I am nothing, she thought. Nothing but myself.

Anything was possible, if you thought about it in the right way.

Magic. For the first time, she heard the word and felt a twist in her stomach, a little thrill. Having that kind of power, that kind of influence... it was a wicked thing.

One can be interested in both fashion and politics, don't you think? They so often go hand in hand. Appearances, saying the right words, making people like you...

Rulership does not sit comfortably on any worthy head.

Burn them all, little dragon.

What was wrong with you?""Melancholy. Nothing more or less than that. I have suffered it often. Not because I do not like the court, but because... well, I do not know why. It is just one of those things... This time was particularly bad, though. It was so strong it was like a physical illness. But the doctors said it was melancholy, just melancholy, and that time away would it. 'A fragile disposition,' they called me.... As though one needs to be fragile to be sad.

Few female characters get to be “the Chosen One” in science fiction and fantasy. Leia is as much the child of Darth Vader as Luke is, but only Luke gets to use the force, be recruited by his dad and ultimately save the day. We don’t get impossibly clever female sleuths or the sexy spies with the awesome gadgets. And on the rare occasions that we do get those characters, they’re denigrated as unrealistic Mary Sues.

Perhaps you'll gave to kiss him again, if you're not sure. Gather more evidence. In the name of science.

There's no point in fighting for the throne if you're not going to make a difference.