Yes! I finally broke 5k!

Ok, so no, it's not as good as my NaNo buddies, but hell, I'm trying. Talking with Jenni this morning has lifted my spirits enough that I want to share a snippet. She's going to, so I may as well copy her! It's what all the cool kids are doing anyway: Copying Jenni. :D

My word count, as of last night, is 6,120. Woo! Alright, here is my (rather large) snippet:

Catrina stared out of the large window of her father’s study and watched as Elkan rode off into the city, and out towards Turner on the eastern coast. Her silken skirts rustled as she shifted impatiently, her brows furrowed together with annoyance, but as she watched the horse and rider until they were out of sight, her emerald eyes held nothing but longing. She wanted to go out there, into the country. To be free from the so called duties of a princess. The fan waving, balancing books on ones head…she wasn’t suited for those things. Her teachers drove her mad with their infernal lectures of what a good princess should be.

“I don’t need a bodyguard.” She stated flatly. She was against any sort of protection, and she disliked the fact of taking a Ranger off duty even more. There were plenty of palace guards around to keep her honor and dignity intact.

“This is not up for discussion, my dear daughter.” The King, Brutus, stated, still pouring over various pieces of parchment.

“It should be, father. You know I don’t need it.” Catrina insisted. From the time she was very young, she had watched the knights practice in the yards, and even participated. Even the older knights had to admit she had talent. She had beaten a few of the squires and other lads, but she couldn’t tell if they were letting her win because she was a girl, or if she really was besting them.

“It’s not becoming of a princess. To have her carrying about in men’s clothes, hauling those vulgar weapons around smashing people.” Brutus shivered. He was a King who didn’t like violence, and especially didn’t like the idea of his daughter becoming a Ranger.

“I assigned a Ranger to you so that perhaps he can explain that life as a Ranger is not all it seems.”

“But what if the things I expect are real? I don’t expect easy traveling or easy jobs, I want a challenge that’s why I want to be a-“

“Don’t say it!” Brutus roared. “No daughter of mine will be a ranger, knight, or anything other than a perfectly well bred lady of providence. You are a princess, and you will remain so until you are crowned a Queen.”

“Father, I-“ Catrina moved towards her father, trying to placate him.

“I have not finished!” Brutus slammed a fist down onto the table. “You are twenty two years of age. You should be married with babies by now.”

Catrina rolledher eyes and sighed.

“But you have declined all of the proposals offered you. You must accept one soon, or you will be too old!” Brutus took a deep breath and looked at his daughter, who now had her eyes downcast, staring at the floor. He could see the tears in her eyes she was trying very hard to conceal.

“My dear…I want you to be happy, and I don’t think that-“

“That’s just it!” She yelled, startling her father. “You don’t think about anything! Only yourself and this country!” She stared angrily at her father, letting a single tear slide down her tanned procelin cheek. After a fraction of a moment, she tore from the study, her back straight as a broomstick. Tears now ran freely down her face as she flew down the stairs and around into the hall under the stairway. She ran by servants who tried to ask what had happened. She ignored all of them and their well meaning concern. Unlike most other royals and nobles, Cat was friendly with all of the servants in her father’s household. She had known all of them since she was born, and enjoyed spending time with them. They were her family, and usually, always had time for them. But today, she had been blasted with several things.

Being put under the protection of a Ranger was just one of the bombshells her father had released on her this afternoon. There were two others. The first one was that she was no forbidden to spare with even the seasoned old knights, and she was to avoid the training yard from now on. The second, was that her father was going to choose a bridegroom for her, if she didn’t in the next year. He had told her that her duty was to her country, not to her own selfish wants. He had even gone so far as to tell her that at this point, he didn’t care who she chose as a husband, so long as she did. That was a mistake, she thought. While Cat had no intention of marrying anybody for any reason except for the sort of love you read in fairytales, she was going to make it a mission to choose someone her father would either despise personally or socially. A commoner perhaps. Or even better, a criminal. Cat stopped just outside of her bedchamber door. She shook her head, ok, a criminal was too far. But she’d find somebody to make her father regret this.

So as you can tell, this isn't the main character, but I just think that adds to the mystery :D
What do you think? Please, keep in mind that this has not been edited, nor will it be until after November!!