"WHAT!? They want my mom and I to help in the war... like as nurses!?"

"I guess..."

"There is nothing that can get me to help out! I'm the princess! I don't have to do what they want me to do!"

"You might want to when you're queen." Nathan said, probably not knowing anything else to say.

"Well this is WAR! You know how I feel about that. When I'm queen, we won't even have wars!" I suddenly realized how loud I was talking. Nathan, sitting right next to me, was flinching, and some grumpy old guy yelled at me "HEY GIRL! TURN DOWN THE VOLUME!" out of his window. I lowered my voice. "They... they can't do this. They just can't..."

"I don't know. I don't think they'd appreciate it if you didn't go and help."

"But I don't know the first thing about nursing. And I couldn't see all the soldiers all bloody and everything, and nothing I can do about it. I... I just can't do it." Tears welled up in my eyes. Everything's been terrible lately.

"It's okay, Amelia. I don't think they can make you if you don't want to."

"I sure hope not..."
***

When I got back to the castle, Mom was already preparing for being a nurse. Of course "as a Queen, you must take all responsibilities the kingdom expects you to do." and I guess being a nurse is one of them. She was in the kitchen and had a herbal remedy book open (which I don't see how it would come in any use for flesh wounds) and was practicing making some of the recipes. Yep, there's no way I could be a nurse.

She heard me come through the door. "Hi Amy. I'm guessing you already know?" I swear she can read minds.

"Yeah, I know. And I'm not doing it."

"Why not?"

"Because..." I can't tell her my ACTUAL reason, "I... wouldn't be a good nurser." but that's close enough.

"Honey, you'd be excellent! And think how much they'd like it if the princess came!" They'd be just fine with the queen, I thought.

"I just can't do it, Mom. Please don't make me."

"It would give you a chance to see Dad."

"I can't do it..."

"Fine. I won't make you if you don't want to, but I think it would be better if you did."

"Mom, I REALLY don't want to."

"Ok, then. But Molly will be in charge while I'm gone."

"Oh thank you, thank you, thank you!" I ran up and hugged her, than ran up the stairs and into my room. I wasn't really sure what I wanted to do.