, forget it even happened." Oh gosh, is this boy really going to be our next Fate? He seems like the perfect fit. Maybe he could fix the conditions at the orphanages, for the people in general, and return our plane back to its former glory. "Where do you and your family live? Perhaps I can help you back, or at least point you in the right direction and walk you a bit. The forest can be a very dangerous place if you aren't careful. You're lucky you didn't run into any rogue Fae."

Here comes the fateful moment. Normally I'm scared to tell people that I'm an orphan. Fae generallly frown down upon orphans, thinking that they are among the lowest of the low. However, for once, I'm not. I truly believe that Prince Teague will not judge me for my heritage, and the fact that I don't even know who my parents were. I'm lucky we even know my name.

After taking a deep breath, I say, "Well, actually, I don't live with my family."

"Oh?" He raises an eyebrow, a curious smile on his face. "Do you stay at one of those boarding schools that some of the Fae have been suggesting and testing? I've heard they're going to be a passing fad, and that they're really hard."

I shake my head. "No, I'm not at one of the boarding schools. I stay at Claire's Home for Odd Fae. I'm an orphan there that no one wants. I don't even know who my parents are."

The moment I finish the statement, his face visibly changes along with the stance. He crosses his arms, becoming more defensive and closed off to me. The smile is gone, and his eyes narrow. "You're an orphan?"

I regret saying it already. Is he really no different than everyone else? I thought he was different! "Yes, I am an orphan. I'm one of the Fae that have no special powers, that are practically useless. Nobody wants me around." Please don't let me lose a potential friend. I thought I was going to make a friend. I can't lose that just because my parents died, or worse, abandoned me!

"You mean to tell me you're one off the wackos?" The insult hurts me more than if he had slapped me.

However, I stand tall, meeting his gaze and trying to be confident. "Yes, I am."

His yelling at me wipes my bravery right off, and I cower as he begins to stereotype me. "I was wrong. No wonder you were wandering through the woods! I've heard all sorts of things about Fae like you. You flirt with death; some even say you came about from deals with the shadows. That's why you have no powers. No wonder your parents didn't want you! I wouldn't want a child like you either!"

I begin to sob, covering my face and crying out. "Take it back. Please, take it back!"

"I should turn you in right now!" His voice grows louder and louder with each word.

"Please, no!" I sink to my knees, shaking my head violently as my voice cracks. "Prince Teague, please, you said you wouldn't!"

His voice is sharp, stabbing into my heart with every syllable. "It's your word against mine, and I have a feeling that the plane will believe me over someone like you."

"Why would you say that?" I cry, trying to cover my ears. "Please stop, Prince Teague! Please, I'm begging you, stop! I promise I'll leave, just stop!"

As he opens his mouth to shout more cruelties at me, some guards march into the clearing. One of them says that they've been looking for Prince Teague everywhere, and another asks what the heck is going on, or something along those lines. The prince gives them a wild story about how I was skulking about, consulting with some wild Fae before he stumbled across them. He threatened to expose me, which reduced me to tears because I couldn't believe it. Which, of course, didn't happen, but what can I do to disprove that? I have no magic that could try and show them otherwise. Besides, based on my standing in society and Prince Teague's, they will obviously listen to him over me. Why wouldn't they?

One of the guards asks me if this is what happened, but I know they aren't really paying attention to what I say. They have already made up their minds, now that Prince Teague has told them who I am. They are just as stereotypical as the prince. I know they'll have already made up their minds. What can I say to sway them otherwise?

Nothing. I can say nothing that would change their minds. So, I just shake my head as I sob into my hands, and as expected, they don't ask me to explain my side of the story. They just take me by the hair and begin to drag me back to the orphanage, while some of the others either escort Prince Teague back to the castle or fan out to search for any of my 'colleagues' that Teague spoke of. Not that they'll find anything.

When they reach the orphanage and practically break the door down knocking, Claire looks at me with such fury that I'm afraid she'll end my life right then and there. I'm probably lucky that she didn't, although I doubt that she won't later, and if I don't, I'll probably suffer an even worse fate. It might be better if she'd killed me right then and there. They left me in a room to sit by myself and think about what I did, and while they leave guards by the door in case I try to leave, I don't make any attempt to escape. Why should I? I have done nothing wrong, and I'm going to stand up to Claire. I refuse to lose what little I have! I won't let her bully me!

Which leads back to Claire yelling at me, and destroying the courage I'd mustered up while the Knights were speaking to her. I crumble up the newspaper, tossing it under my bed again in a fit of anger. How could Prince Teague be just as fake as the rest of his family? I thought he was better than that! How could he be just as prejudice, just as biased?

Why did my heart still begin to beat frantically in my chest whenever I looked at his picture, after how awful he had been? How can I still be attracted to someone who hates me with a burning passion. I want to hate him so desperately, but I can't find it within myself. The kind side of him, the one I saw before I told him I was an orphan? I think I might love him. The angry, generic Fae that I saw after? I despise him.

Is that even possible?

There's a knock at the door, and I turn to look at it in terror. Is Claire at the door? No, she would never knock. She would just enter. Besides, I would've heard her coming. Her high heels click so loudly on the floor that you could probably hear her coming from one hundred yards away. So, I take a deep breathe and calm myself down before I say, "Come in."

"J, are you okay?" Peter walks in, shutting the door behind me before seating himself on the chest by my bed. His green eyes meet mine, seeming genuinely concerned for me for one of the few times in his life. Maybe that's an overstatement, but I'm incredibly emotional right now. His brown hair looks unusually neat for once. In fact, he looks as if he just got cleaned up. Even his clothes are new. What's that about? "You came back so late. Didn't you know you had won? I left the forest a while ago. I thought you knew."

I shake my head. "How could I have known? I didn't see you at all. I got in trouble." And, after that, the words just start tumbling out of my mouth. I tell him the whole story, tears welling up in my eyes all over again. "And then-"

"-she said, 'Jacyln, you've made a mess of things, like usual,' right?" He quotes her - despite not hearing her - with scary accuracy and in a perfect mimicry of her voice, however somehow his saying it makes it sound ridiculous. I chuckle a little through my tears, and offer him a weak smile. He seems to take that as a satisfactory answer. "I'll take that as a yes."

"But enough about me." I shake my head, trying to wipe away my tears. "That's not important now. She can't do much worse to me than she already has done, right?" I weakly chuckle at the comment, but Peter just frowns. Why is he so concerned for me for once? He has never cared this much about me before. Desperate to change the subject, I decide to ask the question that has been stuck in my mind. "Why are you so dressed up and clean? I mean, not that you don't look good, because you look much better than all of us. But why? Claire never does that unless..." I trail off, suddenly wondering if maybe I do know, and if maybe that's the reason he's actually showing concern for once. It's so rare, I hadn't even thought of it. "Are you getting adopted, Peter?"

He looks so pained to admit it, but he nods his head. "Yes, I am. Apparently they found my dad, and I was given the choice to go live with him or stay here." Which we both know isn't really a choice. Claire doesn't want us around, so even if the parent doesn't want you, you are getting given back if they track you down. "I'm so sorry. I don't want to leave you alone in this place, Ja-"

"No no no, stop thinking about me." I shake my head, forcing a wide smile on my face as I pretend to be excited for him. "That's great! You have no idea how pleased I am to hear that, Pipes." He raises his eyebrows - unable to only raise one like Prince Teague, not that I'm noticing stuff like that - at the nickname I use, as it's what I used to call him when we were little. "Where does he live?"

"I'm not even sure he lives on this plane or anywhere, to be honest. All I know is that he's a pirate. His name is something like Killian. He might even be a captain. And," He hesitates, before adding, "he might even have a son."

Suddenly I realize why Peter might be hesitant to accept. While it might be a reason, I can't believe that it has anything to do with our 'friendship,' if we can even call it that. If I had the chance to get a family, I would leave this place in a heartbeat, Peter or no Peter. But, if his dad who gave him up has a son, that puts it all in a new perspective. He feels that he must not matter as much as that brother, doesn't he? Why would his dad keep his brother and not him? That must only be a sample of the questions running through his head. I would be thinking the same thing if one of my parents was found, and they had a kid, although I would still not hesitate to get away from Claire.

What can I say to comfort him? Absolutely nothing. I'm not good at that sort of thing. I have no comfort or condolences to offer him, no way to console him. So, instead, I say one simple thing. "Oh."

"Eeyup, that pretty much sums it up." He sighs, hanging his head, before meeting my gaze and opening his mouth to speak. "Look, Jaclyn, before I leave, I just want to say-"

Before he can finish, the door is flung open, and Claire steps in with two guards following her. We must have not heard her over our talking. Peter slides off the chest, glancing between Claire and I. He doesn't know where to go. I'm not surprised. I'd be trying to get out of the line of fire too. No doubt my punishment is going to be issued soon. Am I going to be killed?

"Peter," Claire says curtly, pretty much glaring at him, "go on downstairs. There's a guard waiting for you down there. He's going to escort you to where your father is going to meet you. I suggest grabbing any personal belongings you have - such as those stupid pipes of yours - very quickly. That guard has better things to do than dropping you off with your lousy father."

After flinching in response to Claire's words, Peter scurries past her and out of the room. I'm left sitting on my bed, watching her and waiting to hear what my punishment is. What is she going to do to me? Kill me? It doesn't seem like it, seeing as she has no weapons with her. Instead, she holds a book. So what the heck is my punishment?

"Jacelyn No Name, the royal guards have discussed among themselves and have decided that you are guilty of the charges presented by Prince Teague. However, with no definitive evidence, you cannot be convicted of treason or of any dark magic. Instead, we are going to lock you up on the grounds of disrespecting the prince and wandering the Royal Forest unauthorized." A smirk takes her face, but I frown in confusion.

"You're going to lock me up?" My mouth hangs open as I try to figure out how the heck they're going to do.

"Yes, in a very special prison." Claire holds the book up, and my eyes widen.

"Wait, you're going to-" I throw my hands out to try and stop her as I begin to connect the dots.

Claire cuts me off, not letting me finish, by opening the book. A bright light floods in, ripping the world apart around me. If anything, it might be ripping me apart. I don't know. All I know is pain, and Claire laughing - or is that a figment of my imagination? - as I spin around, curling into a ball and clutching my head.

They locked me up in a book.

Woah, okay, that wasn't as short as I originally intended. Oops. So, really, we're going to just be getting portions of Jaclyn's life whenever I feel like throwing them at you guys. I'm not guaranteeing any certain lengths, or if they'll be in any order (if they aren't I'll tell you where it takes place order wise), however I bet they probably will be in order. These will all fit into one of my many story lines, so it might not line up with all of the books (or any of them, depending on what story this connects to, which you have to figure out). Speaking of which, what did you think of this story? Good? Bad? As I said, this story - and any that follow - will fit into one of my stories (possibly a "series" of them) I have on here, but it's up to you guys to figure out who. Did you figure out who Jaclyn is? If so, let me know in a review! If not, maybe the next story I do - whenever I do it - will give you insight on that. I promise she's a character I've used before. I sprinkled quite a few hints throughout the story, and I would hope the ending really clicked it, but if it didn't that's okay! If you did figure out who she is, let me know when you found out in your review! Do you want to see more of these? When I finish these short stories - there is a definite ending one - would you like to see more of these from other ocs of mine?

Anyways, please let me know what you thought in a review! This was really fun to write. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did! I'm super excited to continue to explore Jaclyn's history more. It's so much fun to flesh her character out, and depict her as more than I did in the story (or stories) she was in before.

So, until next time!

~ Dagger