Glancing over the plot of "The Stagman", a story by Robin McKinley published in her collection The Knot in the Grain, it seems rather old-fashioned in its cliches. Princess in distress, rescue, conquest by her prince, marry the prince and have five sons. But at a closer look, one finds the princess, Ruen, resigned rather than engrossed. She doesn't want to rule her kingdom; she doesn't want to live the fairy-tale; she doesn't want to marry the prince and raise sons. But she does, because she is a princess, and she has a strong sense of duty. Given the choice, however, she would happily spend her days living quietly in the mountains with Luthe, the mage arranging all this; learning, reading, and seeing her stag whenever he appears. And when she has fulfilled her duty, has seen her kingdom happily prospering under the rule of the handsome (naturally) prince Gelther, has raised her sons, and is certain that she will not be missed, she leaves. Her stag has come for her, and she can go back to the mountains, where for the only time in her life she was happy. And it could not be otherwise with McKinley as the author, because she is militantly against the cliched heroine being rescued by the hero. Her heroines go off on their own, slaying the leader of the attacking army or redeeming the artifact that will save the kingdom. They do not languish in towers or work on embroidery. Her best-known heroines are tall, awkward, and horrible at sewing, with a complete lack of heart-stopping beauty, because they don't have time for makeup, and a thorough brushing of their long curly hair is out of the question on campaign. Actually Aerin's hair lasted through about half the book and then never grew past her jaw again. Ruen, while not quite fitting this mold, which admittedly is hardly adhered to in the short stories, is still not happy in the place she is. Had she been permitted, she would have been quite happy to be an Aerin; but she had no loving father, no indulgent cousin. She was Lissar, with no Ash and less illusive power. No friends, no family but her cruel uncle, no pets. No books even, as far as we can tell. So she grew into a small, quiet woman, who never laughed and was pitied by her subjects. Their love, admiration, and gazes went to her handsome, typical husband, who had refused to be crowned in favor of his wife.