Disclaimer: Wish I did...but no, I don't own these characters.

Prologue

Kalasin's face clouded over with shock. She shouldn't have been feeling so surprised, she knew that. Knew that as the Crown Prince, Roald had to become a knight, so Tortall would be safe when he inherited the throne. And that was the most important thing, that Tortall remain safe. That was her purpose in life, the purpose of all the royal children, to keep the country safe and prospering. It's what they'd been told from birth, and Kalasin knew she would always do her best to fulfill that duty.

But she had never really thought about duty in terms to their real lives. She'd always pushed the fact that Roald would have to go through knighthood training in order to actually become a knight. But now he had said it himself, he'd told Daine he was going to start training next year.

So they were going to be separated next year, could she bear it? Roald was the closest person in her life, what would she do, knowing she couldn't just run into his room any old time, just to laugh? After all, he'd be living with the other pages, so far away from the royal quarters. And she'd heard enough page stories from Aunt Alanna, and Father, and Uncle Gary and the others, to know it was a very busy life. When would she ever get to see Roald?

Of course, when Daine asked, Kalasin had said she was going to be a knight too. What else could she have said? It might have hurt Roald's feelings if she said she wasn't going to be a page too. And besides, what else would she do without Roald?

But she didn't really like fighting, even though she liked protecting people. And even though she knew it was bad to be vain, she liked looking pretty. She didn't think a knight would be like that, Lady Alanna was always complaining about the fuss of parties and such.

Speaking of Lady Alanna… Kalasin turned around. The lady knight had dismounted, and was kneeling down to comfort Thom. Kalasin felt sorry for Thom, she understood how he felt after all, with his mother going off to fight those great big ogres. Her heart twisted at the very thought of Roald being injuring or even…dead. Being a knight was dangerous!

Suddenly, she was ashamed of herself. Yes, being a knight was dangerous, but that didn't stop Lady Alanna, or the rest of her aunts and uncles, from fighting to protect and defend the kingdom. That wasn't going to stop Roald, so why should she be scared?

Alanna was pulling Thom into a hug, before mounting her horse again. She looked at Thom's sad face, and felt envy this time, instead of pity. He hadn't responded earlier, when Daine had asked him about his knighthood, and Kalasin knew he liked sorcery better than fighting.

Roald had watched his little sister's face go through different stages of worry. As cute as she looked, with her face all scrunched up in thought, he couldn't stand the fact that something would be bothering her. "Kally?" He ventured.

Kalasin started at the sound of her brother's voice. "Y-yes?" She stammered.

He peered at her. "What were you thinking about? You looked so serious."

Kalasin blushed, "I was just…just…"

Roald was alarmed to see tears filling Kally's eyes. "Kally? What's wrong?"

"Think about how unfair it is!" She blurted out, "that Thom has a choice, in his future, and we don't."

"We don't?" Roald's eyes showed his confusion.

"No, I mean, the whole knighthood thing…"

"Oh that." How could he act so casual about it? "We do have a choice. Or rather, at least you do. But didn't you already say you wanted to be a page too?"

The tears overflowed. He, the person who knew her best, didn't understand her. Why couldn't he see, that if he had to become a knight, then she did too? That her choice wasn't because she really wanted the life of a warrior, but because she couldn't just let him go off and leave her.

"Kally? Why are you crying? You should be happy. I'm happy, we're going to be pages together, and squires, and knights. Sure, you'll be a year behind, but we'll still be together…Kally?"

Looking at how excited he was cemented her resolve. It wasn't just a matter of following his footsteps anymore, she was going to want to be a knight. After all, if one royal knight was good, two had to be better. This would be her duty to herself, to Roald, and to the kingdom.

Roald was surprised when Kally wiped away her tears and grabbed his hand. There was a fierce, stubborn look in her eyes. That look that would be her trademark in later years, but he didn't know that. She met her eyes with his, and with all the dignity she could muster as a nine year old, and a princess, she promised him, "I'm going to be a knight, I will."

A/N: My first FanFic :3, so I'd like to know if it's awful or not, please review. And I know it's kind of boring, but I was in that deep-thoughts frame of mind. Oh, and Kally's only nine in this scene, so I was aiming for what her thoughts would have been like at that age.