"We have just received word that yet another sword wielding, roguishly handsome, young hero with sparkling white teeth, is threatening our king's rule over this land. He is rumored to be in the area searching for some magical item to help him win against His Majesties might. If seen we ask that you report him to the guards. Anyone caught harboring this nuisance will be thrown in prison for the rest of their lives."

It was the usual announcement heard in my town. There was always some young hero wannabe trying to overthrow our king. Sure the king was some sort of evil necromancer out to take over the world, but it's not like he treated his people badly. We actually had it pretty well off, compared to other countries.

Well, enough of my ramblings. I'm sure you want to know who I am. My name is Swin, a wonderfully odd name giving to me by my weirdo parents. I'm seventeen years and I am a peasant girl. Yes, peasant girl. I bet that sounds terribly exciting, doesn't it? What? No, you think being a peasant girl would be boring. Yeah, well, your right. My life thus far has probably been the most boring life in the world. Nothing, I repeat, nothing exciting has ever happened to me. So, when the captain of the guard made his announcement about the latest annoyance, I thought nothing of it.

Yeah, I know. That just screams foreshadowing, doesn't it; but, anyways, on with my story. It was later that week that my parents decided that they absolutely had to go visit my older sister at her school. I would of gone, but my parents decided I needed to stay at home. Someone had to watch the house so that thieves don't take all our possessions. Boring. I never get to do anything exciting.

My parents were going to be gone for three days. The wonders of travel by magic gate made this possible. Otherwise they'd be gone for a couple of weeks. Not that I would have minded. I could get away with a lot of stuff with a couple weeks of freedom.

The day they left was almost a joyous occasion. Well, it was joyous, until my mom made me promise not to throw any wild parties. It's not like I know enough people to throw a party or anything. Though it did sound like fun. Now, I know what your thinking. If mom doesn't find out about it how can I get in trouble? Well, I happen to be one who keeps to my promises, so no parties. It was going to be a really boring three days.

They left and I was home alone, with a long list of chores to get done before they came back.

"Oh joy, chores! My favorite thing to do," first words out of my mouth when I found the list. I'm sure you can imagine my sarcastic tone. No parties and chores. Why couldn't they just let me come with them and have my uncle watch the house? I'd take seeing my brat of a sister any day to being stuck with chores.

It was when I was finishing up cleaning the kitchen, making sure to scrub every nook and cranny, when I heard the commotion outside. Being an extremely curious peasant girl, as all peasant girls have to be, I went to the window to see what was going on.

Didn't seem that exciting. A bunch of other peasants, ones I don't know, standing around looking at something, which I couldn't see through the window. This led me inevitably out the door. As soon as I step out a group of guards run by in a hurry, almost knocking me down in the process.

"Hey! Watch where you're going!" I yelled, not caring that it was city guards I was doing the yelling at.

A friend of mine, Marene, walked up to see if I was okay. "Swin, are you hurt, those guards nearly ran you over."

"Yeah, I'm fine. What's all the hubbub about, Marene?"

"Apparently the hero that the captain of the guards mentioned a couple of days ago is in the city."

That was surprising. First time anything like that has ever happened in our city. Part of having a really boring life is living in a boring city. Nothing happens in boring cities, that's what makes them boring.

"I hope they get him. It's so annoying to have this guys running around trying to disrupt our lives. What exactly will they hope to accomplish by killing the king?" It was a rhetorical question, but Marene didn't believe in rhetorical questions, she liked to come up with answers to any question you asked.

"Riding the world of his evil and letting good and justice reign."

I rolled my eyes at her. Typical answer. "I've heard about those 'good and justice' kings in the other countries. Their peasants have it worse off then we do."

"Yeah, well, I have to go. Running a few errands for my mom. See you later Swin," Marene waved as see walked away.

"See you."

I turned and went back inside the house. No reason to stay outside, might get run over by the guards. I shut the door behind and looked up to find a surprise waiting in my house. What? You ask. Well, here's a hint: He's wanted by the law.

No, it's not Rilan, the handsome thief who's stolen more hearts then gold, though any day I would have preferred him to what I did find. It was the so- called hero.

"Oh great," I muttered when I saw him standing in our family room. Let's see, what did the captain of the guard say about him. Sword wielding, well that much was true. He definitely had a sword, looked enchanted too. Typical heroes sword. He was also called roguishly handsome. Well, I wouldn't of used the term 'roguishly.' He was definitely cute, but he was no Rilan.

I almost started drooling with thoughts of Rilan. I hadn't actually met the guy, but I'd heard stories, and one time Marene managed to get a sketch of him. I don't know where she got but it was definitely a beautiful sketch, of a beautiful guy.

I shook my head to clear out all fantasies of Rilan in my head. I had an outlaw in my house that needed to be taken care. I moved towards the door, just as I was about to open it the nuisance had the audacity to grab my wrist.

"Please, don't call the guards on me," he said with pleading, puppy dog eyes.

Oh great, he was going to make things difficult. "Listen, I can get into a lot of trouble if I don't turn you in right now," I said coldly. I was going to be as mean as possible to this guy until he got out of my house.

"I know, but don't you care about getting out from under the tyrannical rule of the evil king?" he said, trying to persuade me to help him.

I wasn't going to fall for that. Too much was at stake. "What, for the rule of another king who's just as evil?"

"No, to one who's good and just."

This wasn't going to be easy. "Like who, you?" That seemed liked a reasonable question.

"Well, I hadn't thought of that, but, yes, maybe."

Okay, I wasn't expecting that.

"When I am king, I will be sure to reward you greatly if you help me."

Ah yes, the prospect of rewards, usually in the form of money. "But what guarantee do I have that you'll succeed and I will be rewarded?"

"Well, I won't succeed if you don't help me now."

Score one for the hero. He had a good point. If I helped him he had some possibility of succeeding, which would hopefully result with me getting a nice reward. I wonder how much I would get? Probably enough to leave my boring peasant life for one of glamour and riches, or maybe, marriage, to the cute new king. It was very tempting.

"You have a point. If I help you, you do have a better chance of succeeding." It was too late for me; greed had won over. What do you expect from someone who's moderately poor. Besides, those puppy dog eyes were just too hard to resist, and he was rather cute. Marene always said cute guys were the best guys to help out.

"Alright, I'll help you," I finally said. He let out the breath he was obviously holding and continuously thanked me. "C'mon, this way." I led him to the back of the house where there was a trap door to our cellar. Okay, so cellar isn't the right term. Dad had meant it to be a cellar but he never got done with it so it was more of a human sized hole in the ground.

I shoved the hero down into the hole before he could protest. "You stay down here. I'll let you out tonight when you can escape." I shut the door quickly, letting only one more of his thank you's escape through the little opening. Lastly, I drug a carpet over the spot where the door was. With it safely hidden I continued on with my day, trying to ignore the guards running around in the city and my annoying high-pitched conscience.

Later that night, when all was silent, I crept to where the door to our cellar was to let out the hero. After I hauled him out of the tiny space I gave him a bit to stretch out his stiff body.

"Hurry up, you don't have much time," I whispered hurriedly.

"Yes, just one more stretch and I will be ready."

He stretched his arms behind his back, which resulted in a couple of loud cracks that made my back and shoulders just ache hearing them.

"Alright, let's go."

We went out the back door and crept around in the shadows for a bit, avoiding anybody we saw. I knew a way out that was a secret. No one else knew about it except for Marene. It was easy to get to, but mostly unseen. A gate in the city wall, forgotten and hidden by vines. I opened it and the hero stepped through. Wow, that was easier then I thought it would be.

"Thank you. I shall be forever in your debt," he said as he jogged away into the night.

"Well that was disappointingly unexciting," I said as I made my way back to the house. No wandering bands of guards that might of caught us, no alleyway drunks. There was definitely something wrong with this city if an outlaw can escape that easily.

The rest of the week was uninteresting after that, like it always is. Mom and dad came home with news about my sister. Marene met some cute guy and now their dating. The city guard was punished for not finding the hero.

Later, I learned that the hero had succeeded in overthrowing the king. He became king and married some girl in a skimpy outfit that apparently helped him win the fight. There was must rejoicing at his becoming king, partly because we were told to rejoice by the guards, mostly because taxes were lowered.

I was expecting that any day now our new king would show up in town to give me a reward. It would have to be gold, since he was already married. I have to say I was severely disappointed about hearing that. He was really cute. Oh well, mom says the butchers son is quite handsome, and looking for a girlfriend.

You know what, now that I think about it, it's been a couple years since I helped him and I sill haven't gotten my reward. Oh, that makes me angry. Of course he would forget the little people who got him to where he is now. Just like anybody who succeeds. If I ever see him again, there's going to be blood, and none of it will be mine.

I am Swin, peasant girl; fear my wrath king, like you've never feared the wrath of anybody before.